Not that anyone would notice... but it is getting hotter and hotter...

Link from here.

We are all related

Celebrating the Era of Stupid

Those elected to govern who don't know how and 13 reasons Washington is failing.

Justice Antonin Scalia.

CEOs and Wall Street figuring out how to loot pensions.

Watch out, California!

In the end, they will bring out their killer robots.  Then they will destroy the earth.  (Sorry. Getting silly)

And those who fight it:

Bernie Sanders vs. the Koch Brothers.

Paul Krugman.



And the world sits back and is amused by our antics.

From Cops to Corn Syrup

Why cops don't often believe a rape victim.

The Republicans self-made straitjacket.

Rep. Issa is sad.  Aww.

The world's vegetation.

Moving into a new neighborhood?

Asteroid 1998 QE2 and its moon sailed within 3.6 million miles (5.8 million kilometers) of Earth on May 31, making their closest approach to our planet for at least the next two centuries. New radar images captured by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico are revealing just how unique this binary asteroid is, researchers say. 

“Asteroid QE2 is dark, red, and primitive — that is, it hasn’t been heated or melted as much as other asteroids," Arecibo's Ellen Howell said in a statement. "QE2 is nothing like any asteroid we've visited with a spacecraft, or plan to, or that we have meteorites from. It's an entirely new beast in the menagerie of asteroids near Earth."

And NASA finds “unprecedented” black hole cluster near Andromeda’s central bulge. Sounds faintly pregnant?

Male/Female is no longer a binary selection....

Sneaking High Fructose Corn Syrup into our food.

Happy People Dancing on Planet Earth

Palate cleanser

And more: The world in 60 seconds.

Showing where children sleep

Exposes the rich poor divide around the world. Photography by James Mollison.

Not that I'm freaking out or anything

But all of these deaths can't be attributed to fireworks, cold weather, or fog.... can they?

Apparently die offs are common.

Or are they not telling us something?

Update: Another scientist not worried.

Postcards from Hell

Images from the world's most failed states. 61 countries teetering on the brink or already lost to the abyss.

Now this is how geography should be taught!

Totally cool map of the world:



And how Australians see the world.

As the world burns

Fascinating and scary sequence of fires around the globe from 2000 to present day.

And amazing video taken from the International Space Station of Sarychev Peak exploding.

President Barack Obama addresses the world

We are living through a time of global economic challenges that cannot be met by half-measures or the isolated efforts of any nation. Now, the leaders of the G-20 have a responsibility to take bold, comprehensive and coordinated action that not only jump-starts recovery but launches a new era of economic engagement to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.

No one can deny the urgency of action. A crisis in credit and confidence has swept across borders, with consequences for every corner of the world. For the first time in a generation, the global economy is contracting and trade is shrinking. Trillions of dollars have been lost, banks have stopped lending and tens of millions around the globe will lose their jobs. The prosperity of every nation has been endangered, along with the stability of governments and the survival of people in the most vulnerable parts of the world.

We have learned that the success of the American economy is inextricably linked to the global economy. There is no line between action that restores growth within our borders and action that supports it beyond. If people in other countries cannot spend, markets dry up; already we've seen the biggest drop in American exports in nearly four decades, which has led directly to American job losses. And if we continue to let financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, we will remain trapped in a cycle of bubble and bust. That is why the upcoming London summit of the world's 20 leading economies is directly relevant to our recovery at home.

My message is clear: The United States is ready to lead, and we call on our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose. Much good work has been done, but much more remains. Our leadership is grounded in a simple premise: We will act boldly to lift the American economy out of crisis and reform our regulatory structure, and these actions will be strengthened by complementary action abroad. Through our example, the United States can promote a global recovery and build confidence around the world; and if the London summit helps galvanize collective action, we can forge a secure recovery, and future crises can be averted.

Our efforts must begin with swift action to stimulate growth. Already, the United States has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- the most dramatic effort to jump-start job creation and lay a foundation for growth in a generation. Other members of the G-20 have pursued fiscal stimulus as well, and these efforts should be robust and sustained until demand is restored. As we go forward, we should embrace a collective commitment to encourage open trade and investment, while resisting the protectionism that would deepen this crisis.

Second, we must restore the credit that businesses and consumers depend on. At home, we are working aggressively to stabilize our financial system. This includes an honest assessment of the balance sheets of our major banks, and will lead directly to lending that can help Americans purchase goods, stay in their homes and grow their businesses.

This must continue to be amplified by the actions of our G-20 partners. Together, we can embrace a common framework that insists on transparency, accountability and a focus on restoring the flow of credit that is the lifeblood of a growing global economy. And the G-20, together with multilateral institutions, can provide trade finance to help lift up exports and create jobs.

Third, we have an economic, security and moral obligation to extend a hand to countries and people who face the greatest risk. If we turn our backs on them, the suffering caused by this crisis will be enlarged and our own recovery will be delayed because markets for our goods will shrink further and more U.S. jobs will be lost. The G-20 should quickly deploy resources to stabilize emerging markets, substantially boost the emergency capacity of the International Monetary Fund and help regional development banks accelerate lending. Meanwhile, America will support new and meaningful investments in food security that can help the poorest weather the difficult days that will come.

While these actions can help get us out of crisis, we cannot settle for a return to the status quo. We must put an end to the reckless speculation and spending beyond our means; to the bad credit, over-leveraged banks and absence of oversight that condemns us to bubbles that inevitably bust. Only coordinated international action can prevent the irresponsible risk-taking that caused this crisis. That is why I am committed to seizing this opportunity to advance comprehensive reforms of our regulatory and supervisory framework.

All of our financial institutions -- on Wall Street and around the globe -- need strong oversight and common- sense rules. All markets should have standards for stability and a mechanism for disclosure. A strong framework of capital requirements should protect against future crises. We must crack down on offshore tax havens and money laundering. Rigorous transparency and accountability must check abuse, and the days of out-of-control compensation must end. Instead of patchwork efforts that enable a race to the bottom, we must provide the clear incentives for good behavior that foster a race to the top.

I know that America bears its share of responsibility for the mess that we all face. But I also know that we need not choose between a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism and an oppressive government-run economy. That is a false choice that will not serve our people or any people.

This G-20 meeting provides a forum for a new kind of global economic cooperation. Now is the time to work together to restore the sustained growth that can only come from open and stable markets that harness innovation, support entrepreneurship and advance opportunity.

The nations of the world have a stake in one another. The United States is ready to join a global effort on behalf of new jobs and sustainable growth. Together, we can learn the lessons of this crisis and forge a prosperity that is enduring and secure for the 21st century.

A worldwide message from the president:

With the G20 meeting approaching on April 2nd, this morning the President published a rare "simultaneous op-ed" in thirty papers around the world, calling for a collective effort to address the economic peril found in all corners of the globe. "The United States is ready to lead, and we call upon our partners to join us with a sense of urgency and common purpose," he writes. His op-ed appeared in the following publications:

Al Watan (Gulf States), Arab Times (Gulf States), Asharq Al Awsat (Arab-wide paper in Arabic), The Australian (Australia), Bangkok Post (Thailand), Chicago Tribune (United States), Clarin (Argentina), Corriere della Sera (Italy), Die Welt (Germany), El Pais (Madrid), El Mercurio (Chile), Eleftyropiea (Greece), Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil), Gulf News (Gulf States), The Hindustan Times/ The Hindu (India), International Herald Tribune (London), Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark), Le Monde (Paris), Lidove Noviny (Czech), Los Angeles Times (United States), The News (Pakistan), NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands), Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia), South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), Straits Times (Singapore), Sunday Times (South Africa), Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden), Syndey Morning Herald (Australia), WProst (Poland), Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan)

Kinda cool, isn't it? Having a president who uses words rather than threats, diplomacy rather than bombs?

Just in time for Christmas!

25 weird toys from around the world:

On the left is a mysterious toy. On the right, a graphical representation of a virus. And, on the bottom is a picture of what can only be a child catching herpes.

There are more... interesting toys on the list. The Japanese obsession over poop is notable, but number 13 gives me pause....

Before you put anything more in your mouth

Calculate what you eat for a week. How much is packaged? How much is raw? How much meat? How many vegetables? How much do you spend? Now compare:

Sorghum Crow of Sorghum Crow's General Store found this series of Time photos on what people eat around the world.

Maybe I'll have a beach front property....

If I'm not underwater...

Thailand(AP)-- Cities around the world are facing the danger of rising seas and other disasters related to climate change.

Of the 33 cities predicted to have at least 8 million people by 2015, at least 21 are highly vulnerable, says the Worldwatch Institute.

They include Dhaka in Bangladesh; Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro; Shanghai and Tianjin in China; Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt; Mumbai and Kolkata in India; Jakarta in Indonesia; Tokyo and Osaka-Kobe in Japan; Lagos in Nigeria; Karachi in Pakistan; Bangkok in Thailand, and New York and Los Angeles in the United States, according to studies by the United Nations and others.

More than one-tenth of the world's population, or 643 million people, live in low-lying areas at risk from climate change, say U.S.and European experts. Most imperiled, in descending order, are China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Egypt, U.S., Thailand, and the Philippines.

And speaking of new waterways:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 — For most of human history, the Arctic Ocean has been an ice-locked frontier. But now, in one of the most concrete signs of the effect of a warming climate on government operations, the Coast Guard is planning its first operating base there as a way of dealing with the cruise ships and the tankers that are already beginning to ply Arctic waters.
With increasingly long seasons of open water in the region, the Coast Guard has also begun discussions with the Russians about controlling anticipated ship traffic through the Bering Strait, which until now has been crossed mainly by ice-breaking research vessels and native seal and walrus hunters.
The Coast Guard says its base, which would probably be near the United States’ northernmost town, Barrow, Alaska, on the North Slope coast, would be seasonal and would initially have just a helicopter equipped for cold-weather operations and several small boats.
But given continued warming, that small base, which could be in place by next spring, would be expanded later to help speed responses to oil spills from tankers that the Coast Guard believes could eventually carry shipments from Scandinavia to Asia through the Bering Strait. Such a long-hoped-for polar route would cut 5,000 miles or more from a journey that would otherwise entail passage through the Panama Canal or the Suez.

The world according to Georgie

(Via Eli of Multi Medium) Click to enlarge:

I never knew we were responsible for so many countries

Did they invite us, ask us to be involved, or did we just assume they needed help? And at the moment, I don't think the world community wants us to be the self-appointed world policeman. We've made kind of a hash of it, don't you think?

From the United States Central Command website, here is their area of responsibility:

(Got an eight minute visit from someone at this site (U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND (USCENTCOM)) checking out Operation Bite. Do you guys know something we don't know? Can we ask politely that you not attack Iran until we've cleaned up the messes we've made in Afghanistan and Iraq? And besides... we don't really have a reason to bomb Iran yet. Let's not have another disastrous preemptive strike to stop pretend WMDs.)

Instead of war

Giving.

(Thanks Whig!)

Bird flu spreads around the globe

A Nigerian woman has become the first human to die from bird flu in sub-Saharan Africa.

The woman from Lagos was among four Nigerians suspected to have died from the H5N1 strain of bird flu, but tests on the three others proved inconclusive, a senior health official said.

The Lagos woman, who died of flu symptoms, tested positive for the H5N1 strain, Frank Nweke, Nigeria's information minister, said on Tuesday.

The disease was first found in poultry in Nigeria a year ago.

Nweke told a news conference: "Last night our team of 13 scientists were able to conclusively identify the case of avian influenza in a 22-year-old female who died in Lagos."

Abdulsalam Nasidi, a bird flu expert at the health ministry, said the three inconclusive cases were the mother of the confirmed case, a poultry worker in Taraba state and one person in Borno state.

The woman was one of 14 people, three of whom died, from whom samples were taken for tests that were concluded on Tuesday.

Samples are being sent to overseas laboratories for confirmation.

Nigeria is one of three countries regarded by experts as the weakest areas in the global attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

Bird flu has killed at least 164 people since it re-emerged in Asia in 2003, according to the most recent figures from the World Health Organisation. The toll includes 11 in Egypt.

Update 2/2: Bird Flu site tracking all articles.

Update 2/3: Bird flu in England. And the BBC has an excellent map of the spread of the flu.

Update 3/6:

LONDON, March 6 A British pharmaceutical firm says it has developed a bird flu vaccine that can provide protection against variants of the H5N1 avian influenza strain.

By the way....

The world is running out of water. Just thought you'd like to know. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.