I am taking the evening off. I hope Thanksgiving has been a safe holiday for most Americans. I hope it has also been a restful one with families to laugh and unite around the holidays where travel was possible.
I could not believe the decorations for Christmas already. I suppose starting the shopping season now sparks holiday cheer everywhere.
There are other countries that celebrate Thanksgiving in a similar fashion to the USA, namely Canada and Liberia. I think South Korea has a similar holiday, but, I could be wrong about that. Some celebrate a harvest as in East Germany called the Erntedankfest. China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam have harvest festivities. So, the occasion while unique to any culture is not completely unthought of outside the USA.
The USA Thanksgiving Holiday is not identified officially as a particular religious holiday. Each American can participate in Thanksgiving in unity. Some do care to attend religious services, but, there is every reason for any American to view the official federal holiday of Thanksgiving as one of unity for the greatness that is the USA.
I would like to address the crisis in Iran. The country's authority isn't communicating well enough with the people. I am sure the price of gasoline is transient. This violence comes at a time when a consortium of countries has formed a shareholder group to purchase Iranian oil while engaging in trade exchanges with Iranian products.
The group is called the "Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (Instex). The members of the shareholder group are Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands. The initially trading hasn't begun yet, but, it should relieve the horrible inflation that is occurring in Iran. This effort was begun after the USA under Trump withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Deal.
The group is very transparent about the purpose of Instex, in that it circumvents the sanctions by Trump of Iran. The trades avoids using the US Dollar. The ONLY purpose of the group is to return function to the Iran Nuclear Deal as Iran continues to loosen it's nuclear constraints (click here) agreed to in the Nuclear Deal. The countries of the group want Iran to return to the Agreement and soon.
30 November 2019
Paris, London and Berlin on Saturday (click here) welcomed six new European countries to the Instex barter mechanism, which is designed to circumvent US sanctions against trade with Iran by avoiding use of the dollar.
“As founding shareholders of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (Instex), France, Germany and the United Kingdom warmly welcome the decision taken by the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, to join Instex as shareholders,” the three said in a joint statement.
The Paris-based Instex functions as a clearing house that allows Iran to continue to sell oil and import other products or services in exchange.
The system has not yet enabled any transactions.
Washington in 2018 unilaterally withdrew from the international agreement governing Iran’s nuclear programme and reinstated heavy sanctions against Tehran....
I wish they wouldn't report it as Washington withdrew from the Iran program. The USA legislature did not withdraw from the program, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the program.
December 1, 2019
Israel on Sunday scolded (click here) six new European members of the INSTEX barter mechanism meant to circumvent US sanctions on Iran, saying they encouraged the Iranian regime’s repression of its citizens and “should be ashamed of themselves.”
“While the Iranian regime is killing its own people, European countries rush to support that very murderous regime,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu charged in a video released Sunday.
In a separate statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said “Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden could not have picked worse timing. The hundreds of innocent Iranians murdered during the latest round of protests are rolling in their graves.”...
I could not disagree more. Iranian lives are not a bargaining chip in a bigger game. The process that lead to the Iran Nuclear Agreement was arduous, but, it worked and Iran for at least 10 years would suspend their nuclear program and all reports even to the date Trump withdrew indicated strong compliance with the agreement. Why? Because the Iranian economy was beginning to move again and the entire country wanted a better quality of life.
There is a lot going on with Iran to bring about such egregious inflation. This is about the cruelest foreign policy ever conceived to destroy a sovereign country. People are protesting and now the Iranian authority has clamped down in a way that mirrors some of China's methods in Hong Kong with unarmed people shot to death.
First, the world negotiated a deal to end nuclear escalation with Iran for the stability of the Middle East. Today, that stability is coming into a near calamity throughout the region. The people of Iran were feeling relief from many years of sanctions and sent their most inspiring leader in President Rouhani. Now, the hardliners are taking over again and the people are suffering.
Is there no end to the plans Trump makes dealing with life and death to human beings?
December 1, 2019
By Radio Farda
The latest figures (click here) published by China’s customs show trade with Iran in October dropped to its lowest level in a decade.
During the month of October, total trade with Iran was $1.38 billion, which is 38 percent less than in October 2018.
From January to October exports to Iran decreased by 39 percent compared with the same period last year, reaching a low of $7.8 billion, while imports from Iran dropped 36 percent to $11.7 billion.
China is Iran’s biggest oil buyer and prior to U.S. sanctions it was importing more than 650,000 barrels of crude per day. China’s customs figures show that in recent months this volume has declined to an average of 140,000 barrels.
After the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in May 2018, President Donald Trump imposed partial sanctions on Iran’s oil a year ago. In May (2019), the sanctions expanded to a total ban on buying Iranian oil and almost all countries have complied. China and Syria are the only official destinations for a limited quantity of Iranian crude....
Saturday, November 30, 2019
I don't recall any video being entered into evidence whereby Trump is either breaking the law in public or admitting to it.
November 22, 2019
By Sonam Sheth and Grace Panetta
In a Friday interview on "Fox & Friends," (click here) President Donald Trump admitted to holding up military aid to Ukraine to pressure the government to investigate a baseless conspiracy theory about Ukrainian election interference and Democratic collusion....
By Sonam Sheth and Grace Panetta
In a Friday interview on "Fox & Friends," (click here) President Donald Trump admitted to holding up military aid to Ukraine to pressure the government to investigate a baseless conspiracy theory about Ukrainian election interference and Democratic collusion....
Friday, November 29, 2019
To make a long story short, Flint at the height of it's population, had it's own water treatment plant and water supply from Lake Huron.
The new mayor of Flint wants to re-engage the city's water treatment plant with full-time staff to return the former water supply. Mayor Neeley believes the high cost of water will come down with the KWA water supply and a return to Flint's own water supply.
Currently, the city is locked into a 30-year water contract with GWLA water system. The mayor believes once the savings and safety to Flint residents are known, the 30-year contract can be ended.
I wish him great success.
November 11, 2019
By Ron Fonger
...As a city councilman, (click here) Neeley supported joining the KWA, and he said on “Off the Record” that he’s still figuring out “the best options” for water service going forward given what’s already happened.
Buying raw water from the KWA rather than treated water from GLWA might require the city to use its water plant on a full-time basis again -- something that ended with recognition of the water crisis in 2015.
Both GLWA, which was created from the old city of Detroit water system, and the KWA draw water from Lake Huron, but GLWA treats the water it sells to Flint and KWA does not.
Neeley called future decisions about water the hardest he will face.
If one of those decisions involves switching from GLWA to the KWA, Neeley would need a way out of the contract with GLWA and would need to work new arrangements with the KWA, state of Michigan and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a representative of GLWA for comment on Neeley’s remarks...
The Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA), (click here) consists of Genesee County Drain Commissioner, Lapeer County Drain Commissioner, Lapeer City, Sanilac County Drain Commissioner and the City of Flint. KWA is a Municipal Water Supply System incorporated under PA 233 of 1955 by the people of the State of Michigan. KWA was incorporated in 2010 and began its first fiscal year on October 1, 2010. The purpose of the Authority is to provide and distribute raw water to the region of the State of Michigan commonly referred to as the I-69 corridor.
Currently, the city is locked into a 30-year water contract with GWLA water system. The mayor believes once the savings and safety to Flint residents are known, the 30-year contract can be ended.
I wish him great success.
November 11, 2019
By Ron Fonger
...As a city councilman, (click here) Neeley supported joining the KWA, and he said on “Off the Record” that he’s still figuring out “the best options” for water service going forward given what’s already happened.
Buying raw water from the KWA rather than treated water from GLWA might require the city to use its water plant on a full-time basis again -- something that ended with recognition of the water crisis in 2015.
Both GLWA, which was created from the old city of Detroit water system, and the KWA draw water from Lake Huron, but GLWA treats the water it sells to Flint and KWA does not.
Neeley called future decisions about water the hardest he will face.
If one of those decisions involves switching from GLWA to the KWA, Neeley would need a way out of the contract with GLWA and would need to work new arrangements with the KWA, state of Michigan and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach a representative of GLWA for comment on Neeley’s remarks...
The Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA), (click here) consists of Genesee County Drain Commissioner, Lapeer County Drain Commissioner, Lapeer City, Sanilac County Drain Commissioner and the City of Flint. KWA is a Municipal Water Supply System incorporated under PA 233 of 1955 by the people of the State of Michigan. KWA was incorporated in 2010 and began its first fiscal year on October 1, 2010. The purpose of the Authority is to provide and distribute raw water to the region of the State of Michigan commonly referred to as the I-69 corridor.
In 2013 the water authority held a groundbreaking and began construction for a water intake pipeline. The new pipeline was needed to avoid increased water rates from DWSD, who were implementing increased rates by as much as 15% per year. The pipeline will save local residents millions of dollars in water costs in the coming years. It will also provide a necessary back-up water supply to residents in Genesee County and beyond, as well as increased reliability in service. The KWA pipeline has the ability to supply untreated water to the municipalities of the region, industrial customers, agribusinesses, rural agriculture developments, residential commercial light and heavy manufacturers. The boundaries of the water supply encompass over 2,400 square miles and over a half a million people.
In total the KWA project required the installation of a water intake structure, pipelines and multiple pumping stations. Construction was completed, and the KWA pipeline became operational in June of 2016. . KWA welcomes questions and opportunities to share what the pipeline project will accomplish for the region. Please feel free to contact us.
I read where Jared Kushner, Trump's best advisor, is no longer handling Middle East peace. Who is?
Jared, the president's son-in-law, now has construction duties along the southern border of the USA. Really? It must be difficult to carry out that idea from the White House. I would think a supervisor of the project would be along the southern USA border listening to the citizens there.
Jared, the president's son-in-law, now has construction duties along the southern border of the USA. Really? It must be difficult to carry out that idea from the White House. I would think a supervisor of the project would be along the southern USA border listening to the citizens there.
Trump's impending impeachment is not tribal or partisan warfare. It is about the country.
Article II, Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
There is ample proof of Trump's wrongdoing. That is all that is necessary. This is not a criminal proceeding and does not require that degree of scrutiny.
In the year 2019 there are many lawyers that have become legislators. That is simply a preference of voters. But, legislators are civilians, they are not JAG Corps. They are to defend the USA Constitution WITH CERTAINTY. That is their level of responsibility.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by a few lawyers; Adams (considered the best of them, defended the British troops after the Boston Massacre-most were acquitted), Thomas Jefferson, James Wilson, and George Wythe (professor of law).
Among the 32 farmers of the Constitution the lawyers, were Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, and George Wythe.
The USA Declaration of Independence and USA Constitution are primarily signed by civilians and farming was a way of life of many civilians.
Impeachment is an "indispensable remedy," not a legal proceedings.
The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
There is ample proof of Trump's wrongdoing. That is all that is necessary. This is not a criminal proceeding and does not require that degree of scrutiny.
In the year 2019 there are many lawyers that have become legislators. That is simply a preference of voters. But, legislators are civilians, they are not JAG Corps. They are to defend the USA Constitution WITH CERTAINTY. That is their level of responsibility.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by a few lawyers; Adams (considered the best of them, defended the British troops after the Boston Massacre-most were acquitted), Thomas Jefferson, James Wilson, and George Wythe (professor of law).
Among the 32 farmers of the Constitution the lawyers, were Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, and George Wythe.
The USA Declaration of Independence and USA Constitution are primarily signed by civilians and farming was a way of life of many civilians.
Impeachment is an "indispensable remedy," not a legal proceedings.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Is it still the same for every American?
Norman Rockwell's Four Freedoms (click here)
"Freedom of Speech"
"Freedom of Worship"
"Freedom of Fear"
"Freedom of Want" - I am confident that meant freedom to health care and medications.
I'd like to see these as a Thanksgiving Day Float in Macy's Parade. It is still Macy's Parade, right?
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
In recognition of Thanksgiving, I found a story full of hope and expectation.
The tall man in the picture is Jeff Morris, a member of the Washington State House of Representatives. He has suddenly resigned, but, that isn't bad news today.
The short man behind the desk is Ricky Huges. Now, with so little information about these two men the first thing people do is rush to judgment and figure there is some kind of scandal, right? That would be wrong and it would be said in very poor decision making. The first thing anyone should think is, I wonder what this is all about. It must be good news. Can't be about politics, these men are smiling.
March 23, 2019
By Connor Tibke
Ricky Hughes, (click here) a student at Spring Street International School, served as a page this week in the Washington State House of Representatives. Sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon), Ricky is the son of Marlace and Rick Hughes of Eastsound.
The good news story, while sad that Washington District 40 is losing Rep. Morris, the USA has the best and brightest talent under the sun and Jeff Morris is one of them.
November 27, 2019
By Robert Mittendorf
State Rep. Jeff Morris, (click here) who has represented the Bellingham area for 22 years in Olympia, resigned from the Legislature on Wednesday, Nov. 27 — the second 40th District legislator to resign this year.
Morris, an Anacortes Democrat, said in a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee that he’s been hired with Schneider Electric, a Fortune 500 firm headquartered near Paris with offices on Mercer Island.
In his resignation letter, Morris said Schneider is at the forefront of developing smart grid, “decarbonization” and artificial intelligence technologies.
“They’re like the GE of France. It was a dream opportunity for me,” Morris told The Bellingham Herald....
...Morris owns Energy Horizon Corp., a “source of critical thought on energy/tech policy.”...
The man is a pure genius.
...“Rep. Morris should be recognized for trailblazing on issues such as privacy surrounding biometric data and government surveillance. His expertise in these areas put Washington ahead of the curve in many ways.”
Although his job will cover all of the company’s North American operations, Morris said he’ll be able to work from home most of the time because of Schneider Electric’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
Among their business ventures is technology that reduces the number of people affected by rolling blackouts during red flag wildfire alerts in California, Morris said.
According to the 2010 book “American Indian Politics and the American Political System,” Morris is a member of the Tsimshian First Nation, people who are native to what is now coastal British Columbia and southern Alaska.
Morris is one of a handful of Washington state legislators with indigenous heritage including 40th District state Rep. Debra Lekanoff of Bow....
I am grateful for Jeff Morris. Knowing a man like him has dedicated his life and knowledge to help reverse the trends of the Climate Crisis gives me a reason to be thankful.
The short man behind the desk is Ricky Huges. Now, with so little information about these two men the first thing people do is rush to judgment and figure there is some kind of scandal, right? That would be wrong and it would be said in very poor decision making. The first thing anyone should think is, I wonder what this is all about. It must be good news. Can't be about politics, these men are smiling.
March 23, 2019
By Connor Tibke
Ricky Hughes, (click here) a student at Spring Street International School, served as a page this week in the Washington State House of Representatives. Sponsored by State Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon), Ricky is the son of Marlace and Rick Hughes of Eastsound.
The good news story, while sad that Washington District 40 is losing Rep. Morris, the USA has the best and brightest talent under the sun and Jeff Morris is one of them.
November 27, 2019
By Robert Mittendorf
State Rep. Jeff Morris, (click here) who has represented the Bellingham area for 22 years in Olympia, resigned from the Legislature on Wednesday, Nov. 27 — the second 40th District legislator to resign this year.
Morris, an Anacortes Democrat, said in a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee that he’s been hired with Schneider Electric, a Fortune 500 firm headquartered near Paris with offices on Mercer Island.
In his resignation letter, Morris said Schneider is at the forefront of developing smart grid, “decarbonization” and artificial intelligence technologies.
“They’re like the GE of France. It was a dream opportunity for me,” Morris told The Bellingham Herald....
...Morris owns Energy Horizon Corp., a “source of critical thought on energy/tech policy.”...
The man is a pure genius.
...“Rep. Morris should be recognized for trailblazing on issues such as privacy surrounding biometric data and government surveillance. His expertise in these areas put Washington ahead of the curve in many ways.”
Although his job will cover all of the company’s North American operations, Morris said he’ll be able to work from home most of the time because of Schneider Electric’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
Among their business ventures is technology that reduces the number of people affected by rolling blackouts during red flag wildfire alerts in California, Morris said.
According to the 2010 book “American Indian Politics and the American Political System,” Morris is a member of the Tsimshian First Nation, people who are native to what is now coastal British Columbia and southern Alaska.
Morris is one of a handful of Washington state legislators with indigenous heritage including 40th District state Rep. Debra Lekanoff of Bow....
I am grateful for Jeff Morris. Knowing a man like him has dedicated his life and knowledge to help reverse the trends of the Climate Crisis gives me a reason to be thankful.
Let me get this right...
November 27, 2019
By Ed Carson
Dow Jones futures fell late Wednesday, (click here) along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures, after President Donald Trump signed into law that expresses support for Hong Kong protesters, straining relations with Beijing with a China trade deal still not finalized. The stock market rally, fueled in large part on China trade optimism, set fresh all-time highs heading into the Thanksgiving holiday....
...the USA passed legislation that recognizes the student protesters in Hong Kong, Trump signs it and the financial markets are at the very least disappointed.
Is that right?
Well, that is too bad and the American people need to take notice of the viciousness of financial markets. Their "Bulls" can't seem to recognize human tragedy for the life of them. The financial markets are not managed by money. The financial markets are managed by human beings. For some strange reason the human beings making decisions about investment, for the human beings that have it, can't see human tragedy as a barrier to profits.
I guess the Hong Kong students and the American people for that matter should just lie down and die and accept their fate at the hands of Wall Street.
I don't think so.
By Ed Carson
Dow Jones futures fell late Wednesday, (click here) along with S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures, after President Donald Trump signed into law that expresses support for Hong Kong protesters, straining relations with Beijing with a China trade deal still not finalized. The stock market rally, fueled in large part on China trade optimism, set fresh all-time highs heading into the Thanksgiving holiday....
...the USA passed legislation that recognizes the student protesters in Hong Kong, Trump signs it and the financial markets are at the very least disappointed.
Is that right?
Well, that is too bad and the American people need to take notice of the viciousness of financial markets. Their "Bulls" can't seem to recognize human tragedy for the life of them. The financial markets are not managed by money. The financial markets are managed by human beings. For some strange reason the human beings making decisions about investment, for the human beings that have it, can't see human tragedy as a barrier to profits.
I guess the Hong Kong students and the American people for that matter should just lie down and die and accept their fate at the hands of Wall Street.
I don't think so.
The CBD industry is to blame. They didn't carry out the necessary testing.
In reflecting on marijuana, it is a very powerful plant. It has chemical structures that effect the human nervous system. Additionally, from reading this article, CBD is eliminated through the liver. If the liver is damaged it can effect the degree to which other medications also eliminated through the liver carry out their therapeutic purposes.
One of the reasons all this mess started is because marijuana is not legalized as a smoked recreational substance. Marijuana needs to be legalized as a recreational substance for adults and a lot of this will stop.
Growers need to be certified, licensed and subject to regular inspections.
From NIH:
...THC Plasma concentrations (click here) decrease rapidly after the end of smoking due to rapid distribution into tissues and metabolism in the liver. THC is highly lipophilic and initially taken up by tissues that are highly perfused, such as the lung, heart, brain, and liver. Tracer doses of radioactive THC documented the large volume of distribution of THC and its slow elimination from body stores....
November 27, 2019
By Nicoletta Lanese
Yesterday (Nov. 26), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (click here) issued warning letters to 15 companies that sell CBD products because the products violate federal law. The agency also issued an update to consumers about the popular products, and stressed that there is limited evidence for their safety....
...These companies have broken federal law by marketing the unproven health benefits of their CBD products, mixing the drug into food, or advertising CBD as a dietary supplement, the FDA announced yesterday. What's more, these companies may have placed their customers at unknown risk, the FDA said.
"We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD 'can’t hurt,'" Dr. Amy Abernethy, the FDA's principal deputy commissioner, said in a statement....
...For instance, when scientists first tested the safety of the approved CBD epilepsy drug, they noted that CBD could inflict damage to the liver. If taken without medical supervision, the damage could prove more extensive, the FDA said in a consumer update on cannabis-derived compounds. Several studies indicate that CBD may alter how the body breaks down other drugs, either increasing or decreasing their potency. In addition, studies in animals suggest the compound may impede the function of testes and sperm, deplete testosterone levels and impair male sexual behavior.
Some reports have uncovered contaminants "such as pesticides and heavy metals" in CBD products, the FDA said. Other studies highlight the potential side effects of taking the compound, including sleep disruption, diarrhea, abdominal pain and mood changes. And questions still linger about how repeated CBD exposure might affect someone over time.
Moreover, the compound may trigger unknown effects in vulnerable populations, including pregnant people and children. Some of the companies called out today specifically market products "for infants and children," who may not metabolize and excrete the drug as adults do, the agency noted....
One of the reasons all this mess started is because marijuana is not legalized as a smoked recreational substance. Marijuana needs to be legalized as a recreational substance for adults and a lot of this will stop.
Growers need to be certified, licensed and subject to regular inspections.
From NIH:
...THC Plasma concentrations (click here) decrease rapidly after the end of smoking due to rapid distribution into tissues and metabolism in the liver. THC is highly lipophilic and initially taken up by tissues that are highly perfused, such as the lung, heart, brain, and liver. Tracer doses of radioactive THC documented the large volume of distribution of THC and its slow elimination from body stores....
November 27, 2019
By Nicoletta Lanese
Yesterday (Nov. 26), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (click here) issued warning letters to 15 companies that sell CBD products because the products violate federal law. The agency also issued an update to consumers about the popular products, and stressed that there is limited evidence for their safety....
...These companies have broken federal law by marketing the unproven health benefits of their CBD products, mixing the drug into food, or advertising CBD as a dietary supplement, the FDA announced yesterday. What's more, these companies may have placed their customers at unknown risk, the FDA said.
"We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD 'can’t hurt,'" Dr. Amy Abernethy, the FDA's principal deputy commissioner, said in a statement....
...For instance, when scientists first tested the safety of the approved CBD epilepsy drug, they noted that CBD could inflict damage to the liver. If taken without medical supervision, the damage could prove more extensive, the FDA said in a consumer update on cannabis-derived compounds. Several studies indicate that CBD may alter how the body breaks down other drugs, either increasing or decreasing their potency. In addition, studies in animals suggest the compound may impede the function of testes and sperm, deplete testosterone levels and impair male sexual behavior.
Some reports have uncovered contaminants "such as pesticides and heavy metals" in CBD products, the FDA said. Other studies highlight the potential side effects of taking the compound, including sleep disruption, diarrhea, abdominal pain and mood changes. And questions still linger about how repeated CBD exposure might affect someone over time.
Moreover, the compound may trigger unknown effects in vulnerable populations, including pregnant people and children. Some of the companies called out today specifically market products "for infants and children," who may not metabolize and excrete the drug as adults do, the agency noted....
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Danger is blanketing the USA. PLEASE, PLEASE put safety first.
NOAA GOES West Satellite (click here for 6 hour loop - thank you)
November 26, 2019
2300z
Kindly note the frigid air mass from the north meeting up with a warm air mass coming up from the equator. This is serious business folks!
November 26, 2019
By Bill Chappell
Hurricane-force winds, blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall (click here) — and a "bomb cyclone" on the West Coast: Those are the dire predictions of weather forecasters, who are warning Thanksgiving travelers to be cautious and prepare for delays as two powerful back-to-back storms hit the western and central U.S. this week.
The National Weather Service's U.S. forecast map is draped in alarming shades of pink, purple and red, reflecting winter storm warnings that are in effect from California to Michigan. And the bad weather is expected to last: The winter storm warning posted by the NWS office in Las Vegas will remain in effect from 5 p.m. PT Tuesday through 4 a.m. PT Friday.
The warnings come as Denver and other cities are already coping with heavy snowfall from a winter storm that is hitting the southern and central Plains region. The NWS office in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported getting more than 12 inches of snow by midday on Tuesday. But elevated areas west of Fort Collins, Colo., reported more than 30 inches.
That storm is still developing and is expected to dump up to a foot of snow in a broad region by Thursday as it moves from the Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley, across the upper Great Lakes and into northern Maine, the NWS says. It adds that heavy snow could affect travelers at airports from Denver to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
It is completely wrong to single one religion in a display honoring MIA and POWs.
Bible under glass. There is no other purpose for that Bible except as a religious symbol. Can't hold it, can't read from it or pray from it. It is a religious symbol and completely out of place when discussing American MIAs or POWs.
Any of our national cemeteries are full of men and women who provide the final sacrifice for this country, the least we can do is recognize the freedom of religion is a sovereignty of its own and no one should impose majority rule on others.
November 26, 2019
By Pamela Mason
A legal battle is playing out over a Bible should be allowed in this display honoring prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action at the Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire.
...The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (click here) is leading the fight for removal and argues that the inclusion of the Christian Bible violates the constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based foundation -- which says it represents about 64,000 service members and veterans, about 95 percent of whom identify as practicing Christians -- lists its primary mission as protecting the separation of church and state in the U.S. military and the Veterans Administration.
The Northeast POW/MIA Network, which owns and operates the display, was added to the federal lawsuit as a defendant at its request. The network is represented by the First Liberty Institute, a Plano, Texas, group that describes itself as the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious liberty for all Americans....
Any of our national cemeteries are full of men and women who provide the final sacrifice for this country, the least we can do is recognize the freedom of religion is a sovereignty of its own and no one should impose majority rule on others.
November 26, 2019By Pamela Mason
A legal battle is playing out over a Bible should be allowed in this display honoring prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action at the Manchester VA Medical Center in New Hampshire.
...The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (click here) is leading the fight for removal and argues that the inclusion of the Christian Bible violates the constitutional prohibition against government establishment of religion. The Albuquerque, N.M.-based foundation -- which says it represents about 64,000 service members and veterans, about 95 percent of whom identify as practicing Christians -- lists its primary mission as protecting the separation of church and state in the U.S. military and the Veterans Administration.
The Northeast POW/MIA Network, which owns and operates the display, was added to the federal lawsuit as a defendant at its request. The network is represented by the First Liberty Institute, a Plano, Texas, group that describes itself as the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious liberty for all Americans....
Monday, November 25, 2019
In case everyone who reads this blog hasn't put all the pieces together about Trump''s "Deep State," Russia is the hero.
Trump decided somewhere in that demented thinking of his that the USA has a "Deep State" that can reach into the population and turn our lives on it's head. Russia is Trump's ally in ending the "Deep State" in the USA.
In days gone by, there was the Edward Snowden episode. He ended up taking up residency in Russia. I am quite sure, at the very least, part of his duties to Russia is to lecture Russian intelligence and otherwise about cyber competency and the USA's culture.
Then came Private Manning and the huge document dump from the USA military.
All that fits into Russia's game plan and I am sure that is a surprise to no one. But, when Trump decided to run for president he wanted to portray himself as "The Fixer" for the American people. In other words, he could end all the surveillance and secret military agenda and bring about an America to the liking of the American people.
When Trump bows to Putin it is in recognition that Putin is his best ally in ending the "Deep State."
It's a play. It is a stage performance for Trump. That is why his supporters are so stuck on him, because, he is simply making the argument over and over that he is trapped and unable to change what needs to be changed because of the evil "Deep State" of the USA.
I will put it this way if Trump was acting as a radical that is going to change the parameters of which the USA's "privacy standards" and the "reasons the USA goes to war;" he would have done very different things once taking office than he did. Trump was supposed to be anti-establishment embracing Russia as an ally to end the Deep State. If he was sincere, he would be doing more than writing a pardon for Sheriff Joe, but, one from Edward Snowden and Julian Assange immediately upon taking office. That isn't what he did, he fired Comey as a victory in ending the "Deep State," and invited Russia to the Oval Office to provide classified information.
If Trump wanted to end the reasons for all the subsequent wars since September 11, 2001; he would have demanded a Republican House and Senate to immediately end the AUMF. He didn't do that. He continued the Obama policies.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), Pub. L. 107-40, codified at 115 Stat. 224 and passed as S.J.Res. 23 by the United States Congress on September 14, 2001, authorizes the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001 and any "associated forces".
All the firings and lawsuits is about the ACT of the APPRENTICE in the Oval Office. It involved real people. It involved important people. Trump's presence in the Oval Office has compromised the USA.
Anyone not of Trump's liking is the Deep State, including of course then-candidate Hillary Clinton. His inner circle, the ones Ambassador Sondland identified as involved in the "Ukraine Scam," are Trump confidants until they aren't because the courts make them behave. The Supreme Court is supposed to bend to the will of Trump in all the lawsuits he submits because after all he nominated two of them. They can't be the Deep State. Neither can be his family which is close to him in the Oval Office to protect him from the OTHERS.
This charade has never been a presidency, nor will it ever.
Donald J. Trump has brought impeachment on himself and it openly to the public. He should be impeached and removed from office.
Trump's campaign ideology is assaulting the USA Constitution.
One might ask, what do guns and diving got to do with anything? Nothing, right? In the real world guns don't work well underwater. But, that shirt is not about diving, it is about "The Trident" and a Special Forces soldier stripped of one.
A woman (click here) watches President Donald Trump outside the Santa Ana Star Center where he held is campaign rally in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on September 16, 2019. A Facebook page which promoted pro-Trump messages has been taken down after it emerged it was based in Ukraine.
The guns are just a symbol of the extreme right AND THEIR BELIEF IN THE NEED TO HAVE WEAPONS TO DEFEND FROM THE "DEEP STATE."
I have seen pictures of rallies where a young woman was wearing a tee-shirt standing behind Trump that celebrated the IRA and GRU. Russian Intelligence is celebrated at his rallies. That is how demented all this has become with Trump in office. Trump is a wacko to bring power to such extremism and promote Russia as an ally of his.
In days gone by, there was the Edward Snowden episode. He ended up taking up residency in Russia. I am quite sure, at the very least, part of his duties to Russia is to lecture Russian intelligence and otherwise about cyber competency and the USA's culture.
Then came Private Manning and the huge document dump from the USA military.
All that fits into Russia's game plan and I am sure that is a surprise to no one. But, when Trump decided to run for president he wanted to portray himself as "The Fixer" for the American people. In other words, he could end all the surveillance and secret military agenda and bring about an America to the liking of the American people.
When Trump bows to Putin it is in recognition that Putin is his best ally in ending the "Deep State."
It's a play. It is a stage performance for Trump. That is why his supporters are so stuck on him, because, he is simply making the argument over and over that he is trapped and unable to change what needs to be changed because of the evil "Deep State" of the USA.
I will put it this way if Trump was acting as a radical that is going to change the parameters of which the USA's "privacy standards" and the "reasons the USA goes to war;" he would have done very different things once taking office than he did. Trump was supposed to be anti-establishment embracing Russia as an ally to end the Deep State. If he was sincere, he would be doing more than writing a pardon for Sheriff Joe, but, one from Edward Snowden and Julian Assange immediately upon taking office. That isn't what he did, he fired Comey as a victory in ending the "Deep State," and invited Russia to the Oval Office to provide classified information.
If Trump wanted to end the reasons for all the subsequent wars since September 11, 2001; he would have demanded a Republican House and Senate to immediately end the AUMF. He didn't do that. He continued the Obama policies.
The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), Pub. L. 107-40, codified at 115 Stat. 224 and passed as S.J.Res. 23 by the United States Congress on September 14, 2001, authorizes the use of United States Armed Forces against those responsible for the attacks on September 11, 2001 and any "associated forces".
All the firings and lawsuits is about the ACT of the APPRENTICE in the Oval Office. It involved real people. It involved important people. Trump's presence in the Oval Office has compromised the USA.
Anyone not of Trump's liking is the Deep State, including of course then-candidate Hillary Clinton. His inner circle, the ones Ambassador Sondland identified as involved in the "Ukraine Scam," are Trump confidants until they aren't because the courts make them behave. The Supreme Court is supposed to bend to the will of Trump in all the lawsuits he submits because after all he nominated two of them. They can't be the Deep State. Neither can be his family which is close to him in the Oval Office to protect him from the OTHERS.
This charade has never been a presidency, nor will it ever.
Donald J. Trump has brought impeachment on himself and it openly to the public. He should be impeached and removed from office.
Trump's campaign ideology is assaulting the USA Constitution.
One might ask, what do guns and diving got to do with anything? Nothing, right? In the real world guns don't work well underwater. But, that shirt is not about diving, it is about "The Trident" and a Special Forces soldier stripped of one.
The guns are just a symbol of the extreme right AND THEIR BELIEF IN THE NEED TO HAVE WEAPONS TO DEFEND FROM THE "DEEP STATE."
I have seen pictures of rallies where a young woman was wearing a tee-shirt standing behind Trump that celebrated the IRA and GRU. Russian Intelligence is celebrated at his rallies. That is how demented all this has become with Trump in office. Trump is a wacko to bring power to such extremism and promote Russia as an ally of his.
When is a subpoena not a subpoena? Never.
Needless to say Judge Ketanji Brown a Harvard School graduate and Obama appointee will be seen as a "Never Trumper." No doubt the Supreme Court will hear this on appeal in hope Kavanaugh will cave on what is unconstitutional demands on the legal system in ignoring subpoenas' and then convince four other judges to side with him. That is what Trump is hoping for, he divides his thinking about judges, regardless of their qualifications, along the line of who are "Trump Judges" and who is not.
Trump's tax tantrum needs to submit it's documents and brief to the Supreme Court by December 5th.
November 25, 2019
By Katelyn Polantz
A federal judge (click here) decided Monday that President Donald Trump's former White House counsel Don McGahn must testify to the House of Representatives in its impeachment probe.
"However busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires," Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote.
The ruling is a blow to Trump and White House efforts to block parts of the impeachment inquiry. It could encourage resistant witnesses from the administration to testify and could bolster any case House Democrats make to impeach the President for obstructing its proceedings or obstructing justice...
Trump's tax tantrum needs to submit it's documents and brief to the Supreme Court by December 5th.
November 25, 2019
By Katelyn Polantz
A federal judge (click here) decided Monday that President Donald Trump's former White House counsel Don McGahn must testify to the House of Representatives in its impeachment probe.
"However busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires," Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote.
The ruling is a blow to Trump and White House efforts to block parts of the impeachment inquiry. It could encourage resistant witnesses from the administration to testify and could bolster any case House Democrats make to impeach the President for obstructing its proceedings or obstructing justice...
Stop fracking, stop drilling and stop BURNING methane/natural gas.
By Jackson Ryan
Greenhouse gas concentrations (click here) continued to rise in 2018, with carbon dioxide levels hitting an all-time high of 407.8 parts per million (ppm), according to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Monday. The grim assessment comes just days before the UN Climate Change conference begins on Dec. 2, highlighting the increasing levels of three greenhouse gases contributing to global heating as a result of human activities.
The last time the Earth had comparable concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was approximately 3 million years ago, when the temperature was approximately 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer and sea levels were up to 20 meters (65 feet) higher.
"There is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline, in greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere despite all the commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change," said Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the WMO, in a press release....
The Middle Class is paying the taxes of the wealthy.
November 25, 2019
The national debt (click here) of the United States barreled past $23 trillion on November 1, according to data from the Treasury Department. It marked the most money the federal government has owed and is a result of a growing budget deficit, which neared $1 trillion in the last fiscal year....
The national debt (click here) of the United States barreled past $23 trillion on November 1, according to data from the Treasury Department. It marked the most money the federal government has owed and is a result of a growing budget deficit, which neared $1 trillion in the last fiscal year....
Why aren't all these animals held in quarantine under veterinarian supervision like they are supposed to?
This is outrageous. There are laws that demand any animal coming into the USA to be quarantined for at least six months. Why is there any danger? It doesn't make sense if the law is being followed and enforced.
An animal activist sits inside a van with dogs he bought at a market in Yulin city in southern China's Guangxi province in June 2016.
A growing number of livestock veterinarians (click here) are raising concerns that dogs rescued from Chinese meat markets could bring African swine fever virus to the United States.
Rescue groups regularly save dogs from slaughter in China and transport them to this country to be adopted as pets. But because such dogs are considered food animals in China, they often are kept in close quarters with other livestock.
That means they can easily come in contact with pigs infected with the disease, which is rampant in China.
"These dogs are rescued from meat markets," said Lisa Becton, director of swine health information and research at the National Pork Board. "And, unfortunately, at these markets there are a lot of other species, like pigs, chickens and cows. There is a risk that the animal, the crate or the bedding could become contaminated."...
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has very strong platforms to stand on.
Michael Bloomberg has been a strong advocate for the people against the gun lobby. He also has taken interesting steps regarding the climate crisis and it wasn't just MIT. So, he is just another Tom Steyer. No, not quite. Tom Steyer has been amazing, but, where the identities of Steyer and Bloomberg diverge is unions and pensions.Micheal Bloomberg has worked with unions without corruption entering the ranks as much as I remember. But, New York City has some of the most successful pensions in the country. The Middle Class would love to hear how and why pensions are a good idea, how to get a city or company to invest in one and what it takes to have a pension that actually serves it's purpose.
If Michael Bloomberg could set a standard for pensions on a national level he will win friends among the Democrats.
I don't approve of his decision to not accept donations. He can put the donations to work in whatever form he wants to within his campaign, but, it is a mistake to not allow Americans to own a piece of his campaign and possibly a victory. Money donations are a tradition in the USA. Will he accept the public funding of his campaign if he is the nomination through the FEC (click here)? It is American as apple pie.
This is not an endorsement, but, simply a wish for strong pension laws, strong and honest unions, strong climate crisis priorities and overlay for infrastructure for the USA and the end of gun violence.
Insufficient regulation.
Metal currency is used less and less with the frequent use of credit and debit cards, however, there is no justification for water pollution that effects food sources. I am surprised Indonesia isn't more interested in maintaining health waters for tourism and fishing.
This type of pollution also happens near metallurgy plants with rivers that also serve as sources of fishing.
By Ian Morse
Hakatutobu waters turned from clear to red after intensive nickel mining started on the hillslopes above the village.
Pomalla, Indonesia - Where forested hills (click here) dip into the sea, Sahman Ukas scoops up rusty-red topsoil.
His hands hold nickel that is more concentrated than many of the world’s richest deposits.
It’s no wonder, then, that on Sahman’s island of Sulawesi, companies have opened several mines in the past 15 years to feed the global market for stainless steel — made ductile and tough with nickel.
Now, a growing appetite for electric vehicles is creating new demand for nickel, whose chemical derivatives are increasingly used in cathodes of lithium-ion batteries. But the push for clean energy is coming at an environmental cost to forests and fisheries in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions....
The Rooster
"Okeydoke"
Rudy Guiliani is a ridiculous man. No one is going to harm him. If he broke the law, which seems evident, especially considering all the threats within this report, then has to face a judge and jury. Many Trump associates have already. He is not alone. No one wants more than to learn of any wrongdoing by the Biden Family in Ukraine, to date there none.
November 24, 2019
By Ross Krasny
(Bloomberg) -- Rudy Giuliani, (click here) a focus of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s foreign policy dealings, suggested he has dirt on the Biden family that would be released were he to get into trouble -- after earlier hinting he has a plan if he should fall out of favor with the president.
Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, described on Twitter Saturday as “sarcastic” recent comments, on Fox News and elsewhere, about having “an insurance policy” against the president, and instead pivoted to Biden.
That followed a Fox News interview during which he was asked whether Trump might soon conclude that Giuliani is a liability, and throw him “under the bus.”
“This is ridiculous,” Giuliani, 75, said. “We are very good friends. He knows what I did was in order to defend him, not to dig up dirt on Biden.”
Without offering proof, Giuliani tweeted that he had “files in my safe about the Biden Family’s 4 decade monetizing” of the former vice president and senator’s office. “If I disappear, it will immediately appear.”...
"Good Night, Moon"
27.9 days old
2.9 percent lit
Last Transit of Mercury until 2032. (click here)
The film below was made when the event occurred on November 11th.
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