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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Have A Great Saturday

work by Francesco Clemente


The Borowitz Report - Scientists Consider New Names For Climate Change

New Yorker: Scientists Consider New Names for Climate Change
“You will be burnt to a crisp and die.”

TRNN - Financialization And The Collapse Of European Social Democracy - Costas Lapavitsas On RAI

The Drought

Guardian Liberty Voice: California Preparing for Unprecedented Drought This Summer

Christie Watch

MSNBC: No warm welcome for Chris Christie in Tennessee

Global Warming - USA Vs China

Long story short - while the USA may slightly cut carbon emissions over the next few decades, India and China are cranking out more coal plants and cars every single day. This increased production in China and India will overwhelm any cut backs in the USA. Say hello to 400 to 500ppm or higher, scorching heat in the Summers, more bizarre single weather events like serious tornadoes in Upstate NY, erratic Winters, more exacerbated water conditions throughout the world including droughts, significant changes to the animal and insect populations, more health risks, rising sea levels, and on and on and on.

Business Week: Obama Step Forward on Carbon Undone by China’s Steps Back

Oil Phase Two - Shale

AlterNet: Why the Oil Industry is Running Into Major Trouble - The era of cheap oil is over now, while new oil is going to be less plentiful and more expensive.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Have A Great Friday

work by Francesco Clemente


The Onion - Survey: Most Common Deathbed Regret Never Spraying Fire Extinguisher

The Onion: Survey: Most Common Deathbed Regret Never Spraying Fire Extinguisher

Maddow - Fracking Industry Avoids Responsibility for Flaming Water

TRNN - ALEC And Private Utility Companies Conspired To Freeze Renewable Energy Standards In Ohio

Texas Drought

Mashable: Heavy Rains Skip Texas City, Now 'Poster Child' of Drought

The Drought

LA Times: Drought yields only desperation

Christie Watch

I like it, maybe he'll stay...

WCBY: Chris Christie to make Tennessee stops

Global Warming - Critical Number

This is the most significant news story of the year. This is a disaster.

National Geographic: Northern Hemisphere Cracks 400 ppm CO₂ for Whole Month for First Time - Carbon dioxide levels exceeded 400 ppm across the Northern Hemisphere for the entire month of April, a significant climate-change milestone.

Keeping It Nuts

AlterNet: 5 Craziest Laws Passed by GOP Legislators, Just This Month - Ft. Lauderdale, Floria OKs a resolution that makes it illegal for homeless people to own possessions
5. Tennessee Outlaws High-Speed Mass Transit

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 61 degrees and sunny on this bright morning here in Upstate NY. Welcome to the weekend and hooray for that. I hope the weather is clear tomorrow, I'd like to get out onto some trails and get into nature a little bit.

  At 8:15 a.m. futures are slightly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. At this moment the market is poised to open lower.

  It is the last trading day for May. All in all May has been a good month to be in equities. Next Friday we'll get the all important Federal government jobs data for the month of May. Hard to believe June is almost here. Today investors will be parsing economic data on all sorts of things including consume sentiment, my favorite. How are you fellow consumer, are you consuming enough, want to consume more, consume we shall.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The U.S. government will release personal income and spending numbers for April at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Asian markets ended with mixed results.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Have A Great Thursday






















Guardian UK: Maya Angelou quotes: 15 of the best
Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

The Onion - Study: Human Ability To Cooperate Most Strongly Exhibited When Ordering Pizza

The Onion: Study: Human Ability To Cooperate Most Strongly Exhibited When Ordering Pizza

Maddow - VA Crisis Both Scandal And Systemic Problem

TRNN - Melting Polar Ice Caps A 'Ticking Timebomb' For Earth's Climate System

The Drought

The Hill: House action needed quickly on California drought

Christie Watch

Politico: The incredible shrinking Christie

Global Warming - WSJ

Guardian UK: The Wall Street Journal denies the 97% scientific consensus on human-caused global warming - The Rupert Murdoch media continues to deny the reality of human-caused global warming

The Roots Of American Obesity

AlterNet: An Unexpected Reason Americans Are Overweight - The new documentary "Fed Up" reveals how Big Food pushed the government to give out compromised health information.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 56 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. I have yet to get outside but it looks fantastic out there. If I were a hiking skip my commitments kind of person, I would head for the hills. One small comment here - are you like me in that you are getting sick of all these articles that list things? For example - the six things to know about sex, or, the eight things to do to your house, or, the five things corporations don't want you to know. What is going on with this? Has some Harvard grad figured out that the best way to get people to read things or to get someone's attention is to give them a list upfront and often. Come on journalists, break the mold. Give us two things to know why you should stop writing lists all the time.

  At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are slightly up and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open slightly higher.

  I just read that the US economy actually contracted during the first quarter in a revised reading of the GDP. That is of course unwelcome news. Expect to hear all sorts of readings on this reading today. The experts will explain why it occurred etc etc. Two formal contractions in a row, recall, signifies an official recession, not that it means anything in an economy that has nothing but misery implications for Main Street. Meanwhile Wall Street is going great guns.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
"There is market chatter that we could get a significant downward revision to the first estimate due to revised assessments of business investment, equipment spending and construction activity..."

Revised first-quarter data show U.S. economy contracted at 1% annual rate. Revision due in June.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Debunks Global Warming Deniers

'Judgments'

Photo by artist Rosea Posey titled 'Judgments'.

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Francesco Clemente

The Onion - ‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens

The Onion: ‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens

Maddow - Dinosaur Find Cited As Proof Of Bible Story

TRNN - Voters Reject Traditional Left Parties In EU Parliament Elections

The Drought

NBC Bay Area: California Drought Forces Communities to Tap Ground Water

Christie Watch

National Review: Chris Christie’s Flack Insults Your Intelligence

Global Warming - Terminology Apparently Matters

Guardian UK: Americans care deeply about 'global warming' – but not 'climate change' - Yale researchers have found that the two terms, often used interchangeably, generate very different responses

The Progressive City

AlterNet: The Rise of the Progressive City - With liberal hopes dashed in Washington, political energy is gathering in cities, where social change is actually possible.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. It feels like we could be in for some rain. Yesterday was indeed the hottest and most humid day of the season. We all expect the Summer to become a real scorcher. On the garden front, after planting most of the garden over the weekend we are now already seeing little bugs eating away at the plants. Have you noticed a lot more insects this season, I have. Somebody needs to explain to me what the conditions are that makes this insect population greater.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher although some energy stocks might lag.

  Just like you I am watching the stock market in awe as it proceeds to set new record highs each day. The DOW is presently at 16,675 and it is possible that it may exceed that today although one never knows what will happen by closing time. One suspects Vegas is taking bets on a possible DOW at 17,000.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
"We continue to see a market that feeds on upward momentum," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Francesco Clemente

The Onion - Wise Oracle Proclaims To All At Barbecue That He Felt A Raindrop

The Onion: Wise Oracle Proclaims To All At Barbecue That He Felt A Raindrop

TRNN - Government Climate Report Predicts More Bad News, But How Do You Reverse Course?

This is from the first week of May.

The Drought

The Republic: Amid drought, California water managers rely on flawed system to track largest users of water

Christie Watch

Actually, this is a good thing, long overdue.

NorthJersey.com: Christie to sign bill opening adoption records

Global Warming - The Toll On America

AlterNet: Climate Change Is Destroying America’s Historic Treasures - Rising seas, floods and wildfires are threatening some of the nation's most remarkable landmarks.

Out Of Touch

AlterNet: Our Elites Are Extremely Isolated from Real Life in America -- and That's Dangerous - Tim Geithner’s new memoir shows yet again just how out of touch and deluded America's elites are.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 71 degrees and sunny with some haziness here in Upstate NY. The weather logos are indicating it could me a mixed week with sunshine and lots of rain. I hope you had a good holiday weekend. Yesterday we attended the local Memorial Day parade and I have to honestly say it was a very charming and pleasant event. As you stand there watching eventually you start seeing neighbors and people you know and engage in little chit chats. And then there's the parade with the local police, fire departments and engines, marching bands, emergency crews, a few old time cars, city officials, the boyscouts and the girl scouts. This was a very American event and it's good, it gets people together and it's simple. Everybody knows what to expect.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher but some energy stocks might lag.

  The prediction is that the market might head into new record territory again. Who knows what to think of this extended period and where it's headed. We can't control it anyhow. Data on housing comes out later and the stage is set for gains in this short vacation period week.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The latest S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index will be published at 9 a.m.

Investors were also pleased that Ukrainian elections were completed without too many complications.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day

  We honor our soldiers today. Back in WWII my Uncle Jay was a soldier in the Army fighting in the Pacific. I think they would go from island to island and fight the Japanese. He saw some of the most horrific things one could ever imagine and told us about it. I remember him struggling, he would often close his eyes and grimace, blotting out his memory maybe, blotting out his incongruence with his ordinary reality perhaps. He was suffering from an intense form of PTSD but at that time in the 50s no one had ever heard of PTSD. They called it shell shock and treatment was not part of the equation. Jay took his own life in the late 50s, it was a shocking point for our family and for me as a young child. All we have left now of Jay are a few worn photos. Essentially he gave his life in support of WWII as so many others did.

Chicago Tribune: Memorial Day 2014: WWII vet remembers one that was left behind

Have A Great Memorial Day

work by Francesco Clemente

The Onion - Local Man Not Sure How He Ended Up In Boxing Entourage

The Onion: Local Man Not Sure How He Ended Up In Boxing Entourage

TRNN - Presidential Elections In Ukraine Will Usher In Direct Rule Of Oligarchs

The Drought

Triple Pundit: California Drought Leaves Groundwater Reserves Vulnerable as Cost Nears $2 Billion

Christie Watch

MSNBC: Christie ‘was hoping to ride a boom that never happened’

Global Warming - Australia, Right To Wrong

Guardian UK: Could Australia really dismantle its carbon price? The conservative government in Australia proposes to be the first country in the world to abolish a legislated price on carbon emissions. Could Australia really go down this path?
From 2011 to 2013, carbon emissions from electricity supply, the major source of carbon pollution in Australia, reduced by 7 percent, due both to the carbon price and growth in renewable energy. Renewable energy in Australia grew by around 30 percent from 2012.

The new conservative government led by Tony Abbott is planning on winding back almost all of these policies. After his election last year, he declared abolishing carbon pricing his "top legislative priority".

The Manhattan Declaration

Salon: Radical right, radical hypocrisy: Same-sex marriage masterstroke exposes extremist agenda - Christian clergy who support gay marriage want their religious freedom defended. Guess who is being awfully silent!

Tea Extract

AlterNet: Tea Party's Failed Propaganda: It Was Always A Tool of the Republicans - The myth that the movement was all about economic issues — not social ones — is finally laid bare.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Guns N' Roses

This is real, not the Onion. You can carry a gun openly in Georgia but a woman needs a medical prescription to buy a sex toy in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Guardian UK: Buying sex toys doesn't make a woman 'lady crazy'. It makes you totally normal by Jessica Valenti
But in Sandy Springs, Georgia, you really do need a medical reason – and a doctor's prescription – to buy a sex toy.

The Vulnerable

  In February we learned that 1 in 4 Americans doesn't know Earth circles sun. I have to admit that I found this news to be surprising. That's a significant number of people, perfectly in line with the number of people who supported GW Bush to the bitter end of his disastrous presidency. I have come to think of this group as being vulnerable. They are vulnerable to mythological understandings and unfounded emotional distortions of how our world functions. If one does not even understand that the Earth circles the Sun, how could one possibly understand a complex problem like global warming.

  The Creation Museum in Kentucky is a crown jewel in that 1 in 4 world view. The museum has just unveiled an Allosaurus Exhibit claiming that the major scientific relic is evidence of Noah's flood which according to the museum's brain trust occurred 4,300 years ago. The relic is allegedly a unique and superlative specimen and truly deserves to be in the hands of scientists rather than the Creation Museum.

NY Post: Dinosaur bones prove creationism right, man says
Keeping with its Bible-themed approach, the Creation Museum says the dinosaur died in a worldwide flood about 4,300 years ago. However, scientists say the last dinosaurs roamed the earth more than 60 million years ago.

Have A Great Sunday

work by George Condo

The Onion - Congress Reluctant To Cut Funding For Tank That Just Spins Around And Self-Destructs

The Onion: Congress Reluctant To Cut Funding For Tank That Just Spins Around And Self-Destructs

TRNN - The Financialization Of Big Business - Costas Lapavitsas On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

WSJ: California Drains Reservoirs in the Middle of a Drought - The state desperately needs water, yet federal policy sends huge 'pulse flows' into the Pacific to benefit fish.

Christie Watch

HuffPo: Chris Christie Pressed By Newtown Parents To Sign Ammo Ban

Global Warming - Chickens

Guardian UK: Wanted: a breed of chicken that can survive crippling heatwaves - US scientists fear climate change could have devastating effects on poultry farmers as temperatures reach scorching levels
By 2060, US climate agencies predict, there will be 12 times as many 100F (37.7C) days in Delaware and Maryland, where poultry farmers produce 600 million birds a year.

Nut Watch

AlterNet: 7 Most Absurd Right-Wing Statements This Week: Sajak and Coulter Lead the Irrational War on Science - "Climate scientists are unpatriotic racists"... and more.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Living Off Debris

Epoch Times: Surviving in New York, 5 Cents at a Time - The life and daily struggle of a 72-year-old can collector

Raw Story: ‘Canners’ live off debris of New York

Have A Good Saturday

Enjoy the beginning of your holiday weekend. We wanted to get our vegetable garden in but the rain might interfere.

work by George Condo


The Onion - Bored GOP Vetting Rand Paul Just To Kill Time Before Viable 2016 Candidate Emerges

The Onion: Bored GOP Vetting Rand Paul Just To Kill Time Before Viable 2016 Candidate Emerges

TRNN - Jackson Rising: New Economies Conference Highlights Cooperatives As Alternative Economic Model

The Drought

NPR: California's Drought Isn't Making Food Cost More. Here's Why

Christie Watch

Much more appropriate...

NJ.com: Chris Christie: 'I would love to be general manager of the Mets'

Global Warming - Framing

Guardian UK: How framing can move climate change from scientific to social fact - Most of us simply don't see ourselves in the melting ice, and the hockey-stick graphs – we need a way of thinking and speaking about the changing climate

Hooked For Life

AlterNet: Toddlers Dosed With Speed? How Big Pharma Hooks America's Kids on Dangerous Meds - Children with ADHD are easy targets because they will be lifelong patients and repeat customers.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Have A Great Friday

work by George Condo

The Onion - Experts Recommend Breaking Down Crushing Defeats Into Smaller, More Manageable Failures

The Onion: Experts Recommend Breaking Down Crushing Defeats Into Smaller, More Manageable Failures

Maddow - Electric Chair Gets Another Look After Problems With Lethal Injection Drugs

TRNN - The Rise Of The Big Banks - Costas Lapavitsas On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

The Sacramento Bee: Senate passes California drought-relief bill

Christie Watch

Christie is in a little over his head giving advice on another state's economy - his economic record in his own state is disastrous.

Sunshine State News: Chris Christie Joins With Rick Scott to Attack Charlie Crist on Jobs

Global Warming - Coulter Chimes In

Somebody should put together a little clip of Coulter's weekly incorrect and ridiculous predictions. Regardless, Congress can't even gets its pointy little head around doling out lunches to poor school children, and we expect these same people to tackle the complexity of global warming - uh uh, not going to happen. There is only one possible approach to curtailing greenhouse emissions. That would be through people not using energy that produces CO2. If the demand is not there, then the oil company goes the way of the Edsel. What is the likelihood of this happening? We know the answer.

RCP: Coulter: Those Who Don't Believe In Global Warming Are Treated Like Holocaust Deniers

The Rural Blue

AlterNet: 6 States Where Non-Wealthy Rural White People Actually Vote In Their Economic Interest Instead of Jamie Dimon's - White and rural often means far-right Republican. Not in these states.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 59 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. Rain is predicted right through to next Wednesday. Wet it will be. We are the water people of Upstate NY. Yesterday a tornado took apart parts of the area, yes a tornado. Get used to it. It occurs to me that if Congress cannot figure out to not cut food programs (GOP Push To Cut School Lunch Funding Echoes Years Of Conservative Media Attacks, how on Earth will global warming ever be tackled by our government. Lunch programs, that's a simple thing. People need to eat especially when they have no means of getting food. We can afford to dole out some macaroni and cheese.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are slightly up and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  There are many points of interest being posed to investors this morning. Among a few of the more salient caveats will be data on new home sales which is always an interesting peak into the health of the economy and continued observation of the new mess in Thailand with it's global economic implications. It's Friday, we've got a long weekend ahead, think relaxation.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The U.S. government will report new home sales from April at 10 a.m. ET.

Fitch said any further escalation in political instability could cause lasting damage to the (Thailand) economy.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Have A Great Thursday

work by George Condo


The Onion - Man Disgusted Just By Constant Thought Of 2 Guys Kissing

The Onion: Man Disgusted Just By Constant Thought Of 2 Guys Kissing

Maddow - To Guard Against ‘Sham,’ Democrats Join Benghazi Committee

TRNN - Congress Considering Expanding Wasteful Pentagon Programs

The Drought

UC Davis: Scientists forecast economic impacts of the drought on Central Valley agriculture

Christie Watch

Reuters: New Jersey's fiscal woes imperil an already-damaged Chris Christie

Global Warming - Reality

Fox News: Republicans to cut funding from Obama's global warming agenda

The War On Fact

AlterNet: How Right-Wingers Are Amping Up Their War on Science and Reality - Republicans are taking their science denialism to striking new levels.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 60 degrees, raining, and thundering here in Upstate NY. Just a few minutes ago we were getting hit with a few minutes of intense hail which for the moment has ceased. I've said it before but we have plenty of water in this area and as a result it's looking downright tropical outside at this point, the green is intense. I'm working on a new definition for a conservative, here's what I've got so far. A conservative is a liberal who is 200 to 50 years behind the times.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.

  Investors will be viewing more corporate results today along with data on employment and housing. I just saw the weekly layoff numbers at 326,000 up from last week. Also it looks like the coup in Thailand could produce a little jolt in the road. Finally CNN is behind an article saying that investors are getting out of stocks and back into the safe havens of bonds and cash. Makes sense, the market is at record highs, they want to cash in on the profits before a significant correction takes place. However, no one really knows when that will occur, at least no one like myself.

CNN: Stocks: Retail earnings still the focus
The retail sector remains in the spotlight on Wall Street as more earnings roll in.

Over 100 people were arrested outside the McDonald's corporate campus Wednesday as they protested for higher wages.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Enjoy Wednesday

work by George Condo

The Onion - Ohio Replaces Lethal Injection With Humane New Head-Ripping-Off Machine

The Onion: Ohio Replaces Lethal Injection With Humane New Head-Ripping-Off Machine

Maddow - Voters Narrow Crowded Races In Georgia

TRNN - Fed Pulls Back Quantitative Easing

The Drought

Weather Channel: California Drought Threatens Food Supply of All Americans; Collapsing Aquifer Sinking the Land

Christie Watch

NY Daily News: Chris Christie slashes pension contributions as budget problems add to Bridgegate woes - The embattled New Jersey governor has a new challenge on his plate: closing a $1-billion state budget gap in the next six weeks.

Global Warming - Unpatriotic Racists

When the discussion on global warming gets this low and attracts this much attention, something is really off base.

Chicago Tribune: Pat Sajak calls global warming advocates 'unpatriotic racists,' sparks Twitter backlash

Extremism American Style

AlterNet: Americans Are Far More Likely to Be Killed by Right-Wing Terrorists Than Muslims -- But the Media's Afraid of Saying It - We must confront the threat of far right extremism.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. The logo is showing rain but the caption is reading that there is a 0% chance of rain. What is a person to believe? We see that the Tea Party basically face planted itself on Tuesday's primaries. Could it be that absurd destructive extremism is slightly less popular? One can only hope.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  Today investors will be parsing first quarter results from many retailers but more importantly they will be parsing minutes of a recent Fed meeting. One cannot say it enough, the power that the Fed exerts over money policy is unrivaled. Look for the results of that meeting to exert weight on the market's direction by closing time.

CNN: Stocks: Steady before Fed and retailers
The Federal Reserve is in focus Wednesday as investors wait for the release of the minutes from its April meeting at 2 p.m.

Many retailers will be reporting results Wednesday.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Light To Matter

Imperial College: Scientists discover how to turn light into matter after 80-year quest

Have A Great Tuesday

work by George Condo


The Onion - Study: Average American Now Requires 3 Attempts To Get Up From Seated Position

The Onion: Study: Average American Now Requires 3 Attempts To Get Up From Seated Position

Maddow - Political Weirdness Finds A Home In Oregon

TRNN Debate: Could President Obama Be Doing More To Fight Climate Change?

The Drought

Reuters: California drought will cost thousands of farm jobs: study

Christie Watch

CBS News: Chris Christie tries again to court Jewish donors

Global Warming - 'Cosmos'

Mother Jones: "Cosmos" Explains How Global Warming Threatens Civilization as We Know It - Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the amazing things that we can accomplish...if we don't destroy ourselves first.

Sensitive

AlterNet: 6 Signs You Could Be a Highly Sensitive Person - A little-understood inherited temperament could be impacting your life or someone you love in surprising ways.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 56 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. We are into what I would call perfect weather and temperatures. The 70s is where it's at as far as I'm concerned. I could live in this realm year round. So, I would encourage you to somehow get out today and enjoy the environment. Take a walk and if possible get out into wild nature.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open in the flat range.

  There are a few straggler quarterly reports that could affect the day's movement of the indexes. The stocks are about building supplies and big box types mostly. In a sense it's about how Americans are spending or not spending their money. In my area there is quite a bit of renovation and repair work going on. It seems like every other house is having an addition or some kind of work. Things are hopping.

CNN: Stocks: Investors wait for earnings
While markets seem to be lacking any clear direction, the CNNMoney Fear & Greed index indicates that investors continue to feel fearful.

Bangkok stocks were relatively sanguine after the Thai army surprised the country by declaring martial law.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Have A Good Monday

work by George Condo

The Onion - American Medical Association Changes Stance On Self-Immolation

The Onion: American Medical Association Changes Stance On Self-Immolation

TRNN - Boko Haram Kidnappings An Excuse For Entrenching The U.S. Further Into African Affairs

The Drought

Scientific American: 100 Percent of California Now in Highest Stages of Drought - The state got no rain relief during the December-March wet season, according to a new national drought report

Christie Watch

HuffPo: Chris Christie Gets A Second Chance After Big Stumble

Global Warming - Wildfires

ABC News: Studies: Wildfires Worse Due to Global Warming

To Eat Or Not To Eat

AlterNet: 10 Foods That Were Touted As Health Miracles, Then Vilified As Health Hazards - No wonder people in the U.S. are confused about what to eat.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 51 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY on this fine Monday morning. The logos are predicting a lot of rain for the week. Right now it's looking rather lush out there, the green-ness of things is very strong. Everybody's lawn is emerald green and the grass is growing quickly. We cut the lawn for a second time in less than a week on Saturday. I hope you had a good weekend. The high point of mine was a long trail run. My recovery from surgery in December is moving along nicely and I am much closer to the old self as it were - physically speaking.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open lower.

  There is some major merger news grabbing a lot of attention this morning. Recall that the market is in record high territory. The irony is that this is a fear causing area for a different set of reasons than when the market is tanking as in 2008. It's a matter of, well now what do we do. Can there be a justification for further gains or is another correction coming. I have no idea, but change is always in the air.

CNN: Stocks: Reacting to mega merger news
...AT&T announced it was taking over DirecTV, and AstraZeneca rejected Pfizer's attempts to complete a mega-deal.

There's not much in terms of economic and earnings announcements on the docket Monday.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Jupiter's Shrinking Red Spot

American History

The ad is from the 1960s. The caption reads: "Blow in her face and she'll follow you anywhere."


Have A Good Sunday

work by George Condo


The Borowitz Report - Conservatives Praise Antarctic Ice Sheet Melt As Beautiful Expression Of Free Market

New Yorker: Conservatives Praise Antarctic Ice Sheet Melt as Beautiful Expression of Free Market

TRNN - Antibiotics Are Becoming Useless All Over the World, Why?

The Drought

WaPo: What’s exceptional about the current drought — and what isn’t

Christie Watch

The video is from 2013

Global Warming - West Antarctica

Guardian UK: Global warming: it's a point of no return in West Antarctica. What happens next? Last week saw a 'holy shit' moment in climate change science. A landmark report revealed that the collapse of a large part of Antarctica is now unstoppable

Vile

  Limbaugh and Ingraham are on typical point in that everything is Obama's and consequently liberals' fault. However these two diverge over the kidnapping. Limabaugh claims no responsibility, and then in an odd way Imgraham claims that it is Obama's responsibility because it reflects back on Benghazi. Recapping - I suppose the idea is that the kidnapping is not the USA's responsibility yet it occurred because of Obama's responsibility in Beghazi. As usual, there's a lot of hatred and no logic.

AlterNet: 9 Vilest Right-Wing Moments This Week: Limbaugh Pits Himself Against Abducted Nigerian Girls "They're not our girls"... and more horrific commentary.
1. Rush Limbaugh: The Nigerian girls aren’t “our” girls... and other atrocities.

2. Laura Ingraham: Nigerian girls were kidnapped because, Benghazi.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Have A Great Friday

work by Thierry De Cordier

The Onion - Congress Splits Into Male And Female Senators To Discuss Newest Reproductive Bill

The Onion: Congress Splits Into Male And Female Senators To Discuss Newest Reproductive Bill

Maddow - 'Big Nutball Day’ In Store For Washington, DC

TRNN - The FCC Moves To Kill Net Neutrality

The Drought

CNN: 'Unprecedented' wildfires, fierce winds lead to 'firenadoes' in California

Christie Watch

HuffPo: Former Chris Christie Aide Demands Corrections To Bridgegate Report

Global Warming - National Security

The Weather Channel: Global Warming Will Increasingly Threaten U.S. National Security: Report

Delusions

AlterNet: 5 of the Most Dangerous Delusions of the Far Right - Conservatives are outdoing themselves with the crazy on issues like climate change and abortion.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 65 degrees and rainy here in Upstate NY. The forecast is calling for rain through the weekend. The temperatures are beginning to hover in the 70s , too bad they can't remain there for about 8 months or so. The big CNN headline for the morning is about firenadoes in California. Talk about an extreme weather event. As you know the drought in California is a big concern. We are talking food prices and not to mention how millions of people will get at water. It is a water war.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are modestly lower and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open lower.

  The past few days have been stinkers on Wall Street. Disappointing first quarter results have helped to drag it under. The good news is that we are headed into the weekend and a rest. Meanwhile investors will be parsing economic data today on housing and consumer sentiment. I know you are feeling sentimental oh consumer.

CNN: Stocks: Lively week ending on fearful note
Declining Treasury yields, disappointing quarterly earnings from Wal-Mart and a broad sense of fear in the markets has contributed to pushing stocks down.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

The Best And Brightest

Raw Story: This GOP primary debate for Idaho governor is so bonkers, we don’t know where to start

Have A Great Thursday

work by Thierry De Cordier

The Onion - Pharmaceutical Industry Reeling As More Moms Making Vaccines At Home

The Onion: Pharmaceutical Industry Reeling As More Moms Making Vaccines At Home

Maddow - Disastrous Record Shows Oil Tank Car Hazard

TRNN - Who Owns What Where?

The Drought

Pasadena Star News: Heat wave hits Southern California; dry, gusty weather concerns climatologists, firefighters

Christie Watch

CBS News: Chris Christie estimates political impact of bridge scandal: "None"

Global Warming - Extreme Weather Threats

US News: From Airports to Interstates, Global Warming Threatens Coasts - Here's a rundown on the threats from extreme weather and rising sea levels.

Trends

AlterNet: 7 Mindblowing Economic Trends You Need to Know About - Which country is considering a $25 minimum wage? That and more...
1. America lags behind much of the world on minimum wage

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. it is 62 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. It's looking like rain at the moment. My NY Knicks fell out of the running for coaching services by Steve Kerr. Kerr decided to go to the Golden State Warriors. It's tough being a NY Knicks fan as the team has become somewhat of a joke especially over the last year. Fans were led to believe that Kerr was the coming savior, now what will the big mouth NY news media fixate on.

  At 8:30 a.m. futures are modestly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.

  Investors have been seeing poor results from big box monolith Wal Mart. I know that really breaks your heart when Wal Mart doesn't meet financial expectations. I look at the company as something that sucks the life blood out of communities, but that's just me. They pay crappy wages and rely on the inner services of the community to take care of the needs of it's many employees. People go to the store, spend lots of money, that money goes into the ultra rich pockets of the owners, and the community gets crappy paying jobs, clogged emergency rooms, and piles of junk.

CNN: Stocks: Investors mull weak Wal-Mart results
Wal-Mart...the world's largest retailer, reported first-quarter earnings and sales, and second-quarter forecasts that fell short of estimates.

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen will be speaking about small business and the economy during a talk in Washington this evening.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Rise

ClimateCentral.org: What Does U.S. Look Like With 10 Feet of Sea Level Rise?

Have A Good Wednesday

work by Thierry De Cordier

The Onion - Area Man Nervously Asks Girlfriend If She’ll Settle

The Onion: Area Man Nervously Asks Girlfriend If She’ll Settle

Maddow - Democrats Surprise In Southern State Polls

TRNN - Iran Enters Next Stage Of Nuclear Talks - What To Look Out For

The Drought

Yahoo: Partially Parched: Half of US Is In Drought

Christie Watch

The Daily News: Chris Christie’s spokesman: we were blindsided by bridge closings to punish Fort Lee mayor - Calling it a ‘strange, unnecessary and idiotic episode,’ Michael Drewniak said he and New Jersey’s governor were shocked to hear that aides punished Fort Lee’s mayor for not endorsing the Republican’s reelection by clogging traffic on the George Washington Bridge.

Global Warming - Rubio

I know most of you have already heard about Rubio's brilliant erudition on global warming, but let's remember this guy might be on the ballot for President in 2016. GHU...

CNN: Rubio says humans aren't behind climate change

Deep

AlterNet: 15 Most Horrifying Deep Fried Foods in America - America's gastronomic Houses of Horror.
1. Fried Butter (Iowa) (YUK!)

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 49 degrees and right on the edge of raining here in Upstate NY. The weather forecast indicates that it might rain right through the weekend. The result of all that rain has everything starting to look very green out there. We are fortunate to not be a drought like some other parts of the country. I wonder if some people are determining where they will live based on water availability. Is it possible that some people would not move to California because of the drought and prefer to stay in New England because there's water. It's possible.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open in a mixed position.

  The indexes have been pushed into new record areas over the last few day. That trend could be in jeopardy as the day gets off to a slow start. There will be a few quarterly reports and an economic report that could sway the direction of the market in addition to the unknown and ever present ameliorating factor or factors that arise as the day moves along.

CNN: Stocks: In need of a break?
There are a number of quarterly results set for release that could sway investor sentiment.

In economic news, the U.S. government will publish its monthly producer price index at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

The Daily Show - Limbaugh, Nigerian Kidnapping

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Jan Van Imschoot

The Onion - Report: Average American Has Just 20% Of What It Takes

The Onion: Report: Average American Has Just 20% Of What It Takes

Maddow - Chris Christie Nears Record For Credit Downgrades

TRNN - Is Ukraine Entering A Revolutionary Moment?

The Drought

89.3 KPCC: California Drought News: Heat exacerbates drought woes, 'king almonds,' and more

Christie Watch

NJ.com: Gov. Chris Christie's spokesman to testify before bridge scandal panel today

Global Warming - Watch This

WaPo: Why society is failing to stop global warming, in one 90-second video

The GOP War On Science

AlterNet: Neil deGrasse Tyson Praises Scientist Who Knew to Check His Religion at the Door; Creationists Go Apoplectic - It's hard to please the dogmatic creationists, who fundamentally hate science.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 61 degrees and a little overcast in a bright type of way here in Upstate NY. There is a small possibility it could rain today. Yesterday I dusted off the lawn mower and cut the grass for the first time this year. Many more are on the way. We've got a lot of dandelions this year. Some people go out of their way to remove them, not me, I'm happy to see them and have virtually no interest in a perfect green lawn.  The lawn mower started with one pull after sitting in the garage all winter - Troy Built.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  The market is on another roll. The indexes pushed into record territory on Monday and there is the possibility of further gains although how the market opens versus how it closes is completely unpredictable. Markets around the world have been in positive territory today but it is really the NY Stock Exchange that sets the tone and world markets react accordingly a day later.

CNN: Stocks: Sell in May? No way!
The U.S. Census Bureau will report April retail sales at 8:30 a.m. ET. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release import and export price data.

Investors will also be focusing on developments in the pharmaceutical industry Tuesday.

Monday, May 12, 2014

'Everything Is Broken'

Dylan

Everything is Broken from Keith Diaz on Vimeo.

John Oliver - Climate Change Debate

'A Visit From Saturn'

Have A Great Monday

work by Linda Sormin



The Onion - Nation Successfully Completes Mother’s Day By 9:18 A.M.

The Onion: Nation Successfully Completes Mother’s Day By 9:18 A.M.

TRNN - If We Remain Predators, The Planet Will Cast Us Off - Lawrence Wilkerson On RAI

The Drought

The Fresno Bee: California drought afflicts new almond farmers

Christie Watch

NorthJersey.com: Stile: Christie's presidential hopes tied to new N.J. crises

Global Warming - Allergies And Ticks

US News: Nothing to Sneeze At: Global Warming's Health Impacts - Climate change is projected to make allergy seasons more potent and aid the spread of disease-bearing ticks.

Greenwashing

AlterNet: 5 'Green' Products That Aren't As Environmentally Friendly As You Thought - Just because a product is marketed as being ecologically sound doesn't make it so.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 59 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. We are definitely feeling like Spring is truly here. We expected rain the last few days and instead we got a beautiful weekend and a glorious Mother's Day. The leaves are back on most of the trees and it's starting to look pretty green out there. I hope you had a good weekend and holiday.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  This morning investors are not worrying over the mess in the Ukraine. Instead the trend in the morning is being ascribed to a good mood, whatever that means. Maybe it's a Mother's Day thing, who know. Regardless, quarterly reports are pretty much winded down and now it is economic news (ie housing, employment, consumer sentiment, manufacturing data, etc) and world events which will propel the market over the next period.

CNN: Stocks: Dow ready for another record?
There are no major quarterly results coming out Monday.

Most major Asian markets ended firmer.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Maddow - Benghazi ‘Witch Hunt’ Role Tests Democrats

Picture It

This is a picture of the results of the oil train fire in Lac-Megantic, Quebec last summer. Albany NY has now become a hub for oil trains. The tracks run right along the Hudson River parallel to NY Route 787 and adjacent to downtown residences, apartment complexes, and businesses.


NYT: U.S. Issues Safety Alert for Oil Trains

Reich's Latest Article

Robert Reich: The Six Principles of the New Populism (and the Establishment’s Nightmare)

Have A Good Saturday

work by Linda Sormin



The Borowitz Report - Poll: Millions Of Americans Who Need Jobs Want Congress To Get To Bottom Of This Benghazi Thing First

New Yorker: Poll: Millions of Americans Who Need Jobs Want Congress to Get to Bottom of This Benghazi Thing First

TRNN - Who Makes US Foreign Policy? - Lawrence Wilkerson On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

Meanwhile, we are having another rainy day here in Upstate NY.

AccuWeather: California Rancher: Worst Drought in a Lifetime Forces Slaughter, Sale of Cattle

Christie Watch

HuffPo: Chris Christie's Climate Flip: Was Koch Group To Blame?

Global Warming - Conservatives Shifting Their Tactic To Professing The 'Benefits Of Climate Change'

  Here is another example of the newly arising conservative right tactic and talking point on global warming. They are shifting their position from denying that it is occurring to now applauding the alleged benefits of global warming. What can we say, the right is about opposition, to put it lightly. So be prepared, this will be the new talking point that every usual suspect you can imagine will be spouting. It is, of course, utterly absurd.

Chicago Tribune: Climate assessors miss global warming benefit|By Rex W. Huppke

Bakken Oil By Rail

  I attended a forum on the topic of Bakken oil trains last night at the local library. Turns out Albany NY is now a major hub for these oil trains. The oil is stored at the port of Albany on the Hudson River and then put into tankers that take it down the Hudson and out to sea. Needless to say I was brought up to speed on this recent uptick in activity and in that process I am very concerned about the dangers of this activity. This is a big deal. Because there has been well over a 1,000% uptick in oil by rail from the Bakken preserve, there's also been an equivalent uptick in accidents, accidents that have literally wiped out areas and towns. If a fire accident were to occur at the port of Albany or as it is being transported there, the consequences would be beyond shocking to put it mildly. Bakken oil has a higher proportion of propane in its composition and is more volatile than ordinary crude. Also the train cars that it is shipped in are not adequate for this type of oil. This is really a mess.

AlterNet: Playing With Fire: U.S. Regulators Resort to Weak Voluntary Measures For Oil-By-Rail Safety - Until now, efforts by the oil and rail industry to help first responders be prepared for an oil-by-rail accident have been only voluntary.

Inequality

AlterNet: Why a Book on Growing Inequality Is Taking America by Storm and Scaring the Corporate Right - The translator of Piketty's 'Capital In the 21st Century' discusses inequality and the book's huge success.

Friday, May 09, 2014

Francis

MSNBC: Pope Francis calls for wealth redistribution

Up Is Down

The Heartland Institute is a conservative think tank. Here they explain 'the benefits of global warming.' You can't make this stuff up.

Heartland.org: Benefits of Global Warming Greatly Exceed Costs, New Study Says

Have A Great Friday

work by Linda Sormin

The Onion - U.N. Report On Magical Realism Warns Of Increased Incidences Of Women’s Tears Flooding The Entire World

The Onion: U.N. Report On Magical Realism Warns Of Increased Incidences Of Women’s Tears Flooding The Entire World

Maddow - GOP Price To Remove Tea Party Thorn Named

TRNN - Keystone XL Pipeline Likely Not Headed For Senate Vote

The Drought

Mercury News: California drought: El Niño probability raised to 78 percent for next winter
El Niño events -- when warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean at the equator affect the jet stream -- can lead to wetter winters in California.

Christie Watch

CBS News: Still wading through controversy, Chris Christie tries to revive W.H. ambitions

Global Warming - From Denial To It's A Good Thing!

Guardian UK: New argument from climate change deniers: global warming is a good thing - Facing overwhelming evidence of climate change, some deniers argue global warming could be a business opportunity

Blinded By The Light

AlterNet: How Hypocrisy Is Simply Not a Factor in the Right-Wing Mind - The collective thinking of today’s movement conservatives accounts for little more than magic wand waving.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. The logos are predicting quite a bit of rain over the next week. I must say its been a very uneven Spring. Well rain or not I will be out taking a long walk later this afternoon. Walking has become my vehicle and exercise of choice. Fortunately I live in an area where I can walk safely and without fear of harassment of any kind. That's a luxury that I recognize and enjoy.

  At 8:30 a.m. futures are slightly lower and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open in a mixed position.

  According to the article, investors are not feeling a whole lot of inspiration at the moment. Yellen's commitment to low interest rates oiled any positive index movement this week. Generally speaking it's good that it's Friday, let's put it to bed for a few days.

CNN: Stocks: Flat after a week of tepid trading
Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen's congressional testimony was the big economic news for the week. She mostly reiterated her commitment to keep interest rates low until the economy is on firmer footing.

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Have A Great Thursday

work by Linda Sormin


The Onion - Brutally Honest New Revlon Ad Campaign Reminds Customers You Can’t Change What You Are

The Onion: Brutally Honest New Revlon Ad Campaign Reminds Customers You Can’t Change What You Are

Maddow - Right’s Anti-Tax Dream An Economic Nightmare

TRNN - Protestors To Occupy FCC To Fight For Net Neutrality

The Drought

SCPR.org: California Drought News: Cities getting hotter, salmon getting scarcer and water flowing uphill

Christie Watch

Daily News: Gov. Chris Christie’s ex-campaign manager must hand over Bridgegate documents - Michael DuHaime has been subpoenaed by the special committee of the New Jersey Legislature that is investigating how much the Republican governor knew about the decision to close lanes of the George Washington Bridge as political payback. DuHaime’s attorney says his client ‘was not involved in the decisions around the lane closures.’

Global Warming - Thick As A Brick

AlterNet: To Fox News, A Legally Mandated Climate Change Report Is Just Another Distraction - The GOP News Network believes its all just a distraction from Benghazi.

Hero

AlterNet: Neil deGrasse Tyson 'Goes There' on Climate Change: Creationists and Right-Wingers Freak Out - Answers in Genesis refute science with the Bible and lose. Again.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 50 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The weather logos predict a possibility for rain later on, but the real deal is the prediction for next week. Temperatures are expected to hit the 80s. That would be a significant jump. Something tells me that this summer is going to be a scorcher.

  At 8:25 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open in a mixed position.

  Investors listened to Yellen on Wednesday and they liked what they heard. The market took a sharp bounce up. Now today after first time weekly layoff numbers, a policy change from the ECB, and more from Yellen, the market will be seeking a direction. I miss the time of small modest gains and slight shifts up or down in the indexes.

CNN: Stocks: Seeking direction after Yellen bounce
The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 rebounded as Yellen signaled continued Fed support for the economy.

...investors will be focused on a potential rate decision from the European Central Bank, due around 7:45 a.m. ET.

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Have A Good Wednesday

work by Kristen Morgin



The Onion - Newborn Soothed By Familiar Sound Of Parents’ Bickering

The Onion: Newborn Soothed By Familiar Sound Of Parents’ Bickering

Maddow - GOP Identity At Stake In Primary Battles

TRNN - What To Do Next About Global Warming? - Alan Robock On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

ABC News: Water Flows Uphill? Maybe, in California Drought

Christie Watch

CBS News: Ex-Chris Christie aide denies knowing of plot to close bridge lanes

Global Warming - Seven Scary Facts

Mother Jones: 7 Scary Facts About How Global Warming Is Scorching the United States - The National Climate Assessment isn't just about our future. It's about our scarcely recognizable present.

Purity

AlterNet: Purity Balls, Plan B and Bad Sex Policy: Inside America's Virginity Obsession - We're sending girls the wrong message – that without their virginity, they're damaged goods.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 45 degrees and sunny here in Upstate NY. It looks like we are in for a pretty nice day. Unfortunately the logos are suggesting lots of rain over the next week. It's a very wet, windy, and cooler Spring so far.

  At 8:20 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  Besides the news of a major IPO, investors will be honed in on Fed Chair Janet Yellen's remarks later today. Recall that the Fed is the bank of last resort and the most powerful financial institution on the planet. Yellen's remarks will set a defined tone on the state of our economy and will be in the tonight's financial news reports. It's a big deal.

CNN: Stocks: Yellen's got clout, Alibaba the buzz
Chinese tech behemoth Alibaba filed paperwork on Tuesday that sets the stage for what could be the biggest initial public offering in U.S. history.

Investors will pay close attention to the Federal Reserve chair when she heads to Capitol Hill to answer questions about the health of America's economy.

Tuesday, May 06, 2014

'Look Up'

Stewart - GOP And FOX Hypocrisy Over Benghazi

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Kristen Morgin


The Onion - Income Inequality Emerges As Key Topic To Avoid In 2014 Elections

The Onion: Income Inequality Emerges As Key Topic To Avoid In 2014 Elections

Maddow - Tea Party Foil Could Ultimately Help Democrat

TRNN - Nuclear Winter - Alan Robock On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

ABC News: California City Looks to Sea for Water in Drought

Christie Watch

WaPo: Chris Christie’s downgrade dilemma

Global Warming - Present Danger

Guardian UK: Climate change is clear and present danger, says landmark US report - National Climate Assessment, to be launched at White House on Tuesday, says effects of climate change are now being felt

The Downward Slide

AlterNet: America Is Declining at the Same Warp Speed That's Minting Billionaires and Destroying the Middle Class - Not a single U.S. city ranks among the world’s most livable cities.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 48 degrees and overcast here in Upstate NY. We are all looking forward to the period starting later this week when temperatures hit the 70s. That's more like it. Today is my extra busy day, there's always something about Tuesdays.

  At 8:30 a.m. ET futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is slightly lower. The market is poised to open in the flat area.

  The article is honing in on the fact that the last 7 Tuesdays have been days of gains in the market. That's great but these types of patterns are not all that reliable as far as predicting the direction of the market. Actually nothing is reliable. In my opinion it's the testimony of Janet Yellen and the ECB meeting later this week that will have a direct impact on market activities.

CNN: Stocks: Another terrific Tuesday?
For the rest of the week, analysts say the big movers will be testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen on Wednesday, a meeting of the European Central Bank on Thursday, and ongoing tensions in Ukraine.