96 Percent Of Network Nightly News’ Coverage Of Extreme Weather Doesn’t Mention Climate Change

Stormy weather at Buncrana pier in Inishowen, County Donegal.

December 26, 2013

From an icy spring to our sizzling summer (click here) 

...But there were other extremes too, with a temperature of 15.7°C recorded in Ashford, Co Wicklow, in January, the highest there for a decade.

In March Dublin Airport reported a mean temperature of 3.1°C, its coldest March since the site opened in 1942. The majority of other stations reported it was the coldest March since station records began.

The weather station at Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, recorded an astonishing 27 days with ground frost that month.

The cold spell continued through April and into May, sparking a fodder crisis for farmers throughout the country.

Other figures show:

* Dublin Airport and Mullingar recorded lows of --5.6°C and --6.5°C respectively on April 6, their lowest April air minimum temperature since both stations opened in 1942 (71 years) and 1950 (63 years).

* April's lowest air minimum temperature of --7.3°C at Mountdillon on April 6, was the lowest April air minimum temperature recorded since 1988 (25 years)....

Sensationalism while protecting Wall Street. Deaths from the Climate Crisis? Where? Who ever said it was a Climate Crisis? Besides, even if that is the case, the entire global economy is dependent on fossil fuels. Don't you think it is about time people accept death by weather as a fact of life? I mean for real. It goes on, ya know? Money is money, honey. Why should Wall Street carry the guilt for the quality of life of those that disregard their own lives as important? The governments don't do anything to change this, why should Wall Street be the scapegoat?

BY EMILY ATKIN
DECEMBER 19, 2013 AT 12:24 PM

2013 was a big year for climate. (click here)  Global carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere hit 400 parts per million for the first time in recorded history; global sea levels hit a record high; oil spills, coal mine landslides, and gas explosions beset the world.

But arguably the most visible and persistent climate event was the increase in ferocity of our weather. 2013 was marked by extremes in temperature and precipitation, conditions that fueled deadly wildfires, flooding, and storm surges.

Despite those facts, America’s major television news stations mostly failed to mention climate change when reporting on events like deadly flooding in Colorado, the string of major wildfires across the American West, and bouts of unseasonable temperatures across the country.

Those are the findings of a new survey released by Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting(FAIR), a progressive media criticism group. The results were achieved through analysis of extreme weather news reports with more than 200 words from CBS Evening News, ABC World News and NBC Nightly News for the first nine months of 2013. Extreme weather event reports analyzed included news about hurricanes, drought, wildfires, floods and heat waves.

“Our study demonstrates that when weather is the news, the climate is seldom mentioned,” the organization wrote on its website. “It’s almost as if the climate and the weather were happening on two different planets.”...

Happy Holidays, here is a good will prisoner release. More reliable strategy than UPS delivery.

By Victoria Cavaliere

Friday, December 21, 2012

After a surprise court ruling on Friday, Hammar was released. His family and lawmakers had pushed for Hammar's release, arguing the young man had believed he could declare an antique shotgun at the Mexican border, where he was arrested.

A former Marine imprisoned in Mexico since August for carrying an antique shotgun was abruptly released Friday night and returned safely to the United States, his lawyer said.

“He’s out. Going home,” Eddie Varon Levy, Hammar’s lawyer, wrote in a message posted to Twitter.

A Mexican judge ruled Friday to free Jon Hammar, 27, from the notorious CEDES prison where he has been jailed since August after trying to declare the weapon at the border.

“These past few months have been an absolute nightmare for Jon and his family, and I am so relieved that this whole ordeal will soon be over,” U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, one of the most vocal proponents for Hammar’s release,  said in a statement. “ I am overcome with joy knowing that Jon will be spending Christmas with his parents, family and friends.”...




The FY14 NDAA (click here) includes language that will make it easier to transfer detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, home or to third countries that agree to accept them. The language, however, prohibits the transfer of any detainee onto U.S. soil for any reason. The bill also does not include funds for building new, or upgrading old, facilities at Guantanamo—an acknowledgement that the facilities are temporary. The ACLU supports the language as a necessary but incomplete step for beginning to close the military prison for good....

...Under the Bush administration, similar claims of worldwide detention authority were used to hold even a U.S. citizen detained on U.S. soil in military custody, and many in Congress now assert that the NDAA should be used in the same way again. The ACLU believes that any military detention of American citizens or others within the United States is unconstitutional and illegal, including under the NDAA. In addition, the breadth of the NDAA's detention authority violates international law because it is not limited to people captured in the context of an actual armed conflict as required by the laws of war....

A detainee that has been removed from international criminal influence for eleven years has NO NEW information for the USA government. By the time they were released, they were unable to sustain their alertness long enough to speak to anyone. Why, with men in that level of physical and mental deterioration, would the USA believe any torture would result in information that is fit for military use?

This is Tea Party USA. They are violators of human rights both domestically and internationally. Extremists don't belong in government at any level. These men should have been moved years ago and returned to their countries shortly thereafter as soon as a fair hearing of their charges were conducted. Gitmo should already be CLOSED! The Tea Party extremists should be reviewed by the World Court for their influence in USA policy that insures their politics over that of laws and human rights.

Published time: December 20, 2013 13:54

After years of being held (click here) at the US Naval Base in Cuba without trial, Ibrahim Idris, one of two Sudanese detainees released on Thursday, said US prison officials had "systematically tortured" him in the course of his 11-year imprisonment at Gitmo.

Idris, who has been described by US officials as mentally ill, delivered his comments in a news conference in Khartoum, just hours after returning home courtesy of a US military plane.

Appearing weak and speaking with apparent difficultly, Idris gave a brief account of his lengthy imprisonment at Gitmo.

“We have been subjected to meticulous, daily torture," he said. "We were helpless…on an isolated island, surrounded by weapons."

He praised the Sudanese government and human rights organizations for working to secure the release of prisoners at Gitmo, which has been called “the GULAG of our times” by Amnesty International. Closed-door military tribunals, for example, have been riddled with problems, including courtroom speakers that have a mysterious tendency for being blocked during key testimony.

Another released detainee, Noor Othman Muhammed, was unable to attend the conference because he was recovering in the hospital, Idris said.

Do you believe this mess?

This is not that unusual in African politics, but, not to this level of deaths. This is also very late after an election. The violence, if any, breaks out immediately after the elections. South Sudan had their most recent elections in 2010. 

I think this is very serious. Why? Couple of reasons. First this is a conflict between a sitting President and Former Vice President. It breaks along ethnic lines and here again these people are 'living the prophesy.' I think the people of South Sudan are still very scared of the violence they were exposed to not very long ago. I believe they feel violence is reassuring in understanding their world and finding comfort among each other through military conflict. They absorb the deaths as a measure of their success in being alive and TAKING POWER.

I was quite surprised at the preparedness of the militarization of both ethnicities. Reminded me of Rwanda is some ways in that the violence was unexpected, fast and effective. This populous in South Sadan are very adept of being militarized to get through the day. I was surprised at the level of violence this populous was willing to conduct. Make no mistake, while the world is in shock, these folks are 'doing their thing.'

The former Vice President has called within the last few days for peace talks. I think that is a mistake. The country should already be at peace and begin an economy of prosperity. For the former Vice President to hold the nation hostage to violence after the people had finally achieved borders to define their future is outrageous. Now, unless there are human rights violations the sitting President is conducting without the knowledge of a global understanding of South Sudan the idea there is a war to be negotiated for a peace settlement is nonsense. This is what the world is to expect from South Sudan? I don't think so.

The attacking ethnicity not currently 'in power' need to disarm, end of discussion. The current sitting government needs to stand down at every turn, but, refuse to relinquish the outcome of the 2010 elections. This is nothing more than a political struggle with instillation of fear to spawn this conflict. The reasons for the out bust of violence has to be clearly defined and ended. I have to believe there has been a propaganda campaign that permitted this level of fear of each other. Arranging a military between ethnicities is all to easy and is extension of old fears. There may be reasons for this, but, in a democracy carved out of need for the end of genocide this is all too odd.

The very first assessment has to be to the nutritional status of all of the people in South Sudan. Lack of food, water and medical attention will spawn such fears. There needs to be intense efforts to end this now. It is all to convenient for power struggles in this nation to dictate civil wars from here on.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has deployed a small military contingent to South Sudan to help bolster security at the U.S. Embassy amid escalating violence in the fledgling African nation.

In a letter to Congress, Obama said the 45 military personnel were sent to South Sudan on Wednesday. While they were equipped for combat, Obama said their purpose was to protect U.S. citizens and property and that they would remain in South Sudan until the security situation there improved.

"South Sudan stands at the precipice," Obama said in a written statement. "Recent fighting threatens to plunge South Sudan back into the dark days of its past."

The president appealed for an end to the violence and urged South Sudan's leaders to show courage and reaffirm their commitment to peace.

Violence broke out in South Sudan, the world's newest country, late Sunday when the presidential guard splintered along ethnic lines....

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/12/19/2956946/obama-deploys-small-military-group.html#storylink=cpy

Overnight may be a problem.

12/26/2013

By James R. Hood

...In a Christmas Day posting (click here) to ConsumerAffairs, Mike of Santa Rosa, Calif., said the UPS tracking system had been showing his package was out for delivery since Dec. 19.

"We live about 15 minutes away from the local UPS depot, so we weren't that concerned. Since this was a Christmas gift, and it hasn't shown up as of 12/24, we decided to call customer service. We were transferred to an agent who works at the depot who assured us the package was in their possession and that it would be delivered by noon today," he said. "Around 6 at night, we

called customer service again, now they are saying the package is lost. You stay classy, UPS."

On the other side of the country, Robert of Walden, N.Y. said his package had also been supposedly on the truck for delivery since 12/19. He had purchased a hard-to-find game system from the Game Stop and was eagerly awaiting its arrival....

He was and is more than a convenient icon.

Still listening to Evangelicals whom's only conscience is directed by "The End Times" and the gaming of the world to make sure they are saved regardless of the human condition along the way?

Vanity. 

Vanity is something (such as a belief or a way of behaving) which shows that you have too much pride in yourself, your social status, etc.

Evangelicals are full of vanity. They are the ONLY way to be a human being. That takes, not humility, but a great deal of vanity.

They have made a great deal of money pretending to be in touch with god while being nothing more than power brokers that back the crudest forms of Wall Street money that exists. That's of god? Could have fooled me.

I thought Pope Francis begs for the poor while discrediting inequality among the classes. He asks for little except a decent quality of life for all peoples. Pope Francis is a man of humility and has demonstrated that since the first day of his Papacy.

Think about it.

Human Induced Global Warming otherwise known to many of my peers as The Climate Crisis.

That reminds me I need to write them a 'reality check' note today.

This is the result of political lies and deceptions. Why is it anyone wanted to believe Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck, but, not Svante August Arrhenius. He was the physicist that discovered the effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in relation to climate. You might not recognize his name as he write his equation and law in 1896.

This is his equation and it is still valid scientific law today.

ΔF = α Ln(/)

Or women like Sallie Louise Baliunas who stated our sun, Sol, was far more consistent in its brightness than surrounding similar stars, so retracing historical variability would be far more difficult and taxing than first estimated. Being an astrophysicist and solar specialist, she entered the Human Induced Global Warming fray in 1995 stating humans were causing their own warming.

Or, Peter H. Gleick, an American scientist working all his professional life on issues of the environment, economic development, international security, and scientific ethics and integrity and the right of every human being to a clean, safe water supply.

Or, James Edward Hansen, the American physicist who conducted the first GISS (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies) global temperature analysis that was published in 1981. 

And there is Michael E. Mann, the American physicist and climatologist who's emails to friends, associates and peers were hacked for political purposes only to be a real attention getter by the Right Wing Political hacks. Why doesn't someone hack into Hannity's emails and find out exactly the phony he is. 
Dr. Mann perfected the "Hockey Stick Graph" pointing to the incredible increase in carbon dioxide from very reliable data gathered over decades.

And there is Joseph J. Romm an American physicist, as well as author and blogger. He is a climate expert who concentrates on methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security through energy efficiency, green energy technologies and green transportation technologies. He is also still young, only 53 years old. He no doubt can relate to the next two younger generations and the plight they face long after their grandparents and parents pass away. He is very dedicated to making this climate turn around. 

And what about Chris Field, member of the IPCC and founding Director of the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology, Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University, and Faculty Director of Stanford's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. His work is dedicated to being aware of the ongoing dangers of climate and chronically tries to find the words that hopefully will not estrange any electorate anywhere in the world. 

There are many, many more scientists to list here who have been responsible over their lifetimes and even someone like Henry Ford who saw the future while admiring the electric car. The list of intelligent, dedicated and damnably correct professionals is long. And every one of them was disregarded, harassed into obscure worlds of their own dedications and findings to publish in peer reviewed journals, while the ignorant media of the First World lied and deceived the electorate and is now responsible for their suffering and death due to climate.

My god, have you no conscience!

A man carries a boy in a flooded street in Morlaix, Britanny, where the city center is under 1.4 metres (four feet) of water on December 24, 2013. (AFP Photo / Frank Perry)
Published time: December 25, 2013 08:56 

Edited time: December 25, 2013 10:16

...In Belgium, (click here) winds reached 100 kilometers per hour. Traffic was disrupted in the capital Brussels, after uprooted trees crashed through power cables.

A teenager has died in Normandy in France, following a wall collapse at a building site. Extremely strong winds and torrential rain hit the country, especially in Brittany and Normandy.

Naval authorities also reported a Russian sailor missing after having been flown off board a vessel off the coast of Brest in Brittany, according to Reuters.

240,000 homes across France are experiencing a power blackout due to the disaster, according to Le Nouvel Observateur media outlet.

In the south of France, the situation isn’t any better: a ski resort at La Pierre Saint Martin was closed over the dangerous weather conditions, its manager, Dominique Rousseau, told Euronews....

Well. I've had enough Christmas to last the next year.

With candy cane in hand I wonder why there are always left over candy canes? Is this like sugar cane from the North Pole?

It never fails. Everyone buys candy canes and hardly anyone eats them.

I am finished with Christmas and it is finished with me. I want to thank my children for growing up. In that I can now feel that feel good feeling of never having to work through midnight to put the wheels on the bike. Bless them they knew not what they did.

On to current events.

Merry Christmas MSNBC. Well done today. Thank you.

It was nice. And guess what? The other stories are still there and not going anywhere. Stepping back and taking a logical approach rather than an emotional one works for me. Pauses can be important, burning the candle at both ends isn't healthy and skews life. When I think of the Americans that need the pause the most, it is the working poor and the families they support. 

I promise the return to topics in assessment after New Year will be my best effort. Today's emotions were well received and I thank you.

According to Wikipedia the history is:

The Yule Log was created in 1966 by Fred M. Thrower, President and CEO of WPIX, Inc. Inspired by an animated Coca-Cola commercial a year earlier that showed Santa Claus at a fireplace, he envisioned this television program as a televised Christmas gift to those residents of New York who lived in apartments and homes without fireplaces. This also provided time for employees of the television station to stay home with their families, instead of working for the usual morning news program....

It was filmed at Gracie Mansion in New York by the then mayor John Lindsay.

I watched two consecutive shows yesterday for the first time. The reason I watched the second show was because the first one was so bland. So, I thought I'd give it a second chance. What is interesting here, I am trying to figure it out?

These are old world stereotypes. It enforces men will be idiots about life and women are always to the rescue.

There is nothing redeeming about their character strength and where are all the hot tips about duck hunting?

The most redeeming dialogue was surrounding the granddaughters and the fact they were into computers too much. That was a good statement. Then they went outside and were able to hook a fish for dinner. It stated girls are diverse in their interests and ability. Go Grandpa.

But, the idea this is a way to success as it portrayed in the opening video with the stretch limo is a bit weird. I don't find the people strange, they seem like nice folks but they play more than they work.

I didn't see any ambition and nearly turned off the second hour of this show before it was over. I had to stop myself from changing the channel in order to carry out the promise to myself I would give it a chance. I wasn't sincerely entertained, was bored and didn't see any innovation in any approach to family life. I think they are fairly normal folks in their value system, live modestly and make the most of their day. But, to say this is an exceptional group with profound meaning deserving a lot of attention to move people forward in ambition and prosperity? I don't see it.

I mean 120 minutes of insults to each other, laughing it off and trying to get a bachelor married was uninteresting. Somehow purchasing a canoe for Christmas for the kids was controversial. ???????????????  I think they talk a lot and seek to provide a reason to be redeeming to each other, but, it isn't my idea of uplifting. 

I suppose if alcohol free and activity to 'let's move' is the focus, then I applaud the program. These folks are mostly fit and active. I think this is a real change for this population of viewers from "Preppers." This is more NORMAL than I have witnessed with many other shows. But, I am not interested in obsessing about Prepping, so this might be a very pleasant change for them.

Beyond the 'niceness' of the people and the occasional view of water and boats, there isn't that much I found interesting. I know folks are not going to believe this, but, any of the two shows I watched reflected an average hunting day with the men in my family. The only thing missing were the beagles. Considering these are duck hunters, where are the retrievers? A relative doesn't own one? No prize winning blood line on the estates of fortune?

I think the show is a parody rather than 'real life.' But, parodies can be interesting, too. I expected to see the masters of marketing at work. I saw people that had an idea for the crowd of real TV. But, it isn't at all what I expected. A little more ambition and less sitting and talking might spice up the interest of the audience, but, then again some people like a male alternative to a soap opera.

This isn't cutting edge and is primarily old world gender roles. It isn't my thing. There is a reason why I wasn't watching in the first place. It wasn't until the insults of the show extended into the realm of civil rights of others did I ever tune in. I might point out, these are all white folks, so the political focus is obvious, right? Not even a black lab retriever. It is the old ENFORCED south. It is the mantle of the Good Ole Boys, except, it doesn't tout moonshine or whiskey. They don't beat their wives and end up in fist fights rather than simply arguing one's character over another.

I might point out they don't obsess over guns and violence. I like that a lot.

It would seem as though there is still an audience for it in a more civilized venue. The fact it is popular and more civilized is a good quality and I wish them well. 

The First Day of Winter was December 21st. Ya think?

December 23, 2013
1215 gmt
The Weather Channel Current Temperature Map

The most important focus for people traveling is the infrastructure and now it is surviving these temperatures.

Transportation infrastructure is going to have problems. But, keeping main roads open and emergency response if a vital part of this winter.

When traveling this holiday season bring food and water and warm blankets for any delays and by chance there should be trouble with the car. Make sure pets have food and water too if they are traveling with the family.

Homeless shelters and soup kitchens have never been more important. 

This is a handy website by the FAA indicating any trends in trouble (click here)

Is there any reason to discuss any subject seriously for the next week and a half? 

I love it that Christmas is in the middle of the week this year. It makes every thing stop. It nearly makes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday meaningless.

Right? Tuesday is Christmas Eve. I am invited to a cousin's this year that begins their holiday at 12:00 noon on Christmas Eve in preparation of everyone else coming to the house by 3:00 PM for dinner. Then the dinner is finished and they all sit around the tree exchanging Christmas Eve gifts and singing carols while the piano plays. I mean mistletoe in the door between the living room and the rest of the house. This is the cousin that has hey rides on Halloween so all the neighbor children have a safe and fun time.

Right? To the hilt.

I sincerely believe the political dialogue in the country hurts this nation more than it helps. So, for now. Right now. I believe stepping back from the dialogue is more important than you have idea, because, a season of love should be enlightening and a time of rebirth and renewal. That can't happen if the old ghosts still walk the haunts of our minds.

Good night.

The storms aren't local anymore. They are so expansive they have names.

December 22, 2013
15:30:18Z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared Satellite of north and west hemisphere. (click here for 12 hour loop)

December 22, 2013
15:15 gmt
The Weather Channel Current Temperature Map

"State by State Impacts" (of Gemini click here)

December 22, 2013
1045 AM EST
Associated Press

Saturday's severe weather outbreak, which swept across the central and southern U.S., brought tornadoes and wind gusts that ripped roofs from barns and hurled trees into power lines, officials said. At least two people were killed.

The threat for severe weather will lessen on Sunday, but there will still be damaging wind gusts from the eastern Gulf Coast region to the Mid-Atlantic states. Additionally, flood watches have been announced from Georgia to Virginia.

"This storm has summer-like amounts of Gulf moisture and winter-like atmospheric dynamics," said weather.com meteorologist Nick Wiltgen. "The combination has wrung out extraordinary amounts of rainfall – 3 to 10 inches Saturday alone – over a very large area. We'll be watching rivers rise for days as all this water runs off."...

Well said.

What does flooding look like when freezing temperatures arrive?

Saturday December 21, 2013 Gouverneur, NY 

Photographer states: Sleet and freezing rain forecast until Sunday pm.

Salute to local farmers.

Paige Witherington (click here) is the farmer at Serenbe Farms, a 30-acre certified organic and biodynamic farm adjacent to a housing development outside Atlanta. It's one of more than 200 or so subdivisions with an agricultural twist nationwide.

Pure Genius.

...It's called development-supported agriculture, a more intimate version of community-supported agriculture — a farm-share program commonly known as CSA. In planning a new neighborhood, a developer includes some form of food production — a farm, community garden, orchard, livestock operation, edible park — that is meant to draw in new buyers, increase values and stitch neighbors together....

Local food sources don't have to worry about transportation costs. They also are cognizant of local preferences. There is also less pesticide use because of the proximity to housing complexes. The 'green acres' will even promote a healthier chance at CLIMATE. Plants produce 'water vapor.'

I am rather surprised at the willingness of Americans to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I refuse to give up my eye supplement. Absolutely refuse, because I absolutely know it makes a difference. 
If I don't take it daily, I begin to have pain in my right eye with hours of the missed dose. 

That is no joke. 

Before I tried an eye vitamin there was no relief for it. It is not excruciating pain, but, I have a genetic condition that can and has injured the tissue of the eye. This sincerely helps. 

The Optomologist I see has pharmaceutically based lutein dietary based supplements if I chose to use them. He recommends it in many instances for older adults. 

A panel of physicians (click here) wrote today in a major medical journal about which vitamin and mineral supplements are bad and which are null, and how we keep buying them. 

James Hamblin 

December 17, 2013

"We believe that the case is closed— supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful. These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough."

So reads an authoritative editorial today in one of the widest-read U.S. medical journals, Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors are five physicians from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and Warwick Medical School in the U.K., including one of the journal's senior editors. Each has at least five letters worth of postgraduate degrees after their name.

"Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and possibly high doses of vitamin A supplements are harmful," they specify. "Other antioxidants, folic acid, and B vitamins, and multivitamin and mineral supplements are ineffective for preventing mortality or morbidity due to major chronic diseases."...

It is a great study. It was conducted for 12 years and involved a large number of participants; the error is small. The date is good, however, I think there is misinterpretation of the results. Not by the researchers, but, by the media and the people. 

This study focused on longevity and disease fighting ability of vitamins. There are some key words folks are overlooking. "Adults with NO nutritional deficiencies, a multivitamin supplement in a well-nourished elderly population."

This study does not throw vitamins out completely. There are issues such as folic acid and vitamin supplements in women that are pregnant, there are problems in our nation with poverty and poor diet as well as malnourished adults and children. So, while this study is more than welcome it is not conclusive for all populations of adults.

What I did like about it is the fact it nearly outlaws MegaVitamin Supplements. There goes GNC, although that chain of vitamin stores offers protein supplements as well. 

So while taking multivitamins in healthy adults are completely unproductive, there is also the issue of people facing health challenges such as cancer and treatments of radiation and chemo that need nutritional supplements. That sometimes comes in the variety of drinks such as Ensure and Boost and there is that one for diabetics...Glucerna. I think the best approach to this is to consult with a personal physician about any dietary supplements.

This study also points to fields open to research such as Vitamin D. It cites three trials where one actually showed Vitamin D helped prevent falls in the elderly, another that reduced risks of fall and one stating it increased falls in the elderly. So, while this study is important it does point to needed research to refine the effects of some of the Vitamins. 

It does make conclusive statements about most multivitamins in well nourished adults. I think one of the upsides of this study is the fact it has conclusive facts about vitamins preventing chronic disease or as a treatment for such things as cancer. There is no effect on these issues and quite frankly chronic disease and dangerous disease such as cancer needs the supervision of physicians.

Most people believe the way Presidents of the USA are elected has been unchanged since 1776.

That is incorrect. The USA Constitution is not the Holy Bible scribed by Apostles witnessing history and deriving insight from it's passing.

The election of President Jefferson was nearly a disaster. As a result Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 was replaced by the 12th Amendment. Article II, Section 1 of the USA Constitution prescribes the understanding of the Executive Branch of the country.
This is Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the original US Constitution:

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representatives from each State having one Vote; a quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice-President.

This is the 12th Amendment in it's entirety.

Amendment XII (1804)

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;—The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;—The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President—The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. If the entire Electoral Process can be eliminated and rewritten in the USA Constitution, the Second Amendment is NOT impervious to change and/or elimination. "MY cold dead hands, holds life in esteem without insult by Wall Street profits!" And that rifle could never have killed Claire Davis or any of the lives of children lost to violence in the USA. The patriots that shot those guns and won a war establishing our US Constitution would NOT be applauding what the NRA applauds today.

When does this epidemic of violence going to end?

Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson (click here) holds a picture of Claire Davis, 17, at a briefing at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo., the day after the Dec. 13 shooting. Davis died Saturday.

Claire Davis, (click here) who loved riding horses and doing well in school. Her friends say she was always happy and always offered a shoulder to cry on.

Is this the way the holidays are going to be from now on? Celebratory killings by disturbed young people allowed to carry military weapons? Is It? Is this the legacy of The Second Amendment to the USA Constitution?

Prevent the loss of precious memories, water your live tree this Christmas.

A moist Christmas tree (left) will not burn when exposed to the same flames that caused a dry tree to catch fire (right).

Keeping Your Real Tree Fresh (click here)

You keep your real tree fresh the same way the Christmas tree farmer and retailer did. Keep it in the shade and keep it watered. Follow these tips for maintaining tree freshness.

• Cut off at least ½-inch off the trunk of the tree. That is so the tree will take up water easier.
• If you need to store the tree before setting it up in the home, put it in the shade in a bucket of water.
• Have problems with allergies? You might consider washing the tree outside with a garden hose. This will remove any pollen or dust, and will also knock off any dead needles. Allow the tree to dry off completely before bringing it into the home.
• Display the tree in a tree stand that can hold at least a gallon of water. Make sure you check the water level every day to be sure there is enough and that the tree is using water. Dry trees can take a day or two before taking up water. Also trees that were very cold may take some time to take up water again.
• Never add anything to the water. All your real tree needs is fresh water.
• Display the tree away from heat sources. Use lights that are in good working condition that are UL certified. Unplug the lights when you leave the house or go to sleep at night.
• The tree isn't taking up water? If the tree isn't decorated, you can put another fresh cut on the stump. If it is, you may be able to create a kind of fresh cut by drilling holes in the trunk below the water line. Some people have gotten their tree to take up additional water by using very hot water, but this testimonial information has not been tested by research methods.

The above listed recommendations were developed for the typical Christmas tree harvested during a normal season. A small percentage of trees may not perform as expected every year. This can result from combinations of factors including the weather during harvest, an individual tree's genetic predisposition to needle loss, or damage from pests. If you have taken all appropriate steps to care for your tree and you experience abnormal water uptake, needle loss, or drying, contact your local Agricultural Extension Agent.