Stand Up For Our Nation

Update 8 am Friday Hurricane Earl

2010-09-03T08:13:00.000-04:00

Well, luckily the hurricane dropped its intensity very quickly and has been downgraded to a Cat 2, which is much better for everyone. That isn't to say that a Cat 2 storm is mild, not by any means is that the case, but the fact remains that it is far, far better than a Cat 4, or even a 3.

As it stands now, Earl is moving up the coastline at a speed of aprox. 18 mph, which is relatively quick.

HURRICANE EARL CONTINUES TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST...WEATHER
CONDITIONS SHOULD IMPROVE IN THE OUTER BANKS LATER THIS MORNING...

LOCATION...36.2N 73.6W
ABOUT 130 MI...205 KM ENE OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 395 MI...640 KM SSW OF NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNE OR 20 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...955 MB...28.20 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...

NONE.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA NORTHEASTWARD TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND THE EASTERN
ALBEMARLE SOUNDS
* WESTPORT MASSACHUSETTS EASTWARD AROUND CAPE COD TO HULL
MASSACHUSETTS INCLUDING MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET ISLAND

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NOVA SCOTIA FROM MEDWAY HARBOUR TO DIGBY

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER TO SANDY HOOK NEW
JERSEY...INCLUDING DELAWARE BAY SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER BEACH AND THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT
* THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND NEW YORK FROM FIRE ISLAND INLET EASTWARD
ON THE SOUTH SHORE AND PORT JEFFERSON HARBOR EASTWARD ON THE NORTH
SHORE
* NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT TO WEST OF WESTPORT MASSACHUSETTS...
INCLUDING BLOCK ISLAND
* NORTH OF HULL MASSACHUSETTS TO THE MERRIMACK RIVER
* STONINGTON MAINE EASTWARD TO EASTPORT MAINE
* THE COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA FROM LISMORE SOUTHWARD AND EASTWARD TO
ECUM SECUM
* PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER TO WEST OF STONINGTON MAINE
* THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND WEST OF FIRE ISLAND INLET ON THE SOUTH
SHORE AND WEST OF PORT JEFFERSON HARBOR ON THE NORTH SHORE
* NEW BRUNSWICK FROM THE U.S./CANADA BORDER EASTWARD TO FORT
LAWRENCE AND FROM TIDNISH WESTWARD TO SHEDIAC
* NOVA SCOTIA FROM ECUM SECUM NORTHEASTWARD TO POINT TUPPER...AND
EAST OF LISMORE TO POINT TUPPER
* CAPE BRETON ISLAND AND THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS

This next photo is the wind advisory for the current track:

Hurricane Earl Updated Warning & Watches

2010-09-02T07:42:00.000-04:00

Hurricane Earl is really getting much worse. Everyone along the eastern seaboard north of N.Carolina needs to be ready for this storm.

LOCATION...29.3N 74.7W
ABOUT 410 MI...660 KM S OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 870 MI...1400 KM SSW OF NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...145 MPH...230 KM/HR
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NNW OR 330 DEGREES AT 18 MPH...30 KM/HR
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...928 MB...27.40 INCHES

A HURRICANE WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED NORTH OF SAGAMORE BEACH
MASSACHUSETTS TO PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS...AND WEST OF WOODS HOLE
MASSACHUSETTS TO WESTPORT MASSACHUSETTS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COAST OF LONG
ISLAND NEW YORK FROM FIRE ISLAND INLET NORTHWARD AND EASTWARD TO
PORT JEFFERSON HARBOR.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED NORTH OF PLYMOUTH
MASSACHUSETTS TO EASTPORT MAINE.

ENVIRONMENT CANADA HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE COAST
OF NOVA SCOTIA FROM PORT MAITLAND TO MEDWAY HARBOUR.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* BOGUE INLET NORTH CAROLINA NORTHEASTWARD TO THE NORTH
CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER INCLUDING THE PAMLICO AND ALBEMARLE
SOUNDS.

A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* NORTH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER TO CAPE HENLOPEN
DELAWARE.
* WESTPORT TO PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING MARTHAS
VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* CAPE FEAR TO WEST OF BOGUE INLET NORTH CAROLINA.
* NORTH OF THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER TO SANDY HOOK NEW
JERSEY...INCLUDING DELAWARE BAY SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER BEACH AND THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY SOUTH OF NEW POINT COMFORT.
* THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND NEW YORK FROM FIRE ISLAND INLET NORTHWARD
AND EASTWARD TO PORT JEFFERSON HARBOR.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...
* SANDY HOOK NEW JERSEY TO WOODS HOLE MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING
BLOCK ISLAND AND LONG ISLAND SOUND.
* THE COAST OF LONG ISLAND NEW YORK WEST OF FIRE ISLAND INLET AND
PORT JEFFERSON HARBOR.
* NORTH OF PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS TO EASTPORT MAINE.
* THE COAST OF NOVA SCOTIA FROM PORT MAITLAND TO MEDWAY HARBOUR.

A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA.

A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS.

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 48 HOURS.

_________________________________________________________________

This is a map of the anticipated wind speed mapping for the eastern seaboard:

Earl is still a large storm. Hurricane force winds extend 90 miles from the storm center and tropical storm force winds can be found 230 miles away. The wind chart will change based on your location as Earl moves northward.

Based on what Dr. Rob Carver from the Weather Underground Website is saying:
When the trough in the jet stream comes out on Thursday, Earl will accelerate quickly to the northeast. The timing of the trough's arrival will determine Earl's impact on the East Coast. If the trough comes out quickly, Earl will stay at sea. If the trough is late in arriving, it could move Earl across the East Coast.

I will update this information as it become available.

This is the latest updated tracking chart for Hurricane Earl:

Most important things for you to have is a working flashlight, AM/FM radio, and extra batteries for both. A little battery-operated camp lantern (and extra batteries) is great to have too. Nothing sucks more than sitting in the dark, not knowing what's going on as the storm tears up stuff around you. Do NOT use real candles as they can start a fire. Those little battery-operated candles are nice though....they add a bit of light and make the darkness less lonely. Believe me, you'll want some kind of continuous light on all night long (and camp lanterns tend to go through a batch of batteries in 3-4 hours or so).

Remember that you're also going into a long holiday weekend, so plan accordingly. Be sure to gas up your car and have some cash money on hand. You also need to decide if you'll really need to have extra bottled water and food on hand. A lot depends on how badly the storm will screw up electrical power in your area and remember that affects things like gas stations and stores as well as restaurants being open and whether they can take credit/debit cards.

The food in your fridge should be okay for 24-48 hours if you don't keep opening up the fridge doors. You can freeze bottled water (in plastic containers) and leave it in the freezer/lower fridge compartments (instead of using messy bags of melting ice). Just be sure to open each bottle/jug first and empty out a few tablespoons of water so that the freezing ice won't crack the plastic. Then you can drink the cool water as the ice melts.

Be sure to have your cell phone charged and use sparingly. If the power goes out, then you can't charge your cell phone. If you have a landline phone, note that many of the newer telephones will not work without electricity -- test your landline phone to make sure.

MUST SEE Interviews with Restoring Honor Rally Participants

2010-08-30T23:01:00.000-04:00

There are no words, as the video speaks for itself:

Remembering the Dream

2010-08-28T05:34:00.000-04:00

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

~Martin Luther King, Jr. August 28, 1963

Hallowed Ground & Hate

2010-08-26T16:33:00.000-04:00

That is what we keep hearing that the site of Ground Zero, or the place where the twin towers once stood in NYC is.

Hallowed Ground.

Hallowed.

hallowed [ˈhæləʊd (liturgical) ˈhæləʊɪd]
adj
1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) set apart as sacred
2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) consecrated or holy
hallowedness n

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hallowed

hal·lowed [hal-ohd; in liturgical use often hal-oh-id] Show IPA
–adjective
regarded as holy; venerated; sacred: Hallowed be Thy name; the hallowed saints; our hallowed political institutions.

hal·low1 [hal-oh] Show IPA
–verb (used with object)
1.
to make holy; sanctify; consecrate.
2.
to honor as holy; consider sacred; venerate: to hallow a battlefield.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME hal ( o ) wen, OE hālgian (c. G heiligen, ON helga ), deriv. of hālig holy

—Related forms
hal·low·er, noun

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hallowed

Holy Ground. Sacred.

Is this what we are going to call the sites where any attack took place? Not that I don't think we should show respect and offer a memorial for those who were killed. Innocent victims should receive the respect and honor they deserve, but is this really the direction we want to head as a country?

Why did we not make the entire Columbine School a memorial to those who were slaughtered? Those were innocents who were killed by terrorists as well, but the terrorists were kids from this country, so somehow that makes it a different kind of terrorist act?

When the world trade center was attacked in 1993, why was the site not labeled "Hallowed Ground" then? Was it because not enough people died and were injured? What was it that allowed things to resume as normal when today we are calling the entire area where the twin towers fell now to be labeled "Hallowed Ground"?

Amendment 1 of the Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Hate In Action:

That is just the beginning. The hate is continuing to grow.

NYPD Charges Man With Hate Crime After He Allegedly Stabbed Muslim Cab Driver

The New York Police Department has confirmed to TPM that a cab driver in Manhttan was allegedly stabbed by a passenger who asked if the cabbie was Muslim, and says the incident is being treated as a hate crime. The suspect has been charged with attempted murder and other crimes.

NYC Cabbie Stabbed for being Muslim

What we have learned about Michael Enright is that he is a film student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and has been working with the Intersections International, an interfaith and multicultural effort which seeks to promote justice and peace. So at first glance this seems to be an out of place attack. Why would someone who is aligned with such an organization attack someone simply for being Muslim?

More information is now coming to light.

The Daily News also reports that cops found a diary on Enright that was filled with anti-Muslim rantings:

When he was arrested Tuesday in midtown, Enright had a personal diary filled with pages of "pretty strong anti-Muslim comments," a police source said.

The source said Enright's journal equated Muslims with "killers, ungrateful for the help they were being offered, filthy murderers without a conscience."

Diary Found on Man who Stabbed NYC Cabbie for being Muslim is filled with Anti-Muslim comments

So alcoholism and anti-Muslim sentiments were enough to put this guy into the frame of mind that it was acceptable to stab this cabbie? So maybe it was just an odd coincidence?

Well, we aren't finished with the updates.....

Man arrested after urinating on mosque prayer rugs

QUEENS (WABC) -- An apparently drunk man was arrested for shouting anti-Muslim slurs as he urinated on prayer rugs in a mosque in the Astoria section of Queens.

Omar Rivera was charged with criminal trespass after worishipers at the Al-Iman Mosque on Steinway Street subdued him Wednesday night.

Holding a beer bottle, Rivera burst in during evening prayers. He allegedly shouted anti-Muslim slurs, calling the worshipers "terrorists," then flashed his middle finger and urniated on the prayer rugs.

Man arrested for urinating on Mosque Prayer Rugs

Vandalism at Madera mosque called hate crime

Imam Abdullah Salem arrived at the Madera Islamic Center on Tuesday to find a pair of menacing signs, including one that read "Wake up America, the enemy is here."
It was the latest in a series of incidents that the Madera County Sheriff's Department is investigating as hate crimes. On Sunday, a brick nearly smashed a window at the center on Road 26 just outside Madera. Last week, another sign left on the property read "No temple for the god of terrorism."

Vandalism at Mosque

Gainesville Church Will Burn Qurans On 9/11

Gainesville officials denied a burn permit for a church that plans to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The Gainesville church, the Dove World Outreach Center, has a history of inflammatory comments and campaigns against Islam and remained defiant despite the burn permit denial.

In an e-mail sent out Wednesday, the church said, "City of Gainesville denies burn permit – BUT WE WILL STILL BURN KORANS."

The Dove World Outreach Center is promoting the event through its website and social networking sites like Facebook. The burning of the Islamic holy text is set to be carried out on the center's grounds.

Church Plans To Burn Koran's on September 11th

Okay, so this is just the start of what is sure to be more hate and anger directed toward Muslims in this country. The right wing is using fear to create a palpable hatred directed towards all Muslims in this country & abroad. This is the latest "attack ad" that is being use to gin up fear and hopefully help them in the election.:

Instead of using facts, they use fear. Instead of offering solutions, they instead simply try to make fear the tool to scare people into thinking that supporting a Community Center is a bad thing.

Ginning up hate to win a political election!

What has this country come to? Are we not beyond this type of irrational hatred and violence directed toward others who are deemed different? Religious intolerance has always been simmering below the surface, but it no longer below the surface and has now boiled over into full blow, in your face hate being shown to others.

What is going on with this country? When the right wing says they want to take our country back, are they talking about back to a time when it was acceptable to own slaves, when black people were segregated and woman were treated like accessories and nothing more?

Honestly I don't understand this backward thinking. What's worse is that I expect this hate to continue to grow thanks in large part to people like Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rush & Fox as they are going out of their way to promote this hate.

When did it become acceptable to level this kind of intolerance towards others? I thought we as a nation were moving past that kind of mindset?

We see the claims of needing "constitutional conservatives", but that is laughable when those calling for it don't even know what the constitution says or understands the meaning of the claims they are making.

Sarah Palin is a great example of this.

She has consistently claimed that she is having her 1st Amendment rights violated, but the fact is that she proves has no understanding of what she is saying by making that statement.

No law has been implemented to restrict her freedom of speech. None whatsoever. What she really means is that she doesn't want people to criticize her when she says something stupid, which happens with alarming regularity. She wants to be able to say what she wants without being questioned on it. That is why she refuses to do interviews unless she can pre-screen every question ahead of time (so that someone else can write the answers down for her).

She claims she want to speak "without the filter of the media", but the reality is that she wants to be able to say whatever pops into her head, without being questioned on it. She did the exact same thing during the 2008 campaign,

In a conservative radio interview that aired in Washington, D.C. Friday morning, Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin said she fears her First Amendment rights may be threatened by "attacks" from reporters who suggest she is engaging in a negative campaign against Barack Obama.

Palin told WMAL-AM that her criticism of Obama's associations, like those with 1960s radical Bill Ayers and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, should not be considered negative attacks. Rather, for reporters or columnists to suggest that it is going negative may constitute an attack that threatens a candidate's free speech rights under the Constitution, Palin said.

"If [the media] convince enough voters that that is negative campaigning, for me to call Barack Obama out on his associations," Palin told host Chris Plante, "then I don't know what the future of our country would be in terms of First Amendment rights and our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media."

Palin Fears Media

GLENN GREENWALD From Salon.com explains her complete lack of understanding:

The First Amendment is actually not that complicated. It can be read from start to finish in about 10 seconds. It bars the Government from abridging free speech rights. It doesn't have anything to do with whether you're free to say things without being criticized, or whether you can comment on blogs without being edited, or whether people can bar you from their private planes because they don't like what you've said.

If anything, Palin has this exactly backwards, since one thing that the First Amendment does actually guarantee is a free press. Thus, when the press criticizes a political candidate and a Governor such as Palin, that is a classic example of First Amendment rights being exercised, not abridged.

This isn't only about profound ignorance regarding our basic liberties, though it is obviously that. Palin here is also giving voice to the standard right-wing grievance instinct: that it's inherently unfair when they're criticized. And now, apparently, it's even unconstitutional.

According to Palin, what the Founders intended with the First Amendment was that political candidates for the most powerful offices in the country and Governors of states would be free to say whatever they want without being criticized in the newspapers. In the Palin worldview, the First Amendment was meant to ensure that powerful political officials such as herself would not be "attacked" in the papers. Is it even possible to imagine more breathtaking ignorance from someone holding high office and running for even higher office?

UPDATE: The Constitution also guarantees freedom of association. Thus, by Palin's "reasoning," when newspapers -- or Palin herself -- criticize Obama for his associations, they're threatening his constitutional rights.

Sarah doesn't have any understanding of the Constitution

The thing that is most concerning is that these quotes are from 2008 and yet here we are in 2010, and Sarah Palin is still showing the same misunderstanding of the 1st Amendment. This just goes to show that years have gone by and she has not been able to educate herself on even the most basic of rights given to us in the constitution, yet she is consistently demanding that she knows what our founding fathers meant when they wrote the constitution, and what a constitutional conservative is today.

If she has this kind of understanding of the constitution, why should we expect her to have a basic grasp of any issue?

Her promotion of hate during the 2008 presidential campaign was obvious and she relished the attack dog role she was given. Claiming that then Senator Obama was not like "you and me" as American's. That he "palled around with terrorists", and those kinds of remarks continue today from her.

She is not the only one. Glenn Beck & Rush as well as the entire cast of characters at Fox do the same thing, and they are joyously happy in their ability to use fear and even outright lies to misinform their viewers, using hate and fear to hopefully score political points.

This claim that the spot where the twin towers stood is Hallowed Ground and therefore should hold nothing Muslim on it, forgets that Muslims died that day as well. Muslims from the area rushed to help. They denounced the acts of those who wrought this damage upon us all, and the damage was not aimed solely at white christians, but at all of America and what we stand for, and yet here we watch as these who claim that Muslims from this country, who have worked for peace and understanding should forgo their rights for those who have decided to not only allow the terrorists to win, but to encourage them to engage in more activities by giving in to the fear that they try to create in attacking us.

This country, previously a proud one, who could be pointed to as an example of the good things democracy and basic fundamental rights could accomplish is falling backwards fast.

Things have got to change. People need to stand up and say "Enough is Enough". Before it is too late to turn the tide.

False Claims By Christain'ts

2010-08-18T16:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read the title correctly. I wrote Christain'ts. Why? Because I don't consider them to be real Christians.

They are, in my opinion, CINO's or Christians in Name Only. They promote their own particular agenda of what a Christian is or should be, follow the rules they pick and choose to follow, and readily condemn those that don't agree with them.

Palin fans are famous for this. One such fan who regularly proclaims herself to be a Christian is Adrienne Ross who blogs at a site called "Motivation Truth". The problem is that "Truth" is not what she writes, but propaganda designed to to mislead and misinform.

A prime example:

Adrienne Ross Twitter

Her post is about how supposedly a church that was destroyed by debris from the attack on September 11 is not being allowed to be rebuilt, but that the Cordoba House/Park 51 otherwise falsely labeled as the Ground Zero Mosque (it is neither a mosque nor is it at Ground Zero) is being greenlighted along, and the implication she makes is that there is religious freedom for the Mosque but not for the Church.

She writes:

Let's look at the facts. If there was such love and tolerance for all people's right to worship, as seems to have sprung up with the plans for building the mosque, why hasn't there been a great outcry about St. Nicholas Church? This church was destroyed when one of the Towers collapsed, but they have not been allowed to rebuild.

Ross Paints False Picture of the Facts in her claims of Religious Freedom for some

Lets look at the actual facts shall we? They are easy enough to find, she even links to the article in question, but conveniently omits the truth, which was provided in the same link, from her rant.

The Port Authority and the church announced a deal in July 2008 under which the Port Authority would grant land and up to $20 million to help rebuild it in a new location -- in addition, the authority was willing to pay up to $40 million to construct a bomb-proof platform underneath.

Within a year, the deal fell through and talks ended. Port Authority officials told Fox News that the deal is dead.

The archdiocese and Port Authority offer sharply conflicting accounts of where things went wrong. The Port Authority has previously claimed the church was making additional demands -- like wanting the $20 million up front and wanting to review plans for the surrounding area. They say the church can still proceed on its own if it wishes.

"The church continues to have the right to rebuild at their original site, and we will pay fair market value for the underground space beneath that building," a spokesperson with the Port Authority told Fox News.

But Karloutsos called the Port Authority's claims "propaganda" and said the church has complied with all conditions. He said the government should honor agreements that date back to 2004, under former New York Gov. George Pataki.

Fox News ~ Conflicting Stories Between Port Authority & Archdiocese

The bottom line in this story:

"The church continues to have the right to rebuild at their original site, and we will pay fair market value for the underground space beneath that building," a spokesperson with the Port Authority told Fox News.

That's right, the church is not being stopped from rebuilding. Not in any way, shape or form. They have the right to rebuild. No one is stopping them.

In fact if you do a bit of research you'll find that not only is the church not being stopped, but they got greedy.

Last July, the Port Authority and the Greek Orthodox Church announced a tentative plan to rebuild the church just east of its original site, at Liberty and Greenwich Streets. The authority agreed to provide the church with land for a 24,000-square-foot house of worship, far larger than the original, and $20 million. Since the church would be built in a park over the bomb-screening center, the authority also agreed to pay up to $40 million for a blast-proof platform and foundation.

In recent negotiations, the authority cut the size of the church slightly and told church officials that its dome could not rise higher than the trade center memorial. The church, in turn, wanted the right to review plans for both the garage with the bomb-screening center and the park, something the authority was unwilling to provide. More important, authority officials said, the church wanted the $20 million up front, rather than in stages. Officials said they feared that the church, which has raised about $2 million for its new building, would come back to the authority for more.

The termination of negotiations is a major setback for the little church, a parish of 70 families that is nearly 90 years old. St. Nicholas officials had hoped to build an impressive structure, with a traditional Greek Orthodox dome, and a nondenominational center for visitors to ground zero. That will not be possible on the church’s original 1,200-square-foot lot, although church officials say they hope for reconciliation.

NYTimes

So the church was offered larger space than they originally had, and were offered money to help rebuild but that wasn't good enough.

So where pray tell is the religious intolerance in this situation? Does the Church have protesters trying to stop this from being rebuilt? No! Are there people shouting that they should not rebuild or that this group should move further away from the site? No!

There is no comparison between the two, but that isn't going to stop these Christain'ts from trying to make an issue out of it. Why? Because they need to try and prove that their complaints are not religious intolerance, and as we've just seen they have failed miserably. Hardly surprising but the facts speak for themselves.

This is hardly the behavior of a real Christian, but then again, those who are real Christians don't need to proclaim it loudly or proudly, they just are what they are and prove it in their daily lives in the numerous small ways that good Christians do.

Sarah Palin talks OTR with Greta Van Sustern & Continues to Lie

2010-08-17T09:41:00.000-04:00

Last night Sarah Palin was a guest on Greta's show. They discussed drilling in ANWAR & Cordoba House, the Cultural Center that has suddenly become a controversy based on the hateful rhetoric of people like Sarah Palin & Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs.

This is the portion of the transcript from Greta's show regarding the Cordoba House discussion:

VAN SUSTEREN: We're back live in Wasilla, Alaska, with former governor Sarah Palin. And once again, President Obama has put himself in the middle of a controversy, this time over the planned mosque near Ground Zero in New York. Now, on Friday, President Obama came out strong in defense of Muslims building that mosque. Then Saturday, when things seemed to get a bit heated, the president clarified his statement, saying he would not comment on the wisdom on the decision to build a mosque there. Governor Palin?

PALIN: Well, you know, it sounds cliched to say that the president is disconnected from the American people on this issue, but how else do you describe it? He just doesn't get it, that this is an insensitive move on the part of those Muslims who want to build that mosque in this location. It feels like a stab in the heart to, collectively, Americans who still have that lingering pain from 9/11.

VAN SUSTEREN: So but where do you divide the line? Because you've got the 1st -- you know, they do have a -- there is a 1st Amendment to practice your religion. But the American people overwhelmingly say, well, you know, while they recognize the right, they just don't want the right exercised there.

PALIN: Well, exactly. And nobody argues that that freedom of religion that the Muslims have to build that mosque somewhere. However, there are 100 mosques already in New York. To choose and be so adamant about this exact location just a block or two away from 9/11, again, is that knife, it feels like. Now, if the purpose of this mosque, as we are lead to believe, is to create this tolerant environment, to avoid anything like a 9/11 ever repeating, you have to ask why didn't one of those 100 mosques already accomplish such a thing, allowing that tolerance and that acceptance of differing views? So I don't buy into that reason, that that's the purpose of this location being chosen.

VAN SUSTEREN: I'm curious what the sort of political effect will be because the statement the president made was not one that was sort of, you know, off-the-cuff, when he got sort of caught walking in some place and some reporter throws a question. He actually -- you know, he thought about it. He made a statement at a public dinner. So there must have been some discussion about it.

PALIN: There had to have been discussion about it. It had to have been a deliberative and well thought-out comment that he had made and then had to kind of clarify it the next morning. You know why he had to do such a thing, Greta? You twittered right after he had made that comment. You must have got your information from the press pool or something. You twittered that night, on a Friday night after he gave that comment to the Muslim community as he was celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic community there in the White House -- you twittered what he had said.
And there across the Internet then, the ensuing explosion based on his comment -- I have not seen such a thing in the political debate and discourse in this country in quite some time. The next morning, he realized then, I think, Whoops, I better backtrack a little bit, and that's what he did the next morning.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, I can't wholly take credit for it because what happens is, is that we get the White House press pool reports that come across the BlackBerry, and it happened late Friday night. And as luck would have it, I'm one of the -- I'm the late anchor. And so the minute that I got it, I just duped it onto Twitter and to GretaWire and people picked it up.

PALIN: And once you did, once people picked it up, though, we were appalled! We -- we were -- it was shocking because this leader of the free world has such power in his words. He should utilize that power in the words to represent the will of the people and not underestimate the wisdom of the people in America. And the overwhelming majority of Americans right now are saying, Mr. President, no, this hurts. This is a slap to those innocent victims who were murdered that day on 9/11. Build the mosque. Build it somewhere. Join the other 100 mosques that are already there in New York, but somewhere else that's less offensive and less provoking of more pain and -- and anger.

VAN SUSTEREN: All right, it's going to have political ramifications because we -- already Senator Harry Reid is disagreeing with the president, heading for the hills on it may be -- might be sort of a flip way to say it. But there's the political ramifications, and then there's also the real substantive problems (INAUDIBLE) What should the president do to try to sort of heal the wound? Because there is a wound in this country between many Muslims -- not all of them -- and many Americans -- not all of them -- with Muslims. I mean, how can we at least make some effort to fix this, put this fire out, rather than fuel it?

PALIN: Well, what the president seems to be suggesting is that everybody needs to be so tolerant of others' beliefs. That is fine. Then let him take that lesson and try to apply it to the debate on the other side if you were right now and talk to that imam, those others who want to build and choose that precise location for their mosque that is so offensive to so many people, and ask them to be tolerant. Ask them to understand America's feelings on this. And see if then the president can use some of his influence in a more positive, less divisive way. That's one way that he can help bridge this divide.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, I think it certainly says the president doesn't pay attention to polls because I think (INAUDIBLE) American people overwhelmingly are opposed to it. I mean, I think the numbers -- I haven't seen the numbers today because I've been on the road with you -- actually, up in the air with you. But I haven't seen the numbers, but he certainly - - I mean, he's making decisions independent of the polls.

PALIN: No, I don't believe that.

VAN SUSTEREN: You don't believe it?

PALIN: I believe that's why he made his comment Friday night. He knew immediately because his advisers told him, You went too far on this. So the next morning, he tried to backtrack that. And now, curiously, he's not coming out and saying -- we want to know -- Mr. President, we have a right to know. What's your position on this? Again, we all know that there is that 1st Amendment right to build a church, a mosque where they want to, if it's legally appropriate. But what is your position on this? Should they? Do you support it? And we don't have the answer from him.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, if he wants to come to "On the Record," we'd be happy to ask him those questions.

PALIN: I hope he does!

VAN SUSTEREN: Anyway, Governor, as always, thank you. And (INAUDIBLE) look at this beautiful yard that she has here. And we're going to have much more with Governor Palin. You don't want to miss "On the Record" tomorrow and Wednesday. Governor Palin and her husband, Todd, are taking you to heart of Alaska so you can actually see for yourself this land, this ANWR area, this battle ground of the oil drilling war, make your own decision. We'll be back here tomorrow night and Wednesday night at 10:00 PM Eastern. We want you back here.

Transcript of OTR with Greta Van Sustern

First reaction to this whole piece is WTF!!??!!

Lets take this one at a time okay? That will make it so much easier to tear apart the lies of Sarah Palin & show how willingly Greta is to just toss her journalistic credentials out the window when it comes to Sarah Palin.

PALIN: Well, you know, it sounds cliched to say that the president is disconnected from the American people on this issue, but how else do you describe it? He just doesn't get it, that this is an insensitive move on the part of those Muslims who want to build that mosque in this location. It feels like a stab in the heart to, collectively, Americans who still have that lingering pain from 9/11.

President Obama did respond correctly because it is not his job to get into the middle of a situation like this. His job is to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans not just a select few. Unlike Sarah Palin who while pretending to be a governor felt that she could "take her governor's hat off" and then make a point of coming out for or against a project.

Our president knows his place and his job.

This cultural center is NOT a "stab in the collective hearts of Americans, it is only a political talking point being used by some shameless people who will pick up any subject they think is newsworthy to attack others in the hopes of scoring political points.

PALIN: Well, exactly. And nobody argues that that freedom of religion that the Muslims have to build that mosque somewhere. However, there are 100 mosques already in New York. To choose and be so adamant about this exact location just a block or two away from 9/11, again, is that knife, it feels like. Now, if the purpose of this mosque, as we are lead to believe, is to create this tolerant environment, to avoid anything like a 9/11 ever repeating, you have to ask why didn't one of those 100 mosques already accomplish such a thing, allowing that tolerance and that acceptance of differing views? So I don't buy into that reason, that that's the purpose of this location being chosen.

This shows the complete and utter lack of understanding of the issue not to mention it reaffirms the claim that this is based on religious intolerance & hate for anyone who is Muslim.

This spot is not near "9/11", as claimed. A stupid way to refer to Ground Zero. This "knife to the heart" thing is also being overplayed as well. This is also not a Mosque. It is a cultural center with planned space for:
recreation spaces and fitness facilities (swimming pool, gym, basketball court)
a 500-seat auditorium
a restaurant and culinary school
cultural amenities including exhibitions
education programs
a library, reading room and art studios
childcare services
a mosque, intended to be run separately from Park51 but open to and accessible to all members, visitors and our New York community
a September 11th memorial and quiet contemplation space, open to all

Now, to suggest that this center is not needed because there are other local mosques which have not been able to "improve" relations is a telling statement indeed. It suggests that this is all about religious intolerance, and equates all Muslims with terrorists.

Are we now to believe that all Christians are unable to preach against pedophilia due to the fact that priests have been molesting children for decades without being stopped? Or since preaching about abortion has not stopped it that they should stop preaching about how wrong it is? Or perhaps Christians should give up preaching about how sinful it is to be gay because that has not stopped people from being gay? Maybe we should stop all churches altogether since their purpose seems to have not worked for so many?

There is no instant response to teaching tolerance, it is a never-ending battle and as someone else just recently said (h/t to annes_123) the purpose of extending tolerance towards the mosque .. is NOT "here we will give you this now let's see what YOU do back... , indeed, it should be held up as a great idea, as we need more people teaching and practicing tolerance and encouraging diversity within our country.

PALIN: There had to have been discussion about it. It had to have been a deliberative and well thought-out comment that he had made and then had to kind of clarify it the next morning. You know why he had to do such a thing, Greta? You twittered right after he had made that comment. You must have got your information from the press pool or something. You twittered that night, on a Friday night after he gave that comment to the Muslim community as he was celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic community there in the White House -- you twittered what he had said.
And there across the Internet then, the ensuing explosion based on his comment -- I have not seen such a thing in the political debate and discourse in this country in quite some time. The next morning, he realized then, I think, Whoops, I better backtrack a little bit, and that's what he did the next morning.

Yes Sarah, it was the fact that Greta twittered about this statement by the president on the Cordoba House that caused a huge uproar and demanded he clarify his statements. Heck, even Greta did not buy into that claim.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, I can't wholly take credit for it because what happens is, is that we get the White House press pool reports that come across the BlackBerry, and it happened late Friday night. And as luck would have it, I'm one of the -- I'm the late anchor. And so the minute that I got it, I just duped it onto Twitter and to GretaWire and people picked it up.

The fact of the matter is that the President did not do anything more than reiterate what he had previously stated, and refused to give a personal opinion on the matter, which is exactly what he should do.

PALIN: And once you did, once people picked it up, though, we were appalled! We -- we were -- it was shocking because this leader of the free world has such power in his words. He should utilize that power in the words to represent the will of the people and not underestimate the wisdom of the people in America. And the overwhelming majority of Americans right now are saying, Mr. President, no, this hurts. This is a slap to those innocent victims who were murdered that day on 9/11. Build the mosque. Build it somewhere. Join the other 100 mosques that are already there in New York, but somewhere else that's less offensive and less provoking of more pain and -- and anger.

What Sarah Palin fails to realize is that the job of President of the United States is to protect all citizens and to defend the constitution of the USA rather than get into personal pissing matches.

He did his job, when asked to clarify his statement, he said he was not going to comment on his personal feelings regarding the wisdom of creating this cultural center at the specified location, rather that they had the right to do so based on the law. That is the exact right response for the president.

There is no slap at anyone, anywhere at anytime. Sarah Palin for all her complaints about wanting smaller government, less government intrusion, and demanding more states rights, now seems to want the federal government to get involved in a local issue. The local community has approved of this center and that is the bottom line. It is none of Sarah Palin's business, nor is it the business of anyone else. It has met all legal requirements, it has the blessing of the local community where it will be located, therefore all the blowhards in the rest of the country have no say in this matter.

"Do you favor or oppose the building of an Islamic community center and prayer space two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center?"

Manhattan:
Favor: 53%
Oppose: 31%
Unsure: 16%

Polling on Cultural Center

Over 50% of locals favor the idea. That speaks volumes.

PALIN: Well, what the president seems to be suggesting is that everybody needs to be so tolerant of others' beliefs. That is fine. Then let him take that lesson and try to apply it to the debate on the other side if you were right now and talk to that imam, those others who want to build and choose that precise location for their mosque that is so offensive to so many people, and ask them to be tolerant. Ask them to understand America's feelings on this. And see if then the president can use some of his influence in a more positive, less divisive way. That's one way that he can help bridge this divide.

Again, Sarah Palin seems to want the President of the United States to get involved in a local matter, where the locals have approved of something that outsiders don't like. Who cares if Sarah Palin and her ilk are offended by this cultural center? "America's feelings on this" don't matter on issues such as this. This is not a center being built by the terrorists. It is not a full blown Mosque, or anything other than a center for locals to use that they have approved of. The president is doing the right thing, and there is no need to "bridge a divide" that is located solely in the minds of the intolerant and bigoted.

In stating the she doesn't believe that the President was paying attention to the polls, Greta got this remark from Sarah,

PALIN: I believe that's why he made his comment Friday night. He knew immediately because his advisers told him, You went too far on this. So the next morning, he tried to backtrack that. And now, curiously, he's not coming out and saying -- we want to know -- Mr. President, we have a right to know. What's your position on this? Again, we all know that there is that 1st Amendment right to build a church, a mosque where they want to, if it's legally appropriate. But what is your position on this? Should they? Do you support it? And we don't have the answer from him.

Sarah has no right to know the President's official personal position on this matter because his personal position doesn't matter one single bit. That is where a lot of Sarah Palin's problems arise. She doesn't understand that there is a line drawn between professional/political and personal. His job is to protect the rights and freedoms of all of us regardless of what his personal beliefs are. His personal feelings don't matter any more than anyone else's do with the exception of the local community in regards to this matter.

I've grown very tired of this being an issue simply because there needs to be another political talking point by Sarah Palin and her ilk. Unless she is demanding that the federal government get involved in every local issue, which she has claimed is a part of the problem, then she needs to shut up and sit down.

Updated Information on Cordoba House (aka NYC Mosque)

2010-08-16T16:36:00.000-04:00

Just found some interesting information that I thought I should share regarding this controversy.

How it all got started:
Pamela Geller of "Atlas Shrugs", the woman who once proclaimed that Malcolm X was President Obama's father started the attacks against this Cultural center.

A Timeline:

Dec. 8, 2009: The Times publishes a lengthy front-page look at the Cordoba project. "We want to push back against the extremists," Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the lead organizer, is quoted as saying. Two Jewish leaders and two city officials, including the mayor's office, say they support the idea, as does the mother of a man killed on 9/11. An FBI spokesman says the imam has worked with the bureau. Besides a few third-tier right-wing blogs, including Pamela Geller's Atlas Shrugs site, no one much notices the Times story.

Dec. 21, 2009: Conservative media personality Laura Ingraham interviews Abdul Rauf's wife, Daisy Khan, while guest-hosting "The O'Reilly Factor" on Fox. In hindsight, the segment is remarkable for its cordiality. "I can't find many people who really have a problem with it," Ingraham says of the Cordoba project, adding at the end of the interview, "I like what you're trying to do."
(This segment also includes onscreen the first use that we've seen of the misnomer "ground zero mosque.") After the segment — and despite the front-page Times story — there were no news articles on the mosque for five and a half months, according to a search of the Nexis newspaper archive.
**(The link below provides video of the segment as well)**

May 6, 2010: After a unanimous vote by a New York City community board committee to approve the project, the AP runs a story. It quotes relatives of 9/11 victims (called by the reporter), who offer differing opinions. The New York Post, meanwhile, runs a story under the inaccurate headline, "Panel Approves 'WTC' Mosque." Geller is less subtle, titling her post that day, "Monster Mosque Pushes Ahead in Shadow of World Trade Center Islamic Death and Destruction." She writes on her Atlas Shrugs blog, "This is Islamic domination and expansionism. The location is no accident. Just as Al-Aqsa was built on top of the Temple in Jerusalem." (To get an idea of where Geller is coming from, she once suggested that Malcolm X was Obama's real father. Seriously.)

May 7, 2010: Geller's group, Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), launches "Campaign Offensive: Stop the 911 Mosque!" (SIOA 's associate director is Robert Spencer, who makes his living writing and speaking about the evils of Islam.) Geller posts the names and contact information for the mayor and members of the community board, encouraging people to write. The board chair later reports getting "hundreds and hundreds" of calls and e-mails from around the world.

May 8, 2010: Geller announces SIOA's first protest against what she calls the "911 monster mosque" for May 29. She and Spencer and several other members of the professional anti-Islam industry will attend. (She also says that the protest will mark the dark day of "May 29, 1453, [when] the Ottoman forces led by the Sultan Mehmet II broke through the Byzantine defenses against the Muslim siege of Constantinople." The outrage-peddling New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser argues in a note at the end of her column a couple of days later that "there are better places to put a mosque."

May 13, 2010: Peyser follows up with an entire column devoted to "Mosque Madness at Ground Zero." This is a significant moment in the development of the "ground zero mosque" narrative: It's the first newspaper article that frames the project as inherently wrong and suspect, in the way that Geller has been framing it for months. Peyser in fact quotes Geller at length and promotes the anti-mosque protest of Stop Islamization of America, which Peyser describes as a "human-rights group." Peyser also reports — falsely — that Cordoba House's opening date will be Sept. 11, 2011.
Origins of the Ground Zero Mosque Controversy

There is also a false story of the 9/11 families being against this Cultural Center but that is not true. So far, one person, Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the plane flown into the pentagon (funny she isn't complaining about the worship center located there isn't it?) is the one victim family member on record as being against this. She is also the co-creator of Liz Cheney's "Keeping America Safe" initiative.

Also very worth noting is that none of the 9/11 Families groups who actually seem to be membership organizations made up of families of the victims seem to have taken positions on the mosque issue at all. I looked at the websites of several such organizations. And they each contain 'about' pages with some information about the organization, its membership and in most cases boards of directors. The website of Burlingame's group, 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, contains no such information. But it's statement of purpose does give some sense of viewpoint: "The war against sharia is a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity."

Since almost three thousand people died as a result of the attacks, many thousands count as family members of the dead. And given that the public at large is at best divided over mosque question and likely on balance against it, it stands to figure that there's a similar spectrum of opinion among these families. Yet I have not seen any clear evidence that as a group these people are against the Cordoba House project.

Getting some facts on the table

Another really good article on the subject is in "The New Yorker" titled Zero Grounds by Hendrik Hertzberg which is worth a read.

NYC Mosque Controversy

2010-08-16T00:41:00.001-04:00

I've written about it before, which you can read about here.

This controversy has gotten out of control, and it sickens me. I have to ask why it is so disturbing to have a cultural center located a couple of blocks away from Ground Zero. It has to be the "Mosque" part of it, otherwise I cannot imagine that this would be a topic of discussion for anyone.

So why is the "Mosque" consideration a problem? Is it because the terrorists claimed to be Muslim and working on the behalf of Islamic ideals? If that is the issue then I have to ask...so what? We don't condemn an entire believe system simply based on the ideals of a few fanatics do we? Do we demand that all Christians remove churches from parks, schools and anywhere else that children might congregate simply because priests have molested children?

Don't we constantly hear from Christians who claim that we are trying to remove their religious symbols and viewpoints from this country? They claim they have every right to place their nativity scene's around the public square during the holiday season. They claim that this country should be allowed to pray in schools, and teach creationism alongside of evolution..right? They want their holiday's recognized by everyone even though this is a country with many different religious beliefs, encompassing many varied viewpoints, and yet to speak to them about tolerance and understanding would be unacceptable in their eyes.

But now they demand sensitivity from a different religious sect for their viewpoints, when they themselves are unwilling to offer that same sensitivity towards those who believe differently. To use tolerance and understanding as an excuse is beyond the pale considering how these same people act when it comes to their own personal religious beliefs. They have no tolerance and understanding, instead they demand acceptance of their beliefs.

If it is religious institutions that should not be close to Ground Zero, then should we remove or demand the removal of the churches that are located much closer than the Cordoba House would be?

I'd be willing to bet that this would not go over well, so it all comes back to the fact that it is the Muslim religion that is the issue.

Are people really that intolerant? To be sure the answer is yes. People can claim that this is only about what they are calling the "Ground Zero Mosque", which is a total fabrication.

This is not a "Mosque" it is a Cultural Center.

It is not at Ground Zero, it is a couple of blocks away.

This is not being solely directed at the Cordoba House either.

There are problems cropping up all over the country involving this issue with Mosque's.

Tennessee, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Illinois as well as Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, and Midland Beach, Staten Island, in New York City, are all area's that are suddenly having controversies dealing with Mosque's.

This is about Muslims in the U.S.A. Plain and simple. That is the bottom line.

Our President recently came out with the only proper response that a president of this country should.

“This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.”

This is and was the absolutely correct thing that our President should say. There is nothing more to be added. I know that many who oppose the idea of this cultural center are demanding that the president come out and take a personal stand on this issue, but it is not his job nor his place to do so. His job is to follow the constitution and protect everyone, not a select few.

We've also heard from those who oppose this building that "they can build a mosque when we are allowed to build a church in Iraq" or other such nonsense. Lets clear up that misconception now.

List of Christian Churches in Baghdad - Iraq
Chaldean Church (Catholic denomination):

1. "Pregnant without Sin" (in reference to Virgin Mary), built in 1921 - Camp Gelani.
2. Mar Aphram, built in 1940s - Shalcheya.
3. Mar Yousif, built in 1956 - Eastern Karada.
4. Mar Youhanan the Baptist, built in 1960 - alDura.
5. Holy Family, built in 1960 - Aurfaleya (Betaween)
6. The Virgin- Prayer's Lord (Sultana alWardeya), built in 1960 - Karada Khareg.
7. Holy Heart of Jesus, built in 1964 - Hay alWehda.
8. Mar Eliya of Heyra, built in 1964 - Hay alAmeen.
9. Mar Yousif- Protector of the Workers, built in 1965 - Hay alYarmook
10. Mar Yaqoub- Bishop of Nisibin, built in 1965 - alDura
11. The passing of the Virgin, built in 1966 - alMansour
12. Mar Toma the Disciple, built in 1966 - Nereya and Gayara
13. Mother of Continuous Help, built in 1966 - Hay anNedhal and alSadoon
14. The Virgin- Protector of Crops, built in 1968 - alBayya'
15. Mar Gewergis, built in 1969 - Hay Sumer/New Baghdad
16. Virgin Mary, built in 1971 - Palestine Street
17. Martyr Mar Baythoon, built in 1978 - Baladeyat/7-April
18. Holy Trinity, built in 1978 - Habebeya/7-April
19. Mar Marey, built in 1980 - Hay Beydha/alBanook
20. The Disciples Mar Putros and Mar Polos, built in 1986 - alDura
21. Congratulating the Virgin, built in 1989 - Hay alMuthana/Suq alThelatha
22. The Rising, built in 1994 - Hay alMualemeen/alMashtal
23. Mar Polos- The Disciple, built ??, al-Zafaraneya

Assyrian (include Assyrian, Assyrian Evangelical, and Old Assyrian):

1. Virgin Mary (Mar Kura), built in 1928 -Karada Maryem
2. Mar Qaradagh, built in 1946 - Camp Gelani
3. Evangelical Assyrian, built ??, Sahat alTayaran
4. Mar Gewergis, built in 1961 - alDura
5. Mar Odishu Nokhreta, built in 1972 - Elwiya
6. Virgin Mary, built in 1970 - Neyreya and alGayara
7. Mar Marey, built in 1985 - alAmeen
8. Mar Zaya, built in ?? - alDura
9. Virgin Mary (Old Assyrian Church), built in 1988 - Hay alReyadh

Syriac (include Orthodox and Catholic):

1. The Disciples Mar Putros and Mar Polos (Orthodox), built in 1964 - Industerial Street
2. Mar Yousif (Catholic), built in 1965 - alMansour
3. Lady of Salvation (Catholic), built in 1968 - Eastern Karada
4. Mar Maty (Orthodox), built in 1981 - Hay Sumer/Ghadeer
5. Mar Toma (Orthodox), built in 1978 - alMansour/Hay alMuhandeseen
6. Mar Behnam (Catholic), built in 1982 - Hay Sumer/alQanat
7. Mar Behnam (Orthodox), built in ?? - Hay alMechanic/alDura

Armenian (include Catholic and Orthodox) :

1. Holy Heart of Jesus (Catholic), built in 1938 - Eastern Karada
2. St. Gregor the Illluminant (Orthodox), built in 1956 - Sahat alTayran
3. St. Garabeet (Orthodox), built in 1973 - Hay alReyadh

Melkite, known commonly as "Room" (include Orthodox, Catholic and Latin):

1. Mar Anderaous (Orthodox), built in 1940's - Camp Gelani
2. Room Catholic, built in 1962 - Karada Dakhel
3. St. Jerjis (Orthodox), built in 1976 - Hay alReyadh
4. Cathedral of St. Joseph (Latin), built in 1965 - Hay alWehda/Elwiya

Protestant:

1. Adventest Church, built in 1958 - alNedhal Street

Evangelical:

1. National Evangelical, built in 1954 - Hay alNedhal

http://www.chaldeansonline.org/church/christian.html

So now what is the next excuse going to be?

That Muslims need to be understanding of how "we" feel?

Like somehow Muslims are not included in that "We".

Muslims died on that day as well. They rushed to the scene of the unfolding disaster and helped in ways that anyone else might have done. They are as much of the "we" as anyone else.
Here is a list of the Muslims that died on September 11th. Remember their names as they deserve to be honored just like anyone else who died that day due to the terrorist attacks.

Samad Afridi
Ashraf Ahmad
Shabbir Ahmad (45 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and 3 children)
Umar Ahmad
Azam Ahsan
Ahmed Ali
Tariq Amanullah (40 years old; Fiduciary Trust Co.; ICNA website team member; leaves wife and 2 children)
Touri Bolourchi (69 years old; United Airlines #175; a retired nurse from Tehran)
Salauddin Ahmad Chaudhury
Abdul K. Chowdhury (30 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Mohammad S. Chowdhury (39 years old; Windows on the World; leaves wife and child born 2 days after the attack)
Jamal Legesse Desantis
Ramzi Attallah Douani (35 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
SaleemUllah Farooqi
Syed Fatha (54 years old; Pitney Bowes)
Osman Gani
Mohammad Hamdani (50 years old)
Salman Hamdani (NYPD Cadet)
Aisha Harris (21 years old; General Telecom)
Shakila Hoque (Marsh & McLennan)
Nabid Hossain
Shahzad Hussain
Talat Hussain
Mohammad Shah Jahan (Marsh & McLennan)
Yasmeen Jamal
Mohammed Jawarta (MAS security)
Arslan Khan Khakwani
Asim Khan
Ataullah Khan
Ayub Khan
Qasim Ali Khan
Sarah Khan (32 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Taimour Khan (29 years old; Karr Futures)
Yasmeen Khan
Zahida Khan
Badruddin Lakhani
Omar Malick
Nurul Hoque Miah (36 years old)
Mubarak Mohammad (23 years old)
Boyie Mohammed (Carr Futures)
Raza Mujtaba
Omar Namoos
Mujeb Qazi
Tarranum Rahim
Ehtesham U. Raja (28 years old)
Ameenia Rasool (33 years old)
Naveed Rehman
Yusuf Saad
Rahma Salie & unborn child (28 years old; American Airlines #11; wife of Michael Theodoridis; 7 months pregnant)
Shoman Samad
Asad Samir
Khalid Shahid (25 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald; engaged to be married in November)
Mohammed Shajahan (44 years old; Marsh & McLennan)
Naseema Simjee (Franklin Resources Inc.’s Fiduciary Trust)
Jamil Swaati
Sanober Syed
Robert Elias Talhami (40 years old; Cantor Fitzgerald)
Michael Theodoridis (32 years old; American Airlines #11; husband of Rahma Salie)
W. Wahid

This entire controversy is more than ridiculous, it is bigoted, hateful, and un-American. What's worse it shows us in a bad light to the world. How intolerant are we? How can we profess to live by the constitution if we allow this kind of action to take place? What does it say about us all that we are allowing small minded people to control this narrative?

On the one hand we have people screaming for the government to do something, anything to keep this cultural center from going up and on the other hand we have these same people screaming about government overreach and interference. The hypocrisy is astounding but expected as we see it continuously from the same people, over and over again.

Stop calling it the Ground Zero Mosque. It isn't one.
Stop calling it the 9/11 Mosque. It isn't one.

It is the Cordoba House, it is a cultural center and it needs to go up as planned, in the place it was planned, because our constitution not only allows it, but since we are a nation of laws, our laws say that as long as it meets the appropriate approval within the legal framework, that there is no reason to keep it from being established.

Palingates has a great post up with the tweets from the head twit herself regarding this controversy. Check it out!

Don't be afraid to stand up and speak out against this group of haters who are trying to stop this cultural center from being established at the currently planned location. The country and the world needs to know that not all of us feel the same as these loud mouthed knuckledraggers.
Make your voice heard.

Health Care Denied For September 11 Responders & How They Voted

2010-08-02T16:15:00.000-04:00

I apologise for the lack of posts the last week. I did have something that was supposed to go up but I ended up needing to find out some more information first, and then my automatic post set up didn't work. Grrrr....

I'll have much more up soon, but for now, I've been paying attention to several different things, one of which is the Health Care Bill for 9/11 responders which as you no doubt already know failed to pass.

H.R.847:
To amend the Public Health Service Act to extend and improve protections and services to individuals directly impacted by the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2010/h/491

The Official Summary of the Bill is as follows;

2/4/2009--Introduced.James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC program) to provide:

(1) medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and

(2) initial health evaluation, monitoring, and treatment benefits to residents and other building occupants and area workers who were directly impacted and adversely affected by such attacks. Requires the WTC program administrator to:

(1) implement a quality assurance program;

(2) establish the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee;

(3) establish the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Community Program Steering Committee;

(4) provide for education and outreach on services under the WTC program;

(5) provide for the uniform collection of data related to WTC-related health conditions;

(6) conduct research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11 terrorist attacks; and

(7) extend and expand arrangements with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide for the World Trade Center Health Registry. Authorizes the administrator to make grants to the Department to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks.Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to:

(1) make individuals eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 for harm as a result of debris removal; and

(2) extend the deadline for making a claim for compensation.

Here is the final vote:

Ayes: 255 (Democrat: 243; Republican: 12)
Nays: 159 (Democrat: 4; Republican: 155)
Abstained: 18 (Democrat: 7; Republican: 11)

The Democrats instituted a procedure that would allow a straight vote, with no amendments tacked onto the bill, but would require a 2/3 majority of the vote to pass.

To give you an example of how important this bill is to those responders, lets have a look at information on the health issues that have now been studied.

Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC has done an extensive program trying to detail how many got sick after 9/11 (first responders and construction workers primarily), and the number they came up with is 70% of everyone who responded down there has some form of lung ailment or cancer.

ABC News Story of Initial Findings in 2006

This is some of the final findings of the report. Of note, 8% of workers developed asthma, they're 2.3 times more likely to develop asthma later in life, and we have a higher rate of terminal cancers than the general populace.

World Trade Center Medical Monitoring &Treatment Program

This is a quote from the Mount Sinai Press Release based on the studies that had been done:

“Many who worked at Ground Zero in the early days after the attacks have sustained

serious and lasting health problems as a direct result of their exposure to the environment

there,” said Dennis Charney, Dean for Academic and Scientific Affairs, Mount Sinai School

of Medicine, which has been running a number of medical and mental health programs

serving responders since July 2002. “This study scientifically confirms high rates of

respiratory problems in a large number of responders – including construction workers, law

enforcement officers, utilities workers and public sector workers.”

Mount Sinai Medical Center Press Release

Now the Republicans, or 155 of them, along with 4 Democrats voted against this bill. There are excuses flying around as to who did or didn't do the right thing, and the Republicans wanted to be able to add amendments to the bill and have it voted on that way, which the Democrats didn't want to do.

The bottom line is and was, if the bill is good and worth having, then vote yes, if you disagree, vote no.

These are the "No" votes:

Democrats Voting 'Nay'

Rep. Melissa Bean [D, IL-8] Nay
Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1] Nay
Rep. Bobby Bright [D, AL-2] Nay
Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5] Nay

Republicans Voting 'Nay'

Rep. Robert Aderholt [R, AL-4] Nay
Rep. Rodney Alexander [R, LA-5] Nay
Rep. Steve Austria [R, OH-7] Nay
Rep. Michele Bachmann [R, MN-6] Nay
Rep. Spencer Bachus [R, AL-6] Nay
Rep. James Barrett [R, SC-3] Nay
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6] Nay
Rep. Joe Barton [R, TX-6] Nay
Rep. Judy Biggert [R, IL-13] Nay
Rep. Brian Bilbray [R, CA-50] Nay
Rep. Gus Bilirakis [R, FL-9] Nay
Rep. Rob Bishop [R, UT-1] Nay
Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R, TN-7] Nay
Rep. Roy Blunt [R, MO-7] Nay
Rep. John Boehner [R, OH-8] Nay
Rep. Jo Bonner [R, AL-1] Nay
Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R, CA-45] Nay
Rep. John Boozman [R, AR-3] Nay
Rep. Charles Boustany [R, LA-7] Nay
Rep. Kevin Brady [R, TX-8] Nay
Rep. Paul Broun [R, GA-10] Nay
Rep. Henry Brown [R, SC-1] Nay
Rep. Virginia Brown-Waite [R, FL-5] Nay
Rep. Vern Buchanan [R, FL-13] Nay
Rep. Michael Burgess [R, TX-26] Nay
Rep. Dan Burton [R, IN-5] Nay
Rep. Stephen Buyer [R, IN-4] Nay
Rep. Ken Calvert [R, CA-44] Nay
Rep. David Camp [R, MI-4] Nay
Rep. John Campbell [R, CA-48] Nay
Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7] Nay
Rep. Shelley Capito [R, WV-2] Nay
Rep. John Carter [R, TX-31] Nay
Rep. Bill Cassidy [R, LA-6] Nay
Rep. Michael Castle [R, DE-0] Nay
Rep. Jason Chaffetz [R, UT-3] Nay
Rep. Howard Coble [R, NC-6] Nay
Rep. Mike Coffman [R, CO-6] Nay
Rep. Tom Cole [R, OK-4] Nay
Rep. Michael Conaway [R, TX-11] Nay
Rep. Ander Crenshaw [R, FL-4] Nay
Rep. John Culberson [R, TX-7] Nay
Rep. Geoff Davis [R, KY-4] Nay
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R, FL-25] Nay
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R, FL-21] Nay
Rep. Charles Djou [R, HI-1] Nay
Rep. David Dreier [R, CA-26] Nay
Rep. John Duncan [R, TN-2] Nay
Rep. Vernon Ehlers [R, MI-3] Nay
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8] Nay
Rep. Mary Fallin [R, OK-5] Nay
Rep. Jeff Flake [R, AZ-6] Nay
Rep. John Fleming [R, LA-4] Nay
Rep. Randy Forbes [R, VA-4] Nay
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R, NE-1] Nay
Rep. Virginia Foxx [R, NC-5] Nay
Rep. Trent Franks [R, AZ-2] Nay
Rep. Elton Gallegly [R, CA-24] Nay
Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5] Nay
Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6] Nay
Rep. John Gingrey [R, GA-11] Nay
Rep. Louis Gohmert [R, TX-1] Nay
Rep. Robert Goodlatte [R, VA-6] Nay
Rep. Kay Granger [R, TX-12] Nay
Rep. Samuel Graves [R, MO-6] Nay
Rep. Tom Graves [R, GA-9] Nay
Rep. Ralph Hall [R, TX-4] Nay
Rep. Gregg Harper [R, MS-3] Nay
Rep. Doc Hastings [R, WA-4] Nay
Rep. Dean Heller [R, NV-2] Nay
Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R, TX-5] Nay
Rep. Walter Herger [R, CA-2] Nay
Rep. Duncan Hunter [R, CA-52] Nay
Rep. Bob Inglis [R, SC-4] Nay
Rep. Darrell Issa [R, CA-49] Nay
Rep. Lynn Jenkins [R, KS-2] Nay
Rep. Samuel Johnson [R, TX-3] Nay
Rep. Timothy Johnson [R, IL-15] Nay
Rep. Jim Jordan [R, OH-4] Nay
Rep. Steve King [R, IA-5] Nay
Rep. Jack Kingston [R, GA-1] Nay
Rep. John Kline [R, MN-2] Nay
Rep. Doug Lamborn [R, CO-5] Nay
Rep. Thomas Latham [R, IA-4] Nay
Rep. Steven LaTourette [R, OH-14] Nay
Rep. Robert Latta [R, OH-5] Nay
Rep. Christopher Lee [R, NY-26] Nay
Rep. Jerry Lewis [R, CA-41] Nay
Rep. John Linder [R, GA-7] Nay
Rep. Frank Lucas [R, OK-3] Nay
Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer [R, MO-9] Nay
Rep. Cynthia Lummis [R, WY-0] Nay
Rep. Daniel Lungren [R, CA-3] Nay
Rep. Connie Mack [R, FL-14] Nay
Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16] Nay
Rep. Kenny Marchant [R, TX-24] Nay
Rep. Michael McCaul [R, TX-10] Nay
Rep. Tom McClintock [R, CA-4] Nay
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11] Nay
Rep. Patrick McHenry [R, NC-10] Nay
Rep. Howard McKeon [R, CA-25] Nay
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R, WA-5] Nay
Rep. John Mica [R, FL-7] Nay
Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1] Nay
Rep. Gary Miller [R, CA-42] Nay
Rep. Sue Myrick [R, NC-9] Nay
Rep. Randy Neugebauer [R, TX-19] Nay
Rep. Devin Nunes [R, CA-21] Nay
Rep. Pete Olson [R, TX-22] Nay
Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14] Nay
Rep. Erik Paulsen [R, MN-3] Nay
Rep. Mike Pence [R, IN-6] Nay
Rep. Thomas Petri [R, WI-6] Nay
Rep. Joseph Pitts [R, PA-16] Nay
Rep. Todd Platts [R, PA-19] Nay
Rep. Ted Poe [R, TX-2] Nay
Rep. Bill Posey [R, FL-15] Nay
Rep. Tom Price [R, GA-6] Nay
Rep. Adam Putnam [R, FL-12] Nay
Rep. Dennis Rehberg [R, MT-0] Nay
Rep. Dave Reichert [R, WA-8] Nay
Rep. Phil Roe [R, TN-1] Nay
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, MI-8] Nay
Rep. Harold Rogers [R, KY-5] Nay
Rep. Michael Rogers [R, AL-3] Nay
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R, CA-46] Nay
Rep. Thomas Rooney [R, FL-16] Nay
Rep. Peter Roskam [R, IL-6] Nay
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18] Nay
Rep. Edward Royce [R, CA-40] Nay
Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1] Nay
Rep. Steve Scalise [R, LA-1] Nay
Rep. Jean Schmidt [R, OH-2] Nay
Rep. Aaron Schock [R, IL-18] Nay
Rep. James Sensenbrenner [R, WI-5] Nay
Rep. Peter Sessions [R, TX-32] Nay
Rep. John Shimkus [R, IL-19] Nay
Rep. William Shuster [R, PA-9] Nay
Rep. Michael Simpson [R, ID-2] Nay
Rep. Lamar Smith [R, TX-21] Nay
Rep. Adrian Smith [R, NE-3] Nay
Rep. Clifford Stearns [R, FL-6] Nay
Rep. John Sullivan [R, OK-1] Nay
Rep. Lee Terry [R, NE-2] Nay
Rep. Glenn Thompson [R, PA-5] Nay
Rep. William Thornberry [R, TX-13] Nay
Rep. Patrick Tiberi [R, OH-12] Nay
Rep. Michael Turner [R, OH-3] Nay
Rep. Frederick Upton [R, MI-6] Nay
Rep. Greg Walden [R, OR-2] Nay
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland [R, GA-3] Nay
Rep. Edward Whitfield [R, KY-1] Nay
Rep. Addison Wilson [R, SC-2] Nay
Rep. Rob Wittman [R, VA-1] Nay
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10] Nay

Now an important point in all of this is to remember this key component of the bill:

It was completely paid for by closing a tax loophole that allowed multinational corporations incorporated in tax havens to avoid paying taxes on money earned on U.S. soil.

Republicans wanted to attach amendments that would, among other things, extend the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% of Americans. This would have made the bill no longer budget neutral.

So 155 Republicans & 4 Democrats VOTED NO on this bill.

Playing politics with hero's lives is disgusting and we all should make sure that they are not be allowed to forget it.

Tropical Storm Bonnie & The Oil Spill

2010-07-24T06:37:00.000-04:00

Right now, "Bonnie" has been downgraded to a Tropical Depression, which means that it that its sustained winds are 39 miles an hour or lower. It is expected to gain some momentum in the gulf waters but not much. As it stands now, it is only expected to get back up to a Tropical Storm strength.

Here is the predicted landfall route:

Now as it stands right now this is going to take it if not directly over the Oil Spill, it will encompass enough of it for us to consider it a direct hit.

So what does that mean? Well it will most certainly push a lot of oil ashore, so we can expect to see and hear more of that information, but the waters will be agitated due to the wave action which will break up some of the sheets of oil as well.

Based on what I have read, the storm is expected to come ashore in Louisiana at around 9 pm tonight. That is good news as it is near the low tide time frame will result in less oil entering the marshlands.

This is the anticipated locations of the oil impact from Bonnie, the predictions are from NOAA.

Now a lot of things can happen, but Jeff Masters of Weather Underground posted last night (with an expected update on things this morning) that he gave Bonnie a 30% chance of dissipating over the gulf before it even reaches land due to some specific weather patterns.

Now we know that all work in the Gulf with regards to the oil spill has been suspended due to this storm, which while understandable, makes many concerned about the fact that there is no way to observe what is going on. There were reports that at least one if not 2 ROV's would be the last out and first in after the storm so that as little time as possible was spent without a picture of what was going on. Originally the plan was to unseal the cap and allow the oil to flow into the water again while everyone in the area evacuated, since there would be no way to monitor the site, but they have now decided to take the "chance" and leave the cap in place and unmonitored. This is a gamble because it risks a catastrophic problem arising with no one around to be able to respond, for days, if something should happen. I think it is a small gamble as they have been watching this cap in place for a week now and nothing has happened. Right now it is a wait and see situation, but I think we can all be thankful that this storm isn't worse and has been limited to the Tropical Depression/Storm category rather than ramping up into a Hurricane which would be much more problematic for everyone.

One last look at the most current "Wundermap" from Weather Underground. On this map I have included the forecast track for Bonnie, along with the Radar so you can see where the worst of the weather is headed.

Weather Underground

Just for future reference, if you would like to go to Weather Underground, use the above link, and then when the homepage opens, you will see this at the top of the page:

I've put arrows to the sites that I use, which is the "Wundermaps" and Dr. Jeff Masters Blog, which he updates regularly with explanations on all storms.

The Dangerous Nature Of Sarah Palin's Lies & Hateful Rhetoric

2010-07-22T10:18:00.001-04:00

Sarah Palin has been discussed lately due to her tweets, with her comments on the Mosque/Community Center being set up 2 blocks away from Ground Zero.

She has taken this a step further now with a post on her facebook page which shows that she is deliberately fanning the flames of religious intolerance as well as deliberately misinforming her adoring fans about the truth of what is going on.

This is the post she made:

An Intolerable Mistake on Hallowed Ground

Earlier today, Mayor Bloomberg responded to my comments about the planned mosque at Ground Zero by suggesting that a decision not to allow the building of a mosque at that sacred place would somehow violate American principles of tolerance and openness.

No one is disputing that America stands for – and should stand for – religious tolerance. It is a foundation of our republic. This is not an issue of religious tolerance but of common moral sense. To build a mosque at Ground Zero is a stab in the heart of the families of the innocent victims of those horrific attacks. Just days after 9/11, the spiritual leader of the organization that wants to build the mosque, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, suggested that blame be placed on the innocents when he stated that the “United States’ policies were an accessory to the crime that happened” and that “in the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the USA.” Rauf refuses to recognize that Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of our ally, Israel, and refuses to provide information about the sources of funding for the $100 million mosque. Rauf also plays a key role in a group behind the flotilla designed to provoke Israel in its justifiable blockade of Gaza. These are just a few of the points Americans are realizing as New York considers the proposed mosque just a stone’s throw away from 9/11’s sacred ground.

I agree with the sister of one of the 9/11 victims (and a New York resident) who said: “This is a place which is 600 feet from where almost 3,000 people were torn to pieces by Islamic extremists. I think that it is incredibly insensitive and audacious really for them to build a mosque, not only on that site, but to do it specifically so that they could be in proximity to where that atrocity happened.”

Many Americans, myself included, feel it would be an intolerable and tragic mistake to allow such a project sponsored by such an individual to go forward on such hallowed ground. This is nothing close to “religious intolerance,” it’s just common decency.

- Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Facebook Notes Page

First of all, lets dispel some of the misinformation. Cordoba House is NOT, I repeat NOT "at Ground Zero" as Sarah and her ghostwriter would have you believe. This is a map showing the location of the structure in relation to Ground Zero:

This next picture is from Google Maps and I have placed a red box around the area that the Cordoba House is going to be located and you can see it in relation to where Ground Zero actually is.

Now lets address this "building a mosque" claim.

This is not a building being erected, but a renovation of a building that is already in place. This building will be named "Cordoba House" and will include many many more things than just a prayer center, which by the way is already in place and being used regularly.

Cordoba House is a Muslim-led project which will build a world-class facility that promotes tolerance, reflecting the rich diversity of New York City. The center will be community-driven, serving as a platform for inter-community gatherings and cooperation at all levels, providing a space for all New Yorkers to enjoy.

This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all.

The site will contain tremendous amounts of resources that otherwise would not exist in Lower Manhattan; a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, art exhibition spaces, bookstores, restaurants - all these services would form a cultural nexus for a region of New York City that, as it continues to grow, requires the sort of hub that Cordoba House will provide.

The Cordoba House Project

No one in this community has any illusions about the dangers we face in this world. We lived through the attacks of 9/11 and years of rebuilding. Many of us responded that day and afterwards – including dozens of members of Imam Rauf’s congregation. Our neighbors at Sufi Books (now Dergah Al-Farah), which has been on West Broadway since 1983, responded immediately and passionately in our neighborhood’s and our country’s defense – by helping to save lives at the site of the attack and by immediately condemning the terrorists and their cause. Rauf recently described his mission as to “embolden the vast majority of Muslims who hate terrorism to stand up to the radical rhetoric” and to “interweave America’s Muslim population into the mainstream society.”

When Ms. Grillo leads tours as a docent for the 9/11 Tribute Center, she asks visitors from all over the world to focus on the word “tolerance.” What better place to teach tolerance than near the site where hate tried to kill it?

A Tradition of Tolerance: Welcoming Cordoba House

Now just for a bit of a refresher, lets revisit the 1st Amendment to the Constitution shall we? You know that pesky document that Sarah Palin keeps demanding we stick to when she feels she has another rant coming on?

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law "respecting an establishment of religion", impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Seems to me that Sarah Palin and those opposed to this Community Center are trying to impede the free exercise of religion by demanding that this place not be allowed to go forward, and they are also interfering with the right to peaceably assemble by demanding that this community center be moved to a different location simply because they dislike the specific religious beliefs of those who are going to be using the prayer center.

It has been nearly 9 years since the September 11 Attack on this country. How long is long enough to begin healing? How far enough away would it be acceptable to establish this community center in order to make people like Sarah Palin happy? Does Sarah Palin and her facebook ghostwriter know how many Muslims were killed on September 11th? Do they even care?

Americans were killed along with people from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, El Salvador, Germany, Grenada, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom. People of various ages ranging from 2 up to 85 years old. This was a world tragedy not just an American one. Yes, it happened on American soil, and yes it was directed at American, but we were not the only ones who lost people on that tragic day. People from all backgrounds were killed on that day.

There is so much involved in this subject that we could go on for days discussing it, but the main thrust of this post is supposed to be about getting the facts out there, and showing the dangerous attitude of the people who are supporting the misinformation that Sarah Palin and those like her are distributing in the name of politics or personal bigotry.

How are people reacting to her facebook note? Good question, and I have some answers. It isn't pretty. Not pretty at all and it shows how she stirs anger and is quite happy to do it as we've seen from the many incidents where she has sought to divide people in this country.

Those are just two screenshots of the comments made. At this moment there are 2,884 comments and a majority of them are like what I have show with the screen shots.

Here are a few more that I copied earlier...

Steve Walther
Absolutely unbelievable. Thats nothing less than outright provocation.21 minutes ago

Camille Troy
Mayor Bloomberg is very accomplished. He may not be my favorite Mayor but you cannot argue w/ success. His religious faith is glorified by showing tolerance to others IMO.19 minutes ago

Rich Fitzgerald
symbolism is a huge part of islamic extremist thinking. building it at ground zero is a symbol of their success in beating the infidel..
wake up liberals !!19 minutes ago
Christine Lesko
Mayor Bloomberg , Are you reading these? For no amout of money should the city allow this to happen. This is 9-11 all over again.18 minutes ago

Leslie Miller
this in NOT tolerance and openness in the manner in which brings peace. the peace is false and those who are allowed to build such things are hoping we keep on being tolerant and open so as to destroy America.17 minutes ago

David Swift
The goal of the muslim world to to destroy the world. They can't do it they can't do it by war, so they WILL do it with the ballot box.17 minutes ago

Theodore Hoak
Sarah, You tell it like it is, and Patriotic Americans support you. This is a definite in your face America attempt, especially since their plans also include opening this on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. How any Real American can support this is beyond me. Haven't enough Americans fought and died for this country to show the Liberal ...See More17 minutes ago

Kimi Perkins O'Dell
It just shows you the intolerance of extreme Muslims. Not putting them all in one basket, mind you, as there are some peace loving Muslims I know personally. Is the world so small that there is NO other location to build their mosque? They feel it necessary to minimize the event, forget the anquish and the pain and overlook what was one event ... See More17 minutes ago

Pattie Coker Holt
he must be a liberal. get him out of office16 minutes ago

John Davis
they should never build this anyway near ground zero period. to many lives lost. scared ground for christian's16 minutes ago

Steven Thomas
Bloomberg a BLOOMING IDIOT!!!! Can't he see those radicals want to take over this country!!! When will they wake up!!!!16 minutes ago

Cathy Ashby
Perhaps we should also allow a floating sushi bar over the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor16 minutes ago

Mark Adams
New York City is one of the most liberal areas in the country. However, even a majority of New York City voters agree with Governor Palin on the mosque
New York City voters oppose 52 - 31 percent a proposal by a Muslim group to build a mosque and cultural center two blocks from Ground Zero, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Another 17 percent are undecided.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1302.xml?ReleaseID=147315 minutes ago

David Bower
It is nothing less than a monument to their victory.15 minutes ago ·  1 person

Cindy Bevington Olmstead
Whatever happened to old-fashioned consideration and respect? If this religion is truly anti-violence, why don't they say, hey, a terrible thing connected with our religion happened here, and we don't want to rub salt in the wound, so out of respect for those who died, we will NOT build a mosque, but rather will find a place that doesn't cause irritation? Now THAT would show that their religion truly does respect others and denounce violence.15 minutes ago ·  1 person

Jenny Maria Moiser Heinzen
You don't see the U.S.A putting up statues of Busch in Iraq to replace the Saddam Hussein ones that were torn down....15 minutes ago

Liberty Force
Patriots, It is time to take back our country! Join us at Liberty Force.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12058120131801014 minutes ago ·  1 person

Mary Roosa
The most disturbing thing is that nobody is listening to the families of 9/11 victims! It is just common decency and "political correctness" is killing us!14 minutes ago

Camille Troy
LOL A Guiliani - Bloomberg showdown? You mean Mister "NOUN+VERB 9/11" Guiliani? As I said :

election year ? CHECK!

politicizing 9/11? CHECK!... See More14 minutes ago

Nancy Taul Howey
I wonder what he would have said if some one had suggested building a Baptist church there?13 minutes ago

Rafael Gomez
Sarah, come on! You cant really be serious (or disingenuous). There were many Muslims who died on 9/11 too. Moreover, the terrorist attacks on 9/11 are not a reflection of Islam anymore than the dropping of the Atom Bomb was a reflection of Baptist love towards the Japanese :)13 minutes ago

Judie Tracy
wow...13 minutes ago

Theresa Woltmann- Silvestri
Politicians have NO common decency!!!! Its all about THEM.12 minutes ago

Don LaBanca
If the city of New York, specifically Mayor Bloomberg, had any balls, they'd take the site of the proposed mosque by eminent domain and put an end to this crap once and for all. NO mosque, NO way, NO how, Not NOW not EVER12 minutes ago

Mary Manley
This tells who we are as a nation. I think that we need to look at this with common sense. What has tolerance and openness led to?12 minutes ago

Karin Berryman
How disgusting for those who died and their families. The suicide bombers may have had the excuse of being brainwashed, but what is Bloomberg's?12 minutes ago

Dan Combs
This Is a country founded partly on religious tolerance; the founding fathers wanted everyone to be able to chose their own form of Christiamity, not be forced to worship at a state church. The Muslim religion did not enter into the picture. Similarly, Americans should not have to tolerate the religion of another tried and tested, violent culture... See More12 minutes ago

Camille Troy
Forget 9/11??? If you bring up Saddam Hussein and Iraq I'll wager you don't KNOW anything to FORGET! Sheesh!12 minutes ago

Doug Mataconis
That sound you here is the death of the First Amendment, property rights, and religious tolerance.

Nice job there12 minutes ago

Mary Urscheler Moïse
This is NOT religious tolerance! THIS IS RADICAL ISLAM MAKING A HUGE STATEMENT! WAKE UP AMERICA!11 minutes ago ·  1 person

Debra Luptak
Thank you Sarah for keeping it "real"...this is absolutely insane that ANY American would even consider this mosque to be built on or near ground zero...what a slap in the face...are we that gullible...wow. My heart breaks for the families of those who innocently died on 9/11 and this is just a stab in the back and will be a constant reminder...May God's will be done here!11 minutes ago

Shelly Young Bird
I totally agree! And I also say, "Palin for President!!"10 minutes ago

Ron Kreitzer
got some dam nerve putting it at ground zero.....just a place for them to plan another 9/11....America is so gullable.....10 minutes ago

Steve Dia
What a huge insult that would be to our country. We Americans had better wake up and very soon or this will no longer be the land of the free. We are in need of a new governing party and ideals.10 minutes ago

Donna Jacobson
Remember people, Bloomberg is the one that literally wrote himself in for mayor for there terms when the term for every other mayor is two.

Also, I lost my cousin, a firefighter, on 9/11 and the last thing I want to see next to the place he gave his life is ANYTHING Muslim.9 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile

Daniel Gokie
Thank you for bringing up the topic.8 minutes ago

Penny Rogers
When are people going to stop this movement.... Please listen to the 9-11 ,family"s. It's disrespectful to them and the United States... It seem's you have to be policalty correct anymore. I would just like to throw up on this administration!!!!!! Enough is enough!!!!!!!8 minutes ago

Camille Troy
Donna Jacobson-
I am deeply sorry for your loss.8 minutes ago

Gloria Legorreta Anderson
This building in NY is just to flaunt in the face of Americans a "victory" of sorts. No different than the building of the Dome of the Rock in Jerasalem where Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.8 minutes ago

Lena BattleCat Pullum
I dont care one shit about these damn Muslims and their feelings in regard this Mosque! i am sick to my stomach with these ppl trying to FORCE their religion, their veiws and their so-called ethics down the throats of American society and they R doing it on our own soil! Poor us! Our politicians R kissing the asses of these religious fanatics because they R scared 2 death that they may begin their efforts AGAIN, 2 murder more americans!8 minutes ago ·  1 person

Carol Anderson McKinney
Amen sister!! This is a slow and steay infiltration of our country and an insult to the victims, their families, the emergency workers twho gave their lives, the children who are growing up without a mom or dad or grandparent! THINK about them more then appeasing a group of people who would glady wipe us off the face of the map given the chance!7 minutes ago

Edi Saddlemire
HUH ???7 minutes ago

Michael Santa Cruz
?@Mark Adams:
http://weeklystandard.com/articles/mosque-grows-near-brooklyn
The author of that article is a Muslim centrist with obvious expertise on the subject, but if you read very carefully, you will see that the links to radical Islam are fairly spurious. To summarize: Raum served in an nonprofit with the former director of a questionable ... See More6 minutes ago

Kurt Nielsen
That is the Hopey,Changey type pf crap that will end up destroying us....If you "Go with the flow" in a river you will drown eventually..we must STAND against this.......religious freedom is one thing being ...allowing the muslims to use that part of our sacred "Bill of Rights" to spit in our eye and rub our noses in it is another..akin to the ...See More6 minutes ago

Kerry Burak
what a freakin ridiculous idea.. a mosque at ground zero? what they hell are these people thinking? what it does is violates all laws of common sense. not to mention the fact of insulting those that died that day. it has NOTHING to do with First Amendment. If they want to build a mosque.. let them.(i believe in freedom to choose ones own religion). but somewhere else other than ground zero.6 minutes ago

Rich Shull
What a freakin retarded anti american government we have going on. I am ashamed of america. I really think the senators and congress need stop, re-evaluate, take a look at where they think it will honestly go, and correct it.5 minutes ago

Shirley Beckman
What were they thinking?5 minutes ago

Leo Torrez
I would like to see Sarah and Jan Brewer on the ticket! Out with idiots Nobama, and Biden......and take Bloomberg with them...I am christian, my friend is Muslim, my family Catholic and Jewish....WE ALL SAY STOP THE MOSQUE.... SARAH and JAN "because they can!"4 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile

Rita Siller
Someone has got to stop this madness! This was Bloomberg's reply to a recent email asking him to stop the mosque:
Last month, the local community board voted by an overwhelming margin (29-1) to endorse the project.
Time to get rid of him and the entire local community board!4 minutes ago

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I Refreshed Page to see more comments:
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Ronald Twyman
It is time we stop leting this Antichrist politics go unchecked and stand up for and return to our religious rights, befor it is to late to save our children!14 minutes ago ·  1 person

Luanne Buege
what are they thinking - oh that's right - they forgot how13 minutes ago

Don Evans Rafael:
The killing of other Muslims makes no difference to Islam as long as the intent is towards the "Infidels". "...terrorist attacks on 9/11 are not a reflection of Islam"? What an ignorant statement!13 minutes ago

Karen Jalaba
Where is our government when we need them???????12 minutes ago

Christine Kingsbury
It makes no difference what we do when dealing with these religious fanatics that are a kickback from thousands of years ago. This is an instance where we are damned if we do and we are damned if we don't. They will not appreciate the concession of the American people if we "tolerate" the building of an Islamic Mosque on a piece of land that has ... See More12 minutes ago

Jesse Pettyjohn Jr.
Bloomgerg is an IDIOT,who would have never been elected if he did not have his own money. I live in NJ,I saw those buildings fall.I lost some people I know ,that day.It is not tolerance that should come from us but what should come from us is anger for the nerve of these maggots(Bloomberg included)that they give us another sucker punch.12 minutes ago

Andy Tackett
no the building of one shows the intolerance of the muslims wanting to build there bloomberg is dead wrong and the last pole of new yorkers was at 52% not wanting it there so why does the majority not get heard 12 minutes ago

Terri Murray
I would think so 11 minutes ago

Willis W Mahan
Like Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 11 minutes ago

Karin Berryman
I only saw this outrage 5 mins ago and the other thing is ; What does this kind of thing do for your soldiers, for those battling with tragic memories I would think this would be outright dangerous! Whoever gives the ok for this can be sued in my book!10 minutes ago

Homer Cantrell
Religious tolerance has absolutely nothing to do with Terrorist Organizations wanting to build a trophy mosque at the site of the worst terrorist act commited on OUR land. The Obama Admisistration would do well to tell these people: "NO WAY are you going to build a mosque on that site." However, we all know our secret Muslim so-called President will just sit back and let it happen.10 minutes ago

Jean Pierre Wilding
There should be no problem in banning building it. It amounts to a hate crime, and if anything does not promote unity and is not PC. Even if you believe in that nonsense. God bless America - start praying for a miracle.9 minutes ago via Facebook Mobile

Carolyn Adams
Why not just make Ground Zero a memorial park and let it alone. There are still enough spirits to make it sad but beautiful. Because anything that is chosen would be out of place. Any cemetery is both sad but yet beautiful. Sometimes it is hard to go there but once you do you feel better.9 minutes ago

Patrice Benner-Dick
Sarah, thank you for being the voice of so many Americans who feel the same way but are powerless to be heard.9 minutes ago ·  1 person

Bobby Vergis
In the history of Islam, mosques have been built on the sacred ground of countries or cities they have conquered. This is not an issue of religion, but of this imam wanting to make a statement of how muslims have conquered America.

Besides that; the design of their mosque is just a loud obnoxious statememnt in and of itself, just yards from the ... See More9 minutes ago

Ralph Edward Benner
WE ARE TO BLESS AND CURSE NOT. Why? Because God said, Vengeance is mine-I will repay. We are to show LOVE at all times. Why? Because perhaps you will win a friend who once was an enemy. If not, you heap coals of fire on the enemys' head(s) Why?Why?Why? Blessing, Cursing, Loving are all boomerangs-If they do not strike the target they all come home to the sender.9 minutes ago

Esther Zeigler Burns
The problem is the assumption that everyone thinks alike. The Mosque at ground zero will be seen as marker of a heroic victory over the great Satan. I mean, liberals hate themselves to the point they like being debased and debasing their country....Bloomberg must have a closet full of BDSM gear then.8 minutes ago

John Sutherland
Sarah, I'm sure you understand that the progressives and the communists in our midst intend to completely destroy our Judeo/Christian American culture. They mean to bring us down. Don't expect fair fights or honest debates - they lie, cheat, and steal to get their way. But they are America haters 100%. It never occurred to me that success would... See More8 minutes ago

Carol Anderson McKinney
good video explaining what this is all about!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFzFIDbKpg&feature=player_embedded8 minutes ago ·  1 person

Debi Fitts
Amen Sarah....we know what their agenda is.8 minutes ago

Ricky Abel
Bloomberg is a douche7 minutes ago ·  1 person

Lisa Horn Brichetto
It really is just about common decency, something so many Americans just don't have anymore. Thank you Sarah for speaking out about this.6 minutes ago

Becky Lew- Hobbs
Sarah - thank you stating what so many of us agree with. Ground zero should be a memorial and not a religious statement.6 minutes ago

Duwayne Rains
Never EVER let this happen America! This is a slap in the face to all Americans! Why do we continue to let the minority rule? To the Mayor and everybody else in NY, get a little backbone and stand up for once!5 minutes ago ·  2 people

Rick Gallagher
B.S. A mosque at ground zero is a slap in the face to Americans!5 minutes ago

Cheryl Hannan Nashatka
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice! But terror will come on the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time."
4 minutes ago

Scott Tucker
I agree with Bloomberg.
Shut up. Go home.
Become obscure again.3 minutes ago

Stu Ballenger
If anyone needs a volunteer to fly a plane into it once its built...hit me up..3 minutes ago

Joe Starbuck
Oh, forgot one more thing: did you see the President walking to his plane? He was carrying a book called "Post America" written by a Muslim. Some say, "Maybe he's trying to get more insight to deal with sensitive issues." I'm not buying this angle because too many of his recent decisions have been pro-Muslim and anti-Christian, anti-Constitution. I... See More3 minutes ago

Christy Foster
I can't believe this is happening?? WHY would we allow this to happen?? I am with Duwayne have a little backbone and stand up to these people... Did Americans forget what happened that day and who did it???3 minutes ago

Richie Diaz
Go Sarah. Always willing to step up to the Plate and take a swing, for the American people.2 minutes ago

Lena BattleCat Pullum
THE ANTICHRIST, 4 THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS, IS AT WORK AND HE HAS THIS NATION AND IT'S POLITICANS SNOWBLIND TO THE FACTS OF LIFE AND THE REALITY OF OUR PRESENT SITUATION! I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINING OF A MORE SINISTER FUTURE FOR US! GOD HELP US!2 minutes ago

Vicki Conard
Thank you Sarah Palin for bringing this to our attention. Maybe with your contacts you can help stop this. It would be nice to see that you can push through all the red tape and have this dumped out of New York! This is definitely an eye opener.about a minute ago

So as is obvious there is a lot of hate, misinformation and dangerous attitudes among Sarah's followers. The anger displayed toward individuals who have a different belief system than they do is plainly evident and exceptionally frightening. To believe that Muslims are all bad, or that this Community center is some kind of dangerous place or disrespectful slap in the face to those who died is a joke, but sadly one that is becoming more and more popular with a select group of citizens.

How sad that this is what so many feel, when they themselves are likely to cry foul if someone tried to trample on their right to free religious expression.

What better place to teach tolerance than near the site where hate tried to kill it?

That comment stands out for me.

Sarah Palin could have taken this opportunity and used it to show herself to be a true Christian, and instead she went down the opposite path. She could have shown herself to be supportive of the Constitution like she professes herself to be, but again that is not the path she wanted to take.

I am not surprised by the behavior she displays and encourages in people, but I am saddened by it. I have been paying close attention to her for what feels like an eternity but in reality is has only been a few years. In those few years, I have watched her lash out, encourage rage and anger in her supporters, lie, deliberately misrepresent, and bilk people out of money, and all of it to feed her own ego, and to become a celebutaunt on the national stage.

She is a dangerous person and one who should not be ignored, as she will do everything in her power to continue to encourage dangerous behavior from as many people as she can. That is what she does and it is who she is. Sadly she has conned a lot of good decent people into believing her, but I am always hopeful that people will finally remove the blinders from their eyes and simply look at the facts which show how shallow, egotistical, and narcissistic her behavior is.

More examples of those fans of Sarah Palin and her viewpoints.

A disgusting ad celebrated by Conservatives4Palin:

"The audacity of jihad." Real subtle. But you see here the neo-fascist, civilization-war rhetoric that Palin will deploy more and more crudely as she moves toward the White House.

Andrew Sullivan The Daily Dish “They”

-Check out this awesome ad on the mosque issue from National Republican Trust.
By Ian Lazaran

Conservatives4Palin; Georgia Elections Open Thread

Despite its name, the National Republican Trust has no formal connection to the Republican Party. It is an independent group with ties to the conservative Web site Newsmax.
FactCheck.org

Another article leads us to further information about this group and its founder:

Scott Wheeler is at it again. As before, the following fundraising email has not been edited:

Dear National Republican Trust Supporter:

How do you feel about leather-clad, baton-wielding New Black Panthers "patrolling" your local polling place? Or the planting of a monstrous 13-story mosque at Ground Zero? What about NASA's Muslim outreach...the NAACP's race-fueled assault on the Tea Party...and Jeremiah Wright's enduring influence over Barrack Obama? Worrisome, yes. Outrageous, even. But random, isolated incidents? Not a chance.

We are developing an investigation that will demonstrate these events are calculated elements of a grand and poisonous strategy to divide, dispirit, and diminish The Left's political adversaries. In other words, you and me.

Big Media just rendered their verdict on our campaign by refusing to run our Mosque Ad.

IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED OUR POWERFUL TELEVISION AD THAT

WILL KILL THE GROUND ZERO MOSQUE. PLEASE WATCH IT HERE!

NBC and CBS refuse to run this ad. They think they have a monopoly on your news consumption. Let's prove them wrong.

They don't mind running the radical left wing Moveon.org ads, but they won't run this one. You might have heard about Big Media's shameful actions last night on the O'Reilly Factor.

You can help us blow through their barrier with the truth! If we can raise enough money, we will post this ad on the Drudge Report, the most widely viewed website in the world. From there, it will go viral, reaching millions of Americans, and killing the plans to erect this disgraceful mosque!

GO HERE TO JOIN THE FIGHT, AND SIGNAL TO BIG MEDIA

THEIR NEWS MONOPOLY HAS ENDED!

Please forward this message to all of your friends and family!

Together, we'll make sure every American is aware of this despicable plot.

We can defeat the censors and kill the mosque, if all those reading this email will donate. This must be a team effort. We all must pitch in. Anyone who donates $100 dollars or more we will receive an autographed copy of Shadow Government: What Obama Doesn't Want You to Know About His Czars.

This disgraceful Mosque project cannot go forward. We owe it to the 3,000 Americans slaughtered on 9/11 to ensure this project of hate is stopped immediately.

We can do it, but we desperately need your help with this campaign. The media may refuse to cover this project, and even work to silence our voice, but together, we can expose this outrage and broadcast it into the living rooms of every proud American.

Please consider an investment of $250, $100, $50 or $25. And Please know that no contribution is too small. Together, we suffered on that horrific September day; united, we will fight to honor and protect our fallen by stopping this disgusting effort.

This Ad campaign and our ongoing investigation will ensure that we are victorious. We will kill the Ground Zero Mosque.

We cannot let these terrorists build a shrine on the ground where they cowardly attacked innocent Americans on 9/11. GO HERE TO JOIN THE FIGHT!

Yours for America,

Scott Wheeler,

Executive Director

[Link: www.GOPTrust.com...]

Note Wheelers ranting about a conspiracy trying to bury the truth and silence him and his talk of exposing it. That's how totalitarians talk.

Scott Wheeler Falls Off The Conspiracy Nut Tree & Hits Every Branch On The Way Down

Now I had previously put up photographs of the site of this Community Center (and make no mistake that is what it is) showing it in relation to where Ground Zero is, but for a better understanding of what the location looks like and to show that this isn't going to be a Mosque like the above video is trying to imply it will be, you must remember that this is not a new building going up. It is a building in place that is simply being renovated to use for the Community Center. This center will have bookstores, restaurants, a swimming pool, and many other things.
This is a picture of the street where this Community Center will be located:

Not quite the way it is pictured
in the video is it?

This is what is in the video and what these people would have you believe that this Community Center will look like..

If they are going to continue to claim that this "Mosque is being built at Ground Zero", which we have now proven to be two separate and distinct lies, (it is a building that is being renovated & it is not at Ground Zero) then you have to ask yourself, what else are they willing to lie about? The answer to that is ..whatever they want to lie about in order to scare people and use that fear to bring in support both emotional and financial.

They certainly aren't going to tell people that this center is housing much more than a prayer room (which is already being used) because that would seem much more reasonable and not so frightening to people who are already leery of those who are "different".

What is so frightening and damaging to the community about restaurants, bookstores, swimming pools, art exhibitions and worship groups? Nothing about those things are frightening at all to reasonable people so that is why they aren't mentioned, and that is why this is being labeled a Mosque instead of a Community Center.

I had been trying to write a conclusion to this piece and had rewritten it several times when I noticed someone had linked to this article by Jeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic who wrote a wonderful piece titled "Why Sarah Palin Endangers American National Security (and Israel's, as Well)"

On the second point, the danger she poses to America -- and specifically, to American national security -- Palin has this week argued vociferously against the building of a mosque near the site of Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. She calls the idea of a mosque there a provocation. But it is her opposition to the building of a mosque that is provocative. The organization that hopes to build the mosque, the Cordoba Initiative, is a moderate Muslim group, striving for better relations between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. It is in the direct interest of American national security to strengthen those groups that argue against Islamism. Palin's opposition to the mosque -- and by extension, to the enfranchisement of moderate Muslims -- is a gift to Islamists, proof to their potential followers that America is as intolerant of Islam as Europe is, proof that it is America, not Islam, that wants to see our civilizations clash. We as a society should embrace those Muslims who want to live the American dream; their lives, as free, devout and proud Muslims in a diverse country, are a refutation of the radical notion that the West is forever aligned against the interests of Muslim believers. Opposing the building of mosques by anti-jihadist Muslim groups in this country is perhaps the best way to radicalize American Muslims not otherwise prone to radicalization.

It is true that this country is home to a non-insignificant number of already-radicalized Muslims. There's no point in denying that. But there's a war on -- a clash within a civilization -- and we can affect the outcome of this war by embracing those Muslims who are ready and willing to live in our multi-confessional country, while fighting those who violently oppose American values. Sarah Palin, from what I see so far, views Islam as a monolith, and because of this view, she argues for policies that could do severe damage to American national security. This is a complicated war we're in, and Sarah Palin is, by the evidence at hand, dangerously simple-minded.

Jeffery Goldberg @ The Atlantic
(H/T to drpatois at palingates.blogspot.com for the link)

I agree with his conclusion as it was what I was trying to put into word. She is more than just simple-minded, she is willing to take on any cause if she thinks it will keep her in the news, and she doesn't care about what the issue is, nor does she care to understand the issue. For Sarah it has always been about making noise and riling up her supporters in whatever way she can.

There is no doubt that there are people in the world who want to do harm to others and they will always find a reason to do so in their own warped minds, but we should not be playing into their hands and into their deliberately misinformed viewpoints by ensuring that their supporters are seeing us act out in the ways that these terrorists claim we will and do. Sarah Palin and those who blindly follow her are dangerous to this country for the simple reason that they seek to divide us, which weakens us in many different ways, on many different fronts.

We will never completely eradicate terrorism. There will always be those who seek power through intimidation and fear, but we can fight it, and we only lose to them if we allow ourselves to change who we are and what we do out of fear and intimidation.

Oil Spill News

2010-07-22T05:48:00.000-04:00

Oil spill found in field inside AK wildlife refuge

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) - An estimated 630 gallons of oil have spilled in a pipeline corridor on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in south-central Alaska.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says a survey crew discovered the spill in the Swanson River Oil Field Tuesday. Chevron notified authorities and shut down its active crude line in the area.
KTUU Reports

Reports like this one is why we need to rethink drilling here in the United States, whether is on land or in the sea. This particular incident is not the first nor will it be the last of these "accidental spills" and we have either got to find a way to stop this from happening or stop the drilling.

Judge halts oil, gas development on Chukchi Sea

NCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal judge in Anchorage has blocked federal offshore oil drilling leases in the Chukchi Sea. Oil companies may be disappointed, but some villages on the North Slope and environmental groups call Wednesday's decision a victory.

U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline's ruling -- that the federal government failed to follow environmental law when it granted billions of dollars in leases in the Chukchi Sea -- isn't the final decision in the matter, but it could have major impacts on future drilling in the area.

"While the ruling is disappointing, the judge did not vacate the lease sale," said Shell Oil spokesperson Curtis Smith.

The decision is seen as a win for the environmental groups and villages on the North Slope who sued, saying not enough scientific research on drilling in the area has been completed.

"There are some places we need to protect that are too important to drill in," said Carole Holley with Pacific Environment. "People are paying $10 a gallon for milk -- how are they supposed to have the resources in place to do a search-and-rescue operation if people are killed on an exploratory rig? Nothing is in place to take care of a spill of this sort in the Arctic."

KTUU

Florida Updates July 21 2010

Current Situation:

Florida beaches are open.

Currently Deepwater Horizon is not discharging any oil into the Gulf of Mexico. BP well integrity testing is ongoing and active monitoring continues. Progress continues on the two relief wells.

This event has been designated a Spill of National Significance.

Unified Area Command continues with a comprehensive oil well intervention andspill response planning following the April 22 sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans.

More than 42,500 personnel are working the on and offshore response.
Oil-water mix recovered: nearly 34.5 million gallons.
Response vessels available: more than 6,491
Response aircraft available: 120
Dispersant: more than 1.84 million gallons deployed.
There is no planned use of dispersants in Florida waters.
Florida Specific:

FDEP announced the removal of supplemental Tier 3 boom within the next 72 to 96 hours in the Panhandle counties in light of potential tropical activity. The removed boom and equipment will be temporarily stored to prevent damage and will be redeployed as conditions permit.

Tar balls, tar mats and light sheen continue to be reported in Northwest Florida.

Isolated impacts will be possible in Northwest Florida over the next 72 hours.

Five state-leased skimmers remain on standby in Northwest Florida to protect sensitive inland water bodies. These skimmers are operating out of Escambia, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties.

Pensacola Pass and Perdido Pass may be closed with incoming tides.

Oil Containment Boom (in feet) total: 797,261 deployed in Florida.Tier 1 & Tier 2: 481,000 / Tier 3: 316,261 In accordance with established plans, protective booming, staging, and boom maintenance is being conducted along the coast from Escambia to Franklin.272 vessels are deployed in Florida for the Vessels of Opportunity program.

940 Qualified Community Responders are working in the Florida Panhandle.

Federal Fishery closure, west of Cape San Blas to state line. (see NOAA FB10-060)

In addition to $100,000 for Volunteer Florida to maintain a volunteer registration database, BP has issued over $75 million in grants to Florida for booming, tourism advertising, and state preparedness and response efforts. An additional $500,000 has been issued by BP to fund innovative technology solutions for Okaloosa Cty.

BP claims in Florida total 31,973 with approximately $ 41,273,901.34 paid.

Florida Information Lines:

The Florida Oil Spill Information Line (FOSIL) is available from 8am-6pm EDT daily.

English – (888) 337-3569 / TDD – (800) 955-8771 / Voice – (800) 955-8770
Spanish – (877) 955-8773
Haitian Creole – (877) 955-8707
For general health/exposures information questions related to the oil spill, contact the Florida Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.

Two public hotline numbers for oil spill investigation and cleanup:

Impacted Wildlife: (866) 557-1401
Oiled Shoreline: (877) 2-SAVE-FL or #DEP for cellular devices
The Florida Department of State has established a hotline for archeological, historical preservation, and tribal lands that may be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident: (850) 245-6530.

To confirm legitimate charities and determine if an organization is registered with the state, call Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) (800) 435-7352 or www.800helpfla.com.

Information Websites:

Volunteer registration: www.VolunteerFlorida.org and click “Register to Help”

Health advisories: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/health.htm

State sampling data: www.nrdata.org

GATOR web mapping application: http://map.floridadisaster.org/gator/

Recovery related jobs: http://FloridaGulfRecoveryJobs.com/

NOAA GeoPlatform, response management application: http://www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/

State Actions:

State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is at a Level 1 (Full), operating from 0700 to 1800 EDT, with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as the lead agency.

Governor’s Executive Orders 10-99, 10-100, 10-106 and 10-132 declared a state of emergency for identified Florida coastal counties.

Governor’s Executive Order 10-101 established the Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force, which will facilitate efforts by Florida businesses and industries to recover the loss of commerce and revenues due to the oil spill.

Conducting daily conference calls with county and emergency management partners, the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, and various Unified Commands.
A portion of coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County is closed to the harvest of saltwater fish, crabs and shrimp.

A SERT Toxicological Data Analysis Cell is providing consistent scientific assessments of collected sampling to inform local/state decision making.

The Agency for Workforce Innovation and Regional Workforce Boards are identifying and filling jobs related to the oil spill: 13,949 positions advertised; 42,976 applicants referred.

124 Florida National Guard personnel on duty at various duty posts in the Deepwater Horizon area of operations.

19,680 volunteers have registered to respond to Deepwater Horizon. 23,873 volunteer hours have been worked.

AmeriCorps, National Civilian Community Corps members are assisting with models for a community-run Citizen Information Station (CIS).

Conducting daily reconnaissance flights and shoreline patrol from Escambia to Franklin Counties for impact. Real time reconnaissance reports are being entered into GATOR.

Currently, Florida’s coast has 9 decontamination sites for response vessels and 8 that are being operated for commercial vessels. A site for recreational vessel decontamination has also been established and 13 additional recreational vessel sites are in negotiations with BP.

Florida Releases July 21, 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Situation Update

I continue to wonder why it is we allow the drilling we do. The amount of money we get in royalites is negligible in comparison to what we end up paying anyway because our consumption far outstrips our production. What we can find here in the states and in our local waters doesn't begin to make a dent in the supply of oil and it's products that we demand, so why are we risking our environment for such a small return financially and with such a high cost to us when these spills do occur?

We don't get to "keep" the oil & use it here anyway. It goes onto the world market and then we simply get our oil in the same place as everyone else does.

Doesn't "reducing our dependency on foreign oil" really boil down to reducing our demand for oil? As long as we demand the amount of oil and gas that we do, we are going to be dependent upon foreign nations for that oil. That is no more than a simple fact.

Reducing our demand is what will reduce our dependency.

Update On Seepage

2010-07-19T18:40:00.000-04:00

It has been confirmed that the "seepage" that was reported yesterday is at a distance of two miles away from the well and is unrelated to the drilling/wellhead.

Also updated is the total to date collected animals

Birds
Alive: 1232
Dead: 2283
  Released: 534

Mammals
Alive: 5
Dead: 62
  Released: 1

Sea Turtles
Alive: 213
Dead: 472
  Released: 11

http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/pdfs/collection_07192010.pdf

News On Seepage Detected 'Some Distance From Well'

2010-07-19T06:45:00.000-04:00

There is no reason to panic as of yet. There is some indications that there is "seepage" but what exactly is coming out is unknown as of yet, the exact location is unknown as of yet and just how bad the seepage might be is also unknown. These factors will not be known right away, so better not to panic as of yet. It will be today (Monday) at the earliest that we could find out what this is all about.

The concern does grow when it is found that the President is prepared to order BP to open the top of the well again. This would be done in order to relieve pressure on the well which could be causing the problems in seepage. BP is going to fight this no doubt as if they open the well again and the 'seepage' stops then that is the indication that would show this 'seepage' is being caused by the capped wellhead. We don't know that this is the case, as a matter of fact we don't know much at all. Due to that lack of knowledge it is better to have a wait and see approach rather than a panic attack until we know more.

There are normal and known leaks that occur on the seabed, so that is why there is no need to panic just yet as we do not know the location of these "anomalies" as of yet. Thad Allen sending the letter to BP is a precautionary one and is intended to make it known to BP that the government is aware of the possibility of problems, as well as wanting constant monitoring of said anomalies, and is prepared to demand immediate action should the anomalies be found to be related to the well & capping procedure. It is again, not surprising that BP will do what they can to protect themselves in this matter, and hopefully the government via Incident Command is doing all they can to get accurate and timely information to ensure that any and all precautions are taken and that the correct information is obtained.

Incident Commander Thad Allen sent a letter to BP which states:

Bob Dudley

Chief Managing Director

BP Group

501 West Lake Park Boulevard

Houston, Texas 77070

Dear Mr. Dudley,

My letter to you on July 16, 2010 extended the Well Integrity Test period contingent upon the completion of seismic surveys, robust monitoring for indications of leakage, and acoustic testing by the NOAA vessel PISCES in the immediate vicinity of the well head. Given the current observations from the test, including the detected seep a distance from the well and undetermined anomalies at the well head, monitoring of the seabed is of paramount importance during the test period. As a continued condition of the test, you are required to provide as a top priority access and coordination for the monitoring systems, which include seismic and sonar surface ships and subsea ROV and acoustic systems. When seeps are detected, you are directed to marshal resources, quickly investigate, and report findings to the government in no more than four hours. I direct you to provide me a written procedure for opening the choke valve as quickly as possible without damaging the well should hydrocarbon seepage near the well head be confirmed.

As the National Incident Commander, I must remain abreast of the status of your source control efforts. Now that source control has evolved into a period beyond the expected 48 hour interval of the Well Integrity Test, I am requiring that you provide me a written update within 24 hours of your intentions going forward. I remain concerned that all potential options to eliminate the discharge of oil be pursued with utmost speed until I can be assured that no additional oil will spill from the Macondo Well.

You may use your letter of 9 July as a basis for your update. Specifically, you must provide me your latest containment plan and schedule in the event that the Well Integrity Test is suspended, the status and completion timelines for all containment options currently under development, and details of any other viable source control options including hydraulic control that you are considering. You should highlight any points at which progress along one option will be impacted by resource trade-offs to achieve progress along another option. Include options for and impacts of continued twice-a day seismic testing versus once a day testing.

As you develop the plans above, note that the primary method of securing the source is the relief well and this effort takes precedence. Therefore, I direct you to provide a detailed plan for the final stages of the relief well that specifically addresses the interaction of this schedule and any other activity that may potentially delay relief well completion.

Have your representative provide results on the monitoring efforts and source control requirements described above during today’s BP and Government Science Team call at 8:00 PM CDT.

Sincerely,

THAD W. ALLEN

Letter from Thad Allen To Bob Dudley of BP

As is noted in the letter, Incident Command is now knowledgable about the situation and is going to do everything in their power to make sure that BP knows it, and responds to it.

Now it is understandable that people are concerned. We've seen the problems with transparency from both BP as well as the government with nearly everything regarding this disaster. It is normal to be fearful due to the amount of misinformation that has been put out there as well, and sometimes it is hard to know what is truth vs what is fabrication.

As I was reading the discussion about this on The Oil Drum, there were a few who were expressing concern about whether this news was cause for panic or not. Each person stated they lived somewhere on the gulf coast and were truly fearful. This is understandable, again as I said, due to the lack of clear and concise information. We are left to try and figure this out on our own which should never be the case in times of a disaster.

The response to these concerns were varied with some people laughing, and others being very understanding of the concern. The two most informative & compassionate answers given were:

No, don't panic. The scare stories about methane tsunamis etc. are meant to scare you. What the motivation is, I have no idea. There's a seep 1000+ feet from a troublesome well three days after they capped it and prevented lots of oil from escaping into the water. The Gulf seeps anyway. People who have a lot more competence than you and I are watching things and there's a plan to kill it.

And this one:

Stay, fill the car with gas, pack a bag, get $300 cash and watch the news. Do everything else normal. It is not time to hit the OH CRAP button yet. Relax and call a relative. You will be fine.

Edit: And go see professional & get some help tomorrow. Perfectly normal what you are going through. Drink two beers if it might make you feel better. You will be good to go no matter the outcome if you prepare your mind. In this case, we are talking very low chance that events will directly impact you. Smile, I am and I live in Gulf Shores.

The Oil Drum Thread Talking About the "Seepage" Part I
The Oil Drum Thread Talking About the "Seepage" Part II

Both hold a lot of truth to them. Don't panic because there are experts in the field who are working on this matter, and they will be giving it their full attention to try and determine what is going on. It is too soon to have all the information that is needed released to the public as of yet, but I trust that we will get the information one way or another, even if it is revealed to us by an 'anonymous source' who is going to get the truth out. We also know that people who are experts in various fields are watching this closely, like the guys at the Oil Drum, who know when bullshit information is being offered and when it isn't. They have had ongoing discussions regarding the information being offered vs what is able to be seen simply by virtue of watching the ROV camera's and understanding the information being relayed through them. They are not perfect and will ask questions of each other as well, but for the most part they usually debunk information pretty quickly and will happily answer questions or explain things to make it easier for the average joe to understand.

If you are concerned, do as the second comment suggested, and prepare to leave. Pack a bag, get some cash and then go ahead and live like you would if this was not happening, but be ready to go if you think you need to. Much like anyone living on the gulf coast would do for hurricane season. I have this done already, bags packed, hurricane kit at the ready, cash stashed in my "go bag", car filled with gas and a couple of gas cans filled & stored, and am ready to evacuate due to a hurricane should the need arise, but having lived on the coast for close to 10 years, I can say that I have never needed to implement my evacuation plans, and have lived through numerous hurricanes. I did not prepare for anything with regards to this disaster, I did mine for the normal hurricane preparation that I do every year in April.

I'm not going to suggest that people need to go talk to a professional unless you are feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with this situation. I would suggest that you try and calm down, have a drink if that is your prerogative and not worry to the point that it is overwhelming to think about.

Now this next comment from the Oil Drum (From the Part II section) is a perfect example of what I am talking about. This was posted by a commenter who goes by the name of Rovman.

As I have stated before,I work with ROVs and have done for many years. I have spent many many hours looking at footage from ROV cameras as part of my work and am very familiar with how ROVs work, what they do, and what you see in the monitors and what it is that is causing what you see. I have also spent many hours over the past few weeks watching the feeds from the Gulf. In that time, I have seen many interesting things but at no point have I seen anything which I can say is definitively, or even slightly likely to be, an oil or gas leak from the ocean floor. What all of the above videos show without exception is almost certainly silt kicked up from either thruster wash or the ROV itself contacting the ocean floor. There may be some small natural seeps, but I've not seen footage of any so far. There may even be some leaks that are to be worried about, but I haven't seen any evidence of this at all yet.

The ROVs involved in this task are very powerful. The Oceaneering Millenium, which is the commonest vehicle there produces 220hp and weighs 8,800lbs in air. They are trimmed to be 'heavy' and so will naturally settle to the bottom if power is lost. It is quite usual to have the ROV sitting on the bottom with a small amount of upward vertical thrust still applied. This sends a continuous wash of water down to the sea bed and kicks up silt, even though the vehicle is sat stationary on the sea floor. It really takes very little to disturb this very fine silt and create a sh*t storm. One the ROV takes off from the bottom, it trails with it a fair amount of silt and this creates a continuing sh*t storm for several tens of seconds as well. A classic sign that what you are seeing is silt kicked up is what appears to be black lumps with a trail of 'smoke'. These are what the commentator in the above video refers to as rocks thrown up by the erupting sea floor. They are no such thing, they are small lumps of mud trailing a plume of silt behind them.

Another thing to be aware of is the apparent scale of what you are seeing. When you see the stack it is easy to forget that it is about 5 or 6 stories high, and that the ROVs are the size of a minivan. They look a lot smaller. On the other hand, when a 'rock' flies past the camera it is easy to think it is a foot across. It isn't. It's probably about the size of a small coin.

I'd also caution people about trying to interpret the sonar images. There were comments a few threads ago which were wildly off. If you want to know what you are looking at, post a picture or a video clip and I or someone else with experience will take a look. These things are much harder to interpret than the video images.

I do get tired saying the same things over and over again, but I'm happy to continue to do so in an effort to educate people and counteract the rising tide of nonsense out there.

This comment was posted in response to someone linking to some Youtube videos they claimed showed "explosions on the seafloor". You can see that this is detailed and reasonable explanation for many of the things that are seen but may or may not be misunderstood or mis-characterized by people who are unfamiliar with what they are seeing, or don't have an understanding of this type of work.

This goes to show that panic infused scenario's can easily become the norm just as much as "everything is fine don't worry". We must not be complacent. Be concerned, but don't panic at each and every story that comes along. The more information we can obtain the better to determine the situation.

I'll keep a watch on the situation like everyone else and update as I get newly confirmed information.

I'm Back & Updated Oil Spill News

2010-07-17T06:36:00.000-04:00

Well I am back again. My apologies for my abrupt departure but I had an unexpected family crisis that I needed to deal with and it took me away for a little bit. I do have a lot of catching up to do on things as while I was "out of the loop" a lot happened. It will take me a while to read through all that I have missed, and to find out a lot of the specific details, but for the time being until I can get caught up, I'll post about some of what I have found out. The most obvious one is the capping of the well. This is, so far, the biggest news to date in this catastrophe and will hopefully work until the relief wells are drilled and the well shut in or closed off.

Capping the leaking Oil

It seems that the Oil Gushing into the Gulf has stopped, at least for the moment. They were running pressure tests on this capping system to make sure that it would work, and from what I have gleaned in reading about it, low pressure would indicate leaks somewhere and a high pressure result would mean that the cap was working effectively.

The sight that everyone has wanted to see since this all began:

After reading about the capping process at The Oil Drum, I'll quote one of their posts that explains what happened as they are much better at the details of this than I am, having missed the process at the time it happened.

So the well is currently shut-in, though the results have not been all that had been hoped for. Admiral Allen has already issued a terse comment:

"We're encouraged by this development, but this isn't over. Over the next several hours we will continue to collect data and work with the federal science team to analyze this information and perform additional seismic mapping runs in the hopes of gaining a better understanding on the condition of the well bore and options for temporary shut in of the well during a hurricane. It remains likely that we will return to the containment process using this new stacking cap connected to the risers to attempt to collect up to 80,000 barrels of oil per day until the relief well is completed."

Part of the problem, apparently, is that the well pressure has not reached the 8 - 9,000 psi level that it was hoped it would reach, but instead it is reportedto have fallen slightly shy of 7,000 psi. While this is below the expectation, it is higher than the 6,000 psi that Admiral Allen had set as the target below which they would assume a loss in integrity, and restart the flow of oil to the surface vessels.
To try and add a little context to this, at the beginning of the leak, the pressure of the oil and gas in the rock at the bottom of the well was measured at 11,900 psi. When the oil and gas fill the well that fluid column has a certain weight that balances some of the rock pressure, and the difference should be the pressure at the top of the column (which is where the BOP and stack sit). That gives the 8 – 9,000 psi range.
If the well pressure at the BOP is measured, however, at just shy of 7,000 psi then there are two possibilities. The first is that there has been so much flow of fluid out of the well that the driving pressure of the fluid in the rock has fallen by the 1,500 psi or so that brings the pressures down to those seen.
While that is a possibility, it may be unlikely because, at the time that the Top Kill was tried and as the Admiral noted just the other day, the well pressure could not be raised above 6,000 psi as they pumped in mud, even though at one stage they stopped the flow of oil out of the well.
What this could indicate is that there is a possibility of crossflow at the bottom of the well. What this means that the oil and gas that are flowing out of the reservoir into the bottom of the well, are, under the pressure in the well, now flowing into a higher reservoir of rock, now that they can't get out of the well. Depending on where that re-injection flow is, this may, or may not, suggest that the casing has lost integrity.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6737

The Oil Drum IRC channel has also been keeping a FAQ on what has been happening over the last several days which can be found here:

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dff7zmqz_7c6rdwsc9

It is a bit technical but full of good information.

So for the moment the well is capped. We'll see if that changes anytime soon. There are people who are watching the gauges to see if the pressure continues to increase of if it begins to decrease which as stated would mean that there are leaks somewhere. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this cap holds until the relief wells can be completed.

Now while getting the well capped is a great step if it holds, this is not the end of the problems that Gulf Coast residents will be facing. There is a lot of oil still out there and it will take a very long time to come ashore, clean it up and then there is the problem of determining exactly what kind of damage is being done beneath the surface of the water to the ecosystem.

I had also previously posted about the berms being built at the demand of Bobby Jindal and others. At the time they were screaming loudly that the berms were needed and would protect the coast from further damage, while others stated that this idea would not work, it was a waste of time and money not to mention a waste of a finite resource that could not be replaced once used. It seems like that is the case.

Chandeleur sand berm segment shrinking like a wool sweater in hot water!

These sad and shocking images document the waste of enormous resources and time. It’s very hard to resist the temptation to say, “I told you so.”

June 25, 2010

July 2, 2010

July 7, 2010

http://lacoastpost.com/blog/?p=25001

It is a sad thing to see, and I would hope that no one wastes time with an "I told you so", no matter how much that might make some feel better, and instead lets try to get this turned around so that money, time and resources are not continued to be wasted on this project when the time, money & effort could be used elsewhere to make a positive impact.

More to come.......

~Happy Independence Day~

2010-07-04T01:56:00.000-04:00

I feel truly blessed to live in the country that I do, with all the freedoms and privileges I have, and I don't take them for granted. I remember every day how truly lucky I am, and today serves as a reminder to us all that while we are far from perfect, and have a long way to go to be the kind of nation we ought to be, we are still fortunate to be living here and now. Let us celebrate our Independence and be joyful in our celebrations.

HAPPY 4th Of July!!

Now we are not the only ones who celebrate the holidy, and so I give to you a spectacular fireworks display for 2010 from Sydney!

Now I don't know when or where this one was taken, but it is a finale with the 1812 Overture which just happens to be one of my favorites!

This is a video of the largest fireworks shell ever to be set off. Japan 2007

I wish you all a very happy day today and everyday.

Updated Information on Oil Spill & Rumor Patrol

2010-07-03T05:20:00.000-04:00

First of all let me say that I had to take a bit of time off, as the story was really getting to me and I was struggling with the depression that comes hand in hand with spending so much time looking at all the information that is out there about this situation. When that happens I feel guilty for feeling that way, as for the moment, I am the "outsider looking in" on the story. While I do live along the gulf coast, I have fortunately have not had to deal with the oil on my own beaches as of yet, so I do not understand personally what it is that those who have dealt with it are going through.

I can imagine what it is like, as I worry about how this is going to change the way of life in the gulf coast. So many will lose out on a way of life, so many creatures have died, and others will die because of the oil spill. Sometimes there are just not the words to describe it. Sometimes you just have to walk away from it all, if even for a short time, to save your sanity.

Okay, so what is going on?

So, based on what Unified Command is stating here is how things look as far as what is going on:

Thursday, July 1 Statistics

RESPONSE VESSELS
Vessels of Opportunity: 3,200
Barges: more than 600
Skimmers: more than 550
Other Vessels: more than 2,600
Total active response vessels: more than 6,950

Aircraft: 115

BOOM DATA
Boom deployed: more than 2.79 million feet
Boom available: more than 811,000 feet
Total boom: more than 3.6 million feet

OIL RECOVERED
Oily water recovered: nearly 28.17 million gallons
Amount estimated burned: nearly 9.99 million gallons

Oil captured (CAP) over last 24hrs: more than 1.05 million gallons

DISPERSANTS
Surface dispersant used: more than 1.05 million gallons
Subsea dispersant used: more than 600,000 gallons
Total dispersant used: more than 1,650,000 gallons

PERSONNEL INVOLVED
Overall personnel responding: more than 43,000 personnel responding

Here is your Day 73 daily tally on the animals:

dead birds : 881
oiled but alive : 1,248
cleaned and released : 322

dead sea turtles: 441
oiled but alive: 102
cleaned and released: 3

dead mammals: 52
oiled but alive: 2
cleaned and released: 1

http://dailydeadbirds.com/

Rep. Edward Markey says BP's disaster response plan for an oil spill doesn't mention hurricanes or tropical storms. Markey says the omission is yet another example of what the oil giant was not prepared to handle.

Big Surprise there right? Obviously BP (nor any of the other oil companies) have shown themselves to be prepared for a spill nor the consequences that follow, so why expect them to have any kind of real time plan on what they should do in the event of a hurricane. You do have to wonder if they considered anything at all besides rushing a job done in order to claim as many profits as possible.

Okay Now Onto Rumor Patrol~

I've heard rumors that the Unified Command is threatening arrest of a class D felony and or a $40,000.00 fine of anyone including press who is caught within 20 meters of a "safe zone".
Of course there have been no links or verified proof to those claims so I went looking to see what I could find.

I did find something sorta similar but not really.

Coast Guard establishes 20-meter safety zone around all Deepwater Horizon protective boom; operations

NEW ORLEANS - The Captains of the Port for Morgan City, La., New Orleans, La., and Mobile, Ala. , under the authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, has established a 20- meter safety zone surrounding all Deepwater Horizon booming operations and oil response efforts taking place in Southeast Louisiana.

Vessels must not come within 20 meters of booming operations, boom, or oil spill response operations under penalty of law.
The safety zone has been put in place to protect members of the response effort, the installation and maintenance of oil containment boom, the operation of response equipment and protection of the environment by limiting access to and through deployed protective boom.
In areas where vessels operators cannot avoid the 20-meter rule, they are required to be cautious of boom and boom operations by transiting at a safe speed and distance.
Violation of a safety zone can result in up to a $40,000 civil penalty. Willful violations may result in a class D felony.
Permission to enter any safety zone must be granted by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of New Orleans by calling 504-846-5923.

Unified Command Deepwater Horizon Response

So that sounds a bit different from what I have seen reported on some of the conspiracy websites.

I was also reading Huffington Post and came across this story by Allison Kilkenny who says she spoke to a friend of hers named C.S. Muncy, who is a photojournalist and had taken a very, very brief video that shows some potentially disturbing images.
Video claiming that sand has been dumped over oil in attempt to cover it up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaHJf1GLD1E

After watching the video, I cannot confirm or deny the claims made in this video, but I have say I remain skeptical simply because there was no attempt to remove the sand from the top to show what was underneath, and the description of it as seeming to be like "asphalt" under the sand seems unrealistic. I cannot imagine that it would become that hard and unyielding. We've seen the images of the tarballs, and the oil that is washing ashore, and it is gooey and sticky not hard like a rock.
I could be wrong, but I think before I call this one confirmed, I'll wait for more information, and more independent verification.

Now another rumor I've heard is that there is a giant methane gas bubble forming beneath the surface of the sea floor which is going to explode out and possibly cause a giant Tsunami.

Now this is patently ridiculous. First and foremost, I cannot imagine that if this was indeed happening that BP or the Coast Guard would allow themselves to be sitting atop a potential danger like that that could kill all of them should such a thing happen. Take into account that methane is coming up with the oil as that is what is being burned off on the rig/ship on the surface. Methane bubbling up is not unusual and it is being studied, but it has been naturally occurring instances. Now am I prepared to say that this would never happen? No, because I know better than to say "never", but in all likelihood it is not happening and won't happen. As with the gushing itself, we would have independent scientists who are knowledgeable on this issue who would be stepping to the forefront to state this was indeed not only possible but probable. So far, I have not see a rush rush from the scientific community to make any such claims.

The bigger concern is the amount of methane which is escaping (and not building up) which could cause more dead zones as it depletes the oxygen in the ocean.

For anyone who has never heard of it before, a dead zone in the ocean is an area where the oxygen in the water has depleted to the point where it cannot sustain life.

The Gulf of Mexico is already home to one the the largest dead zones in the world, so this would be just another deadly blow to the gulf.

LOUISIANA GOVERNOR STILL HASN'T DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARD

2010-06-30T09:45:00.000-04:00

'As Gov. Jindal Criticized The Federal Bureaucracy, Louisiana Guard Troops Sat Idle'

Gov. Bobby Jindal's message has been loud and clear, using language such as "We will only be winning this war when we're actually deploying every resource," "They (the federal government) can provide more resources" and "It's clear the resources needed to protect our coast are still not here."

But nearly two months after the governor requested - and the Department of Defense approved the use of 6,000 Louisiana National Guard troops - only a fraction - 1,053 - have actually been deployed by Jindal to fight the spill.

"If you ask any Louisianan, if you said 'If you had those troops, do you think they could be put to good use? Is there anything they can do in your parish?' I think they'd all tell you 'Absolutely,'" Louisiana state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said.
But CBS News has learned that in addition to Louisiana's 1,053 troops of 6,000, Alabama has deployed 432 troops of 3,000 available. Even fewer have been deployed in Florida - 97 troops out of 2,500 - and Mississippi - 58 troops out of 6,000.

Those figures prompted President Obama to weigh in.

"I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible," Mr. Obama said.

It's believed officials in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and are reluctant to use more troops because their presence could hurt tourism. In hardest-hit Louisiana, however, Jindal is pointing fingers.

"Actually we asked the White House to approve the initial 6,000," Jindal said. "What they came back and said is the Coast Guard and BP had to authorize individual tasks."

But Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander in charge of the government's response to the spill, said Jindal is just flat wrong.

"There is nothing standing in the governor's way from utilizing more National Guard troops," Allen said.
Jindal Not Using National Guard That Is Available & Waiting

Now someone needs to explain to the people of Louisiana that the blame for not getting more help doesn't lay at the feet of the Obama administration, but rather at the feet of those who have the authority to access more help but are not doing so.

Apparently it is more important for Bobby Jindal to stand in front of the cameras and complain about the lack of help from the Obama administration than it is to acknowledge publicly that the Obama administration has authorized the Governor's of the Gulf States to use the National Guard.

What is the reason for this? How can this be acceptable? Politic's instead of the interest in his state seems to be the idea behind Jindal's behavior. What other explanation is there? You have the authority to call upon over a thousand more people to help with the crisis, and yet you just don't. Yet you are on television complaining about the lack of help available.
This is not the only problem with Bobby Jindal that is coming to light.

Jindal vetoes bill to open oil spill records

Gov. Bobby Jindal rejected a bill Friday that would have required him to make public and to preserve all his office's documents involving the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

In his veto letter, the governor said the legislation would have hurt the state's position in future litigation against BP PLC, the oil giant that leased the rig which exploded April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers and causing the disaster.

"This bill would allow BP and other parties with potential liability to the state to obtain information retained by any state agency responding to this tragic event," Jindal wrote, saying such access could jeopardize the state's position in seeking legal remedy for the spill's damage.

The Senate sponsor of the public records provision said Friday night that Jindal's veto was expected. He noted that the governor has repeatedly fought attempts to require preservation and open most of his office's records to public scrutiny.

"This governor has opposed transparency for the three years he's been in office, so that's not a surprise. What is sad about all this is it's just another black eye on Louisiana internationally now," said Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton.

Adley also called it hypocritical for the governor to push BP to open some of its records to the state even as Jindal refuses to release his own.

"How in the world would making our records public let BP off for what they've done? That makes absolutely no sense," Adley said.

Jindal has said he wants BP to open its claims database to the state to help ensure payments are being processed promptly.

Jindal Wants BP to Open Its Records But Refuses To Do The Same For Government

Now what is the reason for his refusal to not only open up the records, but to preserve them in the case of the deepwater spill? What is he hiding? Is he worried about his performance? Is he hiding something that would show just how poor of a job he has been doing with regards to this spill? Or maybe he is hiding the fact that he is screwing over his state because he is pushing a political agenda. The fact remains that he wants BP to open its records but is unwilling to do the same. Now if BP refused to do so, what do you think the reaction would be by Bobby Jindal? He would be screaming to the rooftops.

Now another question that should be asked is what did Bobby Jindal know and when did he know it about the tasks that are taking place down on the barrier islands that has caused the Federal Government to stop the dredging and the building of berms after initially giving approval to build them.

We know that Jindal was screaming for approval of the plan to start building the berms and was getting stonewalled by the Army Corps of Engineers, because they felt the plan was not worth pursuing. The reason given was that the sand being taken to build the berms was from a limited resource that once used could not be recovered, not to mention the fact that the berms, as designed would not be able to withstand the weather in the Gulf during hurricane season. It has been suggested that even a mild hurricane would wash away the berms leaving the barrier island vulnerable once again, and all the money and resources used to build those berms would be wasted. Then there was the concerns that the berms could actually cause as much damage as the oil, if not more.

Among the problems cited by one or more of those agencies: that the emergency berms would take several months to build, by which time a lot of oil would have hit the coast; that dredging up the sand to build the berms could intensify coastal erosion and rip apart undersea oil-and-gas pipelines; and that the berms, by changing the flow of water, could alter the water's salinity, potentially hurting fish.

In response, Louisiana officials changed some of the areas where they proposed to dredge the sand for the emergency berms, nixing areas that federal officials called particularly ecologically sensitive.

Louisiana's congressional delegation was pushing hard for the plan. "We implore you to immediately approve" the plan, the delegation wrote Col. Al Lee, the head of the Corps' New Orleans office, and Adm. Allen, on May 20. They noted that "heavy oil is now coating our marshes."

In written comments May 26 to the Corps of Engineers, the EPA said the berms would be "unlikely to stop the majority of the oil from migrating inland," because they would leave many large water passes open.

Furthermore, the EPA said in its comments, the construction of the oil-blocking berms "could exacerbate the emergency situation in the Gulf," in part because it could move around sand on the sea floor that already had been contaminated with oil, newly endangering aquatic life.

Berms Being Built But Doubts Persist

So, the berms were given the tentative okay, and they were started but then something changed.

Washington Slows Down Sand Berms in Louisiana

Federal authorities have put a temporary stop to a $360 million project to build massive sand berms—a plan Nungesser championed for weeks—that are meant to block the flow of oil into the marshes and wetlands in southeastern Louisiana. Interior Department officials—who were slow to approve the project and had doubts about it—have ordered Louisiana to stop dredging sand from the sensitive Chandeleur Islands:
[Louisiana Gov. Bobby] Jindal and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said federal authorities want the state to move a dredging site farther from the Chandeleur Islands, a sensitive chain of barrier islands.
However, the Interior Department said the order was issued because the state was pumping sand from a sensitive section of the island chain and had failed to meet an extended deadline to install pipe that would tap sand from a less-endangered area.
The worry is that by pumping sand from the Chandeleurs—a chain of barrier islands east of the Mississippi River, and one of the first spots to be hit by oil—the berm project could damage the islands themselves, which form a vital natural defense against storm surges and hurricanes. The Interior Department says that Louisiana had promised to build a pipe that could bring in sand from outside the islands, but had failed to do so by an extended deadline—hence the order to stop.

Washington Puts The Brakes On Sand Berm Project

So, it would seem that in trying to do something, anything, to make themselves look like they are taking action, the long term destruction of the Chandeleurs means less than the somewhat instant and short-lived gratification that these sand berms would provide.

Tropical Storm Alex~Gulf Hurricane Update/Status

2010-06-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

As of right now, the activity in the Gulf of Mexico is not a hurricane and it isn't expected to be a real threat to the oil spill activity going on. It is a Tropical Storm, the first named of the season for the Gulf/Atlantic, and while it is anticipated to increase in intesity, there doesn't seem to be any indications that it will be a problem for the Gulf Coast States, although it could still impact Texas should conditions change.

These are the latest forecasts and models:

The Jeff Masters blog indicates that the current forecast is for it to make landfall north of Tampico Mexico sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday morning as possibly a weak Cat 2 Hurricane.

Now based on what is being reported, as I said there isn't expected to be a real threat to the oil spill, but the storm is expected to generate wave activity that more than likely cause some problems for the skimming operations going on.

It is important to remember that things can change and drastically if weather conditions change so while this is the projected forecast, there is no guarantee that this is how this will play out.

I'll update if anything changes.

Goodbye Pensacola Beach

2010-06-25T20:32:00.000-04:00

The tide came in Tuesday night, under a moon almost full, and when the sun came up and the water retreated there it was: a broken band of oil about 5 feet wide and 8 miles long.
It looked like tobacco spit and smelled foreign, and it pooled in yesterday's footprints as far as you could see. State officials called it the worst show of crude on shore from the gusher 120 miles away.

As word spread, the people of Pensacola Beach walked to the black band to take a look, to take photographs, to be sure this wasn't some apocalyptic dream. They poured over the dunes all day, on pilgrimages to bear witness.

If the beach is church, Wednesday felt like a funeral.
Kevin Reed, 36, who learned to swim here and taught his own son, right here, how to swim, walked to the oil and cried.
"I can't help it," he said. "This just kills me. It feels like somebody just ripped my heart out. I knew it was going to be bad. I didn't know it was going to be like this."
He looked back at the band. He noticed there were no birds.

Kevin Reed, Pensacola breaks down and weeps upon seeing the oil-defiled shores of Pensacola Beach on June 23, 2010. "This will never be the same," he says. "I'd like to take the CEO of BP and jam his face in that pile on the beach."

Clean up crews are out, but they are leaving behind contaminated soil that is invisible to the naked eye..........

USF Coastal Reasearch Lab geologist Rip Kirby illuminates his foot and Pensacola Beach with a UV light on June 24. Oil specks glow orange in the sand on this beach that had been cleaned. Sifters used by cleanup crews allow contaminated sand to fall back to the beach, even though contamination is not visible to the unaided eye.

USF Coastal Reasearch Lab geologist Rip Kirby illuminates Pensacola Beach with a UV light on June 24. Oil specks glow orange in the sand on this beach that had been cleaned. Sifters used by cleanup crews allow contaminated sand to fall back to the beach, even though contamination is not visible to the unaided eye.

More frightening is what is found beneath the sand..........a vein of oil hidden 6 inches beneath the surface of the sand which researchers believe was buried overnight by the tide.

So even if the top layer of oil is shoveled up and taken away, contaminated sand remains on the beach, while a layer sits just beneath the surface.
This is only the beginning.
Oil Blankets Pensacola Beach

More Photo's Of the Oil On Pensacola Beach

The following is a Video from Destin Beach, FL. Oil globs washing up onto the beach and parents walking through it like it isn't even there. Allowing their child to swim in the water, and play in the oil covered sand.

Sickening to watch that child scream at her mother to get the oil off her foot, and yet mother acts as if it is no big deal and allows the kids to continue to play in it.

Okay, onto an update on the Hurricane situation.

This is the latest Spaghetti Model for the "Tropical Depression" that has formed. As you can tell it is too far out yet for any of the models to accurately predict where it might be headed, but my money is on the Blue (GDFL) Black (NOGAPS) & Gray (BAMM) as they tend to be the most accurate, or at least they have been the closest for the last 7 years that I have paid attention to them. I suspect that by Sunday we'll have a more cohesive track with more of the models coming together.

As I stated in my previous post about the Hurricane's I have been relying on Weather Underground for quite a few years as they are good, not prone to sensationalism and Dr.Jeff Masters does a good job of explaining his reasoning on his blog.

A trough of low pressure is expected to swing down over the Eastern U.S. on Monday. If this trough is strong enough and 93L develops significantly, the storm could get pulled northwards and make landfall along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast. This is the solution of the GFDL and HWRF models. If 93L stays weak and/or the trough is not so strong, the storm would get pushed west-northwestwards across Mexico's Bay of Campeche and make landfall along Mexican coast south of Texas, or in Texas. This is the solution of the NOGAPS, ECMWF, and Canadian models. A likely landfall location is difficult to speculate on at this point, and the storm could hit virtually anywhere along the Gulf of Mexico coast given the current uncertainty in its development. The amount of wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico next week is also highly uncertain. There is currently a band of high shear near 30 knots over the Gulf. The GFS model predicts that this band of high shear will lift northwards, keeping low wind shear over the Gulf next week. However, the ECMWF model keeps high shear entrenched over the Gulf of Mexico, which would make it unlikely 93L could intensify into a hurricane. In summary, I give 93L a 60% chance of eventually becoming Tropical Storm Alex, and 10% chance of eventually becoming a hurricane.

Weather Underground Jeff Masters Blog

Now I did have someone share this plot map with me that gives some additional models and their positions as it stands now, but it is more or less the same with some heading towards the Texas/Mexico direction vs others headed towards the Louisiana/ Florida direction.

This explains what each model is: (I have bolded the ones I tend to watch as most accurate, but remember that they could be wrong, and more will be known over the next couple of days when the weather patterns establish themselves better and we see if the storm organizes into a stronger pattern)

Sources of Hurricane Models Plotted by SFWMD:

XTRP - Extrapolation using past 12-hr motion (NHC)
TVCN - Consensus of GFS, UKMET, NOGAPS, GFDL, HWRF, GFDN, and ECMWF models (replaces old CONU model)
NHC - National Hurricane Center official forecast

BAMD - Beta and Advection model, deep (NHC)
BAMM - Beta and Advection model, medium (NHC)
BAMS - Beta and Advection model, shallow (NHC)

GFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) model
UKM - United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMET) model (Developmental)
NGPS - United States Navy Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) model

AVNO - NOAA Global Forecast System (GFS) model (formerly known as the AVN/MRF)
AEMN - NOAA GFS Ensemble Mean
HWRF - NOAA Hurricane Weather and Research Forecast (HWRF) model

CMC2 - Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) model
APxx - NOAA GFS Ensemble Members
CLP5 - CLImatology-PERsistance (CLIPER) model 5-day (NHC)

By the way, SFWMD stands for South Florida Water Management District

Potential Hurricane, The Gulf Oil Spill, The Clean Up & Containment

2010-06-23T16:20:00.000-04:00

What Happens If A Hurricane Develops In The Gulf?

Hurricane Season started June 1st and runs until November 30th. This year they have been predicting it to be a much more active season than normal, but that is only a prediction and they have been wrong before. In my personal opinion, I think it is better to prepare for a much more active season, and be prepared for that than to do as so many do and wait until the last minute to make plans and decide what to do when time is too important to be wasting on making plans. We'll get into that later, but for now lets consider just the amount of equipment that is out in the gulf.

Right now, we are going to have to think about several things. No only do we need to be concerned about how a hurricane will effect the oil spilled into the gulf, and how that will travel, but we also need to consider the ships and rigs out in the gulf which are working on containment of oil, as well as cleaning up the oil. I have no idea what it takes for these rigs out there, 3 or 4 of them the same size as the Deepwater Horizen which went down after the massive explosion and fire, but there are a lot of other ships out there as well. So I went to the Deepwater Horizon Response website and found this:

Q: Hi. Thank you. There’s been some reports that the first major storm of the hurricane season might enter the Gulf as soon as next week. Could you walk us through what will happen with the collection operation if that happened next week?

ADMIRAL ALLEN: Sure. First of all, we’re watching the hurricane season very, very closely. I’m in constant contact with Jane Lubchenco, administrator of NOAA, and in fact, this week I talked to Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator. We are informing each other of our respective operations. Of course you know they were involved with hurricane prep, so they would be anyway this time of year. And we do have that low depression that’s been informed in the Southeast Caribbean, and we’re watching that as well.

How we respond to a hurricane will be dictated by which production capacity we have on scene, and as you know this is evolving and will continue to evolve over the next two to three weeks. By the end of next week, let’s say, we would anticipate having three production vessels out there over the well site; the Discovery Enterprise, the Q4000 and the Helix Producer. Of those production capabilities, one of them is fixed hard to do the platform itself, and that’s the Discovery Enterprise down to the wellbore. The other two are on flexible couplings for vertical riser packages.

We would need in total to disconnect, recover to a safe harbor and return probably around 10 days to accomplish that, and we would probably have to start doing that anywhere between three to seven days in advance of the hurricane. Those procedures are being finalized right now. We’re discussing that with BP and the folks that are down at the area unified command in New Orleans. But if it happens—if we got notice that a hurricane was coming, we would need anywhere from three to seven days in advance of that to demobilize and redeploy the equipment.

Is that responsive?

Q: What kind of storm would have to be coming your way for you to do that? How—what kind of wind speed, or could you give anymore specifics on that?

ADMIRAL ALLEN: Well, what we’re going to do is—I was asked the question yesterday. I asked some folks working on how are mooring systems related to Saffir-Simpson Scales, because I think that’s the easiest way for people to understand that. And we will get that out to you in the next 24 hours. But basically, the least capable platform that’s in production to ride out heavy weather would be the Discovery Enterprise because it’s physically hooked to the well itself.

Anything that’s working through our vertical riser that’s floating with a flexible hose coupling will have a little bit more flexibility as far as the sea state, and the large vessels that will be coming on later in July, the shuttle tankers, have much more sea keeping capability, although none of them are designed or created, nor are the production mooring facilities and everything else, created to withstand a major hurricane. Exactly when the cutoff is as far as the sea state goes, we will put that together, and we’ll give you a brief in 24 hours.

June 22, 2010 Unified Command Press Briefing

Are there any storms brewing in the gulf that these guys should be worried about? Well there is Invest 93 that should be watched for development:

Weather Underground Tropical Storm Computer Model of Invest 93
That is Invest 93 and this is what Jeff Masters has to say about it:

Forecast for 93L
NHC is giving 93L a 40% chance of developing into a tropical depression by Thursday morning, which is a reasonable forecast. Given the storm's current lack of spin and relatively modest amount of heavy thunderstorms, the earliest I'd expect 93L to become a tropical depression would be Wednesday afternoon, with Thursday more likely. Wind shear is expected to be low, less than 10 knots, over the central and western Caribbean this week. Water temperatures will be warm, dry air absent, and the MJO favorable. I don't see any major impediments to the storm becoming a tropical depression by Thursday, and it is a bit of a surprise to me that the computer models have been reluctant to develop 93L. The GFS, NOGAPS, and UKMET models do not develop 93L, and the ECMWF model doesn't develop 93L until after it crosses the Yucatan Peninsula and enters the Gulf of Mexico in a about a week. The current (2am EDT) run of the GFDL model predicts 93L will be a weak tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico in five days; its previous run had 93L as a major hurricane in the Gulf. Given all this model reluctance and the current disorganization of 93L, I give the storm a low (less than 20% chance) of becoming a hurricane in the Caribbean. Expect 93L to bring flooding rains of 3 - 6 inches to Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and southwestern Haiti today through Wednesday. These rains will spread to the Cayman Islands and central Cuba by Thursday, and western Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday. The current run of the SHIPS model has 93L slowing down late this week to a forward speed of just 6 knots (7 mph) from its current speed of about 10 mph, in response to a weakening in the steering currents. A trough of low pressure is expected to swing down over the Eastern U.S. early next week. If this trough is strong enough and 93L develops significantly, the storm could get pulled northwards and make landfall along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast in the oil spill region. This is the solution of the Canadian GEM model. If 93L stays weak and/or the trough is not so strong, the storm would get pushed west-northwestwards towards the Texas coast. This is the solution of the ECMWF model. The amount of wind shear in the Gulf of Mexico next week is highly uncertain. There is currently a band of high shear near 30 knots over the Gulf, and some of the models predict this shear will remain over the Gulf over the next 7 - 10 days. However, other models predict that this band of high shear will retreat northwards and leave the Gulf nearly shear-free. The long-term fate of 93L remains very murky. My main concerns at this point are the potential for 3 - 6 inches of rain in Haiti over the next two days, and the possibility 93L could become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico next week.
Jeff Masters Weather Underground Blog

If the rigs in the gulf need a week to disengage what they are working on and move to safe harbor, then they are going to be running into some issues, especially in light of the fact that hurricane's are not predictable and sometimes they can blow up in strength and change direction pretty quickly depending on the weather circumstances.

If you have any interest in looking at the history of hurricanes in the Gulf/Atlantic you can find each year from 2009 all the way back to 1995 located at NOAA:
History of Hurricane Activity

There was also a new development today. The LRMC was removed and this caused quite a stir. It seems based on what Adm. Thad Allen had to say at the press conference, it seems that one of the ROV's hit a vent on the cap and it closed it which in turn caused some gas to go up the water tube they have run down there which is pumping warm water into the riser pipe to help prevent the formation of hydrates (crystals formed by the gas hitting the cold water).

The LRMC is at the surface now being repaired so the oil & gas is gushing freely until that cap is placed back on. Another concern is how this Tropical system starts to develop as they have said that they will need aprox. 5 days to disconnect everything and move to safety. So if they are paying attention and they think that this tropical system could come towards the rig's they will have to move out in just a few days time at the most, which means that for 10 days the pipe will gush unimpeded and that will bring a lot more oil up for any hurricane to push around with the winds, and bring up onto the beaches.

What Have We Done?

2010-06-23T05:29:00.003-04:00

We've spent a lot of time lately discussing the oil spill and the effect it is having on not just the land and the environment, but on the animals and sea life as well. We are paying a high price for our addiction to oil and petroleum products, but that cost is much more than just what we see gushing into the gulf every day due to the negligence of BP in their desire to ignore safety for speed and greed. Another effect that isn't being talked about as much at this time is the petroleum products we use based on our never ending craving for oil.

We are damaging our environment and our wild & sea life additionally by the products derived from the oil industry. Plastics. Convenient, and easily disposed of without a second thought as to what happens to it after we toss it into the trash. I've been as guilty as any other for this behavior and I have tried to change that behavior, especially after seeing what our plastics and trash are doing to our world. When I started looking into it, I was brokenhearted at what I found and one question kept ringing in my head........

What have we done to our world?

What price are the creatures and our planet paying for our insatiable desire for convenience and our thoughtless treatment of the world we live in?

These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents,who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.

To document this phenomenon as faithfully as possible, not a single piece of plastic in any of these photographs was moved, placed, manipulated, arranged,or altered in any way. These images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent.

Chris Jordon

Seeing these pictures turned my stomach, and I could not "click away" from the page fast enough, but then I stopped and thought about it. Leaving the page so quickly is what a lot of people like myself would do, after all who wants to view these kinds of pictures? It is much more fun to see pictures of cuddly and warm fuzzy animals rather than seeing the death and destruction we humans have brought down upon the creatures of our planet.

Yes OUR planet. We all live here. We, who are the most intelligent species on this planet have a responsibility to take care of it and we have been sorely lacking in that responsibility.

Scientists had previously thought plastics broke down only at very high temperatures and over hundreds of years.

The researchers behind a new study, however, found that plastic breaks down at cooler temperatures than expected, and within a year of the trash hitting the water.

The Japan-based team collected samples in waters from the U.S., Europe, India, Japan, and elsewhere, lead researcher Katsuhiko Saido, a chemist with the College of Pharmacy at Nihon University in Japan, said via email.

All the water samples were found to contain derivatives of polystyrene, a common plastic used in disposable cutlery, Styrofoam, and DVD cases, among other things, said Saido, who presented the findings at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C., today.

Plastic, he said, should be considered a new source of chemical pollution in the ocean.

About 44 percent of all seabirds eat plastic, apparently by mistake, sometimes with fatal effects. And 267 marine species are affected by plastic garbage—animals are known to swallow plastic bags, which resemble jellyfish in mid-ocean, for example—according to a 2008 study in the journal Environmental Research by oceanographer and chemist Charles Moore, of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.

Just plastic bags:

Giant Ocean-Trash Vortex Attracts Explorers

n t he broad expanse of the northern Pacific Ocean, there exists the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents. The area is an oceanic desert, filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen and s ailors rarely travel through the gyre. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It's the largest landfillin the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.

The gyre has actually given birth to two large masses of ever-accumulating trash, known as theWestern and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches, sometimes collectively called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Eastern Garbage Patch floats between Hawaii and California; scientists estimate its size as two times bigger than Texas [source: LA Times]. The Western Garbage Patch forms east ofJapan and west of Hawaii. Each swirling mass of refuse is massive and collects trash from all over the world. The patches are connected by a thin 6,000-mile long current called the Subtropical Convergence Zone. Research flights showed that significant amounts of trash also accumulate in the Convergence Zone.

**In the vast area of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, jellyfish and other filter feeders frequently consume or become tangled in floating trash.**

The garbage patches present numerous hazards to marine life, fishing and tourism. But before we discuss those, it's important to look at the role of plastic. Plastic constitutes 90 percent of all trash floating in the world's oceans [source: LA Times]. The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic [source: UN Environment Program]. In some areas, the amount of plastic outweighs the amount of plankton by a ratio of six to one. Of the more than 200 billion pounds of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the ocean [source: Greenpeace]. Seventy percent of that eventually sinks, damaging life on the ocean floor [source: Greenpeace]. The rest floats; much of it ends up in gyres and the massive garbage patches that form there, with some plastic eventually washing up on a distant shore.

How Stuff Works; The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

What have we done?

Study finds plastic 'diet' in leatherback turtles
Necropsy reports show a third of specimens had it in their digestive system

Leatherback turtles are critically endangered and highly charismatic creatures. They are big, weighing 1,000 pounds or more, with shells that can measure more than 6 feet across. These peaceful creatures have had the same basic body plan for 150 million years.

Leatherbacks are also popular for what they eat: namely, large quantities of jellyfish. The problem is that plastic bags look a lot like jellyfish, and plastic often ends up in the oceans, piling up in areas where currents -- and turtles -- converge. That led James to wonder how much often the turtles were swallowing plastic in their hunt for yummy jellyfish.

The researchers ended up with a sample size of 408 turtles, stranded at some point during the last 125 years. Of those, 138 -- or 34 percent -- contained plastic. Alongside the rise in plastic production, there has been a sharp rise in plastic-containing turtles since the 1950s.

Plastic can block a turtle's gut, causing bloating, interfering with digestion, and leading to a slow, painful death. "I can't imagine it's very comfortable," he said. "Their guts weren't designed to digest plastic."

Leatherback turtles are ancient creatures with a modern problem: Plastic.

Is anyone trying to do anything other than those "pesky" environmentalists who are consistently demonized in the media and by some politicians?

Date: Sept. 19, 2008
Contacts: Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations Officer
Luwam Yeibio, Media Relations Assistant
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARINE DEBRIS WILL LIKELY WORSEN IN THE 21ST CENTURY;
GOAL OF ZERO WASTE DISCHARGE SHOULD BE ADOPTED

WASHINGTON -- Current measures to prevent and reduce marine debris are inadequate, and the problem will likely worsen, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. The United States and the international maritime community should adopt a goal of "zero discharge" of waste into the marine environment, and a system to assess the effectiveness of existing and future marine debris prevention and reduction actions should be implemented. In addition, better leadership, coordination, and integration of mandates and resources are needed, as responsibilities for preventing and mitigating marine debris are scattered across federal organizations and management regimes.

"The committee found that despite all the regulations and limitations over the last 20 years, there are still large quantities of waste and litter in the oceans," said Keith Criddle, chair of the committee that wrote the report and the Ted Stevens Distinguished Professor of Marine Policy at the Juneau Center for Fisheries and Ocean Science, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. "We concluded that the United States must take the lead and coordinate with other coastal countries, as well as with local and state governments, to better manage marine debris and try to achieve zero discharge."

A National Research Council committee was convened at the request of Congress to assess the effectiveness of international and national measures to prevent and reduce marine debris and its impact. Marine debris, man-made materials that intentionally or accidentally enter and pollute the ocean, can cause significant harm. For instance, birds, fish, and marine mammals ingest debris, especially plastics, which can lead to digestive problems and uptake of toxic compounds. Animals can also suffer injuries or die after becoming entangled in fishing-related debris such as plastic net fragments, rope, and packing straps. Marine debris also poses a health and safety hazard to beachgoers and divers, and could impact coastal recreation and tourism revenue. While marine debris comes from sources both on land and at sea, the committee focused on debris discharged at sea for the purposes of this report.

Although Congress previously called for federal interagency coordination to address the marine debris problem, leadership and governance remain inefficient and current mitigation efforts are episodic and crisis driven, the committee found. A national framework to identify priorities for dealing with marine debris and its removal efforts should be established. Additionally, Congress should designate a lead agency to expand programs to comprehensively address the problem, including land-based marine litter, derelict fishing gear, shipborne waste, and abandoned vessels.

The rest of the Press Release can be read here which also provides a link to the full report itself (it is in book form at it is well over 200 pages long).

What can we do?

Some centers require you to wash items or remove labels or lids. Find out what your center requires before making the trip.
Try to avoid making special trips in your car to recycle, as you will be using fuel unnecessarily. Combine it with a trip you are making anyway.
If you are in school or at work where you use a lot of paper and then throw it away, try having a recycling bin under your desk, or a recycling pocket in your file. Make a mental note to put all recyclable paper in there each time you feel like heading for the normal trash bin.
Don't just think of the normal items you can recycle, do some research and expand it. Some things you might be able to recycle easily are:
- Batteries (very important)- car batteries, equipment batteries, flashlight
- Beer and wine bottles, jars, other glass items
- Paper and plastic bags (reuse first if possible)
- Magazines, newspapers, phone-books
- Plastic bottles, plastic containers
- Packing peanuts (plastic loose fill) can often be recycled at local postal services. You can locate one at http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/
- Cans and tins
- Juice/soup/milk cartons
- Any items with recycle symbol on them
- Cell phones
- Old televisions
- Old computers
It is vital to separate the magazines glass cardboard etc and it is especially good to recycle styrofoam because it is one of the things that take FOREVER to decompose

Wikihow Tips On How & What To Recycle

Do what you can, for every little bit helps, and we need to start paying attention to what we are doing to this planet and all of the others who inhabit it besides "man". They have as much right to live here as we do, and we need to ensure that we are not causing their destructions simply as a matter of convenience for ourselves. We will reach a point of no return and we need to stop this before it gets to that breaking point for ourselves as well as the planet and its other inhabitants.

Louisiana Police Pull Over Activist at Behest of BP

2010-06-22T12:47:00.001-04:00

Last week, Drew Wheelan, the conservation coordinator for the American Birding Association, was filming himself across the street from the BP building/Deepwater Horizon response command in Houma, Louisiana. As he explained to me, he was standing in a field that did not belong to the oil company when a police officer approached him and asked him for ID and "strongly suggest[ed]" that he get lost since "BP doesn't want people filming":

Here's the key exchange:

Wheelan: "Am I violating any laws or anything like that?"
Officer: "Um...not particularly. BP doesn't want people filming."
Wheelan: "Well, I'm not on their property so BP doesn't have anything to say about what I do right now."
Officer: "Let me explain: BP doesn't want any filming. So all I can really do is strongly suggest that you not film anything right now. If that makes any sense."

Not really! Shortly thereafter, Wheelan got in his car and drove away but was soon was pulled over.

It was the same cop, but this time he had company: Kenneth Thomas, whose badge, Wheelan told me, read "Chief BP Security." The cop stood by as Thomas interrogated Wheelan for 20 minutes, asking him who he worked with, who he answered to, what he was doing, why he was down here in Louisiana. He phoned Wheelan's information in to someone. Wheelan says Thomas confiscated his Audubon volunteer badge (he'd recently attended an official Audubon/BP bird-helper volunteer training) and then wouldn't give it back, which sounds like something only a bully in a bad movie would do. Eventually, Thomas let Wheelan go.

"Then two unmarked security cars followed me," Wheelan told me. "Maybe I'm paranoid, but I was specifically trying to figure out if they were following me, and every time I pulled over, they pulled over." This went on for 20 miles. Which does little to mitigate my own developing paranoia about reporting from what can feel like a corporate-police state.

Louisiana Police working for BP

So now our police are working for BP? This is outrageous. The police strongly suggests that this guy not film while on private property, and yet it wasn't BP's property. What the hell is going on? How in the hell is this being allowed to happen. Why does BP have any kind of authority with the police?

**By the way, Mother Jones is a non profit group and therefore could any support they can get to help them keep going. If you can help them out, it is worth doing even if it is only a little, and I am sure that they would appreciate it.

Updates, Interactive Graphics, & Pictures

2010-06-21T08:34:00.000-04:00

BBC News has a fantastic Interactive guide that gives photos as well as moving graphics that explain & show what happened with both the sinking, the BOP, the attempts to stop the oil and it is incredibly easy to follow along, not to mention makes the whole thing a lot easier to understand from a laymen's point of view.

Interactive guide on what happened, and the details in easy to follow picture guide.

These are some screenshots of the wreckage of the rig:

Now this is supposed to be the shots from the different ROV's and their positions so you have a better understanding on what you are looking at. From the diagram you can see that these ROV's are not in a tight circle but are spread out at various key points. This suggests to me that there is no reason why there cannot be independent ROV's down there to verify the information that BP is giving. We've seen how they are willing to do everything within their power to hide the truth from not only us but from the government as well, and that should just be counted on as they are the ones who are going to ultimately pay based on damages, so they will obviously do everything in their power to minimize the damage done in order to minimize how much they are going to pay.

As more and more information continues to come out, BP is going to be hard pressed to keep pointing fingers at everyone else as this was their operation and they are the ones who had the final say on what was done and not done. I, along with many others are going to be watching closely to see exactly how this plays out due to the politics.

A Deepwater Horizon rig worker has told the BBC that he identified a leak in the oil rig's safety equipment weeks before the explosion.

Tyrone Benton said the leak was not fixed at the time, but that instead the faulty device was shut down and a second one relied on.

BP said rig owners Transocean were responsible for the operation and maintenance of that piece of equipment.

Transocean said it tested the device successfully before the accident.

........

Several rig workers the BBC spoke to who were on the Deepwater Horizon said there was pressure in April to work fast.

Work to prepare and then seal the well was behind schedule and had to be completed before a production rig could move in and start turning profits.

"Too many jobs were being done at one time. It should have just really slowed down and just took one job at a time, to make sure everything was done the way it should have been," said Mr Benton, who is now suing BP and Transocean for negligence.

BP has responded to Mr Benton's account saying Transocean was responsible for both the maintenance and operation of the blowout preventer.

BP was told of oil safety fault 'weeks before blast'

One can only hope that when this is all said and done that someone is criminally charged for this disaster. 11 people died due to yet again ignoring safety to maximize profits. The gulf has been damaged beyond calculation and people's lives have been destroyed.

Markey Obtains Doc's Showing BP Knew Worst Case of 100,000 Daily Possible

2010-06-20T15:57:00.000-04:00

Markey: Internal BP Document Shows Worst Case Scenario for Spill Could Be 100,000 Barrels Per Day

WASHINGTON (June 20, 2010) -- Today Representative Ed Markey (D-Mass.) released an internal BP document showing that the company's own analysis believed that a worst-case scenario, based on damage to the well bore, could result in 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
In the document, BP stated: If BOP and wellhead are removed and if we have incorrectly modeled the restrictions – the rate could be as high as ~ 100,000 barrels per day up the casing or 55,000 barrels per day up the annulus (low probability worst cases)
To read the document, CLICK HERE.
This number is in sharp contrast to BP’s initial claim that the leak was just 1,000 barrels a day. At the time this document was made available to Congress, BP claimed the leak was 5,000 barrels a day, and told Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst case scenario was be 60,000 barrels a day. This document tells a different story.
“Considering what is now known about BP’s problems with this well prior to the Deepwater Horizon explosion, including cementing issues, leaks in the blowout preventer and gas kicks, BP should have been more honest about the dangerous condition of the well bore,” said Markey, the chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
On Thursday, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen was asked in his daily briefing about the condition of the well bore. He said there, “So what I would tell you is we don’t know exactly the condition of the well bore. And that’s one of the unknowns that we’re managing around in terms of risks. And that’s the reason we didn’t go, didn’t go to excessive pressures on the top kill and decided that we’d deal with containment and then go for the final relief well.”
According to Admiral Allen: "I think that one thing that nobody knows is the condition of the well bore from below the blowout preventer down to the actual oil field itself. And we don’t know, we don’t know if the well bore has been compromised or not."
What the BP document suggests that if the well bore is compromised or becomes compromised, we now know we could be looking at a flow rate 100 times BP's initial estimate. Even if we can't know for certain the condition of the well bore, we should have known how much oil could flow from it--BP did.
“When the oil spill started, BP said it was only 1,000 barrels a day. Now we know it could end up being 100 times larger than that in a worst-case scenario,” said Markey. “This document raises very troubling questions about what BP knew and when they knew it. It is clear that, from the beginning, BP has not been straightforward with the government or the American people about the true size of this spill. Now the families living and working in the Gulf are suffering from their incompetence.”
“BP needs to tell us what it will do if the well bore is compromised and 100,000 barrels per day of oil spills into the ocean. At this point, we need real contingency planning, not a plan with dead scientists and walruses,” said Markey.

Questions Remain on Integrity of Well

Documents Include:

At the time this document was made available to Congress, BP claimed the leak was 5,000 barrels a day, and told Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst case scenario was be 60,000 barrels a day. These documents tell a different story altoghter, which shows the reason that I've been saying all along that it was important to get independent verification of what BP was claiming and that we should NEVER trust the criminal to give us accurate information on his crime.

This information is just mind blowing especially in light of the previous information that we got from dougr from the oil drum, which suggests that the well casing is damaged and could cause a loss of the BOP before the relief wells are completed.

Now since we nor they (BP/Coast Guard) know where the casing may or may not be damaged, if the relief well is not drilled far enough down it could cause a more significant problem.

We are after all dealing with unknowns here. What a shame that that those who are supposed to be protecting us are unwilling to be honest with us about this disaster. It is obvious that BP has no plan, they are simply playing it by ear.

What would they do if the well bore was damaged or if the BOP is further damaged before the relief wells blow out? They haven't been able to stop or even contain the leak as it is, and this isn't gushing at full capacity as of yet. This should be a huge red flag that tells our government that BP should no longer be in charge of any aspect of this operation, as they are simply not going to be forthright and tell us what is going on.

Then to top off the day, we have members of the GOP now wanting us all to pray the oil spill away.
Yes, that is what I said, pray it away.

Louisiana lawmakers propose prayer to stop oil disaster

While cleanup crews and technical teams continue efforts to stop crude gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana lawmakers are proposing a different approach: prayer.
State senators designated Sunday as a day for citizens to ask for God's help dealing with the oil disaster.
"Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail," state Sen. Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week's unanimous vote for the day of prayer. "It is clearly time for a miracle for us."
The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast "to pray for an end to this environmental emergency, sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood."
Yes, brothers & sisters, you too can bring about the healing of the gulf and stop the oil simply by bowing your head and falling to your knees and direct your prayers skyward

Why doesn't this surprise me? Maybe Sarah Palin can get her Kenyan Witch-Doctor Priest, Rev. Muthee and he can join her down there and pray the oil out just like the can pray away the witchcraft!

And in other news, Tony Hayward took some time to reconnect with his family, and his yacht. Reports that he was over watching his yacht "Bob" race at the Isle of Wight proved to be true, and while some reported that he was only there with his son, photos prove otherwise.

Trying to maintain a 'low profile', he was unsuccessful at that, but did manage to parttake of the race on his $700,000.00 yacht while those in the gulf were still struggling with issues like losing their business and homes.

I don't begrudge the man time with his family, but this is like rubbing salt into the wounds of those who have lost everything, are watching their environment be destroyed, while the CEO who stated he wanted his life back is out sailing on his yacht. Talk about a PR disaster, this man is the perfect example of what not to do.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

A Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!

A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.
He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends.
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!
He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.
And each year that passes,
you're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially, for just being you!

Happy Father's Day

Palin Fan Fail

2010-06-19T08:47:00.001-04:00

Palin Supporters Showcase Their Desire to Make Sarah Palin Look Like She Is Knowledgeable About Something, Anything, and Fail Yet Again!

Sarah Palin was recently a guest on the Bill O'Reilly show, and she once again allowed her ignorance to shine bright on national television due to her inescapably obvious jealousy of the President of the United States. Her anger at him has been obvious, and while her supporters like to portray it as being something that is expected due to his inexperience, it is really an emotion she has a hard time controlling due to her inability to accept she did not succeed in the last presidential election. She pit herself not against Joe Biden with whom she was actually running against, but against the top spot on the presidential ticket because that is the title she covets.

So, onto the Bill O'Reilly show. Bill did a marvelous job of showing her to be the ignorant and ranting fool that she is, and all he had to do was ask her questions. The fact is he didn't even ask tough questions, instead questions like, "what would you do", and she couldn't even answer that. She ranted about stopping the leaking well in the gulf and yet when Bill pointed out that no one knew how to stop the well, she did not let that deter her from continuing her anger filled diatribe against President Obama. She claimed that the Dutch were never called back and that both they and the Norwegian had offered to help but "couldn't even get the proverbial call back".

You can watch the entertaining exchange if you'd like.

Now as expected many started immediately laughing at Sarah for her Dutch Dike image and why not, as she is known for not being accurate in her claims. In fact more than a few people were willing to show how easily Sarah stretches the truth to embellish her own record.
Palingates did a story about part of this interview: Sarah Palin, still lying about her record regarding the oil industry in Alaska; Sarah Palin, in her attempts to undermine President Obama, continues to make wild claims about her tough stance when she dealt with the oil companies in Alaska before she quit the office of governor. They did quite a good job showing just how far Sarah tends to go in order to try and smear President Obama and make herself seem important.

Now Palin Supporters are doing some serious twisting of the facts in order to attempt to make Sarah's claims seem accurate and it truly is a sight to behold, especially in light of the actual facts.

The blog "Conservatives4Palin" posted this commentary yesterday:

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2010

Guess What? The Dutch Want to Build a Sand Dike to Help with the Obama Oil Spill

By Ian Lazaran

....................
The left should probably ask themselves why nobody in the mainstream media in America has criticized Palin for her comments about the Dutch. They haven't done so probably because they know that Governor Palin is absolutely correct. Barack Obama rejected assistance from the Dutch untilvery recently and he has failed to accept all the help that the Dutch have offered. What help from the Dutch has Barack Obama failed to accept?

The government is also making it difficult for the Dutch to provide assistance in creating sand barriers to prevent the spilled oil from reaching the gulf shores. Van Oord, a Dutch company and Deltares, a Dutch research institute provided plans to build 60 mile sand dikes and the government rebuffed their offer of assistance. The government has now changed it’s tune and has accepted the plan, but the Jones Act prevents the Dutch from operating in America’s coastal waters.

This article tells us that Barack Obama's failure to waive the Jones Act has prevented the Dutch from implementing its plan to build a.....sand dike, which is exactly the type of expertise that Governor Palin claimed the Dutch would bring. The article also tells us that Governor Palin is correct that Obama has only accepted some, but not all, of the help that the Dutch has offered due to his failure to waive the Jones Act.

It's pretty telling that Yglesias is the only liberal willing to come forward and concede that Governor Palin was "right" (his characterization of what Palin said, not mine). And liberals have the gall to claim that the right is suffering from epistemic closure?

**********************************************************************************
(I did not copy the entire article, only the truly relevant portions when taken into consideration what Sarah Palin was stating in her interview with Bill O'Reilly. )

Let's tackle the main points and go from there shall we? Sarah claimed "The Dutch could not even get a proverbial call back" and that they have expertise in Dikes.

Now The Dutch did get a call back. Even they admitted as such:

Three days after BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, the Netherlands offered to help. Ships could have set about clearing the oil using Dutch sweeping arms, but the US government didn’t take up the offer. Dutch Consul General Geert Visser in Houston told Radio Netherlands Worldwide he was disappointed.

The article also went on to state:

Not only capricious US decision-making has made life difficult for the Dutch companies, but also protective US legislation. Consul General Geert Visser’s pet hate is the Jones Act: “It means that Dutch ships, or whatever other ships not under a US flag, can’t operate in US waters.” According to the Jones Act, all goods in US waters have to be transported by US ships.

Dutch Counsel Slams Foot Dragging by U.S. In Oil Spill

Now clearly the Dutch got a call back as they are complaining that their offer was not accepted on the 3rd day after the rig explosion. It also sounds like the Dutch have a bit of a problem with the Jones Act itself so perhaps they are more than willing to show their displeasure with that "thanks but no thanks" by taking a bit of a pot shot at the U.S. with regards to the oil spill simply because of their anger with the Jones Act?

So Sarah lied about that, and her supporters even prove it by linking to the article that shows they did indeed get a call back. They are obviously unwilling to admit to that part though. Why point out the obvious when it is much easier to just go with her lie and pretend like her claims are truthful.

Now, as to the response to the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and collapse, the Dutch claim that they offered to send help 3 days after the rig explosion, but it wasn't until the 4th day that the oil started showing up as leaking out of the riser pipe below the surface, prior to that there was simply oil from the platform, and based on those on scene, additional help was not really needed. Now lets just give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they are talking about 3 days after the initial explosion took place, that puts the date at the 24th, which is when the first signs of oil was leaking out of the riser pipe, but it was not known at that point that it was going to be the huge or long lasting gusher that it has become. BP was still the ones calling the shots at that point as they were "the responsible party" and therefore the ones who were responsible for all efforts. So, instead of being angry at President Obama, the anger should be directed at BP for their refusal of aide, but the Palin crowd can't let a chance to screech at the President go to waste.

April 20, 2010: 9:45 p.m. CDT - Deepwater Horizon catches fire.
April 21, 2010 Coast Guard rear admiral Mary Landry named Federal On Scene Coordinator
April 22, 2010 10:21 am - Rig sinks.
April 23, 2010 Coast Guard rear adm. Mary Landry tells CBS "At this time, there is no crude emanating from that wellhead at the ocean surface, er, at the ocean floor...There is not oil emanating from the riser either
April 24 - BP reports a leak 1,000 barrels (42,000 US gallons; 160 cubic metres) a day.

Here is the Response Timeline:
Deepwater Horizon Response

Here is the Timeline of events:
Wiki: Timeline of the Deepwater Horizon Events

So, despite the anger by the Dutch at the fact that the response team didn't need their help on the 3rd day as there was no noticeable leaking at that point, it was the correct response to make at the time. It should also be mentioned that since that time, the Dutch have again offered their help by way of skimmers and that help has been accepted, and with no waiver of the Jones Act needed. Now if you want to argue that the Unified Command was late in accepting that help, I will have no problem admitting that fact. The Coast Guard was simply stupid to allow BP to make the final call on these decisions for as long as they have. When it was obvious that BP was not putting the needed effort into the clean up of the spill, the Coast Guard should have taken total control of the clean up effort, but it didn't and still hasn't.

You will also notice that there is a constant reference to the Jones Act. The Jones Act was set up to protect the American worker.

The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-261) is a United States Federal statute that regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports.

Section 27, also known as the Jones Act, deals with cabotage (i.e., coastal shipping) and requires that all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships, constructed in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed by U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. The purpose of the law is to support the U.S. merchant marine industry, but agricultural interests generally oppose it because, they contend, it raises the cost of shipping their goods, making them less competitive with foreign sources.

In addition, amendments to the Jones Act, known as the Cargo Preference Act (P.L. 83-644), provide permanent legislation for the transportation of waterborne cargoes in U.S.-flag vessels.

(The cabotage provisions restrict the carriage of goods or passengers between United States ports to U.S. built and flagged vessels. In addition, at least 75 percent of the crewmembers must be U.S. citizens. Moreover foreign repair work of U.S.-flagged vessels' hull and superstructure is limited to 10 percent foreign-built steel weight.[2] This restriction largely prevents American shipowners from refurbishing their ships at overseas shipyards.)

Merchant Marine Act of 1920

Now there has been constant complaints that we are not able to get help due to the fact that the Jones Act has not been officially waived, and yet that rates as a 'true but barely" on the Truth O'Meter scale.

Thad Allen sets up accelerated Jones Act waiver process

National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen today announced the development of specific guidance to ensure accelerated processing of requests for Jones Act waivers should they be received as a part of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response.

Currently, though 15 foreign-flagged vessels are involved in the response, but no Jones Act waivers have been granted nor required for the operations in which they are engaged.

However, in order to prepare for any potential need, Admiral Allen has provided guidance to the Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. Maritime Administration to ensure any Jones Act waiver requests receive urgent attention and processing.

"While we have not seen any need to waive the Jones Act as part of this historic response, we continue to prepare for all possible scenarios," said Admiral Allen. "Should any waivers be needed, we are prepared to process them as quickly as possible to allow vital spill response activities being undertaken by foreign-flagged vessels to continue without delay."

To date, the administration has leveraged assets and skills from numerous foreign countries and international organizations as part of this historic, all-hands-on-deck response, including Canada, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, the United Nations' International Maritime Organization and the European Union's Monitoring and Information Centre. In some cases, offers of international assistance have been turned down because the offer didn't fit the needs of the response.

Generally, federal law prohibits a foreign-flagged vessel from transporting merchandise between points in the United States encompassed by the Coastwise laws. CBP makes determinations as to whether or not the Jones Act applies to the activities of a foreign-flagged vessel operating within U.S. waters.

Even if the Jones Act applies, a foreign flagged vessel can still conduct certain planned operations as part of the BP oil spill response if the vessel is an oil spill response vessel and meets the requirements of 46 USC section 55113.

The guidance provided by Admiral Allen would route waivers related to the BP oil spill response through the Federal On-Scene Coordinator, who will forward requests immediately through the National Incident Commander for expedited clearance.

A Jones Act waiver can be submitted by any interested party, either inside or outside the U.S. government.

Marine Log

So as has been reported repeatedly and more often ignored, there has been no need to waive the Jones Act, and by not doing so it has not stopped any help from being offered or accepted in the Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill Containment & Clean Up. Color me surprised that this is ignored by those who are desperate to find anything they can to complain about when it comes to the current administration, even if it means making things up which seems to be about all they have nowadays, when as I see it there are plenty of legitimate things you can complain about.

Now lets move onto these claims that the Dutch want to build 60 mile Sand Dikes to help protect the wetland.

What about these Sand Berm's or Dike's?

Are they the best option? Will they work?

The U.S. Army Corps had objected to parts of the plan, saying too many berms would alter tidal movements and send oil spilling onto neighboring Mississippi.The approved berms make up about half of an 86-mile network considered a last-ditch attempt to keep oil out of the state's fragile marshes.

"Rather than just say 'No way' the prudent thing to do was start a pilot project and keep asking questions," Allen said Thursday during a news conference in Venice.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said BP PLC, which is responsible for the spill's cleanup, would pay for the first section to be built, at Scofield Island. He said the oil company would pay for the other five if the Army Corps deems the Scofield berm successful.

Shreveport Times

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is desperate: millions of gallons of BP’s crude are launching an amphibious assault on his beaches and wetlands. So let’s do the math: desperation + a pol’s “do something” mentality = a loony decision to build 14-foot sand berms to protect the state’s coastline—a decision that bodes ill for the many others the state will face as BP’s oil gushes at least until August.

Before this, Jindal was known to scientists as the governor who in 2008 signed a law allowing the state’s public schools to teach creationism (excuse me! “intelligent design”) in their classrooms. The difficulty he has distinguishing science from faith reared its ugly head again when he cast about for a way to hold back BP’s oil. Emissaries from Jindal’s office have made regular pilgrimages to the Netherlands to consult with engineers about protecting the state’s coasts from the next Katrina. Van Oord, a marine engineering and dredging company that is constructing the artificial Palm Islands for Dubai, proposed building what amounts to artificial sandbars. “If you ask a Dutch company that builds artificial islands in Dubai how to protect marshlands and barrier islands,” says coastal geologist Rob Young of Western Carolina University, “of course they’ll say, ‘Let’s make an offshore island!—and shall we put a palm tree on it for you?’

Nothing like this has ever been tried, and the potential problems are legion. For starters, the 45 miles of berms the Army Corps of Engineers has OK’d will take six months to build, and “is going to start to erode and disappear immediately,” says Young. “I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time they get to the end the beginning is gone—and that’s without a storm.” (Scientists predict this hurricane season will be one of the worst in years.)

But heck, it’s BP’s money ($360 million for the berms alone, to be constructed by The Shaw Group Inc. of Baton Rouge, though the feds and state would have to front it and hope to be repaid), so who cares if the berms have to be rebuilt over and over? The real problem could be if they last long enough to block inlets that carry water to the wetlands on shore. If that happens, notes Young, “organisms that need to move in and out with tidal flushing won’t. You could kill the wetlands without the oil ever reaching them.” If they don’t block the inlets, then oil will reach the wetlands, and they’ll be toast. (If you think it’s tough to clean oil from a bird or beach, try cleaning it from the roots and stems of a wetland’s grass and reeds.) Altering tidal currents could also cause erosion of the natural barrier islands that protect the coast from hurricanes. “This could do more environmental harm than good,” says Young.

Newsweek: Don't Just Do Something

Dallon Weathers, noted coastal geologist at the University of New Orleans. Dr. Weathers compiled his concerns about the concept, perhaps in response to my May 10 post. His thoughts are summarized as follow:
• The planned area of dredging 1 mile from the shoreline will provide very little usable sediment.
• The proposed location and geometry of the designed berm ensures a rapid erosion timetable.
• The trench left at dredge site will modify wave patterns and rob sediment from the coastal system for years to come.
• Closing inlets would wreak havoc on the natural functioning of estuaries and inlets which make up our coastal ecosystem.
• Dredging along our coast could sever oil and gas pipelines.
• Precious offshore sand resources will be spread diffusely and haphazardly.
• Plugging inlets will cause channel scouring and potential inlet relocation.
• Waste of money and sentiment for others to give to future restoration.
• The (proposed sand) berm won’t be ready to help with this oil spill, or last for another.

LA Coast Post

There seems to be a general consensus that these berms or dikes are a bad idea. Why invest so much into a project that is doomed to not only fail, but in all likelihood make matters worse? Is it really just a desire to do anything over doing something right? Bobby Jindal has wanted these berms put in place long before the oil spill and now he has an even better excuse to use to attempt to get them put up, and what's worse is that BP will be paying for them. I have no qualms about the fact that BP should pay for doing everything they can to not only clean up the mess, but to help find ways to prevent the disaster from becoming worse, but it seems really ignorant to have them spend that money on something that isn't going to work, when the money could go towards some other idea that will work, or someone who has lost everything due to this disaster.

When we demand that they just throw away money, then we become as reckless as they have been, and that makes us no better than they are.

So the basis for this whole article that Sarah Palins' fans have written is false. She was not right about the fact that the Dutch did not get the proverbial phone call back, because they did. The Jones Act is not something that is a concern, as that has been taken care of already, it has not stopped or prevented help from coming into the Gulf of Mexico to help with the oil spill. She lied about her record, unless of course she wants to come forward and admit that she did not do what she claimed instead she simply renamed an organization that was set up by the previous administration, and then admit that despite her claims of making sure that the Oil & Gas companies were working safer, they weren't and there is documented evidence of that fact.

Stand Up For Our Nation

**Update 8 am Friday** Hurricane Earl

Hurricane Earl Updated Warning & Watches

** MUST SEE** Interviews with Restoring Honor Rally Participants

Remembering the Dream

Hallowed Ground & Hate

False Claims By Christain'ts

Sarah Palin talks OTR with Greta Van Sustern & Continues to Lie

Updated Information on Cordoba House (aka NYC Mosque)

NYC Mosque Controversy

Health Care Denied For September 11 Responders & How They Voted

Tropical Storm Bonnie & The Oil Spill

The Dangerous Nature Of Sarah Palin's Lies & Hateful Rhetoric

Oil Spill News

**Update On Seepage**

News On Seepage Detected 'Some Distance From Well'

I'm Back & Updated Oil Spill News

Chandeleur sand berm segment shrinking like a wool sweater in hot water!

~Happy Independence Day~

Updated Information on Oil Spill & Rumor Patrol

LOUISIANA GOVERNOR STILL HASN'T DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARD

Tropical Storm Alex~Gulf Hurricane Update/Status

Goodbye Pensacola Beach

Potential Hurricane, The Gulf Oil Spill, The Clean Up & Containment

What Have We Done?

Louisiana Police Pull Over Activist at Behest of BP

Updates, Interactive Graphics, & Pictures

Markey Obtains Doc's Showing BP Knew Worst Case of 100,000 Daily Possible

Happy Father's Day

Palin Fan Fail

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2010

Guess What? The Dutch Want to Build a Sand Dike to Help with the Obama Oil Spill

Update 8 am Friday Hurricane Earl

MUST SEE Interviews with Restoring Honor Rally Participants

Update On Seepage