Trump has no conscience for anyone other than his own ideas. The future is in peril and his narcissism and that of the Republican Party in the USA can't be allowed to continue. They practice policies of regression and it needs to end.
The USA needs a green economy and now.
August 28, 2018
Thursday, Malcolm Turnbull (click here) was the prime minister of Australia. By the end of this week, he’ll be just another guy in Sydney.
Turnbull was felled by climate-change policy. His attempt at a moderate, even milquetoast energy bill—which included some mild cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions—proved too aggressive for his co-partisans. On Friday, members of Australia’s center-right Liberal Party voted him out of office.
Pity for Turnbull, though at least he can he can trudge home to his mansion on Sydney Harbor. And pity for Australia, which lately has had some trouble keeping its prime ministers in office. (It’s churned through six of them since 2007.) Yet even setting that context aside, Turnbull’s tumble remains a disquieting sign for anyone hoping for an aggressive global climate policy. In Australia—where global warming has contributed to the die-off of half the coralin the Great Barrier Reef since 2016—even a mild climate bill could not pass under a conservative government.
It points to an emerging pattern: Moderate national leaders—on both the center-left and center-right—in some of the world’s richest and most advanced countries are finding it far easier to talk about climate change than to actually fight it.At a basic level, this pattern holds up, well, everywhere.
Every country except the United States supports the Paris Agreement on climate change. But no major developed country is on track to meet its Paris climate goals, according to the Climate Action Tracker, an independent analysis produced by three European research organizations. Even Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom—where right-wing governments have made combatting climate change a national priority—seem likely to miss their goals....
Sunday, September 09, 2018
Please be sure the changed trajectory is aimed away from an Earth collision.
September 6, 2018
Luxembourg, (click here) one of the first countries to set its eyes on the possibility of mining asteroids, is officially launching its Space Agency (LSA) next week, which main goal will be boosting exploration and commercial utilization of resources from near Earth objects.
The tiny country, one of the euro zone's wealthiest, already has a long-standing space industry, which played a significant role in the development of satellite communications a generation ago, including setting up SES (Société Européenne des Satellites), one of the world’s largest satellite services company.
Now the nation want to become Europe’s centre for space mining. That is why, unlike US space agency NASA, LSA will not carry out research or launches. Its purpose is to accelerate collaborations between economic project leaders of the space sector, investors and other partners, Paul Zenners, government counsellor, said in an emailed statement.
The agency, he noted, will also manage all national space programs and the relations with the European Space Agency (ESA), from which the country is a member.
No time wasted
Since early 2016, when Luxembourg officially announced an initiative to promote the mining of asteroids for minerals, progress has been made almost at the speed of light....
28 May 2017
By Anna Schaverien
The White House (click here) has come under fire for a sexist Facebook post which named every spouse of the world leaders, except the First Gentleman of Luxembourg.
Gauthier Destenay, husband of Luxembourg’s prime minister Xavier Bettel was the only partner not to be named in the photo of the spouses, taken at the Royal Castle of Laeken in Brussels.
Many have interpreted the post as a snub against Mr Bettel and Mr Destenay - Europe’s first openly gay political couple....
The 2008 global economic collapse hit Luxemborg very hard, but, it has since rebounded.
Above is a graph demonstrating eight years of Luxembourg's GDP per capita. The World Bank today has the GDP per capita at $104,175.00. (click here)
Luxembourg's population counts about 602,005 residents (as of 1 January 2018). (click here) Among them, 313,042 are Luxembourgers and 288,963 have a foreign nationality — they represent by themselves 48% of the entire population. In the capital, this percentage exceeds 69%!
On workdays, 177,110 cross-border workers from France, Belgium and Germany joining Luxembourg's workforce add to this number (2016 figures). Luxembourg can therefore be considered as a pole of attraction for workers from the Greater Region....
Luxembourg population is equivalent to 0.01% of the total world population.
Luxembourg ranks number 169 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
The population density in Luxembourg is 228 per Km2 (590 people per mi2).
The total land area is 2,590 Km2 (1,000 sq. miles)
86.8 % of the population is urban (512,258 people in 2018)
The median age in Luxembourg is 39.3 years.
...Luxembourg's population increased rapidly through the 20th century due to immigration from Belgium, Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. At the 2001 census, the country had 59,000 Portuguese residents. As of 2014, it's estimated that 55% of the population is comprised of Luxembourgers and 45% of foreign nationality. Most foreigners in Luxembourg are from EU countries, and many are asylum seekers from Eastern Europe, particularly new republics that emerged from the former Yugoslavia. These immigrants have increased the young population in the country, and the birth rate. Immigrants now account for half of all births in Luxembourg.
...Luxembourgers (click here) enjoy one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world, ranking second (after Qatar) in 2014. The steel industry made the country rich in the 19th century, but when that collapsed in the late 1970’s, Luxembourg evolved into a major financial center. Today, there are about 150 banks in a country that’s smaller than the state of Rhode Island.
Its reputation as a tax haven made it attractive to all kinds of foreign investment. Amazon and Skype have headquarters there. But in the past, the financial laws favoring secrecy also appealed to some questionable types, including Kim Jong Il of North Korea, so the regulations, or lack thereof, came under pressure, which has led to more transparency in recent years....
The young people are being cheated out of a planet that is benevolent and thriving.
By Oliver Milman
Tens of thousands of people (click here) took part in marches and other events across the US on Saturday, calling for a swift transition to renewable energy in order to stave off the various perils of climate change.
The Rise for Climate protests was spearheaded by what organizers called the largest ever climate march on the US west coast. The march, which snaked through the heart of San Francisco, came ahead of a climate change summit in the city next week that will gather mayors and business leaders from around the world.
The San Francisco march, which called for California governor Jerry Brown to end fossil fuel extraction in the state, attracted around 30,000 people, organizers said.
An array of activities, including rallies, voter registration drives and vigils, were scheduled to take place across the US, in cities such as Boston, Miami and Portland, Oregon. Events were also planned in Puerto Rico. In New Orleans, protesters planned to agitate for the halt of the Bayou Bridge pipeline, an extension of the controversial Dakota Access project that last year spurred a lengthy standoff at the Standing Rock reservation....
By Paschal Sheehy
Around 200 people (click here) marched through Cork city centre this afternoon to call on the Government to implement the climate recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly.
The march was one of more than 800 events taking place around the world to support a climate summit in San Francisco.
The march was organised by Cork Climate Action, a coalition of NGOs and individuals concerned about the threat to the world.
The NGOs involved include Trócaire, Cork Environmental Forum, UCC Green Campus, and SHEP (the Social and Health Education Project).
Earlier this year, the report and recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change was sent to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Mick Finn, said there was still a lot to do in relation to climate change and there was some disagreement over how we should act to mitigate the worst effects. However, he said he was delighted at the turnout and wished the march success....
The flooding in Luxembourg has become incrementally worse.
Floods, mudslides, trees and even rocks on the roads: (click here) the situation in Müllerthal seemed disastrous this morning.
Firefighters were already on the scene as we arrived in the area, but the situation seemed static. Shocked by the damage, the few firefighters who were already there seemed disconcerted by its extent....
Make no mistake, Earth is dying and it isn't slow.
There exists a marked difference in the planetary chlorophyll (algae and phytoplankton) (click here) in the oceans between April 2003 to April 2018. From Australia to Indonesia to south Asia there is a gross diminished amount of chlorophyll. The East China Sea and the Sea of Japan try to be normal, but, patches show diminished capacity.
The South China Sea, Java Sea, Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean are virtually absent of quantities of any blooms of chlorophyll in April 2018, which absorbs CO2.
Where the Indian ocean meets the West Wind Drift (the outer circulation - furthest from the coast) of Antarctica there is diminished chlorophyll. All of this is of concern because it matches the loss of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef. The same West Wind Drift where it moves between South America and Africa is effectively diminished, but, less so. There may be a reason for this in that icebergs carry microscopic plant life with them. Larsen C's Ice Shelf collapse (click here) produced sizable glaciers that would still be floating in that circulation.
The Equatorial regions of Earth west of Ecuador the chlorophyll is mostly absent. That occurred because the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has become completely disrupted most of the year with water vapor moved north by large mid-latitude vortices.
The northern hemisphere shows signs of the chlorophyll production of Earth moving northward with warming oceans. It is most notable between North America and Greenland. The Greenland melt would also send nutrients into the Atlantic Ocean. Of note is diminished production west of North American into the Pacific. That makes sense, with the Pacific warming the production of chlorophyll (algae and phytoplankton) occurs within the first 30 feet of the upper ocean do to sunlight penetration. We know the Pacific Ocean is warming so that would have an effect on chlorophyll production.
Europe is experiencing less chlorophyll density, but, not as traumatic as other areas of Earth already described. Inland bodies of water in Europe are appear to be unchanged, because, the algae is probably blue-green algae which has manifested from the beginning of time.
The most alarming reality is the impressive loss of chlorophyll at the "Tropic of Cancer" northward to approximately 45 degrees north latitude. That is a very big deal. That is also a global reality that should not be taken lightly. The only place this is not the case is the Yellow Sea, east of China. There is a lot of loss to worry about. The chlorophyll of Earth produces 60 percent of breathable oxygen. There is a lot to worry about when coral reefs die and the chlorophyll assessments are proving diminished capacity of Earth's oceans to produce
Chlorophyll and Sea Surface Temperatures (click here)
"Save the Plankton, Breathe Freely" (click here)
"Save the Plankton, Breathe Freely" Experiment in PDF (click here)
The South China Sea, Java Sea, Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean are virtually absent of quantities of any blooms of chlorophyll in April 2018, which absorbs CO2.
Where the Indian ocean meets the West Wind Drift (the outer circulation - furthest from the coast) of Antarctica there is diminished chlorophyll. All of this is of concern because it matches the loss of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef. The same West Wind Drift where it moves between South America and Africa is effectively diminished, but, less so. There may be a reason for this in that icebergs carry microscopic plant life with them. Larsen C's Ice Shelf collapse (click here) produced sizable glaciers that would still be floating in that circulation.
The Equatorial regions of Earth west of Ecuador the chlorophyll is mostly absent. That occurred because the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has become completely disrupted most of the year with water vapor moved north by large mid-latitude vortices.
The northern hemisphere shows signs of the chlorophyll production of Earth moving northward with warming oceans. It is most notable between North America and Greenland. The Greenland melt would also send nutrients into the Atlantic Ocean. Of note is diminished production west of North American into the Pacific. That makes sense, with the Pacific warming the production of chlorophyll (algae and phytoplankton) occurs within the first 30 feet of the upper ocean do to sunlight penetration. We know the Pacific Ocean is warming so that would have an effect on chlorophyll production.
Europe is experiencing less chlorophyll density, but, not as traumatic as other areas of Earth already described. Inland bodies of water in Europe are appear to be unchanged, because, the algae is probably blue-green algae which has manifested from the beginning of time.
The most alarming reality is the impressive loss of chlorophyll at the "Tropic of Cancer" northward to approximately 45 degrees north latitude. That is a very big deal. That is also a global reality that should not be taken lightly. The only place this is not the case is the Yellow Sea, east of China. There is a lot of loss to worry about. The chlorophyll of Earth produces 60 percent of breathable oxygen. There is a lot to worry about when coral reefs die and the chlorophyll assessments are proving diminished capacity of Earth's oceans to produce
Chlorophyll and Sea Surface Temperatures (click here)
"Save the Plankton, Breathe Freely" (click here)
"Save the Plankton, Breathe Freely" Experiment in PDF (click here)
March 31, 2016
Luxembourg firefighters (click here) had a lot of work on their hand on Monday night facing basements knee-deep in water and flooded roads across the country.
Due to the heavy and continuous rains in many areas, residents struggled with flooded cellars and garages in their homes. Firefighters and other emergency services were called out more than 250 times to deal with widespread flooding.
Among the call outs, the majority were in wineries (206), while 36 calls concerned blocked roads. Meanwhile, two campsites were evacuated, in Alzingen and Diekirch). No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
Although Tuesday morning looks a little brighter, the aftermath was still prevalent and roads were sporadically blocked.
An example of this was the road between Roeser and Bivange, south of the City, but by 7:30am, most obstacles were removed and the water pumped away.
The road at Mullerthal in the direction of Schiessentümpel was completely blocked after a tree fell right across the road. Again, by about 7:30am the road was cleared.
Luxembourg Interior Minister Dan Kersch thanked volunteer firefighters and rescue workers for their efforts in a press release on Tuesday.
"These interventions have shown once again the importance of voluntary commitment, without which it would not have been possible to deal with such an emergency," he said.
In ONLY 15 years the hotter ocean waters have reached further into polar regions and intensified at the equator.
The most obvious pattern (click here) shown in the time series is the year-round difference in sea surface temperatures between equatorial regions and the poles. Various warm and cool currents stand out even in monthly averages of sea surface temperature. A band of warm waters snakes up the East Coast of the United States and veers across the North Atlantic the Gulf Stream....
Maps of July 2002 is above and the map of July 2016 is below.
Maps of July 2002 is above and the map of July 2016 is below.
Luxembourg has taken a straight forward approach to telling it's people, this is real and dangerous.
Annual mean temperatures (click here) for the city of Luxembourg are now above the 30-year averages for the last century. In fact, the 1951-1980, 1961-1990 and 1971-2000 mean annual temperatures – around 9°C – are now regularly exceeded: since entering the 21st century, annual mean temperatures have been between 9.3°C (2001) and 11.3°C (2007). Other meteorological stations across the country show similar results. Further analysis of the data suggests that the average air temperature in Luxembourg has also increased during the winter and this, along with longer frost-free periods, has had a significant impact on the phenology of plants and the life cycles of animals, birds and insects. Preliminary results from an ongoing study suggest that mean annual temperatures are expected to reach up to 11.6°C for the period 2071-2100 [Figure 1].
The seasonal distribution of precipitation has varied considerably over the last 130 years. This is mostly due to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns, with an increase in westerly atmospheric fluxes during winter months, which have reportedly been responsible for significant redistribution of winter rainfall totals over the past 30 years. Combined with higher air temperatures, this has led to increased flood frequency in most national river basins.
Earth is becoming drier and less productive.
One of the most important ingredients for plant growth is water. (click here) In many ecosystems, particularly grasslands and cropland, seasonal plant growth occurs in perfect synch with the rainy season. In times of drought, vegetation in these ecosystems grows poorly, if at all. Abundant rain leads to a burst of green. Other ecosystems, such as the boreal forests of northern Russia, Europe, and North America, draw on ground water and so respond more slowly to changes in rainfall....
Above is planetary vegetation in March 2000 and below is March of 2016. In case it isn't obvious Earth is drying up, Australia is the best bellwether. Other observations of reduced vegetation are South Africa, China, Western Europe, Eastern Amazon in South America, Eastern USA and Southern Canada.
Luxembourg believes in life.
Biodiversity (click here) is considered one of the key challenges of the 21st century together with climate change. As an example, 90% of the large ocean predators have been removed by fishing in the last 50 years, and a scientific study has predicted that current fisheries will have collapsed by 2048. The removal of keystone predators alters the structure of the entire ecosystem.
The warming of the climate system is partly linked to biodiversity. Climate change is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. The Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is very likely to have been caused by human activities.
Projected global warming this century is likely to trigger serious consequences for mankind and other life forms, including a rise in sea levels of between 18 and 59 cm which will endanger coastal areas and small islands, and a greater frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
Philanthropists can play an important role in using funding with a collaborative approach with key individuals and institutions working to improve our ecological footprint.
December 10, 2017
By Jessi Bauldry
“I was totally surprised. (click here) I never thought I would be elected,” she told Delano four days later. But while she modestly says she never expected the result, the final-year student will be no new-comer to the world of politics when she is sworn in to the communal council.
“I’ve been interested in politics since the age of 16. It was my dream to go into politics when I got older,” she said, explaining that she served on the Luxembourg Youth Parliament, as vice president of National Conference of Luxembourg students, and has been actively involved with the Luxembourg Red Cross.
Thill is also an active sportswoman, having played basketball and cricket and practiced karate for several years. These accomplishments were recognised when she was awarded the Zonta International Young Woman in Public Affairs award in 2015. Since then she went on to begin a bachelor’s degree in Strasbourg in physics and earth science.
Now in her final year of her programme, it was her studies which made her hesitate when she was first invited by the Green Party in Walferdange to join their list in spring. “Now I see I can do it and I’m going to do everything I can to make it possible,” she said.
Her slogan before the elections was to help to build an attractive future for everybody in Walferdange. Thill thinks that perhaps what helped boost her standing was the fact she and the Green Party had sent a letter to all the young voters in the commune for whom it was their first municipal election. “We encouraged them to go and vote. I think maybe it encouraged young people to vote for me,” she said on 12 October....
Luzembourg National Anthem - "Ons Hémécht"
Duerch d'Fielsen d'Sauer brécht,
Wou d'Rief laanscht d'Musel dofteg bléit,
Den Himmel Wäin ons mécht:
Dat as onst Land, fir dat mer géif
Hei nidden alles won,
Ons Heemechtsland dat mir so déif
An onsen Hierzer dron.
Ons Heemechtsland dat mir so déif
An onsen Hierzer dron.
Where the Alzette slowly flows,
The Sauer plays wild pranks,
Where fragrant vineyards amply grow
On the Mosella's banks;
There lies the land for which we would
Dare everything down here,
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.
An sengem donkle Bëscherkranz,
Vum Fridde stëll bewaacht,
Sou ouni Pronk an deire Glanz
Gemittlech léif et laacht;
Säi Vollek frou sech soë kann,
An 't si keng eidel Dreem:
Wéi wunnt et sech sou heemlech dran,
Wéi as 't sou gutt doheem!
In his dark wood wreath,
Peace always voiced,
So without pomp and splendor
Comfortable, it laughs;
His people are happy to say,
There are no empty dreams:
If you live in such a home,
How about it to be good at home!
Gesank, Gesank vu Bierg an Dall
Der Äärd, déi äis gedron;
D'Léift huet en treie Widderhall
A jidder Broschts gedon;
Fir, d'Hemecht ass keng Weis ze schéin;
All Wuert, dat vun er klénkt,
Gräift äis an d' Séil wéi Himmelstéin
An d'A wéi Feier blénkt.
Singing, singing mountain and mountain
The earth that drinks us;
Love is a faithful ramification
At every brooch;
For the countryside, there is no way too much;
Every word that he tunes,
Get in touch with the soul as sky stones
And what's like fire flashes.
O Du do uewen, deen seng Hand
Duerch d'Welt d'Natioune leet,
Behitt Du d'Lëtzebuerger Land
Vru friemem Joch a Leed;
Du hues ons all als Kanner schon
De fräie Geescht jo ginn,
Looss viru blénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir sou laang gesinn!
Looss viru blénken d'Fräiheetssonn,
Déi mir sou laang gesinn!
O Thou above whose powerful hand
Makes States or lays them low,
Protect this Luxembourger land
From foreign yoke and woe.
Your spirit of liberty bestow
On us now as of yore.
Let Freedom's sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.
Let Freedom's sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.
This is a strange reaction. It is the reaction of a person schooled on his behavior.
September 9, 2018
By Sam Seder
Brett Kavanaugh (click here) just had a VERY strange reaction to an attempted handshake from the father of a Parkland victim. Sam Seder and the Majority Report crew discuss this.
September 9, 2018
By Sam Seder
Brett Kavanaugh (click here) just had a VERY strange reaction to an attempted handshake from the father of a Parkland victim. Sam Seder and the Majority Report crew discuss this.
Remove “Silent Sam” permanently from UNC Chapel Hill.
Even at its original placement there was no real purpose for it except guilt in having so many people die to protect slavery.
The statue has always been controversial and there is absolutely no reason for the STATE UNIVERSITY to return the ugly statue.
Silent Sam carried a gun but no ammunition. Supposedly that is to signify the end of war. But, when considering the Klans directive of Peaceful Genocide, the statue represents what can be called modern day racism.
There is no reason for any confederate memorial anywhere in the USA. The Confederate soldiers are buried in Arlington Cemetery along side Union soldiers. Both are in mass graves because there were so many unidentified soldiers, hence, the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
The many campuses of the University of North Carolina have an obligation to all it’s students to provide a healthy environment to learning, including ending hate and division. Silent Sam is about a continued division in the identity of white students from black students. There is absolutely no reason for symbols of continued racism. That is the identity of such an abomination on an esteemed university campus.
The Civil War is ended and it’s casualties honorably buried; there was never and is never a need for such an expression of guilt. The university administration needs to officially end the return of a 100 year old relic of the Civil War.
The statue has always been controversial and there is absolutely no reason for the STATE UNIVERSITY to return the ugly statue.
Silent Sam carried a gun but no ammunition. Supposedly that is to signify the end of war. But, when considering the Klans directive of Peaceful Genocide, the statue represents what can be called modern day racism.
There is no reason for any confederate memorial anywhere in the USA. The Confederate soldiers are buried in Arlington Cemetery along side Union soldiers. Both are in mass graves because there were so many unidentified soldiers, hence, the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
The many campuses of the University of North Carolina have an obligation to all it’s students to provide a healthy environment to learning, including ending hate and division. Silent Sam is about a continued division in the identity of white students from black students. There is absolutely no reason for symbols of continued racism. That is the identity of such an abomination on an esteemed university campus.
The Civil War is ended and it’s casualties honorably buried; there was never and is never a need for such an expression of guilt. The university administration needs to officially end the return of a 100 year old relic of the Civil War.
Saturday, September 08, 2018
No self-respecting woman US Senator would vote for Kavanaugh.
This is another example of a slow walk to create a theocracy from the USA democracy. Catholics can forget about their Saints, that won't happen under right wing extremist leadership.
Evangelicals classify Catholics as spiritists. That goes for Jews as well.
It is seen as contradicting the Bible's prohibition on contacting the dead. These are found most clearly in the Jewish Law, which is not binding on Christians, but is still considered to be solid wisdom in this case.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31, NIV)
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. (Deuteronomy 8:10-11)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 4:5)
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25)
Still yet another more minor, argument is an argument from silence: this practice is not recognised as being taught or performed anywhere in the Bible.
This position ultimately arises from a different understanding of the Communion of Saints in Protestantism. Protestants would not deny the real union of living believers (the church militant) nor the union of believers who have passed away (the church triumphant), but they would generally not say that there is a functional union between those groups. We are united in our shared salvation state, our faith, our creed, our shared indwelling of the Spirit, our hope, and our inheritance, but we are not united with the dead in any relational capacity. There is much disagreement within Protestantism over the nature of the Intermediate State between death and resurrection, and many believe in soul sleep, that the dead are unconscious until the time of their resurrection. Others may believe that they are conscious, but that they do not have the means to hear our invocations and prayers.
We still know nothing about Kavanaugh, except, he sold his soul to the Federalist Society and is definitely married to those ideologies. That is a dangerous precedent. The US Senate Judicial Committee is virtually worthless in deciding if a judge is good for the country when on the Supreme Court or a soldier of fortune for the Federalist Society.
September 7, 2018
By David G. Savage
...Conservative scholars credited Kavanaugh (click here) with a strong, steady performance amidst the partisan squabbling. “He is an experienced, thoughtful and intelligent mainstream judicial conservative. I do not believe we learned anything new about him, but we have learned a bit about the new normal in terms of collegiality in the Senate and the depth of activists’ frustration with the administration,” said Notre Dame law professor Richard Garnett.
Women’s rights advocates and liberal scholars said they were not reassured by his testimony. “Our fears about the future of this country deepened this week when Judge Kavanaugh repeatedly refused to answer questions about his views on abortion, employment discrimination, immigration and healthcare. Our civil rights, dignity and autonomy will be in grave danger if he is confirmed,” said Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Center.
Elizabeth Wydra, president of the progressive Constitutional Accountability Center, pointed to the jarring contrast between Kavanaugh’s public praise for the Brown vs. Board of Education school desegregation ruling and his private White House memos deriding affirmative action policies. “Seeing him use words like ‘naked racial set-aside’ and ‘racial spoils system’ to refer to race-conscious measures intended to redress entrenched systemic racism is upsetting,” Wydra said.
September 7. 2018
Washington - Brett Kavanaugh's views on birth control drew scrutiny in Washington on Thursday as abortion rights advocates charged that the Supreme Court nominee had referred to contraceptives as "abortion-inducing drugs...
...The controversy came as Kavanaugh was discussing a case involving the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (click here) to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The government's regulations included a requirement that all employers provide their employees with health insurance that covers all formed of FDA approved birth control including birth control pills, IUD's and horomonal injections....
The issue with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is that religious freedom never needed restoration in the USA. The (2) unduly burdens laws written without any assignment to religion. Will the USA legislature ever be able to write laws without FIRST addressing religious freedom. It is ridiculous. The separation of Church and State will disappear forever if the Congress has to place a religious test to legislation.
The really interesting concept to this very questionably necessary restoration act is where does "Though shalt not kill," fit into the liberal gun laws?
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 2, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488.)
Evangelicals classify Catholics as spiritists. That goes for Jews as well.
It is seen as contradicting the Bible's prohibition on contacting the dead. These are found most clearly in the Jewish Law, which is not binding on Christians, but is still considered to be solid wisdom in this case.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:31, NIV)
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. (Deuteronomy 8:10-11)
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 4:5)
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25)
Still yet another more minor, argument is an argument from silence: this practice is not recognised as being taught or performed anywhere in the Bible.
This position ultimately arises from a different understanding of the Communion of Saints in Protestantism. Protestants would not deny the real union of living believers (the church militant) nor the union of believers who have passed away (the church triumphant), but they would generally not say that there is a functional union between those groups. We are united in our shared salvation state, our faith, our creed, our shared indwelling of the Spirit, our hope, and our inheritance, but we are not united with the dead in any relational capacity. There is much disagreement within Protestantism over the nature of the Intermediate State between death and resurrection, and many believe in soul sleep, that the dead are unconscious until the time of their resurrection. Others may believe that they are conscious, but that they do not have the means to hear our invocations and prayers.
We still know nothing about Kavanaugh, except, he sold his soul to the Federalist Society and is definitely married to those ideologies. That is a dangerous precedent. The US Senate Judicial Committee is virtually worthless in deciding if a judge is good for the country when on the Supreme Court or a soldier of fortune for the Federalist Society.
September 7, 2018
By David G. Savage
...Conservative scholars credited Kavanaugh (click here) with a strong, steady performance amidst the partisan squabbling. “He is an experienced, thoughtful and intelligent mainstream judicial conservative. I do not believe we learned anything new about him, but we have learned a bit about the new normal in terms of collegiality in the Senate and the depth of activists’ frustration with the administration,” said Notre Dame law professor Richard Garnett.
Women’s rights advocates and liberal scholars said they were not reassured by his testimony. “Our fears about the future of this country deepened this week when Judge Kavanaugh repeatedly refused to answer questions about his views on abortion, employment discrimination, immigration and healthcare. Our civil rights, dignity and autonomy will be in grave danger if he is confirmed,” said Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Center.
Elizabeth Wydra, president of the progressive Constitutional Accountability Center, pointed to the jarring contrast between Kavanaugh’s public praise for the Brown vs. Board of Education school desegregation ruling and his private White House memos deriding affirmative action policies. “Seeing him use words like ‘naked racial set-aside’ and ‘racial spoils system’ to refer to race-conscious measures intended to redress entrenched systemic racism is upsetting,” Wydra said.
September 7. 2018
Washington - Brett Kavanaugh's views on birth control drew scrutiny in Washington on Thursday as abortion rights advocates charged that the Supreme Court nominee had referred to contraceptives as "abortion-inducing drugs...
...The controversy came as Kavanaugh was discussing a case involving the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (click here) to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The government's regulations included a requirement that all employers provide their employees with health insurance that covers all formed of FDA approved birth control including birth control pills, IUD's and horomonal injections....
The issue with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is that religious freedom never needed restoration in the USA. The (2) unduly burdens laws written without any assignment to religion. Will the USA legislature ever be able to write laws without FIRST addressing religious freedom. It is ridiculous. The separation of Church and State will disappear forever if the Congress has to place a religious test to legislation.
The really interesting concept to this very questionably necessary restoration act is where does "Though shalt not kill," fit into the liberal gun laws?
(Pub. L. 103–141, § 2, Nov. 16, 1993, 107 Stat. 1488.)
(a)Findings
The Congress finds that—
(1)
the framers of the Constitution, recognizing free exercise of religion as an unalienable right, secured its protection in the First Amendment to the Constitution;
(2)
laws “neutral” toward religion may burden religious exercise as surely as laws intended to interfere with religious exercise;
(3)
governments should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification;
The purposes of this chapter are—
(1)
to restore the compelling interest test as set forth in Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398 (1963) and Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972) and to guarantee its application in all cases where free exercise of religion is substantially burdened; and
(2)
to provide a claim or defense to persons whose religious exercise is substantially burdened by government.
The Federalist Society is a danger to our democracy and their Evangelical need to control their religious freedom within every other American is an assault of conscience when realizing how other religions are taking a back seat to this disastrous movement within the seats of power in the USA.
Friday, September 07, 2018
Flint
Flint is getting a new Hilton Hotel and it is expected to hire 75 people.
The new Michael Moore film Fahrenheit 11/9 will premier in Flint on
September 10th at 7 pm at the Whiting. Some of the heroes of Flint will be there to speak after the film.
Disenfranchised is the overwhelming theme in an article if “Business Insider.” It reflects on Snyder’s political grandstanding when announcing the decision for emergency manager. Snyder announced the decision on Election Day in Flint five hours before the polls close. The sitting mayor would be elected to a full term, but, without the capacity to institute change WITH the state in a consent decree. The state to all power from the governing body and created a unilateral authority to bring about a resolve to the $25.7 million debt.
The citizens were disenfranchised as well. There was no one interested in hearing their complaints when the poisoned water came through the pipes. Becoming their own megaphone was their own choice. That didn’t work until a pediatrician and a university professor from out of state gathered evidence. It took this extreme and a year of suffering before the emergency of a different kind made it’s way to Governor Snyder.
The article was written by Anna Clark and entitled, “Michigan’s Micromanagement made Flint’s water crisis worse than it should have been”.
The Michigan Emergency Manager law disenfranchises citizens from any measure of governance without anyone to hear and process complaints.
Come to understand: No one in Snyder’s administration would take complaints. No complaints from the citizens of Flint NOR any complaints from the US EPA, especially with that black in the White House. Flint was CUT OFF like a bad child that didn’t spend their allowance wisely. Got it? Flint was not to receive any attention to any complaint because it would cost money. It would take a pediatrician and an out of state university professor and his students to finally get the attention of Snyder to recognize extremely poisoned water that had been for the PREVIOUS YEAR.
Understand? Flint would FIRST be made to pay off a $25.7 million debt BEFORE ANY concern of the people would ever be heard. Snyder cut off ANYONE, including the US EPA, that was complaining on behalf of the citizens of Flint. The people were left alone and they got sick and they died. No one in Michigan cared because the $25.7 million had to be reconciled first. YES, Snyder is just that ruthless when it comes to money. End of discussion.
The new Michael Moore film Fahrenheit 11/9 will premier in Flint on
September 10th at 7 pm at the Whiting. Some of the heroes of Flint will be there to speak after the film.
Disenfranchised is the overwhelming theme in an article if “Business Insider.” It reflects on Snyder’s political grandstanding when announcing the decision for emergency manager. Snyder announced the decision on Election Day in Flint five hours before the polls close. The sitting mayor would be elected to a full term, but, without the capacity to institute change WITH the state in a consent decree. The state to all power from the governing body and created a unilateral authority to bring about a resolve to the $25.7 million debt.
The citizens were disenfranchised as well. There was no one interested in hearing their complaints when the poisoned water came through the pipes. Becoming their own megaphone was their own choice. That didn’t work until a pediatrician and a university professor from out of state gathered evidence. It took this extreme and a year of suffering before the emergency of a different kind made it’s way to Governor Snyder.
The article was written by Anna Clark and entitled, “Michigan’s Micromanagement made Flint’s water crisis worse than it should have been”.
The Michigan Emergency Manager law disenfranchises citizens from any measure of governance without anyone to hear and process complaints.
Come to understand: No one in Snyder’s administration would take complaints. No complaints from the citizens of Flint NOR any complaints from the US EPA, especially with that black in the White House. Flint was CUT OFF like a bad child that didn’t spend their allowance wisely. Got it? Flint was not to receive any attention to any complaint because it would cost money. It would take a pediatrician and an out of state university professor and his students to finally get the attention of Snyder to recognize extremely poisoned water that had been for the PREVIOUS YEAR.
Understand? Flint would FIRST be made to pay off a $25.7 million debt BEFORE ANY concern of the people would ever be heard. Snyder cut off ANYONE, including the US EPA, that was complaining on behalf of the citizens of Flint. The people were left alone and they got sick and they died. No one in Michigan cared because the $25.7 million had to be reconciled first. YES, Snyder is just that ruthless when it comes to money. End of discussion.
3 million Americans have lost their health insurance under Trump. He was suppose to insure all Americans. He said that.
Barack Obama, (click here) in full Barack Hussein Obama II, (born August 4, 1961, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.), 44th president of the United States (2009–17) and the first African American to hold the office. Before winning the presidency, Obama represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate (2005–08). He was the third African American to be elected to that body since the end of Reconstruction (1877). In 2009 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”
Full speech can be viewed here with introduction beginning at 22:51 time mark. (click here).
September 7, 2018
By Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent
We haven’t seen much of President Barack Obama lately, (click here) but today he emerged to give a speech at the University of Illinois that was in part about the danger of authoritarianism in the White House — at the very moment that President Trump was descending into paroxysms of self-pity and giving free reign to his authoritarian impulses....
...Watching the contrast between Trump and Obama today, one couldn’t help but be reminded of how the former president presented an idealistic — even arguably naive — vision of America, one full of hopeful, hardworking, good-hearted citizens eager to come together to solve problems....
The speech today was at a university. I would think that would allow President Obama a good deal of room to be idealistic. Americans weren't hopeful? Harworking? Good-hearted citizens that come together to solve problems?
Where have I been I thought that WAS who we were. No?
I have to admit today, we may not be those people considering all the trouble that occurs on a regular basis everyday. Charlottsville. Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Santa Fe High School. Las Vegas.
Mass Shootings (click here)
Today, hate and violence are alive and well.
I take issue with the idea President Obama spoke of a better America as if naive. President Obama was not a naive president. He took on Ferguson, the non-violent prisoner, unreasonable sentences for drug addiction. He signed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I don't think that is naive.
He sought to end discrimination for women and pay, signed DACA, which still isn't law and it was not for the trying. He gratefully brought in two more women to the Supreme Court, one the first Hispanic on the court. Launched "My Brother's Keeper." He ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Under his presidency he saw the LGBT Community achieve marriage.
He inherited a failing USA economy and recovered it with people returning to work. The unemployment rate went from 10 percent to 4.7 percent.
He risked a potential failed mission to remove Osama bin Laden and the Seals were victorious. President Obama was the man who took bin Laden out of Pakistan where he had been residing since 2001. I don't find President Obama naive. He was willing and eager to solve the country's problems.
No one gives him credit for reducing the Veteran homeless rate by 50%. He increased spending for the VA. Saw to it Veterans had a chance for an education with $78 billion tuition assistance for the GI Bill.
The auto industry remained a healthy part of the USA economy. "Cash for clunkers."
Let's not forget his Nobel for efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation.
He opened up embryonic stem cell research. Is there or is there not revolutionary treatment for cancer now? Yes, there is. He asked the medical community to find out as much as they can about the brain and improve the disease that attacks it.
He increased the margin to nuclear confrontation with the New START and the Iran Nuclear.
Backed consumer protections.
He reduced the USA military foot print at war and ended torture.
There isn't enough room here to list all the adult things Barak Obama did during his eight years. So, don't. Don't try to diminish his luster, it is definitely there.
...In his speech, Obama offered a scathing indictment of Trump’s racism and ethnonationalism — “how hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?” — and he called for a “restoration of honesty and decency and lawfulness in our government.” He insisted, in the face of the rage and polarization coursing through our politics, that “common ground exists. I have seen it. I have lived it.”...
Full speech can be viewed here with introduction beginning at 22:51 time mark. (click here).
September 7, 2018
By Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent
We haven’t seen much of President Barack Obama lately, (click here) but today he emerged to give a speech at the University of Illinois that was in part about the danger of authoritarianism in the White House — at the very moment that President Trump was descending into paroxysms of self-pity and giving free reign to his authoritarian impulses....
...Watching the contrast between Trump and Obama today, one couldn’t help but be reminded of how the former president presented an idealistic — even arguably naive — vision of America, one full of hopeful, hardworking, good-hearted citizens eager to come together to solve problems....
The speech today was at a university. I would think that would allow President Obama a good deal of room to be idealistic. Americans weren't hopeful? Harworking? Good-hearted citizens that come together to solve problems?
Where have I been I thought that WAS who we were. No?
I have to admit today, we may not be those people considering all the trouble that occurs on a regular basis everyday. Charlottsville. Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Santa Fe High School. Las Vegas.
Mass Shootings (click here)
Today, hate and violence are alive and well.
I take issue with the idea President Obama spoke of a better America as if naive. President Obama was not a naive president. He took on Ferguson, the non-violent prisoner, unreasonable sentences for drug addiction. He signed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. I don't think that is naive.
He sought to end discrimination for women and pay, signed DACA, which still isn't law and it was not for the trying. He gratefully brought in two more women to the Supreme Court, one the first Hispanic on the court. Launched "My Brother's Keeper." He ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Under his presidency he saw the LGBT Community achieve marriage.
He inherited a failing USA economy and recovered it with people returning to work. The unemployment rate went from 10 percent to 4.7 percent.
He risked a potential failed mission to remove Osama bin Laden and the Seals were victorious. President Obama was the man who took bin Laden out of Pakistan where he had been residing since 2001. I don't find President Obama naive. He was willing and eager to solve the country's problems.
No one gives him credit for reducing the Veteran homeless rate by 50%. He increased spending for the VA. Saw to it Veterans had a chance for an education with $78 billion tuition assistance for the GI Bill.
The auto industry remained a healthy part of the USA economy. "Cash for clunkers."
Let's not forget his Nobel for efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation.
He opened up embryonic stem cell research. Is there or is there not revolutionary treatment for cancer now? Yes, there is. He asked the medical community to find out as much as they can about the brain and improve the disease that attacks it.
He increased the margin to nuclear confrontation with the New START and the Iran Nuclear.
Backed consumer protections.
He reduced the USA military foot print at war and ended torture.
There isn't enough room here to list all the adult things Barak Obama did during his eight years. So, don't. Don't try to diminish his luster, it is definitely there.
...In his speech, Obama offered a scathing indictment of Trump’s racism and ethnonationalism — “how hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?” — and he called for a “restoration of honesty and decency and lawfulness in our government.” He insisted, in the face of the rage and polarization coursing through our politics, that “common ground exists. I have seen it. I have lived it.”...
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