Search This Blog

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Micro Pump

UT San Diego: Bio-engineered pump could carry cancer drug - Technique could solve issue of how to get enough drug into tumor without harming normal cells

All P.A.s

Burlington Free Press: New health care model tested in Burlington
It is a primary-care group practice run by nurse practitioners, without the oversight of a physician. That’s unusual enough, but even more so is that this clinic has an educational side as well: the seven primary care-givers are all faculty members at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Amerli

NYT: U.S. Airstrikes Help Break Militants’ Siege of Northern Iraqi Town
First, the American military sent warplanes and drones to destroy millions of dollars of American equipment that had been abandoned on the battlefield by the Iraqi Army and seized by ISIS. Now, the United States has provided air support for several Iranian-backed Shiite militias that are leading the fight against ISIS in Ameril with the help of Kurdish pesh merga forces and Iraqi Army units.

Have A Great Sunday

work by Anya Gallaccio

The Onion - Secretary Of Interior Says Knocking Down Rocky Mountains Could Really Open Nation Up

The Onion: Secretary Of Interior Says Knocking Down Rocky Mountains Could Really Open Nation Up

TRNN - Taking From The Many To Give To The Few - David Cay Johnston On Reality Asserts Itself Part 1

The Drought

ABC News: Racing to Save a Drought-Threatened Species of Salmon in California

Old Alliance

Guardian UK: UK weighs joining air strikes as RAF drops aid into besieged Iraqi town - Hercules aircraft deliver food and water to Amerli as Britain keeps options open on participating in US strikes against Isis

Global Warming - Snow

This strikes me as an article for the less convinced. Still it's good to see what the MSM is spewing.

USA Today: Snow foolin': Blizzards still likely despite global warming

Unhinged

AlterNet: 6 Unhinged Right-Wing Moments This Week: Fox's Comical Beyoncé Freakout - Where are her pants? How can she be a feminist without pants?

Saturday, August 30, 2014

'The Monster Is Real'

States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Challenging Week

  I got good news this week that a mass my urologist found in my kidney is benign and not cancer. I spent a few weeks trying to work with the possibility that I had the disease. It was a very strong challenge and it has quickly changed my attitude about a lot of things. All I can say is that the people I know who have faced cancer, are facing it now, or are in that in between state where you are waiting to learn your diagnosis, you have my complete empathy. I'm fortunate for the time being but there's really no going back to taking life for granted.

Have A Great Saturday

work by Anya Gallaccio

The Onion - Man Kicking Self For Wasting Valuable Plate Space At Beginning Of Buffet Line

The Onion: Man Kicking Self For Wasting Valuable Plate Space At Beginning Of Buffet Line

TRNN - The Black Freedom Struggle Of The 21st Century

Hawaii

HuffPo: Climate Change Will Ruin Hawaii, New Study Suggests

The Drought

HuffPo: 35-Year 'Megadrought' May Threaten Southwest Within Century, Study Finds

The Cost Of Iraq

Guardian UK: US operations in Iraq costing $7.5m a day as Obama deliberates strategy - Since 16 June, panoply of US operations in Iraq have expanded to include around 60 surveillance flights over Isis territory

Guardian UK: UK terror threat raised from substantial to severe - New level of threat, related to developments in Syria and Iraq, means attack is highly likely though not necessarily imminent

Global Warming - The Washington Post's Coverage

WaPo: How to change the climate on global warming
If The Post is serious about clearing up confusion about global warming, it would follow the lead of the BBC and stop publishing scientifically indefensible statements.

High EPI Countries

AlterNet: 12 Ecologically Sustainable Countries and Why They Should Be Admired - As Earth’s resources fall into ecological deficit, it’s time to inspect our global green policies.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Texas On Display

Reuters: U.S. judge halts major part of Texas law restricting abortions
...a provision requiring clinics to have certain hospital-like settings for surgeries was unconstitutional.

Senegal

Al Jazeera: Ebola: Senegal reports first case Senegal confirms first case, a student who arrived from Guinea, as virus spreads to fifth west African country.

Record Month

Reuters: S&P 500 edges up to set new record; best month since Feb

Yes Or Yes

WaPo: California bill defines what it means to say ‘yes’ to sex
...the law would require “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement” by each party to engage in sexual activity.

Have A Great Friday

work by Andy Goldsworthy

The Onion - Farmer Chases Fifth Wedding Party Out Of Barn This Month

The Onion: Farmer Chases Fifth Wedding Party Out Of Barn This Month

Maddow - Middle Class Voices Boost Political Ad Clout

TRNN - Global Warming And Economic Crisis Lead To One Solution: Climate Jobs

The Drought

The pictures tell the story, stunning and shocking.

WaPo: California’s drought: What losing 63 trillion gallons of water looks like

Reprehensible

They gotta go and with all due respect, lay this mess at the feet of the Bush 2 administration neocons.

Guardian UK: Isis video shows beheading of Kurdish fighter - The video, titled 'A message in blood to the leaders of the American-Kurdish alliance', follows air strikes in northern Iraq

Global Warming - Unchecked Emissions

NYT: U.N. Draft Report Lists Unchecked Emissions’ Risks

Cinnamon

Cinnamon and ginger - perfection...

AlterNet: 10 Scientific Reasons To Add Cinnamon To Your Diet - The delectable spice has amazing healing propensities you may not be aware of.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 62 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Looks like we are in for another glorious late Summer Day.

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

  Where are we. We have a holiday weekend coming and often times investors leave on a positive note. Then we have Russian troops in the Ukraine and of course this is a mess with global economic implications beyond the human toll. And we have a remarkable run in the indexes through the month of August. Total it all up and I'm going with Russia Ukraine is a big problem dragging on the market, yet there is strong economic US news to potentially balance it out. Either way, the indexes remain extremely fluffy for the time being.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The major U.S. indexes have climbed up by roughly 3% to 4% over the course of the month, with the S&P 500 hitting record-high levels.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Huh?

Okay I like Joan Rivers a lot and I wish her a speedy recovery but read this headline -
Joan Rivers Rushed To Hospital After She Stops Breathing During Surgery
Seriously now, wasn't she already in the hospital if she was having surgery? Why would she have to be rushed anywhere, she's already there.

Big Easy Change

Raw Story: Southeast Louisiana is being devoured by the sea — and it’s going to get worse, even quicker By Bob Marshall, The Lens, Brian Jacobs and Al Shaw, ProPublica

Colbert - August 27th

Have A Great Thursday

work by Andy Goldsworthy

The Onion - Michael Brown Audiotapes Conclusively Reveal Exactly What You Want Them To

The Onion: Michael Brown Audiotapes Conclusively Reveal Exactly What You Want Them To

Maddow - Breadth Of ISIS Threat Suggests Potential US Partners

TRNN - IPCC Synthesis Report Demands Control Over Fossil Fuel Consumption

The Drought

BBC: California drought to worsen, Nasa predicts

Australia Wants In

Guardian UK: Australia says it is willing to join US in air strikes on Iraq - Defence minister says Australia’s Super Hornets are an ‘obvious first port of call’ as the US seeks international support for action

Global Warming - The UN Report Hits The MSM

US News And World Report: Global warming already dangerous, risks being irreversible, says new UN global warming report

Military Hardware Everywhere

AlterNet: How Did All This Surplus Military Hardware End Up in Police Hands? And while we're at it, how about the residents in towns with all this firepower review the program?

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. A pleasant Summer day is predicted. Well, yours truly has had an intense couple of weeks. Long story short, my recent kidney stone episode revealed that I had a mass growing in my kidney. The urologist had me go through an enhanced CAT scan where a dye is injected into the body. The method is that a cancerous tumor will greedily accept the dye faster than normal tissue because that's how cancer is. The scan reveals how the mass reacts to the dye. Yesterday I got the results and the growth is not cancer, it is benign. So, I have been functioning over the past few weeks under the pressure that I might have had a pretty harsh form of cancer. Let me just say this, truly appreciate your life. You might have all kinds of problems with relationships, politics, finances, etc, it all completely pales in the face of a life threatening experience of any kind.

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

  I just read that the revised estimate of the second quarter GDP is now at 4.2% up from the first estimate of 4%. Also first time layoff numbers are down from last week. I believe it is the now almost full out war going on in the Ukraine that is affecting the market. This is the strongest crap storm going on at present.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
... an annual report on credit card satisfaction showed American Express and Discover were the favorite cards in the U.S.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Andy Goldsworthy

The Onion - Middle-Aged Man Having Best Snacks Of His Life

The Onion: Middle-Aged Man Having Best Snacks Of His Life

Maddow - Worsening ISIS Crisis Calls For Attention From Congress

TRNN - Israel And Gaza Extends Cease Fire Amid Last Minute Attacks

The Drought

Mercury News: California drought: San Jose declares water shortage, but won't fine wasters

ISIS Crimes

Guardian UK: Syria and Isis committing war crimes, says UN - Report by United Nations commission says both Damascus government and Islamist militant group should face trials at ICC

Global Warming - UN Panel

ABC News: UN Panel: Global Warming Human-Caused, Dangerous

The Machine

AlterNet: How Fox News Promoted One of the Most Bogus Ferguson Smears So Far - How did Fox News run a totally bogus Ferguson story? Welcome to the truly slimy side of the right-wing hit machine

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 72 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected and it looks like we're in for another hot one. We see there was an American Jihadi killed in Syria. What can we say, we live and die by our choices right. Can't say we appreciate his choices, yet he is dead at an early age. There should be a point in people's minds when their ideology becomes so great like his did, that some little voice says - hey is this really the right thing to do, maybe take a step back. But unfortunately fundamentalists don't hear that voice.

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

  A few of the geopolitical messes in the world have simmered down slightly. Investors are pushing the indexes into new record territory and stocks are 'on fire'. As always whether or not this continues is unknown.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The new Israel-Hamas ceasefire could give investors confidence Wednesday.

Asian markets all closed higher, except for the Hang Seng in Hong Kong, which dipped by 0.6%

'How You Like Me Now'

The Heavy

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

S&P Record Close

Reuters: S&P 500 scores first close above 2,000; data helps

Step One

Guardian UK: US launches reconnaissance flights over Syria - Drones and unmanned flights lay groundwork for extending US air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Dieter Roth

The Onion - Source Of Jealousy Not Even That Successful

The Onion: Source Of Jealousy Not Even That Successful

Maddow - Kidnappings Add Peril For Journalists Abroad

TRNN - Fed Chair Signals Possible Policy Shift On Unemployment

US Drones In Syria

Guardian UK: US launches reconnaissance flights over Syria - Drones and unmanned flights lay groundwork for extending US air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq

The Drought

AlterNet: California’s Record Drought Lifts Earth’s Surface - The growing loss of water is causing the entire western U.S. to rise like an uncoiled spring.

Global Warming - Predictions On Target

Guardian UK: Unpacking unpaused global warming – climate models got it right - Global surface warming has slowed down due to internal and external factors, consistent with climate model predictions that account for these effects

Nomad Culture

AlterNet: Shocking Picture of What Life Will Look Like When You Can't Afford to Retire - Will you be ready for the life of a nomad, permanently in search of temporary work?

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are in for a humid day. I've been a little bit fearful of looking at the news first thing. The headlines have been harsh, they are of course always harsh as the news works on reporting primarily tragedy as we know. Still lately it's making me flinch more than usual. I've also been thinking about how the country is once again drifting to the right with a conservative sweep in the 2014 elections predicted. Now we probably will have a Tea Party Senate to go with a Tea Party Congress. Let's just say you can throw global warming completely off the agenda of critical issues that need immediate attention for several more years to come. Also, let's expect a lot more Detroits, Camdens, and Fergusons. It's like the worst scenario in disaster futuristic movies is now our reality.

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

  The indexes are very fluffy and we are wondering if more records are in store for today. The momentum is not quite as positive as it was on Monday and markest in Asia and Europe are dragging. Yet, hope spring eternal, let's see if consumer confidence can cause a stir.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index comes out at 9 a.m. ET., followed by the Conference Board's consumer confidence index at 10 a.m.

Most Asian markets ended with losses Tuesday.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Reuters - Hoverbike, The Coolest Invention In Drone Technology

Have A Great Monday

Work by Jim Sande

The Onion - Bored Kim Jong-Un Stacks Entire North Korean Populace Into Human Pyramid To Kill Time

The Onion: Bored Kim Jong-Un Stacks Entire North Korean Populace Into Human Pyramid To Kill Time

TRNN - Ferguson Police Profiling Of Blacks A Major Funding Source For City Budget

The Drought

Mother Jones: Drought Weighing You Down? Nope, It's Lifting You Up

Good News

Guardian UK: US journalist held hostage in Syria taken to Tel Aviv after release - Peter Theo Curtis undergoing medical checks after being held by Jabhat al-Nusra, an affiliate of al-Qaida, since autumn 2012

Global Warming - Oceans

Earth Times: Ocean temperature changes are a big alarm call

Sugar

AlterNet: 9 Shocking Facts You Need to Know About Sugar - Sugar is sickening and killing us. Why can't we stop?

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 62 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. I hope you had a good relaxing weekend. Earthquakes seemed to dominate the news in the last 24 hours with one out in the Napa Valley and another down in South America. That is a scary thing. The little bit of it I've experienced is quite traumatic, we wish the folks out there a speedy recovery and rebuilding process.

  At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  The indexes remain quite fluffy. This morning there is talk of a Burger King acquisition and this is a big deal in the investment world. Otherwise many of the geopolitical messes remain with the US seemingly poised to go after ISIS. It's interesting because this conflict is gaining in appeal with liberals. When you piss off the liberals, you know war is close.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
...Burger King announced it's in talks to buy the Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons in a deal that could see the burger chain move its headquarters to Canada and lower its tax bill.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Liberal Southern Clergy

Guardian UK: Liberal clergy want to challenge the religious right's power in politics - Ferguson is just the latest example that people of faith have been taking on the progressive issues that matter to their parishioners

Have A Great Sunday

work by Strijdom van der Merwe

The Onion - Report: Average American Worker Replaced Within 10 Minutes Of Taking Vacation

The Onion: Report: Average American Worker Replaced Within 10 Minutes Of Taking Vacation

TRNN - The Powers Behind The Islamic State

Super Cold Is Predicted

HuffPo: Farmer's Almanac Predicts 'Super-Cold' Winter, More Snow In Eastern U.S.

The Drought

HuffPo: California Drought Leaves Homes Without Water

Air Strikes

Guardian UK: US 'set to launch air strikes' on senior Isis leaders in Syria - White House will 'take action' against threats as Turkey comes under pressure to halt flow of jihadists across its border

Global Warming - Short Term Fluctuations Explained

SwissInfo.ch: Zurich researchers explain global warming hiatus
“Short-term climate fluctuations can easily be explained. They do not alter the fact that the climate will become considerably warmer in the long term as a result of greenhouse gas emissions..."

Vile Is Vile

AlterNet: Bam! Rush Limbaugh Loses 4 Radio Stations in 3 Weeks - The protestors are closing in and you can help.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Arctic

Guardian UK: Nasa scientists observe Arctic sea ice changes – video

Have A Great Saturday

work by Nils-Udo

The Onion - Report: 79% Of Minority Suspects Receive Miranda Rights While Unconscious

The Onion: Report: 79% Of Minority Suspects Receive Miranda Rights While Unconscious

Maddow - Is The US Fight Against ISIS A War? Will It Be?

TRNN - Abolition Of Slavery Was Not A Fight Against Racism - Gerald Horne On Reality Asserts Itself Part 5

The Drought

LA Times: California drought continues to take heavy toll on reservoirs

Building Pressure To Respond To ISIS

Guardian UK: Isis gains in Syria put pressure on west to deliver more robust response - US looks at options for action in Iraq as Islamic State ramps up attacks while senior Tories call for UK to join in air strikes

Global Warming - 2014 On Track To Be Third Hottest Year On Record

Global Possibilities: Despite the ‘polar vortex’, 2014 is on track to be 3rd hottest year on record

Money Cubed

AlterNet: How the Ultra-Rich .01% Have Sucked Up Even More of America's Wealth Than You Think - The economy has become systematically corrupt.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Yellen Today

Guardian UK: Fed chair Janet Yellen cautious in speech on 'damaged' US economy - Yellen says at Jackson Hole meeting that despite encouraging signs the bank will wait to decide on raising interest rates

Have A Great Friday

work by Nils-Udo

The Onion - Symphony Orchestra Simply Cannot Wait For Collaboration With John Mellencamp


The Onion: Symphony Orchestra Simply Cannot Wait For Collaboration With John Mellencamp


Maddow - Ferguson Failures Contrast With St. Louis Shooting Response

TRNN - Greenland’s Glaciers Rapid Melting Will Have Global Effects

The Drought

CNBC: Record drought saps California honey production

ISIS

Guardian UK: ‘Apocalyptic’ Isis beyond anything we've seen, say US defense chiefs - Senior Pentagon officials describe militants as ‘apocalyptic’ group that will need to be defeated but maintain limited strikes are sufficient

Global Warming - The Atlantic

Guardian UK: Global warming slowdown answer lies in depths of Atlantic, study finds - Excess heat being stored hundreds of metres down in Atlantic and Southern oceans – not Pacific as previously thought

Civil Unrest Profit

AlterNet: Tear Gas, Stun Grenades, Sound Cannons: Companies Profiting From Police Crackdowns Like Ferguson - Sales of all those military grade weapons are making some people rich.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 67 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected again today. We had pretty good storms through the night and everything is still water logged as I look out my window. Looks like we are in for a new drag out conflict with ISIS. It's also time to start paying attention to the group and its intent. The lunacy never seems to end, it only increases.

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

  Investors will be paying close attention this morning to Fed Chair Janet Yellen as she discusses US monetary policies. Just offering my opinion here, but I suspect this could be the most salient news in the investor day ignoring the possibility of a major storm arising somewhere on the globe.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Investors will be paying close attention to Janet Yellen's 10 a.m. ET speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Have A Great Thursday

work by Nils Udo

The Onion - Study Finds 79% Of Statistics Now Sobering

The Onion: Study Finds 79% Of Statistics Now Sobering

Maddow - Terrorist’s Accent Alarms Security Officials

TRNN - In Ferguson, Money For Tanks And Tear Gas, But None For Education

The Drought

Merced Sun Star: California drought stings bees, honey supplies

Health Restored

Guardian UK: American aid worker with Ebola to be discharged from hospital - Dr Kent Brantly, who was infected with the virus in Liberia, has been treated in Atlanta along with victim Nancy Writebol

Global Warming - Animal Species And Land Use

  There are an abundance of articles under global warming today that purport to a notion that global warming has stopped. The denying rightwing, and it's usually the same sources day after day - Forbes, Fox etc, has figured out how to dominate the Google news section of global warming. This type of thinking is akin to someone who has been shot by a bullet noticing a brief stop to their bleeding and then proclaiming that all is fine and good and they are now healed.

Scientific American: Suburbs and Farms Team with Global Warming to Threaten Wild Animals and Plants - Land use will complicate the speed of climate change as a threat to species

The Buy Back

AlterNet: The Dirty Little Secret of How CEOs Enrich Themselves at Your Expense - Stock buybacks take money from your pocket and put it into the hands of corporate titans.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 68 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected today and it feels a little humid as well.

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

  I just read where first time weekly layoffs are at a 7 year low with 298,000. That's good news for people seeking jobs, there's a little optimism that there is economic percolation for Main Street. Also note that the price of oil per barrel is down under $93. That is a big surprise on a day when some indexes might face record highs. It's not translating too much at the pump prices but on the other hand our dependency on the stuff has never been greater and with intensely serious consequences.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is also not too far from its record high of 17138.20, which it hit in mid-July.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

GOP Immigration Policy

Think Progress: Five Children Murdered After They Were Deported Back To Honduras

Phoenix Arizona Tuesday - 'Up To 8 Inches Of Rain Fell By Midday'

NY Daily News: Flash-flooding forces dramatic rescues in Arizona after 8 inches of rain falls in Phoenix area - Dramatic photos and video taken amid rushing flood waters shows a river of muddy water rushing down I-17 about 25 miles north of Phoenix as motorists worked to move into other lanes to avoid the deluge. Another scene showed authorities pulling an elderly woman from a van stuck in fast-moving flood waters that quickly began to engulf the vehicle.

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Nils Udo

The Onion - Architects Of 2026 Market Crash Just Finished A Highly Productive Lunch

The Onion: Architects Of 2026 Market Crash Just Finished A Highly Productive Lunch

Maddow - Organization, Communication Change Protest Tone In Ferguson

TRNN - US Escalates Iraq Airstrikes But Lacks Long-Term Strategy

The Drought

ClimateProgress: Water Cops, Water Slides, And Water Pipes: L.A. Confronts The Drought

McCulloch - Nixon

Guardian UK: Cloud over Michael Brown inquiry as attorney general arrives in Ferguson

Global Warming - Extreme Weather

AlterNet: Major Disasters Linked to Extreme Weather, Climate and Water Hazards On the Rise - Meteorological study says that climate-change related disasters will increase.

Examine It

AlterNet: 7 Cynical Ways Police and Media Have Smeared Michael Brown and the Black People of Ferguson - Adding insult to fatality.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 66 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected today. We see that ISIS has beheaded an American journalist. We mourn this atrocious loss and brutal act. Talk about a motivating factor to get the US back into bombing this group into oblivion. Yikes. Beheading, this is a very common brutality in that part of the world. It's completely barbaric. We have little understanding for this, it simply points to the worst aspect of humanity once again.

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

  Notice that the price of oil per barrel is surprisingly low. That will not remain, expect it to rise. The big news of course is an announcement from the Fed later this afternoon. This has to do with interest rates and maybe a little on quantitative easing. Regardless, from the Wall Street point of view this is a huge. Markets will probably respond to the data, one way or the other.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The U.S. Federal Reserve will release minutes from its July meeting at 2 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

'Sin City - A Dame To Kill For'

trailer

'We’re Going To Make This Neighborhood Whole'

NYT: National Guard Troops Fail to Quell Unrest in Ferguson


Have A Great Tuesday

work by Herman de Vries

The Onion - Fourth-Grade Teacher Polishing Up Speech On This Not Being Third Grade Anymore

The Onion: Fourth-Grade Teacher Polishing Up Speech On This Not Being Third Grade Anymore

Maddow - Sudden, Dramatic Turn To Chaos In Ferguson

TRNN - Ferguson Protestors Defy Curfew, Tear Gas To Demand Justice For Michael Brown

The Drought

La Times: 'Severe' drought covers nearly 99.8% of California, report says

Bill O Weighs In On Ferguson - Surprise He's Still A Racist

Raw Story: Bill O’Reilly dismisses Ferguson protesters: ‘These people don’t want justice’

Global Warming - Politicians In Denial

Guardian UK: Global warming denial rears its ugly head around the world, in English - In Australia, USA, UK, and Canada, politicians are rejecting evidence and expert opinion about climate change

Skewered

AlterNet: False Facts and the Conservative Distortion Machine: It’s Much More Than Just Fox News - A new study found that voters’ values and partisanship had the strongest associations with distorted beliefs.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 58 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Looks like we are in for another pleasant day in this area. Last night we went to the local library around 8. People were out wearing sweaters and long pants and I commented that it felt like Fall. Isn't the middle of August supposed to be the hottest 'Dog Days'? I guess not, especially in our new temperature world.

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

  Allegedly geo-political tensions are not pressing on investors' minds and so the market is having a mini-rebound. Just last week the sky was falling so one can truly never predict how this puppy works. I suppose fundamentally that is why it is fascinating to me and maybe to you as well. Enjoy the morning's bump.

CNN: Stocks: 3 things to know before the open
Worries about the crises in Ukraine and Iraq continue to fade...

"The geopolitical tensions have vanished from the trader's dashboard as if they never existed..."

Monday, August 18, 2014

Militarizing Detroit

Make no mistake, some areas in the U.S. are too dangerous to live in. We are seeing a very serious breakdown in societal norms.

Guardian UK: Police tell Detroiters to buy guns in city riven by race issues and crime - City police chief has encouraged residents to arm themselves as stark racial disparities in ‘shoot first’ laws become clear
...Detroiters have roughly a 1 in 20 chance of being burgled.

The city, strapped for cash, has only 2,300 police officers – unchanged from a year ago, before the bankruptcy, but still not enough. Many Detroiters feel they have to rely on themselves first for their own security and survival.

National Guard

Guardian UK: Governor abandons Ferguson curfew as national guard steps in

Have A Great Monday

work by Herman de Vries

The Onion - LensCrafters, Pearle Vision Agree To Prisoner Exchange

The Onion: LensCrafters, Pearle Vision Agree To Prisoner Exchange

TRNN - Putin And Russian Nationalism On The Rise

The Drought

Water crisis - ya think?

WaPo: West’s historic drought stokes fears of water crisis

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver: Ferguson, MO And Police Militarization

Global Warming - England Gains With Renewables

Guardian UK: Renewables produce record high electricity for UK in 2014 - Power generation up by 43% compared to first quarter of 2013, reports BusinessGreen

Modern Grief

AlterNet: The Terror Behind Our Grief: What We Talk About When We Talk About Robin Williams - Our sadness about the deaths of celebrities is about a lot more than just mourning their loss.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 61 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. A sunny pleasant day is expected for the region. I hope you had a good relaxing weekend. We see that Ferguson is really in a state of panic, there's rioting and looting and the protests have gotten intense plus the governor is now sending in the National Guard. We hope that calmer and just minds can somehow rise to put some sense of ease back into that community. Right now the people there are experiencing intense anxiety, fear, anger, and panic and is so often the case, this gets amplified among a large group of people.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are moderately higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.

  For the present moment this morning, investors are feeling a little less pressure from a long list of world calamities. We have a slight break in the mess in the Ukraine and this is helpful especially since it directly effects economic powerhouse Germany. Somehow we all need to get through this August in one piece!

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
The German foreign ministry reported "some progress" in talks Sunday with Russia and Ukraine.

The National Association of Home Builders will release its latest monthly stats on the U.S. housing market at 10 a.m. ET.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Friday, August 15, 2014

GOP Presidential Material

CNN: Texas Gov. Rick Perry indicted

Have A Great Friday

work by David Salle

The Onion - New Study Finds Humans Shouldn’t Spend More Than 5 Consecutive Hours Together

The Onion: New Study Finds Humans Shouldn’t Spend More Than 5 Consecutive Hours Together

Maddow - Ferguson An Object Lesson In Bad Policing

TRNN - Après Moi, Le Déluge - Chris Williams on Reality Asserts Itself Part 5

Highly recommended - watch this.

Mr. Williams says the global elites plan to protect themselves by adapting to the threat of continuing fossil fuel use, while everyone else will suffer the consequences of climate change disasters.

The Drought

LA Times: Crippling California drought levels off, latest map shows

From The Magical Mind Of Louie Gohmert

Buzz Feed: GOP Congressman: People Crossing Border Could Have Ebola Or Be Terrorists - “This administration doesn’t have the desire, doesn’t have the will to actually stop it.”

Global Warming - Beef

AlterNet: Why Cows Are the 800 Lb. Gorillas of Climate Change - Want to help the environment? Cut meat out of your diet.

Black America

AlterNet: Black America’s Everyday Reality: Ferguson and the World that Terrorizes Us - Powerful images coming from Missouri are just a small dose of the life we know and endure. It's time to embrace it.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 57 degrees and cloudy almost raining, here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Thank goodness it is the weekend. I would have to say without a doubt that this last week has been one of the shittiest weeks I can recall, ever. Here's the good news, the week is over. Sure lots of misery will occur today but there is a beginning and an ending, we are at the ending. We lost several of the most loved people in the world, there's flooding, cruel oppressive police state activity in Ferguson, wars all over the globe, drought, and on and on. I know you feel it too. I would not be surprised if the highly sensitive brilliant astrologer predictor type people know what it's all about.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher.

  For reasons that completely elude us, the market is in a recovery mode up from a roughly 1,000 drop in the DOW. Saturday can't come fast enough.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Nearly all major Asian markets closed with gains.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Robin Williams Had Parkinson's Disease

One of the sides of Parkinson's is depression.

LA Times: Robin Williams was sober, in early stages of Parkinson's, wife says

Have A Great Thursday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Report: Stagnant Economy Forcing More Americans To Take Jobs As Infrastructure

The Onion: Report: Stagnant Economy Forcing More Americans To Take Jobs As Infrastructure

Maddow - Tear Gas, Arrests Extend Violence In Ferguson

TRNN - Deconstructing Fed Vice Chair’s Grim Economic Forecast

The Drought

Bloomberg: Brown Signs $7.5 Billion Plan to Ease California Drought

Christie Watch

I'm dumping this news article. Truth is, I've come to dislike the man's politics immensely from reading about him every day. My fear is, of course, that the country is stupid enough to elect him to the presidency because they've fallen for his late night TV show dancing bear tricks. It's a rouse, he's as phony as they get and worse. I will post on him from time to time though. Otherwise he's a waste of time and the people of Jersey deserve a lot better. Impeach him Jersey, get him the f**k out of office.

Global Warming - Extreme Weather

Slate: New Research Links Extreme Weather to Global Warming

Good Tips

AlterNet: The 9 Smartest Relationship Tips Ever - Forget the relationship help aisle, this is the best advice the world has to offer.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 62 degrees and cloudy here in the upper Hudson Valley. The weather logo is showing sunshine, maybe it appears later on. The world continues to mourn Robin Williams' death. I was talking with friends about it last night and we all agree that the way he went, suicide, is particularly hard to take. Maybe the up side is that perhaps some of us learn to be more compassionate to those who are suffering from depression. It's a dark hole and it's heartbreaking thinking that Robin Williams' last thoughts somehow congealed around the intense pain that the best option right then was to end it all. It remains terribly sad news, very hard to accept. It would be my wish that no one ever commits suicide from this point on.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are flat and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open in the flat area.

  It looks like the ripples from the Russia-Ukraine misery are spilling over into the general EU economic fate. The numbers are not good as the fear is arising that the EU may indeed be headed back into a recession. And so the globe turns.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Eurozone growth evaporated in the second quarter, as Russian meddling in Ukraine helped send the German economy into reverse and France stagnated.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Lewis Vs Dirtbag

CBS DC: Lewis Black Blasts Rush Limbaugh Over ‘Cruel and Stupid’ Comments on Robin Williams
Black wrote: “F*** YOU Rush Limbaugh. Your statements were beyond cruel and stupid. They were intolerable. Enough is enough from you. You are an idiot. Don’t you ever demean the death of another human being. He was my friend. You disgust me.”

Slimed Again

CNN: 'Pink slime' is back and headed for your burger

Texas Karma

Raw Story: Wife of top Texas anti-gay crusader divorces him to be with lesbian partner

Have A Great Wednesday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Livestock Happiest, Healthiest Attendees Of State Fair

The Onion: Livestock Happiest, Healthiest Attendees Of State Fair

Maddow - Anger In Ferguson Follows Record Of Racial Disparity

TRNN - How The Jet Stream Affects Weather Patterns

The Drought

SF Gate: California drought: S.F. poised to require water rationing

Christie Watch

WaPo: How to sum up Chris Christie in one word? ‘Bridges,’ Rand Paul says.

Detroit Today



Global Warming - Detroit Is Flooded

Mashable: 'Unprecedented' Flooding Event in Detroit Fits Global Warming Pattern

Reevaluating 2014 Election

AlterNet: Why 2014 Won't Be Anything Like a Blowout Election for Republicans in State Elections - Despite all the doomsday talk, there's plenty of evidence to the contrary.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 66 degrees and lightly raining here in Upstate NY. Rain is predicted for the next two days. Yesterday was an unusual day for many of us as we worked through the news of Robin Williams' death. This was followed by learning of Lauren Bacall's death. On top of that one of my dear neighbors on my street passed away Tuesday morning. There was something about yesterday that brought a lot of life into focus in a unique way. I suspect this was experienced by you as well. We'll take it in stride and learn our personal lesson whatever they may be.

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

  Beyond the losses of our beloved stars and friends, world events are still continuing along an extreme path. We've got wars and skirmishes all over the globe and tremendous unrest right in the USA. In spite of this the market is placing all that on the back burner for the moment and apparently economic fundamentals are strong enough to boost futures higher. It's very strange that the price of oil per barrel has been on a decline. Why is that considering a few of these wars directly affect the flow of oil.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
...headlines are dominated by wars in Iraq, Ukraine, Syria, Gaza, and other places.

Japan's economic growth collapsed in the second quarter but the results weren't quite as bad as feared.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Robin Williams Skewers Limbaugh


Have A Great Tuesday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Hospital Comforts Patients With New Therapy Oyster Program

The Onion: Hospital Comforts Patients With New Therapy Oyster Program

TRNN - Understanding The Ferguson Uprising In The Context Of Mass Incarceration

The Drought

HuffPo: Undeniable Proof That The California Drought Is A Big Deal

Christie Watch

NJ.com: Majority of New Jerseyans expect Chris Christie to run for president, poll finds

Global Warming - Fringe Scientists Getting The Attention

Guardian UK: New study finds fringe global warming contrarians get disproportionate media attention - 30% of fringe climate scientists who say carbon pollution causes little global warming report frequent media coverage, vs. just 15% of mainstream climate scientists

GMO

AlterNet: 6 of the Biotech Industry's Biggest Marketing Myths to Convince You GMOs Are Great - Here are six of Big Biotech's biggest marketing lies.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 65 degrees and cloudy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected later on. I think it's safe to say that we are all very sad and pretty shocked to hear about Robin Williams' untimely death. There will be a lot of words written about his depression and suicide and we will get many messages. One thing that we do know is that it isn't material wealth and fame that causes ultimate happiness. Those things can help to put some ease into one's life but it is our internal world that needs wealth. Depression is a wild harsh beast of a thing and some of us know what that means. Still it is our work to find a semblance of contentment and ease of being within ourselves, our internal self. We all have jobs and lives but this is our main job, become happy through and through.

  At 7:45 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.

  The Russian-Ukrainian crisis is causing a lot of problems for the German economy. Germany is one of the world's largest economic powers and Germany is central to the economic health of the E.U. Also note that the price of oil is down. This is very odd given the disruptions in the Middle East especially in Iraq. Iraq's oil wealth must be intensely protected militarily.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
There was more evidence of the damage the (Ukraine) crisis is causing Germany.

Oil prices continue to drift lower...

Monday, August 11, 2014

Robin Williams Dies

CNN: Robin Williams dead; family, friends and fans are 'totally devastated'

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver - Predatory Lending

Have A Great Monday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Man Does What He Convinced Himself He Loves For A Living

The Onion: Man Does What He Convinced Himself He Loves For A Living

TRNN - The Politics Of The Ebola Serum - Harriet Washington On The Ebola Outbreak Part 1

The Drought

NYT: Dry California Fights Illegal Use of Water for Cannabis

Christie Watch

NJ.com: Christie travels a path of bad ideas for N.J.: Letter

Global Warming - Keystone

Great Falls Tribune: Report looks at Keystone’s global-warming pollution
The American Petroleum Institute found the study to be irrelevant because regardless of the pipeline, the tar sands will be developed and oil will be shipped by railroad if not by pipeline...

Sarah Smile

AlterNet: 8 Absurdities From Inside Sarah Palin's New TV Channel Echo Chamber - Sarah Palin, unfiltered. Just what the world needs now.
7. Palin has not ruled out running for president.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. It looks like we are in for a very humid day. I hope you had a good weekend. I've been watching a TV series on Netflix called 'The Killing'. This would be a detective murder mystery type of show and I'm pretty hooked on it. If that genre is your thing, consider giving it a look over. You might end up like me doing marathon viewings over the weekend.

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

  The article is suggesting that global economic fears are not presently in the foreground of the investor's fears. It is the conflict from Russia that at this time appears to hold the biggest weight over global assets. For the morning at least, the fear level is down. I might point out that the articles are beginning to appear that wonder when a strong market correction will occur. That will happen but when is not something one can predict with any specificity.

CNN: Stocks: 3 things to know before the open
...it looks like markets are shaking off some of those (global) fears.

...the Ukraine conflict...has far more potential to spill over to asset prices.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

'Heart Attack Grill: Monument To Greasy Gluttony'

'Mrs. Brown - A Very Sticky Situation'

This is a riot.

Have A Great Sunday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Survey: Americans Watching Better Sex Than Ever

The Onion: Survey: Americans Watching Better Sex Than Ever

TRNN - Linking Climate Change To Extreme Weather

The Drought


San Jose Mercury News: California drought: Lawmakers consider historic rules to limit groundwater pumping
...decades of intense pumping have dropped water tables dangerously low in places such as the San Joaquin Valley and Paso Robles. Scientific studies show the ground is sinking in many hard-hit areas and that aquifers are at risk of running dry.

Christie Watch

NJ.com: 5 clues Chris Christie is running for president

Global Warming - The New South

Stamford Advocate: Global warming to make Connecticut hot as the South
The head of Cornell University's Agricultural Experiment Station said that weather in the Northeast will feel more like it does in Alabama or Georgia by 2080.

Huh...

AlterNet: 6 Bonkers Right-Wing Statements This Week: Peace Prizes for Warmongers Edition - War brings out the worst in conservatives.
3. GOP Rep. Mo Brooks: Democratic Party is waging a war on whites.

Hot

Reuters: Dividend payers attractive again as bond yields fall
Analysts say the attractiveness of high dividend-paying sectors such as utilities is not likely to end soon, especially with valuations still below the benchmark's level.

Saturday, August 09, 2014

Arctic Methane

Bill Moyers: Do These Bubbles Signal the Start of Rapid Climate Change?

What To Say

Yahoo: Things You Should Never Say to Someone Who Has Cancer

Have A Great Saturday

work by David Salle

The Onion - Hispanics Expected To Become Majority Of U.S. Population By Middle Of Father-In-Law’s Rant

The Onion: Hispanics Expected To Become Majority Of U.S. Population By Middle Of Father-In-Law’s Rant

Maddow - Pinpoint Strikes, Aid Drops As US Operations Continue In Iraq

TRNN - Systemic Corruption And 40 Years Since Nixon Resigned - Burt Wides On Reality Asserts Itself Part 1

Yeehaw

ABC News: Texas Proposes Alcohol Sales at Some Gun Shows

The Drought

NBC San Diego: El Nino Chances Decrease for Drought-Stricken California: Experts - NASA satellites indicated a strong El Niño was taking shape this year, but the National Weather Service reduced the odds that it will develop by next winter from 80 percent to 65 percent

Christie Watch

NYT: Wooing Hispanic Voters at Home, Republicans Turn to Latin America

Global Warming - Siberia Turns To Swiss Cheese

NBC News: Siberian Holes Could Be 'Visible Effect' of Global Warming, Experts Say

Dud

AlterNet: 6 Popular 'Miracle' Products That Are Actually Duds - These so-called modern wonders are guaranteed to disappoint you...and that’s not all.

Putin Is Nuts

Yahoo: Russian Nuclear Bombers Keep Roaming Closer to U.S. Airspace

Friday, August 08, 2014

Real Trouble In Europe

Guardian UK: Antisemitism on rise across Europe 'in worst times since the Nazis' - Experts say attacks go beyond Israel-Palestinian conflict as hate crimes strike fear into Jewish communities

Warring

NYT: U.S. Warplanes Strike Militants in Iraq

Have A Great Friday

work by Thomas Moran

The Onion - Report: Middle Class Running Dangerously Low On Things To Be Squeezed Out Of

The Onion: Report: Middle Class Running Dangerously Low On Things To Be Squeezed Out Of

Maddow - US Completes Humanitarian Operation In Iraq

TRNN - Argentina Sues U.S. In World Court To Stop Vulture Fund Billionaire

The Drought

LA Times: California's severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms

Christie Watch

NJ.com: Chris Christie's trip to Mexico: Some say another hint he's running for president

Global Warming - Conservatives And Facts

Sometimes indeed...

Guardian UK: Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes - A new study finds that when they understand climate basics, some conservatives are more likely to accept that climate change is happening

Home Grown Abuses

AlterNet: 5 Human Rights Abuses America Commits Right Here at Home - Americans think they're the leaders on human rights. They're wrong.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 61 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Last night it was cool and extremely pleasant, we had a tiny hint of Fall as it were. We call it sleeping weather and man I was out like a light. So it looks like the USA is back in the business of warring outright in Iraq. I suspect most of us would not be surprised if a US presence becomes much more visible. Pin this one directly onto the pointy little heads of the neocons and it's policy helpless leader GW Bush along with his VP in extremism Cheney.

  At 8:50 a.m. futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open higher but most of us do not trust it.

  World events just got compounded by another major degree with the US back into the bombing business in Iraq. I won't go through a recap of the other major hotspots but to put it in simple terms, here's your drag on the market. Fortunately the weekend is also here to put the brake on Wall St for a few days.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
...investors worry about America's military moves in Iraq and an escalating trade war with Russia.

"It's (US in Iraq) coming on top of geopolitical tensions that are already high..."

Thursday, August 07, 2014

Ann's Hatiest Rant Yet

I think there really could be a point at which the hate gets piled on so high that it suddenly flips and becomes insanely funny. Coulter is right on that edge. Still Americans can't seem to get enough of her and there's something tragically funny about that as well...

Salon: Ann Coulter refers to Africa as “disease-ridden cesspool” in victim-blaming Ebola rant - Coulter asks, "Can't anyone serve Christ in America anymore?" and somehow becomes even more hateful

Have A Great Thursday

work by Thomas Moran

The Onion - New Law Requires Welfare Recipients To Submit Sweat To Prove How Hard They’re Looking For Job

The Onion: New Law Requires Welfare Recipients To Submit Sweat To Prove How Hard They’re Looking For Job

Maddow - Damaging Tax Cuts Haunt Brownback Reelection Campaign

TRNN - Wall Street To Planet Earth - Christopher Williams On Reality Asserts Itself Part 2

The Drought

National Journal: California Residents Are Painting Their Lawns Green - Business has never been better for lawn painters amid the worst drought on record in the Golden State.

Christie Watch

Politico: Chris Christie net approval lowest since 2011

Global Warming - Methane

We are already aware of this problem as frozen ground thaws. It's about the release of methane, a far worse greenhouse gas than CO2.

Portland Press Herald: Icy north’s stores of methane bad news for global warming - The gas trapped beneath frozen ground could have disastrous consequences if thawing allows it to escape.

Egalitarian

AlterNet: A Discovery About Women's Sexual Desire That Will Make Conservative Heads Spin - The conservative media need not worry about women's libidos in equal relationships after all.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is 66 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain and thunderstorms are once again predicted for later today. Tonight I am hosting a chess club at the library, if you might be interested, stop in between 7 and 9.

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

  The weekly first time layoff number just came in at 289,000 which is the lowest it's been in almost a decade. This is decent news. Otherwise the shakiness continues as Russia imposes some of it's own sanctions on imports. These sanctions will rattle the E.U. economy as Russia is a big trading partner. This type of global dis-ease is tanking the market lately and looks to continue. Perhaps investors will overlook it today.

CNN: Stocks: 6 things to know before the open
Russia has imposed a ban on imports of beef, pork, fruit and vegetables, poultry, fish, cheeses, and milk from Europe, the U.S., Australia, Canada and Norway in retaliation for Western sanctions.

The escalating trade war threatens Europe's fragile economic recovery and is hurting some companies.

'A Night Like This'

Caro Emerald