While getting ballots mailed and received the fight to SECURE the election isn't final yet.

The DNC needs to review the RULES for disregarding ballots. They also better not be destroyed.

I know the parties review the ballot before they are printed, but, are they reviewed for EASY to understand voting? Why are voters making mistakes if the ballots are easy to understand? There should be a non-partisan clerk who can be called to ask questions when they are confused about filling out the ballot correctly.

The numbers in the Washington Post seem disproportionately high. There may be some voters that don't get it right, but, this many? There is something wrong here.

August 23, 2020
By Elise Viebeck

More than 540,000 mail ballots (click here) were rejected during primaries across 23 states this year — nearly a quarter in key battlegrounds for the fall — illustrating how missed delivery deadlines, inadvertent mistakes and uneven enforcement of the rules could disenfranchise voters and affect the outcome of the presidential election.

The rates of rejection, which in some states exceeded those of other recent elections, could make a difference in the fall if the White House contest is decided by a close margin, as it was in 2016, when Donald Trump won Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by roughly 80,000 votes.

This year, according to a tally by The Washington Post, election officials in those three states tossed out more than 60,480 ballots just during primaries, which saw significantly lower voter turnout than what is expected in the general election. The rejection figures include ballots that arrived too late to be counted or were invalidated for another reason, including voter error....

Huh?  (click here) Don Blankenship is running for president? The Don Blankenship? He lives in West Virginia? 

Within this blog is nothing but EVIDENCE. Evidence of a dangerous trend within Earth's climate. Yet. There is denial.

This is more evidence that the Greenland ice sheet has reached a tipping point. The snowfall is known as "recharge" is now in less abundance than the melting of the ice.

THE SCIENCE behind this latest evidence is called the calculation of "mass balance." Glaciologists risk their lives to enter ice fields of many kinds to bring back information about such measurements BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT!

There is no room for denial here. The only reason denial of this evidence occurs is because of huge government corruption and playing election footsies with the petroleum industry. There is no other reason.

THIS IS EVIDENCE AND NOW IT IS PERMANENT EVIDENCE OF RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE THAT IS DESTROYING THIS PLANET'S BIOMES.

You got that yet? The year 2030 is what the International Panel on Climate Change is stating as a tipping point that cannot be ignored. 

YOU BETTER GET IT RIGHT!

August 18, 2020
By Doyle Rice

- Greenland's ice sheet dumps more than 280 billion metric tons of melting ice into the ocean each year.  (click here)

- Even if global warming were to stop today, the ice sheet would continue shrinking.

- Scientists analyzed 40 years of satellite data from more than 200 large glaciers draining into the ocean.

In fact, glaciers on the island have shrunk so much that even if global warming were to stop today, the ice sheet would continue shrinking, a new study suggests.

"Glacier retreat has knocked the dynamics of the whole ice sheet into a constant state of loss," study co-author Ian Howat, an earth scientist from Ohio State University, said in a statement. "Even if the climate were to stay the same or even get a little colder, the ice sheet would still be losing mass."

This "tipping point" means the snowfall that replenishes the ice sheet each year cannot keep up with the ice that is flowing into the ocean from melting glaciers....

...their effort was hindered by people who refused to heed evacuation orders and those who were using the chaos to steal. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart ...

August 23, 2020

By Martha Mendoza and Frank Baker

Firefighter Jeremy Damon of the Nevada Yuba Placer Fire Department is monitoring a controlled burn in the background...

The Santa Cruz fire is one of the “complexes,” (click here) or groups of fires, burning on all sides of the San Francisco Bay Area. They were started by lightning strikes that were among 12,000 registered in the state in the past week.

The National Weather Service issued a “red flag” warning through Monday afternoon for the drought-stricken area, meaning extreme fire conditions including high temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts up to 65 mph (105 kph) that “may result in dangerous and unpredictable fire behavior.”

In nearly a week, firefighters have gotten no more than the 17% containment for the LNU Lightning Complex fire in wine country north of San Francisco. It’s been the most destructive blaze, accounting for five deaths and 845 destroyed homes and other buildings. It and a fire burning southeast of the Bay Area are among the five largest fires in state history, with both burning more than 500 square miles (1,295 square kilometers).

In Southern California, an 11-day-old blaze held steady at just under 50 square miles (106 square kilometers) near Lake Hughes in northern Los Angeles County mountains. Rough terrain, hot weather and the potential for thunderstorms with lightning strikes challenged firefighters....

The Western USA is on fire.

August 20, 2020

By Chelsea Gold

Current Large Incidents Map (click here)

Earth-orbiting satellites (click here) have spotted the wildfires ripping through Northern California.

As record-high temperatures hit the U.S. West Coast this past week, wildfires began to spread rapidly in a region west of Sacramento, quickly growing to encompass 124,000 acres (50,000 hectares), according to the New York Times. As the fires rage on, they are being monitored by Earth-orbiting satellites and experiments onboard the International Space Station. 

On Tuesday (Aug. 18), California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the fires, which have so far forced tens of thousands of evacuations, according to a statement from NASA. One part of Northern California has so many fires caused by lightning from summer storms that the region is now known as the LNU Lightning Complex....

Williams Fork appears to be the one fire that is the furthest east.

Report Date: 23-AUG-20

---

Burnt Area:	10,437 Acres (1% increase from yesterday)
Location:	Grand County, Colorado
Cause:	Unknown
Incident Team Type:	IMT Type 1
Containment Status:	3% contained
Expected Containment	30-Oct-20 IMSR Summary August 23rd, 2020 National Preparedness Level Level 5 National Fire Activity: Initial attack activity: Light (129 new fires) New large incidents: 10 Large fires contained: 7 Uncontained large fires: 96 Area Command teams committed: 0 NIMOs committed: 3 Type 1 IMTs committed: 16 Type 2 IMTs committed: 20 Nationally, there are 18 large fires being managed under a strategy other than full suppression. Source: Incident Management Situation Report

Residents battle Amazon fires in Brazil's Porto Velho (click here for article - thank you)

...The fires are caused in part by farmers clearing land to expand agriculture—natural fires in the Amazon are very rare due to the tropical humid climate of the region (although they are indeed increasing as a consequence of global warming). Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is the result of many different actions, including agricultural expansion (mainly for beef production), but also illegal logging, mining, land speculation, urban development, and more. Because of complex factors—including international trade, financing, and policy decisions by the new government that have crippled environmental enforcement agencies—deforestation in the region has surged....

The Amazon Rainforest continues to be on fire by those that see only exploitation for their own purposes.

130 degrees Fahrenheit

August 17, 2020

By Lauren Fox

Death Valley (click here) was scorched over the weekend when temperatures reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, making it the hottest recorded temperature on Earth since 1931.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will investigate to confirm the temperature reading, which AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor and Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell said could take anywhere from weeks to months and sometimes even years...

The Greater Roadrunner lives there. Let's hope it still does.

...Habitat loss is a bigger threat, (click here) as roadrunners need room to roam and are susceptible to development that fragments their territories and eliminates prey and nest sites. Household pets, feral animals, pedestrians and traffic can also displace or kill roadrunners. Southern California has seen a significant drop in roadrunner numbers over the past several decades....

It is also the home to the Kit Fox (click here).

I think we need to pay attention because I know we haven't in ways that matter.

It's Sunday Night

How is it that a woman can turn a flag into a bathing suit and it is a patriotic fashion, but, burn the flag and it is sacrilege? How do those two extremes come out of the same country? How does that happen? Why do I get the feeling that when white men make the social rules, there is always a double standard?

Take a good look at that video by "Iced EArth?" Betcha you didn't. Take a look at the audience? Betcha you didn't. 

"Iced Earth" is an American band. Perfecting hard rock, metal and all it's offspring is not easy. Metal bands, headbangers are very competitive and it is not easy to win the game in this branch of entertainment. I say this because the audience to this band is completely Caucasian. Now, I know no one in the audience would say they are bigots. They are there to hear the band.

I have been noticing a couple of things about our American society that has to be cleaned up. Now, I am not going to say all the bands in the country MUST reflect the diversity, but, its something that needs to be worked on. Real change is going to happen when the USA addresses the deeply seeded cultural differences in a way that removes differences and instills pride in diversity and inclusion.

Get this one.

This is (click here) a "Notorious Civil War General" Major General Daniel Sickles (also known as "Devil Dan") an Amerian politician, soldier, and diplomat frequently shopped at the store (The store of C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries). Evidently, the general was the of 1863. 

Now, do I think this is offensive? You betcha. Who cares about a defeated general in the Civil War to merchandise a popular soap product? I love Bigelow's products. I especially love the soap. It really lathers and cleans the skin and without harshness afterward. 

This is called evidence of careless handling of the American society that allowed hatred to seep into the pores of the American people without them even realizing it. After the Civil War ended there was a bringing together of a broken nation and Abraham Lincoln was more interested in acceptance and peace and embracing the black man as an American than propagating more division. However, in that peace and acceptance also came hate and Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because he wanted the black man to vote. Voting is necessary to bring people from a community to register the grievances of the people to change the course of the future to alleviate the suffering and ostracization of any American.

I don't want people getting so upset over these issues they need to go out in protest immediately and set an American flag on fire. That isn't the point. The point is our society as it stands today has a lot of soul searching to do. I think letter writing achieves such goals. Also, being part of a movement for government change through elections achieves them, too.

We must pay attention and we must push back. 

Just when you thought you heard enough of the noises, on the website is a discussion.

...All children (click here) are born with a sense of curiosity. Adults have the option to embrace it, or crush it. At a very young age, Jon’s curiosity was driven by a need to understand not just how things work, but why they work. That desire for understanding is as strong today as it was in his youth. “That’s just the way it’s going to be,” or, “Because I said so,” weren’t satisfactory answers for Jon. Questioning authority was a right Jon held sacred. Unfortunately, a few of the clergy entrusted to provide Jon with a Lutheran education found his right to question the system and it’s beliefs anything but sacred. Such negative experiences left scars that would later provide inspiration for the soon-to-be songwriter....

 

"Storm Rider" by Iced Earth (click here for offical website - thank you)

As I travel through the astral planesI see a break ahead
As though the sky has burst in flames
Before the storm I dread
Lightning breaks across the sky
Blackish blue at night
Riders ride on dismal clouds
I scream at Heaven's light

Storming Demons travel through the night

The time is almost here
I lay in a jacket of steel
My scream no-one hears

I can feel the storm approaching

The pain is its reality
The death I breathe is in the air
I feel no more, no longer care
Trumpets sound as I break free
The vision I see just can't be me
What is this that I have done?
Why am I the chosen one?

Fight on, grab on
Stormrider, stormrider
Fight on, grab on
Stormrider, stormrider

Now, the rider rides through the night

The time is almost here
As I lay wrapped in steel
My scream no-one hears
Help me through this Hell inside
My life's my own, it's my pride
Carry on, my solid dream
Save me from this horrid scream

Fight on, grab on
Stormrider, stormrider
Fight on, grab on
Stormrider, stormrider

Kellyann and George Conway have a daughter Claudia.

It is apparent the mother - daughter relationship is broken and abusive. I think Kellyann calling the police because Claudia may have lied is outrageous. Young people with any kind of police record could find it difficult to get into higher education. Kellyann went too far. She put her own need for control before understanding and caring about Claudia and her future.

Claudia needs a lawyer, a guardian ad litem, separate living quarters and financial support. Claudia may need counseling if there has been persistent verbal abuse and otherwise.

Young people have enough stress everyday but to add to it because of a mother needing a political save face is too much for Claudia.

I don’t think anyone knows who the real Claudia is right now because she also exploits her own celebrity in retaliation against abuse. All parties need to stop the public drama, give Claudia space and counsel and allow the circumstances to wind down in hopes of salvaging the family.

Claudia is 15 years old. Give me a break. 

A little surprised this should be a problem this far along for basically a recovered state.

August 21, 2020

By Emily Russell

A nursing home in Essex County (click here) reported 26 cases of COVID-19 and three deaths this week.

It’s one the largest outbreaks in the North Country since the start of the pandemic. The nursing home in Elizabethtown is under the same ownership of a senior center in Glens Falls where 20 residents died due to COVID earlier this year.

The Essex Center nursing home in Elizabethtown is owned by Centers Health Care, which operates facilities across the state. This spring, 75 residents at one of its nursing homes in Glens Falls contracted COVID, 20 of them died.

“What happened at Glens Falls Center cuts right to the heart of us and our staff," said Jeff Jacomowitz, a spokesperson for Centers Health Care. “We’re hoping it doesn’t happen at Essex Center and we’re doing everything possible we can with the hopes that it does not happen.”...

... Jacomowitz did confirm that the facility's staff do regularly travel between other nursing homes in the Centers Health Care's network.

The response to COVID-19 outbreaks must meet with the same brevity as any major outbreak. The spread must be contained and contact tracing a mandate.

It is concerning that this nursing home operator has several nursing homes in the state of New York. The management rotates their employees between all the nursing homes to reduce their costs. During the time of COVID-19 that is not a "best practices" policy. Every nursing home must maintain a consistent staff that is found to be free of the virus. When visitors are allowed in, it has to be with the understanding they are not running a fever and were not exposed to anyone known to have the virus.

The problem is that if a visitor or staff member brings the virus to a nursing home and staff are rotating throughout the company's multiple nursing homes, it is guaranteed there will be wider spread of the virus.

SARS-CoV-2 is not under control. To allow any breach in the system to prevent illness and death is very serious. I believe the practice of rotating staff is an ineffective method to contain the spread of the virus.

August 20, 2020
By Kelly O'Brien

A COVID outbreak at a North Country nursing home (click here) this week has now claimed three lives.

The Essex Center in Elizabethtown saw it’s first COVID-related death this week, the first in the county. And two additional deaths associated with the virus were announced Thursday evening. One was at the hospital, another patient had been discharged from the Essex Center to their home in Clinton County. So far, 24 residents tested positive for the virus.

I went to the facility Thursday looking for an update on how this happened. I was unable to get that question answered but the health department said it's something they are working to figure out.

I was able to speak to family members with loved ones inside. They are furious over how this situation was handled....

What else is of concern to contain the virus is much needed funding to bring supplies and adequate staff levels to optimal numbers. Over abundance of supplies is not wasteful, it is however a way of being sure that SUPPLIES are available BEFORE there is a shortage developing.

Additionally, adequate staff that has training to work in nursing home environments under these stringent standards is very important. It is very difficult to keep staff at optimal levels for containment if their supplies are always in question. They have families, too, and do not want to bring home a virus inadvertently because there wasn't enough PPE.

For nursing home staffers overtime is not an option. Stress levels must reduced and maintained at those reduced levels.

Aug 04, 2020

By Emily Russell

The North Country will face devastating budget cuts (click here) if Congress doesn’t send emergency relief to state and local governments. Officials in Albany warn of 20% cuts across the board if Washington doesn’t act.

“Without federal assistance local leaders will be forced to choose between raising taxes on families who cannot afford it or cut jobs and services that New Yorkers desperately need now more than ever”

The New York Association of Counties looked at projected revenue losses across the state. Nearly every county in the North Country is facing revenue shortfalls between $20 and $30 million in the next two years....

Every federal legislator should be scrambling to solve budget shortfalls with the states because the virus is still not eliminated from society and the needs for PPE and qualified staff is as important today as in March.

This is only one county in one state. New York has done a remarkable job to minimize the COVID-19 cases per day. These outbreaks must be contained and contact tracing carried out, but, more than that adequate funding, plenty of PPE and nursing home management that FULLY ADDRESSES the potential spread within their facilities are all vital parts for eradicating the virus.

Federal legislators must take into account the states have to have the funding to close their budget shortfalls to contain and eradicate the virus. That funding needs to be passed now, not in a few months when the virus spread has gotten worse due to budgetary constraints.

One other thing...

 ...with the arrest of Steve Bannon rises a question as to illegal donations to the RNC and what they are doing with the money.

Bannon’s bail is something like $5 million. It should be considered a down payment to the state and/or federal treasuries. Possibly even the election commission. But, the RNC has to set those monies out of reach for use until Bannon’s trial is over and sentencing is reached. Perhaps the prosecutors need to demand an autonomous bank account no one can access until all the proceedings are done. I would not be surprised that the $5 million came out of the RNC treasury.

Partners in crime.

I guess the Dark Money to the NRA has dried up with Butina in prison or deported. Or has it?

According to the information in the New York Times about back channel meetings between Secretary M’Nuchin and the Republican Post Office Board members, Congress needs to call the Post Office Board members and Secretary Munchkin for testimony. Soon.

$600 million victims fund.

Damages to a human body, a child, an unborn fetus and the deaths of the elderly are hard to put in dollars. $600 million is a good settlement. I guess it's up to the Flint residents to decide if that is proportionate to their losses. I don't know why the details are public either.

I think other criminal investigations and legal proceedings, including that of individuals are still ongoing.

August 21, 2020

The residents of Flint, Michigan (click here) will reportedly receive $600 million to compensate for lead-tainted drinking water, which began back in April of 2014.

The details are not public but, according to the Associated Press, after 18 months of negotiations with the offices of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and the residents of Flint, a $600 million settlement was reached.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Nessel said in a statement, “We and the other parties are bound by a federal court order to maintain the confidentiality of detailed settlement and mediation communications until we reach a certain point. We have not yet reached the point where we can discuss a potential settlement.”...

Republicans need to knock it off. Being in Trump's back pocket is NOT the place to stake a claim to office.

This is pathetic. Even McConnell knows better than to speak at the Republican National Convention and Portman is defending a Post Master General that is doing his level best to sabotage the 2020 election.

Here are some of the basics, Americans need drop boxes to mail their letters, bill payments, and yes, their votes. They need RELIABLE mail service and DeJoy is providing is hugely problematic serve for all the people.

DeJoy BROKE IT AND NOW HE BETTER FIX IT BEFORE THE BALLOTING THAT BEGINS IN OCTOBER.

After Americans post their mail in the drop boxes, mailpersons on foot or by postal truck pick up the mail and place it into the system so the SORTING MACHINES can direct it based on the address. 

Anyone realize how remarkable those sorting machines are and how they have evolved over time. The genius of the Post Service over the decades have kept up with modern demands, not only that by the commercial services CANNOT match the efficiency of the USA Postal Service sorting machines. The sorting machines read handwriting, no commercial operation does. Not one. A customer has to fill out forms to mail through them and then machine created labels are attached to the package to be mailed with a bar code. No American has a bar code on their handwritten envelopes.

Over decades of time THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONALLY CREATED POST SERVICE NEVER AND I DO MEAN NEVER HAS ASKED AMERICANS TO CHANGE THEIR HANDWRITING. INSTEAD, THE POST SERVICE LOVED THE AMERICANS HANDWRITING THEY LEARNED IN SCHOOL AND FOUND MODIFICATIONS AND NEW INVENTION TO READ THE VERY PRECIOUS AMERICAN HANDWRITING.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

The US Postal Service and it's employees are magnificent and dare I say PERFECT!

DeJoy and now it looks like Rob Portman just can't wait to sabotage a perfect mail service and a presidential election. Trump, DeJoy, and evidently Portman are horrible human beings that think they can circumvent the USA Constitution and doing so an election.

SANTA CLAUS IS GOING TO RECEIVE HIS LETTERS AT THE NORTH POLE OR GOD HELP YOU!

IT IS DISGUSTING!

August 21, 2020

By Sabrina Eaton

...“As we head into the election season, (click here) I want to assure this committee and the American public that the Postal Service is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail securely and on time,” DeJoy told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “This sacred duty is my number one priority between now and Election Day.”...

This evening has been a banquet.

Every one of the candidates could have been a successful president. It is the time we are in that has brought Joe Biden to the front of our great leaders. Joe is the moderate, fearless, and experienced leader we need now.

No more fast food for the presidency. A tried and true leader that is proven to be strong sustenance. That is why the American people chose Joe Biden. They know him. They know his steadfast faith in morality and justice.

This convention has brought the pride of its members to a pinnacle that needed to be achieved. The Democrats knew exactly what needed to be done and now we have a magnificent team to run for the presidency.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is the perfect team. It is a wise choice.

Every candidate should be reassured the choice made is about a steady hand and a way forward that is recognizable. Joe Biden has what it takes. He was an accumulation of values and expertise that can be counted on. Every one of the candidates could lead this country, but, the vision of what America is about is best served by the leadership of Joe Biden. Be reassured that every person that ran for the office of president is as magnificent American. They should be proud of their involvement knowing each one is the gift of being the best this country has to offer. They should stay involved. Americans love them, but, it was time for Joe Biden and the culmination of value systems that are rock solid and known.

Thank you to all, including those that made this convention possible. It is great. Now. It is time for Joe.

Postal Trucks and Tractor Trailers. How many of the US Postal trucks and semis have been sold?

It seems obvious why the new postal trucks were never ordered. Trump intends to liquidate the US Postal Service. Someone needs to investigate the FLEET and be sure there actually are trucks to move the mail.

September 03, 2019

by Cyndia Zwahlen

The U.S. Postal Service (click here) delayed awarding a multi-billion dollar contract to replace its fleet of aging mail trucks until next year. When the program first launched several years ago, the agency said the decision would be made by now.

The Postal Service also now says it may split assembly of 186,000 next-generation daily mail trucks between several of the four company teams competing for the $6 billion-plus contract....

It is about time!

August 20, 2020
By Paul Waldman

If you thought Stephen K. Bannon (click here) was going to end up in handcuffs, you might have predicted that it wouldn’t be for a small-time con. After all, Bannon went from running a far-right online publication to the heights of U.S. conservatism, first as CEO of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign and then as “chief strategist” in the White House. He even had ambitions to take his political project global

'

But it turns out that the scheme that Bannon has jut been criminally charged with is indeed a species of penny-ante grift. Yet it’s the sort of grift the American right has been running on its own voters for decades, which makes this absolutely fitting:

- Federal prosecutors in New York on Thursday unsealed criminal charges against Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist, and three other men they alleged defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors using an online crowdfunding campaign that was advertised as raising money to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico.

- In a news release, prosecutors said Bannon and another organizer of the campaign, Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage, claimed they would not take any compensation as part of the campaign, called “We Build The Wall,” but that was a lie. Bannon, prosecutors alleged, received more than $1 million through a nonprofit he controlled, sending hundreds of thousands out to Kolfage while keeping a “substantial portion” for himself.

If you’re keeping score, the group of people around the president who have been charged with crimes now includes Trump’s campaign CEO, Trump’s campaign chairman, Trump’s deputy campaign chairman, Trump’s personal lawyer, Trump’s  national security adviser and Trump’s longtime friend and political adviser....