Karen Hanreddy's mouth needs to be tasored.

This evening on Murdoch's Hannity show she stated, "I would give every teacher in America a tasor for their classroom."

This is Murdoch and his mindless staff threatening terror against school children to instill a bizarre sense of control.

Then they wonder why they are ridiculed.  Perhaps Ms. Hannreddy should contemplate that as a reflection of her depth of understanding of children.  Leading to me wondering what do Neocon women actually understand about them.

Her bizarreness was in response to this incident.  They have been ranting all day long on their network about this level of idiocy in order to try to start a 'grassroots' groundswell that would displace a President and his Congress.

Just once, Murdoch's tribe should try to reach for excellence in reporting within proper social comment rather than always, always trying to inflame rhetoric that has some of the poorest insight on the planet.


PHILADELPHIA - A fan has run onto the field at Citizens Bank Park during a baseball game in Philadelphia, one night after a teenager was Tasered in the outfield.

Security did not use a Taser to apprehend the man on Tuesday night. He gave himself up without incident.

The Philadelphia Phillies were leading St. Louis 1-0 in the top of the ninth inning when a guy hopped over the fence in left field and ran along the warning track waving his arms. The sellout crowd booed and he was soon captured. 

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/36952024/ns/sports-baseball/

There was a child, 13 years old, tasered by police.  He now has seizure disorders.  I mean for real already. 

...While the teenager will be charged with criminal trespass, police are also investigating whether the incident was an appropriate use of force. (click title to entry - thank you)

Anyone advocating potential life long nerve tissue damage as punishment because someone picked up a towel in a STUNT on a baseball field is a nut case.  Just that simple and so long as Murdoch's maniacs continue to 'play that role' in the media they remain bizarre and out of touch with REALITY.

Murdoch media, they were once coined as 'fair and balanced.'  The story they have been PROMOTING all day never received adequate coverage and their viewers never received sold information about the dangers of tasoring.  And now, the brain storm of Hannreddy is to tasor children in classrooms.  There are no words to express the moronity that exists with Murdoch's News Corp.

April 16, 2010|By Demian Bulwa, Chronicle Staff Writer
The BART Police Department stripped its officers of Tasers on Thursday, days after a sergeant fired the electric darts of his stun gun at a 13-year-old boy fleeing from police in Richmond on his bicycle, sources told The Chronicle....

http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-04-16/news/20852001_1_tasers-bart-police-department-officers

Are these, like Murdoch's runaway networks, reasonable people doing unreasonable things, or simply people out of control themselves?

It sounds like the 94-pound lad was in the midst of an epic fit. He'd hit his day care providers and refused to cool out when officer Darren Johnson and Captain William
Jennings arrived.

But instead of restraining the kid -- which would seem ever-so-doable, seeing as how he's just 94 damn pounds -- officer Johnson decided to taser the young boy's ass, while Captain Jennings slapped him in the face.

The kid wasn't injured, save for a mark on his arm where he got juiced. But police Chief Jon Davis isn't too happy. If his officers need to zap a 10-year-old, what would they do if confronted by an uncontrollable 13-year-old girl? Gut-shoot her and beat her with black jacks? 

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2010/04/indiana_cops_taser_unruly_10-y.php

Tasors save on 'man hours.'  That is why the bureaucrats what them.  It has NOTHING to do with appropriate use.  In the case of the 'basefield dash' it only took ONE officer to 'down' the FAN.  Rather than two to three officers to stop and arrest the man and place him in a straight jacket if necessary.  Whatever happened to the good ole' days?  Is every American a terrorist?  The FANS pay enough for the tickets, one would think there would be more tolerance of them.

Let's everybody carry tasors.  School teachers, garbage men, nurses (that would be an interesting one), doctors, lawyers, school children, too. Then when everyone gets used to carrying tasors they can use the 'one step at a time program' and carry weapons.  Guns on campus, guns in parking lots, guns at work, guns in the parks, guns in the classrooms and the USA can go around killing each other rather than using up expensive judicial court time by exercising the First Amendment. 

Maybe the Neocon moms would rather just tasor their children to sleep.  I mean no one hands out praegoric anymore.

Interesting statistics on Taser abuse.

 Chicago: Pregnant Woman gets Tasered after pulled over for speeding and she refuses to sign speeding ticket.

Seattle: Pregnant Woman gets tasered after being pulled over for speeding.

Ohio: 12 year old Boy is Tasered by police officer on school bus.

Ohio: 16 year old Teen Tasered after cops say he refused to follow officers instructions

Florida: 15 year old Girl Tasered by Police after becoming verbally abusive.

Arizona: 13 year old Girl Tasered by Police after yelling obscenities in public library.

Florida: 14 year old Girl Tasered by Police during a disturbance in class room.

Florida: 14 year old Boy Tasered by Police after breaking a window and trying to run away.

Seattle: 16 year old Boy Tasered 4 times by Police after traffic stop over faulty headlight. Cops say he made a furtive move in the back seat.

Arizona: 9 year old Girl Tasered by Police while handcuffed in back of police car.

Florida: 6 year old Mentally Distibured Boy Tasered by Police.

Chicago: 14 year old Boy Tasered by Police and went into cardiac arrest.

West Virginia: 82 year old Man Tasered by Police after unirnating in a park and walking away from police.

Florida: 13 year old Drunk Girl Tasered by Police.

Oregon: 71 year old Partially Blind Woman Tasered by Police.

Harris County: Elderly man in a wheelchair tasered by police for refusing to follow instructions. The man was sent to the hospital.

Hallandale Beach: Two police officers repeated taser a many who was already under arrest, handcuffed and in a holding cell.

Baytown: 59 year old Disabled Woman Tasered by Police after continuing to knocking on Brothers door after house sitter doesnt answer door. She had called cops to help her get in. When they refused she continued to knock on the door which led to Cops requesting her to stop etc. Cop indicted of excess force.

Washougal: Woman Tasered by Police after being refusing to sign ticket for a Dog violation. She spoke very limited english and asked the police officer for a translator before signing ticket. The cop also threatened her 11 and 12 year old boys if they interfered. He was a Taser instructor and had Tased her 12 times within 91 seconds. Officer eventually demoted.

http://www.southfloridafusion.com/showthread.php?t=927

The President asked that we all keep open minds about programing we normally wouldn't watch.  I always do, but, Mucdoch's networks always fail the test.  Now, they are advocating tasors in classrooms?  I don't think so and there should be a limit to the patience any rational American has with such idiocy.

Deliberate Idiocy !!!!  Sir !

Mr. Ahmadinejad is asking to expand the role of the IAEA, however, he is also aluding to sovereignty issues.

Ahmadinejad urges creation of independent body to control nuclear stockpiles 

00:3505/05/2010

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the creation of an independent international body to control the number of warheads produced by nuclear powers.

The statement came during Tuesday's news conference in New York, where a review conference on nuclear non-proliferation is under way.

On Monday, the U.S. revealed that the country had a total of 5,113 nuclear warheads in its stockpile.

The fact there are five nuclear countries is always the frustration of the non-nuclear countries.  By disclosing the number of nuclear warheads to the world that the USA possesses the country risks nothing.  I imagine the issue of 'legitimacy' will haunt the nations that are non-nuclear before the other five nuclear nations will work on complete reduction to a reasonable level of stockpiles.

Iran is understandably upset at the idea that other nations can reach their Shi'ite nation while feeling helpless, however, it has allies that are very strong and capable nuclear nations.  The fear Iran has is unreasonable.  I have no doubt Iran will try to hold the USA by the throat to say it needs to work on reducing its stockpiles before any other nation should cooperate.  That is a ridiculous demand considering the TRUTH and facts to the issue that Iran has aspirations that are outside the definition of Non-Proliferation.

The obvious reality is that any nation, nuclear or non-nuclear actually compromise their nation's safety by maintaining a nuclear stockpile.  If a country is not armed it is not a first strike target.  THAT reality should be a focus on any country with plans to avoid the proliferation of its own vulnerabilities.  Just maintaining a nuclear weapon capacity does not 'insure' a nation's safety at all.  Any nuclear nation is vulnerable, the only reason nuclear capacity is important at all it so maintain its government and military infrastructure.  The idea that the populous of even a nuclear country is safe is hideous to believe.  The most vulnerable in any nuclear attack is the populous, not the military or the government.

There are great incentives to disarm from nuclear capacity for the people of any nation, including the nuclear nations.  The first step to such safety for a populous is to have treaties that state, any confrontation between nuclear countries will be dictated by conventional weapons in any first strike.  It limits a nation from surprising another resulting in a barrage of nuclear warhead exchange that could have been averted.  The idea that any first strike capacity should be completely limited to conventional weapons allows a populous to prepare and protect from any future exchange of weapons far greater.  

The Geneva Conventions are the citizens' best friend.  Conventional engagements are supposed to be used only at disabling the military infrastructure and the civilians are not suppose to be the targets.  To have nations agree to limit the use of nuclear weapons to 'last measure' decisions is to insure in a greater capacity the safety of a nation's populous.  

The idea of limiting any nuclear exchange seems like a distant goal, but, in reality it is as soon as the summit that completes the agreement and the verification of its legislature with 'mutual inspections' of fail safe arrangements of weapon deployment that insures 'first strike' is never nuclear.

...The Pentagon said it had 5,113 nuclear warheads at the end of September 2009 which represented an 84 percent reduction from its maximum stockpile of 31,255 at the end of fiscal year 1967 -- three years after the Cuban missile crisis....

http://www.examiner.com/x-31506-International-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m5d4-US-reveals-size-of-nuke-arsenal

 

Ahmadinejad Calls U.S. Arsenal Disclosure ‘Positive’ (Update2)

May 04, 2010, 5:14 PM EDT

(Adds Ahmadinejad on U.S. relations in last paragraph.)

By Bill Varner

May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the U.S. disclosure yesterday of the size of its nuclear weapon arsenal was “a positive step forward.”

The Iranian leader, speaking to reporters today in New York, called for an “independent supervisory body” to verify the U.S. nuclear figures. Ahmadinejad criticized the U.S. yesterday in a speech to a United Nations nuclear conference during which Iran came under pressure to allay international concerns it is pursuing the development of an atomic weapon.

“They want us to prove something that does not exist,” the Iranian leader said of the suspected nuclear-arms program.

Disclosure of the U.S. bomb tally is part of an effort by President Barack Obama to set an example of transparency and willingness to pare its nuclear weaponry in hopes of compelling other nations to follow suit....

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-04/ahmadinejad-calls-u-s-arsenal-disclosure-positive-update2-.html

Hillary Clinton claims Iran is non-compliant, putting world at nuclear risk 

May 4, 4:00 PM

Isabelle Zehnder

May 4, 2010 - In an effort to build support for new United Nations sanctions on Iran, Clinton said Tehran evaded responsibility, is non-compliant, and is putting the world at nuclear risk.

NBCreported U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that Iran is in violation of a treaty designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

Clinton addresses the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) conference at United Nations headquarters, Monday.

"Iran is the only country represented in this hall that has been found by the IAEA board of governors to be currently in non-compliance with its nuclear safeguard obligations," Clinton said in a speech to a Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference at the United Nations.

"It has defied the U.N. Security Council and the IAEA and placed the future of the non-proliferation regime in jeopardy, and that is why it is facing increasing isolation and pressure from the international community," she said.

http://www.examiner.com/x-43367-International-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m5d4-Hillary-Clinton-claims-Iran-is-noncompliant-putting-world-at-nuclear-risk

China kicks off reconstruction in quake-jolted Yushu

YUSHU, Qinghai - Reconstruction work began Tuesday in quake-devastated Yushu County in northwest China's Qinghai Province, bringing many homeless residents a hope to move into better, safer houses.

The 7.1-magnitude earthquake on April 14 destroyed most of the structures in the county's Gyegu Town, the quake's epicenter.

Governor Luo Huining declared the start of the reconstruction program Tuesday morning at a foundation-laying ceremony held for the new neighborhoods to be built in Trangu and Ganda villages of the town.

The rebuilding of the two villages will be a pilot project for the whole region's reconstruction program, according to the governor.

The two villages were almost completely razed to the ground in the quake, which killed at least 2,200 people while leaving more than 100,000 homeless.

The new rural neighborhoods will be built on the debris of the two villages with planning, first-rate infrastructure and beauty, Luo said....

Taiwan pledges not to seek US help in war

By Xie Yu (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-04 07:22

Comment from leader a demonstration of better cross-Straits ties
Beijing - Mainland experts on Monday hailed Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou's pledge that the island will never ask the United States to help fight a war with the mainland, saying it demonstrates Ma's determination to push for better cross-Straits ties.
In a CNN interview, conducted entirely in English via video conference and broadcast on April 30, Ma, speaking from his office in Taipei, said that "we will continue to reduce the risks so that we will purchase arms from the United States, but we will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan. This is something that is very, very clear."...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/04/content_9804241.htm

It is called, NORMALIZING Ties. 

Taiwan opens first tourism office on mainland

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-04 20:59

BEIJING - Taiwan Strait Tourism Association (TSTA) opened its first tourism office on the mainland here on Tuesday.

At the opening ceremony, mainland-based Cross-Strait Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA) announced that it would open a counterpart office in Taipei on Friday. "The establishment of the two offices is to help create a service channel, intensify promotion and increase service quality for cross-Strait tourism," said Janice Seh-jer Lai, head of the TSTA.
Shao Qiwei, the chairman of the CTEA, said the offices show that tourism between Taiwan and the mainland has entered into a normal and regular stage.
The number of Chinese visitors to Taiwan reached 385,000 during the first quarter, and could top 1 million by the end of this year, Shao said.
A total of 1.212 million mainland tourists have visited Taiwan since the it lifted a ban on mainland tourists in June 2008....

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/04/content_9809061.htm

Drought causes 'irreversible' damages

By Li Yingqing , Guo Anfei in and Wang Qian (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-04 07:28

Animal and plant life in Yunnan might not be able to recover

KUNMING - The worst drought in 50 years in the southwestern province of Yunnan has damaged local diversity, provincial forestry officials said.

The severe drought has affected about half a million hectares of natural reserves, with shrinking wetland and water shortages for wildlife, according to the latest figures from the Yunnan provincial forestry bureau....

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/04/content_9804253.htm

There is "Slick" and Rick.

Governor Rick Perry and Governor Sarah Palin in San Antonio this week. Governor Perry is holding his framed lifetime membership to the National Rifle Association. Governor Palin is also a lifetime member of the NRA.

Perry backs offshore drilling, calls spill 'act of God'  (click title to entry - thank you)

What God is Perry referring to, the Anti-Christ?  

Drilling does damage.  Real Damage.  It causes geological events.  Get over it.  Human Error is NOT an Act of God.

If Rick Perry is stating there was a seismic anomaly  that cause the event in the Gulf then what he is saying is the 'science' behind the drilling is IGNORANT to that danger and all the drills currently 'at work' in the region need to stop because of the newly discovered danger.

According to USGS there has been NO such activity when this negligent incident occurred.

TO STATE 'These things happen.' when it was COMPLETELY preventable is the MOST irresponsible statement a Governor can make.  He's being re-elected?  Why? 

At the very LEAST, this was CAUSED by the poorest of decision making under the Bush White House.  It is caused by lax standards in government and lax standards in the Petroleum Industry.   

The Republicans EXERCISE  IGNORANCE IN GOVERNING 'AS A METHODOLOGY.'  

AND.

Seek to keep the public/electorate IGNORANT to sophistication to achieve their goals !  It is a METHODOLOGY Rick and Slick !

Those rigs should be no closer to ANY fishery than 150 miles OUT.  To allow such drilling at a sensitive place that imperils the entire global circulation via The Gulf Loop Current is INSANE.

This is CORRUPTION through and through.  There were scientists at the 'drop of a hat' whom responded to 'Oh, by God, the Loop Current' when they heard this was a LEAK and not a spill that could be controlled.


THAT is negligence when the laws were passed WITHOUT reporting such dangers clear and concisely AND ignoring the possibly AT ALL.


You are not going to get away with it ANYMORE !!!!

There are international implications to this incident and the equipment being used WAS NEVER EVEN RESEARCHED at that depth.  It should have NEVER been permitted ESPECIALLY at 42 miles offshore

Running of holes to dig, Rick? 

Mud eruption 'caused by drilling'

By James Morgan
Science & Environment reporter, BBC News 

The eruption of the Lusi mud volcano in Indonesia was caused by drilling for oil and gas, a meeting of 74 leading geologists has concluded.

Lusi erupted in May 2006 and continues to spew out boiling mud, displacing around 30,000 people in East Java.

Drilling firm Lapindo Brantas denies a nearby well was the trigger, blaming an earthquake 280km (174 miles) away.

Around 10,000 families who have lost their homes are awaiting compensation, which could run as high as $70m (£43m). 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/7699672.stm

I don't care if a trigger spot is hit within 5 feet of such an incident or 500 miles from an incident, it still is a trigger spot that destabilizes geological dynamics 'INHERENT' that region.   The leadership in these countries take 'advice' from other government leaders and I can only begin to imagine who recommended this one.

The United Nations needs to 'standardize' the rules surrounding drilling and mining.  Absolutely.  These small countries that DO NOT have their own 'brain trusts' and 'think tanks' that are nationalized to their countries need guidance and the global community has to provide a 'neutral third party' to them.  And whatever they do they should NOT allow such recommendations to be taken seriously from the 'track record' of any poorly performing country or company, such as the USA in its relationship with BP. 

The Right Wing Republicans should 'keep it comin' / 'bring it on'; so we can get this over with.

Dick Cheney is lobbying Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso to write a bill that requires water boarding before marandizing.

 To be completely HONEST about this arrest, it gives huge credence to the Peace Movement !  Think about it.

Times Square bomb suspect arrested in New York (see link below)

A man suspected of attempting to detonate a car bomb in New York City has been arrested.

Faisal Shahzad, a US citizen of Pakistani origin, is accused of driving the explosives-laden car into Times Square on Saturday evening.
He is due to appear in court in Manhattan later.
US Attorney General Eric Holder said Mr Shahzad was arrested at John F Kennedy Airport attempting to board a flight to Dubai.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8658888.stm

I don't know how meaningful the poll is, it wasn't done by a 'standard' news agency, but, it may very well illustrate the fact that people are concerned about their rights if they were ever mistakenly arrested.  The point is well taken when searching this man's identity.  About five pictures come up, which could be the same person, but, probably not.  One of the photos is this:

A photo of a wedding party.  So, you decide.  If an American citizen attempts to be this stupid and think he can get White Supremists angry enough to follow in his foot steps should he be marandized?

I hope the FBI has the right man and I hope he goes away for life. But, let's just say for one minute this guy is in this picture.  How many of his close friends feel the same way he does?  

This sort mimics the 'Fort Hood' soldier that put himself in an 'Allah Funk' when he killed his friends.  The only thing that separates any American at this point from an attack by a Jihadist is what the USA government can do to limiit the effect of such extremism. 

Be grateful the USA ATF has taken their role in all this so seriously.  I am confident we are doing all we can do in the USA to prevent extremism from causing citizen deaths, but, there is absolutely no way any one American can read the mind of another, now is there?  All we can hope to do is make the USA as safe domestically as it can be internationally.  Life on the edge of a volcano can be dangerous.  It is the USA.  We have enemies of all kinds.

...The poll finds that a big majority, 65%, supports the decision to Mirandize the Christmas bomb plotter. But it gets better. The public also thinks all terror suspects should be Mirandized as a matter of policy:

As you know, the police and FBI agents always inform suspects of their constitutional right to remain silent and to have a lawyer present during any questioning. Do you think law enforcement officials should or should not follow this practice for people who are suspected of attempting to commit an act of terrorism?
Should 56%
Should not 43%

The Cheneyites have been aggressively criticizing the Mirandizing of terror suspects in order to prove that Obama doesn’t have the right mindset to take on the terrorists and is treating them as common criminals. But the above numbers show that majorities don’t have a problem with what the Obama administration is doing on this front....

Here we go, the incompetents are at work in Arizona AGAIN.

...According to a United States Senator (John McCain) and recent major party presidential candidate, if the established law of the land was actually followed by the law enforcement agency that made this arrest, our national security is now at risk....

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/05/04/john_mccain_shahzad_miranda_rights

Next stop Waterboarding ! 

Here we go, the "Oily Carrot and Stick." Cheaper oil because of a boom in the harvest.

The sad truth about the Petroleum Industry Propaganda.

Yeah, yeah I heard they caught the 'lame excuse' for a terrorist.

...U.S. crude for June fell 36 cents to $85.83 by 0516 GMT, after striking an intraday high of $87.15 on Monday, the strongest front-month price since $89.82 traded on October 9, 2008, also pushed up by a possible short-term supply crunch linked to a massive oil spill off the U.S. Gulf Coast....

...U.S. crude inventories likely rose last week as the widening contango structure of the futures curve spurred refiners to import more for storage, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Ahead of weekly inventory data from industry group, the American Petroleum Institute (API), and the U.S. government Energy Information Administration (EIA), analysts forecast crude stocks increased by 1.2 million barrels last week....

The Petroleum Industry will increase production, REGARDLESS, of the actual 'long view' to supply and demand when their 'image' is dimmed by such an incident.

Why?

Because they will create an event whereby a corrupt politician will 'move' away from acting as Governor Schwarzenegger has so they can continue to be corrupt themselves.  They want to be without any oversight, so they have this mess down to a science.

Mind you, this is only for a week, maybe two why BP is heroically putting together cement structures that will 'hopefully' stem the image issue.

Most Republicans would NEVER take a strong verbal approach to any of their cronies as if  'Pavlov's Dog' to the stimuli that they know will be coming to 'placate' the populous.  Republicans also USE THE EXCUSE that 'being nice' will 'get more' out of the company in question than pursuing them.

Like I said, it is a pre-programmed response.  I mean that sincerely. What would be 'the words,'  Oh, Yeah, "The wiser man gets the best deal." (I don't want to hear how BP can simply walk away and the USA will have to 'go it alone.'  THAT is too big to fail and quite frankly if an oil company EVER did that?  They would have their leases pulled FOREVER.   And if that doesn't matter they can hand over every asset they have and the USA could do the job handily.  I sincerely doubt an ally of the USA would ever look the other way either.)  Basically, Ahnold is the exception to the rule, most Republicans lack a spine.  You'd rarely know it as they never take off their suit coats.


Take this one step further.  Image now that this incident didn't happen in the USA, but, Equator or Nigeria where the populous has absolutely no power with their government.  Will the oil companies simply accept the fact they have to 'nudge' the poplous back off its 'attack' against them?  

No.  

They will simply 'tweak' the government in one method or another when 'the natives' get restless.  The Petroleum Industry will use intimidation with such governments as well threatening them with scandal for the 'papers' they signed or court action against the government 'due to their inability and experience' to know how to 'handle them.'  The country in distress might turn to the USA for advice, but, if it is a Republican in office it will be a matter of stating 'it isn't our concern.'   If a USA politician ever decided to intervene, then I am sure there is a political campaign to SOMEONE ELSE the Petroleum company must be more interested in.

I admire the Senator from New Jersey for being 'potent' to the issue even while under such severe political attack at home.


Like a said, they have this down to a science.  


After a short run at a higher production and absorbing 'easily' a lower price at the pump, they can return to a 'shortage' when the 'crying dies down' and call it a residual effect from 'the leak' (its not a spill - please get that right) and hike their prices up again.


They have no morals.  NONE.  


In all honesty, 'the market' with oil as a commodity is corrupt as well.


OIL is a finite commodity.  The 'futures' should be based more in that reality than the 'inventories' 'in play.'


With an escalating cost estimated at $15 billion, ecologists are profoundly worried to the outcome of the Gulf and a larger picture, outside the Gulf.

Ecologists brace for oil spill damage

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100503/full/news.2010.217.html

Published online 3 May 2010 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2010.217
Corrected online: 4 May 2010

Deepwater Horizon disaster looms over the Gulf coast, and beyond.

Amanda Mascarelli

As oil still flowing from a ruptured pipeline into the Gulf of Mexico starts to lap at the Louisiana shore, ecologists and coastal residents are preparing for an environmental catastrophe that could unfold over the coming months....

...Wider impacts

With the economy of the Gulf states dependent on clean coastal water, seafood and tourism, estimates of the cost of the spill have already been put at $14 billion. It is also shifting politics on President Obama's hopes of ending a moratorium on new offshore drilling; late last week, Obama put those plans on temporary hold.

Officials have the additional concern that the oil slick could get picked up by a warm ocean current called the Loop Current, which shuttles warm water northward from the Yucatán Peninsula up the Gulf of Mexico before veering up the eastern tip of Florida. If the oil slick became entrained in the Loop Current, oil could get dispersed to the shorelines of Mississippi, Alabama, the Florida Keys and the east coast of Florida....

I want to thank Governor Schwarzenegger. He could not be more CORRECT.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger no longer supports a plan to allow limited drilling for oil off the state’s coast because of the Gulf of Mexico spill, said Aaron McLear, his spokesman.

The Petroleum Industry has to face hearings and not just BP.  All of them are 'skating' by without sufficient regulation.

The Petroleum Industry has absolutely no respect for government and even less for citizens.  They are pure unadulterated, 'money machines' for greed.

They knew this was going to happen.  If BP claims ignorance, then Transocean knew.  They cut corners and don't give a hoot about the economy of the USA.  If anything, THEIR tragedies only make it more important they stay in business and conduct it with abandon.

All the Petroleum Industry has to due is 'line the pockets' of political machines and treasuries 'enough' to make it worth the governments while to allow it while making excuses to the populous.

We can power the nation without them, I promise you.  GM no longer has the corner on electric cars either.  And we don't need natural gas, either.  The government HAS TO TRUST its scientists.

Governor Schwarzenegger's bravery on this issue should be emulated across the country.  Literally, the 'coastlines' of the USA could be made 'sterile' by this industry and we would have a national crisis beyond any wildest imagination.  I admire his initiative to protect the economy of California.

I don't want to make this sound 'extreme' but if he wants to completely rollback the danger, he needs to assess the areas that are being drilled even experimentally that have NO safeguards.  Inspections and where there are NOT guarantees, I AM NOT TALKING MONEY GUARANTEES, that an event like this won't happen with RECORDS and RESEARCH to back it up, verified by third parties and California Universities; cap the wells UNTIL it is proven to be completely safe.

The Wager is NOT worth the income !

STERILE OCEANS serve oil barrons' best interest.

This could be 'By-Catch." - Desperate Fisherman that have thrown down the guantlet OR the self-righteous that just want to kill.

A veterinarian would know these things.

...Think of Dr. Ziccardi, a professor at the University of California at Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, as the Bay Area’s wildlife rescuer on the scene in Louisiana. Last week, he flew, as he put it in a blog post, “from the Left Coast to the Gulf Coast,” to assist in the Deepwater Horizon spill response from a command post in Houma, La....

It could be argued that people are acting in irrational manners due to the extreme nature of the circumstance, but, doing so is taking the law and the 'final outcome' into their own hands and completely "W"rong to do.

The scientists that track these turtles would know the route they would be taking.  This time of year, especially, that 'vital habitat' would be illegal to fish in and would be protected.  

The USA has 'set aside' the special areas on its coast line to protect such species, it is rich with fish all year round.  It would be a fisherman's 'joy ride' to simply take this 'opportunity' to fish in replenished seascapes.

Those would be the protected areas that were set up during the Clinton Administration.  I am not saying there aren't chemicals of many kinds throughout the water column, but, if the dead turtles aren't 'tainted' with anything that would kill them then they were destroyed either as 'by catch' or viciously for the 'demented joy' of it. 

With that a possibility, all the enforcement personnel anywhere in the USA that 'work' in these areas and throughout the fisheries should be taking extra precaution and vigilance to a potential 'upticks' to these occurrences. Exclude NO species.  These bozos will kill protected Bottlenose Dolphins as well.  They don't care, they love the anger and hate.

I would even say, 'give effected fishermen' special access to the protected areas, but, that would be tragic.  They are going to be subsidized anyway.  If their subsidies and/or lawsuits are too slow, then they should have made available to them 0% loans with an agreement that payments from any monies coming through the petroleum industry will first satisfy the indebtedness.

The reason one cannot fish these areas is because the creatures themselves have literally 'set up' housekeeping within the 'peace of protection.'  To disturb that would require years to decades to have them return.  The marine life will leave and become vulnerable again.  Fishermen in protected areas (sorry for the analogy) are like 'bush drivers' in the Jungle sending a tiger to the hunters.OR, in this case, 'the poachers.'
 

If the latest bombing attempt in NYC is a statement on the availability of high explosives, the ATF is doing a great job at stopping the sale of these dangerous items.

ATF to get detection kits from UNDT

Published: May 3, 2010 at 2:13 PM

LOS ANGELES, May 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Justice Department is working to increase biological threat detection capabilities by purchasing new technologies from Universal Detection Technology.
U.S. company UNDT will deliver its 5-agent detection kits to support the counter bioterrorism initiatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Justice Department's federal law enforcement agency.
"ATF is a strong addition to our expanding customer base.

, comprised of other federal government agencies, local and state law enforcement, emergency medical services and hazmat (hazardous material) teams," UNDT Chief Executive Officer Jacques Tizabi said in a statement.
UNDT says the order for its widely deployed biological threats detection kits includes supplying personnel to train ATF agents on the use of the equipment.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2010/05/03/ATF-to-get-detection-kits-from-UNDT/UPI-50081272910422/

What is it with Littleton, Colorado? It looks like a person has to work in a bomb factory in order to get material for a bomb in the USA now.

 

Joint Investigation Results in Littleton Man’s Federal Arrest for Possession of Stolen Machine Guns and for Possession of Explosives, Destructive Devices  (click title to entry - thank you)

DENVER, Colo. — U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado David Gaouette, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Marvin G. Richardson, and Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman announced the indictment of Andrew Thomas Gunzner, age 21, of Littleton, Colo., for possession of stolen machine guns and destructive devices. Gunzner, who is in state custody, will be transferred to federal custody on a future date.

According to the indictment, on or before March 17, 2010, Gunzner did knowingly and unlawfully possess a Heckler & Koch, model MP-5, 9 mm machine gun. On March 16, 2010, Gunzner allegedly possessed an Olympic Arms .223 caliber rifle that contained a machine gun auto sear. Also on or about March 16, 2010, Gunzner stole firearms from the inventory of Prairie Arms Manufacturing, a federal firearms licensee, located in Littleton. Lastly, Gunzner did knowingly and unlawfully possess destructive devices.

Gunzner faces two counts of possession of a machine gun, which carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces one count of theft from a federal firearms licensee, which carries a penalty of not more than 10 years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. Lastly, he faces one count of possession of a destructive device, which also carries a penalty of not more than 10 years incarceration, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

According to state records, on March 17, 2010, at approximately 2:35 a.m., Gunzner was observed driving a silver Jeep Cherokee with red overhead emergency lights and siren activated. During the vehicle stop Denver Police officers found firearms, including a machine gun. During the investigation it was discovered that some of the firearms were stolen from Prairie Arms Manufacturing in Littleton, where Gunzner was employed.... 

Colleyville, Texas.  Fight nice.  War of the roses.  I think a bomb might be a dead giveaway.

 

COLLEYVILLE - The police chief of the Colleyville Police Department said they are working around the clock with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive to find a suspect after a bomb was found in a box outside a woman's home. 

At the Monday afternoon press conference, police played some of the 911 call made by the Colleyville mother who discovered a FedEx box with suspicious content inside just after 11 a.m. Sunday. In the call, the woman said her neighbor told her the content appeared to be a homemade bomb.

Police Chief Steve Dye said they have made no arrests, but said they are not ruling out any suspects, including the ex-husband of the woman who received the package, which police said may have been in front of the home for up to 12 hours before its discovery. 

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Colleyville-police-working-with-ATF-on-bomb-case-92684869.html

BP says U.S. Gulf oil leak flow rate unchanged

The Coast Guard has its hands full, but, rescue groups do not have the equipment for removal of living animals from the waters to safety.  If they can, the Coast Guard should assist the groups in locating the turtles and capturing them to release after rehabilitation.

The scientific community is not really familiar with capturing, so much as rescuing them when they have worked primarily in 'non-interference.'  The Coast Guard needs to initiate contact to provide services.  The scientists probably won't ask.

Perhaps the services of local fisherman can assist.  Local fisherman have radar on their boats.   Both the scientists and fisherman will have to be 'marshaled' by the Coast Guard for exemptions to the Endangered Species Act to allow for contact, also known as 'takes.'  The scientists would know the 'route' of the turtles and other endangered species.

Gulf oil spill: 23 dead sea turtles wash ashore in Mississippi

May 3, 2010 | 10:03 am

The carcasses of 23 sea turtles have been found along Mississippi's 70 miles of coastline, and have been retrieved for examination by the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, said Moby Solangi, the group’s president and executive director.

The carcasses were placed in garbage bags that were stacking up in the institute’s necropsy lab refrigerator unit. 

Although this is the time of year when dead turtles are often found on the beach, scientists say the number is more than double what they would expect. Necropsies will be conducted Monday afternoon by a team of four veterinarians. It’s unclear whether the deaths are related to the oil spill, which is still offshore. 

“This is the stranding season for sea turtles, but the numbers we are seeing are unusually high. It could be the result of heightened awareness and reporting, but they may also have been affected by the slick and floated this way,” Solangi said....


REGARDLESS, the lame excuses, BP is the most responsible for its operations anywhere in the world.  If  they overlooked safety precautions when purchasing and installing equipment, it has just as liable as the manufacturer.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: turtle deaths soar amid fight to save wildlife

Tests take place to determine cause of deaths, as locals hope booms along coastline will protect commercial fisheries

Jackye Carroll was walking along the beach that runs outside her home in Pass Christian, Mississippi, early this morning when she came across a curious sight. The sun had just come up and the white sand beach was looking at its most beautiful, but there, just above the gently lapping sea of the Gulf of Mexico was a grey-brown mound of flesh about two to three feet in length.

She put on the gloves that she had brought along in anticipation, and turned the mound over to find that it was a Loggerhead, one of the five threatened species of sea turtle found in this region. The sand around it was being stained red by blood seeping from its nose and underbelly. It was dead....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/03/deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-turtle-deaths-soar

The oil will make the long fought for species extinct in the Gulf of Mexico.  Its' habitat has been destroyed.

Turtle nesting season has begun

Posted on Monday, 05.03.1o

By STEVE PATTERSON, The Florida Times-Union

The Miami Herald

 JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. - Vida, a loggerhead sea turtle, was stranded for two days on a beach around St. Augustine, Fla., before someone saw she was alive and got help.
  
  When staff at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center returned Vida to the ocean months later in 2008, a battery-powered satellite transmitter on her shell chronicled her travels for researchers on shore for four months.

   That data could someday help protect her entire species.

   Nesting season for sea turtles in Florida and Georgia began Saturday with loggerheads, the region's most common turtle, poised to be named an endangered species.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/03/1610697/turtle-nesting-season-has-begun.html#ixzz0muELf9Mt

The New York Times Square bombing attempt has hallmarks of al Qaeda. My opinion, nothing official.

It was supposed to be a 'big bomb.'  Al Qaeda prides itself on such stupid things.
Not only that it has 'traits' of an attack Americans could recognize and grow higher rates of fear. 
The mechanism was McVeigh-like.  
I my humble opinion, this was supposed to be a successful attempt at something that would evoke more violence from the White Supremists of the USA to spur more in the way of mimics.
I hope I am wrong, but, I don't believe I am.  But, al Qaeda likes to 'recruit' 'nationals' by setting example and being big and bad.  
It might be that the alliance with Pakistan was suppose to evoke fear enough to break that bond.  The USA and Pakistan must be having considerable success.

I am not going to turn on my own country you jackasses !

Pakistani Man Convicted in 2008 Mumbai Attacks  (click title to entry - thank you) 

By VIKAS BAJAJ 

Published: May 3, 2010 

...The defendant, Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani, hung his head as a judge read a summary of the judgment to him in Hindi at a special courtroom in a jail here. Mr. Kasab, who spent most of the hearing bent over, held a grave expression but said nothing.

“The offenses committed by them was a brazen act of war against India,” Judge M. L. Tahaliyani said, referring to Mr. Kasab and nine other gunmen who unleashed a wave of violence with grenades and machine guns, attacking five-star hotels, a busy commuter train station, a popular bar and a Jewish center. He added, “It was not a simple crime of murder or intent to murder.”

Mr. Kasab faces the death penalty or life in prison; the court will meet Tuesday to consider his sentence...

A three month long technology fair opens in Houston on May 5th. How nice for them, they get to tout all their stories about profits and ignorance.

I was just wondering, perhaps they might even have some 'workshops' on morality and how over-extending their safety margin might be an issue prosecutable by death when innocent citizens die and their economies collapse.  

I guess the death penalty is more than any civilized society should expect for plutocrats.  But, negligent homicide probably should meet with some kind of penalty the industry recognizes.

This is Cameron International's Headquarters in Houston.  Nice building. 

Link:  http://www.c-a-m.com/

British Petroleum is claiming that their 'pressure control device' failed causing the current developing 'dead zone' in the Gulf of Mexico.

5000 feet down, I demand to see the 'test data' that this device not only functioned at full capacity at that depth, but, had a 'fail safe' device that would work when it failed.  How much anyone want to wager that information doesn't exist because it was never tested that way.  The pressure at 5000 feet down crushed the mechanism and that is why the USA Navy can't get it to work.  I mean is it made of titanium?   

Not only that, but, what company installed it with guarantees to their ability to install the device without damage to its mechanism.  Was it tested BEFORE the well was attempted?  I don't think so.

"Drill here, drill now !"  

No one should bother to answer those questions until they've had a chance to 'lawyer up.'  Besides, I already know the answers.

I still demand for oil HOLE to be torpedoed closed.

The only possiblity of BP actually doing any good by August is that it ? might ? stop the leak. But, the oil already in the water will be spread anywhere a hurricane strikes in the Gulf including Central, South America, Cuba, Bahamas and Haiti along with the Caribbean Islands.

Oil Spill Halts Fishing off US Coast of Gulf of Mexico

02 May 2010

...Officials say the fishing restrictions will hold for 10 days as scientists study the effects of the oil spill on commercial seafood in the Gulf of Mexico.  The areas under the suspension include waters off the coasts of southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the panhandle of Florida... (click title to entry - thank you)

The United Nations needs to be prepared to intervene in any of the Caribbean countries and those all along the Gulf Coast with supplies and food as the 'immediate' effects of the oil distribution 'inland' won't be realized and the people of those areas won't understand the 'idea' of contaminated food source.  The education of those peoples should begin now.


Kiss your economies good-bye !

Eight Major Hurricanes Expected

The 2010 Hurricane Season in the Atlantic Ocean will begin on June 1, 2010, and end on November 30, 2010. Atlantic hurricanes affect the eastern and Gulf coasts of the U.S. and the Caribbean nations. Those with interests in hurricane-prone areas must heed federal and state advice on preparedness, the season in general, and each specific storm in the season. 

http://www.mahalo.com/2010-hurricane-season-forecast

Solution could take months

The plan to stop the leak depends on a low-tech strategy that has never been attempted before in deep water.
The plan: to lower 74-ton, concrete-and-metal boxes into the gulf to capture the oil and siphon it to a barge waiting at the surface. Whether that will work for a leak 5,000 feet below the surface is anyone's guess; the method has previously worked only in shallower waters.

If it doesn't, and efforts to activate the shutoff mechanism called a blowout preventer continue to prove fruitless, the oil probably will keep gushing for months until a second well can be dug to cut off the first. Oil giant BP's latest plan will take six to eight days because welders have to assemble the boxes.



Satellite images indicate the rust-hued slick tripled in size in just two days, suggesting the oil could be pouring out faster than before. Wildlife including sea turtles have been found dead on the shore but it is too soon to know whether the spill, caused by an April 20 oil rig explosion, was to blame.






Even if the well is shut off in a week, fishermen and wildlife officials wonder how long it will take for the gulf to recover. Some compare it to the hurricane Louisiana is still recovering from after nearly five years.
"It's like a slow version of Katrina," Venice charter boat captain Bob Kenney said. "My kids will be talking about the effect of this when they're my age."





More than 6,800 square miles of fishing areas, from the mouth of the Mississippi to Florida's Pensacola Bay were closed for at least 10 days on Sunday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100503/NEWS07/5030324/1001/news/Obama-Oil-spill-may-be-unprecedented-disaster

Members of the U.S. Army National Guard put Hesco containers along the beaches of Dauphin Island, Ala., on Sunday. The containers are designed to absorb oil and turn it into a solid that can be recycled. (MICHELLE ROLLS-THOMAS/Associated Press)

As BP prepares to drill a relief well in the Gulf of Mexico, we look at the process involved

BP crews are set to begin drilling a relief well in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to stem the flow from the MC252 well.

BP has relief well contingency plans in place to allow the company to regain control of a well. These plans are now being called into action in the GoM.

A drilling rig drills a relief well or second well to intersect the original, flowing well as deeply as possible. A specialized heavy liquid is then pumped into the flowing well to bring it under control. This liquid is denser than oil and so exerts pressure (known as hydrostatic pressure) to stem the flow of oil. Once the flow is stopped, the well can be returned to a safe condition. 
 

A relief well should be faster to drill than the original well thanks to the knowledge already gained about the geology and pressure in the reservoir. However, drilling a well of this nature presents many technical challenges to ensure that the flowing well is intersected in the right position and that the fluid pumping operations are effective. BP has assembled a world-class team of experts from within the company and key specialists in the industry to ensure that the relief well operations are conducted safely and successfully.

A second relief well could form part of the contingency plans in case the first well encounters any delays. This means that progress can still be made to stem a flowing well should one drilling operation encounter a problem. 

 

The real reason GM paid off their loan was to abandon American Workers AGAIN.

The CEOs of GM must absolutely hate the USA !

GM just could not wait to outsource more American jobs.  Could absolutely not wait.
 

...The first batch of engines to be used in the Volt will be sourced from a plant in Aspern, Austria, but eventually GM plans to update one of its existing Flint plants to start construction of the new powertrains. The move will save money and utilize available floorspace within the Flint South engine plant on Bristol Road, reports The Detroit News....

ANY and all future loans or bailouts to GM needs to be put 'on hold' for review of appropriate nature to the best outcome of the USA economy.

There is a PERFECTLY good plant right there in Flint, but, yet GM, with the USA as 66.2% stockholder is CONSTRUCTING a new plant in Austria.

I don't think so ! 

The USA market is their largest and is so because most Americans that purchase GM cars and trucks believe in American labor.  Well, that isn't true anymore and I really don't believe GM wants to see nearly one fourth of their market share dwindle to nothing.  

Now do they?  

I hate that word boycott, but, hey ya know, with a CEO that hates American labor this much, time to rethink what we are actually believing about GM. 

I demand an investigation to the mistreatment of the 'good faith' agreements with GM that never allowed for unnecessary spending that increases costs, regarding loans and bailouts.  I demand it as a majority stockholder.

I don't feel like bailing out another failed company because they seem to think we are 'into' them for so much.  There are misuse and abuse of assets GM already owns while the CEO has gone on an ego trip to Austria. 

I believe there will be movement toward disarming Iran from the capacity of nuclear weapons.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran reads verses from the Koran at Tehran airport before leaving for New York. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images

US and Russia to propose ban on WMD in Middle East  (click title to entry - thank you)

Tough global talks ahead in review of nuclear treaty as Egypt aims to put pressure on west over Israel

guardian.co.uk, Sunday 2 May 2010 22.15 BST 

Julian Borger, diplomatic editor 

...The proposal – involving the appointment of a special coordinator to conduct exploratory talks with Israel, Iran and the Arab states, followed by a regional conference – will be a central issue at a conference beginning tomorrow in New York aimed at preventing the further spread of nuclear weapons around the world.

Washington and Moscow have circulated the proposal among the three other permanent members of the UN security council, seeking their endorsement....

I believe President Medvedev will bring all the influence he has to the table, but, it is safe to say no matter what influence China has with North Korea or Russia has with Iran there seems to be a limit to the 'rhelm of influence' any country has with the two rouge states.

...Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's criticism of Iran (see link below) during his recent visit to the United States came as a pleasant surprise for the Western and Israeli press. Medvedev said, "Iran is causing some problems", adding that "the most important thing now is for us to find evidence of what their nuclear program is."

The Russian president went on to say that Iran either ignores the questions addressed to it or makes suggestive statements. Isn't this enough to silence critics who claim that Russia is indulging Iran's nuclear ambitions?

The problem is that some of Russia's partners in the West overestimate how much influence Russia has over Iran. After U.S. President Barack Obama called off plans to deploy elements of the missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic on September 17, 2009, U.S. and other Western media outlets started saying that Russia should persuade Iran to disarm in exchange.... 

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20100415/158599756.html

Iran plans to hold talks with all 15 members of the UN Security Council to discuss a nuclear fuel deal, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday.  (See link below)

He said the deal, under which Iranian stockpiles of low-enriched uranium would be sent to France and Russia to be turned into reactor fuel, could be finalized in two weeks if all sides showed the necessary will, Iran's ILNA news agency reported.

He said the talks, to begin "in the coming days," will focus on the "fuel exchange [deal]" and will be conducted by Iran's missions in the respective countries.

The UN-sponsored deal to supply nuclear fuel for a research reactor in Tehran proposes Iran ship out low-enriched uranium to be processed into higher-grade nuclear fuel and then returned to Iran....

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100419/158654441.html

North leader’s visit to China appears imminent  (See link below)

May 03, 2010

A trip to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appears imminent, multiple sources from South Korea and China said yesterday.

The North’s leader “has not crossed into China yet, but it appears highly likely that his Chinese trip would come either today or tomorrow as a considerable level of preparations have been done,” a source said on condition of anonymity...

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2919926

I believe I noticed Secretary Sebelius at the White House Correspondence Dinner yesterday evening and she looked lovely as always.

The good Secretary may very well find her hands full when the oil finds its way into the food chain of the citizens that live among the bayous and back bays.

Those people don't always 'go shopping' for their groceries and may be very vulnerable to the ingestion of contaminated wildlife and fish..

I wish her the best in stemming any tragedy that would result in from the ignorance and greed of the Petroleum Industry.

Local health departments, with the help of volunteers could form an outreach to local citizens to bring them a healthy alternative to their regular diets. 

Seven dead in Tennessee floods  (see link below)

(Reuters) - Severe storms and flash floods left seven people dead in Tennessee over the weekend as rising river waters closed portions of interstate highways leading in and out of Nashville.

The storms lifted levels of the Cumberland River that runs through Nashville as well as smaller tributaries and creeks.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency asked the state's Army National Guard on Sunday for assistance in rescue operations. There was no immediate report of injuries.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean declared a state of emergency for the metropolitan area of Davidson County, where hundreds of people had been rescued from the raging waters and 45,000 people remained without power on Sunday.
"All of our major creeks and the Cumberland River are near flood level, if not at flood level. The ground is entirely saturated, and the rain continues to fall. There's nowhere for the water to go," Dean said in a statement.
More thunderstorms were expected in the region, and emergency officials were urging people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
(Reporting by Susan Kelly, editing by Philip Barbara)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6412Y620100502