Sir Richard Branson has built a house within his house. He believes it is hurricane proof.

I hope he is okay if he did stay. I think people should be evacuated from these islands during this time of year if this is the dynamic that is going to occur.

September 6, 2017
By Natalie Evan, Steve Robson and Rachael Burford

...Earlier, (click here) business magnet Richard Branson revealed he has decided to remain on his private island in the British Virgin Islands during the storm.

The billionaire says he's survived two hurricanes on the island thanks to his specialised 'hurricane proof' buildings - but says "nothing can withstand" a Category 5 storm.

Branson wrote on his blog: "Generally speaking, we have one hurricane in the British Virgin Islands around every 10 years.

"Fortunately, most of them drift north of us, but this one is coming straight for us, with the eye of the storm heading straight for Necker, Moskito Island and Virgin Gorda....

How deep is the ocean there?

September 6, 2017

...The powerful storm (click here) heading towards Florida is so strong that it’s been picked up by machines built to detect earthquakes.

The Category 5 hurricane is reportedly generating winds powerful enough to disturb the earth at depths usually caused by seismic events. Irma reached the maximum storm level on Sept. 5 with winds surpassing 180 mph....

This is the depth of the Caribbean Sea. The continental shelf on the Atlantic side of the island is necessary to understand the effect of the central pressure depth.

This sea (click here) covers an area of approximately 2,754,000 km² (1,063,000 square miles). The deepest site in this sea is the Cayman Trench between Cuba and Jamaica at 7500 m below the surface, although average depth is 2200 m (Spalding et al. 2001)

The depth of the continental shelf in that region is most probably found on "ship wreck" location for divers. NOAA will have records as well. USGS will have some very unique surveys of the ocean basin in that region. 

...The Puerto Rico Trench (click here) contains the greatest measured depth in the Atlantic Ocean,...
...deep level within the earth. The generally accepted explanation of these diverse but apparently related phenomena is that a great linear fold of the earth's crust has buckled downward into the heavy subcrustal material. The resulting deep furrow in the ocean bottom roughly represents the upper surface of the downfold. The central belt of low gravity is explained by the mass deficiency of the downfold of light crustal material. The development of fractures associated with the bending of the crust accounts for the observed volcanism and earthquakes. The fractures have been...

A study of these dynamics should be conducted. There is a major fault in the region with fractures as well. The depth of which the central pressure is reaching should be known. It is probably disrupting Earth's crust.

The USA needs to dedicate itself to build safe structure on the Leeward Islands. It is the right thing to do.

September 6. 2017
2330.10z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

My estimate has Hurricane Irma's eye landing over Cocoa Beach. That means nothing to Florida in that there will be torrential rain throughout the state of Florida.

I am going to stand by my estimate. Cocoa Beach and Melbourne. Closer to Cocoa Beach. 

I am sure the coalition of computer programs will faithfully deliver the hurricane's major impact. Kennedy Space Center needs to batten down the hatches. The evacuations need to go forward.

The jet stream is prominent northwest of the water vapor feed from Katia to the North Atlantic. It has been pushing really cold air over the North American continent. It has been my experience in that the jet stream is unable to retain it's influences when vortexes exist. If I maintain that perspective, the path of Irma is more northwest than Northwest-west.

Irma is a very strong storm. The oscillation that exists with the other storms shows growing strength of both Jose and Katia. They are both category one storms right now. Irma has a lot of support in the troposphere. It is in the Atlantic and has all the water it wants.

There is a shadow storm in the Carribean Sea close to Katia. I thought it was dissipating and providing energy to Katia, but, that is not the case.

September 7, 2017
0030.20z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

This is the best satellite to view the shadow storm. It looks like a slightly grey spot south of Cuba. It is what Harvey looked like before it entered the Gulf. It is very faint, but, it is connected to Irma.

It is unclear what will occur with it. Right now it is a feeder system to Irma, however, as Irma moves northwest will this shadow storm move parallel and move into the Gulf as Katia dissipates? 

That shadow storm is a strong entity. As Katia and Jose has obtained status of category one, the shadow storm oscillated, but, didn't dissipate. It is a structure. How it will resolve remains unknown to me. It might be the next named storm after Katia if it fills with water vapor as Harvey did. It is a complicated and dangerous troposphere. I don't want to hear anything different. This is a disastrous troposphere. It breaks my heart to hear the reports of the dead. The USA denied this problem and now people are dying. There is also a potential to another storm behind Jose. Oh, well.

The logic behind the joint bill is obvious. It isn't obvious?

Ryan passed a bill for billions of relief to the storm victims. Yes? Yes.

And in less than a month there won't be any money to fund the bill should it have passed into law.

Come on now. No one is thinking about the country, they have their heads in the partisan clouds hanging over head at The Capital. 

I can hear Nancy Pelosi saying in her chambers, "This is ridiculous, we just passed an emergency relief bill without viable ways to fund in come end of September."

Maybe President Trump actually does want to solve problems and unit the country.

He went to Texas twice. It probably made an impression. I also think it is prudent to add time to all the efforts going forward. I think the DACA legislation may take more time than six months and yesterday President Trump stated he would act on DACA if Congress can't or won't get the job done in six months. It's something.

Americans don't want their government deadlocked over problems the country is facing. They certainly don't want people suffering because of a storm.

I don't really care about the political motivation. I care about the country. Congress needs to solve problems and not create them.

I congratulate the Democrats and President Trump in reaching across the aisle to make it all happen.

Look, the brinkmanship has to end. The legislative process has to go forward. The legislative process has been held hostage by power players. Why is that tolerated? It should never be tolerated. It is grossly unethical to take the country hostage because of extremist demands. It is turning the country over to people who don't care. I don't want to hear how extremists willing to take the country hostage are great Americans, they aren't. Not even close.

September 6, 2017
By Amber Phillips

President Trump doesn't care about his relationship with Hill Republicans. (click here)

Exhibit, like Z, of this is a very public debate about how Congress should prioritize its massively hectic — and massively consequential — September of deadlines.

Lawmakers have to figure out how to raise the debt ceiling, and fund the government, and put an $8 billion down payment on aid for the damage Hurricane Harvey left in Louisiana and Texas, and reauthorize a whole bunch of federal programs, such as the National Flood Insurance Program.

As The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis, Kelsey Snell and Elise Viebeck report, in a meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, Trump endorsed a Democratic offer to knock out the debt ceiling and Harvey aid in one vote. That was despite the fact that an hour earlier House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) had called that proposal “ridiculous and disgraceful.” The chamber Ryan presides over just passed a $7.85 billion aid package for Harvey victims tied to nothing....                         

This is unprecedented.

September 6, 2017
1130.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Three major storms at once. There isn't any room for any more, is there? That is a major difference between the Pacific and Atlantic; surface area.

That means when there are three major storms in the Atlantic Ocean there is lots and lots of heat energy seeking relief to maintain the troposphere that supports life. Does anyone ever pause to realize how dearly precious Earth is? 

There is only one Earth and it has physics. Earth doesn't measure it's physics, it simply plays it out. The troposphere is very hot if there are three major storms in the Atlantic Ocean.

Katia (The storm near Mexico; nice name, mean girl)

22.40 -96.70 09/05/18Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
22.20 -96.40 09/06/00Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
22.10 -96.30 09/06/06Z 35 1006 TROPICAL STORM

Jose (The storm near Africa, but, headed east in the direction of North America.)

12.30 -39.10 09/05/12Z 35 1008 TROPICAL STORM
12.50 -40.60 09/05/18Z 40 1006 TROPICAL STORM
12.30 -41.70 09/06/00Z 45 1004 TROPICAL STORM
12.50 -42.80 09/06/06Z 50 1002 TROPICAL STORM

Sometimes I just wish the hurricanes would go in the opposite direction and end the stupid civil wars once and for all.

Irma (It doesn't need a description, does it? Everyone knows Irma.)

16.70 -55.60 09/05/00Z 120 943 HURRICANE-4
16.60 -57.00 09/05/06Z 130 937 HURRICANE-4
16.70 -57.70 09/05/06Z 150 929 HURRICANE-5
16.80 -58.40 09/05/12Z 155 931 HURRICANE-5
17.10 -59.80 09/05/18Z 160 926 HURRICANE-5
17.40 -61.10 09/06/00Z 160 916 HURRICANE-5
17.90 -62.60 09/06/06Z 160 914 HURRICANE-5

I would expect these numbers are familiar already, but, just to clarify. The number to the far right; in this case 17.90 is the latitude on Earth where Irma can be found. The next number is the longitude to EXACT the location of Irma along latitude 17.90. The next set of numbers, 09/06/06Z, is the date and time. The date is September 6th. There is no need for the year because this information is filed under the year 2017. 06 is the time of day. Military time. 06 is 6 AM, 12 is noon, 18 is 6 PM and 00 is midnight. The next number is wind speed in KNOTS. In this case it is 160 knots or 184.1 mph. The next number is the storms central pressure in millibars (abbreviation mbar). Most people have barometers in their homes that measure in mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Usually, the barometers read 30 when the weather is nice. Right? Well, with hurricanes the numbers on the barometer falls toward 29 or 28. Lower pressure systems where there is turbulence because low pressure invites air into it's circulation to EQUALIZE it's pressure. That is what makes hurricanes so dangerous. The air surrounding has higher pressure than the center of the hurricane. Physics. The extreme of that dynamic is tornadoes. Tornadoes are low-pressure centers. The next expression is the classification/categorization of the destructive ability of the storm. Irma is now a Hurricane that falls into the category of five. It is highly destructive. The categorization is really for the public to understand. It has a scientific basis, but, interprets the destructive nature of the storm into terms the public can relate that is then interpreted into action, Yes? The public takes action based upon the category of the storm. The category system was set up to benefit the public and allow for an understanding of all the silly numbers scientists examine.

The science of predicting the category is a consistent range of destruction known to scientists because they visit the site and know their category system is still correct and accurate. All this happens to protect life on Earth. There was a time when hurricanes would kill thousands of people at a time. I think we are doing better now.

The failure of Katrina speaks for itself. The hurricane reporting system works if all pay attention to it. Let's keep Irma's destruction of life to a minimum, okay?

The investment by the USA into science has a benevolent purpose. Saving lives is a benevolent nature of the USA. It is important to have a moral face on the USA.

Their roofs hold? There is no shelter for these people to go to?

This is not that difficult. Even Halliburton can get it right. Rebar and concrete. The only thing that survives a storm like this are rocks. Bricks. Concrete. Roofs are an optional. This is crazy. These folks are praying to survive a category 5 storm. There are children that live on those islands.

September 6, 2017
By Andrew deGrandpre

In Puerto Rico, (click here) some residents are preparing to be without electricity for between four and six months.

In St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, people are praying their roofs hold.

Throughout these American territories and on other Caribbean islands in Hurricane Irma's path, there was widespread fear Tuesday night and early Wednesday, even in the face of preemptive emergency declarations, that this ferocious and possibly historic Category 5 storm will bring with it a devastating storm surge, destructive winds and dangerous flooding and lead to a long, painstaking journey back to normalcy....

I AM SICK OF POVERTY!

The only way I know for people to survive such storms is to huddle in solid buildings with doors open. Watching the wind pass through the building is all they can do. Irma is moving so their residency in such buildings/homes will be limited to hours and not days.

This is not minor advice. This is a testimony to me from people in Guam that have survived 200 mph winds. Terrifying? Of course. Survived? Yes, with children. A disaster to life's assets? That is a question?

The USA has a responsibility to it's neighbors. We responded to an earthquake in Haiti. We need to respond to the islands. We need to INVEST in the lives of these people to be sure there is no prayer of survival that is not answered!

This is so typical of the USA's lack of oversight to societies so very close to our borders. Poverty is not to be tolerated anywhere in the western hemisphere. If our neighbors are strong, we are strong.

These islands is a primary example of how Wall Street investment is only partly successful in providing for the needs of people. These islands are a vacation hot spot for Americans. While Americans see only happy faces in those that work in vacation resorts, there is profound poverty among the people. That is also and especially true of Bermuda. It takes government investment to have outreach and improve the lives of the people. The politics in these islands are silly. Governance is so easy if there were simply enough change in the lives of the people. Their lives can be automatic and without worry while living in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Kindly make island communities in the USA an election issue. Be real. Have ideas that will work and push for improved lives for these folks. Mistakes are not allowed. I love efficiency without sacrifice of life, wellness and quality of life. Think about it. There are lots and lots of volunteers in communities on these islands. They are hungry for quality of life and better futures for their families. 

September 6, 2017
0130.20z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and east hemisphere (click here for 12-hour loop - thank you)

This is very bad. The "invisible' storm is exactly what caused Harvey to cause such incredible damage and death.

Get the people out of there!

There are actually three circulation centers. One in the west Carribean Sea, one that is the Tropical Depression 13 and still another southwest of Floridda.

Havana, Cuba weather show extended exposure to rain over the next week and beyond. These have the potential to stagnant systems dumping enormous amounts of water over the Gulf and west Carribean Sea.

I suggest the USA Congress pass a temporary measure for the DACA/Dreamers. The stand alone legislation may take longer than six months to write considering the cooperation needed from the agencies of the President's Cabinet in extending and/or issuing VISAs or PERMANENT RESIDENT cards.

The USA Congress can extend DACA as it stands past the six month deadline and pass permanent immigration legislation next year. 

It can be done and it should be done.

Three storms in the Atlantic. A tropical depression is near Mexico. A tropical storm is nearer to Africa.

This is Irma to the left. 

September 5, 2017
By Andrea Thompson

Hurricane Irma gained Category 5 status on Sept. 5. An instrument aboard the Suomi NPP satellite flew over Irma when it was classified as a Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 4, 2017, at 12:32 a.m. EDT.

Hurricane Irma (click here) has become one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history; the Category 5 storm's monstrous winds are currently whipping at 185 mph (298 km/h) near its core as it barrels toward the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and possibly Florida....

Since midnight (12:01 AM) today the central pressure of Irma dropped 17 millibars and the winds velocity increased 40 knots per hour.

16.80 -53.30 09/04/12Z 105 944 HURRICANE-3
16.70 -54.40 09/04/18Z 115 944 HURRICANE-4
16.70 -55.60 09/05/00Z 120 943 HURRICANE-4
16.60 -57.00 09/05/06Z 130 937 HURRICANE-4
16.70 -57.70 09/05/06Z 150 929 HURRICANE-5
16.80 -58.40 09/05/12Z 155 931 HURRICANE-5
17.10 -59.80 09/05/18Z 160 926 HURRICANE-5

Below is the current infrared satellite of the Texas - Louisiana shoreline. The bands from the Tropical Depression are already reaching north and moving fast.


The next reading of the central pressures is published at 12 midnight. If Tropical Depression 13 has a falling central pressure the Texas Governor needs to consider suspending all operations on the coast.


September 6, 2017
0037.23z
UNISYS Infrared Satellite of the southern plains. (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Tropical Depression 13

22.40 -96.70 09/05/18Z 30 1008

There have been tens of thousands of people rescued from the Texas coast after the arrival of Harvey. It is and was a magnificent effort. Heroes were every place. It is completely obvious people are magnificent. They cannot do the impossible. The waters have not had enough time to recede and people need to realize they have the next stage of the evacuation to face and move further inland.

The people of the flooded land due to dam relief by the US Army Corp are filing lawsuits regarding the flooding by the dam release. Well. The US Army Corp is going to be releasing more water and people have been told to evacuate. With additional rain from Tropical Depression 13, the dams will have to release even more water and quite possibly more than just two dams.

I know people are upset and they have every right to file a lawsuit for their own relief, however, lack of infrastructure is not going to change reality today. No one should be taking chances. The Texas coast is saturated. There is no place for the water to go and there is now a potential for more sustained winds which brings more deterioration and danger. Please don't wait for the last minute.

FEMA and the NGOs need to consider their next staging area has a higher elevation above sea level.


September 6, 2017
0030.19z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

These storms accelerate quickly. The decisions about the citizen safety has to take place early. Forget the idea of efficiency that will provide for saving monies and allowing people their own decision making. Get them out of there. The American people might boo lost wages, but, they will be angry over loss of life. The priorities of human life have to be realigned to provide a GREATER MARGIN of safety. There is no allowance anymore for waiting to realize the sincere path or the strength of the storm. ACT ON ANY SIGN OF DANGER. That is especially true of the Gulf Coast. I am sorry the Governors along those states are so burdened, but, it is their reality and they have to place a far higher value on human life over what might be some lost wages.

The climate crisis storm is upon us. There is no waiting anymore.

Tropical Storm Jose

12.30 -39.10 09/05/12Z 35 1008 TROPICAL STORM
12.50 -40.60 09/05/18Z 40 1006 TROPICAL STORM

Tropical Storm Jose nearer to Africa also has a falling central pressure and increasing wind speeds.

Can AI be taught to value peace over war?

The world just needs a really good virus that teaches other AI to react to THREATS of war. It should be easy to teach in a "Base 2" platform.

When the options for thought, either natural or artificial, are simple such as "yes" or "no" the attraction is inevitable. There is nothing to say AI is ambitious. If AI has no ambitions and can use simple yes or no for the basis of it's ability, it is self-limiting. It will discern the confusion of outcomes and shut down the complexity.

Where is Snowden when you need him?

September 5, 2017
By Brett Molina

A race toward "superiority" (click here) between countries over artificial intelligence will be the most likely cause of World War III, warns entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has been outspoken about his fears of AI, urging countries to consider regulations now before the technology becomes more widely used.

The comments were sparked by comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said the country leading the way in AI "will become ruler of the world," reports news site RT.

"It begins," said Musk in an earlier tweet ahead of his warning about the potential risks.

"China, Russia, soon all countries w strong computer science," Musk wrote in a tweet posted Monday. "Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3 imo."...           

This is asinine.

I have been waiting for this to raise it's head this year. There is absolutely no solid reason for Americans to look too nuclear weapons for any reason. NONE!

150 million degrees Fahrenheit

That is the heat at the center of a nuclear explosion. If anyone thought Harvey was a ridiculous storm, just set off a nuck at the center of a hurricane and watch a storm that is hideous and ridiculous. Nuclear explosions don't happen above ground for a reason.

October 29, 2012

By Rachel Kaufman

To save lives and reduce costs, (click here) there would be tremendous advantage if science had a way to stop a devastating hurricane like Sandy. And scientists have thought of it before.

One idea that rears its head almost every hurricane season recently is the notion of bombing a hurricane into submission. The theory goes that the energy released by a nuclear bomb detonated just above and ahead of the eye of a storm would heat the cooler air there, disrupting the storm's convection current.

Unfortunately, this idea, which has been around in some form since the 1960s, wouldn't work....

The United States of America has prided itself on being "A Melting Pot." For that reason, many people have looked to the USA as a beacon of hope and truth.

There are many nations of people in the USA. The most recent nation of people that achieved recognition and rights were the LGBT community. That was achieved through a decision by the USA Supreme Court. Granted it was regarding natural born citizens, but, that does not mean such methods are closed to the Undocumented. Don't the Undocumented look toward the courts for a fair hearing?

This may be humorous to some, but, kindly remember Christopher Columbus was an illegal immigrant. Think about it. The Revolutionary War wasn't won by colonists only. The USA military has a real appreciation for the Undocumented. THAT ISN'T FEDERAL POLICY? Why soldiers and not others? Women's rights, children's rights, and protected populations are important to the USA. At least they were until recent political idiots elected to office. White Men Only allowed to apply. Discrimination. Racism. Bigotry is all very real paradigms with this administration. The hostile political environment exists within the recent past elections. It is all signs of a very dangerous paradigm, the ridicule of the Undocumented is a part of a political paradigm that is harming the USA. It needs to stop and PERMANENT civil rights have to take the forefront as the domestic agenda.

This is a very real path that demands attention.

"The Rule of Law" has been the EXCUSE of legislative lethargy for decades in regard to Immigration law!

Governance is about balance and NOT using innocent people as a political weapon. The Undocumented has been used as a political weapon since the Tea Party discovered the southern border. 

The idea "The Rule of Law" is in jeopardy is NOT an issue. Every one of the Undocumented are submitted to the same domestic laws as all other citizens. 

The idea the Undocumented are stealing jobs is nonsense. The current unemployment rate is exceptionally low, HOWEVER, as of last month, it ticked up. As the Undocumented are forced out of their homes there will be an economic impact. There have been millions of the Undocumented deported in recent years, including those years under President Obama.

The states may examine the potential of protecting the Undocumented, including those that know no other life. I would strongly suggest the Dreamers find a path with employers and/or universities and/or their professional peers. Don't wait for the government to solve the problem. There is the idea a Class Action lawsuit can be filed against the US Government based in the cultural reality of the Dreamers.

Updated: 6/16/17

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 4-4 split decision on June 23, 2016,(click here) effectively blocked President Obama’s executive actions on immigration that expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and created Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA).

Then, on June 16, 2017, the Trump administration completely eliminated the DAPA program. DHS Secretary John Kelly signed a memorandum that rescinds Deferred Action for Parents of Americans. If it could have been implemented, DAPA could have helped an estimated 3.7 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. obtain temporary employment authorization and protection from deportation.

There’s still reason for undocumented immigrants to remain optimistic. Immigration advocates and organizations are pushing hard for legislative change that will provide relief to undocumented immigrants already in the United States and positively contributing to the U.S. economy.          

The Undocumented of the USA exist for one reason only, poverty.

When the Undocumented came to the USA decades ago to work for minimal income, they were seeking to live and to leave poverty. It is impossible for many immigrants to navigate the immigration process for the cost alone. 

Why did and does the poverty exist? Mexico is immediately south of the USA border. Why was there poverty at all?

I defy anyone to say the USA is not at fault in it's foreign policy with Mexico. This issue goes back decades if not a century. When was the Mexican - American war? There hasn't been an improvement with foreign policy with Mexico since.

Poverty is a strategy as well. It is a military strategy. It is a long term military strategy. It is really difficult to justify the impoverishment and the lack of sovereign authority of the Mexican government of it's own country. The drug cartels run rampant. The drug cartels have more power than the government and the corruption within the government is still being witnessed with the slaughter of college students.

The answer by the USA for Mexico was to allow the Undocumented to cross the border and find work. "The Wetback." That was foreign policy. All of a sudden, since September 11, 2001 and the allowance of fear as a political voice the Undocumented are a threat as they never, ever have been before.

In recent years there were children that traveled alone to the USA to find a safe haven. These children are the promise to their countries, yet, to have them survive the day, parents set them on a path that would never serve the future of their countries.

The Undocumented came to the USA because that was the only path forward. What brought the Undocumented to the USA so very long ago is STILL the reason today. That is pure negligence of the USA policy to Mexico, Central and South America. It is easier to point a finger at communism or socialism or some other excuse rather than have a policy that helps the western hemisphere to be sophisticated, educated, STABLE and profitable. It is hideous to realize the USA turned to China and India for cheap labor when there is an entire continent to the south of the USA with people completely as competent a worker as those in the east if not more so.

So, don't bother trying to find a dialogue about the moral content of deportation, it does not exist. The Undocumented that came to the USA did so to be productive and successful no matter the poverty they faced. Poverty in the USA is very different than the poverty south of the USA border. IN EVIDENCE of the desire to be a productive member of the USA is the existence of at least two decades of their children. Children that know no other life. They are more American than most of the rest of the population. They should be embraced and valued and allowed their future path. That path was laid for them a century ago.

Immigration application fees (click here) increased dramatically—some by over 60 percent—in December 2016. The fee for US Citizenship went up to $725.  

That’s just one more reason to apply for citizenship now. Historically immigration fees are always on the rise. But once you’re a citizen, none of that matters because you’ll never pay an immigration fee again.

The current application fee for naturalization (US citizenship) is $640 plus the $85 biometrics fee, totaling $725. While it is one of the most expensive immigration fees, in the long term, investing in citizenship will save you $1,000’s.

There are only two options if you want to live and work in the US permanently: citizenship and permanent residency. Permanent residents have to pay $455 every ten years to renew their green cards. Over the course of a lifetime, that’s nearly $3,000 and potentially much more as immigration rates will likely keep increasing....

The inductees of UNESCO for 2017. Fantastic.

September 1, 2017
By Elaine Glusac

View of the coastal plain with Igaliku/ Garðar (click here) (Greenland)

UNESCO 2017 (click here)

Unesco annually expands its list (click here) of World Heritage Sites, and this year’s class of inductees, announced in July, offers both stimulation for travelers, with a rich and varied group of intriguing sites, and a reminder, especially with its remote and more vulnerable picks, that the list itself is not about tourism.

The World Heritage program aims to identify and protect cultural and natural sites around the world that demonstrate “outstanding value to humanity,” according to its website.

Those spots sometimes constitute the most sought-after destinations for global travel: the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru. Others, though, are more obscure or hard to reach or both, including three members of the class of 2017: Okinoshima, a sacred island in Japan; Dauria, a wild landscape shared by Mongolia and Russia; and Asmara, the capital of Eritrea in East Africa.

Okinoshima, for example, is off limits to women, per ancient practice. But it is the inclusion of Asmara, cited by Unesco for its modernist architecture dating to its era as an Italian colony, that is perhaps the most controversial choice. Eritrea is the subject of a U.S. State Department travel warning noting that the government restricts travel of foreigners to Asmara. The United Nations has accused Eritrea’s government of crimes against humanity, including enslavement and murder....

"The Undiscovered Country" of President Donald Trump. The Gays.

I might point out, the Ambassador is still a white man.

September 2, 2017

By Lisa Keen

 In this Dec. 12, 2016, file photo, Richard Grenell, left, arrives at Trump Tower in New York. Grenell, who served as the spokesman for the U.S. at the United Nations under former President George W. Bush, is considered a top choice to be nominated as the United States' ambassador to Germany.

President Trump on Friday evening(click here) announced he has nominated Richard Grenell, an openly gay Republican activist from California, to be the U.S. ambassador to Germany. The nomination marks the first time President Trump has appointed an openly gay person to a position in his administration.

Grenell’s appointment has been expected since late July when major media outlets reported that sources said President Trump had offered the position to Grenell. The reports did not identify any sources. Grenell did not respond to queries.

The nomination, if confirmed by the Senate, will make Grenell one of only 10 openly gay people to serve as ambassadors; all have been men. Grenell’s post represents the country with the largest population thus far: 82 million.

President Obama appointed seven openly gay men for ambassadorial posts– to Spain, Denmark, New Zealand, the Dominican Republican, Australia, Vietnam, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. President Clinton was the first president to nominate an openly gay person to be an ambassador: Jim Hormel to Luxembourg. President George W. Bush was the first Republican president to name an openly gay ambassador: Michael Guest to Romania....

Remember the "White Roof" movement to safe energy? That idea was taken one step further.

This is the American method of growing product integrity and ultimately efficiency. It was why President Obama decided to push the technology sector to engage new ideas and concepts.

It is the way American invention works. The ideas take shape in the rough and as time goes by and more and more is learned, the technology becomes perfected. It is at the stage of 'learning' that investment is most helpful and proves to be profitable. A wise investor sees the potential and encourages it's development and perfection to make the world a better place.

The improvement in the quality of life by modern day technology can't be understated. This is the next step in WHOLESOMENESS to the moral American. Unfortunately, greed has become an American standard that is rarely identified. There is a vast difference between wholesome moral values and that of greed.

September 4, 2017

By Robert F. Service

Most of us have heard of solar water heaters. (click here) Now there’s a solar water cooler, and the technology may sharply lower the cost of industrial-scale air conditioning and refrigeration.

The new water coolers are panels that sit atop a roof, and they’re made of three components. The first is a plastic layer topped with a silver coating that reflects nearly all incoming sunlight, keeping the panel from heating up in the summer sun. The plastic layer sits atop the second component, a snaking copper tube. Water is piped through the tube, where it sheds heat to the plastic. That heat is then radiated out by the plastic at a wavelength in the middle region of the infrared (IR) spectrum, which is not absorbed by the atmosphere and instead travels all the way to outer space. Finally, the whole panel is encased in a thermally insulating plastic housing that ensures nearly all the heat radiated away comes from the circulating water and not the surrounding air.

Researchers at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California....                  

Hurricane Irma and it's shadow storm.

This is the second time a major storm has been accompanied by another storm on a parallel course. Harvey had a shadow storm the entire time it was in the Gulf. It was near Florida and permanent the entire time Harvey was in the Gulf of Mexico. 

September 4, 2017
1430.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere

The shadow storm shows up best in this satellite picture just north and west of Irma. It started quite differently. It can be seen in the image below as a shadow in the same location (north-west of Irma), but, more diffuse.

September 3, 2017
1330.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere







September 4, 2017
0815.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere

The top image (September 4, 1430)  followed the satellite image above. It was in the image below (September 4, 2330) when Irma's velocity east over took the shadow storm and it is viewed directly north of Iram.


September 4, 2017
2330.19z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere

In the image below of September 5, 0530.19z the shadow storm has consolidated north of Irma and gained water vapor content.

September 5, 2017
0530.19z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere

In the next image of September 5, 1130.18z the shadow storm is more diffuse, but, still evident. I believe these shadow storms draw in necessary water vapor to assist the larger storm. The shadow storm has not completely gone. It may very well reorganize with more water vapor yet again.

September 5, 2017
1130.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere

This is the current image below and just an hour later Irma's shadow storm is looking as though it is gaining water vapor content.

September 5, 2017
1230.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

It is an oscillation system that has a push me - pull you relationship to increase water vapor content as the physics of heat demands it. There is that other system behind Irma in the water vapor trail. That system is nearer Africa and could develop into an independent storm as well. I do not think the shadow storm will become an independent system at this point. 

The climate is complicated these days.