June 22, 2014
By Jonathan H. Alder
On the morning of June 22, 1969, (click here) oil and debris that had collected on the surface of the Cuyahoga River as wound its way through Cleveland caught fire. The story attracted national attention, and was featured in a report on the nation’s environmental problems in the August 1 Time magazine. The fire illustrated just how bad the nation’s environmental problems had become by 1969. As then-Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson commented in 2011, the fire was evidence of “the almost unimaginable health and environmental threats” from water pollution of the time. After all, as one environmental activist put it, “when rivers are on fire, you know things are bad.”...
Sunday, January 08, 2017
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),(click here) an international body of over 30 industrialized countries, held meetings through the 1980s addressing environmental concerns. They made a series of international recommendations which focused on a co-operative change in existing chemical processes and pollution prevention.
The OECD has it's roots as early as 1960. It is primarily a Western Culture organization. The idea pollution was something that drained a country's resources rather than grew an economy was always a focus to their work. There are currently 35 countries that have ratified the organization as part of their government infrastructure.
This international measure and other US Government agencies such as the EPA started to appear with government infrastructure. There were profound reasons for their beginnings:
The Cuyahoga River is a primary example of what occurs with industry when it is unregulated.
The Cuyahoga River is a primary example of what occurs with industry when it is unregulated.
Green Chemistry has been growing out of necessity since the 1960s.
Our environmental legacy in the USA may have started with Rachel Carson, but, was also reinforced by tragedy along the way.
Love Canal is an aborted canal project (click here) branching off of the Niagara River about four miles south of Niagara Falls. It is also the name of a fifteen-acre, working-class neighborhood of around 800 single-family homes built directly adjacent to the canal. From 1942 to 1953, the Hooker Chemical Company, with government sanction, began using the partially dug canal as a chemical waste dump. At the end of this period, the contents of the canal consisted of around 21,000 tons of toxic chemicals, including at least twelve that are known carcinogens (halogenated organics, chlorobenzenes, and dioxin among them). Hooker capped the 16-acre hazardous waste landfill in clay and sold the land to the Niagara Falls School Board, attempting to absolve itself of any future liability by including a warning in the property deed.
Public awareness of the disaster unfolded in the late 1970s when investigative newspaper coverage and grassroots door-to-door health surveys began to reveal a series of inexplicable illnesses—epilepsy, asthma, migraines, and nephrosis—and abnormally high rates of birth defects and miscarriages in the Love Canal neighborhood. As it turns out, consecutive wet winters in the late 1970s raised the water table and caused the chemicals to leach (via underground swales and a sewer system that drained into nearby creeks) into the basements and yards of neighborhood residents, as well as into the playground of the elementary school built directly over the canal. After a series of frustrating encounters with apathetic NYS officials, who were slow to act but quick to dismiss the activists (most of whom were working-class women who lived in the neighborhood) as a collection of hysterical housewives, President Jimmy Carter declared a state of emergency in 1978 and had the federal government relocate 239 families. This left 700 families who federal officials viewed as being at insufficient risk to warrant relocation, even though tests conducted by the NYS Department of Health revealed that toxic substances were leaching into their homes. After another hard battle, activists forced Carter to declare a second state of emergency in 1981, during which the remaining families were relocated. The total cost for relocation of all the families was $17 million....
The NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) (click here) grew out of the deadly and debilitating tragedy of the Love Canal.
Public awareness of the disaster unfolded in the late 1970s when investigative newspaper coverage and grassroots door-to-door health surveys began to reveal a series of inexplicable illnesses—epilepsy, asthma, migraines, and nephrosis—and abnormally high rates of birth defects and miscarriages in the Love Canal neighborhood. As it turns out, consecutive wet winters in the late 1970s raised the water table and caused the chemicals to leach (via underground swales and a sewer system that drained into nearby creeks) into the basements and yards of neighborhood residents, as well as into the playground of the elementary school built directly over the canal. After a series of frustrating encounters with apathetic NYS officials, who were slow to act but quick to dismiss the activists (most of whom were working-class women who lived in the neighborhood) as a collection of hysterical housewives, President Jimmy Carter declared a state of emergency in 1978 and had the federal government relocate 239 families. This left 700 families who federal officials viewed as being at insufficient risk to warrant relocation, even though tests conducted by the NYS Department of Health revealed that toxic substances were leaching into their homes. After another hard battle, activists forced Carter to declare a second state of emergency in 1981, during which the remaining families were relocated. The total cost for relocation of all the families was $17 million....The NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) (click here) grew out of the deadly and debilitating tragedy of the Love Canal.
Where does someone become educated to Green Chemistry?
Green Chemistry programs have been instituted in nearly half of the USA's universities and colleges.
- University of Alabama; Center for Green Manufacturing
Research center focused on ionic liquids, biorenewables, novel separation strategies and more.
Arkansas
- Hendrix College; Toad Suck Institute for Green Organic Chemistry
Green chemistry incorporated into bachelor's curriculum
California
- University of California, Berkeley; The Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry
Innovative courses for chemistry and engineering majors and nonmajors, green labs, and applied research - California Institute of Technology
Courses focusing on global environmental issues and solutions and biocatalysis research...
Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Green chemistry:
- Prevents pollution at the molecular level
- Is a philosophy that applies to all areas of chemistry, not a single discipline of chemistry
- Applies innovative scientific solutions to real-world environmental problems
- Results in source reduction because it prevents the generation of pollution
- Reduces the negative impacts of chemical products and processes on human health and the environment
- Lessens and sometimes eliminates hazard from existing products and processes
- Designs chemical products and processes to reduce their intrinsic hazards
The fact that some universities have not applied "Green Chemistry" to their curriculum doesn't mean they won't in the future.
"Green Chemistry" is a revolution within the USA's demand for better products.
Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances. EPA's efforts to speed the adoption of this revolutionary and diverse discipline have led to significant environmental benefits, innovation and a strengthened economy.
"Little Green" written and performed by Joni Mitchell
Born with the moon in Cancer
Choose her a name she'll answer too
Call her green and the winters can not fade her
Call her green for the children who have made her little, green
Be a gypsy dancer
Choose her a name she'll answer too
Call her green and the winters can not fade her
Call her green for the children who have made her little, green
Be a gypsy dancer
He went to California
Hearing that everything's warmer there
So you write him a letter, say, "her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little, green, he's a non-comformer
Hearing that everything's warmer there
So you write him a letter, say, "her eyes are blue"
He sends you a poem and she's lost to you
Little, green, he's a non-comformer
Just a little green
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the night's when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes and sometimes
There'll be sorrow
Like the color when the spring is born
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow
Just a little green
Like the night's when the Northern lights perform
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes and sometimes
There'll be sorrow
Child with a child pretending
Weary of lies you're sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed, little green
Have a happy ending
Weary of lies you're sending home
So you sign all the papers in the family name
You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed, little green
Have a happy ending
The problem with conservative as it always has been is it's willingness to see life in little contrast.
Conservatism has brought 3 strikes and in laws, mandatory sentencing and most of all a minority with higher incarceration rates than any other in the world.
January 8, 2016
By Matt Appuzo
Mr. Sessions said that police officers (click here) faced unfair criticism for their use of force. He believes that legal action by the Justice Department has discouraged officers from doing their jobs....
The conservatism of 2001 removed compassion from legislative measures. It is not about people anymore, it is about crony politics and Wall Street. The conservatism of the 21st Century is ineffective and regressive.
The Democrats rebuilt the USA after 2008 and now the Republicans are going to remove regulations and send the economy into a negative spiral with mounting national debt because of increased deficits.
The only way of stabilizing the USA is to demand freedom of local governance and protection of local economies. Right wing extremism in the Attorney General's office won't accomplish that.
It would not surprise me if the USA is brought up on human rights violations.
January 8, 2016
By Matt Appuzo
Mr. Sessions said that police officers (click here) faced unfair criticism for their use of force. He believes that legal action by the Justice Department has discouraged officers from doing their jobs....
The conservatism of 2001 removed compassion from legislative measures. It is not about people anymore, it is about crony politics and Wall Street. The conservatism of the 21st Century is ineffective and regressive.
The Democrats rebuilt the USA after 2008 and now the Republicans are going to remove regulations and send the economy into a negative spiral with mounting national debt because of increased deficits.
The only way of stabilizing the USA is to demand freedom of local governance and protection of local economies. Right wing extremism in the Attorney General's office won't accomplish that.
It would not surprise me if the USA is brought up on human rights violations.
Saturday, January 07, 2017
I was pleased when I heard President - Elect Donald Trump stood up to Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker of the House Ryan regarding weakening of the ethics standards.
January 7, 2017
By Ed O'keefe and Sean Sullivan
A top ethics official (click here) warned Saturday that plans to confirm Donald Trump’s top Cabinet choices before background examinations are complete are unprecedented and have overwhelmed government investigators responsible for the reviews.
The concerns came on the eve of the Trump administration-in-waiting’s first big test, with as many as seven nominees for Cabinet positions — many of them already the subject of questions about their qualifications — scheduled to visit Capitol Hill in the coming days for confirmation hearings....
President - Elect Donald Trump stood up to the Senate and House when they presented a bill that would significantly weaken ethics laws. Could it be the USA will finally have a government that is not corrupted by hubris and abuse?
January 4, 2017
By Fredreka Schouten and Erin Kelley
Washington — After public denunciations (click here) from watchdogs and criticism from President Donald Trump. House Republicans on Tuesday reversed course and dropped plans to gut an independent agency that polices potential ethical wrongdoing by lawmakers.
The controversy over GOP plans to sharply curtail the powers of the Office of Congressional Ethics overshadowed the opening day of Congress, where Republicans control both chambers and soon will welcome a Republican president for the first time in eight years.
The about-face came a day after House Republicans met behind closed doors and moved to rein in the office, approved by Congress in 2008 as an independent arm to investigate lawmakers after scandals sent three lawmakers and high-flying lobbyist Jack Abramoff to prison.
"House Republicans made the right move in eliminating this amendment that should never have seen the light of day," said David Donnelly, president and CEO of Every Voice watchdog group, on Tuesday. "Not one voter went to the polls in November hoping Congress would gut ethics oversight."
The reversal came after Trump took to Twitter to slam the timing of House Republicans' move, saying lawmakers should focus on other priorities....
Candidate Trump primarily ran on his own money. It was one of the reasons Republican voters were attracted to him. Republican voters were tired of all the crony politics. They wanted a candidate that did not answer to anyone other than the people.
It was somewhat of a shock to hear a Republican, and a President-Elect no less, call the US House and Senate to task to end the corruption in removing ethical standards from the legislative process. It was a glimmer of hope for a presidency people were willing to see as misguided and mired with the establishment.
Perhaps, the President - Elect should add a few people temporarily to the ethics office on his first day in office to move through the nomination process without delay. One of the reason this is necessary is because his nominations have not worked in government before and has no established record for security checks.
Friday, January 06, 2017
Drought relief: When it rains it pours. The same seems to be true especially because of the Climate Crisis.
January 7, 2017
0120.30z
UNISYS Water Vapor West and North Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)
January 6, 2017
8:00 PM
Intellicast USA Current Temperature in Fahrenheit (click here)
January 6, 2017
By Tony Barboza
Below clear blue skies Friday, ( click here) people in the snow-shrouded ski town of Mammoth Lakes were gleeful that a series of storms on the way to the eastern Sierra Nevada could bring several more feet of snow.
Yet some also worried that the big, wet storm on tap for this weekend — known as an atmospheric river — could dump so much rain and snow that it could shut down some ski runs or roads.
The red marker is Mammoth Lakes, California. The residents of that city are somewhat ready for the storms. The Southeast of the USA should recommend employers to cancel workdays until the region is functional again. The people will not be able to cope and accidents will be many and has the potential to shut down roads. Leave everyone home.
The governments believe they are ready. They aren't ready. They might have plenty of plows and otherwise, but, the people are not used to driving in such harsh conditions. There is every reason for the Southeast to close down for a day or so.
I have been in 6 degree Fahrenheit weather the past three days. I have clothing that protects me when out in the weather. When the local evening news came on there were many, many people in accidents and several dead. These are folks that are used to harsh weather. The wind alone was proving to be far to harsh. There had to be at least 50 to 60 mph winds. There was a tractor trailer picked up and dumped on the side of the road in a gully. How do I know the truck was picked up by the wind? There were not tracks in the snow leading to a truck off the road. There is only one way it happened.
The red marker is Mammoth Lakes, California. The residents of that city are somewhat ready for the storms. The Southeast of the USA should recommend employers to cancel workdays until the region is functional again. The people will not be able to cope and accidents will be many and has the potential to shut down roads. Leave everyone home.The governments believe they are ready. They aren't ready. They might have plenty of plows and otherwise, but, the people are not used to driving in such harsh conditions. There is every reason for the Southeast to close down for a day or so.
I have been in 6 degree Fahrenheit weather the past three days. I have clothing that protects me when out in the weather. When the local evening news came on there were many, many people in accidents and several dead. These are folks that are used to harsh weather. The wind alone was proving to be far to harsh. There had to be at least 50 to 60 mph winds. There was a tractor trailer picked up and dumped on the side of the road in a gully. How do I know the truck was picked up by the wind? There were not tracks in the snow leading to a truck off the road. There is only one way it happened.
In preparation, snowplows were scraping icy roadways. Excavators and snowblower operators stayed busy clearing and moving huge piles of snow. Some cars sat abandoned on the roadside or at gas stations, covered with thick blankets of snow from the most recent storm.
Outside Kittredge Sports, store manager Terry Lucian took advantage of the clear weather to shovel away some of the mounds of snow that had built up outside the entrance....
...“Everybody wants the snow, they just don’t want it while they’re here,” the 39-year Mammoth resident said. “It’ll be a rough couple of days, but we need the water. So it’s going to be OK.”
Some Mammoth locals agreed that the big, warm and wet storm expected starting Saturday might not be the best for skiing because much of it is expected to fall as rain at all but the highest elevations.
“I cannot recall a season that had so much lower elevation rain like we are having,” snow and weather blogger Steve Taylor wrote Friday on MammothSnowman.com. “The good news is there are colder storms now lined up for next week so we my get rain, but the next system should be all snow.”
No one in the USA is ready for this. The aftermath of the storms is very sad. There were so many accidents to talk about on the evening news, there was no time to play the film of children sledding down hills. There is a good chance they decided it was too cold outside to sled anyway.
This is the Climate Crisis and it should be obvious to everyone.
No one in the USA is ready for this. The aftermath of the storms is very sad. There were so many accidents to talk about on the evening news, there was no time to play the film of children sledding down hills. There is a good chance they decided it was too cold outside to sled anyway.
This is the Climate Crisis and it should be obvious to everyone.
Why discuss it? There are too many guns on the street and another USA veteran has PTSD.
In Afghanistan and when we were in Iraq; when an American soldier killed innocent people they were provided a financial settlement. Why not here?
January 6, 2016
By Keldy Ortiz, Abbott Koloff and Monsy Alvarado
Woodland Park, N.J. — The alleged gunman (click here) who authorities say killed at least five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday was an Army veteran who was born in New Jersey and a recent father who began to have problems about a month ago when a relative said he began to see things and “lost his mind.”
A federal law enforcement official who was not authorized to comment publicly confirmed the suspect’s name and date of birth as Esteban Santiago, born March 16, 1990.
Santiago was arrested after a shooting spree that began around noon at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and left five people dead and eight people wounded, according to law enforcement officials....
January 6, 2016
By Keldy Ortiz, Abbott Koloff and Monsy Alvarado
Woodland Park, N.J. — The alleged gunman (click here) who authorities say killed at least five people at the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday was an Army veteran who was born in New Jersey and a recent father who began to have problems about a month ago when a relative said he began to see things and “lost his mind.”
A federal law enforcement official who was not authorized to comment publicly confirmed the suspect’s name and date of birth as Esteban Santiago, born March 16, 1990.
Santiago was arrested after a shooting spree that began around noon at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and left five people dead and eight people wounded, according to law enforcement officials....
It is little consolation for Secretary Hillary Clinton, but, it explains a lot.
January 6, 2017
By David E. Sangar
Washington — American intelligence officials (click here) have concluded that the president of Russia, Vladimir V. Putin, personally “ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election,” and turned from seeking to “denigrate” Hillary Clinton to developing “a clear preference for President-elect Trump.”...
...The report described a broad campaign that included covert operations, including cyberactivities and “trolling” on the internet of people who were viewed as opponents of Russia’s effort. While it accused Russian intelligence agencies of obtaining and maintaining “access to elements of multiple U.S. state or local electoral boards,” it concluded — as officials have publicly — that there was no evidence of tampering with the tallying of the vote on Nov. 8....
I am very worried. The campaigning Donald Trump is not the President Elect Donald Trump. He is reckless in his pursuit of power. He has proven he will do anything and then do as he pleases.
The USA has elected a President that is not the choice of the people. Secretary Clinton was elected by the people, not, Donald Trump. He continues to refuse to recognize the fact covert acts by Russia carried out a coup of the 2016 elections with ambitions even at the local level of governments.
The Congress has responsibility to investigate the lack of ethical standing of this President Elect when he hasn't revealed his taxes and how he has a relationship with Russia. It is a known fact The Trump Organization had an exclusive and secretive internet connection with Russia during the time there were sanctions. That is illegal.
The investigation needs to go forward and Congress needs to move on cyber attacks on political candidates. This is a very serious matter.
Stating that, Director Comey had an impact on the election of 2016. I want to know what that is all about, too. He had to know what he was doing when he continually reprimanded Secretary Clinton in public with the last attack on her character landed days before Americans voted.
The country is angry at the establishment. This is more to be angry about. Congress needs to correct the threat.
There are many more questions than there are answers currently. The country needs answers. I don't see any sanction being removed from Russia.
The President Elect will accumulate more and more distrust if he continues to build a relationship with Russia. He should be as appalled as the country is and bring enforcement to the current sanctions not reversing them.
The President Elect was gamed by Russian leadership. It is against the country's national security to return wealth to Russia. The sanctions are working. Obviously. Russia needs to return to Minsk II and mean it.
By David E. Sangar
Washington — American intelligence officials (click here) have concluded that the president of Russia, Vladimir V. Putin, personally “ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election,” and turned from seeking to “denigrate” Hillary Clinton to developing “a clear preference for President-elect Trump.”...
...The report described a broad campaign that included covert operations, including cyberactivities and “trolling” on the internet of people who were viewed as opponents of Russia’s effort. While it accused Russian intelligence agencies of obtaining and maintaining “access to elements of multiple U.S. state or local electoral boards,” it concluded — as officials have publicly — that there was no evidence of tampering with the tallying of the vote on Nov. 8....
I am very worried. The campaigning Donald Trump is not the President Elect Donald Trump. He is reckless in his pursuit of power. He has proven he will do anything and then do as he pleases.
The USA has elected a President that is not the choice of the people. Secretary Clinton was elected by the people, not, Donald Trump. He continues to refuse to recognize the fact covert acts by Russia carried out a coup of the 2016 elections with ambitions even at the local level of governments.
The Congress has responsibility to investigate the lack of ethical standing of this President Elect when he hasn't revealed his taxes and how he has a relationship with Russia. It is a known fact The Trump Organization had an exclusive and secretive internet connection with Russia during the time there were sanctions. That is illegal.
The investigation needs to go forward and Congress needs to move on cyber attacks on political candidates. This is a very serious matter.
Stating that, Director Comey had an impact on the election of 2016. I want to know what that is all about, too. He had to know what he was doing when he continually reprimanded Secretary Clinton in public with the last attack on her character landed days before Americans voted.
The country is angry at the establishment. This is more to be angry about. Congress needs to correct the threat.
There are many more questions than there are answers currently. The country needs answers. I don't see any sanction being removed from Russia.
The President Elect will accumulate more and more distrust if he continues to build a relationship with Russia. He should be as appalled as the country is and bring enforcement to the current sanctions not reversing them.
The President Elect was gamed by Russian leadership. It is against the country's national security to return wealth to Russia. The sanctions are working. Obviously. Russia needs to return to Minsk II and mean it.
Thursday, January 05, 2017
"Rogue One" is a good film. It is a tribute to the soldiers of the rebellion that brought a secret to the rebel forces regardless of the overwhelming power of the Empire.
This is what a rebel and rebellion looks like. The sad reality is that rebels can exist for a long time before they realize their destiny is reached.
The Republican ideology.
If only.
If only the Republicans could put a real CEO in the Oval Office they could prove the USA could be made to make a profit.
If only.
There was a former CEO in the Oval Office. "W" was a former CEO. So was Cheney. They never made a profit, they increased the national deficit and national debt with two unpaid for wars.
There were profits being made though. The profits of the "W" and Cheney administration was Halliburton, the company Cheney managed before assigning himself as Vice President.
That type of profit it not unusual. Companies of any kind LOVE and CHERISH an opportunity to collect federal dollars no matter the source of those dollars. Even if war is killing people and sacrificing USA soldiers, the profits of USA corporations reign. Of course, the CEO has not been asked to be a USA soldier in order to collect the federal dollars, except, for one. Blackwater and Erik Prince made incredible money in Iraq.
So, what has happened to Eric Prince?
From Wiki:
Erik Dean Prince (born June 6, 1969) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and former U.S. Navy SEAL officer. Prince is best known for founding the government services and security company Blackwater USA. He served as its CEO until 2009 and later as chairman, until Blackwater Worldwide was sold in 2010 to a group of investors. Prince currently heads the private equity firm Frontier Resource Group and is chairman of Hong Kong-listed Frontier Services Group Ltd. He lives in both Middleburg, Virginia and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Indeed.
March 24, 2016
By Jeremy Scahill and Matthew Cole
Rik Prince, (click here) founder of the now-defunct mercenary firm Blackwater and current chairman of Frontier Services Group, is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies for attempting to broker military services to foreign governments and possible money laundering, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the case.
What began as an investigation into Prince’s attempts to sell defense services in Libya and other countries in Africa has widened to a probe of allegations that Prince received assistance from Chinese intelligence to set up an account for his Libya operations through the Bank of China. The Justice Department, which declined to comment for this article, is also seeking to uncover the precise nature of Prince’s relationship with Chinese intelligence.
Prince, through his lawyer, Victoria Toensing, said he has not been informed of a federal investigation and had not offered any defense services in Libya. Toensing called the money-laundering allegations “total bullshit.”...
If only the Republicans could put a real CEO in the Oval Office they could prove the USA could be made to make a profit.
If only.
There was a former CEO in the Oval Office. "W" was a former CEO. So was Cheney. They never made a profit, they increased the national deficit and national debt with two unpaid for wars.
There were profits being made though. The profits of the "W" and Cheney administration was Halliburton, the company Cheney managed before assigning himself as Vice President.
That type of profit it not unusual. Companies of any kind LOVE and CHERISH an opportunity to collect federal dollars no matter the source of those dollars. Even if war is killing people and sacrificing USA soldiers, the profits of USA corporations reign. Of course, the CEO has not been asked to be a USA soldier in order to collect the federal dollars, except, for one. Blackwater and Erik Prince made incredible money in Iraq.
So, what has happened to Eric Prince?
From Wiki:
Erik Dean Prince (born June 6, 1969) is an American businessman, philanthropist, and former U.S. Navy SEAL officer. Prince is best known for founding the government services and security company Blackwater USA. He served as its CEO until 2009 and later as chairman, until Blackwater Worldwide was sold in 2010 to a group of investors. Prince currently heads the private equity firm Frontier Resource Group and is chairman of Hong Kong-listed Frontier Services Group Ltd. He lives in both Middleburg, Virginia and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Indeed.
March 24, 2016
By Jeremy Scahill and Matthew Cole
Rik Prince, (click here) founder of the now-defunct mercenary firm Blackwater and current chairman of Frontier Services Group, is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies for attempting to broker military services to foreign governments and possible money laundering, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the case.
What began as an investigation into Prince’s attempts to sell defense services in Libya and other countries in Africa has widened to a probe of allegations that Prince received assistance from Chinese intelligence to set up an account for his Libya operations through the Bank of China. The Justice Department, which declined to comment for this article, is also seeking to uncover the precise nature of Prince’s relationship with Chinese intelligence.
Prince, through his lawyer, Victoria Toensing, said he has not been informed of a federal investigation and had not offered any defense services in Libya. Toensing called the money-laundering allegations “total bullshit.”...
James Woosley, Clinton's CIA Director is distancing himself from Donald Trump after being his advisor.
December 12, 2016
By Editor
James Woolsey: They have something called disinformation (click here) - dezinformatsiya - which is an interesting word because it basically means lie. And they have hundreds of thousands of people working on photoshopping photos, rewriting history. They've been doing this for a long time. They spend a lot of time and effort doing it. They do it with European political parties. But this dezinformatsiya stuff is very ugly, and they focus it on lots of different parts of the world....
I can't help believing that Mr. Woolsey was asked to back up Donald Trump in regard to the dissolving of the current intelligence agencies and he wouldn't.
dezinformatsiya
Hm.
That is not English. That is Russian. Who was Mr. Woolsey trying to impress?
Look, um, I don't believe dezinformatsiya is a secret. I am sure Russia knows dezinformatsiya is a misleading information. In case Mr. Woolsey forgot, President Putin is former KGB.
As far as I am concerned Donald Trump is CYAing. He has an excuse now should there be another attack of 911 dynamics. Donald Trump attempted to radically change the intelligence agencies in leadership and agents. The Republican Legislature didn't permit him to do this.
That is underhanded to say the least, but, the real reason Trump is seeking to end the leadership and agents of the USA intelligence is a matter of loyalty. When a Chief Executive Officer take over a corporation he/she likes to have allies and not people with their own agenda working for him/her. I think that is why Donald Trump would like to empty the intelligence agencies. It is a matter of loyalty.
Unfortunately, CIA agents and FBI agents don't grow in a garden. They become experts partly from their training, but, it is their experience that makes them priceless. It is impossible to simply empty the USA intelligence agencies without putting the country in danger. That is the problem with placing a CEO at the top of the federal government; they don't make decisions to benefit the people. CEOs like to place burdens on the people that purchase their product or service. CEOs make profit. The federal USA government is not in the business of making a profit. Not at all. The most dramatic demonstration of the error in that thinking is the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
The Challenger exploded because of the failure of O-rings in very cold weather. The Shuttle was never developed to make launches every two weeks There were scientists telling NASA there would be issues with the Shuttle O-rings should launches take place in cold weather. It wasn't a difficult observation to make, property of any metal or otherwise contracts under cold temperatures. YET, President Ronald Reagan administration vowed to make NASA profitable. Ronald Reagan was a Republican that drank the Cool-Aid. He believed the government was simply the largest corporation in the world. The launches every two weeks under Reagan was to create profitability.
Government is not interested in profit because it's specialty is governance to TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
The Shuttle program was using a reusable spaceship. IT WAS ALREADY CUTTING COSTS, but, producing no profits as a reusable spaceship. But, ideology was more important than the Shuttle Program.
The administration at NASA did remarkably well in sending up a Shuttle every two weeks. It was not the frequency of use that caused the explosion, it was the O-rings that failed in cold weather.
CEOs make horrible USA Presidents. That is a fact and not ideology.
See how one tiny mishap can spell disaster for one of the most complex machines ever engineered. (click here)
By Editor
James Woolsey: They have something called disinformation (click here) - dezinformatsiya - which is an interesting word because it basically means lie. And they have hundreds of thousands of people working on photoshopping photos, rewriting history. They've been doing this for a long time. They spend a lot of time and effort doing it. They do it with European political parties. But this dezinformatsiya stuff is very ugly, and they focus it on lots of different parts of the world....
I can't help believing that Mr. Woolsey was asked to back up Donald Trump in regard to the dissolving of the current intelligence agencies and he wouldn't.
dezinformatsiya
Hm.
That is not English. That is Russian. Who was Mr. Woolsey trying to impress?
Look, um, I don't believe dezinformatsiya is a secret. I am sure Russia knows dezinformatsiya is a misleading information. In case Mr. Woolsey forgot, President Putin is former KGB.
As far as I am concerned Donald Trump is CYAing. He has an excuse now should there be another attack of 911 dynamics. Donald Trump attempted to radically change the intelligence agencies in leadership and agents. The Republican Legislature didn't permit him to do this.
That is underhanded to say the least, but, the real reason Trump is seeking to end the leadership and agents of the USA intelligence is a matter of loyalty. When a Chief Executive Officer take over a corporation he/she likes to have allies and not people with their own agenda working for him/her. I think that is why Donald Trump would like to empty the intelligence agencies. It is a matter of loyalty.
Unfortunately, CIA agents and FBI agents don't grow in a garden. They become experts partly from their training, but, it is their experience that makes them priceless. It is impossible to simply empty the USA intelligence agencies without putting the country in danger. That is the problem with placing a CEO at the top of the federal government; they don't make decisions to benefit the people. CEOs like to place burdens on the people that purchase their product or service. CEOs make profit. The federal USA government is not in the business of making a profit. Not at all. The most dramatic demonstration of the error in that thinking is the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
The Challenger exploded because of the failure of O-rings in very cold weather. The Shuttle was never developed to make launches every two weeks There were scientists telling NASA there would be issues with the Shuttle O-rings should launches take place in cold weather. It wasn't a difficult observation to make, property of any metal or otherwise contracts under cold temperatures. YET, President Ronald Reagan administration vowed to make NASA profitable. Ronald Reagan was a Republican that drank the Cool-Aid. He believed the government was simply the largest corporation in the world. The launches every two weeks under Reagan was to create profitability.
Government is not interested in profit because it's specialty is governance to TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
The Shuttle program was using a reusable spaceship. IT WAS ALREADY CUTTING COSTS, but, producing no profits as a reusable spaceship. But, ideology was more important than the Shuttle Program.
The administration at NASA did remarkably well in sending up a Shuttle every two weeks. It was not the frequency of use that caused the explosion, it was the O-rings that failed in cold weather.
CEOs make horrible USA Presidents. That is a fact and not ideology.
See how one tiny mishap can spell disaster for one of the most complex machines ever engineered. (click here)
The discussions about the ACA are dense with misinformation. The misinformation can be linked for the most part with political speak.
The statements made by citizens on "Washington Journal" are about misinformation, improving but keeping the ACA, grateful for closing the "donut hole," mischief by insurance companies (bait and switch), political speak (deliberate misinformation) and the usual complaint about people on subsidies and how they should be on "Workfare (which is more misinformation - most people on subsidies are already working; ie: minimum wage and lack of unions).
Reports this year regarding the ACA shows increases in enrollment.
The Democrats could prove they are the answer to the shortfalls of the ACA. Formulate better policy for the American complaints. They could make strong arguments for improving the ACA and hang it around the neck of the GOP. The GOP do not have a clue, nor is their media any better. The idea the ACA needed improvements while keeping the aspects of the original LAW is not replacement.
The Democrats have always been "the people's party." They can prove they are the answer by highlighting the failure of Republicans to have an answer, except, to keep the ACA without an immediate answer to replace it.
The two states that have found the ACA good law without complaints and requests improvements are Kentucky and West Virginia. Hang the assault of the ACA around the neck of the GOP.
The Democratic politics should include the MISINFORMATION in their focus. Here again is confusion of the public, which is the GOP's politics, that were never necessary in the first place.
I find it very interesting that the people of a state such as West Virginia, which is transitioning into the 21st Century from old forms of energy, is finding the ACA important. The Democrats have been worried about transitioning economies of states dependent on energy sources, ie: Hillary Clinton. Realizing West Virginia is able to take of their people while rebuilding it's economy is a real hero's story for the Democrats.
President Obama has been the future of the USA in his administration for eight years. The RNC has no answer for the country, but, only have political speak that is REGRESSIVE.
The First Lady, Michelle has brought health as a focus in her change in school lunch programs and removing sugar from the diets of our youngest Americans. Between she and her spouse the health of Americans were enormously served.
The one area of the USA demographics that have failed in improving health were white men in their 50s. If one pays attention there is a strong influence of Republican political hubris in that failure. They eat without regard to important health concerns, including, smoking cigarettes and high fat diets. ie: Where did the idea of fried butter sticks come from? It is a problem that the Democrats can address as part of their political platform. At one time the country as a whole was very worried about cigarette smoking and high fat diets; the DNC should return to that platform and the lack of willingness of this population to change and deprive to a better longevity and quality of life.
The DNC also has a strong program in demanding enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. There should be real political focus on the failure of Republican governors to protect their citizens health.
The current Vice President-Elect was elected to Indiana governor in 2012. He found the ACA's medicaid expansion helpful to his state.
In January 2015, (click here) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Indiana’s amendment of its § 1115 demonstration, the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). The amended waiver implements the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion by building on the prior HIP demonstration. Beginning February 1, 2015, the new demonstration will cover nearly all adults ages 19-64 with income from 0-138% of the federal poverty level (FPL, about $16,242 per year for an individual in 2015) – an estimated 350,000 beneficiaries....
Cancer statistics in Indiana in 2012 (click here) include "Have No Health Care Coverage" responsible for 20.9 percent of cancers.
General Index to Indiana Cancer Reports (click here)
Democrats should also note there is a difference between incidence of illness, ie: cancer, and deaths by illness.
With the ACA there will be more reporting of incidence of disease opposed to deaths of disease. The reason for this because the ACA demands annual health screenings. The ACA is saving American lives by finding disease such as cancer and treating it. Americans will have better longevity and QUALITY OF LIFE because of the ACA and it's annual preventive screenings.
The ACA and it's focus on prevention ALSO spurs medical research to find cures and treatments for disease. All and all the USA is beginning to experience better outcomes, including longevity and quality of life.
It is the pride of Democrats to point to the ACA and their dedication to Americans.
Money isn't everything if one is not around to enjoy it. The ACA supports intact families.
"Death Rate by State" (click here)
"Cancer Incidence by State (click here)
Reports this year regarding the ACA shows increases in enrollment.
The Democrats could prove they are the answer to the shortfalls of the ACA. Formulate better policy for the American complaints. They could make strong arguments for improving the ACA and hang it around the neck of the GOP. The GOP do not have a clue, nor is their media any better. The idea the ACA needed improvements while keeping the aspects of the original LAW is not replacement.
The Democrats have always been "the people's party." They can prove they are the answer by highlighting the failure of Republicans to have an answer, except, to keep the ACA without an immediate answer to replace it.
The two states that have found the ACA good law without complaints and requests improvements are Kentucky and West Virginia. Hang the assault of the ACA around the neck of the GOP.
The Democratic politics should include the MISINFORMATION in their focus. Here again is confusion of the public, which is the GOP's politics, that were never necessary in the first place.
I find it very interesting that the people of a state such as West Virginia, which is transitioning into the 21st Century from old forms of energy, is finding the ACA important. The Democrats have been worried about transitioning economies of states dependent on energy sources, ie: Hillary Clinton. Realizing West Virginia is able to take of their people while rebuilding it's economy is a real hero's story for the Democrats.
President Obama has been the future of the USA in his administration for eight years. The RNC has no answer for the country, but, only have political speak that is REGRESSIVE.
The First Lady, Michelle has brought health as a focus in her change in school lunch programs and removing sugar from the diets of our youngest Americans. Between she and her spouse the health of Americans were enormously served.
The one area of the USA demographics that have failed in improving health were white men in their 50s. If one pays attention there is a strong influence of Republican political hubris in that failure. They eat without regard to important health concerns, including, smoking cigarettes and high fat diets. ie: Where did the idea of fried butter sticks come from? It is a problem that the Democrats can address as part of their political platform. At one time the country as a whole was very worried about cigarette smoking and high fat diets; the DNC should return to that platform and the lack of willingness of this population to change and deprive to a better longevity and quality of life.
The DNC also has a strong program in demanding enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. There should be real political focus on the failure of Republican governors to protect their citizens health.
The current Vice President-Elect was elected to Indiana governor in 2012. He found the ACA's medicaid expansion helpful to his state.
In January 2015, (click here) the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Indiana’s amendment of its § 1115 demonstration, the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). The amended waiver implements the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion by building on the prior HIP demonstration. Beginning February 1, 2015, the new demonstration will cover nearly all adults ages 19-64 with income from 0-138% of the federal poverty level (FPL, about $16,242 per year for an individual in 2015) – an estimated 350,000 beneficiaries....
General Index to Indiana Cancer Reports (click here)
Democrats should also note there is a difference between incidence of illness, ie: cancer, and deaths by illness.
With the ACA there will be more reporting of incidence of disease opposed to deaths of disease. The reason for this because the ACA demands annual health screenings. The ACA is saving American lives by finding disease such as cancer and treating it. Americans will have better longevity and QUALITY OF LIFE because of the ACA and it's annual preventive screenings.
The ACA and it's focus on prevention ALSO spurs medical research to find cures and treatments for disease. All and all the USA is beginning to experience better outcomes, including longevity and quality of life.
It is the pride of Democrats to point to the ACA and their dedication to Americans.
Money isn't everything if one is not around to enjoy it. The ACA supports intact families.
"Death Rate by State" (click here)
"Cancer Incidence by State (click here)
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