34 Days until Inaguration - Shooting Hoops a Priority ?

The teams need to LOWER ticket prices.

A recession is a time to build support from fans, not alienate them through insensitive ticket prices.

Can't outsource stadium attendance.

Sports, too, hit hard by economy (click here)
Once thought recession-proof, teams and leagues retrenching
(Graphic click here)
American sports have long been viewed as recession-proof, but Monday's decision by the Arena Football League to cease operations for the 2009 season is the latest indicator that the economic downturn has reached the games people play ... and watch....



Bulls vs Celtics - December 19 (click here)



Who's next for Obama's basketball dream team? (click here)
December 17, 2008
So just how big a basketball team does President-elect Barack Obama aim to build with his Cabinet?
Education Secretary-designate Arne Duncan is a longtime hoops buddy of Obama's who played pro ball in Australia.
"I just want to dispel one rumor before I take questions: I did not select Arne because he's one of the best basketball players I know," Obama said to laughter Tuesday. "Although I will say that I think we are putting together the best basketball-playing Cabinet in American history."
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, a potential House appointee or candidate for U.S. Senate, played pro ball in Greece. Former Illinois Public Health Director Eric Whitaker may also be up for a health-related post. Reggie Love, Obama's friend, bodyguard and a former Duke basketball player, is also likely along for the ride.
Obama's brother-in-law Craig Robinson, head basketball coach at Oregon State, could also join the games if Obama, as he has threatened only half in jest, replaces the White House bowling alley with a basketball court.
Abdon Pallasch

Cellulose Ethanol is a priority for the nominated Ag Secretary. Cellulose Ethanol can be developed from drought resistant crops.



Transition: Adding Salazar and Vilsack (click here)
Posted: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:26 AM
by Carrie Dann
Tom Vilsack's elevation to Ag secretary means he "would be the fourth high-level appointment of a former presidential campaign rival to Obama's team, following Clinton for secretary of State, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden for vice president and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for Commerce secretary."
By the way, it’s a big victory for ethanol advocates to have Vilsack in the Cabinet ...

The British Aren't Coming - The invasion was "W"rong and the occupation has no real definition other than destructive.

The West's presence in Iraq was never received well. While removing Saddam was a priority to most Iraqis regardless of ethnicity, the continued occupation and Western priorities were never a priority with any of the citizenry and/or the Parliament that favors good relations with Iran.

The infrastruture problems that still plague Iraq, including intact oil pipelines, stability outside the Green Zone, continue to haunt the current 'central authority' with 'diplomacy' as the sole resolve to any issues.

The interesting dynamics that allowed such decentralized authority to 'take hold' in Iraq were the long established "No Fly Zones" which provided stability for the Kurds and Southern Shia. Also contributing to the failing Iraqi infrastructure and ability of The West 'to muster the resources' of the Iraqis, was the poorly planned post invasion strategy that allowed Iraq to fall into anarchy thus escalating the need for local and regional militias.

Deploying troops out of Iraq should be a priority as the sincere fight against the threats against The West lie in the region of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and India. The tensions between Iran and The West should somewhat dissipate with the exiting of The West to perhaps provide 'better' relations for diplomacy to work rather than aggression.



British Prime Minister Gordon arrives in the Green Zone on July 19, 2007 in Bagdad, Iraq. The surprise visit to the Middle East, will begin with the Prime Minister holding talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders in Baghdad today.
(Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Europe)



(click title to entry - thank you) Today's agreement in Baghdad between Gordon Brown and the Iraqi prime minister to formally end Britain's military mission in Iraq by 31 May next year marks the end of one of the most controversial operations involving Britain's armed forces in modern times.
Opposition at home to the 2003 invasion and lack of any coherent post-invasion plan has had a serious impact on the morale of the armed forces, how they see the general public, and how the public regards them. Their initial welcome in Basra and Iraq's Shia-dominated south soon evaporated as militia filled the gap left by the failure to follow military action with economic and political progress.
At home, a growing feeling that British troops were not being appreciated led General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, to call for welcome-home parades.
In Basra, Britain's military commanders became increasingly frustrated by the time it took to train effective Iraqi security forces....

Pakistan seeks clarification over its role in the Mumbai attacks. (click here for video)

"...we are willing to cooperate...."

This chronic retreat into denial by Pakistan is to relieve internal aggitation.


Indian police guard the entrance to the damaged Nariman House in Mumbai December 16, 2008. Nariman House, home to the Mumbai chapter of the Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish movement, was one of 10 sites attacked by gunmen during a 60-hour siege in the city that began on November 26, 2008.
REUTERS/Jayanta Shaw

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said there is still no firm proof that gunmen who attacked the Indian city of Mumbai came from Pakistan.

In the video by BBC there is a strong insistence the 'players' in the terrorist attacks that were successful and those trumped by Interpol primarily originated in Pakistan. We know this is the case, we also know there is a new government in Pakistan. To that end, the Pakistani government is a bit compelled to investigate all possibilities regarding the British reality.

It is my belief, from the instant Danny Peril was kidnapped, that Pakistan has a well established terrorist underground lasting decades. That degree of entrenchment isn't going to be irradicated instantly if the citizens of Pakistan are to survive the outcome and the sovereignty of that country remain intact.

It was a bit disheartening to realize India was preparing an attack into Pakistan based upon the Mumbai incident, however, India has sustained a good deal of damage to its infrastructure and citizens that demand relief.

Realizing that and recognizing the escalating efforts against Europe by the terrorists of this region, noted recently in France, there really is no other path except to insist this incident is never repeated and the terrorist networks that have become 'cozy' in Pakistan be irradicated in whichever methodology seems to work best.

Indian police to question possible Mumbai "scouts" (click here)
Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:16am EST
By Rina Chandran
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian police will question two jailed members of an Islamist militant group over whether they scouted Mumbai landmarks before last month's deadly attacks on the financial hub, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.
Indians Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin, who were arrested in February over an attack on a police camp in northern India, will appear in court in the next two days to determine how long they can be held in custody in Mumbai, said Deven Bharti, a police commissioner in India's financial capital.
Police say Ansari was trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistan-based Islamist militant group India, Britain and the United States have blamed for the Mumbai attacks, which killed at least 179 people....

Journalism at Risk - Torture, false accusations and unreasonable due process

Muntadhar al-Zeidi expressed anger toward George W. Bush in a way that was available to him. The expression of dissent was aimed at Bush not the Iraqi's Prime Minister Maliki. Yet, due to 'customery priviledge' whereby insulting a guest means insulting a host within the Iraqi culture, Mr. al -Zeidi is charged with two counts and not one. That is NOT due process as I recognize it.

There is a good chance Mr. al-Zeidi may have received the wrath of police during his apprehension, which is police brutality. There is a chance he was victimized additionally through torture. The UN, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies need to investigate his well being and follow his progress through the '? judicial ?' system of Iraq.



December 16th, 2008 10:58 am
Shoe thrower 'beaten in custody' (click here)
BBC
The brother of the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at US President George W Bush has said that the reporter has been beaten in custody.
Muntadar al-Zaidi has suffered a broken hand, broken ribs and internal bleeding, as well as an eye injury, his older brother, Dargham, told the BBC.
Mr Zaidi threw his shoes at Mr Bush at a news conference, calling him "a dog".
The head of Iraq's journalists' union told the BBC that officials told him Mr Zaidi was being treated well....

December 15th, 2008 9:39 pm

US: Detainee dies in US custody in Iraq (click here to Michael Moore dot calm)
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military says a detainee has died of an apparent heart attack while in custody at a U.S. detention facility in Baghdad.
Monday's statement says the 25-year-old man was pronounced dead by doctors at a combat hospital after losing consciousness at Camp Cropper.
The military did not release the name or nationality of the detainee, nor did it say why he was being held....

35 Days until Inauguration - Are the wheels are falling off the National Security Car?

I think the entire region of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, including Kashmir, need to be addressed with a Summit that provides continuity and 'realistic and achievable' outcomes to end the indecision that leads to violence.

Pakistan starts releasing Jamaat-ud-Dawa guys (click here)
16 Dec 2008, 0524 hrs IST, ET Bureau
...Showing no sign of taking further tough action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Pakistan Punjab police has already released four detained Dawa workers and also removed police guards at the house of the group’s regional head Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi. Alvi heads the PoK chapter of the Jamaat and was put under house arrest last week. Reports quoting senior Pakistani police officials said that the police had no instructions to detain the “regional or second-line leadership” of the Jamaat raising doubts about the current action.
Numerous reports from Pakistan have also pointed out that the Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s main office in Muridke near Karachi continued to operate and that there was no official order to shut down in spite of UNSC ban that involves shutting down the functioning of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Even a Pakistani newspaper report had labeled the Muridke region the home of religious militancy....

India's Defense Minister Rules Out War with Pakistan (click here)
By Steve Herman New Delhi16 December 2008
Seeking to dampen persistent media speculation a retaliatory strike is in the works against Pakistan, India's defense minister is declaring no military action is being planned. But he warns Islamabad to act against terrorists on its soil, if it wants normal relations with India. A.K. Antony says war is not an option, as a response to the terror attack on Mumbai....

...A group calling itself the Afghan Revolutionary Front had warned of "several bombs" in the store in a letter to the French AFP news agency.
"If you do not send someone to intervene before Wednesday December 17, they will explode," said the letter, which was handed over to police.
"Send the message to your president that he must withdraw his troops from our country before the end of February 2009 or else we will take action in your capitalist department stores and this time, without warning."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for vigilance and firmness in the battle against terrorism following the incident....

Oh, what a joke this is. How much of the Bailout is going to his cause?

I'd also be looking at anyone that actually walked away with plenty of profits and 'got on in time.'


Lots of computers and bright folks working for Madoff that is sorta looks like one of thoes 'boiler room deal making NIGHTMARES. What happens to the folks that helped it happen?

When is the structuring of the financial world going to reflect reality rather than, "Have I got a deal for you."

There was no protecting from this. He was eminently qualified to be carrying out independant investments. I sincerely believe the SEC has been watered down in its authority so much by this administration that it can't do anything, no different than the FDA. I mean you have to know that when two 'oily' men, one from Texas Oil and one from Halliburton get away with the crimes they committed, it has to be because the laws governing such issues have been changed and nullified. So, to completely point a finger at the SEC isn't prudent either, so much as allowing them to be scapegoated. Their authority has changed drastically under this adminisration and all that has to be examined as well.

The sad reality is that the SEC might have been told to 'do nothing' because of the size of the accounts involved, $50 billion. An investigation that would actually derail that much money could cause the Bush White House a whole lot of economic headaches all by itself. How much of what Madoff was involved in was given a 'nod' for the sake of stabilizing economic disaster. Basically, Madoff wasn't reporting his losses. He wasn't putting forward an honest 'balance sheet' and if he did there would be calamity every place, especially for him.

This is just too big a 'con' to look the other way. I am sure there are issues that reach into government, but, the question is to whom and for how long.

At least there is an attempt by David Johnson at the NYTs to sort through law and politics.

The Founding Fathers (not mothers) played politics, too.

The Illinois Governor is not wrong, he is innocent. Full of hubris and 'local political culture,' but, not guilty of a crime. He is playing a little loose with his powers both politically and legally, but, he isn't that horrible human being everyone wants to make him and his wife out to be.

If I can regress, there was a time in Arkansas when a couple that later occupied the White House knew all too well the unpleasant demands 'that came with serving the people.' It ain't easy and much of what has been so valuable regarding the service of Hillary and Bill Clinton was their ability to understand the Republican's ability to manipulate the public. I think if asked Bill Clinton would state, that the citizens of Arkansas became more sensitive to 'exploitation of their emotions' vs. 'their own ability to make informed and CORRECT decisions' about their choices for ELECTED authority.

If you recall during his run for President, Barak Obama stated (and I paraphrase), "...you will hear many bad things about me coming from the opposition. They will try to make you believe I am whom I am in a very negative way...."

I'd like to refer to a paragraph in Mr. Johnson's article.

...But talk is not enough. Any case will ultimately turn on the strength of the tapes, and whether the governor made it clear to any of the candidates for the Senate seat that he would give it only in exchange for something of value....

When I look at the 'charges,' and mind you there have been no indictments; they seem very trivial to me. Insulting. Crass. A lot of hubris and 'power speak.' Perhaps one might call some of it zealotry. All those things, but, when politics gets nasty the realm of civility becomes challenged. Talk is simply talk and when a Governor is speaking to a trusted collegue in his Cheif of Staff, you better believe feathers are going to fly in some instances.

I mean look at the viciousness of the political climate the Governor has to face today. Media services are attacking everyone and everything in trying to get a footing that will bring audience attention. The Illinois legislature is attempting to build steam against the Governor by a man whom's daughter is the Illinois Attorney General. She has stated she has ambitions to be Governor in 2010. THAT is a conflict of interest and she should have recused herself from any proceedings. That conflict of interest alone makes every proceedings either court or legislative automatically an element of appeal.

There is nothing wrong with investigating the aspects of the charges for impeachment, but, when Governor Rod Blagojevich is found innocent of any charges that will directly weigh on the legislators that have acted against him for political gain and they will find themselves voted out in the next election. If the Illinois legislature acts for political reasons without solid basis for there proceedings there will be repercussions and their are those already waiting for that to happen and hoping it does.

I find the Governor's will to stand his ground and see this through more than admirable, but, in all honesty if one is innocent then why would you not do exactly that and allow everyone else make all the mistakes and point to that reality in retrospect.

The real peril in allowing a media frenzy to dictate the outcome to ELECTED authority is that it endangers the democracy and insults the Constitution. We all have rights to Due Process and that includes ELECTED authorities. If we allow any aspect of Due Process to be underminded for 'political posturing' we are losing the basis of 'good politics,' 'good government' and the POWER of the vote.

I believe in our Constitution. It is strong. We have come out of the undermining of a very tenacious set of circumstances with a Republican dominated legislature and executive branch to elect a man I firmly believe holds the hopes and best outcomes to the USA. We have to allow the 'time' it takes for Due Process to work and believe regardless the outcome that we have acheived the ultimate 'good' of our democracy.

Hey, look. If folks in Illinois want to make a political circus of their government when there is so much in crisis including our national security, what does that tell you?

Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

36 Day until Inauguration - Human Induced Global Warming really got rolling in the 1960s, didn't it?

Obama's green team (click title to entry - thank you)
Obama's choices to lead the Energy Department and the EPA must seize the opportunity to turn around national policy.
December 15, 2008

...Also said to be on tap: Carol Browner, President Clinton's EPA chief, in an as-yet-undefined position coordinating climate-change policies, and Nancy Sutley, a Los Angeles deputy mayor overseeing energy and environmental issues, as head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Together, they'll aim to head off the worst effects of global warming, a vast challenge that will be complicated by the nation's economic woes. Yet the political support for the needed changes is enormous -- if they can't get it done, it may never happen.

Monday, February 12, 2007
Climate Change Animation and Graph (click here)

NASA reports that 2006 was the fifth warmest year on record and 2007 will likely be even warmer - possibly the warmest year in the history of instrumental measurements. Over the past 30 years Earth has warmed by about 0.6 degrees Centigrade or 1.08 degrees Fahrenheit. NASA has documented this increase with an animation. The first and last frames of their climate change animation can be seen in the image at right. It shows the increase in annual mean temperature in one year increments between 1880 and 2006....

Global Warming (click here)
by Holli Riebeek

design by Robert Simmon

May 21, 2007
The original version of this fact sheet, published in 2002 and written by John Weier, is archived as a PDF.
Over the last five years, 600 scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sifted through thousands of studies about global warming published in forums ranging from scientific journals to industry publications and distilled the world’s accumulated knowledge into this conclusion: “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”...

Drivers halt Afghan supply route

By Syed Shoaib Hasan

BBC News, Islamabad

Lorry drivers in north-west Pakistan say they will no longer deliver supplies to Nato and US-led forces in Afghanistan due to worsening security.
The move follows a spate of hijackings and attacks on their vehicles by Taleban militants.
At least 75% of overland supplies to foreign forces in Afghanistan travels through North-West Frontier Province.
The supplies are critical for troops in an increasingly drawn-out campaign against Taleban insurgents....

Shi'ite Revenge - Quite a difference between NOW and the attacks on The Imam Ali Mosque, huh?

The 'real' crime of it all is that the USA didn't speak the language and the Shi'ites were oppressed. When they found the will to publish a newspaper it was closed. What were their options in facing still more oppression in a so called 'liberated' Iraq? Mind you, there was blanket anarchy throughout Iraq and the militias were part of the local security to the extent they could arm themselves and stand their ground.

Bremer never used diplomacy to any degree within Iraq in the villages and hamlets of Iraq. He used force and oppressive control. That isn't what Iraq or the Shi'ites needed. And this particular incident was sparked when the Grand Ayatollah was wisked away to Britain for a heart procedure. It was a deliberate strategic act to separate the Grand Ayatollah from his people in order to victimize Sadr and attempt to kill him once forced to take refugee at his Mosque.

It's getting better in Iraq for the Shi'ites, but, it has been a long road of bloody civil war. I can understand the anger and frustration with Bush's appearance and in all honesty, the journalist wasn't seeking attention, he was expressing the views of his readers. At least, this time, there was no blood shed.

Inside Najaf's Imam Ali mosque (click title of entry - thank you)
"We will do anything to stop the Americans. They have sex and drinking and other things, and we don't want this."
By Rory McCarthy

...For seven days the militia of Muqtada al-Sadr, the rebel Iraqi Shiite cleric, had been fighting the Americans on the edge of the holy city of Najaf. Yesterday, on the eighth day, the Americans finally advanced toward the narrow streets of the old city. The push began before 7 a.m. with a wave of heavy bombing; then dozens of tanks and Humvees drove in, blocking roads and fighting off the ragtag militia....

ALI AL-BAYATI, SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAQ (click here): First of all, we are very pleased that Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani has arrived in Najaf safely and he is going to announce his mission and his plan to come out of this crisis for this holy city.Basically, it's about a peaceful solution to the whole crisis.The Mehdi Army will have to leave the holy shrine of Imam Ali and then all the arms from the city has got to be collected and then everybody will have to go back home, and the multinational force, they have to cease fire, they have to stop flying the helicopter gunship and use heavy tanks and they will have to leave the city and we'll have to go and solve the whole crisis by peaceful and political means.And for Moqtada al-Sadr, he will have to go into the political process, everybody is opening his arms for him to go into that process, and we look forward to new Iraq, with the election coming in 2005....

Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and the Democratization of Iraq in Post-Saddam (click here)

He did gave an interesting assessment of Afghanistan and lets hope the people of that country continue to move toward stability with the confrontation of terrorist networks in Pakistan.

The Republicans cannot accept the FACT they have failed the country and are out of office !

The entire scandal is a Post-Republican Defeat attempt at character assassination. Nothing has happened here except some high riding hubris with some Chicago Powerplayers. Now, the Republicans are going to try to cast doubt on Emanuel and Obama himself.

Ask yourself, "Is this out of character for the people involved?" and the answer will most assuredly be a resounding 'yes.' Barak Obama has never used any opportunity for his own personal wealth. He went from President of the Harvard Law Review into being a ? Community Organizer ?. Come on, already, if he wanted to be wealthy becoming a Community Organizer was not the way to go.

These maneuvers are unscrupulous because the Republicans are desperate.

Enough already.

There is nothing 'going on' that anyone needs to care about and I remind whom is still in the White House pulling strings in every way possible. The Bush/Cheney Administration attempts to demoralize this nation all the time, there is nothing surprising about this or any other high jinks until January 20th.


22 months ago: BERKELEY, CA - FEBRUARY 01: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (L) and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger shake hands during a press conference at UC Berkeley February 1, 2007 in Berkeley, California. BP announced that it has selected UC Berkeley along with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to be part of a $500 million research program exploring how bioscience can be used to increase energy production while reducing the impact of energy consumption. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rod Blagojevich;Arnold Schwarzenegger

RNC Goes on the Offense re: Blagojevich and Obama. McCain Comes to the Defense (click here)
December 15th, 2008 By: Michael Merritt Tags:
The Republican National Committee yesterday released an ad titled “Questions Remain.” It posed that Question everyone’s been asking regarding the scandal surrounding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich: What did Obama know and when did he know it? Obama, for his part, says that he knew nothing, and reversed what his former chief strategist David Axelrod said last month about being in contact with the Governor regarding his preferences for the seat.
Meanwhile, it transpires that even if Obama himself didn’t have contact with Blagojevich, his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel may have. Of course, there’s nothing yet to suggest anything sinister between Emanuel and Blagojevich, but I think it shows that this first real test of an administration not even in power yet is not going well. The inability to handle possible scandal well is definitely one of Obama’s weaknesses that, while he’s improved upon during the campaign, still is not that well oiled of a machine.
Obama can count on some bi-partisan help though, namely from his former rival John McCain.
Via Politico, McCain blasted the RNC ad today:...

Emanuel "Dispatched" To Discuss Senate Seat (click here)
With unanswered questions fueling speculation about the extent of President-elect Obama's transition team's contacts with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich regarding his vacant Senate seat, new details emerged about the controversy. The Wall Street Journal reports that Obama "had begun thinking about his Senate successor even before the presidential election, and dispatched Rahm Emanuel days after the vote to contact" Bagojevich aides "to begin talking up Mr. Obama's preferred candidates, associates of Mr. Emanuel said this weekend." Emanuel "didn't talk to Mr. Blagojevich directly about the matter, by phone or in person, according to people familiar with the matter. He spoke by phone with aides to the governor, those people say."...

37 Days until Inauguration - No one has done anything wrong. Stop making empty accusations. Everyone back to their corners.

The Illinois Governor needs to appoint the next Senator for the state. He needs to do it now and I would make it the first thing I did tomorrow morning.
The State legislature has very weak grounds for impeachment proceedings. The ONLY aspect of any of this circus that carries brevity is a POTENTIAL ethical violation for having a ? corrupt ? conversation with his Chief of Staff.
In my opinion, there is a weak case against the Governor every place including any ethics violation. The Governor needs to take the 'bull' by the horns and assign a new Illinois Senator and I won't waste any time either.
The 'feeding frenzy' over this mess is getting stupid and disgusting, but, hey this is America where any media scandal makes money !


Blagojevich Doesn’t Plan to Resign, Spokesman Says (Update2) (click here)
By Joe Carroll and Andrew Harris
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich doesn’t plan to resign tomorrow, a spokesman said, contradicting speculation by the state’s attorney general that the governor might quit in response to federal corruption charges.
“Not true -- the Gov has no plans of resigning tomorrow,” Lucio Guerrero, a spokesman for Democrat Blagojevich, said today in an e-mailed statement.
Blagojevich, 52, has ignored calls to resign since his Dec. 9 arrest at his Chicago home for what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called “a political corruption crime spree.” The governor and his former chief of staff, John Harris, 46, were accused of attempting to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat, soliciting bribes and trying to pressure the Chicago Tribune to halt critical editorials.
The scandal means Illinois, the fifth most-populous state, may have to wait several months to bring its Senate contingent to full strength if lawmakers succeed with plans to strip Blagojevich of authority to fill Obama’s seat, said Charlie Wheeler, an associate professor at the University of Illinois- Springfield. Every U.S. state is entitled to two Senate seats....

38 Day until Inauguration - Climate Change is front and center

Wong announces $1.4b climate change fund (click here)
Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says small businesses and community groups will get $1.4 billion over five years to help them adjust to the introduction of an emissions trading scheme.
The money will be available to businesses and groups purchasing energy efficient equipment through a Climate Change Action Fund.
She says there will also be grants for developing long-term energy-efficiency plans.
"This is about the Government delivering on its commitment to ensure that the monies raised from the scheme are invested back into Australian businesses and Australian households to enable everyone to make the transition to a low-pollution future," she said....

Ice storm paralyzes parts of New England

December 13, 2008
07:00:35 AM EDT
Northern North American Satellite (click here to animate satellite). All those 'clouds' are storm clouds. The 'torquoise areas' reflect snow.


December 13, 2008
1130z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of North And West Hemisphere (click here for 24 hour loop) - There are two additional vortex systems coming across the country. One currently over Idaho and the other south of Alaska.

The chances there are some dead is high with this degree of cold and power loss. There is also going to be a repeat of the event in a short period of time. Everybody better get ready ! People at risk should be staying with family or younger folks to be safe.


December 12, 2008
Brunswick, ME


December 11, 2008
Covington, LOUISIANA
Photographer states :: First snow in several years in Covington.


December 11, 2008
Covington, LOUISIANA
Photographer states :: First snow in several years in Covington. If Robert Frost had seen bamboo bending under heavy snow, would he have written "Bamboo" instead of "Birches"? Probably not -- the bamboo merely bends but the stalks don't click as ice-clad branches do.


December 12, 2008
Worcester, MA
Photographer states :: Worcester, MA, looks like a war zone after last night's ice storm.

The trail of the ice storm
The graphic below shows the path of the storm that knocked out power to nearly 1 million New England customers.

Franken proves a point about disenfranchised voters in Minnesota !

Senate recount: 133 + 5 ÷ 87 = 1 big muddle (click title to entry - thank you)
A state panel's haggling over 133 stray Minneapolis votes and previously rejected absentee ballots in all 87 counties fell to Al Franken's favor.
By KEVIN DUCHSCHERE and MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: December 12, 2008 - 11:33 PM
DFLer Al Franken's campaign scored significant victories in the U.S. Senate recount Friday, as the state Canvassing Board approved the use of Election Day results for 133 Minneapolis ballots that can't be found and also recommended that counties sort and count absentee ballots that were mistakenly rejected.
But the five-member board revealed some fissures. That came when its two Supreme Court justices put the brakes on the apparent hopes of its two district judges to declare in advance that the board would accept the new results that include the previously rejected absentee votes.
The board chose instead to wait until those votes come in before deciding whether to accept them.
Coleman campaign officials planned to file a request today for an order from the state Supreme Court requiring counties to follow consistent standards for counting their rejected absentee ballots. They said they hoped to have a decision by early next week.
"This is the kind of chaos the board has walked us into that we are trying to avoid," said Coleman attorney Tony Trimble.
Marc Elias, Franken's lead recount attorney, called the Coleman petition "an extraordinary action to try and halt this count and re-disenfranchise these voters. ... This is all just smoke and mirrors. They are hoping to run out the clock, delay the counting of these ballots."...

Obama transition going well, most in AP poll say

By ALAN FRAM – 1 day ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama is getting high marks on his transition so far, with even most Republicans saying he's doing just fine.
Nearly three-quarters overall, or 73 percent, say they approve of the job Obama has done preparing to take office next month, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll. The positive reaction is spread broadly across age, gender, income and racial lines, with 73 percent of whites — a group Republican candidate John McCain carried on Election Day — giving a thumbs up.
While 90 percent of Democrats approve of Obama's transition, so do 54 percent of Republicans. Only about one in 10 from the GOP voted for the Democrat Obama last month.
"He's chosen very qualified people for his Cabinet," said Kenyon Thorp, 19, a college student from Northfield, Minn., who voted for McCain. "I don't necessarily agree with all their views, but they're highly educated."
Overall, four in 10 said they strongly approved of how Obama has done so far, compared with about one in 20 who strongly disapproved....

I love this man. Love him. Patriot. He stood alone for a long time about this issue.

Former US Vice President Al Gore gestures as he gives a speech during the UN climate change conference in Poznan December 12, 2008. [Agencies]

(Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-12-13 00:22

POZNAN -- Former US Vice President Al Gore on Friday lauded the great efforts made by China to fight climate change in recent years, while pointing out that its efforts had been largely ignored at the Poznan climate talks.

"China, once seen as a looming obstacle to world efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, has itself a green stimulus of 600 billion dollars over the next two years," said Gore, an environmentalist who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to draw attention to global warming, at a high-level meeting of ministers here.
Gore, a guest speaker, was interrupted by all-around applause each time he spoke the word "China."

Kerry Speaks From Global-warming Conference in Poland (click here)
Written by Warren Mass
Friday, 12 December 2008 19:27

Speaking near the conclusion of the two-week UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland, on December 11, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), who will chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the next Congress, predicated more aggressive participation by the Obama administration in global climate-change talks than occurred during the Bush administration. According to Kerry, "It will be like the difference between night and day."

Kerry told reporters that President-elect Obama "recognizes the need for the United States to take the lead, and he will push that lead. The United States is determined to lead not just rhetorically, but by example and policies."

UPI quoted the senator as saying that the world was "dangerously, potentially catastrophically outside permissible levels" when it comes to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. All scheduled climate-protection proposals together would not keep the temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius, he asserted, "so the urgency of coming together over the next year cannot possibly be overstated."

Speaking from the conference, Kerry told Reuters news service that he believed support in the United States for climate action was strong enough to let Obama sign an agreement to cut emissions in accord with a very ambitious United Nations treaty to be agreed on in Copenhagen in December 2009 — even if the Senate had not by then agreed to legislation conforming U.S. climate laws to the UN pact. Kerry asserted that "we can have commenced the [domestic] legislative process, we don't have to have completed it," before formally agreeing to meeting the terms of a UN treaty. Kerry predicted that by the time the Copenhagen meeting is held, U.S. legislation might have passed "a couple of committees" but might not have been voted on by the full Senate "because of the economic situation and the budget issues and other things."

Kerry stated: "What's important is that we go to Copenhagen understanding that no treaty is going to pass the U.S. Senate unless it is a global solution. China, India, Russia — all countries have to be part of the solution."

"It should be a treaty," said Kerry in an AP interview. "I think Copenhagen should produce a treaty fundamentally geared to reductions of emissions."

The last major UN climate agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, which mandates cuts in so-called greenhouse gases until 2012, was agreed to by President Clinton in 1997. But Clinton, knowing it would fail, refused to send the treaty to the Senate for ratification; the Bush administration did likewise.

In an interview reported by Agence France Presse back on November 26, as Kerry prepared to head to the Poznan conference, he accused the Bush administration of snubbing the other nations that had agreed to the Kyoto Protocol. Kerry said: "Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high. The consequences, too serious."

AFP reported that the Senate is expected to consider two sweeping global-warming bills in January and that Barbara Boxer, chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, said one bill would provide $15 billion dollars a year to spur "clean energy innovation" and the development of advanced biofuels. The second piece of legislation would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to set up a cap-and-trade system to stem greenhouse gas emissions.

continued...

39 Days to Inauguration. It is time for the USA to rescue the planet.

Stuttgart Climate
Stuttgart has pleasant climate with warm summers, mild winters and an average annual rainfall of 700 millimetres (28 inches). Temperatures range from around one degree Celsius (34 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in July and August. It is the warmest part of Baden-Wüttemberg, with other areas of the state having temperatures averaging five degrees colder and almost double the amount of rainfall.


Snow-covered grapes are seen in a vineyard in Weinstadt near Stuttgart, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008.

After dangerous lull, war on climate change faces crunch year (click here)
1 hour ago
POZNAN, Poland (AFP) — After a year in which it nearly lost its compass, the campaign against climate change heads into 2009 needing top-level political commitment, creative thinking and a deep well of money.
Next year holds a big dream: by its end, the world will have forged a treaty in Copenhagen to shrink global warming from mankind-threatening juggernaut to manageable problem.
Unprecedented in scale and complexity, this accord, due to take effect from 2012, will rein in the greenhouse gases that stoke global warming and throw a lifeline to poor countries exposed to mutated weather patterns.
But realising this vision will now require extraordinary effort....

This guy is an interesting character.

He is some of 'the old school' terrorist network that dates back to when the USA sanctioned the Mujahideen operations against Russia.

Hafiz has made a life out of being a terrorist. Literally, back in the day, it was an 'okay' place to be when it was Russia the USA wanted to oppose, but, now that al Qaeda has taken on the USA, Hafiz finds himself on the other side of the fence when all he has been doing is the same thing he was always doing.

Now let's just take that thought one step further and how a change in 'regime' in Pakistan has returned leadership that will actually see the end to the terrorist networks, including the Taliban, rather than catering to them.

Ready?

The title of this reality provoking entry is called, "why did Musharraf ever take control in the first place?

Let's imagine that the Russia were really the bad guys. The 'idea' is that no matter what Russia does it conflicts with 'The Capitalists' priorities in the USA, so therefore, Russia has to be an enemy. Otherwise, there would be no real reason to have Russia as an enemy. They are Communists. They are an enemy to 'Expansion Hungry Capitalists, AKA Multi-national Conglomerates.' You know the folks Republicans like to call, "Interests of the USA,' that they feel comfortable starting a war over.

Well, Russia didn't like and doesn't like any instability near its borders (see map of USSR above), that has never changed. The Soviet Union was that way and Russia today practices the same intolerance of instability. At one time the USSR and Afghanistan shared a border. Well, guess who was leading all the unrest that eventually dethrowned the Afghan king? Right. Osama bin Laden and the Mujahideen. Get the picture? The same war the USA, NATO, Afghanistan, Pakistan and now India are facing was at one time Russia's nightmare.

So why would captialists be interested in that region of the world? Are you kidding? Russia? Oil? Gaspov? Hello? And what runs from Russia to Europe now? Pipelines? Right? Right.

So, why not take the opportunity to arm terrorists against Russia to defeat them and move forward 'some kind' of agenda to advance the policies of capitalists.

Now, that was capitalists, not freedom, Capitalists.

After all the USSR had to have some kind of reason for the conflict, so even though no one understood the language or really consented to the aggression of terrorists at least it would be something that might actually harm Russia if they were defeated in Afghanistan. Right? I mean defeating the USSR was always a good thing. It wasn't like they ever really did anything to benefit humanity on Earth. I mean just because they defeated Hitler. Who cares about that?

So, the USA armed Osama, who was exiled by most if not all Arab nations by then, to defeat the USSR on its advance into Afghanistan and low and behold they did exactly that. In the wake of their victory did they advance into the USSR? No. They simply basked in their victory and took whatever aid they could get and set up network after network and began to plot to defeat the USA and its "Playboy Culture." After all, they already defeated the USSR with a few shoulder mounted missile launchers with armor piercing capacity.

The 'Playboy Culture' is just an excuse and a psychological trigger to recruit young men into al Qaeda's terrorist networks. That's all. There is nothing wrong and a lot right in having a culture based in 'healthy sex drives.' It is called pleasure and bonding and successful marriages know the benefit of a resolve to physical comfort between partners.

The truth is Osama bin Laden has no basis in religious fervor of any kind to justify killing or recruiting young men and sometimes women to murder for him. He is an incredibly successful sociopath. He's made a science and 'quasi-government' of hating The West. It is a science to plot the successful deaths of innocent civilians through their own infrastructure. See, Osama doesn't have any ultimate goals. He simply likes to kill and have young men believe there are virgins waiting for them after their death. He's sociopath. Nothing magical about him, just a tormented and determined sociopath. That's all.

Just as an example, the attacks on the USA were on 9/11/2001. Why was that a choice of a sociopath? It was not a militarily strategic maneuver UNLESS one was plotting against 'the people' and not the government. 'People' in the USA dial 9-1-1 for emergency purposes. He CHOSE 9/11 for the purpose of creating an emergency out of the 'American cultural icon of 'safety and help,' in the numbers 9-1-1. Al Qaeda's leader is a sociopath. End of story there. So, back to the discussion about Hafiz and Musharraf.

What followed the victory of the Mujahideen was a rise in power of Musharraf. Why? Because there was a new found power base in that region of the world that wanted 'more' in a country primarily engulfed in poverty. So, with Musharraf able to control the military and the tribal regions controlled by a terrorist network the chances of Musharraf ever being overthrown was ZERO. All Musharraf needed from people like Hafiz was to maintain control of the tribal regions while he put up a half hearted presence as a President-General and all was 'safe' for both the terrorists and for him. A mutual understanding you might say.

People like Hafiz were important to the impoverished. He was important to terrorists networks because under one of the pillars of Islam, 'CHARITY' was a vital component to being a legitimate Muslim. Therefore, not different from Hezbollah, these jokers were fronting legitimacy for al Qaeda's recruitment efforts.

And now with the successful attacks into Mumbai, the world has overt proof of the nonsense once called the Musharraf government. There was no government under Musharraf and as soon as he was no longer General, his 'reign' fell into chaos. Now, that the Bhutto government has been re-established after one false accusation after another false accusation; we are witnessing the dismantling of al Qaeda's infrastructure. Suck on that Osama.

So, you see, I don't believe in false accusations by any government. Any government. Especially those that come as 'words' without PROOF of any actual wrong doing. You have to know the facts of history as they relate to the 'maintenance of freedom' and not the indulgence of capitalists. It makes a huge difference and it makes economies safe. When economies are safe, people can advance their societies, find peace among nations and solve problems in ways only dreamed about when war is a priority.

Hafiz Mohammed Saeed

US pleased that committee has decided to move forward on these ‘high-priority designations’
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: The United Nations Security Council’s Al Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee on Wednesday added the names of a host of Pakistani organisations and individuals – including Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LT), Jamaatud Daawa (JD), the Al Rashid Trust, Al Akhtar International, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Haji Muhammad Ashraf – to its consolidated list. Contrary to reports, Gen (r) Hamid Gul’s name was not on the list.

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed – chief of LT – was born in Sargodha in 1950, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in Okara in 1960 and Haji Muhammad Ashraf – LT’s chief of finance – in 1965. Ashraf is listed as LT’s chief of finance.

The UN announcement says the LT is also known as Al Mansoorian, Paasban-e-Kashmir, Paasban-e-Ahl-e-Hadith.

The Al Rashid Trust is said to be known as the Al Ameen Trust with branches in several Pakistani cities. While headquartered in Pakistan, its operations extend to Afghanistan, Kosovo and Chechnya, and the organisation is said to be involved in the financing of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Until October 21, this entity appeared also as the Aid Organisation of the Ulema Pakistan. Al Akhtar Trust International – another sanctioned entity – is also known as the Azmat-e-Pakistan Trust with regional offices in Bahawalpur, Bawalnagar, Gilgit, Islamabad, Mirpur Khas and Tando Jan Muhammad. It also runs the Akhtarabad Medical Camp in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan.

US welcomes: On Wednesday, the US welcomed the development in a statement saying, “The US is pleased that the committee has decided to move forward on these high-priority designations.”

Dawa offices in most cities and towns sealed: Hafiz Saeed, others in custody (click here)

Dawn Report

LAHORE, Dec 11: Jamaatud Dawa Amir Hafiz Mohammad Saeed was placed under house arrest for three months as the countrywide crackdown on the organisation continued on Thursday.

Police sealed Qudsia Mosque, the headquarters of Jamaatud Dawa in Chauburji Chowk, and 18 other offices throughout Punjab.

Five offices were sealed in Sialkot. Twenty-five members of the organisation, including Ameer Hamza, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Maulana Naseer Hamza, Saifullah Mansoor, Dawa’s director of public relations, Col (retd) Nazir Ahmed, and Rajanpur district president Talib Rehman, were detained. A large number of publications of the organisation were seized.

Hafiz Saeed was detained at his Johar Town residence under the maintenance of public order ordinance.

“Police have encircled the house of Hafiz Saeed and told him he cannot leave his home. They have told him that the detention order will be formally issued shortly,” his spokesman Abdullah Montazir said.

A police official told Dawn that detention orders had also been issued by the Punjab home department and raids were being conducted to arrest Yahya Mujahid, Abu Umer a number of other prominent members...

Innocent until Proven Guilty. Get your mind around THAT. Nothing else matters. Nothing. Life goes on !

NO ONE HAS BEEN CONVICTED and the Democrats are allowing idiots to turn this into a circus.

Fire the Illinois Attorney General, she has no right to take a federal proceeding into her own hands. NONE !

I don't believe in resignation of any ELECTED official unless the PROOF is overwhelming. I don't consider 'conversations' between a Chief of Staff and a Governor whom were exploring what was possible, right or wrong, overwhelming evidence. As a matter of fact the case is so weak Fitzgerald needs to drop the charges. Libby walked, you know what I mean. This case is even weaker than that one!

The Republicans are laughing their butts off. By the time this is over, the Democrats won't have a candidate for Senate or a Party in Illinois. They are bunch of jerks being lead around by the nose by the media.

And at the end of it all, the Governor will be as clean as a whistle while everyone else sits behind bars or worse if they keep this up. There is nothing to those charges and there is no wrong doing to date. It needs to END there. The people that were solisiting for money to bargain a candidate into public office are lucky. Their offer was never accepted !