The interest in our failing planet by the New York Times is admirable, but, I need to add something.

The fast-retreating Sheldon Glacier in Antarctica. A collapse of a polar ice sheet could result in a jump in sea level. 

If I may?

...The paper, published July 28 in Nature Geoscience, focuses on a warm period in the earth’s history that preceded the most recent ice age. In that epoch, sometimes called the Eemian, the planetary temperature was similar to levels we may see in coming decades as a result of human emissions, so it is considered a possible indicator of things to come...

The glacial melting that occurred during the Eemian produced a sea known as the Eemian Sea.

This is a very good illustration of what the Eemian Sea looked like.

Kindly note Europe. Norway, Sweden and Finland are separated from the mainland. Europe loses a great deal of coast line.

One has to keep in mind currently much of Europe is underwater, BUT, man made structures are preventing same.

I believe the 'time line' the New York Times is looking for is further along than they might estimate. The real measure is how much of the the land mass connecting Scandinavia to the mainland is burgeoning on flooding.

One other thing. One has to remember this is ABRUPT climate change. It is happening very fast. 

This is occurring in less than ONE HUNDRED YEARS. That is a blink of the eye in the history of Earth.

Changes of sea surface salinity (colors) and sea ice transport (arrows) after the Eemian interglacial. Increased export of Arctic sea ice along the east coast of Greenland reduces salinities in the North Atlantic. One consequence is a major reorganization of the surface current system.

It was after the Eemian that the salinity of the oceans changed and altered the ocean currents.

Paleoclimate is interesting, but, never before in the very long history of Earth has there been this many people on Earth. Why would people be a concern more so than dinosaurs? Because dinosaurs never perpetrated greenhouse gas emissions. Dinosaurs never burnt coal, oil or natural gas. They never drove cars and caused their own warming of Earth.

To seek comfort in understanding the Climate Crisis based on the past is surrendering and not carrying the torch of change to preserve a future for our children. This is a unique dynamic of Earth, there is no prediction that can be made from the past.

The Sixth Extinction is real. Every extinction on Earth has been different. It is that reality I cling to.

I agree with AG Holder. Mandatories has done very little to end the drug economies in the USA.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the U.S. facing massive overcrowding (click here) in its prisons, Attorney General Eric Holder called Monday for major changes to the nation's criminal justice system that would scale back the use of harsh sentences for certain drug-related crimes.
In remarks to the American Bar Association in San Francisco, Holder said he also favors diverting people convicted of low-level offenses to drug treatment and community service programs and expanding a prison program to allow for release of some elderly, non-violent offenders.
"We need to ensure that incarceration is used to punish, deter and rehabilitate — not merely to convict, warehouse and forget," Holder said....

It is a very bold move that will be appreciated by prisons around the country. They don't need people in them that need a job or help with an addition. I like it. Well done.

I hope this will return authority to judges to find better outcomes. I sincerely believe this will result in alternative sentencing to place people into GED programs, jobs and community service. This decision has a wide ranging outcome if the judges take themselves seriously enough to return citizenship to people and rehab our society. 

Strengthening 'total body' muscles can be done without concussion. It isn't just rehab when one considers the benefits.

Returning the Thoroughbred back to it's strength.

We all know today's thoroughbred horse has a watered down genetic base. Drugs artificially elevated stallions and mares to prominence that were not the best horses on the track.

There is a real challenge now for the Race Horse industry and the Show Horse industry to examine the genetic content of horses that might be on their way to the slaughter house.

"Freedom Child" is not going to be a huge stakes winner of all throughbreds. He isn't even going to be famous, however, his owner is among the wisest people in the trade. At the age of three he is being tired to R&R.

By Blood-Horse Staff

Updated: Sunday, August 11, 2013 10:16 PM
Posted: Saturday, August 10, 2013 4:23 PM

Freedom Child, (click here) most recently last of nine in the July 27 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), has been retired to stud at Country Life Farm in Maryland according to Terry Finley, founder and president of owner West Point Thoroughbreds, and Mike Pons of Country Life & Merryland Farm.  
The 3-year-old ridgling son of Malibu Moon is to stand at the Pons family's operation near Hydes, Md., alongside stallions Cal Nation and Friesan Fire. Pons confirmed Aug. 10. The Pons started Malibu Moon in Maryland before he was sent to Kentucky to stand at Spendthrift Farm....

Picture to the right is Secretariat. Freedom Child strongly resembles his family line. He just doesn't have the same stride or heart. Secretariat's chest was huge with lots of room for heart and lungs. His stride was among the longest in thoroughbred history.

Bold Ruler was never a great stakes horse, but, he had the most spectacular baby the world has ever known.

Malibu Moon is the sire of Freedom Child. Malibu Moon is double breed into the Bold Ruler bloodline. I love this horse. I don't care if he doesn't win a dime.

Malibu Moon's sire was A.P. Indy. A.P. Indy's daddy was Seattle Slew. Seattle Slew's great-granddaddy was Bold Ruler.

A.P. Indy's mommy was Weekend Surprise. You can play with that name all you want I am sure it fits into the American imagination in more than one way. But, Weekend's Surprise was sired by Secretariat. Secretariat's daddy was Bold Ruler.

I simply love this horse.

I would not be sending him anywhere except the Brood Farm. Yep. 

Princequillo's genetic standard has never been replaced. (click here)

Genetic diversity has to take place, but, no other stallion has ever produced a bloodline as successful as his.

Princequillo had a career win of $96,550. It would be more with 2013 dollars, but, he wasn't all that. War Admiral was about the same generational match and his winnings were $273,240.

Breeders have to pay attention. Computers won't do this for them. Drugs won't help in strengthening the bloodlines. They need to have the instinct and the dedication to do it right. 

"Fair Play" was another great sire. War Admiral and Man 'O' War were his offspring. Fair Play has a strong Australian blood trail out of Great Britain. Those sincerely interested in bringing back the 'real' thoroughbred can have a lot of fun finding the TRACES of these great horses.

Making a buck on Mustangs.

I think it is time for the BLM to reassess the policies regarding the Navajo and their Mustangs. These are supposed to be protected animals. There is also the issue of fracking on public lands resulting in deaths of wild animals, including the Mustang. The BLM has a lot of reflection to do in regard to protecting our wildlife from harsh policies of those seeking monetary gains at the cost of national treasures.

By Jeri Clausing
 Albuquerque, N.M.
July 31, 2013

The Navajo Nation (click here) is jumping into the emotional and divisive fray over a return to domestic horse slaughter, drafting a letter to federal officials in support of a New Mexico company's plan to begin exporting horse meat next week.
The tribe's support for Valley Meat Co. comes one week after Robert Redford and former Gov. Bill Richardson joined the opposite side of the debate, saying, among other reasons, that they were "standing with Native American leaders" to protect cultural values.
But Erny Zah, spokesman for Navajo President Ben Shelly, said Wednesday that the nation's largest Indian reservation can no longer support the estimated 75,000 feral horses that are drinking wells dry and causing ecological damage to the drought-stricken range.
"It's a sensitive subject to begin with because horses are considered sacred animals, so you just can't go out and euthanize them," Zah said. "That would go too far against cultural conditions. At the same time we have a bunch of horses that no one is caring for, so it's a delicate balance."...

You know that horse you thought you sold to a good home? Think again.

Brittany Wallace hopes to help save other horses from slaughter by telling her story to bring more awareness to the issue of horse slaughter. Late last year, she was reunited with Scribbles, her childhood horse, who was in a kill pen in Lancaster County but was bought by a York County horse rescuer. (Photo courtesy of You Ought to be in Pictures!)

August 10, 2013
York, PA

Last November, (click here) Brittany Wallace looked through Facebook photos of a horse found bleeding in a Pennsylvania kill pen and realized it was her old horse, Scribbles. Less than two months later, Brittany and Scribbles were back in Harwich, Mass., as Brittany prepared to ride her horse for the first time since their unlikely reunion.
"I was really nervous and I think she could tell I was nervous. It was so awesome. It felt like time-traveling back to when I had her before," said the now 17-year-old from Harwich, Mass. "We took up right where we left off."
The pair reconnected in an emotional reunion in December. Without prompting, Scribbles began to bow, a trick Brittany had taught her before they were separated. It was their special thing, and a complete surprise....

"Morning Papers" - It's Origins (click here)

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

"Good Night, Moon"

The Waxing Crescent 

5 days old

25.7 percent lit

With little moonshine, it will be perfect in more places to view the meteor shower.

August 11, 2013
Hundreds of fireballs (click here) and shooting stars will dart across the sky over the next two nights, putting on a spectacular light show for stargazers. The annual Perseid meteor shower is considered to be one of Mother Nature’s most dazzling celestial displays.
According to NASA, around 90 to 100 bright and colorful meteors can be seen per hour during the meteor shower’s peak, which will take place August 11-12.
As with all meteor showers, the rate is greatest in the pre-dawn hours. Stargazers are expecting an especially impressive show this year because the waxing crescent moon will set early – allowing even the fainter meteors to be seen.
This dazzling annual phenomenon happens when the Earth crosses paths with a trail of debris left over by the Swift-Tuttle comet....