It strikes me that the language we are presently using to try to describe how climate change is impacting our lives, will evolve and will become common expressions in our day to day language in future generations. For example our understanding of how climate change is altering our health will not be a surprise or a suspicion.
NBC NY: Climate Change Could be Culprit With Legionnaires' Disease on the Rise - Outbreak in the Bronx has killed two, sickened dozens
Friday, July 31, 2015
'Never Wrestle With a Pig'
Politico: Insiders warn Jeb: Don't engage with Trump - 'The old maxim applies: Never wrestle with a pig.'
“He (Jeb) needs to punch Donald Trump in the nose, but do it with a smile on his face,” an Iowa Democrat said. “He should be funny and confident, but do everything he can to poke holes in his gasbag facade.”
Have A Great Friday
work by Anicka Yi
mixed media - Tempura-fried flowers, resin, Plexiglas, stainless-steel shelves, chrome-plated dumbbells
mixed media - Tempura-fried flowers, resin, Plexiglas, stainless-steel shelves, chrome-plated dumbbells
The Drought
The image below is from the unl.edu drought monitor page. It is their most recent diagram of the drought in California. Dark brown represents 'exceptional drought'.
Mother Jones: California's Drought Is So Bad That Thousands Are Living Without Running Water
Mother Jones: California's Drought Is So Bad That Thousands Are Living Without Running Water
...Some residents have been living without water for over a year...
The Market On Friday
Good morning. It is 75 degrees and very sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are in for a bright sunny Summer day. It's been another tough week in the news. I find the rape and killing of 8 year old Maddy Middleton to be on the unbearable side of tragedy. Will we ever know what possessed a 15 year old young man to rape, murder, and then throw her body into a dumpster. How could such fatally violent behavior come from a such a young person. Please keep Maddy in your thoughts.
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.
Today of course is the last trading day for July. The month has been filled with second quarter corporate reports and more reports are on the way. In my opinion it is still the tumbling price of oil that is a central issue. I am like everyone else, how far will the price drop - some speculate $33 per barrel - and how will this effect global usage in a time when oil should be so expensive that no one wants to use it. How is this drop going to effect CO2 emissions. When something is cheap and plentiful it's usually not a good way to stop usage.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.
Today of course is the last trading day for July. The month has been filled with second quarter corporate reports and more reports are on the way. In my opinion it is still the tumbling price of oil that is a central issue. I am like everyone else, how far will the price drop - some speculate $33 per barrel - and how will this effect global usage in a time when oil should be so expensive that no one wants to use it. How is this drop going to effect CO2 emissions. When something is cheap and plentiful it's usually not a good way to stop usage.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
"The last trading day of the month [brings the] risk of choppier than normal trading as institutional investors re-balance portfolios and funds adjust to fit around month end performance statistics..."
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Cecil
With big game hunters killing off magnificent animals since as long as I can remember why has this case all of a sudden caught our attention and brought forth our emotion and sadness?
Reuters: Killing of Cecil the lion triggers probe by U.S. agency: source
Reuters: Killing of Cecil the lion triggers probe by U.S. agency: source
Global Warming - The Defense Department
What is a good GOP climate change denying politician to do? The GOP known for its tough military first attitude, is now hearing it directly from the Defense Department - global warming is real and it is a present serious security threat to the geo-political global environment. Could it be any clearer.
Mashable: Defense Department to Congress: Global warming is a 'present security threat'
Mashable: Defense Department to Congress: Global warming is a 'present security threat'
"Global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for U.S. national security interests over the foreseeable future because it will aggravate existing problems — such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership, and weak political institutions — that threaten domestic stability in a number of countries..."
Big Game Hunting Perversion
I would say of all the creepy things out there that involves the twisted side of humanity, this is right up on top. Hunting animals that are on the extinction list and then smiling as one poses over the dead corpse of this once magnificent animal; it's about as f'd up as it gets. This is right at the top of the selfishness chart.
AlterNet: 6 Rich White People Who Get Off on Killing African Wildlife - Walter Palmer is just the latest in a long line of rich Americans who love gunning down wild animals in Africa.
AlterNet: 6 Rich White People Who Get Off on Killing African Wildlife - Walter Palmer is just the latest in a long line of rich Americans who love gunning down wild animals in Africa.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. It is 79 degrees and hazy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The weather logo is indicating rain today, we shall see. It would be nice to have some rain maybe it will help break up the humidity. It was very hot and humid here on Wednesday, I felt run down all day long. We are more of a fan type of family, not really into the air conditioner feel. We see that the Cincinnati police officer has been charged with murdering a black man. Something has to got change here.
At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up. The market is poised to open lower.
We see that the first estimate of the second quarter GDP is in at a 2.3% growth rate. The first quarter GDP has been revised to a plus .6%, that is from a previous negative .2%. Recall how we wondered if a technical recession was in process. Well not yet, we are not into a technical recession at all. First time weekly layoff numbers have come in at 267,000 which still indicates an improving job market, except for those who lost their jobs. Meanwhile it's all about second quarter corporate reports which appear to be mostly positive given the fluffy height of the DOW.
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up. The market is poised to open lower.
We see that the first estimate of the second quarter GDP is in at a 2.3% growth rate. The first quarter GDP has been revised to a plus .6%, that is from a previous negative .2%. Recall how we wondered if a technical recession was in process. Well not yet, we are not into a technical recession at all. First time weekly layoff numbers have come in at 267,000 which still indicates an improving job market, except for those who lost their jobs. Meanwhile it's all about second quarter corporate reports which appear to be mostly positive given the fluffy height of the DOW.
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Whole Foods stock is slumping by about 13% premarket after its quarterly earnings missed expectations.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Climate Change And Investment
NYT: Bad News for Climate-Change Deniers
It estimates that investors will lose $4.2 trillion between now and 2100 as a result of the changing climate...
Russian Tough Times
Curious article - one alleged fact, Putin's net worth is around $40 billion.
Business Insider: Many in Russia think a major political turning point is coming
Business Insider: Many in Russia think a major political turning point is coming
With Russia's foreign debt of $570 billion exceeding its $157 billion in liquid reserves by more than three times, Russia faces the danger of bankruptcy, especially with Western financial sanctions cutting off Russia's access to international funding.
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning. It is 74 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The temperature will soar into the high 90s today and it will be muggy. It will be one of those stagnant hot Summer days that climate scientists expect for us to experience more and more as climate change advances. The town is putting in new sewerage pipes on the roads adjacent to the house. That means that starting just before 7 a.m. it sounds like a battle zone around here and it doesn't smell all that pretty either. On the other hand apparently there is a need, more demand, and improvements have to happen.
At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.
China's market is temporarily stable as the Chinese government intervenes. I wonder how our GOP brethren are reacting to that move, I would suspect positively since money that goes from the government into the hands of big business is a decidedly favorable GOP move. As long as it's out of the hands of the needy...It is an announcement by the Fed today on interest rates that will hold a lot of sway. The expectation is for a postponement of a rate hike till later this year. We shall see.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open higher.
China's market is temporarily stable as the Chinese government intervenes. I wonder how our GOP brethren are reacting to that move, I would suspect positively since money that goes from the government into the hands of big business is a decidedly favorable GOP move. As long as it's out of the hands of the needy...It is an announcement by the Fed today on interest rates that will hold a lot of sway. The expectation is for a postponement of a rate hike till later this year. We shall see.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
The Federal Open Market Committee issues its decision on interest rates at 2 p.m. ET.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Sarah Trump
Still think Trump is a viable candidate.
CNN: Sarah Palin serving in a Trump administration? 'I'd love that,' he says
CNN: Sarah Palin serving in a Trump administration? 'I'd love that,' he says
Bernie Burns
With Bernie and The Donald garnering so much attention, it seems clear that a large segment of voters want significant change from the status quo. Yet, how large is that segment. Trump's "great" lead in the GOP is merely 20% of GOP primary voters, that's nothing. When and if he hits 60% then, that's something.
AlterNet: Latest National Poll Shows Bernie Sanders Beating Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush - Polling on both sides shows voters are not happy with the status quo.
AlterNet: Latest National Poll Shows Bernie Sanders Beating Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush - Polling on both sides shows voters are not happy with the status quo.
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. It is 74 degrees, sunny, and humid here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are in for a very hot muggy day. We see that Trump is now under the scrutiny of the people for his alleged treatment of his first wife. His defense that you can't rape your wife is patently false. There is spousal abuse occurring frequently in our society - a good friend of mine works in that field, the details are ugly. A person's family life can be very different of course from their public life. Trump's public life is one of aggressive assertions as he directs racist sentiment to immigrants and brutal childish uncalled for remarks to his opponents. Yet, some people exhibit similar public behavior and then as family members they are perfectly content and not violent at all. So for the time being, I have no judgment. On the other hand a lot of time where there is smoke, there is fire. You know this as well as I. Let's see how Trump handles the pressure.
At 9:00 a.m ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up. The market is poised to open higher.
China's dramatic market nosedive on Monday is slightly calming today. The overall mood is calm. The equation is clear; as China's economy slows down and it's financial market is still in the dust of an explosion, China's need for oil diminishes. This equation adds further pressure to the global oil market as the oil glut is even larger with less demand from major goods producer China. I've read that oil is expected to hit $33 a barrel. Consider buying some at that price, it will be worth more eventually.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 9:00 a.m ET futures are modestly higher and the price of oil per barrel is slightly up. The market is poised to open higher.
China's dramatic market nosedive on Monday is slightly calming today. The overall mood is calm. The equation is clear; as China's economy slows down and it's financial market is still in the dust of an explosion, China's need for oil diminishes. This equation adds further pressure to the global oil market as the oil glut is even larger with less demand from major goods producer China. I've read that oil is expected to hit $33 a barrel. Consider buying some at that price, it will be worth more eventually.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
"For [traders] the equation is very simple, if there is no demand in China, this spells trouble for the commodity market..."
Monday, July 27, 2015
Hillary On Clean Energy
Slate: Hillary Clinton Just Went Big on Clean Energy. That Was the Easy Part.
...she’d rely heavily on tax incentives to spur the growth of renewables—particularly solar...
AI Weapons
In the same way that the call to halt global warming is being fundamentally ignored, I would expect this warning to be duly noted then turned to boot fodder. I can already see the military expert boot marks on the trampled paper.
This is how it works. The problem resulting from AI weaponry has to get to a threshold where the globe is literally on the precipice of destruction, then we have emergency U.N. meetings by political operatives hashing out the details on a global treaty. Of course by that time the damage is in place and another check on the human extinction list is drawn.
Guardian UK: Musk, Wozniak and Hawking urge ban on warfare AI and autonomous weapons - More than 1,000 experts and leading robotics researchers sign open letter warning of military artificial intelligence arms race
This is how it works. The problem resulting from AI weaponry has to get to a threshold where the globe is literally on the precipice of destruction, then we have emergency U.N. meetings by political operatives hashing out the details on a global treaty. Of course by that time the damage is in place and another check on the human extinction list is drawn.
Guardian UK: Musk, Wozniak and Hawking urge ban on warfare AI and autonomous weapons - More than 1,000 experts and leading robotics researchers sign open letter warning of military artificial intelligence arms race
“The endpoint of this technological trajectory is obvious: autonomous weapons will become the Kalashnikovs of tomorrow. The key question for humanity today is whether to start a global AI arms race or to prevent it from starting..."
Your Daily Trumpet
National Journal: Donald Trump's Not Slowing Down: He's Up Big in New Hampshire, and Close in Iowa - New NBC/Marist polls show that the mogul-candidate's boomlet isn't being quelled by controversy.
In New Hampshire Trump comes in first with 21 percent; his closest competitor is Jeb Bush, who's at 14 percent. Scott Walker comes in third with 12 percent...
The Drought
USA Today: On four continents, historic droughts wreak havoc
The drought in North Korea is extremely difficult to track or verify...Deaths of (North Korean) young children increased markedly in the first six months of the year in the drought-affected provinces...
The Market On Monday
Good morning. It is 73 degrees and hazy sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. It is going to be a very hot week, hold onto your hats. The serious heat wave is arriving. I hope you had a good weekend. I was away from the computer for most of Sunday; I highly recommend a computer hiatus. However the complexity of the world brought me back in. It always does. I am somewhat amused by Lindsey Graham's comments on Trump, casting Trump as someone who is playing with fear and prejudice. Have you ever, ever in your life heard such amazing hypocrisy? I have not. Graham's entire career is a play on playing up fear. On one level I like Trump in that he is telling the party's leaders that they are FOS. They are FOS and we know that, still Trump will not make a good president. That is a terrifying prospect.
At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil is down. The market will tank at the opening bell.
The Chinese stock market is going through a major meltdown with major global implications. The Chinese government over the last few weeks attempted to keep a sell-off from occurring by pumping funds into the market system. That tire patch has not held. Today all hell has broken loose. Hold onto your hat, we are in for a lot of turbulence.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are significantly lower and the price of oil is down. The market will tank at the opening bell.
The Chinese stock market is going through a major meltdown with major global implications. The Chinese government over the last few weeks attempted to keep a sell-off from occurring by pumping funds into the market system. That tire patch has not held. Today all hell has broken loose. Hold onto your hat, we are in for a lot of turbulence.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Fears of a bigger crash in China stock markets are rising after Monday's plunge, a return of wild trading following two weeks of relative calm.
Falling commodity prices are a worrying signal about the global growth outlook. After years of insatiable appetite for raw materials, China's slowdown is playing a huge role in the demand picture.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Now Now
Lindsey Graham is complaining about Donald Trump utilizing the bread and butter of the GOP - fear and prejudice. Take fear and prejudice out of the GOP and exactly what if anything is left?
ABC News: Lindsey Graham: Donald Trump 'Selling Fear and Prejudice'
ABC News: Lindsey Graham: Donald Trump 'Selling Fear and Prejudice'
Have A Great Sunday
I'm taking a planned hiatus from the blog today. I'll see you bright and early on Monday morning; we'll kick off another week of face slapping wonder at our fellow humans.
Wagner - Ride Of The Valkyries
Wagner - Ride Of The Valkyries
Saturday, July 25, 2015
NYT Messes Up Again - Clinton Email Story Is A Dud
I posted the NYT article on Friday; turns out it's a bunch of baloney. What do we do if even the NYT is FOS? We need to start our own publication.
Newsweek: How 'The New York Times' Bungled the Hillary Clinton Emails Story
Newsweek: How 'The New York Times' Bungled the Hillary Clinton Emails Story
Wesley Saunders
What do we make of Phil Jackson's latest acquisition. He does play smart.
Posting and Toasting: The Knicks will bring Harvard's Wesley Saunders to training camp
Posting and Toasting: The Knicks will bring Harvard's Wesley Saunders to training camp
Wireless Devices
Looks like we have some re-thinking to do here.
Science Daily: Clear connection between wireless devices and cancer, experts say
Science Daily: Clear connection between wireless devices and cancer, experts say
summary - A metabolic imbalance caused by radiation from your wireless devices could be the link to a number of health risks, such as various neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, a recent study suggests.
The Drought
Judging from the images Oroville is the worst, not that the other two are all that much better. It's actually unbelievable, Oroville is completely drying up.
The video shows Folsom, Oroville and Shasta reservoirs earlier this week.
KRON 4: Video: new images of California’s drought
The video shows Folsom, Oroville and Shasta reservoirs earlier this week.
KRON 4: Video: new images of California’s drought
Heat Waves
This is from Friday - NewsOK: Heat wave continues in Oklahoma with dangerously high temperatures - A heat advisory has been issued for central Oklahoma Friday. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the Tulsa area.
This is from Wednesday - Weather.com: 14 Dead, More Than 6,000 Hospitalized In Japan Heat Wave
This is from Wednesday - Weather.com: 14 Dead, More Than 6,000 Hospitalized In Japan Heat Wave
Secure
The description of the lengths being take for Obama's safety is extraordinary. It reminds me of a war operation it's that vast.
Guardian UK: Barack Obama lands in Kenya amid huge security operation - US president touches down in his father’s homeland, where airspace was closed and new grass was planted
Guardian UK: Barack Obama lands in Kenya amid huge security operation - US president touches down in his father’s homeland, where airspace was closed and new grass was planted
Mass Shooting Land
Notice that the pace of the shootings listed in this article has increased over the last few years.
Guardian UK: Waco, Columbine, Aurora and Newtown: 20 years of mass shootings that changed (and didn't change) America - Mass shootings remain an almost exclusively American phenomenon among advanced countries. These 10 rocked the country and galvanized many in favor of gun control – so why has so little of it followed?
Guardian UK: Waco, Columbine, Aurora and Newtown: 20 years of mass shootings that changed (and didn't change) America - Mass shootings remain an almost exclusively American phenomenon among advanced countries. These 10 rocked the country and galvanized many in favor of gun control – so why has so little of it followed?
Friday, July 24, 2015
More Information
I was looking at the pictures of the two young women that he gunned down, and they were beautiful, vibrant, and totally innocent.
KTBS: More information emerging about deadly Lafayette theater shooting
KTBS: More information emerging about deadly Lafayette theater shooting
Mass Extinctions
Science Daily: Mammoths killed by abrupt climate change
summary - New research has revealed abrupt warming, that closely resembles the rapid man-made warming occurring today, has repeatedly played a key role in mass extinction events of large animals, the megafauna, in Earth's past.
The Drought
This article is a very strong wake up call. We look at a lot of hard world events but this stands out, the implications are enormous.
Business Insider: California's drought is 'a harbinger of the coming global water crisis'
Business Insider: California's drought is 'a harbinger of the coming global water crisis'
Global Warming - Radiocarbon Dating
CS Monitor: Global warming is messing with the accuracy of radiocarbon dating - A new study suggests that climate change is having a profound effect on the way scientists calculate the date of old objects. By Beatrice Gitau
PNAS: Impact of fossil fuel emissions on atmospheric radiocarbon and various applications of radiocarbon over this century
PNAS: Impact of fossil fuel emissions on atmospheric radiocarbon and various applications of radiocarbon over this century
The Market On Friday
Good morning. It is 65 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are in for another exceptional summer day, enjoy it while it lasts. We see that there has been another multiple shooting, this time in a theater in Louisiana. Mass shootings are becoming a weekly and daily occurrence, the pace is picking up. I just read that the shooter was a 59 year old male drifter from Alabama. It sounds like this man was at the end of his rope and wanted out, unfortunately he needed to also create a lot of suffering for many other people. We tend to ignore the fact that someone who murders in this way, shooting or any way, is not in reasonable mental health, no exceptions. Murder is an expression of a violently confused mind.
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are ever so slightly higher and the price of oil is up now slightly above $48 a barrel. The market is poised to open higher.
Looks like Amazon is set to become the world's largest retailer. I use Amazon all the time actually. Amazon has a contract with the US Postal service for deliveries and everything that I hear indicates that our postal system is doing just fine, the rumors of its demise are unfounded. Regardless, second quarter corporate results continue to filter in. It is corporate report time.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are ever so slightly higher and the price of oil is up now slightly above $48 a barrel. The market is poised to open higher.
Looks like Amazon is set to become the world's largest retailer. I use Amazon all the time actually. Amazon has a contract with the US Postal service for deliveries and everything that I hear indicates that our postal system is doing just fine, the rumors of its demise are unfounded. Regardless, second quarter corporate results continue to filter in. It is corporate report time.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
If the shares hold onto those gains at the open, Amazon's market capitalization could trounce Wal-Mart's, making it the biggest retailer by value in the world.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
The Baby President
Mother Jones: We Asked a Kindergarten Teacher How to Deal With Donald Trump
PST: Clearly. I see only four reasons why an adult would resort to name-calling on a regular basis:
1. Said person is a sociopath who has no ability to empathize
2. Nobody ever took the time to teach said person that there are better way to deal with conflict
3. Said person has been a victim for so long that he or she is constantly on the defensive and is actively trying to drive others away
4. Said person is an asshole
Kepler-452b
Another promising exoplanet is found.
BBC: 'Earth 2.0' found in Nasa Kepler telescope haul
BBC: 'Earth 2.0' found in Nasa Kepler telescope haul
Mission scientists said they believed it was the most Earth-like planet yet.
No Thanks
How would one feel about drinking water knowing that if some of the water were to get into your nose an amoeba might eat your brain and you would die. I think that's a tough sell.
nola.com: Brain-eating amoeba found in St. Bernard water system, DHH says
nola.com: Brain-eating amoeba found in St. Bernard water system, DHH says
The department said tap water is safe to drink in St. Bernard, but people should avoid getting water in their noses.
Could You Spare A Gun...
Reuters: Police find 1,200 guns at dead man's Los Angeles house
...1,200 guns and more than 2 tons of ammunition...
Iran Leads World In Executions Per Capita
Guardian UK: Executions in Iran could top 1,000 this year, says Amnesty International - Human rights charity says 694 people have been put to death in the last six months, nearly matching the toll for the whole of 2014
Shaheed called for “a moratorium on executions”, noting that most executions were for drug-related crimes, as well as adultery, sodomy and “vaguely worded national security offences”.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. It is 67 degrees and sunny here in the upper Hudson Valley. We are into a stretch of amazingly gorgeous weather. I must say last night from roughly 6 to 9 in the evening was magical outside. Everyone was commenting on how ideal it was. Future president Donald Trump is now claiming that he will tone down his rhetoric when he is elected. Good to know, would you agree. In my opinion it was the vice presidential run of Sarah Palin which cleared the way for a Trump presidency. She has a similar list of disqualifications that appeal to the American idiocracy - no experience, no diplomacy, lots of bravado, reckless word salad impugning in the most childish way, a complete inability to listen and respond with even a smidgeon of wisdom, and on and on and on. What we have here is the present time bottom of the candidate barrel. Remember in American politics there is no bottom bar low enough that cannot be lowered further. Expect more and more utterly unqualified candidates in the future.
At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open lower.
First time weekly layoff numbers are at a level not seen since 1973, 255,000. Let me just say this, it was pretty hard getting a job anywhere from 1975 to 1980. Jimmy Carter was trying out his version of the New Deal. Regardless, today will be a day of many second quarter corporate results. It will be interesting to see how the bottoming out of oil prices have affected the corporate ledger.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 8:45 a.m. ET futures are slightly lower and and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open lower.
First time weekly layoff numbers are at a level not seen since 1973, 255,000. Let me just say this, it was pretty hard getting a job anywhere from 1975 to 1980. Jimmy Carter was trying out his version of the New Deal. Regardless, today will be a day of many second quarter corporate results. It will be interesting to see how the bottoming out of oil prices have affected the corporate ledger.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
As it stands now, initial and continuing unemployment claims are at the lowest levels seen in roughly 15 years.
Gold prices are up 1% this morning, but are still trading at five-year lows.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Global Warming - 2015
Climate Central: Record Hot First Half May Herald Warmest Year Yet
...with June 2015 coming in as the warmest June on record going back to 1880.
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning. It is 69 degrees and sunny here in the Upper Hudson Valley. A gorgeous day is anticipated. We see that some of the more recent Trump mischievousness involves The Donald giving out Lindsey Graham's cell phone number. Whatever it takes to get Lindsey a date is okay with us. We see there has been another very questionable arrest and unexplainable death of a black person, Sandra Bland. This is just completely unacceptable. Law enforcement has to make some serious adjustments and reforms, we can't allow a routine traffic stop to end in a death of black person.
At 8:50 a.m. futures are in the flat area and the price of oil per barrel is, of course, down. The market will open in the flat area.
Oil continues to tumble. There is a large glut in the world and the OPEC nations continue to flood the market. Does this make sense? All I know is that somewhere along the line, something has got to give.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 8:50 a.m. futures are in the flat area and the price of oil per barrel is, of course, down. The market will open in the flat area.
Oil continues to tumble. There is a large glut in the world and the OPEC nations continue to flood the market. Does this make sense? All I know is that somewhere along the line, something has got to give.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 10:30 a.m., the U.S. Energy Information Administration will release new data on crude oil inventories. Oil futures are trading around $50 per barrel, down 1.4%.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Tuba Player Satirizes KKK March
This is about the funniest thing I've seen in a while. The tuba player joins in the KKK march and ridicules the whole event with his playing. I love this!
August Sixth
One of the ten will garner roughly half of the popular vote, all of the red state electoral votes, and could possibly be the next president. It's hard to believe.
NYT: The First G.O.P. Debate: Who’s In, Who’s Out and the Role of Chance
NYT: The First G.O.P. Debate: Who’s In, Who’s Out and the Role of Chance
Poverty, The Brain
Science Daily: Poverty's most insidious damage is to a child's brain
summary - An alarming 22 percent of U.S. children live in poverty, which can have long-lasting negative consequences on brain development, emotional health and academic achievement. Now, even more compelling evidence has been provided suggesting that growing up in poverty has detrimental effects on the brain.
The President Of Baby Land
Guardian UK: Trump remains in poll position despite comments on John McCain's service - First survey partially conducted after candidate’s ‘war hero’ remarks finds little change in support – perhaps unsurprising given what backers love about him
In the Fox News poll, 70% of Republicans thought that Trump’s controversial comments on Mexico – saying the country was “sending people that have lots of problems ... They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists” – were basically right.
Infidel
I'm sure you've seen the article where affair hook-up site Ashley Madison was hacked. The personal details of its users are now open to the discretion of the hacker which could prove difficult for the hackees. It's a curious thing too because why would someone want to hack the site. What is their motivation? I'm going to go with extortion. The hacker wants money and probably a little power, a little control.
Guardian UK: Hacked infidelity site Ashley Madison offers free profile deletion - Move to waive account-removal fee may not be useful to users whose information is already in hands of hackers The Impact Team
Guardian UK: Hacked infidelity site Ashley Madison offers free profile deletion - Move to waive account-removal fee may not be useful to users whose information is already in hands of hackers The Impact Team
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. It is a humid 74 degrees and it is cloudy here in the Upper Hudson Valley. The weather logo is predicting rain. I briefly poked around on MSNBC last night and the topic was Trump, again. Trump is a very interesting figure on the American landscape as we know. What is most telling to me over and over is his unwitting speech, he is capable of saying anything that he feels is good for himself. Fundamentally speaking there is nothing presidential about Trump, he has the political poise of a child. Diplomacy is obviously not in his vocabulary. I also find it very telling that at the moment he is attracting a big GOP crowd with his child like insulting mouth. Trump is the president of baby land.
At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is slightly higher. The market is poised to open lower.
Oil is now trading around $50 per barrel. That is remarkable. As oil is such a key component to the indexes, we are in an odd first time period - oil is cheap and the DOW is very high. Could it be that oil is less of the young superstar and now in this age is the superstar in decline. With oil at such a bargain price, one worries that countries will import the bargain and as a result increase CO2 emissions. That would be the death blow. I want to see oil priced so high it is prohibitive and must be used sparingly.
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
At 8:50 a.m. ET futures are moderately lower and the price of oil per barrel is slightly higher. The market is poised to open lower.
Oil is now trading around $50 per barrel. That is remarkable. As oil is such a key component to the indexes, we are in an odd first time period - oil is cheap and the DOW is very high. Could it be that oil is less of the young superstar and now in this age is the superstar in decline. With oil at such a bargain price, one worries that countries will import the bargain and as a result increase CO2 emissions. That would be the death blow. I want to see oil priced so high it is prohibitive and must be used sparingly.
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency warned that the market remains "massively oversupplied" and predicted prices could drop again.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Sarah, We Missed You So
Finally, what's been missing has arrived.
Sarah, so much of what Donald Trump is today, is because of you. And so much of what you Sarah are today, is because of John McCain. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts by honoring both these fine heroes, both equal in the eyes of God and America, and seeking to mediate a peaceful and honorable solution. Peace through strength Sarah, peace through strength...
WPTZ.com: Sarah Palin: Both McCain and Trump are heroes
Sarah, so much of what Donald Trump is today, is because of you. And so much of what you Sarah are today, is because of John McCain. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts by honoring both these fine heroes, both equal in the eyes of God and America, and seeking to mediate a peaceful and honorable solution. Peace through strength Sarah, peace through strength...
WPTZ.com: Sarah Palin: Both McCain and Trump are heroes
Condemn
The headlines are filled with the word condemn today. Trump condemns McCain, the GOP condemns Trump, Hillary condemns Trump, Texans condemn Muslim cemetery, Cruz will not condemn Trump, the GOP condemns marriage equality.
There's just a whole boatload of condemnation going on out there today. Is this condemnation week?
Google tells us that condemn means:
-express complete disapproval of, typically in public; censure. "fair-minded people declined to condemn her on mere suspicion"
-sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death. "the rebels had been condemned to death"
In my opinion, there's no utter external condemnation. We are morally retrievable. People may forsake us, but internally we can rise above our miserable acts. Some people of course, won't do this in their lifetime. They will have forsaken themselves. The latter is condemnation, internal condemnation, the only condemnation that ultimately matters.
There's just a whole boatload of condemnation going on out there today. Is this condemnation week?
Google tells us that condemn means:
-express complete disapproval of, typically in public; censure. "fair-minded people declined to condemn her on mere suspicion"
-sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death. "the rebels had been condemned to death"
In my opinion, there's no utter external condemnation. We are morally retrievable. People may forsake us, but internally we can rise above our miserable acts. Some people of course, won't do this in their lifetime. They will have forsaken themselves. The latter is condemnation, internal condemnation, the only condemnation that ultimately matters.
GOP Condemns Marriage Equality
MSNBC: GOP turns up the volume on anti-gay rhetoric
The bizarre rhetoric from the GOP candidates looks even worse when considered in the larger context. At the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, over the weekend, one Republican leader after another condemned marriage equality, while on Capitol Hill, GOP lawmakers continue to move forward with legislation to push back against the recent Supreme Court ruling.
Shields On Walker
Newsbusters: Mark Shields: Scott Walker Has a ‘Lingering’ Resemblance to Sarah Palin
"The problem is that there’s a lingering sort of “I can see Alaska from my front porch” of Governor Palin with him. He said, for example, that, dealing with ISIS, he had dealt with public employees unions, and he didn’t -- couldn’t say whether the president himself was a Christian, and he ducked on evolution. And it just was a question."
Star Eater
Science Daily: Amateur astronomers spot one in a billion star
summary - The Gaia satellite has discovered a unique binary system where one star is 'eating' the other, but neither star has any hydrogen, the most common element in the Universe. The system could be an important tool for understanding how binary stars might explode at the end of their lives.
The Market On Monday
Good morning. It is a humid 79 degrees and it is sunny-ish here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We had a whopper of a thunderstorm Sunday afternoon. The lightning was shaking the house and the dog and cat both got scared. I on the other hand loved it. Well, what in the hell will this coming week bring! I'm going to offer a prediction - some of craziest shite imaginable on every floor of the house! Have you seen the meme going around that has Trump running as an independent. Is that a riot! It's the Clinton luck once again, just like Ross Perot back in 1992. Hand the election to Hillary now if the Donald goes indie. Also, let's try to remember that it was the GOP that ripped up John Kerry's heroism as he ran for president in 2004. The GOP going all ape nuts over Trump besmirching MCain - baloney. I'm calling a STFU you bunch of winy hypocrites - so typical. Where was all the indignation and the this is below the level of presidential when Kerry was the object of your lunacy.
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are rising positively and the price of oil is slightly lower. The market is poised to open higher.
With futures and indexes still perky and rising one can safely assume that corporate reports have been coming in mostly on the positive side. Greece is attempting to resume normalcy as that country's banks open up to the public with some stipulations on withdrawals in place. Hang onto your hats it's going to be a crazy week - which week has not been a crazy week...
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
At 8:40 a.m. ET futures are rising positively and the price of oil is slightly lower. The market is poised to open higher.
With futures and indexes still perky and rising one can safely assume that corporate reports have been coming in mostly on the positive side. Greece is attempting to resume normalcy as that country's banks open up to the public with some stipulations on withdrawals in place. Hang onto your hats it's going to be a crazy week - which week has not been a crazy week...
CNN: Stocks: 4 things to know before the open
Bank branches across Greece have reopened Monday after a three-week shutdown. Limits on withdrawals have been loosened a little, though daily and weekly caps remain in place.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Take No Prisoners
The Fiscal Times: As Trump Surges in the Polls, Hispanic Voters Flock to Hillary Clinton
A new Univision News poll shows that seven in ten Hispanic voters have a negative view of Trump. And in a hypothetical matchup, Clinton beats Trump and other potential GOP opponents by huge margins among Hispanic voters.
'Vote With Their Feet'
This is the first article of its kind that I've seen. It's about how people are job migrating in the country because of extreme weather.
recordnet: Opinion: Central Valley losing top talents due to extreme weather?
recordnet: Opinion: Central Valley losing top talents due to extreme weather?
Italy
US News: Italy's heat wave drags on and on; Pope hails brave crowd who turned out to see him in the sun
Temperatures in Rome this week could hit 38-39C (100-102F). Sizzling heat and oppressive humidity have gripped Italy this month, with some nights in Rome seeing "low" temperatures hovering near 30C (86F)
NOAA - 2014 Hottest Year On Record
Science Daily: International report confirms: 2014 was Earth’s warmest year on record - Climate markers continue to show global warming trend
summary - In 2014, the most essential indicators of Earth's changing climate continued to reflect trends of a warming planet, with several markers such as rising land and ocean temperature, sea levels and greenhouse gases -- setting new records. These key findings and others can be found in the State of the Climate in 2014 report released online by the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
Saudis Fight Isis
Guardian UK: Saudi Arabia reports foiling planned Islamic State attacks - Interior ministry announces it has arrested more than 400 people and thwarted suicide bomb attack on mosque in east of country as bomb kills 115 in Iraq
Saudi Arabia branded Isis a terrorist organisation last year and has joined the US-led coalition targeting it in Syria and Iraq. Authorities have vowed to punish those responsible for terrorist attacks inside the kingdom, the Arab world’s largest economy.
President Trump
Trump is garnering 18% of the ultra conservative base, let's try to get some perspective here.
Guardian UK: Is this guy serious? Could Republican frontrunner Trump actually win? He’s brash, outspoken and provocative – and he’s the leading GOP candidate in polls. Experts doubt he can go the distance but he has already changed the race
Guardian UK: Is this guy serious? Could Republican frontrunner Trump actually win? He’s brash, outspoken and provocative – and he’s the leading GOP candidate in polls. Experts doubt he can go the distance but he has already changed the race
A Fox News survey this week had Trump ahead of the Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, 18-15, with Jeb Bush third.
Global Warming - Renewables Vs Nuclear
Climate Central: Renewables Outpace Nuclear in Major World Economies
Nuclear power generation increased by 2.2 percent globally in 2014...solar power increasing 38 percent and wind power up by a tenth...
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Heat Wave
NBC Washington DC News: 6 Things to Know for the 6-Day Heat Wave
Storm Team4's Amelia Segal said the feels like temperature by 3 p.m. Sunday will range from 96 degrees in the mountains of West Virginia to 105 in downtown Washington. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said cooling centers will be opening once the heat index reaches 95 degrees.
Trumpet
Rick Perry described Trump's McCain remarks as a new low in American politics. Rick are you serious, are you kidding, this doesn't rise to the level of an averted mosquito bite in American politics.
A new low in American politics - try cooking a deal with Vietnam during the Vietnam War to win a Presidential election like Nixon, or like Reagan cooking a deal with Iran during the hostage crisis to win a presidential election, or like GW Bush/Cheney relentlessly lying to the American public about nuclear WMD and 9-11 connections to go into Iraq. Now that's how it's done in America Rick. That's how it's done good old boy.
Trump is simply being Trump. Trump shoots back at criticism with harder criticism. Hit Trump with a dart, he hits back with a bazooka, etc etc etc times a billion.
You knew Trump's massive ego dominated head would swell so large that he actually believes he can say anything, especially with his alleged polling advantage. And mind you that polling advantage is among, what 4% of the craziest edge of the entire voting electorate. These GOP guys are bigger idiots than Trump, all you have to do is wait for Trump to start shooting himself, first in the foot and then onto the other parts, billions of them. If there was ever a perfect self destruct candidate, it's Trump.
NYT: Trump Belittles McCain’s War Record
A new low in American politics - try cooking a deal with Vietnam during the Vietnam War to win a Presidential election like Nixon, or like Reagan cooking a deal with Iran during the hostage crisis to win a presidential election, or like GW Bush/Cheney relentlessly lying to the American public about nuclear WMD and 9-11 connections to go into Iraq. Now that's how it's done in America Rick. That's how it's done good old boy.
Trump is simply being Trump. Trump shoots back at criticism with harder criticism. Hit Trump with a dart, he hits back with a bazooka, etc etc etc times a billion.
You knew Trump's massive ego dominated head would swell so large that he actually believes he can say anything, especially with his alleged polling advantage. And mind you that polling advantage is among, what 4% of the craziest edge of the entire voting electorate. These GOP guys are bigger idiots than Trump, all you have to do is wait for Trump to start shooting himself, first in the foot and then onto the other parts, billions of them. If there was ever a perfect self destruct candidate, it's Trump.
NYT: Trump Belittles McCain’s War Record
Obesity Study
Science Daily: Low chance of obese people recovering normal body weight
Summary - The chance of an obese person attaining normal body weight is 1 in 210 for men and 1 in 124 for women, increasing to 1 in 1,290 for men and 1 in 677 for women with severe obesity, according to a new study. The findings suggest that current weight management programs focused on dieting and exercise are not effective in tackling obesity at population level.
The Drought
The GOP continues to distinguish itself as the party of infantile idiots.
Think Progress: Boehner Blames California Drought On Obama
Think Progress: Boehner Blames California Drought On Obama
"If ever there was a phrase that perfectly encapsulates liberal environmentalists’ backwards priorities and regressive ideology of restriction and scarcity, it is the one now displayed on a government sign in Arcadia, California: “It’s ‘green’ to go brown.”"
Palinesque
Remember how Palin was going to be the outsider to shake up Washington, and how eventually and deservedly her pitiful star fell on hard times. Apparently the GOP does not. There is a new savior in town.
WaPo: Morning Plum: A lot of Republican voters agree with Donald Trump. What does that mean?
WaPo: Morning Plum: A lot of Republican voters agree with Donald Trump. What does that mean?
“They seem to be galvanized by a notion that Washington is hopelessly corrupt – and you need somebody who is completely outside of the process to go in there and shake things up..."
Friday, July 17, 2015
Sticks, Stones, And Words
I'm presuming that 75% of the candidates for president on the GOP ticket are simply adding a credential to their resumes ultimately seeking larger fees as a talking head/speaker/author/radio or TV whatever. 'Former candidate for president in 2016' has some zeros behind it. With that in mind, how many zeros is a hate Twitter directed at you from Trump worth. We may have found ourselves a little part time job here. Just fervently blog about how horrible Trump is, hope Trump gets a whiff of it, Twitters you off a zinger about what an economic/media/ugly failure you are, and then bam - you're lined up for interviews and your career as a talking head is off and running...
Donald, it's not really presidential, man, to tee off on every little person out there who thinks you're whacked. Try to show some dignity and allow it to roll off even if it's for pretend. That's more like presidential. When you respond with pre-juvenile level anger that's when you get in the gutter too and appear as an ass to all of us on the dole, SSI, and with tiny non billion dollar bank accounts (not like your account of course). That's more like not presidential.
Who the hell is running this guy's campaign?
NY Daily News: Angry Donald Trump calls John McCain a 'dummy' while ripping Karl Rove, Penn Jillette on Twitter
Donald, it's not really presidential, man, to tee off on every little person out there who thinks you're whacked. Try to show some dignity and allow it to roll off even if it's for pretend. That's more like presidential. When you respond with pre-juvenile level anger that's when you get in the gutter too and appear as an ass to all of us on the dole, SSI, and with tiny non billion dollar bank accounts (not like your account of course). That's more like not presidential.
Who the hell is running this guy's campaign?
NY Daily News: Angry Donald Trump calls John McCain a 'dummy' while ripping Karl Rove, Penn Jillette on Twitter
“Irrelevant clown @Karl Rove sweats and shakes nervously on @FoxNews as he talks “bull” about me,” Trump tweeted in response to a television appearance by Rove a day earlier. “Has zero cred. Made fool of himself in ’12.”
Jeb
To our amazement we are learning that Jeb Bush is to the right of brother GW and is less intelligent than GW. Where is the intelligent GOP candidate?
Guardian UK: Jeb Bush 'should be embarrassed' by his overtime pay claims, economists say - Experts say the Republican presidential candidate’s assertions that changes to overtime pay would result in fewer jobs and lower pay show he is misinformed
Guardian UK: Jeb Bush 'should be embarrassed' by his overtime pay claims, economists say - Experts say the Republican presidential candidate’s assertions that changes to overtime pay would result in fewer jobs and lower pay show he is misinformed
Global Warming - Solar Radiation Management
Do everything in your power to never allow this 'fix' to occur.
PBS.org: A cheap but dangerous global warming fix
PBS.org: A cheap but dangerous global warming fix
A controversial, but cheap solution of last resort has emerged known as “solar radiation management.” A geoengineering technique, it would shoot particles into the sky to reflect sunlight back to space.
The Market On Friday
Good morning. It is 65 degrees and gorgeous here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We are expecting another magnificent day, Thursday was splendid. The shooting of the four marines yesterday was horrible. I have not checked numbers but it strikes me that these mass shootings are becoming more and more common in the USA. It's an epidemic. We can rile on about what's wrong in this country but this, this is right at the top of the problem list. I personally believe that like most things, the shootings are a symptom of something much deeper and screwier. This shooter lived in that area, how much you want to bet that there was an interaction between this shooter and a marine probably involving a young woman that set this whole mess off. I would bet my last dollar on the notion that the shooter felt victimized either because he was not accepted in his community or he was shot down by a woman or both. So stupid, so unnecessary...
At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are slightly down and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.
Germany is voting on Greece. Oil is still tumbling mainly on the Iran deal news. China is in disarray. Google is making money hand over fist. I'm grateful that it's Friday.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
At 9:00 a.m. ET futures are slightly down and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open lower.
Germany is voting on Greece. Oil is still tumbling mainly on the Iran deal news. China is in disarray. Google is making money hand over fist. I'm grateful that it's Friday.
CNN: Stocks: 5 things to know before the open
Many Germans hate the idea of lending Greece more money after years of overspending and political mismanagement.
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