For now, has NASA taken space flight as far as it SHOULD go without private investment?

I believe President Obama could not be more correct, again. Commercial aviation companies have won awards for taking space flight into private enterprise. Why should the USA government have a monopoly on the future?

More jobs. More opportunity. More talent bringing space programs innovation at a quicker pace. It is time to turn space over to private enterprise. Space ventures will expand the monies being spent by NASA to include the funds private investors can bring to the programs.

The time will come when NASA will again seek ventures to the Moon, Mars and beyond. But, it is time to allow the private sector to take their options as far as can be realized. I wish everyone the very best of luck and look forward to an Earth focus for NASA in the meantime.

NASA to explore private space flight (click here)

Last Updated: Monday, February 1, 2010 | 12:57 PM ET

NASA will get nearly $6 billion to encourage private companies to launch their own spacecraft under the budget proposed by the Obama administration Monday.U.S. President Barack Obama's budget would cut NASA's planned mission to the moon, called the Constellation program, which Obama called "over budget, behind schedule and lacking in innovation."

NASA has already spent $9 billion on the Constellation program, which began after the 2003 shuttle accident, including the test launch of the Ares 1-X rocket in October.

The budget would provide $5.9 billion to the agency over the next five years to fund private space-flight companies.

The budget's commitment to NASA is $100 billion over the next five years.

Under the plan, NASA would pay the companies to carry U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and other destinations in orbit.

NASA would then be a guaranteed customer for the private space companies through 2020. Proponents of private space flight point out the parallel with the early days of air travel, when private airlines had a guaranteed customer in the U.S. government to deliver airmail....

A real sports success story. Wilma Rudolph over came polio to become an Olymic hero.

...Wilma was born prematurely and weighed only 4.5 pounds. Again, because of racial segregation, she and her mother were not permitted to be cared for at the local hospital. It was for whites only. There was only one black doctor in Clarksville, and the Rudolph's budget was tight, so Wilma's mother spent the next several years nursing Wilma through one illness after another: measles, mumps, scarlet fever, chicken pox and double pneumonia. But, she had to be taken to the doctor when it was discovered that her left leg and foot were becoming weak and deformed. She was told she had polio, a crippling disease that had no cure. The doctor told Mrs. Rudolph that Wilma would never walk. But Mrs. Rudolph would not give up on Wilma. She found out that she could be treated at Meharry Hospital, the black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. Even though it was 50 miles away, Wilma's mother took her there twice a week for two years, until she was able to walk with the aid of a metal leg brace. Then the doctors taught Mrs. Rudolph how to do the physical therapy exercises at home. All of her brothers and sisters helped too, and they did everything to encourage her to be strong and work hard at getting well. Finally, by age 12, she could walk normally, without the crutches, brace, or corrective shoes. It was then that she decided to become an athlete....

• United Press Athlete of the Year 1960
• Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year 1960
• James E. Sullivan Award for Good Sportsmanship 1961 *
• The Babe Zaharias Award 1962
• European Sportswriters' Sportsman of the Year *
• Christopher Columbus Award for Most Outstanding International Sports Personality 1960*
• The Penn Relays 1961 *
• New York Athletic Club Track Meet *
• The Millrose Games *
• Black Sports Hall of Fame 1980
• U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame 1983
• Vitalis Cup for Sports Excellence 1983
• Women's Sports Foundation Award 1984

* indicates first woman to receive the award/invitation

The Weather at Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska (Crystal Wind Chime) is warmer than the lower 48 states.

January 31, 2010
Sveti Jakob, Slovenia
Photographer states :: In a deep winter.


President Obama has put the USA in the lead once again to reverse the trends of Human Induced Global Warming. Given the global economic tragedy of 2008 and the potential of this continuing natural tragedy I believe we have more than competent leadership to reverse this dangerous trend of Earth's climate.

The financial cost to world economy of a warming, melting, thawing Arctic due to human induced greenhouse emissions over the next 40 years, according to a study by the Pew Environment Group, will add up to at least $2.4 trillion.

(Getty Images)

8 deaths during storm investigated (click here)

The News Journal
February 7, 2010
Officials are investigating eight reported deaths in New Castle County over the last two days.Authorities are trying to determine if they are related to activities during the snowstorm, such as shoveling or walking in extreme weather conditions from the weekend’s snow....




February 7, 2010
21:13 gmt
Temperature map of the USA.

Study Says Arctic Ice Melt to Cost Global Economy $2.4 Trillion (click title to entry - thank you)

Experts Say Estimating Dollar Cost of Global Warming Devilishly Complex

By BILL BLAKEMORE
Feb. 5, 2010

On one hand, it is a very, very round number -- obviously just a rough and imperfect estimate of the economic impacts of an enormously complex and often unpredictable jumble of warming Earth climate systems.

The financial cost to the world economy of a warming and melting Arctic, due to human induced greenhouse emissions over the next 40 years, will add up to at least $2.4 trillion, according to a study by the Pew Environment Group.

That's a 24 followed by 11 zeroes....

------------------------------------------------------------

Local Time: 11:49 AM AKST (GMT -09)

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Updated: 11:36 AM AKST on February 07, 2010

Elevation: 33 ft

Temperature :: 45 F

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 39 F

Humidity :: 66%

Dew Point :: 34 F

Wind :: 12 mph from the SSE

Wind Gust :: 16 mph

Pressure :: 29.70 in (Falling)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 9000 ft.
(Above ground level)

"Morning Papers" - Its Origins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

$100,000 PLUS of rambling, rhetoric and absolutely NO specifics. It was an empty speech. Anger, only anger, AT EVERYONE.

They are outside the power of Washington DC.

They can't identify with any of the changes to the country.

They are afraid of what they don't understand or approve of and they are angry they aren't getting their way.

She is grossly unqualified to be serving in any office.

What I expected was answers for these people with specific details for the cost of over $100.000.

They got nothing for their money and time, but, rhetoric.

She attacked both traditional parties and simply thought everything in recent history was an abomination.

Did everyone get a copy of the PAC paid for book, too?

Anyone in that audience could have made that speech. Anyone.

There were no specifics to alternative approaches or whom should be held responsible in the Bush/Cheney administration for the economic collapse she and McCain stopped their campaign to rally Congress in DC.

I want to know when John McCain is going to be held responsible for his nomination of Sarah Palin for Vice President?

Sarah Palin, the Tea Baggers and the Republican Party suffer from a sincere case of amnesia.

Volkswagen in the USA, employing American workers, is one of the winners in the Obama Green Job Initiatives.

Wind turbine component. WOW.

There are many manufacturers that play important parts in the Solar Energy Industry that also have won nice awards. (click title to entry - thank you) If one notes, the jobs with VW haven't begun yet, but, are anticipated.

Some of the more 'standard' names in corporate America that will receive Green awards are General Electric and United Technologies. Hopefully, the NEW names to the energy industry will become common place as well.

Chattanooga is a big winner again. The mayor must have worked into the wee hours of the morning. Alstom, Inc. and subsidiaries are building a facility. That means there are construction jobs as well as new sustainable jobs. Among their roles is assembly of wind turbines.

In Moses Lake, Washington there is REC Silicon which produce silicon for solar cells.

In Hemlock, Michigan is Hemlock Semiconductors a liquid silicon used in solar panels will expand its production plant.

Also in Tennessee, but this time Charleston, is Wacker Polysilicon NA has increased their annual production of a different type of silicon that will work in photovoltaic solar cells.

Santa Clara, California will hosts Miasole, whom claims to have a more efficient form of photovoltaic solar cells using thin-film production.

In Hillsboro, Oregon, Solar World America, Inc. will be expanding their operations to convert silicon into solar wafers and cells.

In two locations in Colorado, Brighton and Pueblo, Vestas Towers will produce those giant wind turbines.

All these industries were 'ready to roll' with provisions by the USA government. Why didn't it happen before now?

The expansion of these businesses are prudent use of taxpayer monies. This is HOW spending money creates viable and sustainable jobs and economies. I really don't believe ANY of the naysayers have valid points of view. They are complainers without facts and only fear to guide their rhetoric.



VW's Chattanooga, Tennessee facility.

VW plans to source more than $300M from Tennessee suppliers (click here)

Dave Hannon -- Purchasing, 2/5/2010 2:59:55 PM

Volkswagen announced it is starting work on a supplier park in Chattanooga, Tenn. where six suppliers will produce parts to be sent to VW's adjacent assembly plant due to go into production early next year.

The new Tennessee site is part of a drive to triple the number of Volkswagen brand vehicles sold in the United States to 800,000 by 2018.Frank Fischer, president of the plant, said work will start on the supplier park soon and it should be ready by June. He said it will feature two buildings that are each over 220,000 square feet. The new $1 billion plant will open in 2011, employing 2,000 workers producing a VW model developed specifically for the North American market.

The plant is designed for an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles and will source $307 million in components from local Tennessee firms. One of those suppliers is SL America which recently won a contract to make automatic shifter assemblies for the VW plant at Chattanooga and to supply VW production in Mexico. SL's Clinton, Tenn. plant will add 300 jobs in a $35 million expansion.

Rush Limbaugh being "R Word" and out of step with his peers. Typical, he's always out of step with his peers.

Do any of the other judges get their name called out by the commentator. No. Why Rush? Because for as "R"idiculous as he is she was afraid he might actually take another heart attack. Always seeking attention. If his opinions can't be heard as a judge at a beauty contest, then his maniac moves will. Sad. Very sad.

There actually is an issue with the way the handicapped in the country feel about the "R" word. Of course, the crass Limbaugh was never called on it.

Take the pledge:

I pledge and support the elimination of the derogatory use of the r-word from everyday speech and promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

If one takes a look at the pledge, it states DEROGATORY use of the R-word. It is still used in some circles, no different than the word Negro on the 2010 census.

It is a generational word. While some might actually consider it a value word to use, others do not. Any generation thought does not find the derogatory use appropriate.

Dangerous - A PAC evolved out of desperation, ideology and quest for power.

There is no practice of democracy which would be inclusive, not exclusive. They are known to carry hate as a directive and a strong component of the hate is racial. Their leadership is grossly inadequate to lead and their candidates to date have proven themselves to be underqualified and as desperate as they are.

They are opportunists seeking wealth out of the game they have embarked on. They don't believe in democracy, they believe in domination.

They have a media mogul willing to lie every step of the way to insure it has control of the message and the electorate. Murdoch's tribe is the only news outlet that has glamorized the movement, made it appear legitimate and carried the banner for its monetary solidification to facilitate its power.

As a matter of fact the Tea Baggers would not have existed without the insistence of Murdoch's Talk Radio. The origins of this mess stems directly from the activist radio personalities. It did not start because of a citizen's group. I know for a fact the Wilmington, NC group was cottled by Curtis Wright at The Big Talker FM (click here)

The man that ran the first bus to Washington, DC was mentored on the air by Wright. Absolutely. Curtis Wright runs an inflammatory news broadcast for the area. His views and opinions are taken seriously by many, but, for years they have yet to be effective to any goal of his broadcast focus. He has made a living out of 'handling' the angry. Heck, he has even brought 'HIS movement' to the UNCW campus laced with lies to try to say he wanted to nurture young Republicans. It is all pretty ludicrous when you get right down to it. Aaannddd the UNCW campus radio station has been virtually eliminated. I think there is something digital going on begun by a female minority student. It was an uphill battle for her to establish that much.

A movement to be heard or seek a recall does not require a PAC. A governor of California was recalled and it didn't require the organization of an extremist, ideological group willing to be lead by opportunistic politicians with no regard for the truth.

Sarah Palin is a motivational speaker. She isn't qualified to lead a Brownie Troop. There is no badge I know of for efficiency with firearms or natural childbirth.

Scott Brown is a 'wannabee' career politician with an extremely poor voting record that deceived the public to his identity and played their anger and fear for votes.

Mark Rubio is a narcissist. He will do the same thing Brown has done. He will use the movement to accumulate votes to be elected and he will abandon them as soon as the election is over. Welcome to the Republican Party. They used Palin. They are using Brown and they are seeking momentum from Tea Baggers. The Tea Baggers have already facilitated their use by their ideology alone. A party by any other name is still a Republican.

...So why does Rubio himself seem wary of the tea-party label? (click here) When CNBC's Larry Kudlow referred to him as a "tea-party senator" in a recent interview, Rubio responded, "Let me back you up on that for just a second. When you talk about the tea party, remember, I'm a Republican."...

Nice try though. A Party is suppose to nominate from within its members. A PAC is suppose to have a purpose other than being angry. There is nothing that defines the Tea Bagger PAC as a unique entity with a unique purpose except to give their organizers an income.

...The PAC, Ensuring Liberty Corp., (click title to entry - thank you) will give money and resources to candidates who advocate fiscal responsibility, less government, lower taxes, states’ rights, and strong national security, convention spokesman Mark Skoda said.

Skoda, who heads the Memphis Tea Party, said he would serve on the board of the PAC, which will be organized as a nonprofit based in Memphis. He declined to identify other leaders of the committee....

Well, daaaahhh. Who exactly WAS governor? And why did she quit, because he did?

Sarah Palin the RNC Spiritual Leader. What next? And she was suppose to be a Vice President? I mean, what the heck? She didn't care enough about her country to say, "No, I don't think I am qualified."

There are huge ethics violations here. He had ACCESS? I don't think so.

John McCain has a LOT of explaining to do !!!

Palin e-mails reveal a powerful 'first dude' (click title to entry - thank you)

Published: February 5th, 2010 10:10 AM
Last Modified: February 5th, 2010 10:10 AM

E-mails obtained from the state of Alaska under public records law show that Todd Palin was deeply involved in state business while his wife was governor. Copies of about 1,200 e-mails -- some sent on private accounts -- show that he was "involved in a judicial appointment, monitored contract negotiations with public employee unions, received background checks on a corporate CEO, added his approval or disapproval to state board appointments, and passed financial information marked 'confidential' from his oil company employer to a state attorney," writes msnbc.com's Bill Dedman. The released e-mails also expose "behind-the-scenes preoccupations of the Palins," including family travel on state money, a tanning bed at the Governor's Mansion in Juneau and a Daily News gossip column. The state withheld 243 other e-mails from msnbc.com, claiming that Todd Palin was covered by executive privilege rules, but subject lines reveal his further involvement in state business.

It is all in how one views the world. If one measures the present by ONLY the past it is a grime look at the future.

Rate of inflation (Consumer Price Index - click here)

If I spent $20.00 in 2004 compared to my purchasing power in 2000 I would have to spend $21.94. An increase in inflation of 9.7%.

If I spent $20.00 in 2008 compared to my purchasing power of 2000 I would have to spend $25.01. An increase in inflation of 25%.

If I spent $20.00 in 2009 compared to my purchasing power in 2000 I would have to spend $24.92. An increase in inflation of 24.6%.

If I spend $20.00 in 2009 compared to my purchasing power in 2008 I would have spent too much because what cost me $20.00 in 2008 would only cost me $19.93 in 2009. A decrease in inflation of 0.4% or differently stated -0.4% inflation rate.

Cash for Clunkers (click here) Wraps up with Nearly 700,000 car sales and increased fuel efficiency, U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood declares program “wildly successful”

The state that received the MOST money for vouchers was TEXAS with a whopping $183,776,500 US.



Under the US Mint Act of 1792, the dollar was defined as 371.25 grains of silver. There are 480 grains in a troy ounce. Thus it took 1.3 US dollars to purchase a single troy ounce of pure siver. As of January 7, 2009 the price of a troy ounce of silver is US$11.22, representing a 89.5% drop in value!


Dollar Strengthens Versus Yen After Unemployment Rate Declines (click title to entry - thank you)

By Inyoung Hwang

Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar gained against the yen after a government report showed the U.S. unexpectedly lost jobs last month while the unemployment rate declined.

“Even though this isn’t good for the U.S., there’s a retrenchment that favors the dollar,” said David Tien, a money manager in New York at Fischer Francis Trees & Watts, which manages $19 billion in assets. “A lot of assets have been reallocated to riskier currencies, and a portion of that will need to unwound.”

The euro traded near an eight-month low against the dollar amid concern widening budget deficits in Greece and other European nations will stifle the region’s economic recovery. The Swiss franc fell from its highest level in 15 months against the euro amid speculation the nation’s central bank sold the currency to curb its strength....

The Greek issue is blow out of proportion. It is all politics laced with confidence. Greece is about 3% of the European Union while California is 6% of the USA, which does not cause the concerns Greece does. The IMF will assist in the supports to Greece. It is that the USA has been around longer with a longer track record than the European Union to some extent. The issue with Greece is over blown. It is all emotional nonsense.

IMF boss says ready to help Greece in debt crisis (click here)

PARIS

The International Monetary Fund stands ready to help Greece solve the debt crisis that has alarmed bond markets and rocked the credibility of the European Union's shared currency, the head of the multinational lending agency said Thursday.

Speaking in an interview on French radio station RTL, Dominique Strauss-Kahn said he didn't believe Greece was heading for bankruptcy and expressed confidence that the government of Prime Minister George Papandreou would take the "necessary but extremely difficult" steps to solve the crisis.

"We are there to help," Strauss-Kahn said, "I have a mission on the ground to provide technical advice requested by the Greek government. And if we're asked to intervene, we will."...

Gold off lows as U.S. jobless rate drops (click here)

But dollar keeps pressure on precious metal following last session's slide

Feb. 5, 2010, 9:32 a.m. EST

By Nick Godt, MarketWatch

EW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures came off earlier lows on Friday after news of a drop in the U.S. jobless rate, but ongoing fear about sovereign debt in Europe still supported the dollar and kept the precious metal under pressure, following its biggest slide in sixteen months in the previous session.

The dollar came off highs but remained near a seven-month high, after the Labor Department said the unemployment rate fell to 9.7% in January from 10% in December.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected the unemployment rate to remain steady in double-digits....

Canada churns out 43,000 jobs

US Department of Labor Statistics (click here)

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Jan. 23 were in Oregon (+4,336), Puerto Rico (+2,439), and Hawaii (+18), while the largest decreases were in California (-22,674), Michigan (-11,757), North Carolina (-9,546), Georgia (-7,588), and Missouri (-7,577).



Economy creates a slew of part-time positions, sending the jobless rate down a notch to 8.3% (click title to entry - thank you)

Tavia Grant

Toronto — Globe and Mail

Update Published on Friday, Feb. 05, 2010 7:06AM EST

Last updated on Friday, Feb. 05, 2010 8:34AM EST

The Canadian economy created a stronger-than-expected 43,000 jobs in January, led by part-time work, the fourth employment gain in six months.

The country's jobless rates fell a notch to 8.3 per cent, a nine-month low, Statistics Canada said Friday.

It's a far cry from the same month last year, when employment in Canada plunged by 130,000 – the most on record. Though much of last month's gains stemmed from lower-paying part-time work, the private sector is now adding to payrolls.

“Part-time jobs are better than none,” said Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BAnk of Montreal in a note. Though jobs numbers have been bumpy in recent months, employment is now just 0.1 per cent below year-ago levels, “an amazingly quick turnaround from the dismal conditions of early last year, all things considered.”...