Liberals are happy? Liberals are never happy. They are always menacing. Too much on their minds all the time. Where one issue is solved there are at least a dozen more they are unhappy about.

Senator Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin. What a great idea. They need him. They really need his point of view to validate their roots. That's nice.

Senator Sanders is not real key about the press. He isn't interested in headlines of even a small paragraph above the fold. He is a door to door legislator when he runs for office. I am happy for him. He deserves to have the folks in Wisconsin fill up a stadium. 

American Labor deserves to have good pay. They deserve to have increased rates of pay when they accommodate their employer for additional time at work. People aren't suppose to want to be at work more than necessary to maintain their good standing with an employer. American people that work for a living want to be at home as well. Their time at home can't be understated as important. Besides being down time to refresh to dive back into work the next day, there are relationships and perhaps children, the pets and hobbies and enjoyment. When Americans enjoy life the economy does better. When parents are home and attending the Spring Recital at the local public primary school they are taking pictures and sharing moments with Grandparents. That is called quality of life. Quality of life is what drives the Middle Class. So, when an American Laborer consents to work longer hours or is required to work extra hours that impacts their quality of life. It is a sacrifice. They should be given a higher pay rate to balance the loss of quality of life. 

When I was a union representative for some professionals overtime was viewed as a kindness to the employer. These folks were paid well and they were excellent at their jobs. They worked hard every minute of every hour. Sometimes they would pass on lunch because of their dedication. They rather pass on lunch then work longer hours. That lunch time was gone, there was no reimbursement for that time. There might be a longer break time in the afternoon if things slowed down. But, they were valuable people for the work they did and when their employer asked them to work longer hours than their contract it was viewed as something the employer should appreciate. They received additional pay according to the contract, but, they were also thanked for their willingness and dedication. It is the way it should be.

Greece will be okay. It is the IMF and there is always room for help along with a responsible plan. Greece is not an example to the world's economies. It's a small country. They had a lot of government support for their people. Government spending floated the Greek economy for a long time. 

And bankers want to make an example of Greece. You mean the same bankers that needed to be bailed out? 

Greece is a victim of their failure. The stories being told are more fable than reality when the banks reflect on their dark past.

Greece needs to stop accepting their victimization. Greece needs to fight back.

June 28, 2015
By Landon Thomas, Jr. and Niki Kitsantonis

ATHENS — Greece will keep its banks closed (click here) on Monday and place restrictions on the withdrawal and transfer of money, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a televised address on Sunday night, as Athens tries to avert a financial collapse.

The government’s decision to close banks temporarily and impose other so-called capital controls — and to keep the stock market closed on Monday — came hours after the European Central Bank said it would not expand an emergency loan program that has been propping up Greek banks in recent weeks while the government was trying to reach a new debt deal with international creditors....

This is really off the cuff and I probably should follow Greece a little more closely, but, isn't Libor set by the European Central Bank from an average of selected other banks? Yes?

Regardless, what Greece needs to do is investigate the impact of Libor on it's economy when it was being riddled with fraud. If there is, and there probably is, any liability to the Greece treasury and/or it's people; Greece needs to sue the banks involved in the fraud. 

Greece is in a very difficult part of the world right now. The last thing it and Europe needs right now is a hopelessly weak link. Cyprus has been involved with Turkey and hopefully enough to stabilize all the political turmoil, but, now is not the time to play "Let's ridicule Greece." It is a valuable asset to the EU and it is important Greece maintain it's sovereign national security with the European Union. Greece needs to realize it's strategic importance and take on the challenge to be a country to deal with. 

Greece has a lot of assets, most are their people, their rich history, the Mediterranean food, traditions and their beautiful ports and tourist beaches. Greece's ridicule has not helped it's promotion of a strong tourist industry. It is no different than any other country post 2008 in realizing how soft it's economy actually is with many debts that makes rebuilding nearly impossible. 

Greece needs to take charge and set everything straight, the IMF and it's insight may help. Keep your oars in the water. 

Governor Chris Christi doesn't take three days to make a valid statement. They all said it was over in New Jersey with Bridgegate. He apologized to a mayor and worked with any authority that had questions, he independently investigated the complaints and he is still standing. Chris Christi is a viable candidate. I have enjoyed his recovery from Bridgegate. I don't necessarily agree with his policies, but, he is the candidate that should be representing the Republican field. He is smart and has success in his history, a family man and a great American. Republicans need to have more like Christi in their party rather than taking turns at the presidency and losing.

The primary reason Chris Christi was elected governor was because New Jersey's economy and tax structure is a mess. He inherited a lot of problems. I have watched him seek to balance the New Jersey budget, but, I object to his ways. He didn't raise taxes and became creative in his journey through the monies in every nook and cranny and some of his ideas per his State of the State was really on the edge of inappropriate. When he was looking for fiscal residuals among the towns and counties to benefit the state budget he reminded me of "W." W didn't care where money was in residual in the federal government he took it and distributed among cronies. Christi didn't feed his cronies with the residuals. He wanted the residuals to pay the state budget. 

Don't start about the pensions. They were in arrears long before Christi got to office. He may have had ambitions to get the pensions up to speed and reduce any possibility of bankruptcy, but, it feel short. His ambitions were good, the ability to carry out that promise never came about. He hasn't trashed pensions and he is not a Rick Snyder. He does have morals and I can respect that. Other than politics he is not self serving.  

I am quite sure the Democrats kept him honest and in check, but, Christi was a good governor. He will probably leave New Jersey in better condition than he found it. The Republicans need men and women with integrity and not slap stick sell outs. I am getting really tired of the status quo Republicans. They cause a lot of problems. 

I heard he is pulling some antics about guns and women. It is a mistake because New Jersey has a great track record in both those issues. New Jersey's history is most admirable when it comes to caring for women and preventing danger to citizens with guns. I haven't looked, but, my guess is the number of deaths of police and state police in New Jersey is less than the rest of the country. I remember the death of a state trooper and I want to say his name was LaMonica. The state was traumatized by his death. Rightfully so. The trials were held in Somerset County with sharpshooters on the roof and the tightest security, including German Shepherds inside every door. When Christi challenges New Jersey gun laws there are plenty of reasons to hold the line on change. 

New Jersey is a really nice place to live. They love green. The state's past economy was heavy industry. That isn't there any more. Today it is Big Pharma. But, the shrinking industries in New Jersey has never been replaced to the state's economy and let's face it 2008 wasn't helpful.

Rand Paul is out of the presidential race.

The only president Rand Paul is going to be is that of the militia 5000.

June 30, 2015
By Adam B. Lerner

Rand Paul (click here) met privately with Cliven Bundy on Monday, the Nevada rancher and anti-government activist told POLITICO.

The encounter came after Bundy attended an event for the Kentucky senator’s presidential campaign at the Eureka Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. When the larger group dispersed, Bundy said, he was escorted by Paul’s aides to a back room where he and the Republican 2016 contender spoke for approximately 45 minutes....

Rand Paul will be a second Ron Paul, always on the stump, but having nothing American to say.

April 15, 2015

In out-of-state supporter (click here) of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Pennsylvania to making threats against a Bureau of Land Management enforcement official during Bundy’s 2014 standoff against federal officials over land grazing rights.
Some Bundy supporters, as well as Bundy himself, wonder whether this is the first in a series of legal moves the federal government might take against the recalcitrant rancher, whose so-called citizen militia challenged BLM officials in an armed face-off last April....

There always seems to be this strange American that turns out for the Pauls at elections. They no more love this country than give up their guns. Their idea of democracy is anarchy. Anarchy is anarchy, it isn't democracy. These folks are not great Americans. This is not the movement west, it is 2015 where there is a well established government. They have lives that are caricatures. 

They're strange. These are the folks that breed Timothy McVeigh. They have these ideas they can reclaim the old West. Well, hee haw, get used to the idea of prison. The permission they take with our democracy was clearly illustrated when a couple left the Bundy ranch and killed a police officer. Rand Paul should get serious, but, he'll just ride this tide of decent by Americans seeking a life as a militant. 

It is ridiculous. A US Senator.  

It is in Iran's best interest to bring a strong agreement to negotiations.

I often think memories can be very weak in diplomacy. President Obama's administration has been willing to talk to Iran. Iran should solidify a strong agreement while this administration governs and the US continues interest in peace and non-proliferation.

It was not long ago that a US administration would not even talk to Iran. It is time to get this done to satisfy global powers to the sincere will of Iran to participate as a peaceful government and not one interested in the power of war. 

In this file photo taken Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, speaks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as they walk in Geneva, Switzerland, ahead of the next round of nuclear discussions. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP, File) 


June 30, 2015
By AP

VIENNA — Pushing (click here) past a Tuesday deadline, world powers and Iran extended negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear agreement by a week as the U.N. nuclear agency prepared to announce Tehran had met a key condition — significantly reducing its stocks of enriched uranium that could be used for atomic weapons.
Iran's failure to comply would have severely undermined the negotiations, which are aimed at curbing the Iranians' nuclear program for a decade in exchange for tens of billions of dollars in relief from international economic sanctions
The State Department announced the extra days of talks only hours before the expiration of the target date for their completion. Thoughts of meeting the deadline had been long-abandoned, but the extension has added significance as it holds in place nuclear restrictions that Iran agreed to some 20 months ago as well as slightly eased conditions for Iranian business with the world.
Those preliminary measures have been prolonged to next Tuesday "to allow more time for negotiations to reach a long-term solution," spokeswoman Marie Harf said.? The statement came after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a day of meetings in Vienna with the foreign ministers of Iran and Russia, and other key officials....

I am a happy camper. President Rousseff is one of the most powerful women in the struggle of the climate crisis.

She is the one person that stands in the breach to protect the Amazon. Other than a President that understands the climate crisis and values her precious Amazon, she is simply a great woman and President for Brazil. I gave a great news conference and it was good to see her again. 

She stands to be painted by history as the leader that brought the Middle Class to prominence for Brazil. It is a rightful place for her people. Brazilians are hard working and have ambitions that support a strong and motivated Middle Class. I was more than pleased to hear her recognize the income and wealth inequality of the people in her country. She joins a growing list of leaders to recognize the inequality their citizens face.

President Rousseff has been a strong and benevolent leader taking position in the G20. She is good for Brazil and any country they call allies. This relationship with the USA is enhanced by a new recognition of Cuba and the importance of raising a non-violent paradigm for South and Central America. The childrens arrival at the southern border of the USA clearly illustrated how our neighbors dearly need domestic peace, way from gun wheeling drug cartels. Brazil has been successful in taking back neighborhoods and I would expect more of the same with President Rousseff's ambition for her people.

Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, (click here) has seen some important security advances in recent years, taking dozens of communities in Rio de Janeiro from criminal gangs through its innovative UPP security program. However, it faces a serious threat from its two largest domestic criminal gangs, the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando Capital - PCC) and Red Command (Comando Vermelho), who are becoming increasingly involved in the international drug trade, as well as operating extortion and kidnapping rings at home. Militia groups composed mostly of police are another source of violent crime, extorting entire neighborhoods and carrying out extrajudicial killings. The country is becoming increasingly important as a market and transit point for cocaine.

I hope the CIA can be a benevolent partner in Brazil to President Rousseff to assist in understanding the way to deal with violence and corruption. I would encourage her and President Obama to enhance their national security with the upcoming Olympics in 2016.

With 100% of the vote counted, Workers' Party (PT) candidate Dilma Rousseff will become Brazil's first female president, winning the run-off election by a margin of 56.1%-43.9% over PSDB rival José Serra.  She pledges to continue the policies of her predecessor, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, and has set the principal goal of her presidency to be the eradication of poverty in Brazil.

30 June 2015
By Suzanne Goldenberg 

Barack Obama and Dilma Rousseff (click here) put climate change at the top of their agenda at their bilateral meeting on Tuesday, with the US and Brazil agreeing to get up to 20% of their electricity from renewable power by 2030.
 
Brazil also committed to restore up to 12m hectares of forest – an area about the size of England or Pennsylvania – in another attempt to reduce the carbon pollution that causes climate change.

The White House said the initiatives were part of a new US-Brazil climate partnership, loosely modelled on the historic US-China agreement reached during Obama’s visit to Beijing last November, which are intended to build momentum for a global deal to fight climate change in Paris at the end of the year....

Governor Chris Christy is ready for his run.

Christi's strong arm politics worked for the people of New Jersey. When it was important, after the worst storm New Jersey ever saw, Christy stood up to the Republican establishment and demanded help. Not bad.

June 30, 2015
By Jessica Taylor 

...But just months later, (click here) the governor would be badly damaged in the "Bridgegate" scandal — a lane closures scheme affecting commuters onto the highly trafficked George Washington Bridge. It was allegedly orchestrated by some of Christie's top allies to exact political revenge on the mayor of Fort Lee, who had refused to endorse the governor's re-election bid. Two top aides have been indicted, while another has pleaded guilty....

The former Secretary of State may have a sincere opposition candidate from the man across the river.

Chris Christie is an interesting man. He has accomplished every ambition he set his mind on. He is a success story in many ways. But, to run for President every candidate has to have sand kicked in their face to rise as a phoenix above the fray. That came with staff who over stepped their authority in a frenzy of hubris. He has been cleared by the US Attorney, but, will he be cleared by the Republican electorate? I wish him good luck.

In Europe a sane commute to work becomes a demand for a better pay check.

June 30, 2015

CALAIS, France — Striking French ferry workers block Eurotunnel, blocking trains between France, England.

That's it. That is the extensive reporting on a wage dispute. No matter the media outlet the actions of labor to bring brevity to their demands meets with a single sentence of description. Is that not amazing. It is listed with the news because it could cause a slower commute. It isn't about the issues, simply the inconvenience. Is it any wonder why labor had to take to the streets to be recognized?

In absence of real information, I thought this video from Midnight Cowboy would at least illustrate an understanding of protesting workers.
 

More Hillary-mail will be released today. Will it impact the former Secretary's campaign momentum? Not likely.

Most Americans see the obsession with Hillary for what it is, anti-woman. There is only one question for the span of email releases by the US State Department; "Is there anyone else in the chain of responsibility dogged by the Republican Congress?" Answer. "No."

There is already an extensive investigation to the deaths in Benghazi, Libya on the anniversary of September 11th. This continued political ideological badgering of the former Secretary is viewed by the right wing as the only way to defeat her at the ballot box. Really?

With any luck the junk yard dogs of the Republican Party will find satiation and the issues will take the forefront of the 2016 elections. I would think Senator Sander's rise would finally cement the importance of policy politics. 

June 30, 2015
By Michael A. Memoli

The State Department (click here) expects to release more of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s email correspondence Tuesday, reviving scrutiny of her service in the Obama administration as she wages a campaign to succeed him.

The new batch of emails will be the first from a pool of more than 50,000 pages turned over by the candidate from her private email server. They go beyond the initial 850 pages of emails released in May that were tied to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, the subject of a continuing GOP-led congressional inquiry....

Senator Bernie Sanders performance demands the validation of "I told you so.

Senator Sanders has never been a lightweight in his political message during any campaign. That message has always brought substantial brevity during his run for office.

His decision to run in 2016 for the presidency was based in the absence of a profound belief in the Middle Class. He started his campaign as a very distant ideological chance as far as most people were concerned. He was not considered a strong contender. As Senator Sanders predicted, his low cost campaign would reach heights of loyalty.

June 29, 2015
By H. A. Goodman

Bernie Sanders is down by just 8 points in New Hampshire (click here) and has gained tremendous momentum in Iowa. If the Vermont senator wins both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, the odds will favor him getting the Democratic nomination. What was once thought of as a long shot is becoming a reality, primarily because Bernie Sanders has energized his base while Hillary Clinton has been forced to defend against email and foreign donor scandals. However, this isn't the first time in recent history that a challenger to Clinton was once thought of as a long shot. 

In 2008, Hillary Clinton finished third in Iowa behind Obama and John Edwards and eventually lost the Democratic nomination to the first African-American elected as president. This eventuality was once described as "the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen" by Bill Clinton, when the former president was asked about Obama's record and chances of winning the presidency. Even Hillary Clinton's "It's 3:00 am" advertisement, described by Harvard Professor of Sociology Orlando Patterson as having a "racist sub-message," couldn't prevent history from taking place and a more progressive electorate from deciding their own destiny at the ballot box....

Hours over 40 per week of work is to return to compensation other than compensation time.

June 29, 2015
By Tribune Wire

Salaried workers (click here) who earn nearly $1,000 per week would become eligible for overtime pay under a proposal President Barack Obama unveiled Monday, lamenting that too many Americans are working too many hours for less pay than they deserve.

The long-awaited overtime rule from the Labor Department would more than double the threshold at which employers can avoid paying overtime, from the current $455 a week to $970 a week by next year. That would mean salaried employees earning less than $50,440 a year would be assured overtime if they work more than 40 hours per week, up from the current $23,660 a year....

Wall Street has used the word "salaried" for free labor. It has to stop. Blue collar workers has a right to fair pay for a day's work.

Gotta pay the mortgage. And the school supplies required for a proper education doesn't get any cheaper. 

As Chicago struggles with it's violent history, police are coming into focus.

June 28, 2015
By Jeremy Gorner

The city agency (click here) that investigates the most serious misconduct allegations against Chicago police officers has recommended for the first time in its nearly eight-year history that an officer be fired for shooting someone.

The Independent Police Review Authority found that the off-duty officer was "inattentive to duty" when he fired 16 shots at the wrong car moments after a drive-by shooting outside a Mexican restaurant in the East Ukrainian Village neighborhood in 2011. The officer was working security at the restaurant.

The case against the officer hinges largely on video footage obtained from a surveillance camera at the restaurant that IPRA said clearly showed a red Mitsubishi Galant had fled the drive-by shooting by the time the officer opened fire at a blue Chrysler 300M car, wounding its driver....

Some in Japan want a greater role in national defense, but, resistence is substantial.

June 30, 2015
By Jake Adelstein

...Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, (click here) enacted in 1947 under U.S. supervision, declares that "the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes." In the seven decades since the end of World War II, the Self-Defense Forces have not been permitted to participate in overseas combat, even to come to the aid of the United States....

Realize Japan has not been responsible for it's own national defense. As an ally it has been stunted. But, think about the tyrannical attitudes of the American electorate and realize how safe the world has become since WWII. It isn't as if Russia and China aren't world class militaries. 

For the USA to move away from over extension of it's sizable military and it's budget allies have to muscle up to becomes a stronger ally.

...The opposition has deemed the legislation the "War Bill." Debate started May 26 and was supposed to end June 24, but a vote has been pushed back to Sept. 27 — the longest extension in postwar history....

A new chief at Metrolink, Positive Train Control and ambitions to increase ridership.

June 30, 2015
By Dan Wiekel

...Metrolink needs to position itself better. (click here) It carries 42,000 to 45,000 riders a day. That doesn't sound like a lot, but viewed in terms of passenger miles traveled, it's second only to the MTA. At 40% to 45%, it has the highest fare box recovery rate in the region, and the subsidy per passenger mile is the lowest in the region. If you look at it holistically, Metrolink is highly productive. It carries lots of people long distances in an efficient manner. It does a lot of good things, though it needs improvement....

Christians in western countries don't measure hate for god through legalizing marriaage equality.

June 30, 2015
By Margaret Mayman

The recent decision to legalise marriage (click here) for same sex couples in Ireland has been cast as a victory against the Catholic Church. What secular commentators miss is that it was a decisive victory for ordinary Christians.

The people of Ireland, who are still overwhelmingly Catholic, decided to follow their consciences. In the US, many Christians, including some evangelicals, are celebrating the Supreme Court decision to legalise marriage equality. They are faithful followers of Jesus, whose life and teaching call us to radical inclusion and hospitality, who saw sin in practices that marginalised and excluded people. The biblical call to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves provides the mandate for marriage equality.

The majority of Christians in Australia are making the same choice as the people of Ireland. We are tired of our voices and values being misrepresented by a noisy lobby group and out of touch denominational leaders. A 2014 poll found 59 per cent of Australian Christians support marriage equality. Not in spite of our faith, but because of it. The Australian Christian Lobby and Fred Nile's Christian Democrat Party do not speak for us. In fact, the CDP speaks for very few. The last census indicated that 61 per cent of Australians are Christian and only 3.24 per cent of the NSW population supported the CDP at the last state election....

Warren Buffet doesn't need a trade agreement to invest in foreign markets.

June 30, 2015
By Ruth Liew

Berkshire Hathaway's Australian (click here) arm is expanding into the healthcare insurance sector in Australia and will start writing new business in New Zealand, as the Warren Buffett-linked company ramps up its expansion in the Australasian region. 

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, which opened its doors in Sydney in March, will underwrite insurance to cover property, casualty and professional lines of hospitals and medical practices in Australia. 

It comes after the group flagged it would be playing in the large corporate segment of Australia's insurance market. 

The company has appointed former AIG executive Tony Bainbridge to lead the effort.

 "Tony comes to BHSI with more than three decades of industry experience and deep technical knowledge of the risks facing the Australian healthcare sector," Chris Colahan, president of Australasia Region for BHSI, said.

BHSI has also been given the green light by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to underwrite property and casualty insurance through its new office in Auckland....

An increasing number of countries are establishing health warnings on tobacco.

So, why are the tobacco companies continuing to survive? 

The US Chamber of Commerce has started a global campaign to reduce the effects of the truth on behalf of the tobacco industry. The industry is a blight to life, but, those that see only profits on a moment to moment basis don't care about ethics or morals.
 
June 29, 2015
 
...The RJR investment (click here) committee petitioned the Supreme Court in December, after the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Richmond, Va., sided with plan participants who argued that plan executives breached their fiduciary duties in managing and later selling certain stocks in the plan and gave insufficient attention to those decisions. 

(R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is now an indirect subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C.) 

After RJR Nabisco Inc. spun off its tobacco business and retirement plan investments were reset, the fiduciaries were sued for selling the company stock in both companies in the 401(k) plan too soon. On Aug. 4, the circuit court ruled 2-1 that a defendant has the burden of proof if there is a breach of duty, and that a fiduciary can be held liable for damages even for a prudent decision...

The shadow of 2008 is experienced by global markets as Greece still struggles.

June 29, 2015

By Arthur Beasley

...Ireland is not immune. (click here) As if to prove the point, Irish bank shares have taken a hit today in line with international conditions. Bank of Ireland shares dropped more than 5 per cent after the market opened, although the decline eased to 3.4 per cent at lunchtime. It was the same for Permanent TSB shares, down 4.65 per cent in early morning and down 2.27 per cent at lunchtime. 

Although Ireland’s huge national debt means the State will be at the mercy of money markets for decades to come, Irish borrowing costs were largely unperturbed this morning. Italian, Spanish and Portuguese bond yields were first to jump, illustrating their vulnerability events in Greece. German borrowing costs eased, a reflection of the country’s safe have status in times of woe.

But the interest on Irish 10-year bonds, the standard barometer of the State’s creditworthiness, was largely unchanged this morning at 1.6 per cent...

Earth is slowing by 1.27 seconds per year,

June 30, 2015

Since 1967, (click here) when clocks went atomic, human timekeeping has been independent of the earth’s rotation. The problem is, the planet is slowing down and clocks are not. So every few years, to get everything back in sync, scientists add a second. They’ve done it 25 times since 1972. The last time was 2012, but that was on a weekend. June 30 will be the first leap second during trading hours since markets went electronic....

To scientists it is called a hiatus.

The report.

The historic methane record. (click here - thank you) 

Methane emissions is both dangerous due to it's intrinsic properties and due to it's climate impacts. 
 
June 23, 2015
By Dan Grossman

The American West (click here) is home to the vast majority of the nation’s federal and tribal lands, which account for well over half of the total land area of several Western states. And, the Western states are also significant centers of domestic oil and gas production, contributing 80 to 90 percent of total federal and tribal production.

Now, a new report estimates that fugitive and vented losses from oil and natural gas operations on federal and tribal lands amounted to over 65 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas in 2013, representing over 1 million metric tons of harmful methane pollution.

The report, released this week by the independent consultancy ICF International and commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund, looks at oil and gas development on federal and tribal lands —specifically, emissions from gas that is leaked, vented, or flared every year. 

Oil and gas emissions matter. Excessive venting, flaring and leaking of gas can degrade regional air quality. Moreover, natural gas is comprised mostly of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. In addition to the emissions associated with these activities, we believe venting, flaring and leaking of natural gas represents the wasteful loss of a finite and valuable natural resource....

Breaking News: Fracking is too dangerous to the climate. It is not one dangrous greenhouse gas emission or the other, it is neither.

24 June 2015
By Peter Moskowitz

...The claim (click here) that natural gas is environmentally friendly hinges on how much methane leaks into the atmosphere during the production process. But the EDF report adds weight to those who say methane leaks at natural gas sites can make the process nearly or as carbon-intensive as coal.
The EDF found that 65bn cubic feet of natural gas was released into the air on federal and tribal lands in 2013 – amounting to about $360m of lost gas. That, the EDF says, is not only an economic loss, but an environmental problem. Methane, the main ingredient in natural gas, is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over short periods of time and 30 times more potent over the long term.
The leaks are the equivalent to the greenhouse gases produced by 5.6m cars....

For all those that opposed fracking for all the right reasons, congratulations. Vindication is yours today.

The CO2 level of Earth today is 403.70. It's moving right along.

In the university I studied "Women's Studies" along with other interests. A good friend that also shared that class and I were on the beach one day. Beautiful day with a gentle breeze. We started to simply have a conversation about men. 

During the conversation I sarcastically stated, "When Earth's greenhouse gases are too high and the troposphere is dangerous, men will leave Earth behind and look for another planet to destroy." My friend laughed in recognition of the same truth. 

Interesting it, isn't it? More than interesting, it is immoral. The morality of space travel depends on the definition of the condition of Earth and it's people, especially the poor.

June 25, 2015
By Maya Kamath 

DARPA (click here) to use genetically engineered organisms to convert the inhospitable Martian atmosphere into a suitable atmosphere which would help humans to colonize Mars
Mars is known for its inhospitable and barren landscape; however DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) plans to Terraform the Red planet with genetically engineered organisms which would eventually transform Mars into a more hospitable place that would be capable of supporting human life....

I think the morality for religious folks falls under "Thou Shalt Not Kill."  Now, if anyone wants to talk about damnation, this is a good place to start.

Extreme high air temperatures (click here) contribute directly to deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease, particularly among elderly people. In the heat wave of summer 2003 in Europe for example, more than 70 000 excess deaths were recorded.

It is on the public record by me at the US EPA when I provided testimony to The New Source Review and brought CO2 into the Congressional Record. There is a paragraph and illustrations including a CNN picture of oil wells burning in Iraq; where I stated in March of 2003 the USA invaded Iraq and the record from the Mauna Loa Laboratories across the entire longitude from all four locations. Los Angeles wasn't operational at that time. All four showed a spike on in the release of CO2 at the time of the invasion.

There were more than one reason why the invasion into Iraq was immoral.  

I just thought I'd validate the rising CO2. Two sources are better than one. This reading is not a composite of all the labs. This is Hawaii. Out in the Pacific Ocean. Yep.

You know who did send their best to the USA? 

Venezuela. That is a fact.

They would originally come to be educated and then they would stay here. Venezuela needs well educated people to help it out of it's circumstances, yet those that were educated in the USA and have experienced democracy and freedom never return.

Seriously. The practice started under Hugo Chavez. But, they came here legally. Chavez knew of the practices and never stopped them. Really a curious thing.

This is not a suggestion.

Judge Scalia should have a dialogue with Pope Francis is he'll have him. He might understand exactly what appropriate and necessary means in the real world.

Bubba Buttholes in Dalton, Georgia. And proper southerners would understand the status of butthole.

Are they on their way to a cartoon festival?

In South Carolina Governor Haley stated the governor represents all the people and brings the brevity of removing the confederate flag from government grounds. She stated all aspects of the flag and the time of the flag will have a place in a museum. She also stated, the private use of the federal flag is not impinged upon.  

If people are going to have a truck parade with the purpose of displaying the confederate flag, they join the ranks of all those 'special' organizations such as the KKK. The KKK is offensive and the confederate flag displayed by men that don't care about the dignity of others are equally offensive. It is a social judgement and it is allowed.  

No one in this country is forced to accept offensive anything simply because it is allowed within the public realm. Offensive is legal in benign ways. Crimes are a different level of offensive and should be taken seriously.  

There are hate songs out there that oppose the "Rebel Flag." It would be real nice if a country western star would write and sing a song about retiring the confederate flag in recognition of the great country we are under the red, white and blue.

Mr. Moore states everyone is going to hell. I want to know GPS.

Posted: Monday, June 29, 2015 2:15 pm 

Updated: 3:54 pm, Mon Jun 29, 2015.

Associated Press

 

KIMBERLY, Ala. — The U.S Supreme Court, (click here) in ruling that gays and lesbians have a right to marry nationwide, handed a decisive loss to Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore who earlier this year fought to keep same-sex marriage from coming to Alabama.
The chief justice, speaking Sunday at Kimberly Church of God, lashed out at the decision, saying he could not accept the ruling as correct. He said it made sin a national right and it was as wrong as the court decisions that allowed slavery....

The separation of church and state deals with the human life of everyone, with soul or none. That means if everyone is going to hell after a Supreme Court ruling I need the GPS to know exactly where hell is to realize how a Supreme Court put me there.

The idea a Supreme Court ruling could sentence everyone to what is basically damnation then that would mean the Supreme Court had the power to keep everyone out of hell. That isn't possible. The Supreme Court has no religious credentials and it is not in the job description.

If the Supreme Court had control of damnation, we would not need Roy Moore.

Mr. Moore is hate mongering. His comments really don't deserve my time. I have control over damnation in my life and I think living with wackos in an election season is definitely it.

Is Donald Trump correct about immigration?

First, President Obama has stated there will be no Undocumented with a criminal record permitted to stay in the USA.

Is there a problem with any of the Undocumented? You ready for this? Sure there is, but, this is not the issue with the 5 million the President is talking about. The people that really don't belong here, are career criminals and from crime families.

From the Daily Beast:

December 11, 2014

Mass arrests in Los Angeles (click here) highlight the huge gang operation running sections of the city but putting these people in prison could make it even worse.

The indictment of 38 members of Los Angeles street gang Big Hazard once again puts the national spotlight on the Mexican Mafia, a treacherous and violent criminal organization also known as La Eme that has deep roots inside California’s prison system. Federal officials spent Wednesday arresting members of the Boyle Heights-based street gang which has strong ties to La Eme. The 800 law enforcement personnel that conducted the raids considered it a “day of accountability” for the gang that has been active since the early 1940s.

The Hazard gang is a multi-generational gang based in the East Los Angeles area....

These are entrenched problems that have evolved over time. This is not the average person crossing the border. The people in this article are facing prison with at least life sentences. They are extremely dangerous people and in some ways they reflect the exact problem Mexico has that is never resolved. If it can't be resolved in the USA how is another country such as Mexico or Central America going to stop this?

What is Donald Trump's policy to end the gangs? 

There are other examples and there is no sense in going there. The people discussed by the political right wing in the USA, as exampled by Donald Trump, are not the people that will remain in the USA with a path to citizenship.  

So, is Donald Trump correct about immigration as it exists with the President's Executive Order? No.

Someone needs to get the World Court involved in the USA death sentence. The human being is not safe in the hands of the courts or the legislature. A strong case needs to be made. Please.

I cannot believe the Supreme Court Justices are so befuddled over midazolam.

Midazolam is NOT a killer drug. It does NOTHING to stop the heart or ? numb ? the brain. NOTHING. It has none of those characteristics.

If a person dies of a high does of midazolam it is because of suffocation. The cause of death is suffocation due to respiratory depression.  

Midazolam is a tranquilizer with no direct effect on causing death, but, only though high doses causes respiratory depression. It does not only not kill, it causes a vegetative state. 

At the heart of the confusion is the very clear fact the experts for the states have lied about the effect and dose of the drug to cause death.

Midazolam has such a short acting capacity in an adult human being it may cause respiratory depression to bring about a vegetative state, but, not complete death. So the CHANCES midazolam is a drug that will cause death by respiratory suppression is nearly absent. A continuous drip of the drug would have to be maintained for an extended period of time to MAINTAIN respiratory suppression and even then the ONLY outcomes guaranteed is a vegetative state. The human adult can vary in height and weight and an exact amount to maintain respiratory suppression to death is absolutely not known or attainable. It is impossible to determine a dose large enough to guarantee a death. 

Midazolam as a tranquilizer in proper use causes a twilight sleep and not complete unconsciousness. This drug is completely inappropriate. Not a little inappropriate, completely inappropriate. It is gross malpractice within the prison system that allows this level of inhumane use.

They lied.

There is no fatal dose of midazolam. If Alito doesn't understand that a drug at any dose won't kill then he has the problem and not the attorney stating the FACTS.

Establish that through information at the Food and Drug Administration and ban the damn thing! 

Wyrick is lying!

He moved the specification of midazolam into the category of benzodiazepines. He masked the facts about midazolam by generalizing it's FAMILY of drugs.

He is lying and it is intentional. If a attorney for the state can't even represent the truth, neither he nor the state belong in the Supreme Court. This entire session is embarrassing. I can't believe John Roberts allows this amateurish stunts in that court. 

This is about life and death and the political clowns have the stage. Amazing.

Positive Train Control

Meet Sarah Feinberg, the woman caught in the middle of an industry stressed by obsolete infrastructure, the Congressional law from 2008 and it's limiting factors and the public safety.

Witnesses (click here) testified at a hearing on the status of positive train control (PTC) implementation on U.S. railroad networks by the December 31, 2015, deadline. PTC describes the technologies designed to automatically stop or slow down a train to prevent certain types of accidents.

The only rail service that will be ready with PTC is Metrolink. 

June 24, 2015

LOS ANGELES – Metrolink launched Positive Train Control (PTC) in Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) across the entire 341-mile network the agency owns earlier this month. With this latest accomplishment, Metrolink becomes the first railroad in the nation to have PTC running during regular service on all of its hosted lines and remains on track to become the nation’s first passenger rail system to have a fully operational, interoperable, and certified PTC system in place.

There are plenty of problem, but, the one most pressing is the deadline and the idea fines begin and liability increases with that deadline. The deadline has to be more fluid. Ms. Feinberg has the public's safety concerns at the heart of her administration, but, she needs far more autonomy to solve the problems. Far more.

There is nothing wrong with oversight to be sure progress is being made beyond the end of year deadline.

The railroad companies are varied throughout the country. The Metrolink deserves congratulations, but, the fact there is 341 miles to this system speaks to the inability of others to meet the December 31, 2015. The companies have been working hard to get this system installed, but, the it is not their fault they are missing the deadline.

We can begin by stating PTC or Positive Train Control is not a simple program that is solved by simple installation of an expensive system. This is a very complicated system. Ms. Feinberg knows how the system works, understands ALL THE COMPONENTS and she has her finger on available monies when needed to assist qualifying needs. 

Within the panel is the public rail system of AMTRAK and the other end of the spectrum is CSX which is freight and completely privately funded. Both these rail systems are large systems with significant miles of track, etc. 

The problems are hideous. Completely hideous and it is because Congress is too rigid. To begin the December 31, 2015 deadline was NEGOTIATED and not realistic from the beginning. This deadline is completely political to bring confidence to the public. Now that the deadline is here and there was a horrific accident at a curve without PTC this is now urgent. 

Every company, including Metrolink is complaining about the lack of spectrum in order to have the system work. They have requested 200 - 220 MHz (megahertz). That particular spectrum is currently sold to other concerns. The FCC is stating in order to provide that particular spectrum the current owners would have to be provided with costs and unused lease amounts, which might be substantial if the FCC is unable to provide an agreeable and comparable spectrum. The FCC seems stymied because they don't have the funding to make the switch with the current owners. CSX has bought their own spectrum because the FCC was incapable of making any spectrum available. 

CSX has stated the companies involved in providing the PTC equipment never meet their delivery dates and cause changes in staff when the equipment is not available. Additionally, when the equipment does arrive a significant amount has been returned because it was defective and/or broken. So, there is a huge quality control problem for CSX from their contractors. I suppose the contractors could be fined, but, that would be a separate meeting of the parties and a separate legislative agenda.

The language coming from Congress is horrible. It is based in limiting the time frame to completion and if that isn't met there will be large fines and increased liability for the companies and closures of rail services.  

Congress is reacting to the deaths and accidents with the railroads. Rightfully so, but, to say the accidents and deaths were preventable because PTC was not installed is not correct. The prevention comes with installation and there are enormous problems that have not been the responsibility of the railroads. Seriously. The accidents could be preventable, but, that is when the installation and operation becomes realistic to the timeline for completion. Currently, the railroads have less liability because the deadline has not passed. The railroads will become completely disabled with any bad attitude by Congress and monetary fines serve no purpose at all. Every railroad representative in the panel states they are working as hard as they can to achieve completely system implementation, but, the entire network to completion is ungainly. 

Currently, the railroads are beginning to be tied in knots by their lawyers.

The politics of this issue is completely horrible and causes a great deal of problems. These folks are very interested in having every life protected. I have no doubt about that. To demonstrate that, the spectrum has to be seamless across the boundaries of each railroad. They are completely cooperative with that requirement. 

There is also software. CSX has found defects in the software. The company found it. Not the contractor. Now, CSX has to go back to the contractor and tell them what is wrong. I think the reason it is going back to the contractor is because there are other rail companies that have to be compliant as well. At this point if CSX has the method to develop the best software they should be commissioned to do it. I'd even commission CSX to develop the equipment and produce it for all the rail companies so the system is identical and seamless in all aspects.

AMTRAK's funding is designed to make it fail. Just that simple. AMTRAK has bridges they are replacing dated from the 1800s. AMTRAK is stating a conservative estimate for completion of PTC is $350 million. CSX has $1.2 billion already invested and it is not nearly completed. CSX is looking at a timeline for completion in 2018 and fully operational in 2020.

The infrastructure monies have to be appropriated. That is where the public's rage belongs. The members of the panel are convenient scapegoats to any Congress that doesn't want to raise taxes or fully fund the implementation. Ms. Feinberg is very qualified to carry this responsibility, but, her hands are tied because of the law.

Oh, cute. Rep. Mica, whom's focus I didn't like is stated to be in the hospital. Drama queens. I swear. Get well soon, Rep. Mica. He should seek a different panel appointment.

I think there are some really nice and very competent people involved with the effort to complete this major national project. They should be respected and Congress needs to provide funding. Congress can blame themselves for the lack of oversight. This information about the problems the rails have been experiencing is not new information, but, it is new to Congress. Hello? 

American lives are worth far, far more then $350 million.