Americans need to realize the storms of 2016 are far, far different than only a short time ago.

March 1, 2016
US Drought Monitor (click here) 

The west still has an unresolved drought. The drought in California is nothing short of profound, including evidence such as sinking land due to depletion of aquifers. It takes a lot of rain and snow to resolve that drought.

March 8, 2016
By Paul Rogers

This weekend's soaking rains (click here) delivered just what drought-weary Northern California needed: billions of gallons of water pouring into the state's major reservoirs -- and more predicted for later this week.

With rain totals reaching 10 inches or more in some mountain areas, 46 of the largest reservoirs in California, closely tracked by the state Department of Water Resources, collectively added 391 billion gallons of water between Friday and Monday morning -- enough for the needs of 6 million people for a year.

The reservoir list, which includes such massive lakes as Shasta, Oroville, Folsom, San Luis and New Melones, jumped in storage by 10 percent to 13.2 million acre feet, as powerful storms pouring off the Pacific sent torrents of water surging down creeks, rivers and hillsides....

There is some objection to allowing water to be purged from the California reservoirs for SAFETY REASONS. Just because California is BEGINNING to recover from a long lived drought, doesn't mean safety can be eliminated to allow reservoirs to fill before opening flood gates. 

February 29, 2016
By Lauren Sommer

...Just an average-size winter storm (click here) can send huge volumes of water down the American River into Folsom Reservoir, boosting the lake by 10 percent or more. A major storm can produce dramatically more than that.
“The watershed is pretty flashy and it responds pretty quickly to storm events,” says Lessard. “That’s why we need to reserve a space during those winter months in case that happens.”
Sitting 40 percent empty allows the reservoir to act as a buffer against floods, gulping the runoff without overflowing. In years where the upstream reservoirs are fuller, Folsom Reservoir is required to remain 60 percent empty....

So, here is my take.

Some of the concern of the flood gate purging by the dams is based in fear. The public needs to first scale back that fear. I know the drought caused enormous sacrifice by those in the West because of water scarcity. 

There is a reason to want to fill the reservoirs before opening any flood gates. But, this is the way I see it. Currently, there are snow fields that contribute to water supplies in the usa west. Those snowfields are measurable. Getting the picture? 

Let's say the SNOW MELT will cause flooding if it occurs in a rapid melt. We have seen that level of tragic snow melt in Colorado. It is nothing short of serious and lives were lost. In Colorado, the water ran down hill from the mountain tops resulting in enormous amounts of debris carried with it creating it's own dams.

One of the reasons dams and reservoirs fill up is to control flooding. The authorities should be looking to any snow melt and it's water capacity to come to the reservoirs. If there is room in the reservoirs for all the snow melt yet to come then there should be closed flood gates. 

The authorities need to realize there very well may be strong storms that will also add to the reservoirs. Keeping the reservoirs at a 'topped off' level results in a level of danger. The public needs to ask their authorities to be able to react quickly to any potential flooding that may become dangerous. 

There has to be a 'happy medium' between 'drought preparedness' and flooding. If a dam is at it's highest level what happens next is flooding and it could happen quickly BOTH downstream and upstream because of BACK WATER RISING. 

Back water is what contributes to the reservoir to fill it. Back water are rivers and tributaries, even the smallest streams. When the reservoir is completely filled it will increase back water levels. There can be flooding in back water natural waters while the reservoirs may remain the same. The authorities that monitor the reservoirs also look at back waters and the communities there. This is a complicated dynamic and the authorities assisted by scientists/hydrologists need to provide for everyone's safety.

The climate crisis has created it's own specialists to understand all the pieces to the puzzle. Among the most dedicated scientists to resolve the climate crisis is Chris Fields. I think he is still a California resident and teaching at Stanford. It would be a good idea to ask for his permanent consultation into the future. 

Some of the problems in resolving the climate crisis are funding cuts, many coming from Washington, DC. That funding is important because it saves lives. While citizens of the USA have a difficult time with their personal solvency, the reality of the climate crisis is compromising their personal lives even further. What comes first in government spending? How are college and university costs balanced with the immediate threats? I think Americans can put their best interests first to demand the best advice from people who can supply it. 

Get rid of the fear and take the initiative to have at least one solid adviser to help with water supplies to citizens. Besides the amount of water, there is also water quality that has to be maintained. We can have our daily lives delivered back to us if we demand our needs for safe and abundant water is a priority.

A hot Earth is changing the ability of subtropical environments to limit the spread of disease.

The global community is looking to old pesticides like DDT to end the problem where it starts, the Zika Forest. (click here)

February 24, 2016
By Melissa Healy 

...Epidemiologists are poring over, (click here) and filling in, a narrative of outbreaks of Zika since its 1947 discovery in Uganda’s Zika Forest.
As population scientists track the virus’ migration out of Africa and into Asia and the Americas, they will pay particularly close attention to evidence that could help them figure out whether cases of microcephaly followed in its wake but were undetected at the time.
The tiny island nation of Yap in the South Pacific may provide the most useful record of Zika infection. Experts estimate that in 2007, between 68% and 88% of residents over the age of 2 were infected with the virus.
Islands can offer a uniquely revealing picture of outbreaks, said Derek Cummings, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Florida. Their generally small populations tend to be exposed to one new pathogen at a time, and that offers a clearer picture of a virus’ immediate impact and its longer-term health consequences, he said....

Yes, the USA needs to pay attention to mosquito populations and their control.

March 8, 2016
By Josh Hafner

With the Zika virus (click here) spreading toward the United States, threatening pregnant mothers and the 2016 Olympics, aid workers have placed hope in a familiar fish.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Virginia-based non-profit Operation Blessing helped avert an outbreak of the West Nile virus in New Orleans by supplying abandoned swimming pools full of water – ideal breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitos – with fish that feast on mosquito larva.
Now the group hopes to halt the spread of the Zika virus in Central America by breeding and distributing fish that can eat mosquitos’ larva before the insects mature and carry the disease, which has been linked to an epidemic of birth defects in Brazil and spread quickly throughout Latin America....

CDC (click here)

No vaccine exists to prevent Zika virus disease (Zika).
Prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites (see below).
Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite mostly during the daytime.
Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus also spread dengue and chikungunya viruses. 
Prevent sexual transmission of Zika by using condoms or not having sex

When traveling to countries where Zika virus (click here) or other viruses spread by mosquitoes are found, take the following steps:

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside

Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites....

Travel within the USA is a large part of vacation time for Americans. They need to consider their chance of mosquito problems before they head out, especially in RVs. Camping in tents have to be accompanied with mosquito nets. It is a good measure anyway. Campers should be using mosquito nets regardless of any virus. No one should consider mosquito bites simply a part of life at the campsite.

I am happy for the Mississippi Republicans tonight.

Now Donald Trump is 52 percent in Mississippi. He is out of the 30 something doldrums. Congratulations.

Donald Trump has a strong ground game, too.

Donald Trump needs to continue to draw the high 40 something or better yet 50 something numbers from here going forward.

Just to point to his own words, "...they think if everyone else drops out of the race the voters will go to others. Well. Voters will come to me, too." He was completely correct.

It looks like the impoverished Southern states have a new champion. It takes a lot to win their trust with their economy. I hope he has a vision for them that will remove poverty forever. If he ever is able to read studies of the impoverishment of the southern USA, (anthropologist stuff) he'll find his heart for this country.

That is what shines for Donald Trump. He cares for those Americans no one else wants to. He has held those disenfranchised Republican voters close to him for years now. He was right to do so. They need him.

He made a space for them and has never violated it.

Today is International Women's Day.

The most important determinant (click here) of a country's competitiveness is its human talent via the skills and productivity of its workforce.
Organizations must illuminate the path to leadership, showing women the career and advancement opportunities that match their skills and professional objectives and provide the experiences necessary to fulfil their potential.
Individuals can commit to advocating for themselves, and when appropriate, becoming effective role models and sponsors of women to help them achieve their goals.

Women as individuals, equals and appreciated by their country and it's laws for the contribution women bring .

The process ov voting is very, very slowed by Voter ID.

It was the very first time I was asked for ID. I didn't like the way it felt. When I handed the clerk my driver's license it was scanned into a computer, assigned a bunch of numbers and handed back to me after three different people had looked at it. I don't believe this is democracy because the voter registration bank now has ID they can do anything they want with it. This is wrong and it feels Un-American.

The process was slow voting. There were many people on the right side of the room out of the door. There was no more than two to three people on the left side of the room actually voting. At any given time there were five voting booths empty waiting for people.

Sorry, I was a little absent. I made a sick call. Everything is fine.

I saw the Democratic Town Hall. Both candidates were well dressed. I loved Bernie's tie and Hillary's sweater was incredible.

Senator Sanders message is clear and received well by Independents. Hillary's answer to the e-mail requests a little wanting. It sounds somewhat like an excuse. But, what might work and she would know this is more discussion of the law that lead to this and the way the law applies to retroactive e-mails. 

Other than that I think she was the best I've ever seen her. She simply is getting better and better every time I hear her speak. I think her probgrams are well thought out and doable. 

The Republicans only have one national candidate and that is Donald Trump. Rubio, Kasich and Cruz have regional appeal but won't carry an election. I think that is what Michael Bloomberg ran into when he was deciding about becoming an independent election. He was a regional candidate. 

Cruz is a liar and we still aren't certain about his citizenship requirement for President. I never thought it would be an issue, evidently it is. I think this is another Cruz lie. Rather than taking charge of the issue and resolving it, there is no leadership and only denial. 

Cruz has political MPD (multiple personality disorder). 


I am traveling and will spend more time later. 

The weather in the US is acting up again. 

Until later. 

It was a good debate. Democrats have two incredible candidates. They each have their own virtues and short falls. The people have to decide and it is not an easy decision. 

I make no recommendations, but, only wish every voter carry their best interests into the balloting.

Good night.

When are the existing pipelines in the USA going to be replaced rather than causing more danger to more lands in the USA?

No is never no to the petroleum industry. They want to endanger the land in the same states that the KXL was crossing. This is ridiculous. There are miles and miles of existing pipeline old and speculative to it's integrity, yet, the petroleum industry wants to threaten more land with a FAILING INDUSTRY.

A project by any other name is still the same project. Even after the KXL was ordered to end it's useless ambitions, there is still all this nonsense going on. No presidential candidate should be accepting funding from the petroleum industry. THEY ARE FAILING AND GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!

The Dakota Access Pipeline (click here) Project is a new approximate 1,134-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that will connect the rapidly expanding Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. The pipeline will enable domestically produced light sweet crude oil from North Dakota to reach major refining markets in a more direct, cost-effective, safer and environmentally responsible manner. The pipeline will also reduce the current use of rail and truck transportation to move Bakken crude oil to major U.S. markets to support domestic demand.

Even the Detroit Public School fundraiser isn't going well.

PURCHASE THIS REPORT (click here) AS A BEAUTIFUL HARDCOVER BOOK FOR $100.

LIMITED EDITION WITH 20 EXTRA PAGES OF REPORTING AND PHOTOGRAPHY INCLUDING

• Historic and contemporary pictures of Detroit’s Public Schools
• Additional commentary on the future of the school district

The Detroit Public School story is bigger than most believe is the issue. The Detroit Public School system deteriorated because the city did. It had nothing to do with mismanagement.

March 4, 2016
By Lester Graham 

John Grover and Yvette van der Velde co-authored a Loveland Technologies report on the decline of the Detroit Public Schools District.

..."Around 2006 there were (click here) only about 380 students going to school here. So, the school district was faced with a choice. You have a successful school academically, but it’s designed for 2,200 students. It only has 380 in there. What do you do? So, what they ended up doing is they closed the program that was in this school, the Hutchins Intermediate program. They moved it to another school about 10 blocks to the south called McMichael Intermediate. And that became Hutchins at McMichael. And the feeling was you could just pick up all the students, all the teachers, the program that was so successful here and transplant it into another school,” Grover said....

The 1933 Glass-Steagall Act (click here) mandated the separation of banks, insurance companies and securities firms after the banking collpase that ushered in the Great Depression. But those restrictions were undone during 28 years of conservative economic rule that began with Ronald Reagan and found its boldest statement in 1999, when President Clinton signed the Financial Services Modernization Act, which tore down the walls separating banks, securities firms and insurers....

Is it true Senator Sanders voted for the Commodity Futures Modernization Act

October 9, 2015
Bernie Sanders' campaign (click here) message is built around a central theme -- wresting economic power away from Wall Street and returning it to working people. It's a message that closely tracks the voting record of the self-described socialist senator from Vermont.
But there is one significant blemish on that record. In 2000, Sanders voted for the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, a landmark bill that blocked federal agencies from regulating credit default swaps -- the complex contracts at the heart of the 2008 financial crisis.
The CFMA's chief architect was then-Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), a die-hard deregulator who joined Swiss banking giant UBS after leaving the Senate. Today, he's essentially the rhetorical opposite of Sanders, appearing in congressional hearings to literally bemoan the low pay of multimillionaire CEOs.
By 2000, Sanders was already an unpopular figure with big banks. The prior year, he had vigorously opposed the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, a Depression-era law which barred conventional banks from engaging in risky securities trading. Its repeal is widely viewed as fueling a merger binge that made companies massive and complex -- a catalyst for the banking collapse....

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24500815.html#storylink=cpy

Mayo Clinic

Initially, lead poisoning can be hard to detect (click here) — even people who seem healthy can have high blood levels of lead. Signs and symptoms usually don't appear until dangerous amounts have accumulated.

Lead poisoning symptoms in children

The signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children may include:

• Developmental delay
• Learning difficulties
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Hearing loss

Lead poisoning symptoms in newborns

Babies who are exposed to lead before birth may experience:

• Learning difficulties
• Slowed growth

Lead poisoning symptoms in adults

Although children are primarily at risk, lead poisoning is also dangerous for adults. Signs and symptoms in adults may include:

• High blood pressure
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Joint pains
• Muscle pain
• Declines in mental functioning
• Pain, numbness or tingling of the extremities
• Headache
• Memory loss
• Mood disorders
• Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm
• Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women

It doesn't bring her back to life. Her life will prevent more victimization.

The Waller County Jail was not protecting Sandra's life while in their custody. Her arrest was a prime example of police overreach. The officer escalated the ticketing and made the arrest a priority.

March 5, 2016
By Ashley Monae

Just three months ago (click here) we were both saddened and agreed by the fact that the grand jury in the Sandra Bland case failed to indict any of the officers involved with her arrest or any other employee of the Waller County Jail.
A month later, Brian Encinia, the Texas trooper who initially pulled Bland over for failing to signal, was indicted on charges of perjury by the grand jury.
Although  the charges were not in relation to the jailhouse death, he was still accused of lying about his July 2015 arrest of Bland and their confrontational traffic stop that was caught on dashcam video.
On Tuesday (Mar. 1), Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw made the decision to officially fire Encinia, according to The Chicago Tribune. Encinia’s attorney, Larkin Eakin, previously called the indictment that led to his termination “unjustified,” also sharing that he was concerned for his clients safety.
Since Bland’s arrest, Encinia has been on paid desk duty, even remaining on the payroll after McCraw announced in December that the agency would begin the process of firing him.
CNN reports that the former trooper still has the right to appeal this week’s decision. “He is now no longer a paid employee and will remain that way even if he appeals his dismissal to the state’s Public Safety Commission,” Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger said.

CPAC is occurring, too. The NRA is a sponsor. This is their latest propaganda.

March 6, 2016
By Krystal Heath

...“They don’t like how the men and women (click here) who build their office buildings, vacation homes and luxury cars … who mop their floors, clean their clothes and serve their dinner … have access to the same level of protection as their armed security guards. They want you to surrender your freedom for a false promise of government-provided security they will never rely upon themselves.”...

This is laughable. The propaganda is called Hypocrisy. Supposedly the wealthy in Hollywood can afford armed security guards while those the wealthy employ are having their rights removed.

Ever see the cost of a gun? The average wage earner has marital problems because of the cost of buying and owning a gun. To think average people are upset over the access of guns is nonsense. We know the same people purchasing guns are the same people owning 300 million guns. They are wealthy and can afford such dangerous weapons. 

This method of denouncing gun control by the NRA is exactly the same as past years of accusations of government taking away the country's guns. The reason Hollywood became a target is because the NRA and other gun groups have backed militias such as those that occupied public lands in Oregon.

One of the reasons many Americans want gun control is the level of deaths in the case of domestic violence.

2 February 2016
By Sam Levin

The 10 men charged in Malheur occupation (click here) have criminal histories involving domestic violence, illegal firearm possession and terrorist threats

There it is. The NRA propaganda is dangerous and facilitates violence within the USA. When that violence finally surfaces as in Oregon the NRA finds other victims that are victimized by some level of power. It was the USA government for decades and now Hollywood is demanding gun control that deprive their employees the privilege of self-defense.

The NRA pits wealth having the right to self-defense per body guard, while their employees live without that benefit by own a gun. It is nonsense. The average American can't afford guns. The statistics bear that out. There are 300 million guns owned in the USA and they are owned by those that can afford it, not every American.

The NRA propaganda is perverse.

If people in Hollywood NEED body guards, it is because the NRA has leveraged power over propagation of violence rather than ending it.