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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Giuliani On Ferguson

  Rudy has the perspective of the conservative white person in a position of power. The element that Rudy misses is the embedded reality that people of color experience on a day to day basis. The solution lies somewhere in the diffusion of both these sides and a renewed commitment to work towards peaceful solutions both in black communities and in local government bodies that are responsible for public safety. I could have written these exact same words once every decade that I have been alive. There is underlying suffering, trauma, fear, anger, and cultures of violence that still remain embedded as well and this is also utterly misunderstood in all directions.

Yahoo: Giuliani: Michael Brown Death Never Should Have Gone to a Grand Jury
"I think just as much, if not more, responsibility is on the black community to reduce the reason why the police officers are assigned in such large numbers to the black community...It's because blacks commit murder eight times more per capita than any other group in our society."

"If I'd put all my police on Park Avenue instead of Harlem, thousands more blacks would have died during my time in office..."

The ISIS War

Guardian UK: US-led coalition bombards Isis at Raqqa with up to 30 air strikes - Warplanes hit militants’ de facto capital and nearby air base - Observatory says at least 50 Isis militants killed in Kobani

For Sale

Reuters: Come spring, 'For Sale' signs expected in U.S. riot-hit town - Ferguson

Supremes Take On Rap Facebook Threat

Reuters: Online threats case to show if U.S. justices are down with rap
The posts were mostly in the form of rap lyrics in which he fantasized about committing violent acts. One recounted a visit by an FBI agent in which he imagined murdering her: "Pull my knife, flick my wrist, and slit her throat/ Leave her bleedin’ from her jugular in the arms of her partner."

Have A Great Sunday

work by Sonia Delaunay (Sonia Delaunay was a Jewish-French artist who, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. Wikipedia) 1885 - 1979

The Onion - Report: U.S. Students Lead World In Knowledge Of Common Household Items That Will Give You Buzz

The Onion: Report: U.S. Students Lead World In Knowledge Of Common Household Items That Will Give You Buzz

TRNN - Upcoming Climate Talks To Shape Future Treaty On Emission Reductions

The Drought

NYT: Where Grass Is Greener, a Push to Share Drought’s Burden By IAN LOVETT

Blind

Guardian UK: Ferguson police tactics under scrutiny after woman blinded in one eye - Dornella Conners injured by bean bag round fired through car window - ‘How can a pregnant person in a car be causing chaos?’

Ebola

Guardian UK: Number of Ebola infections in west Africa passes 16,000 - Death toll from virus outbreak nears 7,000 as World Health Organisation warns figures may be significant underestimation
The outbreak has been centred on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. They account for the vast majority of the cases reported to date, with about three dozen cases elsewhere.

Global Warming - The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act

Guardian UK: The latest global warming bill and the Republican conundrum - A new free market climate bill puts Republicans in Congress between a rock and a hard place

Tanks To The Right

AlterNet: Why Are These Clowns Winning? Secrets of the Right-Wing Brain - Bush tanked the country. Now the right's again running the show. Neuroscience explains incompetence of all sides.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

From Comedy Central

Q - What do you call a person who likes to hang out with musicians?
A - A drummer.

There was an old couple who hadn't celebrated Halloween in a long time, so they decided to dress up and go out.
The old woman stripped naked, and tied a string between her legs with a lemon at the end of the string.
Her husband yelled, "You can't go out like that!"
She replied, "I can go out as whatever I want, and so can you!"
He agreed. He took off all his clothes and tied a string to his penis with a potato at the end of the string.
His said, "You're going out as that?"
''Yes,'' said the old man. ''If you can go out as a sour-puss, I can go out as a dictator."

An old man enters a confessional and proudly exclaims, "Father, I have to tell you what happened to me last night. I'm 90 years old, and I made love to two 18-year-old women for eight hours!"
The stern priest replies, "That is a sin. I will have to give you a penance."
"Father, you can't give me a penance."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm Jewish."
The perplexed Father asks, "Then why are you telling me?"
"I'm telling everyone!"

Say Hello To President Romney

Reuters: Romney tops Republican poll for '16; ahead of Clinton in election

Have A Great Saturday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Onion - Aspiring Politician Hopes Government Leaves Some Women’s Rights For Him To Gut One Day

The Onion: Aspiring Politician Hopes Government Leaves Some Women’s Rights For Him To Gut One Day

TRNN - Obama's Record On Defending Civil And Constitutional Rights Abysmal

The Drought

I just checked the weather forecast for the Coachella Valley and it looks like all sun and no rain. I'm not sure if this article is accurate.

The Desert Sun: California drought: Storm expected to ease dryness

Arrests In Ferguson

Guardian UK: Police arrest 15 in Ferguson amid nationwide Black Friday protests

Slavery In The UK

Guardian UK: Up to 13,000 working as slaves in UK - Government launches strategy to end slavery as number of victims found to be up to four times higher than thought
...includes women forced into prostitution, domestic staff, and workers in fields, factories and fishing.

Krugman On GOP Support For Polluters - Inequality

NYT: Pollution and Politics

Think Of US

AlterNet: What People Abroad Really Think of Americans - Living in a small Canadian town taught me the near-obsession of outsiders' scorn. Finally, I'm ready to push back.
We litter. We are loud. We are fat...We are rude to wait staff in restaurants. We are prone to domestic violence...We think we are the center of the universe, and that money entitles us to everything. But the worst of our sins? We brag—nonstop.

Friday, November 28, 2014

'Se Bramate d'Amar Chi Vi Sdegna'

Countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic sings Handel.

Cicret Smart Bracelet

Have A Great Friday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Onion - Thanksgiving Affords Nation Rare Opportunity To Eat Large Amounts Of Food While Watching Football

The Onion: Thanksgiving Affords Nation Rare Opportunity To Eat Large Amounts Of Food While Watching Football

TRNN - Almost Impossible To Indict A Cop

The Drought

The Montana Standard: California drought foreshadows crisis for Montana, Wyoming, rest of West

Black

Guardian UK: Black Friday is a sad, apocalyptic wallet safari. You'll thank yourself for staying home by Jeb Lund
the problem isn’t that Black Friday exists so much as the perception that it’s somehow necessary

Global Warming - Make It Worse

Guardian UK: Reflecting sunlight into space has terrifying consequences, say scientists - But ‘geoengineers’ say urgent nature of climate change means research must continue into controversial technology to combat rising temperatures

Rudy Has A Field Day

AlterNet: 5 Absurd, Deeply Racist Things Rudy Giuliani Said This Week - Giuliani will not stop spouting off offensively about Ferguson.

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 28 degrees and mostly sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The forecast predicts a slow rise in temperatures over the next few days and actually hitting the 50s on Monday. That means that all of the white that I now see out of my window as I type will at least partly melt away over the next few days. We shall see. My area of the world got around 9 inches of snow over the last few days. It's early in the season too but the last time we had a harsh November, the rest of the Winter was very mild. We shall see indeed. I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. I mindlessly overate and really felt it through the night. My appetite for food right now is nowhere to be found and my intention is to fast today. The dinner was nice, the gathering was nice, the conversation was fun, and it was unhurried. Lots of people are taking the day off and resting and that's my plan too.

  At 8:15 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and the price of oil is now down around $69 per barrel. The market is poised to open lower and energy equities will especially plunge.

  OPEC decided to keep oil production at present levels and that means there is a glut of oil floating around in the world markets. The environment is going to take it on the chin as the price of gas lowers and car manufacturers get amnesia about good gas mileage. Joe the Plumber will love it as he can now go bombing around in his F-150 and not have to shell out one week of pay to keep the thing in gas for a month. In truth it's a disaster as carbon dioxide emissions increase. It's actually a sad day for Earth and our future.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Shares in oil companies are set to take a big fall Friday as U.S. stock markets reopen from their Thanksgiving closure.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Oil Prices Fall Further

CS Monitor: OPEC keeps oil supply steady despite falling prices - The move -- or lack of a move -- further underscored OPEC's diminishing ability to control the price of oil.

CNN - Fearless Bikers Swarm LA Police

Does it seem like our society is moving in the direction of a C grade Hollywood sci-fi about the future...

Have A Great Thanksgiving

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Onion - Woman Launches Into 4-Minute Self-Deprecating Preamble Before Speaking Mind

The Onion: Woman Launches Into 4-Minute Self-Deprecating Preamble Before Speaking Mind

Maddow - Ferguson Strife Becomes National Symbol

MSNBC: Ferguson strife becomes national symbol

The Real News Town Hall Pt. 2: Should The Community Control The Police?

Please Drive Carefully Today

NBC News: Nor'easter Nightmare: Thanksgiving Travel is Chaos for East Coast

The Drought

The Desert Sun: Experts make recommendations for coping with drought

Tamir

Guardian UK: Video of Tamir Rice shooting shows moment police kill 'peace-loving' boy - Cleveland police release video at request of 12-year-old boy’s family that shows moment squad car pulls up to child wielding fake toy gun

Global Warming - The Polar Bear

WaPo: Just how bad global warming is for the world’s polar bear population
...found that in the Southern Beaufort Sea region of the U.S. and Canadian Arctic, polar bears saw a 25 to 50 percent decline in the decade from 2001 to 2010.

Traversing The Thanksgiving Minefield

AlterNet: 10 Ways to Deal With Your Right-Wing Relatives Over the Holidays - Holidays are stressful enough without having to listen to Uncle Bernie's bigoted rants.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Frozen Nostalgia


Power

CS Monitor: Why Ferguson protests, like Occupy, might not have staying power

Eviction

  As someone who has worked in the field of property management and has at times had to get the eviction notice, I actually have seen things that are worse than what is described in this article. That's the truth. You would not believe what I have seen, homeless people live in better environments. There are people in America that are living in the depths of squalor and it defies the imagination.

Reuters: Judge evicts man from NYC apartment, citing urine stench
...was also fired from his job because of his incontinence.

Protests Swell

Reuters: National Guard, police curb Ferguson unrest as protests swell across U.S.

'Human Consequences Of The Regionalism, Tribalism And Factionalism' In Libya

Guardian UK: Human rights abuses ‘leave a third of Libyans with mental health problems’ - Research reveals human consequences of violence and lawlessness in north African country since fall of Gaddafi

Hackkk

Raw Story: As promised, Anonymous dumps KKK leader’s personal info online in ongoing Ferguson dispute by Travis Gettys

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Onion - Nation Doesn’t Know If It Can Take Another Bullshit Speech About Healing

The Onion: Nation Doesn’t Know If It Can Take Another Bullshit Speech About Healing

Maddow - Michael Brown Family Considers Next Legal Steps

MSNBC: Michael Brown family considers next legal steps

TRNN - Ferguson Grand Jury Decision In Line With U.S. History

I've been pondering this decision and it strikes me that in American justice, power and authority will always trump no power and no authority.

The Drought

LA Times: California drought puts a chill on L.A. pool time

What Happened To Ebola?

NYT: New Frontier for Ebola

Calmer Night In Ferguson

Guardian UK: Calmer night in Ferguson as heavily armed police prevent repeat of violence

Global Warming - In Pictures

Business Insider: 17 Shocking Photos That Show How Global Warming Is Everywhere

Racial Knowing

AlterNet: Most White People in America Are Completely Oblivious - Black people have to learn everything about white people just to stay alive. White people just don't get that. By Tim Wise

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 39 degrees and cloudy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The Winter Storm Warning has this area getting between 7 to 14 inches of snow through the day and into very early Thursday morning. The snowfall has not started as of 8:50 a.m. but I expect it real soon. In a sense life is pretty good when the 'worst' thing is a little snow. The bad part is that the town has not picked up huge piles of leaves bordering on the streets which already narrow the roads. When the plows hit the snow they are also going to be pushing all the leaves around. The Town really f-ed up this year and it's time to complain.

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

  The bit of news that caught my attention is that the oil producing nations are meeting on setting limits for oil production. The possibilities are less oil, the same amount, or more oil. As oil is very central to most economic structure throughout the world this is a big deal. Let's just say many people will be anxiously awaiting news although one must imagine that those in the know already have the answer.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
(data on)...weekly jobless claims...the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index at 9:55 a.m. ET, and new home sales data from the U.S. Census Bureau at 10 a.m. ET.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

'Uptown Funk'

Bruno Mars

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Onion - Heavy Police Presence In Ferguson To Ensure Residents Adequately Provoked

The Onion: Heavy Police Presence In Ferguson To Ensure Residents Adequately Provoked

Maddow - No Indictment In Ferguson Shooting Death Of Michael Brown

MSNBC: No indictment in Ferguson shooting death of Michael Brown

TRNN - 'Democracy On Fire' Protestors Respond To Grand Jury's Failure To Indict Mike Brown's Killer

The Drought

SF Gate: California drought: S.F. wants to add groundwater to tap By Kurtis Alexander

After The Verdict

Guardian UK: Michael Brown killing: mass protests after grand jury decision – live

Global Warming - Ideology Versus Fact

Mother Jones: Even Global Warming Can't Convince Republicans That Global Warming Exists - Polling data suggests that even when the heat is on, political ideology outweighs facts. —By Tim McDonnell

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 48 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The big news is that we are expecting snow all day long on Wednesday. Everybody is gearing up for that. I have looked at the headlines and parts of Ferguson are in flames. This is terrible especially since this is exactly what everybody thought would happen. It's like an inevitable movement or bad script that can't be stopped or diverted. This is America. May sanity prevail.

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

  Investors will be parsing all types of economic data today. The list includes another reading of the third quarter GDP, my favorite - consumer confidence, and news on home prices. With the indexes at or near record highs, the market continues to astound as we approach Thanksgiving.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
...the U.S. government will issue its second reading of third quarter GDP at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Monday, November 24, 2014

No Charges

I'm wondering if there's anyone in the world that sincerely thought this would turn out differently.

NPR: Ferguson Jury: No Charges For Officer In Michael Brown's Death

Conversion

I have been giving out some incorrect information here. The question is what does a 2 degree Celsius increase convert to in Fahrenheit. Here is the correct formula -

°F to °C Deduct 32, then multiply by 5, then divide by 9

°C to °F Multiply by 9, then divide by 5, then add 32

Example: 68F: 68 - 32 = 36; 36 * 5 = 180; 180/9 = 20C
20 + 2 = 22; 22 * 9 = 198; 198/5 = 39.6; 39.6 + 32 = 71.6F

Recapping: a 2 degree Celsius increase on 68 degrees Fahrenheit equals 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The question surrounds the increase in temperatures due to global warming.

'Scat Duel'

Key & Peele

Best Headline Of The Day Award

It's satire.

The Lapine: Grandmother Attempts Citizen Arrest of Ted Cruz for Being an Arrogant Prick

Buffalo Braces

At 1 p.m. Monday ET it is 66 degrees in Buffalo.

WSJ: As Buffalo Braces for Flooding, Gov. Cuomo Announces Plans - Evacuation Strategies and Shelters Are Being Prepared

Have A Great Monday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.



The Onion - Temple University Receives Anonymous Donation To Build Center For Discrediting Rape Allegations

The Onion: Temple University Receives Anonymous Donation To Build Center For Discrediting Rape Allegations

TRNN - Who Is In Charge Of Development: The Elite Or The Majorities? Part 2

The Drought

NYT: As Snow Fades, California Ski Resorts Are Left High and Very Dry By JOHN BRANCH

Eyes On Buffalo

Guardian UK: Buffalo residents prepare for evacuations caused by flooding - Temperatures expected to hit nearly 60F on Monday, causing likely runoff from melting snow and overflowing creeks

Global Warming - Locked In

CNBC: World locked into 'alarming' global warming: World Bank
Without concerted action to reduce emissions, the report warns that the planet is on pace for 2°C warming by mid-century and 4°C or more by the time today's teenagers are in their 80s.

A temperature rise of this magnitude would create "a frightening world of increased risks and global instability," the World Bank Group's President Jim Yong Kim said, calling the scientists' findings "alarming."

Not True

AlterNet: 5 Things Powerful People in Washington Believe That Have No Basis in Reality - "People in Washington don’t have time for reality. They’re lost in a world of their own."

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 53 degrees and rainy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Allegedly we go up into the 60s today and then gradually it gets colder and back down around freezing in a few days or so. Well it's Thanksgiving week. Lots of households are making preparations for a celebration on Thursday. The food is getting purchased, some living spaces are getting the once over and cleaned up, and generally a sense of positive activity and friendliness pervades the week. It is also a little hectic and for some it can be a time of sadness especially if you lost someone close to you during the holidays. This happens for so many people, instead of the holidays being a time of celebration, they become a very difficult period to get through, they may even try very hard to put on a good face. If you know anyone that feels this way, just accept it and give them space and some extra love. It's not a point of disappointment, it's just life.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher but energy stocks may once again be under pressure.

  Last week's announcement by China's central bank of a base interest rate cut continues to influence the market. That along with some better news out of the eurozone and a possible treaty with Iran over all things nuclear is pushing the market up at the opening bell. The market has fluctuated quite a bit during the day in recent weeks so even though it may very well open higher, that may or may not hold through the day.

CNN: Stocks: 3 things to know before the open
Investors seem to be in a giddy mood after China's central bank surprised the markets with a rate cut Friday and the European Central Bank hinted that it may take emergency action to support the region's economy.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Dog Makeover

Beautiful!

Silenus

From Wikipedia: In Greek mythology, Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. He is typically older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue (thiasos), and sometimes considerably older, in which case he may be referred to as a Papposilenus. 




Have A Great Sunday

work by Robert Delaunay - French artist 1885 -1941.

The Borowitz Report - Republicans Accuse Obama Of Treating Immigrants Like Humans

New Yorker: Republicans Accuse Obama of Treating Immigrants Like Humans By Andy Borowitz

TRNN - Obama Unveils Immigration Plan, But What Will It Change?

The Drought

NBC SoCal: "Abysmal Start" to Water Year in California - California's water year is off to a poor start with only light to moderate precipitation

Obama Gets It Right

Guardian UK: Obama has shown courage to stand with us, say America’s joyful Latinos - President’s move to grant amnesty to 5 million immigrants delights Hispanics at rally in Las Vegas

Global Warming - Weather Versus Climate

Readers of this blog already know the basic contents of an article like the one linked directly below. This is more for anyone you know who is a denier type.

Tech Times: Harsh Snowstorms in US Prove Global Warming is a Lie? Nope, Not at All - Skeptics of global warming believe that the intense blizzards in certain areas of the United States are a sign that global warming is a myth. Despite the harsh onslaught of snowstorms, however, the ice in the Arctic is still melting at a rapid pace.

Huh?

AlterNet: 6 Off-the-Wall Right-Wing Moments this Week—Celebs Who Like to Lecture Rape Accusers - Plus Fox and Republican apoplexy about immigration rages on.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

World's First Solar Road

CNN: Solar road opens in the Netherlands

MSNBC: Netherlands introduces world’s first ‘solar road’

'Interstellar'

trailer

Group Of Bird Simultaneously Fly Away

Stunning

Woodstock

Daily Freeman: Woodstock woman among those accusing Bill Cosby of rape

Have A Great Saturday

work by Jim Sande - house paint on paper roughly 3' by 4'



The Onion - Gay Man Unaware He Focus Of Thousands Of Prayers

The Onion: Gay Man Unaware He Focus Of Thousands Of Prayers

Maddow - Energetic Response Shows Power Of Obama’s Immigration Reform Action

MSNBC: Energetic response shows power of Obama’s immigration reform action

TRNN Replay - Do Undocumented Workers Take Jobs And Lower Wages?

From October 2010

The Drought

When California gets a little rain lately it's a newsworthy item because of the severity of the drought. Unfortunately a little is not enough. Somehow the ground waters have to be replenished.

Sacramento Bee: How this week’s rain figures in California’s drought By Matt Weiser

Ferguson

I just read where the FBI has sent 100 agents to Ferguson. Why does it appear that even though the ruling is not in, that the ruling is in.

Guardian UK: Police refuse to rule out use of rubber bullets and teargas in expected Ferguson protests - Authorities agree only to basic demands in protesters’ ‘rules of engagement’ - Eric Holder asks law enforcement to ‘avoid needless confrontation’

Global Warming - Global Inaction

NBC News: World Isn't Even Close to Stopping Global Warming: U.N.
...the study says carbon emissions will continue to soar until 2050 and by then it will be too late.

The Expected

AlterNet: 12 Crazy, Desperate, Hate-Filled Republican Reactions to Obama's Immigration Order - The GOP again shows its ugly side.
Coburn told USA Today, “The country’s going to go nuts. Because they are going to see it as a move outside of the authority of the president. And it’s going to be a very dangerous situation. You’re going to see—hopefully not—but you could see instances of anarchy.”

Friday, November 21, 2014

Shocker...

Curious that this story comes out on Friday night, usually the time for unwanted but important news items.

AP: House intel panel debunks many Benghazi theories
...no intelligence failure, no delay in sending a CIA rescue team, no missed opportunity for a military rescue, and no evidence the CIA was covertly shipping arms from Libya to Syria.
And of course -

Mediaite: How Fox News Dismissed Today’s Benghazi Report in Less Than 30 Seconds

NY In November

What is the US drought monitor saying about New York. The Hudson Valley is drier than usual.

Sue

I don't think the depths of hypocrisy have ever been plowed quite as deeply as Boehner's present head plant.

NBC News: House GOP File Lawsuit Against Obama

Have A Great Friday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

The Onion - Desperate GOP Spotted In South Dakota Trying To Build Keystone Pipeline Themselves

The Onion: Desperate GOP Spotted In South Dakota Trying To Build Keystone Pipeline Themselves

Maddow - Obama Fulfills Immigration Promise, Congress Sits Out

MSNBC: Obama fulfills immigration promise, Congress sits out

TRNN - The Power To Create Money In The Hands Of The Banks

The Drought

Boing Boing: More than 80% of California is still in extreme drought, and the near future looks dry.

Obama Sets Up The Latin Vote For 2016

Guardian UK: Barack Obama: 'We are and always will be a nation of immigrants' - Most far-reaching aspect of executive action involves giving undocumented migrants who are parents of US citizens the chance to come out of the shadows

Global Warming - Australian Policy

The Economist: Australia and global warming - Stranded - Tony Abbott woos China and India as America rebuffs his climate policy

Tramerica

AlterNet: So Many People Are Badly Traumatized by Life in America - It's Time We Admit It - From a crushing economy, to government spying, to endless wars, are we breaking down?

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 26 degrees and cloudy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain or light snow is expected and the forecast is saying the temperature goes up to 61 on Monday. Okay that is just too freaky. We know that Buffalo got pounded with snow but here's the deal out there. They too are also going to see a rise in temperatures allegedly also up in the 60s by Monday so all that snow is quickly going to become one massive sloshy mess. I'm glad I don't live there even though their housing prices are very modest.

  At 8:55 a.m. ET futures are significantly higher and the price of oil per barrel is up almost $1.50 per barrel. The market is poised to soar at the opening bell.

  The DOW to our utter amazement is perched near 18K. Enjoy your pre-holiday bump, because today is the day when one will see gains. The central bank of China has cut its interest rate by 25 basis points and to put it mildly that is huge. It's huge. Just as the Fed has kept interest rates incredibly low to stimulate the economy, China's central bank is following that same pattern. That's how it's done.

CNN: Stocks: Dow futures soar on China rate cut
In China, the central bank cut its benchmark interest rates by 25 basis points to give the economy a boost, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

'小雞小雞'

by 王蓉 - Chinese pop music

Gun Violence

New Yorker: Is There a Link Between Mental Health and Gun Violence? By Maria Konnikova

Pat Robertson: Speeding Isn't Sinning

Webb Steps In

CS Monitor: Jim Webb all but launches presidential bid. Does he have a chance? The former Secretary of the Navy and Virginia senator launched a new campaign website Wednesday. Can Jim Webb give Hillary Rodham Clinton a run for her money?

Have A Great Thursday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

The Onion - Man Just Wants One Trip To Laundromat Where He Doesn’t Meet Perfect Woman

The Onion: Man Just Wants One Trip To Laundromat Where He Doesn’t Meet Perfect Woman

Maddow - GOP’s Influencers Push For Another Government Shutdown, This Time Over Immigration

MSNBC: GOP’s influencers push for another government shutdown, this time over immigration

TRNN - The Respectable Face Of Terror - Robert Moses On Reality Asserts Itself

The Drought

LA Times: Drought-stricken California town gets portable showers

Immigration Showdown To Begin

Guardian UK: Obama to unveil immigration plan that could shield millions from deportation - Thursday night announcement set to be among most contentious of Obama’s presidency and puts White House on collision course with Republicans

Global Warming - Small Volcanic Eruptions

NBC News: Explosive Finding: Smaller Volcano Blasts Might Slow Global Warming

Why?

AlterNet: Why We Have Sex - Some of the top-rated videos on porn sites provide the somewhat surprising answer.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is a shivery 32 degrees with some sunshine here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Sunshine is expected through the day. Most of the people in this area are relieved to not be up to their ears in snow. Buffalo as you know was literally pounded with snow. Buffalo is experiencing record levels of snow, it's brutal and snow at that level is a major obstacle not just for day to day activity but for one's own survival.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.

  A combination of weak economic reports from China and the eurozone are dragging on markets this morning. Sometimes the market can recover later in the day and sometimes not. This sounds a little foreboding.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
...China's manufacturing sector turned in its weakest performance in six months in November.

...manufacturing and services in the eurozone hit a 16-month low in November.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

'Thick As Thieves'

Natalie Merchant

The Onion - EPA Unveils Plan To Add 500 Million Squirts Of Lemon To U.S. Water Supply

The Onion: EPA Unveils Plan To Add 500 Million Squirts Of Lemon To U.S. Water Supply

TRNN - Despite Senate Vote On Keystone XL, Tar Sands Oil Will Still Reach the Gulf

The Drought

NBC News: California Drought: Lake Nearing Record Low

Republican Freedom Free Zone

Guardian UK: Senate Republicans block USA Freedom Act surveillance reform bill - Senators, mostly Republicans warning of leaving the country exposed to terrorist threat, voted to beat back the USA Freedom Act

Buffalo Today

Global Warming - Extreme Weather Throughout

AlterNet: PHOTOS: New York Snowstorm Kills Four as Towering 'Wall of Snow' Buries Buffalo - The bitter arctic storm is expected to get worse tomorrow.

No Keystone XL - Yet

AlterNet: Victory for Environmentalists: Senate Narrowly Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline - The measure failed by a vote of 41-59.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is a very cold 23 degrees and it is now sunny in the Upper Hudson Valley. Sunshine is expected and the temperatures are supposed to gradually increase over the next week till we are back in the 50s. As the CNN headline indicates, 50% of the country is covered in snow, but good. We are clear here, no snow. Pictures from Buffalo NY indicate that parts of the area got hit with 5 feet of snow. That is incredible. Chalk it up to extreme weather conditions and bizarre changes as a result of global warming. Extreme is the new normal.

  At 8:25 a.m. ET futures are ever so slightly lower, and the price of oil per barrel is up moving toward $75 per barrel. The market is poised to open in the flat range.

  One might suspect that the release of Fed notes from October this afternoon might cast a spell on the markets. In my opinion of all the economic pushes and pulls in our economy, the movements of the Fed are right up there. The Fed is of course the bank of last resort, when all else falls to crap, the Fed is the last backstop. I believe people don't understand that and the suggestion to dismantle the Fed at this point is ludicrous. That idea would place the fluctuations of the economy directly into the TBTF banks. It might seem like that is how things are now and to a certain extent they are, but it is the Fed that carries the biggest gun.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The Fed will publish minutes from its October meeting at 2 p.m. ET.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Attack

CS Monitor: Rabbis killed at synagogue: Religious tinge of Jerusalem crisis deepens - The attack by two Palestinian men in West Jerusalem poses a challenge to leaders on both sides. Three of the four rabbis killed were American immigrants to Israel, the fourth was born in Britain.

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

The Onion - Paleontologists Determine Dinosaurs Were Killed By Someone They Trusted

The Onion: Paleontologists Determine Dinosaurs Were Killed By Someone They Trusted

Maddow - History Exposes GOP Immigration Outcry As Bogus

MSNBC: History exposes GOP immigration outcry as bogus

TRNN - All Eyes On Ferguson As Gov. Nixon Declares State Of Emergency Ahead Of Grand Jury Decision

The Drought

The Week: California's drought has reached Biblical-plague proportions. It's time for a drastic measure.

Ferguson Ready To Ignite

Guardian UK: Missouri governor declares state of emergency as national guard called in to Ferguson - Jay Nixon signs executive order activating national guard to help police ‘maintain peace and protect those exercising their right to free speech’ - Police chief: only criminals were teargassed at Ferguson - Michael Brown’s family call for peace in Ferguson as grand jury decision nears

Global Warming - Deniers, Not Skeptics

HuffPo: NPR Finally Stops Referring to Global Warming Deniers as "Skeptics"

Dunceland

AlterNet: How Our Media Is Helping America Turn into a Land of Political Idiots - It’s in the economic self-interest of the news media to make politics as fun as wrestling and as risky as a high-wire act.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is a brisk 27 degrees and mostly cloudy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We could get rain today. We see there's been a terrorist attack in Jerusalem killing 4 innocent people. When will this craziness cease? It's gone on for all our entire lifetimes and we are beyond sick of it. It's just beyond stupid and goes directly to the most animal like traits in human beings. We are numb.

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

  After Japan's revelation that the world's third largest economy had slipped back into a technical recession came out yesterday, there is good news today. Germany's struggling economy, the fourth largest in the world, is now showing positive signs in November. This a big deal as Germany is a main driver in the eurozone which in itself has been in rough economic territory for a while now. Let's see how this all plays out today.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The closely-watched ZEW indicator of economic sentiment (Germany) registered its first increase in 2014 in November, and was much stronger than economists expected.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Guilderland

Guilderland is a suburb of Albany NY.

Times Union: Guilderland parents desperate as addict son lives on streets - Husband and wife are driven beyond despair by their son's life in the grip of addictions By Paul Grondahl

Attacks In Kenya

Reuters: Kenyans march against attacks on women over mini-skirts
Grainy videos of two attacks in Mombasa and Nairobi, taken on cellphones and circulated widely via Twitter and other social media, show mobs of men surrounding the women, wresting off their clothes and appearing to kick them in their genital area.

Good Work Anonymous

Market Watch: Anonymous wages cyberwar on KKK - Hacker group takes control of Klan’s Twitter feed
The loose collective of online activists tracked down and began posting information about St. Louis Klan members online.

The IS Quiz

I got 9 out 14 questions correct.

CS Monitor: How much do you know about the Islamic State? Take our quiz.

Have A Great Monday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

The Onion - Astronomers Discover Planet Identical To Earth With Orbital Space Mirror

The Onion: Astronomers Discover Planet Identical To Earth With Orbital Space Mirror

TRNN - $4.3 Billion Fine For Fraud In Exchange Market Manipulations Is Pittance For Major Banks

The Drought

SF Gate: California drought hits San Mateo County coast particularly hard

Here Comes Francis

I like this Pope. First one in my lifetime that ever said anything that I value, of course most of the time I never paid attention to any of them.

Guardian UK: Pope to visit US in September 2015 - It will be Pope Francis’s first trip to the country since becoming pontiff, and will include an address to the UN, sources say

Global Warming - Kickstart

Guardian UK: Obama's $3bn for climate fund could kickstart action on global warming - Green Climate Fund pledge broadly welcomed by campaigners

Alternate Thanks

AlterNet: If You Don't Want Pie on Thanksgiving—Delightful Food You Can Be Truly Thankful for - Who needs crust anyway?
Custard-filled Squash

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 34 degrees overcast and damp with a patina of snow here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We all woke up to a coating of snow on the ground, the roads are perfectly clear and it's wet out there. I was up extra early today and walked my dog in the dark practically. My feet got wet at the very start of the walk, yup wet socks and shoes. There's nothing quite like walking around in cold wet socks and squeaky wet shoes. I'm going to treat it as a sign of good luck to come in the week. One wonders what unknown nonsense will arise this week. Sometimes it's a daunting task just prepping oneself to face it.

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

  As far as I can tell it is news of Japan slipping back into a technical recession that is dragging on the market this morning. Japan is the world's third largest economy and the reality of that behemoth going into recession is a troublesome thought. This too will work it's way through the system and be digested, that's the way the system works.

CNN: Stocks: Six things to know before the open
The Japanese economy slipped into recession in the third quarter...

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Francis' Top Ten

The Higher Learning: The Pope Just Released A List of 10 Tips for Becoming a Happier Person and They Are Spot On

No Comment

Inquisitr: Rush Limbaugh Defends Bill Cosby: ‘It’s Not Like He Did It Yesterday’

Have A Great Sunday

work by Juan Gris 1887 - 1927

The Onion - Man Sort Of Curious What His Last Straw Is Going To Be

The Onion: Man Sort Of Curious What His Last Straw Is Going To Be

TRNN - Obama Administration Leaves Door Wide Open For Torture To Occur Again

The Drought

NPR: With Drought The New Normal, Calif. Farmers Find They Have To Change

Global Warming - Energy Storage

Guardian UK: Giant batteries connected to the grid: the future of energy storage? The UK’s first two-megawatt lithium-titanate battery might solve the challenges of industrial-scale energy storage

Steril

Guardian UK: Indian sterilisation patient: ‘I was slapped and told to calm down’ - Woman recounts treatment at camp where 15 women have died after taking antibiotics possibly tainted by rat poison chemical

Global Warming - Wind, Solar, Jobs

Yes!: Wind and Solar Create More Jobs When They’re Locally Owned, Report Finds - When it comes to providing jobs and money to towns and cities, not all renewable energy is created equal.

Drugged

AlterNet: The Most Popular Drug in America Is an Antipsychotic and No One Really Knows How It Works - The pharmaceutical industry has flooded America with antipsychotics.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Hot Stuff

My favorite addition to home fries. If you like hot sauce this stuff is dee-lish.

Identity, Black Women, Kim

Identities.mic: The Big Problem With Kim Kardashian's Butt Photos Nobody Is Talking About


1976 photo by Jean-Paul Goude

Have A Great Saturday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Onion - High School Sweethearts To One Day Tell Grandchildren How They Met During Lockdown

The Onion: High School Sweethearts To One Day Tell Grandchildren How They Met During Lockdown

TRNN - US-China Climate Accord Is Neither 'Historic' Nor A 'Landmark'

The Drought

LA Times: Rain barely made a dent in California drought

Rat Poison

Guardian UK: Rat poison linked to India sterilisation deaths, with death toll expected to rise - Antibiotics bought from Mahawar Pharmaceuticals withdrawn, after quantities of zinc phosphide discovered at its factory

Global Warming - Forbes (!) Gets Onboard

  As you know Forbes has mocked the notion of global warming for as long as we can remember. The linked article below explains the point of view of the Pentagon and unlike conservatives, the Pentagon does indeed operate under the fact that global warming is our reality. The Pentagon as you also know is gravely concerned about the effects of global warming on national security - the wars and atrocities that will come about as a result of global warming challenge our comprehension. Although the article does not go into the causes of global warming, how could they really it is Forbes after all, it does point out this strategic military concern and planning. Is this the way into the minds of the conservative knuckle-draggers? How does a knuckle-dragger poo poo global warming when the very essence of their patriotic fervor, the Pentagon, has been making strategic plans knowing full well that global warming is real.
  The article's title is amusing - so let me answer the question posed. Yes you freeking idiot the Pentagon knows and has known all along that global warming is our reality just as anyone with half a brain and no blinders on also knows and has known all along including all of our most revered scientists in all academic positions everywhere in the world.

Forbes: Does Our Military Know Something We Don't About Global Warming?

'Well Played America, Well Played'

Here's some of the utter nonsense that 18% of America just voted into office to govern you.

AlterNet: 12 Extremist GOP Cartoon Characters Just Voted into Office - This bunch can do a lot of damage before the next election in 2016.
3. Mark Walker (North Carolina 6). The 45-year-old Alabama native is a Baptist preacher and worship leader who never held elected office before winning his congressional seat. Apart from his conservative religious views, Walker not only said the National Guard should be deployed on the Mexican border to stop illegal immigration, but that the military should shoot at migrants. “We got to go laser or blitz somebody with a couple of fighter jets for a little while to make our point,” he said in a September debate, prompting the moderator to ask if he was saying the U.S. should start a war with Mexico. “Well, we did it before, if we need to do it again, I don’t have a qualm about it,” he replied.

Friday, November 14, 2014

No Pants

  A model walks around NYC with painted on pants and allegedly nobody notices. What is questionable about this video is that just last week we saw the clip of the young women getting hit on repeatedly over a 10 hour period as she is walking the streets of NYC. It's the same place, right. Now you're going to tell me that a model with no pants on doesn't even get noticed in that same place, NYC, as the previously described and viewed video was shot. The point is that it is the video makers intent that gets brought forward in most of these types of pseudo-documentary clips that we see on the web so frequently these days. In other words, 'reality' is shaped by the intent of the people holding the camera.

As Simple As Can Be


'Porn Stars Explain Net Neutrality'

XL Track

From Reuters - Breaking News: House votes to approve Keystone XL pipeline; prospects in Senate unclear

'Waiting For The End Of The World'

Elvis Costello

Have A Great Friday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Borowitz Report - McConnell’s Election As Majority Leader Announced With Puff Of Toxic Black Coal Smoke

The New Yorker: McConnell’s Election as Majority Leader Announced With Puff of Toxic Black Coal Smoke

Maddow - Amid Frenzy Of News, Possible Glimpse Of 2016

MSNBC: Amid frenzy of news, possible glimpse of 2016

TRNN - How Deep Is The Rot On Wall Street?

The Drought

San Jose Mercury News: California drought not likely to end this winter, experts say

Obama Says What The Hell, I'm Almost Outa Here Anyhow...

Guardian UK: G20: Obama to pledge $2.5bn to help poor countries on climate change

Global Warming - Lightning

WaPo: Global warming could increase U.S. lightning strikes by 50 percent

Fast And Devious

AlterNet: How Fast Food Targets You: The Secret Science Behind McDonald’s, Snickers, Fritos - Technology and marketing have revolutionized desire -- and made us crave salty, fatty foods

The Market On Friday

  Good morning. It is 33 degrees and cloudy but sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected. We had a very light dusting of snow last night. As I look out the window right now I can see traces of the white stuff on the ground. It's coming. Regardless, the weekend is here and another week has literally zipped by at the speed of light. Time is flying. I must say those recent pictures of Kim K. are somewhat paralyzing. Her tush has hypnotized the planet.

  At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down now under $75 per barrel and moving towards the amazingly low price of $70 per barrel. That is the biggest surprise of all. The market is poised to open higher but energy stocks will once again be pressured.

  In my opinion it is the ever so slightly good news out of the Eurozone that is part of this morning's positive movement. The Eurozone has literally been in the economic dumpster for quite some time but this morning there is a tiny sign of life.

CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The eurozone economy grew by a meager 0.2% in the third quarter, but the numbers were better than expected. Germany dodged a recession with quarter-on-quarter growth of 0.1%, while France grew by 0.3%.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Happy

Feel Guide: 75 Years In The Making: Harvard Just Released Its Epic Study On What Men Need To Live A Happy Life

Philae

Have A Great Thursday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Onion - Man Trying To Enter Conversation Spends Few Minutes Smiling And Nodding At Edge Of Circle

The Onion: Man Trying To Enter Conversation Spends Few Minutes Smiling And Nodding At Edge Of Circle

Maddow - White House Presses Senate On Nominations Over Impulsive Political Defense

MSNBC: White House presses Senate on nominations over impulsive political defense

TRNN - Tens Of Thousands March To End Impunity For The Mexican Narco-State

The Drought

PBS: Water theft in California heightens state drought concerns

Of Course

  With roughly 18% of the electorate voting in a GOP controlled Senate and Congress, the American people have essentially abnegated any responsibility on climate change. They have yawningly placed Big Oil in charge. I quote the recent meme on this atrocity - 'Nicely played America, nicely played..."

Guardian UK: Congress to vote on Keystone pipeline in high-stakes challenge to Obama - Senate and House of Representatives schedule votes to support controversial pipeline, hours after president announced historic emissions deal with China

Global Warming - Pact Ain't Gonna Do S#@t

The Economic Times Of India: Scientists: US-China pact won't slow global warming much

Chasm

AlterNet: 1% of America Now Controls 22% of Wealth: The Wealth Gap Has Killed the Middle Class - The stats are more damning than we thought.

The Market On Thursday

  Good morning. It is a chilly 36 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Rain is expected and it also looks like we are heading into temperatures more in the 30s and 40s. Winter is starting to present itself as we descend into the cold. Button up. I'm looking forward to a brisk walk later this afternoon. Walking is a great coping mechanism to the cold and decreased daylight.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are slightly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher but I would expect to see energy stocks continue to deflate.

  The latest first time weekly layoff numbers remain low at 290,000. Greed is back in the market after our recent fear period. The news that Russia is sending bombers into the Gulf Of Mexico for patrols seems somewhat disturbing, reminds me of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Trouble is brewing as the ruble declines in world markets and the price of oil, one of Russia's major sources of income, declines.

Reuters: Futures edge up after Wal-Mart results; data on TAP
As earnings season winds down, Thomson Reuters data showed that of 453 companies in the S&P 500 to report, 74.8 percent beat expectations, above the 63 percent average beat rate since 1994 and 67 percent for the past four quarters. Earnings overall were expected to grow 10 percent over the year-ago period.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Be Happy

Mind Body Green: Foods To Avoid If You Want To Be Happy

Kindness And Generosity

Business Insider: Science Says Lasting Relationships Come Down To 2 Basic Traits

'Bob Hope, Zombies, And Democrats'

Have A Great Wednesday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Onion - Report: America Still World Leader In Manufacturing Excuses

The Onion: Report: America Still World Leader In Manufacturing Excuses

Maddow - A Lame Duck Congress Doesn’t Have To Be So Lame

MSNBC: A lame duck Congress doesn’t have to be so lame

TRNN - Capitalism's Stunning Contradiction

The Drought

Inquisitr: California Drought Is So Bad, There Is A Black Market For Water

China, U.S., Carbon Emissions

Guardian UK: United States and China reach landmark carbon emissions deal - as it happened - The world’s two largest economies strike historic, ambitious deal to cap carbon emissions and increase use of renewable energy

Global Warming - From M.I.T.

MIT News: The missing piece of the climate puzzle - Researchers show that a canonical view of global warming tells only half the story.

Big Purity

AlterNet: Welcome to the Big Business of Christian Purity - Books, dances and pledges keep young women chaste and repressed.

The Market On Wednesday

  Good morning. It is 55 degrees and overcast here in the Upper Hudson Valley. Warmer temperatures are expected but maybe we get some rain too, it's not clear. I've got a busy day ahead with thing after thing scheduled. Let me take a deep breath right here.

  At 8:20 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.

  The indexes have been in record territory, perhaps we are witnessing a little break from an otherwise recent euphoria. The price of oil continues to decline and so energy equities which form the basis of many many portfolios are declining too. How long will this cheaper oil glut continue? One thing I do know is that it can't go on forever.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Five major global banks have agreed to pay $3.3 billion in fines to resolve allegations that they attempted to manipulate foreign exchange rates.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

2030

Mashable: What's Next for NASA: Planned Missions Through 2030

Politically-Challenged: Texas Tech Edition

Please watch -

Have A Great Tuesday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Borowitz Report - Country On Wrong Track, Say People Who Did Not Vote

The New Yorker: Country on Wrong Track, Say People Who Did Not Vote

Maddow - Conservative Media Creates Parallel Universe

MSNBC: Conservative media creates parallel universe

TRNN - Another Rule To Prevent Big Banks From Getting Even Bigger

The Drought

National Journal: Drought Is Taking California Back to the Wild, Wild West

Tragedy In India

Guardian UK: Indian women die after mass sterilisation at government-run camp - Eight women have died and dozens more are in hospital after doctor reportedly carried out 80 operations in five hours

Global Warming - Understanding Polarization

NY Times: How ‘Solution Aversion’ and Global Warming Prescriptions Polarize the Climate Debate
A new study from Duke University finds that people will evaluate scientific evidence based on whether they view its policy implications as politically desirable. If they don’t, then they tend to deny the problem even exists.

Nope

Alternet: 8 Things You Should Never Feed to Dogs and Cats - Veterinarians are finding that many of our most delicious foods, even healthy ones, can be deadly to animals.

The Market On Tuesday

  Good morning. It is 49 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. A sunny day is forecast with temperatures in the low 60s. That is rather pleasant for us at this time of the year. Yesterday I was outside actually doing a little house painting on the exterior part of my newly rebuilt wall. I may do more today. Somehow we are missing the severe winter conditions that are plaguing the Mid West, conditions which are clearly an act of god as punishment for that area's poor electoral choices.

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

It's good times in the stock market as the indexes continue to push into higher and higher record territory. I'm surprised no one is calling this the Obama Stock Market. Regardless, fluffiness is on everyone's mind yet we know better and know that trends can turn on a dime.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Quarterly reports continue to trickle in.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Signs Of Slowing

Humanosphere: More encouraging news about Ebola

Lame Indeed

CS Monitor: Lame-duck Congress: What four issues can't be ignored? Legislators return to Congress Wednesday. While post-election, lame-duck sessions don't tend to yield many major decisions, there are four key issues that will have to be addressed in one way or another.

Have A Great Monday

work by Diego Rivera 1886 - 1957

The Onion - Life-Changing Epiphany Wears Off On Ride Home

The Onion: Life-Changing Epiphany Wears Off On Ride Home

TRNN - Toothless Tiger: Citizen Review Board Unable To Hold Police Accountable

In Baltimore

The Drought

Yahoo news: Stark photos of California’s devastating drought

Cold War 2

Guardian UK: Close military encounters between Russia and the west ‘at cold war levels’ - Report lists 40 cases of ‘brinkmanship’ in past eight months, including near-collision between Russian spy plane and passenger jet

Global Warming - The Midterms

Waging NonViolence: What the midterms mean for the climate movement

Got Water

Alternet: Imagine Your Water Bill Shooting Up to $4,000: Inside One of Detroit's Biggest Crises - The city has cut off water from at least 27,000 residences this year. Around 10,000 households are without running water.

The Market On Monday

  Good morning. It is 42 degrees and hazy sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. A sunny day is expected. My weekend travels took me on interstate 787 which runs past the Port Of Albany. Man, that area is now jam packed with oil train cars from the Bakken reserve. I was quite shocked to see the transformation from just a short time ago when I went by it the last time. All I can say is I'm glad that I live many miles from those trains because if and may this never ever happen, but if there was an accident down there of any significance, I think the bottom half of Albany will go up in flames. That part of Albany is now unrecognizable. That part of Albany is inhabited by poor inner city people, and that is how it works in this country.

  At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are higher and the price of oil per barrel is up now just below $80 per barrel. The market is poised to open higher.

  And why would there not be happiness on Wall Street. With the GOP regaining complete power in Washington, EPA regulations, health regulations, big bank restrictions, and big oil restrictions are off the table.

CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
...if the positive sentiment continues we'll probably see new record highs today.