Tuesday, May 31, 2011
DOW Closes Up
The DOW gained 128 points today closing at 12,569.
Reuters: Wall Street ends up as Greece hopes help
Reuters: Wall Street ends up as Greece hopes help
Watch It
Be careful if you are going to visit Isla Vista, California. The chances that you will be a crime victim in that area are slightly better than 100%. I wonder if the robbers have the same percentage...
Wallet Pop: 15 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods for Property Crime
Wallet Pop: 15 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods for Property Crime
No. 1: Isla Vista, Calif.
Neighborhood: Ocean Rd / El Colegio Rd
ZIP Code(s): 93117
Property Crime Rate*: 1019.21
My Chance of Becoming a Property
Crime Victim in One Year: 1 in 1
Bikers Prevail
Westboro is certainly making a name for itself as a very curious sideshow on the American horizon. Now the bikers are confronting them, and one suspects they may have confronted them at previous stops.
The thing that keeps Westboro in the news and in a curious mind space is that they are a Christian group. Recall that 70% of Americans consider themselves to be Christian. If Westboro were an Islamic group how far would they last?
Westboro continues to place itself in the center of the most severe tragedy and to blame the victims. This time they appear in Joplin. They are compelled to drive more trauma into a despairing situation. They cheer lead despair and suffering as a sign of the sufferers own moral confusion. To many its possibly the most offensive act out there.
Raw Story: Biker activists shut down Westboro Baptists in Joplin, Missouri
The thing that keeps Westboro in the news and in a curious mind space is that they are a Christian group. Recall that 70% of Americans consider themselves to be Christian. If Westboro were an Islamic group how far would they last?
Westboro continues to place itself in the center of the most severe tragedy and to blame the victims. This time they appear in Joplin. They are compelled to drive more trauma into a despairing situation. They cheer lead despair and suffering as a sign of the sufferers own moral confusion. To many its possibly the most offensive act out there.
Raw Story: Biker activists shut down Westboro Baptists in Joplin, Missouri
DOW Up
In the noon hour the DOW is up 60 points.
The optimism presented with better news on Greece is being offset by data on home prices. The American housing market continues to drag and as you know housing is a central factor in the American economy.
Reuters: Home prices fall again as May confidence dips
The optimism presented with better news on Greece is being offset by data on home prices. The American housing market continues to drag and as you know housing is a central factor in the American economy.
Reuters: Home prices fall again as May confidence dips
CO2 Emissions At Record Level
Disappointing news from the IEA as carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 are at record levels. Although we are becoming aware of global warming, the causes of global warming are increasing not receding.
International Business Times: Carbon emissions reached record level in 2010
International Business Times: Carbon emissions reached record level in 2010
The result comes as a great shock as the world leaders had agreed to cut down on emissions and bring down the global temperature by 2C at the UN climate change talks in Cancun last year.
Praising Germany
As we know Germany is saying it will be nuclear energy free by the year 2022, ten years from now.
The news is worth repeating over and over.
At present Germany has 17 reactors total and 7 are already off. The reactors account for 20% of Germany's energy.
One interesting point is that Germany's present government is center-right. Comparing that group to America's right - eeks. Our right wants more nukes. Recall Cheney talking a new nuke every other day or some such nonsense.
The hope is that Germany will become a leader in getting other countries out of nuclear energy. After Cernobyl and Fukushima, it is apparent that it is just a matter of time before some other unfortunate location is turned into a dead zone like Chernobyl and Fukushima are now.
Cs Monitor: Germany turns back on nuclear power
The news is worth repeating over and over.
At present Germany has 17 reactors total and 7 are already off. The reactors account for 20% of Germany's energy.
One interesting point is that Germany's present government is center-right. Comparing that group to America's right - eeks. Our right wants more nukes. Recall Cheney talking a new nuke every other day or some such nonsense.
The hope is that Germany will become a leader in getting other countries out of nuclear energy. After Cernobyl and Fukushima, it is apparent that it is just a matter of time before some other unfortunate location is turned into a dead zone like Chernobyl and Fukushima are now.
Cs Monitor: Germany turns back on nuclear power
...German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right coalition agreed Monday to phase out nuclear power by 2022...
"...If you know that you have a 10 year window to replace 20 percent of your electricity supply, it gives society a chance to come to terms with the decision, to start thinking about it."
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. It is 66 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. I hope you had a fine holiday weekend. We planted our vegetable garden on Sunday and Monday. A few weeks ago we decided to not buy into a farm share and to put the money into expanding our garden. The new and improved garden is about 150% larger but overall it still seems modest. We planted marigolds around the perimeter to try to keep certain pests away. We have a very high fence as well because deer come through the yard all day long and they are known to be amazing leapers. It looks pretty good I must say, today's sore back is a fair exchange.
At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly up, the dollar is mixed, and oil is up.
The salient news seems to be surrounding a new proposal to keep Greece afloat along with upbeat data on manufacturing in Japan.
On Friday the government will release the all important data on job creation or lack there of in the private sector. This is one to cross fingers over as we all would like to see the job market improve from its anemic state.
Generally speaking, the market appears set to open higher. Enjoy your day.
CNN: Stocks prep for gains after long weekend
At 8:00 a.m. futures are modestly up, the dollar is mixed, and oil is up.
The salient news seems to be surrounding a new proposal to keep Greece afloat along with upbeat data on manufacturing in Japan.
On Friday the government will release the all important data on job creation or lack there of in the private sector. This is one to cross fingers over as we all would like to see the job market improve from its anemic state.
Generally speaking, the market appears set to open higher. Enjoy your day.
CNN: Stocks prep for gains after long weekend
...investors wrestle with signs of a slower economic recovery, but remain optimistic about strong corporate earnings...
S&P Case-Shiller will release the latest home prices report Tuesday...
Oil for July delivery rose $1.52 to $102.11 a barrel.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Pre-Crime Detector
What about people who just have nervousness or anxiety?
Nature News: Terrorist 'pre-crime' detector field tested in United States
Nature News: Terrorist 'pre-crime' detector field tested in United States
Future Attribute Screening Technology (FAST), a US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programme designed to spot people who are intending to commit a terrorist act, has in the past few months completed its first round of field tests at an undisclosed location in the northeast...
Bush, Gog And Magog
I learned about this point listening to the Chomsky talk posted earlier today. According to this article from the Guardian UK published August 10, 2009, Bush talked up the invasion of Iraq to the French using 'Gog and Magog' as his point of departure. In other words, Bush used a biblical story as reasoning for invading Iraq.
Please read the entire story for details.
Guardian UK: Bush, Gog and Magog
Please read the entire story for details.
Guardian UK: Bush, Gog and Magog
President Jacques Chirac wanted to know what the hell President Bush had been on about in their last conversation. Bush had then said that when he looked at the Middle East, he saw "Gog and Magog at work" and the biblical prophecies unfolding. But who the hell were Gog and Magog? Neither Chirac nor his office had any idea. But they knew Bush was an evangelical Christian, so they asked the French Federation of Protestants, who in turn asked Professor Römer.
He explained that Gog and Magog were, to use theological jargon, crazy talk. They appear twice in the Old Testament, once as a name, and once in a truly strange prophecy in the book of Ezekiel:
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
George Will: Everyone Knows Sarah Palin Should Not Be Trusted With Nuclear Weapons
Its amazing, this reads like an Onion article.
'Area 51' - The Korean War
Consider reading Area 51 by Annie Jacobsen. Its a fascinating read.
I want to quote a few lines from the book.
First the background. After WWII, many of Hitler's crack scientists landed in the USA and The Soviet Union. In the USA these scientists continued work on jet and rocket design as did their Russian counterparts.
Now the quote -
"The Korean War has often been called the forgotten war. In its simplest terms, it was a war between North Korea and South Korea, but it was also the first trial of technical strength and scientific prowess between two opposing teams of German-born scientists specializing in aviation. One group of Germans worked for America now, as Paperclip scientists, and the other group worked for the Soviet Union, and the jet-versus-jet dogfights in the skies above Korea were fights between American-made F-86 Sabres and Soviet-made MiG-15s, both of which had been designed by Germans who once worked for Adolf Hitler."
Cyber Security And Espionage
The article linked below tells the sketchy story about how Lockheed Martin's computer system was hacked last week by cyber spies. The details are incomplete and one may even suspect the tone of the article is intentionally misleading, after all its a company with close links to the Pentagon. We will not know what occurred.
One thing to keep in mind here. If a company like Lockheed Martin is being hacked, how safe are we with all our online information and such. Let me offer a guess, not very safe at all.
CS Monitor: How bad was the cyber attack on Lockheed Martin?
One thing to keep in mind here. If a company like Lockheed Martin is being hacked, how safe are we with all our online information and such. Let me offer a guess, not very safe at all.
CS Monitor: How bad was the cyber attack on Lockheed Martin?
Lockheed Martin – one of the world’s biggest military and aerospace companies and the Pentagon's top supplier – came under a “significant and tenacious” cyber attack last week...
...with the intent to market whatever information can be extracted internationally to other governments...
Hackers may have gained access to Lockheed Martin’s system using a special password generation key produced by EMC Corp.'s RSA security division...
No Market On Memorial Day
Good morning. It is 72 degrees and raining off and on here in Upstate NY. I hope everyone has a good holiday. I was out walking the streets at 5:30 a.m. and I saw two joggers over a 40 minute span, both were women and they were running hard.
Wall Street is closed today. The rest of the world excepting England which is also enjoying a holiday has been engaged in trading on Monday. It is the continued performance of Greece that has put pressure on world stocks and there does not appear to be any resolution in sight.
Reuters: Greek uncertainty keeps euro below key resistance
Wall Street is closed today. The rest of the world excepting England which is also enjoying a holiday has been engaged in trading on Monday. It is the continued performance of Greece that has put pressure on world stocks and there does not appear to be any resolution in sight.
Reuters: Greek uncertainty keeps euro below key resistance
Sunday, May 29, 2011
'Future By Design'
Fascinating movie, I was watching it on Netflix turns out the full movie is on Youtube.
Future by Design shares the life and far-reaching vision of Jacque Fresco, considered by many to be a modern day Da Vinci. Peer to Einstein and Buckminster Fuller, Jacque is a self-taught futurist who describes himself most often as a "generalist" or multi-disciplinarian -- a student of many inter-related fields. He is a prolific inventor, having spent his entire life (he is now 90 years old) conceiving of and devising inventions on various scales which entail the use of innovative technology. As a futurist, Jacque is not only a conceptualist and a theoretician, but he is also an engineer and a designer.
On Insults
"A gentleman is one who never hurts anyone's feelings unintentionally." - Oscar Wilde
"If you can't ignore an insult, top it; if you can't top it, laugh it off; and if you can't laugh it off, it's probably deserved." - J. Russell Lynes
"A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation." - Moliere
"Insults should be written in sand, compliments should be carved in stone" - Arab Proverb
"To be insulted by you is to be garlanded with lilies" - Aristophanes
Hudson River School
The Hudson River School was transcendent and harmonizing. Its a legacy to uphold.
The Onion - UPDATE: Giant Bin Laden Destroys New York, Washington
Without The Onion, the web is almost pure suffering. You have to see the ridiculous image accompanying this Onion article.
The Onion: UPDATE: Giant Bin Laden Destroys New York, Washington 500-Foot Terrorist Emerges From Sea To Wreak Havoc On U.S.
The Onion: UPDATE: Giant Bin Laden Destroys New York, Washington 500-Foot Terrorist Emerges From Sea To Wreak Havoc On U.S.
Pro Obama Meme
If you are holding the elections in a month, Obama wins.
The GOP is almost in disarray surrounding its candidate. Look at the facts. Palin, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Santorum are throw-aways. No way they get in as the GOP candidate. Possibly Palin and/or Bachmann get in as a third party Tea Party candidate which would amount to a vanity candidacy, the Ross Perot of 2012.
Let's also recall that just a few short weeks ago, Donald The Limitless Ego Trump mouthed his interest and he was instantly the number one choice. He drops out, the field turns to Romney. Romney has a huge problem though, he is not Christian enough, he's a Mormon. Pawlenty - okay maybe.
Now look who is talking about entering the race, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani instantly becomes the new number one choice. Why? Is the GOP so finicky now that they are jumping all over the place, first Trump is one, now Rudy Giuliani? It does not bode well. Rudy Giuliani with his 9/11 one track issue would have to go up against Obama who holds the cards with getting bin Laden. Rudy Giuliani is also pro-abortion until he does a conceivable mea culpa and publicly admits he was wrong on abortion and now sees the light. Notice that the only issue the GOP has had any policy impact on since the November 2010 election is changing abortion law across the red states. Where would Rudy Giuliani presently fit in with that.
Obama is holding the cards at the moment. Can he keep holding them. And what do we do? We imagine America progressively moving forward - ain't happening man.
CS Monitor: The big lie that Obama can't lead is crumbling
The GOP is almost in disarray surrounding its candidate. Look at the facts. Palin, Bachmann, Gingrich, and Santorum are throw-aways. No way they get in as the GOP candidate. Possibly Palin and/or Bachmann get in as a third party Tea Party candidate which would amount to a vanity candidacy, the Ross Perot of 2012.
Let's also recall that just a few short weeks ago, Donald The Limitless Ego Trump mouthed his interest and he was instantly the number one choice. He drops out, the field turns to Romney. Romney has a huge problem though, he is not Christian enough, he's a Mormon. Pawlenty - okay maybe.
Now look who is talking about entering the race, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani instantly becomes the new number one choice. Why? Is the GOP so finicky now that they are jumping all over the place, first Trump is one, now Rudy Giuliani? It does not bode well. Rudy Giuliani with his 9/11 one track issue would have to go up against Obama who holds the cards with getting bin Laden. Rudy Giuliani is also pro-abortion until he does a conceivable mea culpa and publicly admits he was wrong on abortion and now sees the light. Notice that the only issue the GOP has had any policy impact on since the November 2010 election is changing abortion law across the red states. Where would Rudy Giuliani presently fit in with that.
Obama is holding the cards at the moment. Can he keep holding them. And what do we do? We imagine America progressively moving forward - ain't happening man.
CS Monitor: The big lie that Obama can't lead is crumbling
He stabilized the worst economy since the Great Depression. Though unemployment remains stubborn, the stock market is basically back to where it was before the global economic meltdown. His stimulus bill kept America humming and saved hundreds of thousands of jobs, while his rescue of General Motors saved an industrial icon.
Good taste is another facet of leadership. Contrast the way the Bush administration orchestrated a public trial and execution of Saddam Hussein, turning it into a vulgar spectacle, with Obama’s shrewd refusal to publish photos of bin Laden’s body. His announcement of bin Laden’s death was restrained and sober, not at all celebratory – the right note to conclude a sensitive military operation. Obama’s later visit to ground zero was a fitting bookend to a sad chapter in United States history.
Bloomberg - QE3
As quantitative easing ends in June, there is now speculation that a third round will occur.
Propping up our crippled economy one massive infusion of new money at a time...
Propping up our crippled economy one massive infusion of new money at a time...
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Home Made Solar Heater
The secret ingredient(s) inside the solar box are painted empty soda cans. It is the aluminum can which warms quickly. See how they are stacked one above the other.
Cansolair Solar Panels produces these soda can solar heaters if you are not a do it yourself type of person.
Cansolair Solar Panels produces these soda can solar heaters if you are not a do it yourself type of person.
The Link
Bill McKibben's recent WaPo article on climate change.
McKibben runs 350.org, dedicated to solving the climate crisis.
WaPo: A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!
McKibben runs 350.org, dedicated to solving the climate crisis.
WaPo: A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never!
Ice Cream Recall
Stewart's has recalled many flavors of ice cream -
WNYT: Stewart's Ice Cream Recall
WNYT: Stewart's Ice Cream Recall
All of the above flavors were distributed in cartons or boxes bearing Plant # 36-3918 directly to Stewart’s Shops in New York and southern Vermont.
If you have one of these items with the above mentioned product code, in your home, please returns it to the shop where it was purchased for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact Stewart’s Shops Consumer Affairs at 518-581-1201 x2130.
Ed Schultz
MSNBC suspends Ed Schultz's show after he calls Laura Ingraham a GOP slut.
Yawn...
Guardian UK: 'Vile' attack on Laura Ingraham leads MSNBC to suspend talk show host
Yawn...
Guardian UK: 'Vile' attack on Laura Ingraham leads MSNBC to suspend talk show host
'Mussels Mastery'
Chopped
Anybody familiar with this show? Its part of the anxiety riddled long standing American trend of having a panel of judges eliminate contestants till the winner is picked. What is up with this? This one is themed around chefs having surprise ingredients and then having to come up with a scrumptious dish in 20 or 30 minutes. Why are we so winner obsessed? Why do we so willingly participate in the sport? This one is particularly weird because the judges are sometimes harsh with criticism. There's something very retentive going on here.
Let's recall a few basic points. More and more Americans are becoming obese. Food choices are more and more limited to fast food joints because people are spending less and less time actually preparing meals of any kind let alone gourmet dishes. As more Americans stumble into compromised economic positions, food quality is diminishing for more people as well. Let's also recall that hunger in America is rising.
Anybody familiar with this show? Its part of the anxiety riddled long standing American trend of having a panel of judges eliminate contestants till the winner is picked. What is up with this? This one is themed around chefs having surprise ingredients and then having to come up with a scrumptious dish in 20 or 30 minutes. Why are we so winner obsessed? Why do we so willingly participate in the sport? This one is particularly weird because the judges are sometimes harsh with criticism. There's something very retentive going on here.
Let's recall a few basic points. More and more Americans are becoming obese. Food choices are more and more limited to fast food joints because people are spending less and less time actually preparing meals of any kind let alone gourmet dishes. As more Americans stumble into compromised economic positions, food quality is diminishing for more people as well. Let's also recall that hunger in America is rising.
America's Future In Science
Smell the roses, without immigrants America has no future in science technology. There simply are not enough American children going into science and engineering.
Anti-immigration people take note.
Live Science: 70% of Science Award Finalists Are Children of Immigrants
Anti-immigration people take note.
Live Science: 70% of Science Award Finalists Are Children of Immigrants
CNN - 'The Gang Of Six'
Discussion from a group of Democrats and Republicans who are hashing out the deficit fix. This is the group that will in all likelihood produce a list that both parties will agree on.
Only Volts
Disappointing news from General Motors as they cancel plans for more varieties of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The revolution is on hold.
Reuters: GM cancels luxury plug-in hybrid - sources
The revolution is on hold.
Reuters: GM cancels luxury plug-in hybrid - sources
The push has centered on rolling out the plug-in hybrid technology GM developed for the Volt in a broader range of vehicles to recoup the company's investment more quickly.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Maddow - GOP Focus On Abortion Not Jobs
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Barcelona Police Beat Protestors
Warning - very brutal video clip, most distressing.
20minutosTV: Brutalidad en la Plaza de Cataluña
20minutosTV: Brutalidad en la Plaza de Cataluña
DOW Up
In the noon hour the DOW is up 54 points.
Reuters: Wall St gains on energy, materials; trading light
Reuters: Wall St gains on energy, materials; trading light
Medicare Backlash
The GOP has insisted that it will eliminate medicare. This fact alone has already cost them a Congressional seat out in Western NY.
The vast majority of Americans want to keep medicare as it is.
In spite of that vast majority, the GOP/Tea Party continues along a very unpopular path with the message to dissolve medicare.
I was listening to NPR yesterday and I heard a very bright investment guy talk about Wall Street and the economy. He very clearly stated that Social Security and Medicare were entitlements affecting the deficit, etc etc.
We need to restate this fact over and over and insist that people do not call Social Security an entitlement. Social Security is not an entitlement. Social Security is a retirement savings account funded by a special Social Security tax. Social Security is not funded by federal income tax money. If it were funded by federal income tax, then it would be an entitlement, however it is not funded by federal income tax money. It is funded by a separate and specifically earmarked tax called the Social Security tax.
I fear that the GOP is making inroads into people's confused little minds by restating the lie over and over that SSI is an entitlement. Let's get it straight.
CS Monitor: Medicare: Republicans voice resolve as they prepare to face constituents
The vast majority of Americans want to keep medicare as it is.
In spite of that vast majority, the GOP/Tea Party continues along a very unpopular path with the message to dissolve medicare.
I was listening to NPR yesterday and I heard a very bright investment guy talk about Wall Street and the economy. He very clearly stated that Social Security and Medicare were entitlements affecting the deficit, etc etc.
We need to restate this fact over and over and insist that people do not call Social Security an entitlement. Social Security is not an entitlement. Social Security is a retirement savings account funded by a special Social Security tax. Social Security is not funded by federal income tax money. If it were funded by federal income tax, then it would be an entitlement, however it is not funded by federal income tax money. It is funded by a separate and specifically earmarked tax called the Social Security tax.
I fear that the GOP is making inroads into people's confused little minds by restating the lie over and over that SSI is an entitlement. Let's get it straight.
CS Monitor: Medicare: Republicans voice resolve as they prepare to face constituents
A recent Gallup poll finds that two out of three Americans believe that Social Security and Medicare costs are already creating a crisis for the federal government, but 27 percent say that government should not try to control Medicare costs and 34 percent support only minor changes to the program.
The Market On Friday
Good morning and welcome to the weekend. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY and we just might have a glorious day. As a long time fan of professional basketball I am happy to see that the finals will get under way on Tuesday. Dallas will play Miami, it will be strong team play versus superstars. I would have preferred to see Chicago versus Dallas because I think that series would have been more even. Right now I have to think that Miami will win it. It could go seven games but in the end Miami is too talented.
At 8:15 a.m. futures are relatively flat, the dollar is down against the major world currencies, and oil is slightly up per barrel.
Today investors will see data on personal income, consumer sentiment, and pending home sales.
As we are gong into an extended weekend with Wall Street closed on Monday it is thought that the market might stay relatively calm today. That is one expectation. One suspects many investors are already on vacation.
In spite of a 3% drop in May, the stock market seems to be staying buoyant. It is thought that investors have already factored in many of the troubling economic indicators of the last few weeks. Some are insisting that the market has room to grow this year. We will see.
CNN: Stocks: It's been 'a bruising month'
At 8:15 a.m. futures are relatively flat, the dollar is down against the major world currencies, and oil is slightly up per barrel.
Today investors will see data on personal income, consumer sentiment, and pending home sales.
As we are gong into an extended weekend with Wall Street closed on Monday it is thought that the market might stay relatively calm today. That is one expectation. One suspects many investors are already on vacation.
In spite of a 3% drop in May, the stock market seems to be staying buoyant. It is thought that investors have already factored in many of the troubling economic indicators of the last few weeks. Some are insisting that the market has room to grow this year. We will see.
CNN: Stocks: It's been 'a bruising month'
The stock market will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.
...many analysts say the market is still headed higher this year.
Oil for July delivery gained 30 cents to $100.53 a barrel.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
UFOs And Area 51: The Bob Lazar Video
A little background -
Reading through Annie Jacobsen's 'Area 51', we learn that Bob Lazar had the job to reverse engineer a flying saucer's anti-gravity device. (All I can say is read the book.) In order to work in Area 51 one must swear an oath that essentially damned one if broken. Under duress, Lazar broke the oath and in the early 90s went public.
Is there any truth here? The radar is up.
Reading through Annie Jacobsen's 'Area 51', we learn that Bob Lazar had the job to reverse engineer a flying saucer's anti-gravity device. (All I can say is read the book.) In order to work in Area 51 one must swear an oath that essentially damned one if broken. Under duress, Lazar broke the oath and in the early 90s went public.
Is there any truth here? The radar is up.
Democracy Now - From Storms to Droughts, Devastating Extreme Weather Linked to Human-Caused Climate Change
There is a tornado warning in effect for this area through tonight. This is rare.
DOW Closes Up
Amazingly the DOW gained 8 points today closing at 12,402.
Reuters: Wall Street edges higher for second day
Reuters: Wall Street edges higher for second day
Ratko Mladic
It must be the month of bringing in the bad guys.
Guardian UK: Ratko Mladic arrested, Serbian president confirms
Guardian UK: Ratko Mladic arrested, Serbian president confirms
DOW Down At Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is down 28 points.
Reuters: Wall Street falls on signs of economic slowdown
Reuters: Wall Street falls on signs of economic slowdown
Bad News
This could tank the market today - its not good news at all.
From Reuters - "First quarter GDP growth unrevised at 1.8 percent; weekly jobless claims rise to 424,000"
From Reuters - "First quarter GDP growth unrevised at 1.8 percent; weekly jobless claims rise to 424,000"
View Of Life
Very good opinion piece in Al Jazeera on the meaning of the term "pro -life" as it pertains to the conservative class in America.
I find it telling that this article appears in Al Jazeera. One would not likely see it published on Yahoo News for example.
Al Jazeera: The right's mirror-image view of life
I find it telling that this article appears in Al Jazeera. One would not likely see it published on Yahoo News for example.
Al Jazeera: The right's mirror-image view of life
The sad reality is that, to be pro-life in the US today, which is to be conservative in almost all cases, is to love thy enemy by supporting illegal wars - or just plain stupid ones - that kill hundreds of thousands of innocents, cutting health-care benefits and nutrition programs for children and the poor, and turning the other cheek … of the person you're torturing.
It is also to cut funding for bridges that are falling down to make room for slashing the tax on yacht shoes, make a best faith effort to ensure criminals, the mentally unbalanced and terrorists have access to assault weapons and C4 explosives, and to love thy neighbour - to love them so much as to give him or her a lethal injection if you think they killed someone.
Spent Nuclear Fuel Rods Threat In US
We can't take our eyes off the ball here. We need to keep up the pressure to get rid of nukes. Obama is in the pockets of the nuke industry. Yet just look at some of the facts outlined in the linked article below.
These two facts alone merit repetition -
a. "Two reactors at Indian Point – about 25 miles from New York City – have spent fuel in their pools containing about three times more radioactivity than the combined total of all four spent-fuel pools at the damaged Fukushima reactors."
and
b. "...there is no long-term storage available..."
When we add "a" and "b" together we get the formula for a catastrophe of monstrous dimensions just waiting for something bad to happen.
CS Monitor: Report: 'Unacceptable threat' from spent-fuel pools at US nuclear power plants
These two facts alone merit repetition -
a. "Two reactors at Indian Point – about 25 miles from New York City – have spent fuel in their pools containing about three times more radioactivity than the combined total of all four spent-fuel pools at the damaged Fukushima reactors."
and
b. "...there is no long-term storage available..."
When we add "a" and "b" together we get the formula for a catastrophe of monstrous dimensions just waiting for something bad to happen.
CS Monitor: Report: 'Unacceptable threat' from spent-fuel pools at US nuclear power plants
Spent nuclear fuel stored in water-filled pools at many nuclear reactor sites in the US far surpasses in volume and radioactivity the threat posed by such material at Fukushima, according to a new study.. The huge hazard could be largely eliminated by moving older materials from the pools into dry cask storage, it said.
Today, some 65,000 metric tons of spent fuel is stored at reactor sites around the country, 75 percent of it in US spent-fuel pools...
Typically, spent-fuel pools are rectangular, about 40 to 50 feet deep, and made of reinforced concrete walls four to five feet thick, with stainless steel liners. Those without liners may crack or corrode more often, the report says.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. In fact it is gorgeous out, perfect comfortable temperature and slight breeze, birds are chirping and the world seems heavenly. Our newly adopted cat Trala is running around the house looking for the best window sill to sit in. Trala has discovered the external world and we think she wants a piece of it. She is a house cat and I'm not sure she could make a decent go of it in the outdoors.
At 7:50 a.m. futures are slightly up (and trending down), the dollar is down, and oil is up.
Investors will be looking at the latest revised figures on the first quarter GDP, and they will soon see first time unemployment claims for last week. Both are salient indicators of our economy's shape as you know.
Summing it up, investors are a little spooked by data that suggests the economy is once again slowing down, but they are simultaneously surprised to see corporations projecting decent growth. Its the same story of recent years, Wall Street is happening but Main Street is lagging, really lagging.
CNN: Stocks headed for gains
At 7:50 a.m. futures are slightly up (and trending down), the dollar is down, and oil is up.
Investors will be looking at the latest revised figures on the first quarter GDP, and they will soon see first time unemployment claims for last week. Both are salient indicators of our economy's shape as you know.
Summing it up, investors are a little spooked by data that suggests the economy is once again slowing down, but they are simultaneously surprised to see corporations projecting decent growth. Its the same story of recent years, Wall Street is happening but Main Street is lagging, really lagging.
CNN: Stocks headed for gains
...indicators pointing to a second-quarter slowdown in the recovery are keeping investors on edge.
"The global equity markets continue to wrestle with the paradox of rising earnings estimates and declining global economic growth indicators..."
Oil for July delivery rose $1.77 to $100.96 a barrel.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lawrence O'Donnell - Socialism
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
DeLillo
February 2010 article on writer Don DeLillo. Its tasty.
DeLillo ...doesn’t use e-mail, because he says it “encourages communication I’d just as soon not have.”
NY Times: Don DeLillo, a Writer by Accident Whose Course Is Deliberate
DeLillo ...doesn’t use e-mail, because he says it “encourages communication I’d just as soon not have.”
NY Times: Don DeLillo, a Writer by Accident Whose Course Is Deliberate
Politics And Food Choices
Curious article on the food preferences of liberals and conservatives, it is not scientifically researched data, more like observation leading to a conclusion.
It might have merit. It also seems that more information of this nature is coming forward lately. I think its a good thing. It adds more information to typology and politics.
Live Science: Political Ideology Linked to Food Choices
It might have merit. It also seems that more information of this nature is coming forward lately. I think its a good thing. It adds more information to typology and politics.
Live Science: Political Ideology Linked to Food Choices
Turns out, liberals are more likely than conservatives to follow other people's eye movements, according to research published in the journal Attention, Perception & Psychophysics.
Nothing Has Changed Here
My understanding of the Israeli Palestinian conflict is limited, very limited.
Along with most people in the world, we have witnessed this ongoing conflict our entire lives and most of us are sick of it. Sick in the sense that we want the conflict ended, ended years ago not still ongoing into the infinite future.
One of the most curious aspects of it in my opinion is that this conflict has consumed the world's attention. There are slightly over 7 million Israelis and slightly over 4 million Palestinians, yet they garner the attention of billions of people. The spotlight of humanity gets cast on this area constantly.
I have heard people talk about how to resolve this crisis my entire life and I suspect I will hear more of the same for the rest of my life.
On the level of concern for humanity, we want all people to be happy and to contain a vision of a brilliant future, to live in harmony, all of the good things we know.
My prediction at this point leans toward Israel controlling the entire area. That is the way the momentum of the decades is moving. We all seem to know this and in one sense the drama that has been playing in the news the past few days has no relevance. Yet we pay attention anyhow, maybe out of force of habit.
CS Monitor: Why such a warm reception for Benjamin Netanyahu at US Congress?
Along with most people in the world, we have witnessed this ongoing conflict our entire lives and most of us are sick of it. Sick in the sense that we want the conflict ended, ended years ago not still ongoing into the infinite future.
One of the most curious aspects of it in my opinion is that this conflict has consumed the world's attention. There are slightly over 7 million Israelis and slightly over 4 million Palestinians, yet they garner the attention of billions of people. The spotlight of humanity gets cast on this area constantly.
I have heard people talk about how to resolve this crisis my entire life and I suspect I will hear more of the same for the rest of my life.
On the level of concern for humanity, we want all people to be happy and to contain a vision of a brilliant future, to live in harmony, all of the good things we know.
My prediction at this point leans toward Israel controlling the entire area. That is the way the momentum of the decades is moving. We all seem to know this and in one sense the drama that has been playing in the news the past few days has no relevance. Yet we pay attention anyhow, maybe out of force of habit.
CS Monitor: Why such a warm reception for Benjamin Netanyahu at US Congress?
"Israel will not return to the indefensible boundaries of 1967," he said, to a vigorous burst of cheers and applause.
Since 1990, pro-Israel groups have contributed more than $97 million to congressional candidates – 67 percent to Democrats and 33 percent to Republicans...
The press should have paid more attention to Obama’s calls to negotiate new borders, which included the likelihood of land swaps.
“I will accept a Jewish state.”
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning and welcome to hump day. It is 59 degrees and sort of clear here in Upstate NY. Rain day after rain day has been the pattern for weeks and that pattern might briefly change today, briefly.
I was just navigating the CNN website and the owners have made that site practically useless. You are hit with an endless barrage of pop up advertisements on every page and sometimes more that once on a page. One must assume that this is the growing trend. This is how "content" is paid for. We miss the good old days of the early web in the 90s.
At 8 a.m. futures are slightly down, oil is down, and the dollar is mixed.
According to investment journalists, investors are at a standstill. There is concern that the economy is slowing again, Eurozone insolvency worries linger, and quantitative easing is about to end. These concerns are weighing on the various US indexes and global markets as well. One expects a market correction, some are willing to suggest how deep, others not. It is an iffy time.
CNN: Stocks headed for weak opening
I was just navigating the CNN website and the owners have made that site practically useless. You are hit with an endless barrage of pop up advertisements on every page and sometimes more that once on a page. One must assume that this is the growing trend. This is how "content" is paid for. We miss the good old days of the early web in the 90s.
At 8 a.m. futures are slightly down, oil is down, and the dollar is mixed.
According to investment journalists, investors are at a standstill. There is concern that the economy is slowing again, Eurozone insolvency worries linger, and quantitative easing is about to end. These concerns are weighing on the various US indexes and global markets as well. One expects a market correction, some are willing to suggest how deep, others not. It is an iffy time.
CNN: Stocks headed for weak opening
...a slowing U.S. recovery, European debt problems, and the end of the Federal Reserve's bond-buying program.
Oil for July delivery slipped 35 cents to $99.23 a barrel.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
DOW Down
The DOW dropped 25 stinkers today closing at 12,356.
Reuters: Wall Street slips on worry about growth outlook
Reuters: Wall Street slips on worry about growth outlook
Got Some S'plainin To Do
Will this be his presidential death knell? The story is jaw dropping. What was he thinking?
Raw Story: Tim Pawlenty wiped a serial child molester’s record clean in 2008
Raw Story: Tim Pawlenty wiped a serial child molester’s record clean in 2008
Cheap
Maybe we would retire there? Get a contingent of 20 families to go there and retire in a swarm on cheap housing.
Most of these very cheap housing markets are in the rust belt - Michigan, Ohio, Indiana - Great Lake Area. Love to see a revival happen in these places and I bet there are some amazing steals there but its just not somewhere I would want to be...
CNN: 10 dirt-cheap housing markets
Most of these very cheap housing markets are in the rust belt - Michigan, Ohio, Indiana - Great Lake Area. Love to see a revival happen in these places and I bet there are some amazing steals there but its just not somewhere I would want to be...
CNN: 10 dirt-cheap housing markets
Youngstown, Ohio. Median price: $55,400
...............
Ocala Fla. Median price: $75,400
DOW Flat At Noon
In the noon hour the DOW is down 15 points.
Reuters: Wall Street flat as growth concerns offset oil rebound
Reuters: Wall Street flat as growth concerns offset oil rebound
Rapture Suicides
This Harold Camping monstrosity gets the douche bag of the year award.
We now find out about his followers being so distraught over his pronouncements that they go on to commit murder and/or suicide. Now one could say that its not Harold Camping's fault, but I beg to differ. It is his fault. There is a baseline here, and that baseline is that anyone following this douche bag has a severe mind problem. It goes with the territory. I feel bad for these people, they have my sympathy, they need help and they are going to the wrong place to find it. And douche bag is playing the god card which for many is the unlimited infinite drug.
Actually I'm too pissed to write about it rationally at the moment.
Harold Camping is now saying that October 21st is the real date, he was off by 5 months. Translation, expect to read about more people with damaged minds committing suicide and/or murdering people in preparation for October 21st.
Live Science: Failed Doomsday Has Real Deadly Consequences
We now find out about his followers being so distraught over his pronouncements that they go on to commit murder and/or suicide. Now one could say that its not Harold Camping's fault, but I beg to differ. It is his fault. There is a baseline here, and that baseline is that anyone following this douche bag has a severe mind problem. It goes with the territory. I feel bad for these people, they have my sympathy, they need help and they are going to the wrong place to find it. And douche bag is playing the god card which for many is the unlimited infinite drug.
Actually I'm too pissed to write about it rationally at the moment.
Harold Camping is now saying that October 21st is the real date, he was off by 5 months. Translation, expect to read about more people with damaged minds committing suicide and/or murdering people in preparation for October 21st.
Live Science: Failed Doomsday Has Real Deadly Consequences
A California woman named Lyn Benedetto was one of millions who heard Camping's message, and became concerned that her daughters would suffer terribly in the coming apocalypse. She allegedly forced her daughters, 11 and 14, to lie on a bed and then cut their throats with a box cutter. She then tried to kill herself, though police arrested Benedetto and all three survived.
Others were not so lucky. An elderly man in Taiwan reportedly killed himself on May 5 ahead of the Rapture by jumping out of a building. He had heard that doomsday was imminent, and had taken recent earthquakes and tsunamis as early warning signs.
No Change
As we have pointed out recently, Obama's alleged change in America's position on Israel and Palestine is not a change. There's no change.
As Robert Fisk has pointed out, Israel has turned Palestinian territories into swiss cheese with settlements all over the place. Will the Israeli's abandon them? This is a rhetorical question.
Read the article attached below -
CS Monitor: On Europe trip, Obama to argue against a vote for a Palestinian state
As Robert Fisk has pointed out, Israel has turned Palestinian territories into swiss cheese with settlements all over the place. Will the Israeli's abandon them? This is a rhetorical question.
Read the article attached below -
CS Monitor: On Europe trip, Obama to argue against a vote for a Palestinian state
The president said in his Middle East speech last week that plans afoot for the United Nations General Assembly to vote at its September meeting on a declaration of an independent Palestine would accomplish nothing for the Palestinians. Calling the plan a misguided attempt to isolate Israel, Obama said the United States would oppose the effort.
After Mr. Netanyahu chose to go public at the White House Friday with his rejection of Obama’s proposal for restarting peace talks, only the Israeli political class can pressure Netanyahu to pull back from “the brink..."
“It was pretty clear from what we heard that he [Netanyahu] doesn’t have the blessing of AIPAC to turn this into a bigger controversy than it already is,” he says. “They don’t want him to turn the gap into a chasm.”
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. It is 65 degrees and hazy here in Upstate NY. I just spent the last half hour trying to log into this f-ing blog. If for some reason you don't see new posts around here its not because I'm not trying, its because blogger is being very finicky lately. I am considering moving the whole thing to a .com address. If I do I will link.
Is anybody else having these kinds of issues with blogger?
At 8:15 a.m. futures are modestly up, the dollar is down, and oil is up.
Right at this moment the market is poised to open higher, but who knows what hell could break loose between now and then. Seriously, its been a tumultuous period to say the least.
The journalists are hard pressed to explain the unexpected change in the market for today but are simply saying that the Eurozone debt woes are on hold. Clearly they will reappear for an extended period of time. Its a big deal.
Personally I am guessing that the market goes through a correction. The factors that will cause the market to rise will be consistent indicators that the US economy is holding ground. Right now, we are on shaky ground.
CNN: Stocks head for modest rebound
Is anybody else having these kinds of issues with blogger?
At 8:15 a.m. futures are modestly up, the dollar is down, and oil is up.
Right at this moment the market is poised to open higher, but who knows what hell could break loose between now and then. Seriously, its been a tumultuous period to say the least.
The journalists are hard pressed to explain the unexpected change in the market for today but are simply saying that the Eurozone debt woes are on hold. Clearly they will reappear for an extended period of time. Its a big deal.
Personally I am guessing that the market goes through a correction. The factors that will cause the market to rise will be consistent indicators that the US economy is holding ground. Right now, we are on shaky ground.
CNN: Stocks head for modest rebound
"...we're waiting with bated breath for the next big thing to happen."
"Between signs of slower growth in the United States and the re-emergence of sovereign debt problems, there's not a whole lot to drive enthusiasm right now..."
Traders will be looking for government data on April new home sales, due shortly after the opening bell.
Oil for July delivery gained $1.20, or more than 1%, to $98.90 a barrel.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sustainable Cleveland
One of many videos on the sustainable Cleveland 2019 movement, this one hits on local food production.
I wish the video was more nuts and bolts and less emotion and good will. One suspects the intent was to make a video document that was politically neutral, unfortunately it is also dull. However it does hint at a commitment.
I wish the video was more nuts and bolts and less emotion and good will. One suspects the intent was to make a video document that was politically neutral, unfortunately it is also dull. However it does hint at a commitment.
Only Four S's
Yahoo: Trivial pursuit: Five board game facts
On Scrabble - The letter "S" appears very frequently in English -- it's around the seventh most common -- but Butts decided to only include four in Scrabble in order to make the game harder and limit the use of plurals.
Fast Fourier Transform
Newest advancement in the rate of data transfer.
BBC: Laser puts record data rate through fibre
BBC: Laser puts record data rate through fibre
...the entire Library of Congress collections could be sent down an optical fibre in 10 seconds.
DOW Down
The DOW dropped 130 points today to close at 12,381.
CNN: Stocks skid on renewed worries about Europe
CNN: Stocks skid on renewed worries about Europe
DOW Down At Noon
In the noon hour the Down is down 168 points. We saw this coming earlier in the day.
Reuters: Wall St drops on euro debt, demand worries
Reuters: Wall St drops on euro debt, demand worries
Astrocytes
We can see that there may be hope in the future for people with dementia.
Science is amazing...
Live Science: The Dish: Helper Brain Cells Grown in Lab
Astrocytes are small, star-shaped cells in the brain that act like the neuron's bodyguards, and because of that they play an important role in diseases of the central nervous system, including dementia.
Mitch Daniels Out
If William Kristol is saying this about the GOP presidential field -"...it doesn't exactly represent an overflowing of political talent" - take note.
Ever since the disturbing and highly unexpected election of George W Bush, many of us are keen on inspecting what the GOP will be presenting to the country.
Sorry to say, but someone out of the present GOP pack could be the next president and the implications are unthinkable. Just consider the present plight of the country and the over the top answers being presented as a remedy. According to the GOP the patient needs to be transplanted out for spare parts, and what remains is a cheap suit.
CS Monitor: Election 2012: Mitch Daniels out, where does that leave the GOP?
Ever since the disturbing and highly unexpected election of George W Bush, many of us are keen on inspecting what the GOP will be presenting to the country.
Sorry to say, but someone out of the present GOP pack could be the next president and the implications are unthinkable. Just consider the present plight of the country and the over the top answers being presented as a remedy. According to the GOP the patient needs to be transplanted out for spare parts, and what remains is a cheap suit.
CS Monitor: Election 2012: Mitch Daniels out, where does that leave the GOP?
“...a GOP establishment deeply worried that the flawed options they’re left with won’t be any match for an incumbent president who seemingly won’t face a primary but is likely to shatter campaign fundraising records.”
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