Global Markets are better today. Where is the USA Markets? Still depressed. WHY?

4,067.97
+135.91
+3.46%

Because the USA has a Republican Executive Branch that needed coaching regarding 'effective' action to take from European allies, AFTER, the 'Bailout' legislation was already passed. We don't need MORE OF THE SAME ! (click here) What was it that everyone was saying about the Bush $700 billion Bailout Plan BEFORE the trip to Europe?

IT ISN'T A GOOD PLAN.


8,451.19
–128.00
–1.49%

October 13, 2008, 7:50 am
Updated: 8:02 am
Paul Krugman Wins Economics Nobel (click here)
By Catherine Rampel
Paul Krugman, a professor at Princeton University and an Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science on Monday.
Mr. Krugman received the award for his work on international trade and economic geography. In particular, the prize committee lauded his work on for “having shown the effects of economies of scale on trade patterns and on the location of economic activity.” He has developed models that explain observed patterns of trade between countries, as well as what goods are produced where and why. Traditional trade theory assumes that countries are different and will exchange different kinds of goods with each other; Mr. Krugman’s theories have explained why worldwide trade is dominated by a few countries that are similar to each other, and why some countries might import the same goods that it exports...


October 12, 2008, 10:44 am
Wrong-way Paulson (click here)
Henry Paulson, September 23:
Some said we should just stick capital in the banks, take preferred stock in the banks. That’s what you do when you have failure. This is about success.
Me, September 21:
[S]houldn’t the public intervention also be at stage 2 — that is, shouldn’t it take the form of public injections of capital, in return for a stake in the upside?
Let’s not be railroaded into accepting an enormously expensive plan that doesn’t seem to address the real problem
I’m not claiming special insight here — a number of economists arrived at the same conclusion. What’s striking is the way Treasury misfired, yet again.
New management can’t arrive a moment too soon.

Six Marylanders share their views on the presidential candidate and his message of change

Farm
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The stakes could not be higher for Democratic candidates than in Iowa, which holds the nation's first voting for the presidential nomination. Here, Obama arrives at a "rural issues summit" on a family farm in Adel — one in a series of campaign events intended to illustrate his keenness to hear from the public to shape ideas and work toward change.

...To paraphrase Michelle Obama, the candidacy of Barack Obama is the first time I've ever felt like an American. I'd completely given up on the democratic process in this country. I became disenchanted because it felt like voters were put in a situation to choose the lesser of two evils. It seemed like a shell game, a con.
Like many people, I was skeptical at first about Obama's chances. I wasn't sure if he could overcome the racism that still exists in America, and the self-hatred in certain segments of the black community. I also wasn't sure if he could raise the amount of money it takes to run a presidential campaign.
But he has run a very sophisticated campaign,...


High five
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
The youth demographic is often seen as apathetic, but Max Swinton, 5, puts the lie to that, greeting Obama at Cedar Bridge County Park in Iowa. The campaign often emphasizes Obama's relative youth, casting him as the only candidate able to deliver real change, and as a model for the future.

Beloved pup's fate becomes international cause - click here for blog

USACHPPM TG 281B
A Soldier’s Guide to Female Soldier Readiness
CHAPTER 2. REPODUCTIVE HAZARDS, PREGNANCY, AND PARENTING (click here)

So, let me see if I get this right. Women in the military an get pregnant if they want, but, they can't own a dog or adopt one.

I see. Adopt a guy rather than a dog. Right. Life long commitments to babies are okay in a battle zone, but, not dogs. That's insane. Dogs are not only good for companionship, but, they 'help.' Dogs are good entities to have around.

You know it kinda reminds me of the episode of the sleeping platoon that was visited by an Iraqi man on his way home. He passed by these Amerian soldiers sound asleep and when startled by the man walking by, shot him dead. The man was unarmed. Now, if those men had a watch dog, none of that mess would have happened now would it have?

You know. There are dogs in the USA trained to sniff out drugs and munitions and even cancer on the breath of their owners. Now, explain to me why this hideous set of circumstances seems to exist with Ratchet? Because I really believe there is dearly NOTHING the USA military can explain that makes sense here !

Dicipline? In Iraq? What discipline?


“I couldn’t have made it through this deployment without his wagging tail and understanding eyes,” said Sgt. Gwen Beberg, shown with Ratchet in Iraq. An animal group hopes to pick up Ratchet and five other pets this week.

A mutt named Ratchet has helped Gwen Beberg survive Iraq. Now, will Ratchet survive? (click here)

By MARY JANE SMETANKA, Star Tribune
Last update: October 12, 2008 - 1:13 PM

...On Oct. 1, Beberg placed 6-month-old Ratchet on an Army convoy to the Baghdad airport, where he was to be flown to her parents' home in Minnesota by a rescue group called Operation Baghdad Pups. But the dog was taken away by an Army officer before it reached the airplane. Beberg's family and Operation Baghdad Pups officials now fear Ratchet will be shot....

Dorchester attorney comes to ACORN’s defense

Project Vote Smart (click here) - Consider Donating !

...“It’s very frustrating to do all this great work and have 99 percent of our employees, sometimes in inclement weather, standing outside of bus stops and in front of stores to help register people in their community and have their work attacked because one percent steal from us,” said Brian W. Mellor, senior counsel for the Washington-based Project Vote.
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, which partnered with Project Vote in a national voter registration drive, is under fire for voter registration irregularities in Nevada, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Missouri....

Voter registration explodes in Southeastern N.C. (click here)
By Chris Mazzolini

Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 5:40 p.m.
Crowds of people. Unending stacks of registration forms. Phones ringing off the hook.

Welcome to your local board of elections, only weeks before one of the most hyped presidential elections in recent U.S. history.
If you don’t think Southeastern North Carolina is buzzing about the battle between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, take a look at the numbers. New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties have added about 21,000 voters to their rolls in the last year, according to state election data.
Election officials can’t recall any other race like it.
“It’s a phenomenon,” said Bonnie Williams, New Hanover County’s election director. “It’s just unbelievable what we’re experiencing.”...

There is no mention of 'independent' voters which is also recorded in these countries. But, who cares about Independents anyway !

LOCAL PARTY GAINS

Voter registration totals and percentage increases for the two major parties in area counties between January 2005 and this month.

New Hanover

(The Difference between TOTAL and the Party Registrations are 37,613 UNAFFILAITED Voters.)

TOTAL: 142,707 (+9 percent)

DEMOCRATS: 54,809 (+8 percent)

REPUBLICANS: 50,285 (+0.7 percent)

Brunswick

(The difference between TOTAL and Party Registrations are 17,752 UNAFFILIATED Voters.)

TOTAL: 73,200 (+21 percent)

DEMOCRATS: 28,489 (+11 percent)

REPUBLICANS: 26,959 (+18 percent)

Pender

(The difference between TOTAL and Party Registrations are 7155 UNAFFILIATED Voters.)

TOTAL: 32,741 (+18 percent)

DEMOCRATS: 14,278 (+6 percent)

REPUBLICAN: 11,308 (+19 percent)

Source: N.C. Board of Elections, New Hanover County Board of Elections

This is an exceptionally good year to register voters. They have clear choices on issues. There are significant issues that touch everyone's lives. The reason there are so many unaffiliated voters in this region of the country is because of the social pressure that accompanies political issues.

Hollywood can say what they want about Conservatives being a minority, but, in Red States the acceptance of Democratic affiliations is not fostered, due to the incredible penetration of 'talk radio.' There is a lot of bias and forced embarassment in the social strata. Having a minority candidate for President has 'raised the heads' of minorities in the region and have brought them to the reality that there is a place of 'hope' they need to explore.

Voter Fraud in the GOP

...Leonard Seagren, owner of a cigar shop in Portsmouth, N.H., (click here) continued his store’s 24-year tradition by conducting a matchbook poll the week prior to the vote. Seagren boasts an 80% accuracy rate over the years. Last week’s results showed Paul winning with 31% over McCain with 27% and Obama beating Hillary again.
Could all the polls be so far off the mark? It’s doubtful, but any speculation is a long way from proving vote fraud. However, this next example leaves the New Hampshire officials with a lot of explaining to do.
There is a little town called Sutton, and 386 people voted there, but not one for Paul, at least not from the official count. However, as of noon the next day, 31 people, after angrily viewing the results in the morning newspaper, had come forward to say publicly that they had voted for Paul.
By mid-afternoon, the echoing uproar was heard nationwide via talk radio, with dozens of callers urging Paul to ask for an investigation of this and other suspect precincts. These would include but not be limited to:
Roxbury (33 votes cast, 2 for Paul), Landaff (91 cast, 3 for Paul), Greenville (144 cast, 0 for Paul), Waterville (71 cast, 1 for Paul) and Easton (52 cast, 3 for Paul)....




McCain campaign enticing voter fraud
by colinski
Tue Sep 9th, 2008 at 01:48:21 AM EST
The McCain recently called a relative of mine, who I'll call 'Sam,' to inform him that they would be sending an absentee ballot request. This is where the story gets interesting -- the absentee ballot request arrived and was for Florida rather Colorado, where Sam has lived since 2005.
What the McCain campaign is doing is comparing voter registration data bases in order to come up with previous registration addresses. The absentee request form is essentially an invitation to vote twice....



McCain voter fraud in Ohio , write your senator (click here)
geo tech
Torrington, CT
Friday Sep 12
The McCain campagne showing its level of contempt for the democratic process is currently mailing out millions of absenty ballots to low income and minority area's in ohio , on these forms which are not in the format used by the state is a discret box asking if you are allowed to vote. if this hidden box is left blank by law the person is not allowed to vote. Talk about reform . THIS IS WHAT PASSES FOR A PATRIOT. THIS IS THE LOWEST FORM OF VOTER MANIPULATION, ANYONE THAT READS THIS DO YOUR PART AND MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!



Sep 12, 2008
GOP absentee ballot mailings called voter fraud (click here)
Democratic voters in at least two Wisconsin communities have received absentee voter forms from the McCain campaign that -- if used -- could cause their votes to be ignored.Is it a simple error? Or campaign shenanigans and voter fraud? You be the judge.Keith Heck, a former Racine Unified School Board member who lives in Mount Pleasant, reports receiving a mailing containing two tear-out requests for an absentee ballot. The preprinted request form -- an 11x17 piece of card stock folded over twice for mailing -- is addressed to the clerk in the the village of Caledonia....


Smear Campaign? Is that what the pundits of the GOP are calling it? How about DISTRACTION from the fact McCain's campaign is engaged in fraud and has been for sometime? This is more than a smear campaign, it's an all out effort from the moment Paris Hilton appeared to turn a legitimate election for President of the USA into a popularity contest. The McCain campaign can't run on the issues. Their party, policies and their politics ARE THE ISSUE !


Smear Campaigning Should Be Beneath John McCain (click here)
Friday, October 10, 2008
By Susan Estrich
William Ayers and voter fraud. Cindy McCain on the attack. Say it ain’t so, John.
The economy is in a tailspin, and so is John McCain. Our retirement plans and college savings accounts are shrinking, and McCain is shrinking right with them. He’s not just on the verge of getting clobbered in the election. He’s on the verge of becoming an object of utter ridicule. It isn’t pretty to watch. Even for a Democrat....
…They’re screaming bloody murder that Barack Obama left a phone message two years ago for a guy who engaged in radical activity when Barack Obama was 8 years old and living in Indonesia. Ayers, who is a neighbor of Obama’s, even had some kind of meet-and-greet for him 13 years ago, when Obama was running for state Senate, making him one of about a million people who’ve opened their homes and their checkbooks to the guy.
Imagine that. We’re in the midst of an international economic crisis and the McCain folks are trying to make hay out of what a guy who hosted a reception for Obama 13 years ago was doing 20 years before that….

McCann's health insurance plan won't work.

To begin, the McCain plan allows 'too much' latitude with insurance regulations. He basically is deregulating the industry including diving right into the issue of States' Rights by allowing 'portability' across state lines and knocking current State regulations out of enforcement as they will then be nullified .

Everything McCain does is to create competition. What if the industry does a 'OPEC' and simply refuses to participate in very much competition. When one approaches the issue of insurance, its insurance okay? Insurance is supposed to insure and competition in any case simply doesn't work. The health insurance policies out there already are simply taking consumers for a ride. They hardly provide coverage as it is.

But, the 'idea' that McCain is going to deregulate the industry, basically, will allow too much latitude in what can happen afterward. McCain's estimates are based on figures as they are now. The reaction of the electorate is that it costs $12,000 annually for coverage.

THAT is $12,000 TODAY.

If McCain dereguates the health insurance industry to benefit competition, there is nothing to say the costs won't be MORE than $12,000 annually. But, the consumer, IF they can get health insurance will STILL ONLY receive $5000 annually for assistance with the cost. That $5000 won't amount to anything if deregulation takes over.

Then it simply becomes a slippery slope after that because if health insurance premiums become unaffordable after the $5000 credit, we are right back where we started from, but, only worse.

McCain's answer to the uninsured is completely hideous. He proposes the creation of a non-profit corporation for those UNINSURABLE. What constitutes 'uninsurable.' Does it mean that they are uninsurable by private insurance standards or simply uninsured? And when declaring people uninsurable, what standards are we using?

The idea behind a non-profit corporation is simply outrageous. Where is the money coming from for the non-profit corporation, our taxes? If we are contributing to a non-profit corporation through our taxes does that mean we have a deductible to our regular tax schedule as well?

And if McCain is hoping a non-profit corporation will receive DONATIONS to cover Americans that are uninsurable, where is the 'market share' of donors contributing huge amounts of money that will actually do it?

Obama on rare occassion is using current government institutions proven to be able to deliver care to Americans. His plan is measurable in the way of actually providing benefit to Americans. McCain's plans have no measurable way of proving it can provide care. Its another Republican scheme to allow competition and private Wall Street industry to benefit while Americans suffer.

Haven't we had enough to Republican schemes and dreams?

I have !

Congress must rescind the 'bailout' plan as the Executive Branch 'changes the rules' without legislative authority.

The meeting between G7 leaders this weekend is simply that, a meeting. The G7 does not replace the authority of the USA Legislature. In fact, this meeting should have been held before the legislation was 'demanded' by Paulson.

To 'inject' funds into banks is to undermine the ability of the purpose of the legislation which was to 'rescue' homeowners from foreclosure.

Literally, with this 'move' by Bush/Paulson, they are 'outsourcing' the purpose of the 'bailout.' Typical Bush, "Anyplace by home."


Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr., shown at the U.S. Treasury Department yesterday, met with other finance and central bank governors as part of this week's G7 meetings. Mr. Flaherty stressed the need for unified action: 'We need to look forward and not dwell on what has happened in terms of failures, and then governments having to be involved with different financial institutions.'Photograph by : Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

Some of these polls are hard to believe, but quite possibly, this collapse in the investment markets is teaching everyone a lesson they won't forget.

Could the map be correct? (click here)



Survey USA

Date: 10/4-5
Virginia Added: 10/6/08
Barack Obama - 53%
John McCain - 43%
Unsure - 1%
Other - 3%

Virginia is a big win for Barak. Even if that 10% is a stretch to most polling formulas, it isn't THAT much of a stretch.

As McCain's Lead Among White Virginians Shrinks, So Too His Chances of Holding The State's 13 Electoral Votes: 29 days until votes are counted in Virginia, Democrat Barack Obama is ahead 53% to 43%, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, WJLA-TV in Washington DC, WTVR-TV in Richmond, and WJHL-TV in the Tri-Cities. In 4 tracking polls conducted since the Republican Convention, McCain has gone from up by 2 to down by 10....

Typical Republican. No different than any Bush Republican we've seen before. Using power inappropriately.

Is this what the American people want RETURNED to the White House? We got rid of Abramoff and DeLay and all the other scandalous manipulators, with the exception of Bush and Cheney due to the fact that the Democrats still don't have a clear 60% majority.

Is this the kind of government the American people want in power?

Palin protest planned for tomorrow (click here)
Story last updated at 10/10/2008 - 4:55 pm
JUNEAU - Opponents of Gov. Sarah Palin’s run for the vice presidency are planning a protest Saturday morning in front of the Capitol.
Organizer Jeannette Lacey said she hopes the protest will draw a “few hundred” people. She said there will be 10 speakers to discuss why Palin’s policies are “not good for Alaskans or the American people.”
Last month, an anti-Palin protest in Anchorage drew hundreds of people, according to media accounts.
The protest is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.



Palin abused powers, Alaska ethics probe finds (click here)
Governor's pressure on subordinates to get trooper fired violated executive code
From Sun news services
October 11, 2008
Gov. Sarah Palin abused the powers of her office by pressuring subordinates to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired, an investigation by the Alaska Legislature has concluded.A report on the bipartisan inquiry that was released yesterday by lawmakers in Anchorage concluded, however, that Palin was within her right to dismiss her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, who was the trooper's boss.The public portion of the report on the inquiry concluded that Palin violated the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act by allowing pressure to be exerted to get Trooper Michael Wooten, her former brother-in-law, dismissed.In the 263 pages that were released, the independent investigator, Stephen E. Branchflower, a former Anchorage prosecutor, said that Palin wrongfully allowed her husband, Todd, to use state resources as part of the effort to have Wooten dismissed....

Tell me that bringing Sarah Palin 'on board' as a Vice Presidential candidate isn't completely denying the importance of 'ethics in government.' That reality alone has to bring to light that the 'real' John McCain is still alive and well and looking forward to abusing power as he has before. (click here)

During the Republican dominated years of the House and Senate, there has been a rolling back of ethical standards in those committees. Either the people of this country want to return decency to government or they are willing to chronically excuse the abuse of the infrastructure of this country, both militarily as with Iraq and fiscally with the chronic erosion of the USA Treasury currently pushing $11 tillion in debt.

Now what's it going to be?

NOW, in the face of his Veep choice being found ethically UNSOUND, McCain want to 'be nice' and stated in a recent appearance with pundits that Barak is a decent man and has done great work for this country. Well, we all knew that, I guess John finally 'read up' on Barak. Maybe one of his books.

See attack ads have worked for McCain before. They have worked for Bush in 2004. While stating Kerry was a great man, Bush was silent in condemning the attacks ads by independent organizations, namely the 'swift boaters.'

So, you see, McCain 'speak with forked tongue.' Two faced. On one hand he'll praise is opposition to 'sooth' the reality of the attacks going on as to not 'resound' off him personally, while, looking the other way.

It is unethical. It is slick. It is TYPICAL Republican strategy. Tabloid smear campaigns. And John McCain approves all those messages, at least 'subliminally.' I don't see a court action to stop them, do you?

McCain Ads Attack Romney (click here)
New Web and radio ads by the Arizona senator lack context.
By Lori Robertson and Jess Henig factcheck.org
Jan 29, 2008 Updated: 9:22 a.m. ET Jan 29, 2008
SummaryOn the eve of the crucial Florida GOP primary, John McCain is attacking Mitt Romney with some out-of-context or misleading statements on radio and the Internet:A Web ad says Romney's health care program in Massachusetts is "not very good" and "is failing." But official figures indicate that roughly 200,000 previously uninsured residents have gained health coverage, and those persons might disagree.
The ad says the Romney plan is costing $400 million more than expected. That's because more people are benefiting than were expected.
A radio ad running in Florida accuses Romney of proposing $20 billion to Detroit "to bail out the auto industry." Romney actually proposed a $16 billion increase in federal research into "energy research, fuel technology, materials science, and automotive technology."...

Pay attention. Norbert is a Cat 4. So much for heading out to sea

October 11, 2008
1230z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared GOES WEST Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

Noted also is a second storm in approximately the same region where Norbert began. The second storm is considered to be a Tropical Storm by the national weather service who originally stated Norbert would be going out to sea. The name assigned to this storm is Odile. The name's definition means 'female.' How touching. I am sure there are many lovely Odiles in the world. The name's orgin is French.



October 11, 2008
1230z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the North and West Hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop)

Norbert achieved Cat 4 status on the eighth of October. That means this storm has great potential for pushing a large storm surge. While some of the water in front of the storm will diminish in capacity due to its fall in velocity to a Cat 2 storm, not all of it will be reduced as the 'capacity' to maximize its potential has already been reached. The landfall of the storm will be met with higher than average flood potential into any rivers and streams in its path.

20 16.60 -111.20 10/08/21Z 115 948 HURRICANE-4

21 17.10 -111.80 10/09/03Z 115 948 HURRICANE-4

Hurricane Norbert, Baja California-bound, gains strength (click title to entry, thank you)
8:47 PM, October 10, 2008
...Hurricane Norbert is now only 200 miles west of Cabo San Lucas and still on a course to make landfall Saturday morning about 200 miles north of the resort city on the Baja California peninsula....

October 9, 2008
0730z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the North andWest Hemisphere

U.S. Marine to shut down Navassa shop; 270 jobs lost

We can do without Wall Street. We cannot do without jobs. These are relatively small production plants.

As Wall Street continues to fail, the fallout is the closure of production plants. This boat building facility is one of the few manufacturing industries left in the USA. The production workers know how to put together their product. Finding the raw materials and marketing costs are the only other expenses they face to SELF MARKETING. To that end, state and local governments can look to market-share to attempt to return jobs to economies.

These skilled workers will have needs, have to pay mortgages and basically make a living. They contribute to the economy as well as produce a product. By ridding the USA of Wall Street's draconian hold on the USA, a 'market' economy can ensue beginning at local levels. To return to a 'Wall Street' level of production isn't in the best interest of the people of the USA.

To have skilled workers to join in 'cooperatives' of labor will produce an economy when that effort is accompanied by state and local governments that provide nurturing environments and 'grants' for 'start-up' operations. No one is going to tell me there aren't people that want to buy boats. I know there are. Some of them are on the production line of their own factory. To allow this level of degradation to the economy of any market in reaction to Wall Street's disappointment in profit taking is done so in helplessness and not lack of will or ability by the American people.

The market share that remains in the absense of this boat manufacturer will 'go elsewhere' to fulfill their needs. When that happens, the USA economy has not only lose jobs, but, future growth.

Think about it.

While sitting on unemployment waiting for a miracle, what are you doing to insure the future of your well being and that of your country ?



So much for everyone's second tax deductible home.

.

...The company said it would “mothball” the facility by year-end, meaning that it reserved the right to reopen operations if the dismal market for fiberglass boats turns around, said Daniel Kubera, a spokesman for Brunswick in Lake Forest, Ill.
The boatyard’s closing is part of an accelerated plan to cut costs by $300 million. Three other fiberglass boat plants – in Minnesota, Oregon and Washington – will be permanently closed, Brunswick said.
Kubera did not hold out much hope that the Navassa plant would return to operation soon....



Brunswick Plans Corporate Restructuring; To Eliminate 1,450 Jobs (click here)
10/9/2008 5:08 PM ET
....The company said that due to the anticipated drop in sales, following the proposed closure of plants, it does not expect to achieve its goal of posting positive earnings in fiscal 2008. On the news, the stock dropped by 20.8% and hit a 52-week low of $7.92.....

An Alaska Native Speaks Out on Palin, Oil and Alaska

...As Alaska Governor, Palin has continued the path of her predecessor Frank Murkowski in challenging attempts by Alaska Native people to regain their human right to their traditional way of life through subsistence....


Run organizers (L to R) Susan Secakuku, Nelia Naha, Bonnie Secakuku, Bucky Preston and Evon Peter. Everyone put in a lot of time over the past year to make the run go smoothly. (click here)




We cannot change nature, our past, and other people for
that matter, but we can control our own thoughts and
actions and participate in global efforts to cope with
these global climate changes.That I think is the most
empowering thing we can do as individuals. George
Noongwook, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Savoonga,
Alaska, as quoted in Noongwook, 2000 (click here)


...Those outside indigenous communities have not always
recognized or respected the value of this knowledge.
Occasionally used and less frequently credited prior to
and during most of the twentieth century, indigenous
knowledge from the Arctic has received increasing
attention over the past couple of decades...

(e.g., Freeman, 1976; Inglis, 1993; Nadasdy, 1999; Stevenson, 1996).

This interest, arising from research in the ethnosciences,
has taken the form of studies to document indigenous
knowledge about various aspects of the environment...
(Ferguson and Messier, 1997; Fox, 2002; Huntington et
al., 1999; Kilabuck, 1998; McDonald et al., 1997;
Mymrin, et al., 1999; Riedlinger and Berkes, 2001),
...the increasing use of cooperative approaches to wildlife
and environmental management (Berkes, 1998, 1999;
Freeman and Carbyn, 1988; Huntington 1992a,b;
Pinkerton, 1989; Usher, 2000), and a greater emphasis
on collaborative research between scientists and indigenous
people (Huntington, 2000a; Krupnik and Jolly,
2002).

This section describes some of the characteristics
of indigenous knowledge and its relevance for studies of
climate change and its implications....

The really scary part for Palin is that indigenous knowledge might actually value the Polar Bear.

Just a supportive word about Michael Bloomberg. From a Homeland Security perspective.

Good looking, isn't he?

I am sure this has already been said, but, I would like to add a perspective that might solidify the deal for NYC.



While a third term for Mayor Bloomberg is disappointing for Mayoral hopefuls, adding potential time to ANY major city's transition of authority DURING a change in USA President is more than prudent.

Since the events of September 11th, America's mayors have made incredible progress in securing their cities. I congratulate them all. That progress is tenuous when one realizes the two major attacks on NYC were following the transition of authority in the Executive Branch. When Bill Clinton and when George W. Bush took over the Executive Branch they both faced nearly eight years apart; terrorist attacks on a major city.

I don't believe in 'coincidence.' I do believe in learning from one's mistakes. There needs to be legislation that bolsters the efforts between the USA intelligence agencies and those in our major cities during transitional years in the Executive Branch. That means every four years there is a potential for 'slightly' weaker infrastructure at our intelligence networks.

No different than 'leap year,' every four years when a major Executive Branch election is taking place, the cities of the USA need to have special provisions to allow their infrastructure to 'stay on board / in authority' for one additional year.

There is nothing to say elections of mayors can't take place, but, the transition during these 'delicate' cycles need to be prudently done and with cooperation between incoming and out going administrations.

I can't think of any other time when NYC would be more vulnerable to such terrorist attacks than when a Presidential and Mayoral transition were happening at the same time.

That's my 'two cents' on the subject.

How does one man transfer the wealth of the USA to China?

...Correspondents: What is the biggest challenge for the World Bank today?
Paul Wolfowitz: One of the big challenges is to coordinate our efforts with all the other donors. That is a very difficult thing to do. Another big challenge is encouraging the countries we work with to determine and pursue good policies. We can't force them to pursue those policies. That is why it is so important to set an example that good policies make a difference. China is one perfect example.

The THEN World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz (R) and People's Daily correspondent Yong Tang.

Wolfowitz up to more mischief? (click here)
By Jim Lobe
WASHINGTON - Just 15 months after being forced to resign as president of the World Bank over a conflict of interest regarding his professional and personal relationship with his girlfriend, former deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz may be involved in another, far more geostrategic conflict of interest.

It involves his dual roles as chairman of the State Department's International Security Advisory Board (ISAB) and chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council. Among the latter's US members are military contractors who have been dying to get the George W Bush administration's approval to sell about US$11 billion worth of arms to the island to protect it against the threat of an attack by the mainland....



US told to increase nuclear arsenal as China threat looms (click here)
The US must increase its nuclear arsenal in response to China's growing military might, according to a State Department report.
By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai
Last Updated: 7:47PM BST
09 Oct 2008
The International Security and Advisory Board (Isab), which reports to Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, warned that "holding the US homeland hostage to missile attack is important to Chinese military goals".
It claimed that China will have "in excess of 100 nuclear-armed missiles that could strike the United States" by 2015.
By contrast, it said the US had allowed its nuclear stockpile and expertise to "deteriorate and atrophy across the board" for the last two decades.
The ISAB is chaired by Paul Wolfowitz, the former World Bank president who was often referred to as the "major architect" of the war in Iraq while he was deputy defence secretary....

The UN Secretary General CANNOT stand on the side lines. There is huge opportunity for a few people on this planet to oppress the masses and cause issues with sovereignty that could lead to far reaching warfare. The UN Security Council has to act to protect all nations with review of any fiscal agreements being made. Those less able to take care of themselves are extremely vulnerable to compromise and to be used as strategic 'toys' for the Neocons.


UN chief urges donors to honor aid pledges despite financial crisis (click here)
www.chinaview.cn
2008-10-08 03:59:40
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern on Tuesday at the continuing financial crisis, urging donor countries to honor their commitments to helping the world's poorest people despite difficulties caused by the crisis.
"As secretary-general, I am very much concerned about the impact which this crisis may impose on the world's governments, particularly developed countries, donor countries, whose capacity may be weakened in addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), climate change and global food crisis," Ban told reporters at his first monthly press conference at the UN Headquarters.
Echoing a similar concern raised by World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Ban stressed that leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized countries had committed to providing annually 50 billion U.S. dollars for the purpose of helping developing countries in the 2005 Gleneagles summit....

This is no joke ! "Bailout Money" for Arms Escalation.

US violates pledge (click here)
(China Daily)Updated: 2008-10-06 07:40
...On Friday, the Bush administration notified the Congress that it plans to sell weapons worth $6.4 billion to Taiwan. In the catalogue is Patriot III anti-missile system, E-2T airborne early warning aircraft upgrade system, Apache helicopters and other equipment.
The proposed arms sales to Taiwan, rendered in a rush and lack of debate, are a severe violation of the principles set in the three joint communiques between China and the United States, especially the communique on the US arms sales to Taiwan signed on Aug 17, 1982....

How do Wolfowitz's DUAL roles feed into arms escalation?

Wolfowitz is leaning SOLELY on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (click here), while ignoring The One China Policy of 2007 (click here) which Barak Obama has already stated he will endorse. The two policies conflict. The Taiwan Relations Act states, Taiwan has to have all the weaponry it needs to oppose China. THAT, isn't going to work if Taiwan it going to join China in "The One China Policy."

If the USA is to uphold The One China Policy, it has to amend the Taiwan Relations Act to allow for transition of that policy to come to be realized. If the 'tensions' continue to exist between the USA and China over the hideous circumstances, there will ALWAYS be opportunity for a greater war and the need for China to continue to escalate its nuclear arsenal. It is a '? positive ? feed back loop.'

Follow?

So.

With Paulson spending MOST of his time as Secretary of the Treasury in China, it was time to come back to the USA to 'clean out' the Treasury and WITH SOLE AUTHORITY over $700 billion US; provide an arsenal for Taiwan before Georgie leaves office.

See, Hank ain't such a nice guy really. Just a very slick one. Shame on you, Hank. You should have come to realize there are actually folks out here that pay attention....and not as your 'Homeland Cheerleading Squad.'

Perhaps everyone would like to browse through the ...

Goldman Sachs Taiwan Select Index (Ticker GSTW50) - click here and page down. And the Goldman Sachs China Select Index (Ticker GSCS30) along with Goldman Sachs Asia Select Index (Ticker GSAS30).

Oh, yeah.

And to make your investing so much easier, you might want to download the Goldman Sachs, 'you name it we got it handbooks.' (click here) Such generosity in so many ways too, makes everyone feel like part of the family, all warm and cuddly inside.

Quite a 'Good Ole Boys Club,' aye?

Realizing how corrupt the Bush Administration is, any other country that is in dire straights might want to attempt selling out its sovereignty along with each one of its citizens 'first born' so McCain can promise he will never have more than JUST a volunteer military.

Iceland teeters on the brink of bankruptcy (click here)
(Agencies)Updated: 2008-10-08 11:42
REYKJAVIK, Iceland -- This volcanic island near the Arctic Circle is on the brink of becoming the first "national bankruptcy" of the global financial meltdown.
Home to just 320,000 people on a territory the size of Kentucky, Iceland has formidable international reach because of an outsized banking sector that set out with Viking confidence to conquer swaths of the British economy, from fashion retailers to top soccer teams....

Have good day, now.

Ban Ki-Moon.

Where is Ban Ki-Moon when you need him?..........................

Do I hear 7500? How many that promoted the 'Bailout' was SCARED it would get this far? Yes? I told you it wouldn't matter. I told you so.

PAULSON FOR KING !! - click title to entry. thank you.

The Annenberg Foundation is a long established insitution that promotes novel educational opportunities.

I am not going to waste my time with this mess right now. But, one of the first opportunities I had to return to my education as a young mother of two sons, was to enroll through the local Community College in an 'Off-Campus' learning environment right in my own home. I was not alone and there are adults all over this country that benefit from media learning opportunites.

The Annenberg Foundation were among the first to fund such opportunities. So if they were involved with a FAILING Chicago School System when Barak Obama became involved in promoting "CHANGE" for the children of Chicago, I have complete confidence the program was sound and reviewed by all those responsible at Annenberg.

The RNC is engaged in a smear campaign in a country direly in need of new leadership and to purge the likes of Paulson and Bush.

I find the allogations of McCain and Palin more Anti-American and more bigoted than anything I've heard to date in this run for the White House now in its third year. More bigoted than the New Yorker because McCain is supposed to know better. How can anyone trust such poor judgement in anyone seeking leadership in the Executive Branch of this country?

When I finished my education at the Community College with innovative programs funded by Annenberg, I went on to live a financially autonomous life. If it weren't for the innovative style of Annenberg and their good judgement in people with new ideas, I couldn't have achieved the status I did through graduation with a very marketable degree program.

After the debate on Tuesday, the Chicago Community Planetarium was forced to defend its projector, its 30 year old projector. What's next? The dissolution of The Annenberg Foundation?

John McCain has proven time and time again, beginning with the choice of Palin for his Vice President, he is incapable of good judgement and erratic in his decision making.

John McCain More of the Same - Speak to the issues, John ! I am really beginning to worry about WHO the real John McCain is.

Since McCain and Palin have released their biased and bigoted lies, Barak's poll ratings have gone up. From the time they released the video until now, the poll ratings have increased by 0.5 points.

Who is good for America? A ruthless, unforgiving set of Neocons or a man who has dedicated his life to public service rather than 'lawyering' Wall Street?

Vote Obama/Biden.

They are the PRIDE of the USA in 2008.



...The problem for McCain, of course, was that he has taken a fairly precipitous slide in the polls since the first debate on Sept. 26 and his decision to go deeply negative, using running mate Sarah Palin to take the wildest and nastiest swings (Obama, friend of terrorists)....

McCain doesn't believe children in Chicago should have state of the art science investigation.

"The Maverick's of the Republican Party" are picking on kids.

Amazing.

Children.

Children are the victims to the desperate rants of the McCann/Palin ticket.

Outstanding 'Maverick' work.

Outstanding.

Give them both a pack of clean underwear or a few packs of Ramen noodles, preferably 'chicken' flavor.




Planetarium on defense after McCain criticism
(click title to entry. thank you.)
October 8, 2008 at 2:59 PM
....At an afternoon news conference, Adler President Paul Knappenberger defended the 2007 funding request as an attempt to update the 78-year-old Adler's original Sky Theater Planetarium Auditorium. The request was part of a $10 million project to overhaul the theater and projection system, he said.
Ironically, the $3 million request was eventually rejected and the planetarium never received the funds, Knappenberger said.
At the time, Adler representatives met with Obama, U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin and six Chicago-area congressman, three of whom are Republicans. All agreed to sponsor the $3 million earmark....

Advancing the Cause of Genetics. The New Frontier for Medical Treatment in the USA. With a 'cure' what will the nation's health care costs be?

We have a RIGHT to be well !

Study: Genetic variant plays role in cleft lip
2008-10-07 11:15:44
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- An international team of researchers have found a genetic variation that is likely to contribute to one in five cases of isolated cleft lip, according to the latest issue of Nature Genetics.
It is the first time a genetic variant has been associated with cleft lip alone, rather than both cleft lip and palate. The findings were published in the journal Nature Genetics on Oct. 5.
In 2004, an international team identified the gene IRF6 as a contributor to about 12 percent of cases of the common form of cleft lip and palate. "Now we found that a common variant in the IRF6 gene severely disrupts the ability of AP2 (protein) to bind to it. This in turn disrupts proper expression of the IRF6 gene," said Fedik Rahimov, the lead author from University of Iowa, in the Midwest of the United States.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/07/content_10158977.htm


Published: Monday, October 6, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 6, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Florida to study role of environment, genetics in children
National and state organizations will follow 100,000 children across the country from birth to age 21 in an effort to study the role of environment and genetics in the health of children.
The study is made possible by a $54 million grant from the National Institute of Health. The study, which will be conducted by various institutions including the University of Central Florida in Orlando, will examine certain diseases in children, such as asthma, diabetes, obesity and autism. The ultimate goal is that findings will help develop better treatments, find prevention and, eventually, a cure for prevalent childhood diseases.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20081006/UNKNOWN/810060354/1357/OBIZ?Title=_No_heading_


deCODE genetics files IND application for cognition drug
Mon. October 06, 2008; Posted: 11:51 AM
Oct 06, 2008 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- DCGN Quote Chart News PowerRating -- deCODE genetics has submitted an investigational new drug application to the FDA for DG071, the company's novel small-molecule modulator of phosphodiesterase 4.
The compound is being developed as a new and potentially safer means of targeting phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) to combat memory loss and cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease and other disorders in which neural signaling is reduced or impaired, the company said.

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1923746/


deCODE files new Alzheimer's drug
Monday 6th October 2008
Gene research firm deCODE genetics has filed a new Alzheimer's disease drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The company's investigational new drug application for DG071, a novel small-molecule modulator of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), is being developed as a new and potentially safer means of targeting PDE4 to combat memory loss and cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's.

http://www.pharmacyeurope.net/default.asp?title=deCODEfilesnewAlzheimer

Inflammatory bowel gene uncovered
Genetic variations which predispose people to a common inflammatory bowel condition have been uncovered by a team of German and UK researchers.
It was known that ulcerative colitis, which affects around 100,000 people in the UK, runs in families.
Now researchers have linked the condition with the gene that encodes for interleukin 10 (IL10) - a compound which regulates inflammation.
IL10 therapy has been tested in early studies, Nature Genetics reported.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7650530.stm

Breast cancer family history topic of monthly genetic series
HOUSTON -- (October 3, 2008) -- The effect of family history on breast cancer risk will be the topic of discussion in a public forum on Oct. 14 at The Health Museum of Houston.
The forum will feature Dr. Sharon Plon, director of the Baylor Adult Cancer Genetics Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Powel Brown, director of cancer prevention at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM.
Sponsored by BCM and Texas Children's Hospital, the event is part of a monthly "Evening with Genetics" lecture series organized by BCM's Department of Molecular and Human Genetics. The series offers current information regarding care, education and research about genetic disorders.
http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=1233



The genetics of smell
your nose vs. mine; No wonder one person will detect peppercorns and another won't
BILL ZACHARKIW, Freelance
Published: Saturday, October 04
I have been laid up for the better part of the week with a pretty decent cold. While this has put a damper on my capacity to taste wine, it has been a welcome break considering I have tasted close to 700 wines over the last two weeks. It has also allowed me to catch up on some reading.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=5e48824b-ee93-4897-95a9-49e2f6c47510



Genetics: The New Nursing Frontier
Clemson Offers First National Conference in Health Care Genetics
Clemson University School of Nursing and the Greenwood Genetic Center will hold the first national conference in health care genetics on October 23 and 24, 2008. Speakers include Jean F. Jenkins, PhD, RN, senior clinical advisor to the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.
For more information visit: Clemson University School of Nursing Web site
By Debra Wood, RN, contributor
Scientists are continuing to find genetic connections to common illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma. Some treatments already vary depending on a patient’s genetic makeup and research is now underway to further tailor care according to genetic profiles.
“Genetics and genomics, eventually, will streamline care and the options we offer patients, and hopefully, offer more benefit,” said Jean F. Jenkins PhD, RN, FAAN, senior clinical advisor to the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-news.aspx?ID=18401

Healthy Living: New study suggests asthma may be linked to genetics
Oct 2, 2008 02:00 AM EDT
Wednesday, October 1, 2008Reported by: Shari Small
About 20 million Americans have asthma, of which nine million are children. New evidence finds it can be a family affair.
"It feels like something is squeezing your lungs," said Breanna Coleman, describing her asthma.
13-year-old Breanna and 9-year-old Janee have battled asthma since they were babies. Their mother believes it came from her side of the family.
"I had it from my father, and mine being so bad, I figured the gene was strong and that, you know, they probably have it too," said mother Shavon Coleman.

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=9110309


Scientists study potato genetics
Scottish scientists are aiming to unlock the genetic secrets of the potato.
The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), near Dundee, hopes to map chromosome four of the root vegetable.
The scientists would then know where genes responsible for colour, shape, and disease resistance are positioned.
The new research is part of a number of projects looking at how to produce improved varieties of potato, barley and wheat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/7646997.stm

Dollar Falls As US Manufacturing Report Hits Worst Level Since 2001 Terrorist Attacks

Wednesday, 01 October 2008 14:00:30 GMT


Thomson Financial NewsDollar o/n rates fall in Asia after US bailout approved (click here)
10.02.08, 12:11 AM ET
...The rate on overnight dollar funds fell to 3.0-4.5 percent, traders said. That compared to around 6 percent on Wednesday and 10 percent earlier this month when Lehman Brothers collapse sparked a resurgence in the year-old global credit crisis....

All I heard for days after the 'bailout bill' was signed was that the Dollar is strong. Well, it's not strong and the further into this mess we get the less strong it is thanks to people just like McCain.

The only activity that will return value to the USA dollar is a strong domestic economy based in manufacturing and low unemployment as proposed by the Democrats that are attempting to strengthen the Middle Class to return a demand economy back to this country accompanied by good paying jobs that provides that demand.

Yen Gains on Speculation Stocks Rout to Spur Carry Trade Unwind (click here)
By Stanley White
Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- The yen rose against the dollar and the euro on speculation a global stocks rout will prompt investors to pare carry trades, bets on higher-yielding overseas assets funded in Japan.
The yen traded at 101.35 per dollar at 9:07 a.m. in Tokyo from 101.47 late yesterday. It reached 100.24 on Oct. 6, the strongest since April 10. Japan's currency was at 137.51 against the euro from 137.89 yesterday. It touched 135.05 on Oct. 6, the highest since September 2005. The dollar traded at $1.3566 per euro from $1.3588 yesterday.
Last Updated: October 7, 2008 20:13 EDT