Bush and Cheney need to be Impeached. They are more incompetent today as they leave office do to their own desperations.

"...it was something we never wanted people to look at...caveats were dropped over time...contradictory intelligence was talked about...the American people didn't have that forthright view...the intelligence was portrayed and packaged to be more grave that it was..."

"...the press becomes complicant enablers..."

The extension being bandied about regarding the USA Occupation in Iraq is a threat to USA national security. Any 'permanent' commitment by the Bush/Cheney Executive Branch will allow a globally imposed Iraq Occupation to 'contain' the USA in its expansion into other sovereign countries. The USA needs to return to policies of National Security and not one of aggression and occupation. That change in policy is necessary to return the USA to its place as a partner in peace rather than a despot for oil reserves.

...Senate intelligence committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) yesterday said Hayden's assessment, in an interview this week with The Washington Post, was inconsistent with recent intelligence reports to Capitol Hill. In a letter to Hayden, Rockefeller said that he was "surprised and troubled by your comments" and asked for "a full explanation of both the rationale for, and the substance of" the interview (click here)....

Hayden has never been qualified for his current position and needs to be removed from his authority.

If the Democrats were not in the majority of both houses at this point in USA history, the McClellan book would have been swept out of the view of the American people just as every other 'Truth Teller' book about the Bush White House since that of Paul O'Neill's (click here), "The Price of Loyalty."

Democrats may seek McClellan's testimony over Plame leak (click here)

By KEN HERMAN

Cox News Service

Published on: 05/30/08
WASHINGTON — Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, branded a "miserable creature" by ex-Sen. Bob Dole, could be headed for a congressional hearing examining his new book's account of Bush administration involvement in the disclosure of a CIA operative's identity.
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said Friday he will talk to McClellan about the book's account of the possible White House cover-up of top aides' involvement in the leak of Valerie Plame's name.
Conyers said McClellan's revelations about the episode are "extremely troubling."...

The USA - Iraq Pact is an act of desperation the global community does not approve of.

...The United Nations mandate that allows foreign forces to occupy Iraq will not be renewed at the end of the year, so any future U.S. military involvement in the war-torn nation can continue only with such an agreement. (click title to entry)...

Any further occupation of Iraq will be viewed as an act of aggression within the Middle East and will provide a 'staging ground' for more war, instability and aggression at the hand of future USA presidents. The Iraq occupation has to end allowing Iraq to recover as a country, providing the people there with the opportunity to rebuild and take on an economic identity to pilgramage now denied to many Muslims in the face of chronic and provoked internal conflict.

The continued occupation in Iraq by both the British and Americans is about oil, not any form of National Security UNLESS one defines national security as a 'ready glut of Persian oil.' In revealing controversy recently in Russia, it was noted the CEO, Robert Dudly of TNK-BP is being asked to resign for his 'conflict of interest' in managing priorities in oil access and disaffecting Russian interests in countries like Iraq.

...Russian shareholders in TNK-BP want to expand into Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Venezuela, where TNK-BP has a competitive advantage. BP has resisted the idea, as well as plans to take part in high-risk projects in countries including Iraq, Uganda, Syria and Libya (click here)....

Allowing the USA and British occupation of Iraq would continue to insure no other country could provide stability to the country in cooperation with oil trade from the region. If the occupation ended, it would force MULTI-NATIONAL support to Iraq's military in order to provide the oil export business to thrive. Removing the USA-British occupation would 'demand' the return of Multi-National interests to Iraq forcing the global community to take an active role in securing the nation of Iraq. The ONLY reason the British and Americans are in Iraq is for the oil and HENCE the recent atrocities in Basra, the oil port city of Iraq.

Currently, the Iraqi government is forced to deal with companies and services allowed to them by Western interests. When that is the case there can be no negotiations with other countries such as Russia to bolster Iraq's military or police. Literally, the Iraq War is to secure America's strangle hold on Iraqi oil.

BP, Exxon submit Iraq deal plans (click here)

By Hassan Hafidh
Last update: 6:16 a.m. EDT May 27, 2008

AMMAN (MarketWatch) -- After several months of negotiations and pressure from the Iraqi government, BP PLC (BP: BP p.l.c.XOM 88.76, -0.59, -0.7%) have finally submitted proposals to the Iraqi oil ministry on technical services contracts to boost production at Iraq's prized oil fields, sources close to the Iraqi ministry said Tuesday.
Other oil majors, which have been negotiating similar deals with Baghdad, haven't yet submitted their plans, but they would follow suit, according to these sources.
Iraq's Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has threatened to cancel these technical services contracts, or TSC, if they are not signed in June. The TSCs are designed to boost Iraq's crude oil production in producing oil fields....
BP and Exxon Mobil's proposals include suggestions on how Iraq would pay them back for their services and the costs of equipment. The Iraqi oil ministry needs to approve these proposals before signing the contracts. Iraqi oil officials have said that each TSC would cost around $500 million....

The contracts were a little slow in coming because the 'terms' weren't attractive enough. Would the 'terms' have been more 'user friendly' for Iraq if there was Multi-National bidding for them? Of course they would be. The American occupation eliminates 'competition' in the market place for any of Iraq's needs. The continued and sustained occupation of Iraq is disaffecting not only the Iraqi people in continued conflict, but, also in defining their economic growth and opportunity. Literally, the Bush Era No Bid Contracts have caused a great deal of hardship to the Iraqi people, their ability to compete for better services and support and has caused massive impoverishment of the people while limiting its government's choices in alternatives to the Western influence.

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.

They're back !

Update: Storms spawn tornadoes, some flooding (click here)
White, Benton counties under flash flood warning
May 30, 2008
Carroll County has opened a severe storm shelter at the emergency management agency office in the basement of the courthouse.
The office, however, has some water in it due to the extreme rains associated with the storms, said EMA director Dave McDowell.
"Two small tornadoes were spotted by trained spotters at County Road 400 S and County Road 500 W moving due east," said McDowell. "But no damage has been reported yet."
McDowell said the tornadoes were in a rural area with no buildings. Flooding is more of a problem in the county, he said.
"We have water over a number of roads," he said. "My EMA office has water in it. We've had pretty extensive lightning in the Oakdale Dam area, so I don't doubt there are trees down."
Stormspotters have been activated and firefighters and deputies are helping monitor the storms, he said....

May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite North and West Hemisphere


May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click on title to entry for 12 hour loop)

The hurricane over the Yucatan is taking shape.


May 31, 2008
0330z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite USA

Tornado sirens halt lawmakers in Springfield (click here)

Posted by Ray Long at 6:22 p.m.; updated at 7:35 p.m.
Update: The House went back into session at 7:13 p.m. before adjourning about 20 minutes later.
SPRINGFIELD---A tornado warning interrupted debate in the Illinois House Friday night, sending lawmakers scurrying to the safe havens in the Capitol.
As rolling thunder roared through Springfield, Rep. Art Turner (D-Chicago) halted debate when warning sirens broke out in the Capitol. He told lawmakers to take cover in the basements and pedestrian tunnels in the Capitol complex.
"That is a tornado warning that is being expressed at this point," Turner said.
An official warned over loudspeakers: "Do not exit the building as this tornado is in Springfield."
Winds are shaking the trees outside the Capitol and light hail has begun to bounce off the building.
The local weathercaster told viewers a tornado has been spotted in Springfield.
Twenty-five minutes after the House debate stopped, an official on a loudspeaker instructed all legislators and statewide officials to go to the tunnels until there is an "all clear" because a second storm also may be in the area.
The interruption came as the General Assembly is seeking to pass a budget before its midnight Saturday deadline and get out of town during an election year.

Record setting pace for tornadoes this year (click here)
May 30, 2008 07:00 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Central Indiana is under the threat of severe storms this evening.
On Thursday, the same storm system exploded across the plains states.
Tornadoes ripped through parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. In all, the National Weather Service received 57 reports of tornadoes. The actual number of twisters is still being investigated.
The damage to homes and businesses is massive, but fortunately, no one was killed and no serious injuries. But, that hasn't been the case so far this year. A year that is on a record setting pace.
"Nearly 1200 reports of tornadoes, some of those are duplicates, so I'd estimate that we're somewhere between 900 and 980 actual tornadoes for the year," said Dan McCarthy of the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
"What's really notable is the number of fatalities we've had this year, we're already over 100 fatalities which is double the national average," said McCarthy.
McCarthy, who worked at the storm prediction center in Norman, Oklahoma before coming to Indianapolis, says the record numbers of tornadoes back in February are to blame for the high death toll.
"Many of your fatalities are heightened in February and November when people in the general public don't expect it," said McCarthy.
Report by Steve Bray, WISH. Edited by Hyacinth Williams.

What a great idea, the RETURN of Nuclear Non-Proliferation. And TREATIES besides. One with Russia. I'll be darn, I think we've been there before !

The Moscow Summit. I really don't believe Russia is a hurdle to more talks or disarmament or the demand for same by other countries, including India and Pakistan. It is a lot of campaign spin and rhetoric by the Republicans.

...As soon as the United States officially withdrew from the ABM Treaty, Russia promptly announced termination of START II (click here).[1] According to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Moscow still hopes “to continue negotiations on issues surrounding the ABM Treaty,” thinking the balance between offensive and defensive strategic armaments is still important. Russians still hope to assuage their concerns of the “reversibility” potential, which they think the United States is getting through the Treaty of Moscow, in the Bilateral Implementation Commission this document established....

America withdraws from ABM treaty (click here). Neocons love war and death. The goal to this was to return the USA to Nuclear Weapon Technology Research such as the very high tech idea of 'Nuclear Tipped Bunker Buster Bombs' rather than simply Depleted Uranium in the bombs the USA Military has now. Yep. Iraq is a Geiger-counter's dream come true.

"I have concluded the ABM treaty hinders our government's ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorist or rogue-state missile attacks," Mr Bush announced following a meeting with his National Security Council.
Russia's Reaction per the Former President and Current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin :: "This step was not a surprise for us. However, we consider it a mistake."

Sam Nunn has been fielded as a Vice Presidential running mate for Obama (click here). Nunn is noted to be one of the authors of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies for allowing gays in the military (click here). It has been a very long lasting military directive for decades; it's second decade actually. It is a law that initially could be viewed as a 'stepping stone' that can be changed now that gay members of the military have proven to be very valuable and possibly the people with the greatest insight to change that regulation (click here). It is an issue that will be 'spin' for the Republicans, including some of the same issues Clinton raises with Obama's so called, 'lack of experience.' But, the military regulation has to be looked at again, there are idiots like General Pace that felt completely exonerated from controversy screaming anti-gay rhetoric. That was probably encouraged by Rove and Bush.

...The scene is set for a tussle between the two candidates for the support of some of the sharpest and most independent minds in politics (click here). Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war, and Richard Lugar, leader of the Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee....

Richard Lugar with Barack Obama in August 2005 near Perm, Russia

Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet Union (click here)
Tuesday, August 23, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511Illinois

Contact: Julian Green, (312) 886-3506

Date: August 23, 2005

Obama to visit nuclear, biological weapons destruction facilities in former Soviet UnionSchedule for Obama, Lugar Trip to Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and EnglandWASHINGTON - On Wednesday, August 24th, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) will begin a trip to visit nuclear and biological weapons destruction sites in Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN). They will also meet with top political and military officials in each of these countries. The trip includes a strop in England and a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In 1991, Senator Lugar (R-IN) and former Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) authored the Nunn-Lugar Act, which established the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. This program has provided U.S. funding and expertise to help the former Soviet Union safeguard and dismantle its enormous stockpiles of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, related materials, and delivery systems. Since the law was passed, the program has deactivated or destroyed: 6,760 nuclear warheads; 587 ICBMs; 483 ICBM silos; 32 ICBM mobile missile launchers; 150 bombers; 789 nuclear air-to-surface missiles; 436 submarine missile launchers; 549 submarine launched missiles; 28 nuclear submarines; and 194 nuclear test tunnels. Obama and Lugar will be reviewing the status of current CTR programs as well as looking for opportunities to expand the scope and reach of this highly effective program....

Where does McCain stand on Nuclear Non-Proliferation? He is a "Flip-flopper" - So far he has taken TWO, count them two separate stands on the issue within the last year. First he stated he didn't consider it possible to have nuclear non-proliferation with 'peaceful use of nuclear technology' and NOW he states with international supervision he is all for it. Of course, taking the stance that there could be no peaceful use of nuclear technology, but, only that nuclear weapon technology must follow, places the USA at war with just about every country in the Middle East, including Israel (click here).

Two years after his Senator Obama visited Russia the Obama-Hagel Bill was passed in the Seante.

Senate Passes Obama-Hagel Provision Aimed at Preventing Nuclear Terrorism (click here)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Amy Brundage (Obama) or Jordan Stark (Hagel)
Legislation requires plan to secure global stockpiles of nuclear weapons and material by 2012
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate recently passed a provision authored by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to help keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. The legislation was included as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.
The Obama-Hagel amendment requires the President to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites around the world are secure by 2012 from the threats that terrorists have shown they can pose. “Securing nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at their source is the most direct and reliable way to prevent nuclear terrorism,” said Senator Obama. “It is imperative that we build and sustain a truly global effort under an aggressive timeline to secure, consolidate, and reduce stockpiles of nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material to keep them out of the wrong hands.”
“Nuclear proliferation will be one of the defining challenges for the United States and the world in the 21st century. The U.S. must actively engage the international community in a constructive dialogue that will focus on strengthening the current international nuclear nonproliferation framework. This amendment provides the directive for development of a comprehensive strategy to adequately secure and account for nuclear stockpiles throughout the world. There is no higher priority for America and the world than to address this great threat to mankind,” Senator Hagel said....

F3 - Nebraska and Kansas - No deaths reported

Storm derails train, damages buildings in Nebraska
By NATE JENKINS Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 05/29/2008 11:18:24 PM PDT
AURORA, Neb.—A storm bearing hail and possible tornadoes struck central Nebraska Thursday night, damaging businesses, derailing train cars, tearing down trees and disrupting power to thousands.
A possible tornado touched down near Aurora, about 70 miles west of Lincoln, damaging a few businesses and damaging at least one house on the outskirts of town.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Tornadoes were also reported in Kearney, about 60 miles west of Aurora, where 90 rail cars were blown off the tracks outside the city limits. There were reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Kearney, and reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus and at a county fairgrounds.
Initial reports from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency indicated several dozen homes were damaged in both Aurora and Kearney.
A tornado also swept through a rural area near Belleville in north-central Kansas Thursday night, damaging about six homes, but no injuries were reported.
Some residents were stranded in their damaged homes until they were rescued before midnight, said Raymond Raney of Republic County's emergency management department.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency Thursday night, which allows access to state and federal resources for storm cleanup. He readied the Nebraska National Guard in case its help was needed.
"We won't know the full extent of the damage until tomorrow. However, it appears that Kearney was hardest hit and that is where our assistance will be focused overnight," Heineman said.
Heineman planned to travel to those areas Friday....

The Bush/Cheney Oil Dependant Nation faces more dangerous storms. (click here for Accuweather report - this is no joke )

Leave - Don't Come Back ! Not yet !

Tornado Damage Tops $6 Million (click here)
Iowa Governor's Office

May 30, 2008

0130z

UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and west hemisphere

May 30, 2008
0030z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite GOES East (click here)

In addition to the storms now over Mid-North America there is a huge hurricane potential brewing near the Yucatan.


Iowa is going to get hit again ! Get them out of the way, this isn't over, the troposphere is far to unstable to even return to homes already destroyed.

"Lightning could strike twice !"

It is going to be a bad night, people should be taking shelter now !

It's unstable over Eastern Kansas, Southern Minnesota, Northern Texas and Western Oklahoma, too. It might not dissipate until it gets to Lake Superior, so Wisconsin and the Northern Peninsula of Michigan needs to pay attention. This is due to a super hot tropical wave advancing to meet the Arctic air already at lower latitudes. It is extremely unstable and why it is very unpredictable. The troposphere is very dangerous.

...there were those exceptional few that did speak out and never stopped, besides Mike...

No where to run, no where to hide, but, the media is trying. The NY Times is Passing the Buck while the Miami Herald can't wait for the nation to talk

From the New York Times:

...The Senate Intelligence Committee was supposed to answer that question years ago by comparing what officials claimed about Iraq — its missing weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein’s hyped ties with Al Qaeda — with what they knew.
Senator Pat Roberts, the former Republican chairman, tried to make sure the report never was completed. The current Democratic chairman, Senator John Rockefeller IV, is expected to finally issue it next week. We’ll be interested to see how Scott McClellan comes across.

Senator John Rockefeller is 'on the record' stating the Executive Branch has threatened Senate and House leaders in the use of their powers in exposing what is 'the truth' but classified as 'secret war documents.' To claim that the blame now shifts to a Senate Intelligence Committee in the face of blatant confessions and abuse of power by the Executive Branch is as hideous as it comes and WON'T work !!!!

THE OPPENHEIMER REPORT
About time! Reckless TV anchors put on spot (click here)

By ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
aoppenheimer@MiamiHerald.com
MIAMI HERALD FILE
Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald columnist Andres Oppenheimer, the author of five best-sellers on Latin American affairs, will be hosting a live chat at 1 p.m. on Thursday.
Bravo! A new study has found widespread fear-mongering and reckless journalism by cable television hosts such as CNN's Lou Dobbs and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, who have made a career of bashing Hispanic undocumented immigrants and their home countries.
Also good news: Likely Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told me in an interview last week that he shares concerns ''about the anti-immigrant tenor that I have seen in some of the broadcasts,'' which are helping create a climate of hatred against Hispanics.
The study by Media Matters Action Network, a watchdog group, says Dobbs, O'Reilly and CNN's Glenn Beck serve up steady anger, resentment and myths ``seemingly geared toward creating anti-immigrant hysteria.''...

JUDGING INTELLIGENCE; The Senators' Views and Excerpts from the Report on Iraq Assessments (click here)

Published: July 10, 2004
Excerpts from opening statements of Senator Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, and Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, vice chairman of the committee, at a news conference on Friday, as recorded by Federal News Service Inc., and the text of the committee's report: Comments by Senator Roberts
A year ago, the Senate Committee on Intelligence made a commitment to the Congress and the American people that we should examine the quality and the quantity of intelligence that led to the war in Iraq. Now, the debate over many aspects of the United States liberation of Iraq will likely continue for decades, but one fact is now clear: before the war, the United States intelligence community told the president, as well as the Congress and the public, that Saddam Hussein had stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and if left unchecked, would probably have a nuclear weapon during this decade. Well, today we know these assessments were wrong, and as our inquiry will show, they were also unreasonable and largely unsupported by the available intelligence. The report the committee is releasing today seeks to explain how that happened....

Fahrenheit 911 - Michael Moore how right could you be ? "...there was incideous pressure...they weren't aggressive enough..." Katie. (click here)

When does Michael Moore (click here) get an apology from a hostile Republican Party and half a nation of non-believers?

Unlike the American Media, Mike is a "Truth Teller." He is more than a provacateur! He is a patriotic and dedicated American citizen.




It's all about money when it comes to Republicans (click here). Book profits should be directed to the families of dead soldiers and soldiers suffering sustained combat wounds from Iraq !!!

Why didn't McClellan come clean while he was in the White House? I think he needs to be indicted on conspiracy against the American people along with Bush and Cheney ! This is worse than fraud. This is abuse of power. At least Nixon's impeachment was due to his own paranoia regarding his re-election. This is blantant abuse of power. Soldiers are dead. A nation in profound debt with a destroyed international reputation.

HELLO ? The media is guilty as hell here and they all know it !

Michael Moore could not be more correct or more patriotic. Who really loves the country? Those that seek its power to facilitate wealth at any cost or those that stand by the USA Constitution when its under attack?






Katie really nails the issue including the attacks on Americans that they were unpatriotic if they opposed the war. Charlie avoids the issue at all costs and the conversation ends with 'happy talk' about raising money for cancer research. Gee, what happened to News Anchors with angry voices that state, "So how does Bush and Cheney now justify nearly 5000 dead American soldiers, countless others including Iraqi citizens, the continued occupation of that country, an insurmountable federal debt, the backlash that has on states and cities and the outing of a CIA agent? Are they asking those questions yet ? I didn't think so.

Amnesty Calls for Implementation of UN Rights Charter

(VOA article - click here) MP3 click on title to entry.

Amnesty International says many governments have failed to implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60 years after it was adopted, and owe the people an apology. In its annual human rights report, the organization looked at the record of 150 countries and found many of them wanting. (click here)
From the London VOA News Center, Tendai Maphosa has this report.

2008 Amnesty International Report (click here)

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (click here)



"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."
Eleanor Roosevelt

Iowa tornado rated state's strongest in 32 years

The storms are significantly dangerous. There are dearly few houses standing in the path of that tornado. F4.

An aerial view of a residential neighborhood in Parkersburg, Iowa, is seen a day after a tornado struck the town, Monday, May 26, 2008. This year is already the deadliest for tornadoes since 1998 and is on track to break records for the number of twisters too, the National Weather Service says. (AP Photo/Kevin Sanders)

The focus of any flooding in relation to Human Induced Global Warming, should be on the biotic content lost as well as human peril.

The biotic content of Earth was at a pinnacle before the ravages of Human Induced Global Warming occurred. There is a 'negative feedback loop' that occurs with Human Induced Global Warming. One aspect to this is the loss of biotic content. In this case, where there is a river flooding destroying the ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide.
The loss in regard to economics is easily noted when cattle are excluded from grazing, but, the increased accumulation of carbon dioxide due to decrease of available chlorophyll is still another element of Human Induced Global Warming 'negative feedback loop.'

May 24, 2008

Lexington, Nebraska

Photographer states :: 8-11 inches fell in 36 hours. Photo taken between Lexington and Cozad, Nebraska on the south side of the river. The Platte river crested at 3.5' over flood stage.

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park is (Crystal Wind Chime) melting. STILL !!!

City man helps map floor of Arctic Ocean (click on title to entry)
Work aims to aid Canadian land claim
Lloyd Litwin with some of the photos of his Arctic adventure
Photograph by : Richard Marjan


Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Local Time: May 27, 2008
8:49 AM AKDT

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Temperature :: 46 °F / 8 °C

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 44 °F / 7 °C

Humidity :: 81%

Dew Point :: 41 °F / 5 °C

Wind :: 5 mph / 7 km/h / 2.1 m/s from the West

Pressure :: 29.98 in / 1015 hPa (Steady)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 1 out of 16

Clouds:
Overcast 800 ft / 243 m
(Above Ground Level)

It serves governments to 'separate' the issues of Human Induced Global Warming from Arctic Ocean demise. In the case of claiming sovereignty, it matters as to which countries are able to claim the Lion's Share of the Arctic Ocean. If the USA were able to prove it had sovereignty, under this adminisration, it would exploit the natural resources there without regard to the stability of Earth's climate. Other countries would be far more involved with stewardship of the natural resources found there and the extraction of same in relation to escalating Human Induced Global Warming. The Canadian and Russian claims look very promising.


Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 21, 2008
United States Participation in Arctic Ocean Conference (click here)
Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte will lead the United States delegation to the Arctic Ocean Conference hosted by the Government of Denmark in Ilulissat, Greenland, May 27-29. Other members of the U.S. delegation include Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science Affairs Claudia A. McMurray, Legal Adviser John B. Bellinger and U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark James P. Cain.
The ministerial conference will consider key issues relating to the Arctic Ocean, and will also involve participation by the Governments of Canada, Norway and Russia. Deputy Secretary Negroponte looks forward to these discussions as well as bilateral meetings with his counterparts.
2008/413
Released on May 21, 2008


Ocean survey looks promising for Arctic sovereignty effort (click here)
Randy Boswell
Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, May 16, 2008
A six-week scientific mission aimed at extending Canadian sovereignty across an underwater mountain chain in the Arctic Ocean has yielded a crucial finding that should bolster the country's claims with the United Nations, the project chief has revealed.
Jacob Verhoef, the federal geoscientist leading Canada's bid to assert control of offshore territory in the High Arctic, told Canwest News Service on Friday that preliminary results of a seabed mapping project off Ellesmere Island suggest the submerged Alpha Ridge is attached to the Canadian landmass and appears likely to qualify under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as an extension of the country's continental shelf....

I've covered a lot of aftermaths of tornadoes ... by far the worst tornado damage ... (Video click here)

May 26, 2008
New Hartford, Iowa
Photographer states :: Carla sifting through


May 26, 2008
Hugo, MN
Photographer states :: Tornado damage in Hugo, Minnesota

These are F4 of not F5 tornadoes.


Houses lay demolished after severe thunderstorms swept through parts of Minnesota, causing damage Sunday, May 25, 2008 in Hugo, Minn., where one a young child died and nine others were injured. Residents reported a tornado touching down in the area, but that hadn't been confirmed by the National Weather Service. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Have a safe Memorial Day

Tornadoes Touch Down In Texas Panhandle (click title to entry)

(May 26, 2008)--The National Weather Services says at least three weak tornadoes touched down in the Texas Panhandle, but there were no reports of injuries or building damage Monday.
Meteorologist Jason Jordan says all three tornadoes touched down Sunday afternoon over open country.
The first and largest was in Hartley County, which is on the Texas-New Mexico border.
It measured about a quarter-mile wide.
The second tornado started in Hartley County and moved into Moore County.
The third was in Hutchinson County.

Rain replaced by Mesoscale storms

The result of a dry and hot Earth's surface are Meso-storms that literally build at higher altitudes, become saturated with water and deposit deluges of water in one burst of 'down pour.' While it seems like a substitute for 'rainfall' these are high volume storms that cause soil erosion and damage by high winds with potential if not actual loss of life.

As a result of the melting sea ice there is an increase in sea level and increased river levels in reaction to lack of drainage to the ocean

May 22, 2008
Spokane, Washington
Photographer states :: Spokane Falls in Downtown Spokane. River is about 5 feet higher than normal and still has yet to crest.

Spokane River flooding hits peak (click here)
May 23, 2008 08:05 PM EDT

SPOKANE -- The Spokane River hit its height early Friday afternoon and should now continue on a slow but steady fall before finally dipping below flood stage next Thursday.
As a result, the National Weather Service issued Flood Warning for Spokane will remain in tact until Thursday, May 29th unless the river drops faster than expected. But it looks like, barring unforeseen circumstances, the flooding has hit its peak without causing the widespread damage that some had feared....

What has occurred with The Arctic Ocean from 2005 to 2007 ?

Earth lost a huge volume of its Arctic Ocean sea ice within the same period it lost its surface water vapor. Why? Because Earth lost its ability to support the one mechanism that cools off the troposphere better than any other mechanism, and that is its hurricanes and cyclones. Hence. The ice melted from rising surface temperatures.

The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season would prove to be bizarre. Earth had lost its surface humidity and was struggling to cool itself.

The number of Killer Tornadoes in 2007 had increased to 26 and the current season of 2008's preliminary reporting so far is 27 and the season isn't over.

2007 saw seventeen named storms of which two were Cat 5, three Cat 1 and the rest were all Tropical Storm force.

The 'lay of the land' became very, very different. The storms were now forming where 'water vapor' was available along with enough heat to EVAPORATE the water to accumulate that water vapor, namely 'near shore' and on the Equator.

The two Cat 5 storms would occur where there was the most dense accumulation of water vapor and that was along the equator. The storms could no longer be sustained in their vorticity in the upper reaches of the Atlantic above the latitude of 15 degrees north. There simply wasn't enough water vapor and the 'near shore' storms took on many different formations including one storm which was literally 'upside down' in its traverse along the Eastern Seaboard of North America.

The 'reach' eastward into the Atlantic toward Europe of the storms nearly ended and with that the heat distribution of the Cat 5 storms was directed to latitudes of about 15 degrees north. Which means the waters of the 'Equatorial Earth' would sustain the highest deposit of heat. Realizing that, one has to remember the future of the predicted storms is that WHEN a hurricane will occur it will be with higher volatility. To realize the 'heat concentration' is now at 15 degrees north or less moving toward the Equator is to realize the degree at which these storms will increase in number while sustaining Cat 5 status chronically.

2006 saw a drastic reduction in the number of storms with ONLY nine.

The number of Killer Tornadoes in 2006 were 25 in the USA.

There were two Cat 3 storms that year. When examining the 'randomness' of the 'paths' of the hurricanes there was still widespread humidity to support the storms that did manifest. The 'paths' of the storms circulated throughout the Atlantic with the 'same' eastward path toward Europe as previous years. The climate of Earth was changing but with enough 'residual' coolness left over from 2005 to maintain a storm season that reached all areas of the Atlantic and HENCE distributing the heat on a greater surface area.

In the year 2005 when the USA population reached 300 million, there was a 'maximum' of hurricane activity and volatility.

The number of Killer Tornadoes in the year 2005 were 13 in the USA.

It was the 'Katrina' year. There were 31 named storms, three were Cat 5, two were Cat 4 and two were Cat 3. In 2005, there was still enough water vapor content at Earth's surface to 'handle the heat.' Earth's physics 'loaded' the troposphere with hurricane spawning capacity and the heat from Human Induced Global Warming was driven into the oceans.

The only glacier of the Juneau Icefields that is not retreating is the Taku Glacier.

Taku Glacier

The mass balance of the Taku Glacier has increased while ALL the other glaciers of the Juneau Icefields have eroded. The Taku Glaicer before Human Induced Global Warming resulted in 'maximum' manifestations of the years 2000, had the least 'RECHARGE' (deposits of snow and ice) of any of the glaciers.

Why then when Earth is warming and there is a climate crisis and weather patterns are changing would a glacier 'increase' in its volume?

This blog has referred to 'the properties of water' on numerous occassions. Water vapor is a 'component' of global warming. The 'heat transfer systems' I frequently refer to in explaining the increased rapid deterioration of the ice caps and icefields are 'powered' by water vapor. If Earth did not have water, it would simply be a 'hot rock' regardless of being 'the third rock' from the sun.

Percipitation on Earth is compliments of the properties of water. So, when it rains or snows or there is drizzle or ice storms it is all due to formations of water as it appears in regard to 'CLIMATE.' The colder the climate the colder the water, the more snow or ice that is formed.

When a glacier 'recharges' it means it accumulates more snow or ice. As the deposits increase over years the top layers become compressed as 'water' is very heavy. The top layers then are compressed into dense layers of ice and a glacier 'advances' and 'extends its terminus (front edge of the glacier that advances DOWNHILL.)

When a glacier recharges it REQUIRES percipitation. Percipitation to the degree it occurs over a glacier determines whether it advances quickly or not at all and actually retreats. So why then would all the other glaciers of the Juneau Icefields NOT recharge when the Taku Glacier is recharging? Seems odd that one would have such an exception and actually 'challenge' the 'idea' of Human Induced Global Warming since a theory or scientific law applies to all cases.

And what the heck does the Taku Glacier have in common with the increase in tornadoes and changing of the occurrence and intensity of hurricanes?

The Taku Glacier in Alaska's Juneau Icefields changed in its advance to the terminus because the mass balance increased. The MASS of the glacier increased due to increased percipitation over its 'area.'

The reason? Elevation/altitude, BUT, not in the way the average layperson would think and put that into context. To understand the brevity of the increase in percipitation over the Taku Glacier and its increased mass one has to 'think vertically.' Literally, one has to realize 'where the increased heat' of Human Induced Global Warming IS BEING STORED. It is being stored in the surface waters of Earth when hurricanes deposit the heat there and it is being stored 'vertically.'

When the heat from the surface was moving vertically through the troposphere the glaciers were exposed to higher temperatures and any percipitation that resulted in recharge was 'countered' balanced with LOSS of ice from the glacier in all areas, the terminus, the moraines and the top and bottom of the ice formations. The loss was far greater than the recharge and continues to be.

What occurred at the Taku Glacier was an increase in percipitation at already higher altitudes where the ice formation remained stable. When the increase in percipitation occurred it added to the mass balance of the glacier and explained the increase in the terminus. The real question became "Why is there more percipitation?" We know there was by weather records, but, also by the fact that a 'stable' mass balance of a very cold, higher elevation glacier would indicate that it was simply STABLE, in the face of hotter temperatures at lower elevations. But, for the mass balance to increase with the Taku Glacier and to increase its terminus there was only one answer. That answer was the increase in the deposit of snow and ice. The increase in the deposit of snow and ice could only occur in one way with the Taku Glacier. It would have to occur through percipitation as it is the highest elevation glaicer of the Juneau Icefields. What does that mean?

That means the 'dew point' (click here) at the altitude of the Taku Glacier had increased. The water vapor content of the altitude had increased and with the arrival of increased water vapor was the encroaching 'heat stores' of the lower latitudes that the other glacier were already exposed to and causing deterioration, retreat, decrease in their mass balance.

The relationship between the Taku Glacier and what is occurring in the troposphere is completely evident. The 'heat stores' of Human Induced Global Warming have risen in the troposphere and there is less and less water vapor at lower altitudes to support 'rain' and snow and ice, hence, causing widespread disruption in Climate. With increased water vapor at higher altitudes, the turbulence of the troposphere moves upward while 'drying' the surface and creating less biotic content.

Hence, the 'negative feedback loop' of Human Induced Global Warming that destroyes NECESSARY biotic content (plants) through lack of rainfall. Less 'albedo' of retreating icefields and ice caps, while, the consumerism of the USA continues to escalate the amount of carbon dioxide in the troposphere.

With higher elevations of turbulence is increased 'wind shear' AND less 'water vapor' at lower latitudes (sea level) to support hurricanes, therefore, less hurricanes and the ones that do eventually form will be more violent simply because of the higher ocean and air temperatures at the surface of Earth.

The Juneau Icefields of Alaska portray a very interesting picture as to the current and continuedly 'eminent' dangers of Human Induced Global Warming

This is a video of the fields as of December, 2006. There is grossly significant loss of ice formations throughout the elevations, EXCEPT, for one.

Heat. The increase of the Earth's surface due to increased levels of Carbon Dioxide is causing a 'shift' in weather patterns.

In their early and mature stages, all thunderstorms are characterized by rising air, called updrafts. These updrafts supply the warm, humid air that fuels thunderstorms. (click here)


The eye of a majestic hurricane is a very warm place to be. The air inside the eye is sometimes 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the storm's surroundings. Where does all this hot air come from, and how does it power the hurricane's strong winds? (click here)

What is the difference between hurricanes and tornadoes? Speaking in terms of physics.

The 'ingredients' that go into these tropospheric turbulences are the same, however, the 'amount' of the ingredients are different. So is the surface area. It takes far more water vapor to support a hurricane than a tornado.
But.
Both are a result of vortices formed by heat driven tropospheric conditions. Tornadoes normally form over land while hurricanes form over oceans and dissipate over land.
The most common factor with these storms and their OCCURRENCE is 'Wind Shear.'
While those that benefit by 'explaining away' global warming in relation to 'weather' are served by separating the subjects and referring to ISOLATED incidences of past turbulence that are similar, the fact of the matter cannot be explained away, that "Wind Shear" serves to increase the occurrence of tornadoes and their frequency and number while it decreases that of hurricanes.

Recently there was a report that stated there would be less hurricanes due to 'Wind Shear.'

Wind shear is the change in wind speed or direction with height in the atmosphere. Wind shear is important for the formation of tornadoes and hail. Some amount of wind shear is common in the atmosphere. Larger values of wind shear exist near fronts, cyclones, and the jet stream. Wind shear in an atmospheric layer that is unstable can result in clear air turbulence.

Tornadoes occur with thunderstorms. There are a couple of ways that they form.

Most strong and violent tornadoes occur with supercell thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms occur when warm moist air is forced upward.

Tornadoes occur with a special storm type called a supercell.

Supercells occur with a certain wind conditions. Winds that turn from south to west with height and/or increase rapidly with height (especially in the lowest several thousand feet of the atmosphere) cause the updraft in a thunderstorm to rotate.

If the updraft is strong enough and the wind shear is strong enough, a tornado may occur. Supercells also produce large hail, strong winds and heavy rain.


Tornadoes - The Fujita-Pearson Scale
All tornadoes are rated on a scale called the Fujita-Pearson Tornado Scale.

F-0: 40-72 mph - Chimney damage, tree branches broken.
F-1: 73-112 mph - Mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned.
F-2: 113-157 mph - Considerable damage, mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted.
F-3: 158-205 mph - Roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown.
F-4: 207-260 mph - Well-constructed walls leveled.
F-5: 261-318 mph - Homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances, cars thrown as far as 100 meters.

Tornado Outbreaks are RARE to say the least ! But, in the past eight years they are occurring with remarkable frequency !

The “Super Outbreak” of 1974 produced the most tornadoes in a 24-hour period in history (148). The most famous tornado from this outbreak was an F5 tornado that moved through Xenia, Ohio. Damages in Xenia alone totaled over $100 million. Total damages from the outbreak exceeded $600 million. 1979 April 10: Wichita Falls, TX



2003 May 4 – May 11: Plains Into The Southeast
A deadly outbreak of severe weather occurred between May 4th and May 11th, producing hundreds of tornadoes and widespread reports of large hail and damaging winds across eight states. Tornadoes affected the metropolitan areas of Kansas City and Oklahoma City, producing F3 and F4 damage. Other cities including Pierce City, Missouri and Jackson, Tennessee sustained heavy damage and loss of life. At least 38 people were killed from the outbreak in Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee. In Oklahoma City, damaging tornadoes occurred on both the 8th and 9th. May 1st through the 11th had more reported tornadoes (412) than any other ten-day period since records began in 1950. The estimated total damages from this historical outbreak totaled more than $3.2 billion.


Destruction at Toledo Scale Company, Telegraph Road.
Photo courtesy of Toledo Lucas County Public Library

April 11, 1965: Palm Sunday Tornadoes (click here)

Twin funnels in Elkhart, Indiana on April 11, 1965. A double tornado was also sighted near Toledo during this tornado outbreak.
Photo courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ Department of Commerce
Call Number: wea00217 Historic NWS Collection

Not just four day of tornadoes. Four Days of Tornado Outbreaks.

But, after all, this is the USA and we can control most of the nasty outcomes of nature. Who really cares about tornadoes anyway, it only happens in Kansas.


1953 June 8: Flint, MI (The 1950s when oil was dirt cheap and air quality was beginning to find its way to concern for Americans. Smokestacks were beginning to be a blight on the country and children's lungs. The Industrial Revolution from the late 1800s was in full swing with two World Wars behind us and a Korean Conflict winding down.)
Over $19 million in damage occurred as an F5 tornado moved through the northern sections of Flint, MI. 115 people were killed and 844 were injured. This tornado was the last single tornado through March 2002 to cause more than 100 deaths.

While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally more than six tornadoes in a day in the same region is considered a tornado outbreak. A series of continuous or near continuous tornado outbreak days is a tornado outbreak sequence.
The largest tornado outbreak on record — with 148 tornadoes, most significantly including six F5 and 24 F4 tornadoes — occurred on April 3 - April 4, 1974 across the United States and Canada. It is dubbed the Super Outbreak.

The Nation of Terror experiences four consecutive days of fatal tornadoes. The American Dream in ruins !

Radio Iowa News
Four remain in critical condition following tornado (click here)

Six confirmed dead, one missing after NE Iowa tornadoes (click here)
Monday, May 26, 2008, 8:59 AM
By Darwin Danielson
The Iowa Department of Public Safety now says there are six confirmed dead following the tornadoes that struck northeast Iowa. D-P-S spokesman Jim Saunders, speaking at a news conference in Parkersburg, says there is still one person missing.
Saunders says rescuers will do another search of the homes today. He says they will go house-by-house through town and mark the homes so that people know the area has been searched. Saunders says the Iowa National Guard is helping state and local officials in the effort.
Saunders says they have enough heavy equipment to help move debris, and he says while there are a lot of people who want to help out and volunteer, the situation is such that they want to limit the number of people on the scene. Saunders says there's a number for people to tall to get information. He says you can call 319-267-9111 to find out about missing loved ones from the area...

May 25, 2008
Lacrosse, Kansas
Photographer states :: Photo showing the "Green" glow from an intense hail core in Kansas on May 25, 2008. Photo copyight Mike Theiss


May 25, 2008
Lacrosse, Kansas
Photographer states :: Photo of a wallcloud crossing road near lacrosse, Kansas on May 25, 2008. Photo copyight Mike Theiss

8 Dead in Memorial Day Weekend Twisters (click here - video)
Violent Weather Hits Iowa, Minnesota Towns, Killing 8; More Tornadoes Possible
By DAVID SCHOETZ
May 26, 2008
A band of violent weather moving across the country's midsection killed eight more people Sunday as tornadoes, heavy rain and hail belted parts of Iowa and Minnesota, darkening Memorial Day weekend.
The Iowa Homeland Security administrator confirmed that a tornado that ripped through Parkersburg, a small town about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines, killed seven people Sunday. At least 50 injuries were reported, and many of the town's homes and buildings were destroyed.
A warning siren was sounded, but residents said that the storm touched down quickly....

...Let the water of calm trickle over my doubts...

It's Monday Afternoon - Memorial Day

Drought by Vienna Teng

Summer move forward and stitch me the fabric of fall
Wrap life in the brilliance of death to humble us all
How sweet is the day
I'm craving a darkness
As I sit tucked away with my back to the wall

And the taste of dried-up hopes in my mouth
And the landscape of merry and desperate drought
How much longer dear angels
Let winterlight come
And spread your white sheets over my empty house

Summer move forward and leave your heat anchored in dust
Forgotten him, cheated him, painted illusions of lust
Now language escape, fugitive of forgiveness
Leaving as trace only circles of rust

And the taste of dried-up hopes in my mouth
And the landscape of merry and desperate drought
How much longer dear angels
Come break me with ice
Let the water of calm trickle over my doubts

Come let me drown
Angels no fire no salt on the plow
Carry me down
Bury me down

And the taste of dried-up hopes in my mouth
And the landscape of merry and desperate drought
Once I knew myself
And with knowing came love
I would know love again if I had faith enough
Too far is next spring and her jubilant shout
So angels, inside
Is the only way out

I'll pay a visit to this blog tomorrow...

... to address the issue that presented recently regarding the troposphere and potential of less hurricanes but more violent ones. It also ties in with the melting caps, the extreme frequency of tornado outbreaks, the increased danger in ? average thunderstorms ? and basically "Why is the Sky Falling? "

Tomorrow then.

I am pressed for precious time today (May 25, 2008). I do not want to 'short change' the issue. I will address this tomorrow afternoon, May 26, 2008, about this time of day. Thank you for your interest.

Morning Papers - It's Origins

According to Kirchner's administration poverty is down but not all agree

Catholic Church “perceives” growing poverty in Argentina (click here)
Bishop Jorge Casaretto, head of the Argentine Catholic Church Social Pastoral Committee said that perception at the moment “is that poverty (in Argentina) is increasing”. The statement contradicts a recent Argentine government report indicating that poverty had fallen to 20.7% in the second half of 2007 compared to the previous 23.4%....

Ames Iowa Tribune

Student's artwork selected in Google contest
By: Bob Zientara/The Tribune
05/24/2008
Updated 05/24/2008 12:12:41 AM CDT
Google "Doodle 4 Google" on the Web, and you can find the artwork of Ames Middle School student Belinda Mahama.
An eighth-grader, Mahama is one of only 40 students from across the United States selected as a regional winner in the Doodle 4 Google, a competition inviting students to design their own version of the popular Google logo.
Her drawing, based on the art of M.C. Escher, is featured on the Doodle 4 Google Web site. Along with the other regional finalists, Mahama was flown to Google's corporate headquarters in Mountview, Calif., to be honored as one of the top artists.
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Mahama's middle school art teacher is Cappie Dobyns.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717440&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6



Edwards international festival is a multi-ethnic experience
By: Bob Zientara/The Tribune
05/24/2008
Updated 05/24/2008 12:16:29 AM CDT
Edwards Elementary School second-grader Ali Mehyar holds the flag of the country Jordan Friday during the opening ceremonies of the third-annual international festival at the Ames school. The 38 flags represented the variety of nations represented in the student body.
Faryal Awan wore a flowing headdress of periwinkle blue, a knee-length top and slacks of the same color, and high heels Friday morning as she talked to a group of second-grade students in Joyce Hoffman's classroom at Edwards Elementary School.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717449&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6



Princeton-bound Chen looks back on Ames career
By: Bob Zientara/The Tribune
05/24/2008
Updated 05/24/2008 12:11:35 AM CDT
* High school studies and future plans.
* The importance of friends, and how that may change after graduation.
* How issues such as gas prices, the Iraq War and this year's election affect their lives.
* Technology, texting, blogging, games.
* The arts, especially music.
The profiles have been published over five days this week. This is the fifth and final story in the series.
Jasmine Chen will miss today's Ames High School commencement exercises, but she has a good excuse. Chen will return early next week from a visit to Taiwan.
Chen, 18, the daughter of Joseph and Winny Chen, and the sister of Edward (now enrolled at Harvard University), shared her thoughts about going to Ames High School in an exchange of e-mail messages from the island nation in the Far East.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717436&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6



Court rules on testimony question in ISU party case
Associated Press
05/24/2008
Updated 05/24/2008 12:09:47 AM CDT
DES MOINES (AP) - The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a crime doesn't have to be an aggravated misdemeanor or felony for testimony of co-conspirators to be introduced as evidence.
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The ruling reverses a district court decision and answers a question that no Iowa case has previously addressed, the court wrote.
The decision was in a Story County case of three people charged with providing alcohol to a person under the legal age, a serious misdemeanor. The charges were the result of a Dec. 2, 2005, party at an apartment near the Iowa State University campus in Ames.
A guest at the party, Shanda Munn, 20, left in a car and hit and killed Kelly Laughery, 20, of Orient. Munn later pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Charges were later filed against people accused of providing alcohol to underage guests at the party.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717433&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6




Faith and Thought: Politics can be divisive if family members don't agree
By: Sue Stanton/Special to The Tribune
05/24/2008
Updated 05/23/2008 08:01:55 PM CDT
"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, in a most delightful way!"
Reviewing the recent role my native Kentucky has played in the Democratic primaries, I am pleased that Hillary Clinton is still in the race for only one reason: My sister.
A political junkie, she watched with lustful awareness at just how wonderful it was to be an Iowan during the caucus season and was kept up to date on who said what by her younger sister.
In the course of events, the exchange between us was two-way. I told her what the candidates wore, said, had for lunch, and gave my expert medical assessment on the physical appearance of how Bill Clinton had weathered his heart surgery. She told me over the phone what she thought were the most damning qualities of George W. Bush.
This back-and-forth exchange of information proved productive until we parted company over our actual vote. My sister became hardened and encrusted with her love for Hillary Clinton. She would not listen to reason as I pleaded with her to "give Joe a break," firmly standing my ground on the field for Joe Biden.
But her fervor was sincere, her loyalty firm and rooted in the lore of family history. She was destined to honor all of our successful female relatives, now deceased, in casting her vote for a woman for president. This would likely be her only opportunity, and she was going to accomplish her dream at last.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717119&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554336&rfi=6



Defending champion Ballard in command at state tournament
By: Jeff Stell
05/24/2008
Updated 05/24/2008 12:44:22 AM CDT
Ballard junior Taylor Eichinger eyes the hole before taking his shot during Friday’s Class 3A State Championship meet at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. Photo by Ronnie Miller.
Defending champion Ballard came to the Class 3A boys state golf meet wanting to clearly establish itself as the team to beat.

After Friday's first round at Coldwater Golf Links, it looks like the Bombers have established themselves as a team that can't be beat. With 18 holes left to play today, the Bombers own a 20-stroke lead on their nearest challenger.

The Bombers shot 306 Friday to distance themselves from a traffic jam of teams between 326 and 333. Pella is second at 326 with Spencer in third one shot back and Clear Lake fourth at 332.

"We haven't lost a meet all year, so we just kind of treated this one like another meet that we want to win," Ballard junior Taylor Eichinger said. "We didn't want to be down after the first day. Now we just need to come out and play good again (Saturday) and repeat as state champions."

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717501&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554325&rfi=6



People's Business:Supporting Obama could help Iowa's Caucuses remain first
By: Charlotte Eby/Capitol News Service
05/24/2008
Updated 05/23/2008 08:03:07 PM CDT
Like it or not, an important part of Iowa's political fortune will rise and fall with Barack Obama this year.
Of the three candidates left standing, only Obama has a strong stake in keeping Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses first.
Voters and pundits were reminded of Obama's victory here when he returned to the state Tuesday, the day he claimed a majority of the pledged delegates to the national convention.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan understands the politics of keeping Iowa's caucuses first, which could be why he decided to weigh in with an endorsement of Obama when the candidate returned.
State party chairs typically don't endorse candidates in primaries, so something likely went on behind the scenes to help seal the deal for Obama.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717117&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554336&rfi=6



Owners unclear on smoking ban enforcement
By: Fred Love/Capitol News Service
05/24/2008
Updated 05/23/2008 08:03:42 PM CDT
DES MOINES - Iowa restaurant and bar owners will have to stamp out smoking in their establishments when a state-wide smoking ban takes effect July 1, but some are complaining that the state has not spelled out what their responsibilities will be under the new law.
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Justin Smith, manager of Smitty's Bar in Waterloo, said he and his employees will do the best they can to keep the establishment smoke-free, but he said he's received little guidance from the state on how to comply.
"I don't think it's been stated very clearly," he said. "Are there going to be uniformed people to come into the establishment? I don't think that's all been clearly defined."
Brian Froehlich, owner of Fro's Pub 'n Grub in Wilton, questions whether the government will be able to effectively enforce the ban. Froehlich said the law burdens bar and restaurant owners with enforcement, which could mean alienating longtime customers who smoke.

http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19717088&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6



Buenos Aires Herald

Seek meeting with CFK and concrete proposals to deal with tax issue
Farmers extend protest 6 more days
Argentina’s four major farm groups yesterday announced they extended a nationwide protest against higher export duties for another week, deepening a political challenge to President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
“This goes on until Wednesday,” said Eduardo Buzzi, the president of the Argentine Agricultural Federation, one of Argentina’s four leading lobbies, that group hundreds of thousands of farmers.
In a press conference in Santa Fe after meeting Santa Fe Governor Hermes Binner — a Socialist who supports them — Buzzi said that farm groups requested a meeting with Mrs. Kirchner.
He said the farmers who want to roll back higher duties on soybeans and other grain exports will continue protesting on highways but will not block most farm goods from reaching markets.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=494508




Latin America, EU tackle poverty, food prices and global warming
Biofuels, trade divide summit leaders
Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales said he feared the poor could suffer as his regional counterparts rush to sign free-trade deals with Europe, and others warned of a looming food emergency across the world.
“Soon, if the crisis deepens, hundreds of millions of people will be threatened by hunger,” said host President Alan García of Peru.
President Cristina Fernández said unequal income distribution is the “most serious problem” the region faces for its development.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=494795&hideIntro=true



Measure may be lifted — leader speaks of ‘smoothing things out’
Lockout: farmers to decide today
Farm leaders yesterday announced that the committee gathering the main sector associations will today decide whether or not to lift the lockout they imposed following a dispute with the national government over export duties.
The farmers’ association have come under pressure to put an end to the conflict that broke out on March 11. “We understand that we must narrow the gap... and help smooth things out,” said Eduardo Buzzi, head of the Argentine Agricultural Federation, addressing hundreds of farmers and farmhands gathered yesterday in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires province.
“For this reason, the committee will move the meeting forward to Monday... and will consider how this country can be pacified,“ he said.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=495400



Despite divisions on defence and trade, leaders create Unasur
New South American union born
The heads of states signed a treaty that creates the South American Union of Nations, or Unasur, as well as plans for energy, infrastructure and financing projects.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva hailed Unasur, which aspires to become like the European Union, as a sign that South America was becoming a “global actor” and said the differences between governments were a sign of vitality.
“Unasur is born, open to all the region, born under the signs of diversity and pluralism,” he said.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/argentina/note.jsp?idContent=496773&hideIntro=true



Blair in Israeli crosshairs
Blair was flying on a private plane from the World Economic Forum summit in Sinai, Egypt to an investment conference in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday when his plane penetrated Israeli airspace and failed to respond to repeated control tower radio calls demanding it identify itself, apparently due to a technical mal function.
The Israeli air force flew above Blair’s plane and quickly established contact with the cockpit, whose pilot informed them he was on board.
Blair spokesman Matthew Doyle, also on board, said Blair and others were unaware of the drama unfolding and only found out about it all when fielding calls from reporters.
Reuters

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/the_world/note.jsp?idContent=496763&hideIntro=true



Burma allows aid workers in
The junta told United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that foreign aid workers could enter the country as long as it was clear what they were doing and how long they would remain.
Burma’s promise to open its doors to aid workers sparked hope among relief agencies that they could soon bring food, shelter and medicine to more of the cyclone victims in the country, but they cautiously awaited practical details.
UN and other agencies have been building up stocks for the operation to provide supplies to the estimated 2.5 million people made homeless or otherwise affected by the May 2-3 storm and subsequent flooding, officials said.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/the_world/note.jsp?idContent=496758&hideIntro=true



100 hours after quake
China: trapped survivors freed
YINGXIU — A powerful aftershock knocked out roads and communications in some of the most quake-ravaged parts of central China yesterday, as emergency crews rescued more than 30 people who had survived up to 100 improbable hours trapped in the ruins.
With the official death toll at more than 22,000, tens of thousands of people are considered buried or missing throughout the disaster zone.

http://www.buenosairesherald.com/the_world/note.jsp?idContent=494785&hideIntro=true



Burma: 133,000 dead or missing
In a shocking update to a count that had consistently lagged international aid agency estimates, state television said 77,738 people were dead and 55,917 missing. Up to 2.5 million survivors are clinging to life in the Irrawaddy delta, with thousands of people lining roadsides to beg for help in the absence of large-scale government or foreign relief operations.

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INDEC says Q1 poverty rate down to 20.6% from 23.4% in ´07
Gov’t crucifies Church on poverty
The government and the Catholic Church clashed yesterday over estimated poverty rates and official indices, a day after Monsignor Jorge Casaretto said they were seeing an increase in poverty in the country.
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner yesterday reaffirmed indigence levels had dropped, and hours later, the INDEC statistics bureau released the official figures a day earlier than expected, in an attempt to put an end to the controversy.
“Poverty has decreased in Argentina and I ask people to help me convince those who doubt it,” the President said yesterday during the inauguration of a textile factory in Chaco.
She added that, compared to 2003 wheh her husband Néstor Kirchner became president: “We see a reality different from the one they are trying to convince us about.”
On Tuesday, Casaretto, the Bishop of San Isidro said: “Our vision is that poverty is on the rise,” a week after Mrs. Kirchner said poverty and unemployment rates had dropped.

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Dissident’s mother allowed to leave Cuba
Lauded by the Argentine government, the Cuban administration’s decision comes at a moment when president Raúl Castro is pushing forward with a set of reforms “within socialism.” The reforms include lifting prohibitions now deemed excessive in the country.
“She was given her passport and, much to our surprise, after that...

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Inflation running at 1M percent
HARARE — Weary Zimbabweans are facing a new wave of massive price increases that put many basic goods out of their reach.
Independent finance houses said in an assessment Tuesday that annual inflation rose this month to 1,063,572 percent based on prices of a basket of basic foodstuffs. As stores...

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Japan cedes ground over humpback whales
TOKYO — Antarctica is safe for humpback whales. At least for now.
Giving in to worldwide criticism, Japan’s government announced Friday a whaling fleet now in the Southern Ocean for its annual hunt will not kill the rare species as they had originally planned. The fleet will, however, kill some...

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Exit escapism: Cannes 2008 is a reality show
by angela doland
CANNES, France — Now playing at Cannes: ordinary people, modern times, and crimes and misdemeanors.
Escapism is out of style in the French Riviera film festival’s showcase competition. Midway through the 12-day festival, it’s all about tough realities, true stories, documentary-style filming and nonprofessional actors.
Though there...

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Mbeki sends army to help end violence
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki gave approval yesterday for the army to help end attacks on foreigners that have killed more than 40 people.
The attacks on African immigrants, accused by many poor South Africans of taking scarce jobs and fuelling crime, have forced thousands of people from their...

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