Last month America's national debt increased to 101% of our gross domestic product. The dubious threshold was crossed with the latest issuance of $32 billion in 2year US Treasury bonds. Unfortunately, the event passed without much fanfare or media headline.
Tyler Durden reports for ZeroHedge that it was just three weeks ago, on January 30, that our debt-to-GDP ratio went from double to triple digits. It has taken the federal government a mere twenty one days to add a full percentage point to this most critical of debt sustainability ratios.
And the reaction from useless Congress, the two useless political parties, the GOP candidates, and of course Obama is one of indifference and bickering. With just under $1 trillion in new debt issuance on deck in the next nine months, the US national debt will be at 110% of GDP in no time! Where will we be with four more years of Obama and another $10 trillion in national debt.........
Into the abyss we go.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Research showing Mars extreme drought for millions of years
Mars may have been extremely dry for more as much as the last 600 million years, making it too hostile for any life to survive on the planet's surface. This finding comes from researchers who have been carrying out the painstaking task of analysing individual particles of Martian soil. Dr Tom Pike, from Imperial College London, will discuss the team's analysis at a European Space Agency (ESA) meeting on February 7th, 2012.
The researchers have spent three years analysing data on Martian soil that was collected during the 2008 NASA Phoenix mission to Mars. Phoenix touched down in the northern arctic region of the planet to search for signs that it was habitable and to analyse ice and soil on the surface.
The results of the soil analysis at the Phoenix site suggest the surface of Mars has been arid for hundreds of millions of years, despite the presence of ice and the fact that previous research has shown that Mars may have had a warmer and wetter period in its earlier history more than three billion years ago. The team also estimated that the soil on Mars had been exposed to liquid water for at most 5,000 years since its formation billions of years ago. They also found that Martian and Moon soil is being formed under the same extremely dry conditions.
Satellite images and previous studies have proven that the soil on Mars is uniform across the planet, which suggests that the results from the team's analysis could be applied to all of Mars. This implies that liquid water has been on the surface of Mars for far too short a time for life to maintain a foothold on the surface.
Dr Pike, from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial, who is lead author on the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, explains:
"We found that even though there is an abundance of ice, Mars has been experiencing a super-drought that may well have lasted hundreds of millions of years. We think the Mars we know today contrasts sharply with its earlier history, which had warmer and wetter periods and which may have been more suited to life. Future NASA and ESA missions that are planned for Mars will have to dig deeper to search for evidence of life, which may still be taking refuge underground."
The researchers have spent three years analysing data on Martian soil that was collected during the 2008 NASA Phoenix mission to Mars. Phoenix touched down in the northern arctic region of the planet to search for signs that it was habitable and to analyse ice and soil on the surface.
The results of the soil analysis at the Phoenix site suggest the surface of Mars has been arid for hundreds of millions of years, despite the presence of ice and the fact that previous research has shown that Mars may have had a warmer and wetter period in its earlier history more than three billion years ago. The team also estimated that the soil on Mars had been exposed to liquid water for at most 5,000 years since its formation billions of years ago. They also found that Martian and Moon soil is being formed under the same extremely dry conditions.
Satellite images and previous studies have proven that the soil on Mars is uniform across the planet, which suggests that the results from the team's analysis could be applied to all of Mars. This implies that liquid water has been on the surface of Mars for far too short a time for life to maintain a foothold on the surface.
Dr Pike, from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial, who is lead author on the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, explains:
"We found that even though there is an abundance of ice, Mars has been experiencing a super-drought that may well have lasted hundreds of millions of years. We think the Mars we know today contrasts sharply with its earlier history, which had warmer and wetter periods and which may have been more suited to life. Future NASA and ESA missions that are planned for Mars will have to dig deeper to search for evidence of life, which may still be taking refuge underground."
Monday, January 30, 2012
The latest Miley Cyrus smoking pictures!
Well it seems like once a month we are treated to a new batch of Miley Cyrus smoking pictures. The latest big batch came from Hawaii and they were simply wonderful. I wish we would get the definitive exhale picture though. It is just a matter of time at this pace of course. Hopefully within the next few weeks it will surface! In the meantime enjoy these.
Last week we got a couple of candids while she was riding in a car. Nothing spectacular but anything of Miley Cyrus smoking is worthy in my opinion. She is definitely not shy about being seen enjoying a cigarette in public these days.
Now we can just wait for the next batch of Miley Cyrus smoking pictures. We also can look forward to a movie called LOL to be released in the near future. Miley does smoke in the movie according to reports.
Check out our previous story with pictures of Miley Cyrus smoking.
Last week we got a couple of candids while she was riding in a car. Nothing spectacular but anything of Miley Cyrus smoking is worthy in my opinion. She is definitely not shy about being seen enjoying a cigarette in public these days.
Now we can just wait for the next batch of Miley Cyrus smoking pictures. We also can look forward to a movie called LOL to be released in the near future. Miley does smoke in the movie according to reports.
Check out our previous story with pictures of Miley Cyrus smoking.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Haiti still in ruins two years after earthquake
It has been two years since the catastrophic earthquake that destroyed Haiti and yet even after all the humanitarian efforts that have gone on, the country is still basically in ruins. The presidential palace is nothing more than a pile of rubble still. Port-au-Prince's cathedral also offers a striking symbol of the failure of an international aid effort.
"I've been here for the past two years," Wilbert told AFP, admitting he found it hard emotionally to move on from the disaster. "I cannot detach myself from this place where I lost my two legs," he said.
UN fact sheets highlighted the hundreds of thousands of people relocated from tent cities in 2011 but the pace of reconstruction has been painfully slow. That is partly explained by the cataclysmic scale of the January 12, 2010 disaster, which killed, injured or displaced one in six of the Caribbean nation's entire population, razing some 250,000 homes in the capital alone. But Haiti was also already the economic basket case of the Western Hemisphere, a dysfunctional country often ruled by a corrupt elite while 80% of the population lived below the poverty line, most in stinking slums.
Despite considerable achievements, including in the areas of rubble removal and the resettlement of displaced persons, many Haitians remain in need of international assistance," Ban said.
"I've been here for the past two years," Wilbert told AFP, admitting he found it hard emotionally to move on from the disaster. "I cannot detach myself from this place where I lost my two legs," he said.
UN fact sheets highlighted the hundreds of thousands of people relocated from tent cities in 2011 but the pace of reconstruction has been painfully slow. That is partly explained by the cataclysmic scale of the January 12, 2010 disaster, which killed, injured or displaced one in six of the Caribbean nation's entire population, razing some 250,000 homes in the capital alone. But Haiti was also already the economic basket case of the Western Hemisphere, a dysfunctional country often ruled by a corrupt elite while 80% of the population lived below the poverty line, most in stinking slums.
Despite considerable achievements, including in the areas of rubble removal and the resettlement of displaced persons, many Haitians remain in need of international assistance," Ban said.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Another year, Another BCS fail
Well what is new. Another college football season and another totally failed BCS system. Now don't quit reading yet. I don't have a big problem with the LSU - Alabama rematch in the National Championship game. I agree they are most likely the two best teams in the country (no doubt about LSU).
Oklahoma State has a bit of an argument as they did beat more teams with a winning record than Alabama did (7 - 3), but in the end LSU - Alabama looks solid. Just keep your fingers crossed that someone can at least score a touchdown this time before half the country falls asleep in another 6-6 snorefest.
The Rose Bowl got it right. Just like last year when they had TCU and Wisconsin in a wonderful game, this year they have Oregon facing Wisconsin. A great matchup of contrasting styles. The high flying offense of Oregon against the powerful running game of Wisconsin.
Credit to the Fiesta Bowl as well. #3 Oklahoma State against #4 Stanford. Offense, offense and more offense. It's the other BCS games I have issue with.
The Sugar Bowl completely flopped. #14 Michigan? Sure they have a very high profile quarterback and will bring a zillion fans, but come on. Even worse...Virginia Tech. Didn't they get blasted by Clemson in the ACC Title game? Who wants to watch this game? Boise State - Michigan would have been fascinating. Instead #6, #7, #8 and #9 all got passed over for this gobbler.
And now the Orange Bowl. They give tickets away for $1 to get fans to come to the Orange Bowl lately. This year's matchup is no better at all. West Virginia - Clemson. #15 against #23. Ouch. In truth it will probably be an entertaining game, but nobody west of the Mississippi will tune in at all.
The real problem is that the BCS ignored top teams that played all year to get a top 10 ranking. Instead the BCS went with #11, #14, #15 and #23. Yuck. Please give us a playoff!
Oklahoma State has a bit of an argument as they did beat more teams with a winning record than Alabama did (7 - 3), but in the end LSU - Alabama looks solid. Just keep your fingers crossed that someone can at least score a touchdown this time before half the country falls asleep in another 6-6 snorefest.
The Rose Bowl got it right. Just like last year when they had TCU and Wisconsin in a wonderful game, this year they have Oregon facing Wisconsin. A great matchup of contrasting styles. The high flying offense of Oregon against the powerful running game of Wisconsin.
Credit to the Fiesta Bowl as well. #3 Oklahoma State against #4 Stanford. Offense, offense and more offense. It's the other BCS games I have issue with.
The Sugar Bowl completely flopped. #14 Michigan? Sure they have a very high profile quarterback and will bring a zillion fans, but come on. Even worse...Virginia Tech. Didn't they get blasted by Clemson in the ACC Title game? Who wants to watch this game? Boise State - Michigan would have been fascinating. Instead #6, #7, #8 and #9 all got passed over for this gobbler.
And now the Orange Bowl. They give tickets away for $1 to get fans to come to the Orange Bowl lately. This year's matchup is no better at all. West Virginia - Clemson. #15 against #23. Ouch. In truth it will probably be an entertaining game, but nobody west of the Mississippi will tune in at all.
The real problem is that the BCS ignored top teams that played all year to get a top 10 ranking. Instead the BCS went with #11, #14, #15 and #23. Yuck. Please give us a playoff!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Super Committee not so Super
The name definitely must be changed. The so-called Super Committee appointed by Congress to come up with budget cuts and save the country from our crippling debt has failed. In fact they have crashed and burned in grand fashion.
No deal coming. No compromise. After weeks and weeks some of the most powerful people in Washington DC have absolutely nothing to show.
Now we will get $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts. $550 billion from defense. The rest from medicare and other programs. Republicans are already working on legislation to overturn them. Obama is already saying he will veto any such legislation.
And now the war of words begins. President Obama spouted at a news conference today blaming Republicans (as he always does). Seems to me the Super Committee was an even six from both parties. Blame should fall evenly on both sides.
A total political failure. I guess it should have been expected. All we have seen now for a few years are total political failures. Congress is a joke. The Presidential leadership is a joke. It's basically a total disaster.
Look around the world. Europe is in tatters. Egypt is once again blowing up. The Middle East is a powder keg that we will reignite over the next few weeks. We have the Occupy Wall Street movement (as goofy as it is). And we don't have twelve people from Congress that can sit down and come to any agreement.
Goodness things are bad.
No deal coming. No compromise. After weeks and weeks some of the most powerful people in Washington DC have absolutely nothing to show.
Now we will get $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts. $550 billion from defense. The rest from medicare and other programs. Republicans are already working on legislation to overturn them. Obama is already saying he will veto any such legislation.
And now the war of words begins. President Obama spouted at a news conference today blaming Republicans (as he always does). Seems to me the Super Committee was an even six from both parties. Blame should fall evenly on both sides.
A total political failure. I guess it should have been expected. All we have seen now for a few years are total political failures. Congress is a joke. The Presidential leadership is a joke. It's basically a total disaster.
Look around the world. Europe is in tatters. Egypt is once again blowing up. The Middle East is a powder keg that we will reignite over the next few weeks. We have the Occupy Wall Street movement (as goofy as it is). And we don't have twelve people from Congress that can sit down and come to any agreement.
Goodness things are bad.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Go get your Meteorology Degree!
I always tell my soccer players to go get a meteorology degree when they head for college. I was always joking because we live here in Dallas, Texas. So all summer long it just doesn't take much talent to be a weatherman. Everyday is 100 and sunny. The seven day forecast is 100, 102, 101, 102, 101, 103 and 102.
Not a cloud in the sky. Just doesn't seem like too difficult a job to me. If it does accidentally rain nobody cares that you missed the forecast because it rained! Even in the more difficult times where we get thunderstorms or cold fronts it just doesn't matter if you miss the forecast. The weathercasters on the local news here have been there for decades. David Finfrock can barely say a full sentence anymore without having to take pause. They have their jobs forever....no matter how many predictions they miss.
Well, seems my advice is even better now. A new article hit showing the college degrees with the least unemployment for graduates and meteorologist is listed at 0%. So get a meteorology degree and get a job for sure. Not too shabby.
A guaranteed job. Almost perfect job security. And a job where you can be wrong all the time with a summer that you basically have to do nothing. That's the ticket!
Not a cloud in the sky. Just doesn't seem like too difficult a job to me. If it does accidentally rain nobody cares that you missed the forecast because it rained! Even in the more difficult times where we get thunderstorms or cold fronts it just doesn't matter if you miss the forecast. The weathercasters on the local news here have been there for decades. David Finfrock can barely say a full sentence anymore without having to take pause. They have their jobs forever....no matter how many predictions they miss.
Well, seems my advice is even better now. A new article hit showing the college degrees with the least unemployment for graduates and meteorologist is listed at 0%. So get a meteorology degree and get a job for sure. Not too shabby.
A guaranteed job. Almost perfect job security. And a job where you can be wrong all the time with a summer that you basically have to do nothing. That's the ticket!
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