"Good Night, Moon"

March 1, 2016
By RT

A mysterious fireball (click here) made a dramatic entrance into the Scottish sky, lighting up the night and making a loud rumbling noise, which left residents somewhat confused. The object is believed to have been a meteor, though that has yet to be confirmed.
Police in Scotland said they received a flood of calls at around 6:55pm on Monday, after a bright flash was seen dancing across the sky, Mail Online reported. Residents said they spotted blue, white, and green lights, with many saying they heard a rumbling sound.
The fireball was filmed by several dashcams, with drivers posting the footage online....

Annex B

It is my intention to also look at all the countries and their particular contributions and problems.

Party and Quantified emission limitation or reduction commitment (percentage of base year or period)

The ambition of the protocol was not a minor attempt. As noted in the pledge of the Parties of the Agreement, there was sincere dedication to the best outcomes. Iceland even stated it would reduce it's greenhouse gases by 110 percent. Iceland is primarily geothermal (volcano). The sky and the land are beautiful. 

Australia 108 
Austria 92 
Belgium 92 
Bulgaria* 92 
Canada 94 
Croatia* 95 
Czech Republic* 92 
Denmark 92 
Estonia* 92 
European Community 92 
Finland 92 
France 92 
Germany 92 
Greece 92 
Hungary* 94 
Iceland 110 
Ireland 92 
Italy 92 
Japan 94 
Latvia* 92 
Liechtenstein 92 
Lithuania* 92 
Luxembourg 92 
Monaco 92 
Netherlands 92 
New Zealand 100 
Norway 101 
Poland* 94 
Portugal 92 
Romania* 92 
Russian Federation* 100 
Slovakia* 92 
Slovenia* 92 
Spain 92 
Sweden 92 
Switzerland 92 
Ukraine* 100 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 92 
United States of America 93 

* Countries that are undergoing the process of transition to a market economy

The United States of America did not ratify the treaty nor ever achieved a goal of 93 percent.

Annex A

I'll take these lists apart and learn the importance to the climate dialogue

Greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide (C02) 
Methane (CH4) 
Nitrous oxide (N20) 
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) 
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) 

Sectors/source categories 

Energy 

Fuel combustion 
Energy industries 
Manufacturing industries and construction 
Transport 
Other sectors 
Other 

Fugitive emissions from fuels 

Solid fuels 
Oil and natural gas 
Other 

Industrial processes 

Mineral products 
Chemical industry
Metal production
Other production
Production of halocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride
Consumption of halocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride
Other

Solvent and other product use 

Agriculture

Enteric fermentation
Manure management
Rice cultivation
Agricultural soils
Prescribed burning of savannas
Field burning of agricultural residues 
Other

Waste

Solid waste disposal on land
Wastewater handling
Waste incineration
Other 

It's Sunday Night

Tonight will be abbreviated due to he holiday.

"Happy Easter"

Easter Parade by Judy Garland (click here)

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I'll be all in clover and when they look you over,
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us,
And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet,
And of the girl I'm taking to the Easter Parade

Written by Irving Berlin

There are unpaid guards, unsafe infrastructure and Oklahoma won't raise taxes.

President George W. Bush with Joe Allbaugh, thendirector of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (right), speaks in the Eager, Arizona, High School cafeteria to people displaced by the Rodeo fire in June 2002. 

February 11, 2016
By Barbara Hoberock

...During his first weeks on the job, (click here) Allbaugh has been visiting prisons.

And he has seen a lot: low morale among underpaid correctional officers; programs that work but don’t have enough support; doors and locks on cells that don’t work but still house offenders; individuals at community centers and halfway houses that are not supervised properly; a draconian paper filing system to keep track of offender histories; holes in fences; and a system at 122 percent of capacity.

He described the bare bones staffing at the correctional officer level as “unnerving.”

“The overriding story is that there is a problem in the Department of Corrections,” Allbaugh said. “And the governor, Legislature and society as a whole have ownership of this problem.”

He points to mandatory sentences that send offenders to prison for long stays.

He supports sentencing reform but said it is not the agency’s “bailiwick.”

“That is not what we do,” he said.

While he said he is not a fan of using private prisons, given the state’s situation, they are a relief valve for the state, he said.

“Right now, (the private prisons) are saving our bacon,” he said.

Private prisons in Sayre and Watonga could be used to help relieve pressure on state prisons, he said....

March 27, 2016

By Andrew Knittle

Oklahoma City — Last year, (click here) a pair of out-of-state private prison companies received a record $92.7 million from the state Corrections Department for housing Oklahoma inmates, a necessary expense to deal with the state’s persistent overcrowding problem, agency officials say.

Since 2004, the state has spent roughly $975 million on contracts with the two for-profit corrections enterprises operating in Oklahoma, based in Florida and Tennessee.

So far this fiscal year, which ends June 30, the two companies have received roughly $55 million.

Recent spending trends, as well as comments made earlier in the week by interim DOC Director Joe Allbaugh, suggest that number will continue to climb.

I betcha everyone in the state legislature and governor's office is being paid. Oklahoma is where some of the wealthiest petroleum companies and stockholders in the world live and the people of Oklahoma can't even pay their guards at it's prison facilities.

March 27, 2016

By AP

Oklahoma City — As leaders in the Oklahoma House and Senate (click here) struggle to close a $1.3 billion budget hole, Republicans behind the scenes are jockeying for powerful state government positions that will be vacant after this fall’s election.

Leadership in the Senate is likely to pass from President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman of Sapulpa, who is term-limited, to No. 2 Republican leader Mike Schulz of Altus, who has two years left on his term. But in the House, a spirited race is developing to replace outgoing Speaker Jeff Hickman of Fairview.

Besides overseeing their chambers’ operations and developing policy, the speaker and president pro tem are responsible for negotiating with the governor on how to divvy up roughly $6 billion a year from the state’s General Revenue Fund. Neither position has served as much of a springboard to higher office: Of those who held the positions in the past two decades, only former Speaker Todd Hiett won another election....

Sandra Bland would be alive to defend herself.

Today, there are intersection cameras connected to a police department. Those camera's are set up to record any traffic violation at the intersection including the vehicle, the driver and the license plate of the vehicle. With that information a citation/summons would be sent to the registered owner and what follows is resolution of the summons. 

Sandra Bland's lane change without signaling was picked up by a camera. All the officer needed was to be sure the license plate was plainly seen. With that she could have continued on her way without being stopped while the police could issue a summons for a court date for her traffic violation. Sandra Bland would still be alive today, would have a new job and would have the opportunity to see her traffic violation online to decide if she should pay the fine or make an appointment for court.

That is all that was needed and it would end the police contact that lead to aggravate the circumstances that lead to her death. Sandra was cooperative with police and what good did it do her? The arresting officer didn't like her tone of voice. What did that ever have to do with a lane change? 

Citizens are allowed to have a bad day. That is not against the law.

There is simply no reason for police contact. Everything that formed the break in the law was on video.

In advocating for homeless (people in transition) or experiencing prejudice that costs them their life it was plainly obvious police cannot be trusted with innocent or unarmed people.

Andre Harris, whose brother, Eric Harris, died after being shot by Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Robert Bates, pauses Tuesday at his brother’s memorial.

Tulsa, Oklahoma had to take on the awareness things were terribly wrong. They refused the stereotypes and saw a man with a history of public service be charged with murder and they witnessed for themselves the unnecessary death of Eric Harris. The Harris Family was now without a relative due to wrongful behavior with a gun. Tulsa, Oklahoma is different today and they don't want to go back. 

The chase was never necessary. The camera picked up every bit of information, including the money paid for the gun. That information would validate charges a police officer could swear out an arrest warrant. With an arrest warrant Eric Harris could have been picked up at his place of residence without violence. He might have run, but, knowing he would need a public defender because of his income the entire issue could have been avoided.

Police need to realize their methods are deadly when they don't have to be. A public defender could be the first contact with a person charged with a crime and bring them in. Police do not have to put themselves in perceived danger in order to have a person served. If governments would assume most, if not all their warrants will be served on people unable to afford a lawyer; having them served through a public defender's office is far better than high speed chases or a chase that ends in death of the person that will never have a fair hearing in court. 

Currently, police and sheriff and deputies are acting as judge and jury. Our criminal justice system is broken. It has to be viewed in that reality.

Unless the police officer is intervening to prevent danger to citizens, I don't consider petty theft of Cigarillos as appropriate for a death sentence. The owner of the store just had to file a complaint with the police department. With that a public defender could be assigned until it is known through affidavit one is not needed. If every arrest warrant was given a public defender assigned with reaching the defendant to explain to him or her their civic responsibilities to move any complaint to resolve with a court date. Once the defendant was reached by the public defender, representation begins to file an affidavit for continued assistance in representation. 

It will be an asset to those defending their rights to at least be met with a public defender for the initial right to council. They can answer simple questions even if they don't qualify for a public defender. Sometimes that is all that is needed. Facing a warrant to be arrested is a devastating reality. Citizens should be empowered to act swiftly to make a court appearance with confidence to the direction they are seeking relief from the crime, if there was a crime at all.

I don't think, considering the militarization of the police, a warrant has to be served by anyone other than a public defender. There has to be a city interested in attempting this paradigm of justice that can accurately report to it's ability to reduce police deaths and injuries and resolving outstanding complaints. Public defenders care about the people they represent. They can begin mediation of any criminal charge with a sentence that might actually begin with attendance at meetings of Narcotics Anonymous.

There are too many people falling through the cracks and the police are too dangerous to apprehend any defendant, especially young black men.

March 27, 2016
By Corey Jones

Shooting death sparked a string of revelations that have left mark on family, community. (click here)

SuperPac Immunity

Ted Cruz wants everyone to believe his SuperPac is out of control and does not reflect his values. I don't think so.

Let's begin at the beginning. During the presidential race of 2004 an equivalent of a SuperPac called the Swift Boaters relentlessly attacked then US Senator Kerry over his service record. It is difficult to believe it was an issue at all because John Kerry had far more battle experience than "W." As a matter of fact, "W" never had any battle exposure. 

There was a point in time when people believe the "Swift Boaters" (prequal to a Superpac) were defaming a war veteran and there was some talk about danger to Senator Kerry's life. "W" was asked to simply make a statement that would end the actions of a 501(d)4. "W" would not do it. He stated he had no control over the "Swift Boaters."

Following that election there was a significant growth of 401(d)3s. Every election cycle since has seen more and more of these SuperPacs which turn the election process in the USA on it's head.

In recognizing the danger to the country in the election of 2016 there are two candidates running for president without the support of a SuperPac. There are two candidates with SuperPacs. 

I think it is fair game to retaliate when a SuperPac turns on a candidate not supported by their own SuperPac. In the case of Ted Cruz is stated he has no control over the SuperPac, but, we have also witnessed Vice President Biden exerting his clout in public against his own SuperPac and the reaction was significant from that particular pac. 

If Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders speaks out against vicious ads by a SuperPac they have every right to retaliate against the message and the unwillingness of the SuperPac to end their attack or listening to a message for them to do so. SuperPacs are based on supporting a stated candidate. I would think there would be some degree of respect for the candidate. 

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump do not support the idea of SuperPacs and they are the only person that can counter such attack. There is no immunity for SuperPacs and I would think that would apply to any SuperPac.

US Senator Ron Johnson states on CNN the USA needs to put the "Coalition of the Willing" back together again. He wants Europe to come on board. He is wrong. 

Europe needs to worry about Europe. And we don't need to escalate any conflict in the middle east.

Tucker Carlson on FOX says there are good Americans such as their chef or their Easter table. If there are good Americans then there must be bad Americans. This is a direct regression back to "W"s administration.

Belgium is dispersing crowds at the memorial at the train station. I think Belgium is rightfully worried about large gatherings of people. As much as honor those dead and injured, there are other ways to do it. Indoor arenas where entrance to the venue can be controlled can be entertained to help with the people of Brussels. 

The US Media in some instances are keeping the arguments about candidates alive even though Donald Trump has not been on the campaign trail for 9 to 10 days. Today is Easter and I would be surprised if he showed up today. It is the media that is hooked on ratings brought by the mention of Donald Trump and not the candidate himself. This is ridiculous. The statements reflected in the media is old news but it is the only one they have now. Donald Trump doesn't have to campaign when he is all over cable media. He is their leading story and he is not even in the public realm.

I would think the Muslim community would file suits against the media that continually invokes their controversy with a candidate who's comments are well over a week old. If the Muslim community is experiencing fear, it is the media responsible.

Feel the Burn

March 26, 2016
By John Whitesides and Amanda Becker

Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders (click here) easily won nominating contests in Alaska and Washington on Saturday, chipping away at front-runner Hillary Clinton's commanding lead in the race to pick the party's candidate for the White House.

Sanders still faces a steep uphill climb to overtake Clinton but the big victories in the West generated more momentum for his upstart campaign and could stave off calls from Democratic leaders that he should wrap up his bid in the name of party unity.

Sanders appeared headed to victory margins of more than 50 percentage points in both Alaska and Washington. He aimed for a third victory later on Saturday in Hawaii.

"We are making significant inroads in Secretary Clinton's lead and ... we have a path to victory," Sanders told cheering, chanting supporters in Madison, Wisconsin. "It is hard for anybody to deny that our campaign has the momentum."...

The USA DOD is thinking about increasing the number of American soldiers in Iraq. 

Why?

Everyone else still running home to be safe?

I would think if more Americans are needed, the strategy is not working and we don't belong there at all. I really think the American presence in Iraq is more a front of Iranian concern and not the ability to steer foreign soldiers to greater strategical victory.

The USA military likes control and not victories.

We don't belong in Iraq, 

We never did.

When the American escaped from Daesh territory, he stated he was faced with something other than what he expected. These unwitting volunteers from The West are prisoners of a regime. The gentleman was captured and held in place within Daesh by fear for his life. He knew that if he maintained a place in the regime it would provide an opportunity to escape. There is only one definition that fits that understanding and that is a regime of criminals are using religion for the capture of their slaves and fear of death is the culture surrounding all of the people, not just those slated for execution.

There is an uprising that can easily occur.

Can Daesh be defeated within our societies by statistics? I don't believe in coincidence.

Mason is indeed a very lucky man, but, so are we. We still have Mason within our society.

What I find interesting about Mason is his repeated appearance in these venues of attack. I believe Boston is where he lives. Boston was the personalities of the terrorists in the Boston attack. 

What worries me is that Mason is becoming closer and closer to permanent danger. Mason is a demographic with repeated statistics. He has access to money because he obviously travels. The rest of the demographics, the venues of violence and the suicide bombers are all part of the picture. 

Daesh may have a profile of it's victims when they conduct suicide bombings.

March 25, 2016 
By Mary Blanchard and Jeremy Harris 

One of the 19-year-old LDS missionaries (click here) injured in this week's attack in Brussels spoke with The Associated Press Friday
Mason Wells, from Sandy, was with three other missionaries at the Brussels, Belgium airport during Tuesday's bombing.
Wells was also at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.... 

The attacks MAY BE less random than it appears. What is the best statistician in the world and where is the best mathematician. They need to be a team. Russian and China scientists should not be ostracized because of their country or governance; if their leadership wishes to participate and the scientist fits the pattern.

Each country in the world may have slightly different demographics. They can run their own team to attempt to discern any pattern AND/OR next likely target. 

Whoever thought there would be a common denominato?. Mason did not choose to be a victim. There is randomness that can be discovered as a standard. 

The team may need an anthropologist to discover VARIABLES. I know we are far smarter than Daesh. One aspect with Mason is his strong moral content and his youthful curiosity. No stone should be left unturned.

I am very grateful for Mason. He is a great man. 

So Donald Trump has been off the campaign trail for eight days.

I don't blame him for taking time with his family. The family has received death threats in the past couple of weeks. I don't think the public knows all the concern involved in his campaign. Eric made an appearance lately on FOX I think. He seems fine and fearless. But, perhaps the family needed time together.

But. Then. There is that baby. I hope they are all well and happy..

It's a special moment.

I can't believe the cheering of the crowd didn't scare it. Bernie was great. 

The young people at that rally are absolutely wonderful. They cheer at simple pleasures. They love Bernie Sanders. They hold onto him dearly. I can understand that. They are worried about their future and they don't feel as though they can control how their lives will take shape. 

Young people that incredible with their virtue captured in a moment compliments of a bird will bring interest by parents. If parents realize how vital Bernie Sanders is to the hopes of their children they will vote for him. Those young people in that moment don't realize how powerful they are. Young Americans are great.

By blaming everyone else for his alleged infidelity the suspiicion becomes more clear.

The people want the truth not finger pointing or excuses.

March 25, 2016
By Mary Elizabeth Williams

I understand (click here) the allure of the possible revelation that a world class stone thrower also abides in a glass house. But of all the reasons to be outraged about Ted Cruz, of all the nyah nyah nyah reasons to pick the guy apart, Friday’s explosive claims that the Republican presidential candidate has repeatedly cheated on his wife seem to be wildly missing the point. If you want to take a political candidate down, can it please, in 2016, not be over his private consensual adult sexual behavior?...

The is the presidency of the USA. While the Republican Party could not care less about Ted's escapades, the people in a national election will.

I realize even prostitution doesn't phase the Republican Party that won't hold water in a national election. 

Heath Ceramics and their K studio

Heath Ceramics is probably the one company left that produces dinnerware in the USA.

Over the years they have developed other product lines. Their tile products were some of it's earliest products that lead to dinnerware. They also have a cookware line.

But, this exciting sachet (click here) is made in Michigan. It is a "Made in America" product. The sachets makes a nice gift for the traveler as family or friend.

Congratulations to all involved, including Joel Manby, the CEO of Sea World.

Just some thoughts. What people will learn about Orcas at the new "Sea World Orca Encounter" is that these whales travel in pods. When a single male leaves it's pod they often travel in a two bachelor group. The point is the very fine people that long for the Sea World Orcas to live in the wild have significant hurdles to that end.

"Keiko" (click here) has his dignity in that he tried really, really hard to be autonomous and free, but, he had no real reference points to the oceans. In the end he stranded in a fjord. It was not a failure, it was a learning experience for all involved. 

Any attempt at setting the whales free to open ocean unprotected and without human intervention has to come from a team of PhDs. There is no other option. The Sea World Orcas are bonded to people. Bonding is a gigantic issue for any scientist that wants to set the Orcas into open oceans. 

The Orcas like deep water, but, what these Orcas don't understand is the depth of the oceans and the size of their swimming pool. That is significant and poses a danger to them. It is a lot more than just hunting and eating in the wild. 

Imagine just for a minute being a baby Orca and mom dives to depth. The young learn something. They learn mom is brave and dives for a purpose and they can survive for a short time while at depth, but, surfacing is very important. A female with an infant has a lot of work to do from birth, to them traveling to feeding areas and ultimately males leave the pod while the females breed again. No different than land animals such as the elephant the life skills are learned from the pod.

For the Sea World Orcas they have never had that ocean experience at a young age. There is no way to instill that knowledge. It has to be learned and it has to be learned at a young age.

The exception some might look to is Tillicum. He is a significantly large whale, but, he has been in the ocean. He was not hand raised. However, Tillicum sees Sea World pools and pens as his home and his domaine. He is a very strong and large male and part of that comes from his earlier years in the ocean. He would be hard pressed at his age to find a pod that would accept him or to build his own.

Male whales are interesting. In order to build their own pods, they will steal away an initial female from an existing pod. The two bachelor whales will harass a female at the edge of the pod until she is separated and isolated. They are fascinating mammals. 

Tillicum should be considered retired and allowed to be in a place where he is safe and has his own domaine. 

I want to refer to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (click here). That law worked to benefit the Sea World Orcas and rightfully so. But, to take the retirement of these mammals to the next level and set them free into the oceans can be viewed as wrongful under the law. 

The law is to protect them and to remove them from cruelty. PhDs will have to oversee any efforts to set them free and quite frankly I can't think of one that would take this effort that far. There are too many factors. But, the people who see morality differently are welcome to try, but, first ASK the law if their venture to release the whales is within the parameters of it. Cruelty is the primary word and if releasing them is cruel the law will not back the effort.

Kindly remember, these Orcas are oriented to human beings and their behavior. That won't necessarily leave them in the open ocean. The whaling ships are still out there and they do hunt Orcas. Sending them into the oceans is an incredibly complex problem.

Again, congratulations to all and to Sea World for finding a path without cruelty to these magnificent mammals. Good luck!