FOX News sets the election tone in fear mongering.

November 18, 2015
By Melinda Deslatte and Kevin McGill

The Louisiana governor's race (click here) has taken a surprising turn into foreign policy ahead of Saturday's election, as TV political ads and campaign rhetoric shifted this week to the Paris terrorist attacks and the wisdom of allowing Syrian refugees into U.S. borders.

Republican candidate David Vitter sees the national discussion as an opportunity to gain ground in a runoff campaign where he's fallen behind. It's his latest effort to tie his Democratic rival John Bel Edwards to President Barack Obama in the deeply conservative state.

Vitter, a U.S. senator, is traveling around Louisiana to talk about Syrian refugees, running an ad on the topic and striking repeatedly at Edwards on the resettlement issue in emails to supporters and robo-calls to voters. Vitter backers sent out statements hitting Edwards, a state lawmaker, on the subject, describing a dangerous threat of more refugees coming to Louisiana....

Bobby Jindal has dropped out of any chance at a presidential nomination.

Today on FOX the latest fear mongering aimed at the presidential race was the question, "Will Hillary Clinton put boots on the ground?" The question of course is to portray her as a weak woman unable to decide about such issues in brevity and SPENDING American blood on a battlefield half way around the world, so naturally nothing could possibly happen in the USA.

The real strength of the USA occurred in New York City tonight. Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton addressed the public about a propaganda video released by Daesh. They explained there is no current threat to New York City. I believe all New Yorkers know the dedication of the police and their international division. They most certainly know a propaganda video when it occurs.

Americans don't need war to feel as though they have power over terrorism. They need authorities that know what they are doing to protect citizens. And stop listening to the fear mongering that is creating right wing politicians that are poured out of the same old FOX mold.

The USA does not belong in Afghanistan.

Link to article click here.

The Taliban is not an ethnic group, it is a militia. Translated, taliban means student.

Rise of the Taliban (click here)

The Taliban was formed in the early 1990s by an Afghan faction of mujahideen, Islamic fighters who had resisted the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979–89) with the covert backing of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and its Pakistani counterpart, the Inter-Services Intelligence directorate (ISI). They were joined by younger Pashtun tribesmen who studied in Pakistani madrassas, or seminaries; taliban is Pashto for "students." Pashtuns comprise a plurality in Afghanistan and are the predominant ethnic group in much of the country's south and east....

The majority ethnicity of the Taliban are Pashtun. The USA military had control of the majority of Afghanistan except for the southeast portion of Afghaistan where the Pashtun are in majority.

Southeast Afghanistan shares a significant border with Pakistan.

 
The Taliban's influence ends where Pakistan meets Afghanistan. A couple of years back the Taliban were driven to the Pakistan border. They sought to gain influence  and power all the way to Lahore, Pakistan. There was violence all along the length of land from Pakistan to Lahore. When I read that (I think it was in National Geographic) I was concerned. Lahore is a majority city in Pakistan and at the Indian border. Lahore is also south of Kashmir. 

Kashmir is an unstable land where India and Pakistan differ on it's rightful sovereignty. Pakistan claims Kashmir belongs to them and India claims it belongs to them. That is a different topic. The importance for this purpose is to understand it is a violent region. It can be influenced or at least that is the belief. It has not showed any actual preference of government and that is a long time already. Elders practice justice in Kashmir.

But, this is the really cool part. Pakistan completely rejected the Taliban all the way to Lahore. Kindly recall al Qaeda is among the Pakistanis and were responsible for the death of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Al Qaeda holds sway in Pakistan (Obviously, bin Laden) but it holds no authority other than among the tribal region.

All the control freaks will hate this, but, what is the USA doing in Afghanistan? We know for a fact the Taliban exist with permission of the people in southeast Afghanistan. We know the Pakistanis completely reject the Taliban and forced them back into Afghanistan. Supposedly, a majority of al Qaeda has been killed by US drones. I do not buy the fact the USA needs to be in Afghanistan anymore. I strongly believe it is nothing but USA politics maintaining pressure to continue a USA occupation in Afghanistan.

The ONLY reasonable view of Afghanistan is that the Taliban require a political solution. That has to be carried out by the central elected government in Afghanistan. We know the longer the USA is in Afghanistan the longer the money flows into the country and grows corruption.

There is every reason to believe the USA has to pull their military out of Afghanistan and currently provides the illusion the USA is safe because it is fighting the enemy a long distance away. All of the countries involved in the USA effort in Afghanistan have left. The USA is the only remaining country from The West in Afghanistan and it is causing more problems than it solves including the attack on a hospital. The USA needs to leave Afghanistan without delay.  

When I say we should be out of Afghanistan there are reasons for it and they are not political reasons for the USA. I mean it. The USA is occupying Afghanistan for no reason other than politics and the elections of 2016.

Take the previous entry and ask...

...why are monarchies and dictatorships stable in countries dominated by the religious worship of Islamists?

There is a reason Islamists conduct violence. It has a 'control' factor.

I am sure this is nothing new for any intelligence agency, but, it might clear up why such violence exists in the world. In other words, why would eight Islamists cause death among people that are free and loved by their country? 

This is why. Islamists expect a dividend to their violence. The suicide bombings in Turkey caused confusion and shifting of loyalities in the Turkish elections recently. The Turkish leadership knew what was occurring and easily over came them during those elections. The terror didn't work, but, the shift after the violence was measurable.

October 12, 2015

Ankara, Turkey (AP) -- The suicide bombings (click here) that ripped through a rally promoting peace in Turkey's capital have magnified the political uncertainty ahead of a key election Nov. 1 and raised fears that the country may be heading toward an extended period of instability. 

The blasts - Turkey's bloodiest in years - have further polarized the country as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tries again for a ruling majority in parliament. And with political winds blowing against the ruling party, the election could create new power struggles just as the country grapples with more than 2 million refugees and tries to avoid being drawn into the chaos in neighboring Syria and Iraq. 

This is a dramatic and dangerous time for the mostly Muslim nation and NATO ally, so often cited as an example of stability in a tumultuous region. 

"We are now facing uncharted waters in terms of deadly violence in Turkey," wrote Omer Taspinar of the Brookings Institution in Today's Zaman, an opposition newspaper. "We are also in uncharted waters in terms of political polarization in the country."...

Radical Islamist is not a correct description.

An Islamist have many practices that would qualify as radical.

If interested in being correct add the adjective Violent. 

Violent Islamist is correct. A radical Islamist does not accurately describe the people that are now dangerous to the outcomes in terrorism.

The woman in France that blew herself up is not unusal, however, understand this is not a volunteer position. Women simply are not valued as they are in the free world. It could have been a pet dog for her definition in the VIOLENCE. 

There was a woman suicide bomber in Jordan some years back. She decided to cooperate with authorities. Women are chattel among violent Islamists. Realize they are not voluntary participants in these attacks. They are ordered by their husbands to carry out the violence against others.

November 18, 2015
By Anthony Faiola, Missy Ryan and Daniela Deane

Paris — A massive police raid Wednesdays (click here) killed the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks during a blitz-style sweep, two senior European intelligence officials said, after investigators followed leads that the fugitive militant was holed up north of the French capital and could be plotting another wave of violence.

More than 100 police and soldiers stormed the building during a seven-hour siege that left two dead including the suspected overseer of the Paris bloodshed, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who had once boasted he could slip easily between Europe and the Islamic State strongholds in Syria.

The confirmation was made after forsenic experts combed through the aftermath — blown-out windows, floors collapsed by explosions — presumably seeking DNA and other evidence. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity before announcements from authorities.

The death of the Belgian extremist Abaaoud closed one major dragnet in the international search for suspects from Friday’s carnage that killed at least 129 people and wounded 350 others. At least one other suspect believed closed linked to the Paris attacks remains at large....

The US Refugee Process reqiures a vetting process.

You must receive a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) (click here) for consideration as a refugee. For more information on the referral criteria, see the USRAP Consultations and Worldwide Processing Priorities page. 

If you receive a referral, you will receive help filling out your application and then be interviewed abroad by a USCIS officer who will determine whether you are eligible for refugee resettlement. For more information about eligibility, see our Refugee Eligibility Determination page....
.................................................................................................
Eligibility for refugee status (click here) is determined on a case-by-case basis through an interview with a specially-trained USCIS officer. The interview is non-adversarial and is designed to obtain information about an individual’s refugee claim and eligibility for resettlement to the United States.

During the interview, we examine all relevant evidence, including testimony, to determine if the applicant:

• qualified under a designated processing priority.
• meets the definition of a refugee.
• is not firmly resettled in a third country.
• is otherwise admissible under U.S. law.

In making this determination we consider the conditions in the country of origin and evaluate the individual’s credibility. We also confirm that security checks have been completed and the results of the checks are reviewed and analyzed before approval. 

The only way a refugee can be verified as NOT SETTLED IN A THIRD COUNTRY is to have valid identity of the individual.

Who decides if refugees are provided for by admission to USA.

...Following consultations (discussions) (click here) with cabinet representatives and Congress, a determination is drafted for signature by the President. The Presidential Determination establishes the overall admissions levels and regional allocations of all refugees for the upcoming fiscal year.

No refugees may be admitted in the new fiscal year until the Presidential Determination has been signed. 

Annually, processing priorities (for definition see the “Glossary” page) are established to determine which of the world’s refugees are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. Fulfilling a processing priority enables a refugee applicant the opportunity to interview with a USCIS officer, but does not guarantee acceptance....

The admission of Syrian refugees were approved some time ago. This is not a new decision. The admission of refugees goes through a congressional approval process. This is what is so unsettling about the Republican majority. They play games with constituents to PRETEND the Congress has immediate control over a controversial topic. The Republicans don't educate their constiuents, they deceive them. 

There is less and less ime sensitive cargo is our ports every year and it has nothing to do with union labor strikes.

May 5, 2015
By Peter Trischwell

...“I believe that less than 20 percent of freight (click here) is transit time sensitive and it’s getting lower every year,” James Newsome, CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, told JOC.com this week. “I don’t think there is that much transit-time sensitive freight.”...

...The growing prevalence of non-transit time sensitive containerized freight is one reason why Newsome  said he sees no threat from the Port of Miami, which has a 50-foot channel and is promoting itself as a new gateway for Asia imports into the U.S. interior....

I actually expect less imports in years to come. The Chinese middle class is growing and their demand for quality domestic goods will result in better Chinese manufacturing and sales to domestic demand.

The Chinese people are known to demand higher quality goods than offered within the sovereign borders of China. They demand and pay higher prices for baby formula imported from The West. They love their children and demand for quality is obvious. As the Chinese middle class grows so will demand for domestic products that meet their quality demands.

Shipping of any kind has become expensive. Chinese business entrepreneurs will find a domestic demand more inviting than exports.  

This bill seeks to effect labor unions to prevent job actions.

These attempts to dissolve union authority are state rights issues. They are unconstitutional. If union officials and their membership want to add enhancements to their contracts for labor strikes, then offer to service ships with time sensitive cargo to the extent that exists within a ships manifest.

March 12, 2015
By Chris Kirkhan

The short-term economic impact (click here) of the recent labor standoff at West Coast ports will be small, according to a new economic forecast, but the ports face a long-term struggle to remain competitive in the rapidly changing realm of global trade.
Many businesses in California, particularly those tied to agriculture, suffered from missed orders and produce spoiling on docks. But many other shipments were simply delayed rather than lost entirely, according to the quarterly UCLA Anderson Forecast.
The report estimates that backlogs during the labor dispute between shipping companies and dock workers — resolved late last month — will cause slightly slower economic growth in the state for the first three months.
"We're talking about tenths of a percent — very small stuff," said Jerry Nickelsburg, a senior economist with the Anderson Forecast who specialized in the California economy. "California is a $2.2-trillion economy, so it's hard to get any big numbers based on a relatively short labor dispute."...

The NLRB can always be tapped to carry out disputes with such laws, too. Such a law was have little to no effect on domestic economics. The USA imports devastating amounts of products, so to increase purchases of USA domestic products is a good thing.

The Nation’s (click here) international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $40.8 billion in September from $48.0 billion in August (revised), as exports increased and imports decreased.

The public loses every time.

When Republicans practice brinkmanship learned from the leaders of North Korea, the public always loses and Wall Street wins. Think about it.

In a time when elections are run with 95 percent use of an elected officials time, their real job is postponed and it is convenient for brinkmanship. There needs to be a law that monitors the amount of time elected officials spend in campaigning after their election. Such a law can be adapted to requirements under state or local election laws.

Call it "The Clock In - Clock Out Law." 

Mr. Rubio would have a difficult time justifying his re-election. Noted: Senator Bernie Sanders is within the Senate Chamber for every vote that I have noted. It is possible to hold campaign rallies and be responsible to constituents.

The salaries of federal elected officials is significant paid for by Americans. It demands a higher degree of participation than FIVE percent of their time.

I suggest included in the "Clock In - Clock Out" law a reduction in annual salaries for the amount of paid time not accrued in representation time as owned to the electorate. 

NO WORK - NO PAY 

Such a law does not have to be a federal law to apply to federal representatives. The and local authorities are responsible for filing deadlines and what that encompasses. 

The US Congress is proposing to sell the strategic oil reserve to pay for transporation legislation. It is foolishness.

November 17, 2015
By NYT Editorial Board 

...While Congress wrestles (click here) with the money, this much is clear: America’s transportation system is badly in need of repair and investment. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation’s railways and bridges a “C+” grade and its roads and transit systems a “D” in a 2013 report. The Transportation Department estimates that 10 percent of bridges are structurally deficient.

In a speech in September, Anthony Foxx, the transportation secretary, said that the government must spend $400 billion over the next six years just to maintain the current transportation system; to improve the system would take an additional $78 billion. Yet the House passed a bill this month that budgets only $325 billion for six years. Lawmakers could have easily come up with more money had they been willing to raise the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax, which was last increased in 1993. But members of Congress were determined not to raise the tax ahead of an election year....

If the USA has an emergency our strategic reserve will be depleted to begin with. The proposed law currently in conference committee doesn't even cover the needed infrastructure improvements. The conference committee is operating under Republican brinkmanship. They have waited for the last minute to move a bill forward that short changes Americans safety and sell our strategic reserve. The is a Republican majority. Take a good look.

I fully expect Democratic candidates for President will speak to this travesty called Republican governance. 

The law includes a bypass on truck driver rest and sleep requirements. And they want to add enormous train like trailer combinations besides. This is a Wall Street bill and not one of the people of this country. This provision alone will cause traffic and highway deaths. State legislatures will have to address this immediately to be sure truck drivers are not falling asleep with three 48 foot trailers behind them. 

Bridge Laws that help insure the infrastructure of the USA will be dissolved with 'train truck and trailer combinations.' Our infrastructure is old and constructed under decades old formulas and laws. This danger is real.

How add three long 80,000 pound trailers across the bridge. Then add a truck and three trailers across every lane of a bridge and the weight rolling over our highways are killer laws.

One tractor alone is pulling 240,000 pounds. Now, add four lanes and two trucks more north and two moving south; they pass each other on the bridge that is a total of 920,000 over a bridge span of 44 feet to 52 feet wide and a length of 148 feet long. That is ridiculous. There is danger to the public that is undeniable.
   
In Figure 1(A), (click here) the stress on bridge members as the longer truck rolls across is much less than that caused by the short vehicle in Figure 1(B), even though both trucks have the same total weight and individual axle weights. The weight of the longer vehicle is spread out, while the shorter vehicle has all of the weight concentrated on a small area.

Add to that the weight of the bridge itself and the supports under the bridge is under enormous stress. The span is under stress and the supports are as well. These roads and bridges are not safe under this conference bill.

The Democrats in Red States should be pushing the reality that Republicans pass bills that endanger voters' lives. Public safety in infrastructure should be a vital position by Democratic statesmen and women in every level of governance. Voters are capable of understanding the danger and translating it into false loyalty to Wall Street principles. Red State voters are willing to accept death in earning a living within their definition of longevity. This is hideous and Americans should expect the best of governance NOT hideous ideas of acceptable dangers.

All Americans need to realize how they spend their time traveling to see the beauty of America. When federal mandates are sacrificed for state preferences the danger to all Americans take a very different picture. What is to protect New Yorkers from gross mismanagement of the public safety in Texas. It is ridiculous and should be considered when traveling including gun laws.

The system spawning a tornado outbreak in four USA states was refueld with water vapor from Hudson Bay.

November 18, 201502.30.19z
 UNISYS Enhanced Infrared north and west hemisphere satellite

This is new and unbelievable. (click here for 12 hour loop)

There is such a thing as lake effect, but, this is unprecedented from my point of view. That is enormous water displacement to the upper troposphere.

November 18, 2015
13.30.18z
UNISYS water vapor satellite of north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Currently it appears to be limited to an inland bay. The evaporation of fresh water out of ocean salt water is more taxing in calories. But, this Hudson Bay incident has to be viewed as a very important sign of the urgency of reducing greenhouse gases in the troposphere.  


November 18, 2015
13.30.18z UNISYS enhanced infrared GOES East satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

I do this everyday, this posting has nothing to do with up coming climate conference. While this is vitally important to note, this has nothing to do with the upcoming meeting.

Now, getting back to the question, the presence of non-volatile compounds dissolved in seawater have a tendancy to lower the vapour pressure. That is, the less of the water will evaporate off at a given temperature, because the non-volatile dissolved solids (salts) in seawater are strongly ionic and have a tendancy to 'hold onto' the water in the liquid. The net effect is that a higher temperature will be reached before the vapour pressure of sea water equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure (1 atm). This increase in boiling point temperature over that of pure water is called the Boiling Point Elevation (BPE) of sea water (at that temperature and salinity, S).

There needs to be a determination of the loss of surface water (in vapor) to the upper troposphere and the stratosphere compared to what is returned to Earth's surface.

The difference in temperature between fresh water and sea water can be very small increments while the boiling point remains whole degrees differences (ie 1.0 in contrast to 0.1),

The water vapor leaving is probably in excess to the water vapor returning. Upper troposphere has the habit to return in hail events and huge events such as the tornado outbreak, but, once the water vapor enters the tropopause it is lost to return. 

This seems rather simplistic, but, a very simple monitoring can be conducted locally as well as NASA's assessment of atmospheric interaction. I'll get some pictures. This is important for local farmers.

This is a rain gauge. It doesn't get easier than this. It has to be placed in the open where rain falls. Do not place it under eaves of houses or under a canopy. There are rain gauges that can be a standing application rather than a hanging application simply because it can be blown at angles during accompanying wind that will effect the amount of rain collected.

To the left is an evaporation pan. It is created for scientific use because the bottom and sides of the pan are molded for accuracy of the contents in the pan. Yes, a regular pot can be used in an open space, but, it will not be as accurate as an evaporation pan designed for scientific measurements. 

Local agricultural agents can help a great deal in setting up such a personal monitoring stations. The measurement of the evaporation pan is best if made with a very thin tape measure normally found in hardware stores.The thinner the measuring tape the more accurate the measure. 

Those are minimal requirements to set up a personal rain measuring stations. They can be fun and there are central reporting stations that can be provided by the same agricultural agent.

Today in the USA there are citizens that have very extended records back to 50 years or more. Those folks are definitely important for those that study these issues. Americans are very resourceful and well educated people. They are capable of understanding complex issues and reporting from a personal rain station is just one of them.