Merry Christmas Eve - Blame the Republicans for a Lean Christmas

December24, 2008
2230z
UNISYS Water Vapor North and West Hemispheric Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

Heat transfers off the subtropics and tropics, across the continent, right over the Artic Circle where frigid air is displaced off the Arctic to lower latitudes.

There is also no such thing as Clean Coal Technology (I'll explain it all another day, but, just take my word for it for now, even though the USA has the majority of the coal in the world doesn't mean there is such a thing as Clean Coal Technology. There isn't). It is a 'dream' that Obama hopes can be achieved. Mike's page is sad tonight (click at title to entry - thank you).

The frigid cold in the northern tier of the country is due to 'heavy air' displacement from the Arctic as heat transfers cover the Arctic Ocean. Hot air rises, cold air sinks. As the heated air from the Equator is transferred by huge vortexes in the upper troposphere the colder, denser, heavier air is pushed off the north cap and down around the lower latitudes.

It is why the Northeast USA among other places have declared a State of Emergency. Because it is. These are not SIMPLE 'nor-easters,' these are frigid Arctic storms due to Human Induced Global Warming.

Good night, all.

National Debt Graph: Bush Sets 50-Year Record (click here)
50-Year Record on Sept. 22.

$10 Trillion on Sept. 30, 2008.

The gross national debt compared to GDP (how rich we are) reached its lowest level since 1931 as Reagan took office in 1981. It skyrocketed for 12 years through Bush senior. Clinton reversed it at a peak of 67%. Bush junior crossed that line on Sept. 22 and hit 69% on Sept 30. That's the highest it's been since 1955. (sources)Bush did three things to skyrocket the debt from $5.7 trillion to $10 trillion:1. He lowered taxes on the rich (by far the biggest item).2. He invaded Iraq instead of winning in Afghan-Pakistan (another $600 B).3. He deregulated Wall Street speculators. That bailout has now "invested" $1T.

27 Days until Inauguration - Shovel Ready Jobs or PORK?

There is no doubt there are dangrous bridges. The USA has witnessed the deaths of people traveling that crumbling infrastructure and we should not tolerate that level of neglect. However, there are roads and repairs planned that are nothing but PORK.

How to discern the difference?

Be involved. Go to local and state meetings and ask all the tough questions.

As an example of pure pork :: In Wilmington, NC there is an intersection that has received so much repaving that it creates its own gully when it rains. That intersection is Gordon Road and Military Cutoff Road. There are layers and layers and layers of macadam to the point where when turning into or out of that intersection, one is literally driving up or down hill. Not because there is actually a rise in the terrain, but, because that road has been paved unnecessarily so many times that it has created its own elevated roadway.

President Elect Obama has PROMISED a change in infrastructure. That doesn't mean simply more of the same, but, sincere escape from stupid projects that employ a 'certain' trades-person, to rebuilding our infrastruture to manage the change this country NEEDS.

Oh, so the folks that know the IMPOSSIBLE terrain of the mountains get supported? I see.

The 'territory' of Afghanistan and the land shared with Pakistan is impossible to control without the knowledge and abilities of the militias that act to protect the villages and their people. Bringing the Afghan militias into the sphere of influence and hence being influential, a better opportunity for military victory exists.

The 'idea' behind 'enrolling' free lancing militias into the influence of power military entities has to lie in respect for their ability where traditional Western militaries fail. Protecting them and the people they protect has to be as important a mission as disrupting and destroying terrorist networks throughout the region.

It gets tricky as to whom to trust, but, then finding out 'the traitors' is as gratifying as defeating the enemy.

If the West does it 'correctly' it will become the warlords of all warlords and the world will have defeated al Qaeda in the process.

The Afghan people are ready for victory. They have longed for it. They patiently have waited for generations for the opportunity. What the West has to maintain is military superiority as any warlord would do. There is no way a militia should ever be so well armed that they don't need escort nor trusted so far that they have their own generals.

Have a good day and properity to the people of Afghanistan. Militias without a poppy culture might prove to be the benefit to the world.

In the eye of the beholder. Ah, he is not dead. Nor in prison. He now has influence. Whom then is the victor?

Nikita Y. Belykh, once a Kremlin critic, took a job offered by Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin.

Vladimir Putin worked his entire life to protect Russia and people like Belykh. Why would he ever turn his back on a fellow citizen when all he ever did was protect the sovereignty of the very nation that allowed Belykh a voice.

It goes to show, no matter what country one hails from when 'a voice' is your dearest weapon the potential at influencing power and finding in roads is more than possible.

I congratulate Nikita. He found his way into a position that honors him and his historical stand in a country that did nothing but protect its sovereignty from anarchy.

Shelby commissioners authorize lawsuits against mortgage lenders

To enlarge map click here, thank you.
2008 Foreclosures Statistics (click here)
The latest foreclosure statistics from RealtyTrac are out, and the news isn’t very good. According to the Q1 2008 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which tracks foreclosure filings (including default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions), 649,917 properties were foreclosed upon during the first quarter of the year, a 23% increase from the previous quarter and a 112% increase from the first quarter of 2007. The report also shows that one (1) in every 194 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing during the quarter.

Resolution says loans targeted minorities, forced foreclosures (click title to entry - thank you)
By Alex Doniach (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal

Monday, December 22, 2008
Shelby County commissioners approved a resolution Monday authorizing the county to file suit against the national lenders who, officials say, gave out risky, high-interest rate loans and enabled a foreclosure crisis in Shelby County.
The resolution alleges that these major national lenders engaged in "deceptive" and "discriminatory" lending practices targeted at the black community. And the resulting foreclosure epidemic has destabilized neighborhoods, eroded property values and damaged the tax base -- costing county and Memphis city government millions in tax revenues....