Trump continues to toy with a person's birth right. This is highly illegal. He is recalling American's birth certificate?

Trump is really beginning to sound like a Nazi. He just is. More detainees before deportation when they have a birth certificate that states he was born in Texas. This is a bridge too far. He is toying with the fact people are natural born citizens.

August 29, 2018
By Kevin Sieff

Pharr, Tex. — On paper, he’s a devoted U.S. citizen. (click here)

His official American birth certificate shows he was delivered by a midwife in Brownsville, at the southern tip of Texas. He spent his life wearing American uniforms: three years as a private in the Army, then as a cadet in the Border Patrol and now as a state prison guard.

But when Juan, 40, applied to renew his U.S. passport this year, the government’s response floored him. In a letter, the State Department said it didn’t believe he was an American citizen

As he would later learn, Juan is one of a growing number of people whose official birth records show they were born in the United States but who are now being denied passports — their citizenship suddenly thrown into question. The Trump administration is accusing hundreds, and possibly thousands, of Hispanics along the border of using fraudulent birth certificates since they were babies, and it is undertaking a widespread crackdown on their citizenship....

27 August 2018
By Bethania Palma

Hundreds of migrant children (click here) separated from their parents under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy have yet to be reunited with their parents, according to attorneys representing the families.

Overall, a total of 2,654 children were taken from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border under the policy that began in April 2018 and was effectively ended in June 2018, when a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) in a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Judge Dana Sabraw ordered the policy be discontinued and families reunified.

As of a 24 August 2018 status conference in that case, 528 children remained in the care of the federal government and had not been reunified with their separated parents. Of those children, 343 were separated from a parent who has since been deported and is no longer in the U.S. Another 203 have been released from government custody to a U.S. sponsor (typically a family member, such as an aunt, grandparent, or the other parent). Those children have yet to be reunified with the parents from whom they were separated at the border, according to the ACLU.

In issuing the 26 June 2018 TRO, Judge Sabraw gave the federal government until 26 July 2018 to reunite all separated families. Despite the slow progress, he said during the 24 August status conference that it “seems we are on a very good trajectory here.”...

She and Trump are too extreme. They would seek to use the Senator's memory as an advantage.

Senator McCain and his family have far more dignity than either Palin or Trump could muster. The McCain family is correct, John McCain was never an extremist.

August 29, 2018

By Michael Burke

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (click here) (R) has reportedly not been invited to attend funeral services for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), her onetime running mate.

NBC News reported Wednesday that Palin had not been invited. A source within the Palin family told NBC News that “out of respect to Senator McCain and his family we have nothing to add at this point.”...  s

Ms. Aretha Franklin is concluding her tour in the city she called home.

August 29, 2018
By Cheryl Corley

When Detroit celebrates the life of Aretha Franklin on Friday, there will be more than 100 pink Cadillacs lining the road in front of the church where her funeral will occur. It's a tribute to the Queen of Soul and one of her biggest, Grammy-winning hits.

"Freeway Of Love" is a joyous driving song. In its chorus, Franklin sings, "We're going riding on the freeway of love / In a pink Cadillac."...

I think he is exciting.

He is a fresh face, young and ambitious. That is a measure of success that people seem to like.

August 28, 2018
By Ray Downs

...Gillum, (click here) the Mayor of Tallahassee, will become the first black candidate of a major party to run for governor in the Sunshine State. The 39-year-old had been trailing in the polls for months behind former congresswoman Gwen Graham, whose father Bob Graham was a former governor and U.S. Senator of Florida, and Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine....

As Mayor has four primary areas of interest. (click here) Within each are programs and initiatives that serve the Tallahassee community.

Family First Agenda
The Opportunity Agenda
Talent Lives Here (TLH)
Promoting a Culturally Vibrant Community
Operation Safe Neighborhoods
As Mayor he oversaw a Fellowship Program

If there is anything Florida needs it is safer neighborhoods. He has what it takes.

May 22, 2018
By Karl Etters

...“Crime in Tallahassee (click here) is at its lowest level since 2013, and our city continues to get safer every day," Gillum said in a statement. "We will maintain a focus on investing in our human services, ensuring good jobs are available in our community, and providing our police officers with the resources they need to fight crime and continue this positive momentum.”...

I like him, a lot.

AI, the next unemployment statistic. Who is going to buy what they sell?

9 July 2018
By Peter Gearin

From her world of sophisticated data analytics (click here) Natalie Nguyen has seen just how traditional professions like accounting are set to transform as businesses scale faster and automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks.

The chief executive officer of Hyper Anna, an AI-powered data-analysis tool used by many of Australia's largest financial institutions, says accountants in this sort of augmented world will not be spending their days generating and maintaining reports. Instead, the focus will be on improved customer service and compliance reporting as data analytics helps solve complex problems at lightning speed.

"If we're looking ahead two years, we see accounting roles will be more focused on planning, risk management, capital management and performance monitoring," Nguyen says. "They will spend less time doing all the manual tasks and a lot more time interpreting the information and understanding what it means for the business.

“They will be using their experience to make the right decisions and make ethical judgements. These [tasks] are not going to be replaced by machines any time soon."

In a recent survey undertaken by business software group Sage about half of the 3000 respondents said they would like to automate their number crunching, data entry, email and diary management jobs. The study found two-thirds saying they would invest in AI to automate low level tasks while a slight majority (55 per cent) expect to be using some form of AI within three years....

It is better if peacekeepers were sent along with significant amounts of humanitarian aid. Such actions are prudent to international stability.

War is not necessary and only makes it worse. Most countries can solve their own problems if given a chance to survive the emergencies.

29 August 2018
By Mitra Taj

Lima: Peru has declared a 60-day health emergency (click here) in two provinces on its northern border, citing "imminent danger" to health and sanitation, as a regional crisis sparked by thousands of Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse escalated on Tuesday.

The decree, published in the government's official gazette, did not give more details on the risks, but health authorities have previously expressed concerns about the spread of diseases such as measles and malaria from migrants.

Meanwhile, Brazil was sending armed forces to keep order near the Venezuelan border area, in the state of Roraima.

The exodus of Venezuelans to other South American countries is building toward a "crisis moment" comparable to events involving refugees in the Mediterranean, the United Nations said this week....

LGBTQ rights are questionable in Australia. Or, is it the noble whistleblower part they disdain?

29 August 2018
By Jenny Noyes and Ben Grubb

American whistleblower (click here) and activist Chelsea Manning is facing the prospect of having her visa application denied by the Australian government just days before her speaking tour – which includes an appearance at the Sydney Opera House – is due to start.

Fairfax Media understands the Australian government is considering refusing entry to Manning, who was released from military prison in 2017, under s501 of the Migration Act....

It is a loyalty thing. A profound burden for Trump when those surrounding him speak the truth.

30 August 2018
By Shannon Pettypiece

White House counsel Don McGahn (click here) will leave his job after the Senate votes on the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday.

The development comes as legal risks to the President rise, following the conviction of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort last week on fraud charges and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen's guilty plea to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations....

...During his time as White House counsel, McGahn repeatedly butted heads with Trump and occupied a position rife with conflicts. He has met extensively with special counsel Robert Mueller's team in its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and is an important potential witness regarding whether Trump obstructed justice when he fired FBI director James Comey....

To understand why Trump wants to fire AG Sessions, ask who his replacement would be and what the political value is and don’t leave out the loyalty oath.

I can’t think of one replacement for AG Sessions that does not bring more corruption to the Trump White House. Trump wants the AG to conduct all the defense of the President. Recently Trump even criticized McGhan.

He wants prosecutorial powers at his finger tips to reek havoc and distract from all his problems. He wants to sue for any negative comment by anyone. He wants the powers of the AG for that purpose. 

Trump doesn’t care about the work Sessions conducts for the country. He wants every person in US Justice working on his problems and carrying out retribution. 

What is Jeff Sessions doing that is inappropriate? Trump thinks all the work Jeff Sessions does is inappropriate because Sessions is not doing what Trump wants. Trump wants the country to fear him. He doesn’t care how he achieves that.

27 August 2018
By Carla Green

California’s summer (click here) of deadly wildfires and dangerous heatwaves will soon be the new normal if nothing is done to stop climate change, a report released on Monday warns.

City heatwaves could lead to two to three times as many deaths by 2050, the report says. By 2100, without a reduction in emissions, the state could see a 77% increase in the average area burned by wildfires. The report also warns of erosion of up to 67% of its famous coastline, up to an 8.8F (4.9C) rise in average maximum temperatures, and billions of dollars in damages....

...Rising temperaturescould lead to up to 11,300 additional deaths in 2050, the report says, and the overall number of days marked by extreme heat will “increase exponentially in many areas”.

The effects of those extreme heat days will probably weigh most heavily on the state’s most vulnerable residents, including the more than 100,000 people who are homeless in California, many of whom live on the streets without reliable access to fans, air conditioners, or running water.

“The 2006 heatwave killed over 600 people, resulted in 16,000 emergency department visits, and led to nearly $5.4bn in damages,” the assessment reports. “The human cost of these events is already immense, but research suggests that mortality risk for those 65 or older could increase tenfold by the 2090s because of climate change.”...

Background checks are EFFECTIVELY defunded by the US Department of Justice.

If the background checks can be accomplished in three days because of cuts in funding that don't allow fully staffed offices, then the background check system is effectively defunded.

August 27, 2018
By Bill Hutchinson

..."The suspect clearly targeted other gamers (click here) that were in a back room at the Chicago Pizza participating in this gaming tournament," Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said of Katz at a news conference Monday afternoon. "The suspect walked passed patrons who were in other parts of the business and focused his attention on the gamers."

Meanwhile, court records obtained by ABC News in Baltimore from a divorce and child custody battle between Katz's parents show that Katz was treated in 2011 for mental health issues and that his mother informed the court that her son was suffering from depression and "affective disorders." Records also show that David Katz was once prescribed the antidepressants Risperdal and Fluoxetine....

February 12, 2018

Washington, DC — Today, Giffords, (click here) the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, responded to President Trump’s budget announcement, which includes a 16% cut to grants for states to upload prohibiting records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the databases that allow gun dealers to quickly ascertain whether a potential purchaser falls into a prohibited category before going through with a gun sale. National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) and NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP) grants are critical funding sources that have proven instrumental to states’ ability to report prohibiting records to NICS, particularly prohibiting domestic violence records. The FY 2017 omnibus funded these programs at $73 million. President Trump’s proposed budget cut funding for FY 2019 down to $61 million....     

Why was the criticism even necessary?

May Senator John McCain rest in peace.

August 27, 2018
By Erin Kelly

Veterans groups on Monday (click here) criticized President Trump, saying he should show greater respect for the late Sen. John McCain by flying the White House flags at half-staff through his burial and issuing a presidential proclamation in honor of the Vietnam War hero.

"The American Legion urges the White House to follow long-established protocol following the death of prominent government officials," American Legion National Commander Denise Rohan wrote in a letter to Trump.

After flying the flags at half-staff on Saturday and Sunday, the White House broke with tradition and resumed flying its flags at full-staff on Monday morning, even though McCain's final memorial service will not take place until this coming weekend.

Later on Monday, after criticism poured in from veterans groups and others, the flags were again lowered to half staff at the White House...

August 27, 2018

By Eric Levenson and Keith Allen

A federal judge in Seattle (click here) granted a motion for a preliminary injunction on Monday that blocks a Texas man from releasing downloadable blueprints for 3D-printed guns until the litigation is resolved, according to court documents obtained by CNN.

Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the US District Court for Western Washington extended an earlier temporary restraining order, which will remain in place until the case is resolved, the court documents state.

"The court finds that the irreparable burdens on the private defendants' First Amendment rights are dwarfed by the irreparable harms the states are likely to suffer if the existing restrictions are withdrawn and that, overall, the public interest strongly supports maintaining the status quo through the pendency of this litigation," Lasnik wrote in the ruling....

"Good Night, Moon"

The Full

15.2 days old moon

99.8% lit

August 26, 2018
By Rachel E. Greenspan

United States residents who missed the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 11 have another chance to see something wild in the sky this month. The August full moon — dubbed the “green corn moon,” the “grain moon,” the “red moon” and the “sturgeon moon” — will be visible in the sky soon.

The full moon reached its full phase on Sunday morning, according to space.com, which means the full moon will be visible about 24 minutes after sunset on Sunday, Aug. 26.

A full moon is often visible 24 hours before and after its peak, so stargazers may be able to catch a glimpse on Monday night, too.

What is there to say? We are losing the battle. Is the war over?

Daily CO2

Aug 23, 2018:  406.48 ppm

Aug 23, 2017: 404.27 ppm

March 30, 2018

Based (click here) on the most recent research, (Lithuanian people are the happiest people in the Baltic States. We have also taken an interest in other research that analyses the feeling of happiness in individual areas: where we are superior to other Europeans and where we lag behind. But, most importantly, do appreciate what we have.

Unemployment and education The unemployment rate of the population with higher education is among the lowest in Europe (about 3%). In this respect, we are comparable to such countries as The Netherlands or the United Kingdom. Within the group of population with lower education, the situation is worse. It should be taken into account that this share is the smallest in Europe.

According to Eurostat data for the fourth quarter of 2017, about 15% of the population with education lower than secondary fail to find a job, while among those with secondary education this share is 9%. Such a gap among residents with a different education, unfortunately, is one of the widest in Europe. While the situation has been improving, it is particularly important to properly integrate residents with lower education into the labour market....

Long before the extremes of the Climate Crisis was being observed the worries were being garnered.

Temperature and distribution of plant species
By FI Woodward, Department of Botany, University of Cambridge, UK
Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology, 1988, 42:59-75

Abstract

An understanding of the mechanisms (click here) by which temperature influences the distribution of species and vegetation has been attempted by modelling population growth and establishing those stages of the plant life cycle which, when diminished by extremes of temperature, for example, may have the greatest impact on plant survival. This analysis suggests that the heat sum of the growing season, measured as day-degrees, controls the distribution of annual vegetation. For perennial vegetation both the heat sum of the growing season and the annual, absolute minimum temperature are critical. Climatic correlations and experimental analyses indicate that, in northern Europe, the northern latitudinal and upper altitudinal limits of lowland and southern vegetation are directly controlled by climate. In contrast, the southern and lower altitudinal limits of upland and northern vegetation are likely to be controlled by temperature-sensitive competition with southern or lowland species. Many of the temperature-sensitive processes of plant growth and development, such as the non-linearity of extension growth and variations in the threshold temperatures of processes, may increase the realized heat sum at a particular geographical location. However, in more northerly climates, photoperiodic control is crucial in avoiding precocious development in the highly variable climatic conditions of early spring.

Figure 1

Extensive (click here) and transient metabolic reprogramming in chloroplasts under heat stress. Major events of metabolic reprogramming in response to heat stress include chlorophyll breakdown, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant defense, protein turnover, and metabolic alterations with carbon assimilation. With respect to the systemic acquired acclimation to heat stress in plants, diverse metabolic reprogramming in chloroplasts is required for optimizing plant growth and development during high temperature stresses.

June 29, 2016
By Bob Silberg

...“There are places in the world where, (click here) for these important breadbasket crops, they are already close to a thermal limit for that crop species,” Schimel said. Adding to the burden, he said, “this analysis (the EGU study) does not take into account the fact that pests and pathogens may spread more rapidly at higher temperatures.”

And Schimel pointed out that heat can imperil agriculture even when crops don’t die. “If you get really high temperatures or very dry conditions during critical parts of the development of the crop, it produces essentially no grain. For example, above certain temperature thresholds, corn doesn't die but it doesn't grow seed. It doesn't grow a corncob. And other crops are similar to that, where the development of the actual food part of the crop is dramatically inhibited above critical temperatures.”

But what about that fertilization effect from carbon dioxide? “It does help a bit, but it doesn't make the underlying problem go away,” he said. “And by the way, if the plant was growing really fast when it died, it still died.”

Can we avoid the extra half-percent temperature increase? Schimel agrees that we should try hard to do so, but cautions that we don’t know how to fine-tune global warming with that much precision. “If we aim for 2 degrees, we might hit 3 degrees,” he said. “If we aim for 1.5 degrees, we might still hit 2 degrees.”

The average Lithuanian (click here) is richer than 83% people in the world. He or she earns more than an average person in every nation of Africa, Latin America and most of the countries in Asia. However, Lithuania is lagging behind countries like those of Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia.

Lithuania is a post-industrial society (click here) with some two-thirds of the population working in the service sector. The society is relatively egalitarian with healthcare, primary and secondary education being funded by the state. Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education is also state-funded for the better students.

However, corruption is a major problem in the healthcare sector as many doctors expect bribes to be paid to them by patients so that they would receive preferential treatment. Corruption is rampant in other sections of the society as well, especially traffic police and government purchases (e.g. road construction for taxpayers' money). These practices are largely a legacy of the Soviet regime. However, Transparency International places Lithuania at some 50th place of 182 countries in its Corruption Perception Index (the higher the place - the less corruption there is), ahead of all states formerly behind the Iron Curtain save for Estonia and Poland (but far behind the West, Japan or Australia).

The largest employer in Lithuania is the MAXIMA group that owns a chain of retail shops well visible in Lithuania as well as Latvia, Estonia, and Bulgaria. This is the largest company in Lithuania and its owner Nerijus Numavičius is the country‘s richest person. Just like many Lithuanian businesses MAXIMA is primarily owned by a single person (or a single family) rather than being a publically traded company.

Largest industries in Lithuania are oil refinement (Mažeikių Nafta in Mažeikiai; 36,2% of total 2011 exports) and fertilizer manufacturing (Lifosa in Kėdainiai and Achema in Jonava; 8,9% of exports). Processed and unprocessed food amount for 16,9% of exports. Traditionally strong clothing industry has been hit by outsourcing to Asia.

The agricultural sector now employs only some 12 percent of the population but they are good at lobbying. Therefore the government generally subsidizes agriculture. The European Union adds to this although the European Union subsidies are significantly lower than for farmers in countries like France. Typically Lithuanian farmers grow grain, pigs, chicken, and cows. The "traditional agriculture" where a family owns a single cow, a single pig and some pastures (rather than combining land to form a large business) is declining but still well entrenched in the Lithuanian countryside. Village tourism offers a new opportunity for Lithuanian farmers and tourists alike.

No more pipelines!

August 24, 2018
By Randy Billings

A federal court (click here) ruled Friday that a South Portland ordinance prohibiting bulk loading of crude oil onto tankers does not violate the U.S. Constitution.

The decision is a blow to Portland Pipe Line Corp., which challenged the city’s “Clear Skies” ordinance on grounds that it violated the Dormant Commerce and the Foreign Commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress sole power to regulate foreign and interstate trade.

The ordinance effectively blocked the company from reversing the flow of its 236-mile underground pipeline that has carried foreign crude from harbor terminals in South Portland to refineries in Montreal since World War II.

The South Portland City Council banned bulk loading of crude oil on the city’s waterfront in 2014, just as production of controversial tar sands oil was taking off in western Canada and demand for foreign crude began to dwindle.

Mayor Linda Cohen praised the ruling in a written statement.

“Faced with the prospect of hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil being loaded onto marine tank vessels in the city and threatening the health of the residents and preventing redevelopment of the waterfront, the City Council prohibited this new activity,” Cohen said. “We are pleased that the court upheld the ordinance.”...

Lithuania has a consistent footprint after reducing it from over 6.0 in 1990.

Lithuania (click here) does better than average compared to other participants in climate policy. It is fourth from the top of this list from 2014.

CO2 emissions (click here) (metric tons per capita) in Lithuania was reported at 4.3781 in 2014, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.