tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558124696482740292024-03-13T00:32:57.177-04:00The Raven Spokea history of the futureTheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-44190356879769670332011-01-09T01:22:00.002-05:002011-01-09T12:54:17.676-05:00Reloaded<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosV8YNvQzkVh8iWkyxIYM3eA53j6Zd9Ra5gYLGKDORrS8TUsbZxoPKnHdhncG2i0khqQ_ho5ZJgYaKBgm5hoGiEkHLgMCBEUGHhNKI_rO-Co45KDgmsCGiCPtmzDaHxVLkwZWDl4iUjY/s1600/reloaded+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosV8YNvQzkVh8iWkyxIYM3eA53j6Zd9Ra5gYLGKDORrS8TUsbZxoPKnHdhncG2i0khqQ_ho5ZJgYaKBgm5hoGiEkHLgMCBEUGHhNKI_rO-Co45KDgmsCGiCPtmzDaHxVLkwZWDl4iUjY/s400/reloaded+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkznhnSZNpO4aMzcz9kvJZF87NvqYwRKaodTK9hfUowB08UjGhVo7WJXubCervQVgpQq8BkmqcapH1g1nsNH1xTIh_v8M1-Wl_ZOnIlX0mpCm5TFZnkYAGe-MUMknnYIrXv9KmSItxh8/s1600/reloaded+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkznhnSZNpO4aMzcz9kvJZF87NvqYwRKaodTK9hfUowB08UjGhVo7WJXubCervQVgpQq8BkmqcapH1g1nsNH1xTIh_v8M1-Wl_ZOnIlX0mpCm5TFZnkYAGe-MUMknnYIrXv9KmSItxh8/s400/reloaded+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc-t2MaAvj3XSF0chMYNrU3zDc86UcAWHylzbLg-9RP_zQ_T-Yyqf1u7Xxk_dWO8WpG3WQXDSGpsMj7RY3pPYD7e3cFCIqLxPBbhPSB0u_1YWtzgJxSfJ0MCV0Z07VTld816DxyF64kw/s1600/reloaded+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdc-t2MaAvj3XSF0chMYNrU3zDc86UcAWHylzbLg-9RP_zQ_T-Yyqf1u7Xxk_dWO8WpG3WQXDSGpsMj7RY3pPYD7e3cFCIqLxPBbhPSB0u_1YWtzgJxSfJ0MCV0Z07VTld816DxyF64kw/s400/reloaded+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUEQRTtuSlWmINrtsGkTy6CvktDZDHFGeUr8QuvdyL2_3dkEka0fyprZ7vlQc08b09ItyD29ZyHBqyUKN8YwfKva2iOmbE_xnj3BZkdLim8bCQNIxade-RpeSFxqc74nxNf9Mz4epMvQ/s1600/reloaded+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUEQRTtuSlWmINrtsGkTy6CvktDZDHFGeUr8QuvdyL2_3dkEka0fyprZ7vlQc08b09ItyD29ZyHBqyUKN8YwfKva2iOmbE_xnj3BZkdLim8bCQNIxade-RpeSFxqc74nxNf9Mz4epMvQ/s400/reloaded+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-60822533101812064602011-01-08T19:59:00.005-05:002011-01-08T22:40:16.596-05:00Tea Party Waltz"<i>They really need to realize that the rhetoric ... we're on Sarah Palin's targeted list, but the thing is, that the way that she has it depicted has the crosshairs of a gunsight over our district. When people do that, you gotta realize there's consequences to that action</i>." - Gabrielle Giffords.<br />
<br />
"<i>3.49 pm Various Palin sites are frantically removing various incendiary materials - which is both gratifying, but also, it seems to me, an acknowledgment of previous rhetorical excess....Palin's Facebook page simply cannot cope with the number of commenters blasting her</i>" - <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/">Andrew Sullivan</a><br />
<br />
An online comment:<br />
<blockquote><i>I am standing in the aisle at Costco when I found out my Congresswomen, Gabrielle Giffords, has been shot dead up on the north side.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>While I’m scrambling with my phone, two couples in front of me are talking about it and suddenly I hear one of the women say, “Well, that’s to be expected when you’re so liberal.”And the other woman says, “Ohh, so we get to appoint a Republican?”</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>I did not trust myself to speak. I’m a Soldier. Please remind me what country I am fighting for? At least seven people are dead. She happens to be the only member of Congress married to an active duty military.</i></blockquote>An eyewitness:<br />
<blockquote>Dr. Steven Rayle, a former emergency room doctor who now works in a hospice, said that he had witnessed the shootings. He said the congresswoman was standing behind a table outside the Safeway greeting passersby when the gunman approached her from behind, held a gun about a foot from her head and began firing.</blockquote><blockquote>“<i>He must have got off 20 rounds</i>,” he said. Ms. Giffords slumped to the ground and staff members immediately rushed to her aid, Dr. Rayle said.</blockquote><blockquote>Dr. Rayle said he performed CPR on some of the victims. He said one of the victims was a young child and appeared to be in critical condition with a gunshot wound.</blockquote>Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said Giffords was among at least 18 people wounded in the melee that killed six people, including Arizona's chief federal judge, a 9-year-old girl and an aide for the Democratic lawmaker. He said the rampage ended only after two people tackled the assailant. <br />
<br />
The sheriff pointed to the vitriolic political rhetoric that has consumed the country as he denounced the shooting that claimed several of his friends as victims, including U.S. District Judge John Roll. The judge attended Mass on Saturday morning like he does every day before stopping by to say hello to his good friend Giffords.<br />
<br />
<div class="art hmedia grid-3x2 hang"><div class="img" rel="media:image enclosure" type="image/jpeg"></div><span class="credit vcard contributor"> <span class="fn"></span></span></div>"<i>When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous</i>," the sheriff said. "<i>And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry</i>." <br />
<br />
Spencer Giffords, 75, was rushing to the hospital when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies. "<i>Yeah,</i>" he told The New York Post. "<i>The whole tea party</i>."TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-34481996000802641832011-01-08T19:39:00.000-05:002011-01-08T19:39:49.733-05:00The price of Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNBPsAFBC5Rzbze5vd9GwIlAcEQmYYPrKfo9eRxhNo5s1naIMQiiL-O0PmObtAZ1XgGOOC9OBoqDKhcT1ianrGJzYt-5jeuN2HPtbXEW_bpK68E2Zv16NDdWz8-QAAk8SOzvdtyaOmKU/s1600/giffords+bp+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNBPsAFBC5Rzbze5vd9GwIlAcEQmYYPrKfo9eRxhNo5s1naIMQiiL-O0PmObtAZ1XgGOOC9OBoqDKhcT1ianrGJzYt-5jeuN2HPtbXEW_bpK68E2Zv16NDdWz8-QAAk8SOzvdtyaOmKU/s640/giffords+bp+1.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bsDpZRjp_-mHeO2IsDMG6VS31VT1L-mr8vPUpZRjhl0J9YVdctsargr19BbZpLeRUEvxE_GIJS4JvN3TOW11c6FDlz2c7fFYsbDDzvf6fWmxFz2Xe8Saqu6DWGtm6qS7Id4XjzJg2Q0/s1600/giffords+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bsDpZRjp_-mHeO2IsDMG6VS31VT1L-mr8vPUpZRjhl0J9YVdctsargr19BbZpLeRUEvxE_GIJS4JvN3TOW11c6FDlz2c7fFYsbDDzvf6fWmxFz2Xe8Saqu6DWGtm6qS7Id4XjzJg2Q0/s400/giffords+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLnUgdi5PMVZH9HUztJXty4nwhibZ_0MRRISgqNq0wz2Dc9CrcjE7YGoBsCRHi1RZZVJNec6-vlC_DEzHM1WwOgfjRTwUgzGMMEo0cnsLCpe9AqYeJFBs04F7w7MlykxDZeEXplU0xKY/s1600/giffords+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLnUgdi5PMVZH9HUztJXty4nwhibZ_0MRRISgqNq0wz2Dc9CrcjE7YGoBsCRHi1RZZVJNec6-vlC_DEzHM1WwOgfjRTwUgzGMMEo0cnsLCpe9AqYeJFBs04F7w7MlykxDZeEXplU0xKY/s400/giffords+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-34088070966560081462011-01-08T19:33:00.001-05:002011-01-08T19:34:07.452-05:00Sleeper sell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8vtYJlhBPzg5xx7W1xf059M3Vr48-kmWbxqbu4GMObtGpPhUK1NoFoae-gKvrFCWFMBZzSNvCDQmA2Wpi9p6PEHT-XAPOJMTY_IYSNxV_ZrR8qtvABXSU1nVZgYQkLievZdlak-8kAA/s1600/sleeper+sell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8vtYJlhBPzg5xx7W1xf059M3Vr48-kmWbxqbu4GMObtGpPhUK1NoFoae-gKvrFCWFMBZzSNvCDQmA2Wpi9p6PEHT-XAPOJMTY_IYSNxV_ZrR8qtvABXSU1nVZgYQkLievZdlak-8kAA/s640/sleeper+sell.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><br />
See Jared Loughner's YouTube clip<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/shooting-suspect-named-jared-lee-loughner/69143/"> here</a>.TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-15116359397359077842011-01-08T18:33:00.001-05:002011-01-08T19:34:47.909-05:00Tea license<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SJEtjYaWpAPm_n4jOOOP1O8n8qq2cLYXsZjRLWdN1p8rAtEzoGd0y8TjlTKzvZCbG3uGqyTENMZwiQFY5PpdZP5y-MGAUX3Ts257ooJbbfD2kLoQefI2fYGbeKNns8JRsgchi4bA_t0/s1600/ignorance+went+hunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SJEtjYaWpAPm_n4jOOOP1O8n8qq2cLYXsZjRLWdN1p8rAtEzoGd0y8TjlTKzvZCbG3uGqyTENMZwiQFY5PpdZP5y-MGAUX3Ts257ooJbbfD2kLoQefI2fYGbeKNns8JRsgchi4bA_t0/s640/ignorance+went+hunting.jpg" width="402" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-56862585351461768722011-01-08T14:02:00.001-05:002011-01-08T14:13:42.833-05:00Pain is temporary, pride is forever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRd5hyATyIxwekXlXVLASfJpQxgD7lr3krCVCTuKHTFPu2Rtk1fm7VyocxXM2yIVgkvzuzMCSXEsCk2YP9oLBxICMscO8RheBt1q9ZMtSOFDijrrr6bOGqfom4TfmZuhw21neQhhOgWs/s1600/pain+is+temporary%252C+pride+is+forever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRd5hyATyIxwekXlXVLASfJpQxgD7lr3krCVCTuKHTFPu2Rtk1fm7VyocxXM2yIVgkvzuzMCSXEsCk2YP9oLBxICMscO8RheBt1q9ZMtSOFDijrrr6bOGqfom4TfmZuhw21neQhhOgWs/s400/pain+is+temporary%252C+pride+is+forever.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full size</i></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">This post is dedicated to<i> rikyrah</i>.</span><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span></div></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-6541409887639774522011-01-05T19:27:00.000-05:002011-01-05T19:27:57.211-05:00John the Revelator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMQOcF-NlXorJMzILbjlgORI_EHRVGTqt46aSHQFswqSDzl_kgvytfDlnbcth61Abtdl4bBnvCnl6c2J67nEuifsOiErickLFLTBmUuy_V7RU8-f_SoA1uYn2eZo47DqUaiLH6NcIh5w/s1600/John+the+Revelator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMQOcF-NlXorJMzILbjlgORI_EHRVGTqt46aSHQFswqSDzl_kgvytfDlnbcth61Abtdl4bBnvCnl6c2J67nEuifsOiErickLFLTBmUuy_V7RU8-f_SoA1uYn2eZo47DqUaiLH6NcIh5w/s640/John+the+Revelator.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-40734556712959262672011-01-03T19:11:00.001-05:002011-01-03T19:11:37.265-05:00Take your pick......and share, share, share.<br />
<br />
The 2008 message ain't gonna change for 2012.<br />
<br />
There's no reason it should.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Film grain effect</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV65zGscu_EZaLZchIdPZytzrRhyQ5NtNndDEeh8aKRNoKMfLAJE0LWMnXoyue1ToOB5jrUr0ljKAWonZl45jmM8USq-RBYbRgxbQ7pRuEMCu_xHloh684Kb7PWHfGSX8sA8zMk757Hs/s1600/Two+for+one+-+film+grain+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV65zGscu_EZaLZchIdPZytzrRhyQ5NtNndDEeh8aKRNoKMfLAJE0LWMnXoyue1ToOB5jrUr0ljKAWonZl45jmM8USq-RBYbRgxbQ7pRuEMCu_xHloh684Kb7PWHfGSX8sA8zMk757Hs/s400/Two+for+one+-+film+grain+effect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Smudge effect</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT_sCB_IEi38Bz_jBu4sO1BYXIhjGnnFdPAblvXple9_W8ujDf3JiGMZ7klcCeLjx_QLEh_G-rdT2hL2Yt-2-rH8Y4fKb47iPpSChqX_YQwLtpybCSQP2atMm0MGQwn4gpt4rNXQY738/s1600/Two+for+one+-+smudge+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsT_sCB_IEi38Bz_jBu4sO1BYXIhjGnnFdPAblvXple9_W8ujDf3JiGMZ7klcCeLjx_QLEh_G-rdT2hL2Yt-2-rH8Y4fKb47iPpSChqX_YQwLtpybCSQP2atMm0MGQwn4gpt4rNXQY738/s400/Two+for+one+-+smudge+effect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Watercolor effect</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7hfXOdpGXuVNZxdhrRISNYq_oP32bUPX0KYf4cJ8fjvyIpPycYulQmk3L7TPFfd0JzMVYOp4L1C8MGoDeBUi0AC7AJdcQsEelyRNb8rJAe9d1QN5DqMwgco2Bn46a0x7uB1p3RlYRgE/s1600/Two+for+one+-+watercolor+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7hfXOdpGXuVNZxdhrRISNYq_oP32bUPX0KYf4cJ8fjvyIpPycYulQmk3L7TPFfd0JzMVYOp4L1C8MGoDeBUi0AC7AJdcQsEelyRNb8rJAe9d1QN5DqMwgco2Bn46a0x7uB1p3RlYRgE/s400/Two+for+one+-+watercolor+effect.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Click images to view full-size & download.TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-79481934249401756962011-01-03T01:59:00.001-05:002011-01-03T02:07:59.543-05:00November, my heart beats for thee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJTR2BGXvYEyAC5wxhnBMkqz06CQ0bEFJaMv2f7YQOwCKzIORCMtkgyOv_-ZVlDDFfIjPARCDsEgQxFXNRl2EDTh_f0fTlqcx9oen3KEzu04hPglWNVjYFF1uQ7dwo1GDjG-Zxj6ELvs/s1600/co2+-+nov+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJTR2BGXvYEyAC5wxhnBMkqz06CQ0bEFJaMv2f7YQOwCKzIORCMtkgyOv_-ZVlDDFfIjPARCDsEgQxFXNRl2EDTh_f0fTlqcx9oen3KEzu04hPglWNVjYFF1uQ7dwo1GDjG-Zxj6ELvs/s400/co2+-+nov+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Nothing makes a <i>Mega-melt Enthusiast </i>happier than a big jump in atmospheric CO2. TheRaven's last post on CO2, using data reported by the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/22/science/earth/22carbon.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=mauna%20loa&st=cse">Mauna Loa observatory,</a> expressed sincere hope that we could end 2010 with a bang. November got pretty darn close, posting the 2nd highest year-over-year jump in CO2 seen in any November since the data series began, in 1958. In November 2010, CO2 jumped 2.69ppm over November 2009, a 0.7% increase.<br />
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Even better, November 2010 posted one of the 30 largest year-over-year jumps seen in 633 months of data! This means that 2010 is now in 2nd place, tied with 2003 and 1988, as the year with most number of Top-30 entries. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnC2ghk5d8uDMenI_OBWJ4KtyzpQaBBajWMOJBlou7xyZXqSGG_7QmiKJwb89YYU2Kx916thmlzHZomn_L6ryjMqssJ17Rauy7rhKJgOsTVscvnLcK2XbyknF0L1WD1WiluOQCkkCFJI/s1600/co2+top+30+nov+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnC2ghk5d8uDMenI_OBWJ4KtyzpQaBBajWMOJBlou7xyZXqSGG_7QmiKJwb89YYU2Kx916thmlzHZomn_L6ryjMqssJ17Rauy7rhKJgOsTVscvnLcK2XbyknF0L1WD1WiluOQCkkCFJI/s640/co2+top+30+nov+2010.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Considering that the Top-30 represents less than 5% of Mauna Loa monthly data, 2010 has earned its place in the annals of melting ice. The odds are, however, that most Top-30 records will be replaced over the next few years. Global population is approaching 7 billion. The global middle class is growing exponentially faster than general population. For example, China's new car market was one-tenth of America's ten years ago. Now it's one-half, with no indications that growth will ever stop.<br />
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China recently finished the major phase of it's<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressways_of_China"> inter-province expressway system</a>, 13 years ahead of schedule. China's expressway system is second only to the US in terms of mileage. India's economy is now growing at double digit rates. It's fair to say that the aggregate developing world economy has been growing faster - in some cases, much faster - than the US and Euro-zone over the past three years. China's economy has expanded by roughly one-quarter since the Great American Banking Disaster began to unfold. No wonder it's middle class is exploding. <br />
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The leading indicator for CO2 is economic activity. Specifically, the size and purchasing power of the global middle-class. CO2 is in turn a leading indicator for global average temperature, which is a nearly real-time indicator for ice melt. The average annual increase in Mauna Loa data over the past 10 years is 2ppm. Top-30 increases range from 33% to 96% above 10-year average. Twenty-three of the Top-30 are clustered in the past 12 years. The next illustration shows temporal positioning of year-over-year monthly increases that exceed long term average growth, represented by the red "peaks".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU9AdaPcyV_xqyUqj1YF0fPqYH_1I5Mciy1tXVvgQ6b0EIdYryq0kzFysZFEx6wxc18DhZ9MQxg2P3SzlfxnjOkxbpRUKcfw75sf6nielyAd3QSD5N8CQngXKXcet6iddAfiis9F2e-k/s1600/co2+-+nov+2010+trend+contour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKU9AdaPcyV_xqyUqj1YF0fPqYH_1I5Mciy1tXVvgQ6b0EIdYryq0kzFysZFEx6wxc18DhZ9MQxg2P3SzlfxnjOkxbpRUKcfw75sf6nielyAd3QSD5N8CQngXKXcet6iddAfiis9F2e-k/s400/co2+-+nov+2010+trend+contour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">With 2010's strong CO2 performance and slow improvement in developed<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">nation economies, 2011 </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">may be a breakout year. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps not as awesome as 1998, but even those records will eventually fall. Visit each month for updates and lots of mega-melt enthusiasm.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">While global-warming denialism is beyond ridiculous, the notion that less than 5% of global population can lead the developing world away from carbon-based economics is almost as bad. The developing world follows our economic playbook. In context of unintended consequences, we did our job too well. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The previous illustration depicts an accelerating trend. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">When historians search for the defining event of the 21st century, some may conclude that<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Conference"> it occurred in 1944</a>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-3377317666018326682010-12-31T20:21:00.001-05:002010-12-31T20:22:19.645-05:00Ornithologist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB2w8pTdiooY9RVQRfzNTRbGGu2DKJA6W3cmQE66hHkHy9Uhyphenhyphen8fLuHgbU6BHThXLoiFWLWE7al0WdIBCiihtPFabTQOJ6NI4AP-R43cezmKfzVMu-XNvpbRjNX9XrnuO844QJiD1tXl4/s1600/ornithologist+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDB2w8pTdiooY9RVQRfzNTRbGGu2DKJA6W3cmQE66hHkHy9Uhyphenhyphen8fLuHgbU6BHThXLoiFWLWE7al0WdIBCiihtPFabTQOJ6NI4AP-R43cezmKfzVMu-XNvpbRjNX9XrnuO844QJiD1tXl4/s400/ornithologist+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZOJmhkSzrux9-J0Cp7RUuUbVqGIPVNWg5Xfqzd0Biblv40kTzfurLZbWxZEdp6Qh4kymFI1dlPHDO9_MIEIx91F0mQrIXW0EA7acBq3FiQSCL6a5BOx71QiB1m_BT06dN7P1dw58aow/s1600/ornithologist+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZOJmhkSzrux9-J0Cp7RUuUbVqGIPVNWg5Xfqzd0Biblv40kTzfurLZbWxZEdp6Qh4kymFI1dlPHDO9_MIEIx91F0mQrIXW0EA7acBq3FiQSCL6a5BOx71QiB1m_BT06dN7P1dw58aow/s400/ornithologist+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3MOpy4_enStPpS1A3xttXfkwIXlGMvhNZzHFYFrw0Lw3MbLA49CBI6RA0XZfkuSq9Sb54ATSAdReUdzuljop677F020tBdssdYfRpr85daXroRzZy9Gd-JHEYAPWKCw5lDrSGLGYmhU/s1600/ornithologist+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3MOpy4_enStPpS1A3xttXfkwIXlGMvhNZzHFYFrw0Lw3MbLA49CBI6RA0XZfkuSq9Sb54ATSAdReUdzuljop677F020tBdssdYfRpr85daXroRzZy9Gd-JHEYAPWKCw5lDrSGLGYmhU/s400/ornithologist+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukWoak4N7idBjREb37bw24ddu9L1DbVX5Qokab5LlfxmvPncn0Ndfo2VtJIQ8p3kKS-ZVCx_4ip21QOy8ZqVzteYChEWRXNfijXKhNRTid__4tth-oLfYH1EPn4NQgSKK4LNrsjkdkyQ/s1600/ornithologist+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukWoak4N7idBjREb37bw24ddu9L1DbVX5Qokab5LlfxmvPncn0Ndfo2VtJIQ8p3kKS-ZVCx_4ip21QOy8ZqVzteYChEWRXNfijXKhNRTid__4tth-oLfYH1EPn4NQgSKK4LNrsjkdkyQ/s400/ornithologist+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-79601419919427845232010-12-31T19:45:00.003-05:002011-01-11T12:16:40.712-05:00Vengeance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77fVfFg5Nns3chAp88aXtFKJBNWM9rQT536i3ryLkukTWMdd89SL5QRjn2Ee0v5dJdbAbpfX4Vv0LqLhzO0hss99ZBmhg9-WOE7tkrnxIkwlc6L-2oppPRQ5N0Yl-DnG0cMfaD9dSeOw/s1600/Revenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77fVfFg5Nns3chAp88aXtFKJBNWM9rQT536i3ryLkukTWMdd89SL5QRjn2Ee0v5dJdbAbpfX4Vv0LqLhzO0hss99ZBmhg9-WOE7tkrnxIkwlc6L-2oppPRQ5N0Yl-DnG0cMfaD9dSeOw/s400/Revenge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Plate & frame wording: TheRaven<br />
Photo: TheRaven<br />
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In use 2006-2009TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-82657619150219056262010-12-31T19:42:00.000-05:002010-12-31T19:42:07.704-05:00Beat the cold......with pictures of a very warm event.<br />
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East Nashville's 7th annual Tomato Festival, August 14, 2010.<br />
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Photos: TheRavenTheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-56681683666486918062010-12-31T19:11:00.001-05:002010-12-31T19:42:51.840-05:00Urban night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvW-1g8lQtgzrI0eXD40sr-tef8lE0PtPcMrl3o0uqyP8FmdFNH85dhewDFLQX-suAWzQSmB3Yzevb5XMLbKjgHsJiuUBo_39DYG_NXpI-dV3483OMPVjtZnXhSSWg4Byrq2MGAPTL8o/s1600/urban+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvW-1g8lQtgzrI0eXD40sr-tef8lE0PtPcMrl3o0uqyP8FmdFNH85dhewDFLQX-suAWzQSmB3Yzevb5XMLbKjgHsJiuUBo_39DYG_NXpI-dV3483OMPVjtZnXhSSWg4Byrq2MGAPTL8o/s400/urban+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
East Nashville, 2009<br />
Photo: TheRavenTheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-29999503479218318292010-11-21T10:57:00.002-05:002010-11-21T11:42:45.548-05:00Postcards from the edgeThis Huffington Post headline is intriguing: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/16/mortgage-security-chart_n_784274.html">Man Makes Ridiculously Complicated Chart To Find Out Who Owns His Mortgage</a>. The chart itself is spectacular rendering of a ridulously complicated "system":<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCO_hS5Kp3p18TE37nVeccmmfVBVJaC16JLffH8PCu3cTfpn6ylX0BLVdhBdwdoXZRGKErnNvJ1N0ZcnTL3HmsGMvxsPOf-qv93lnDSu2X5SlhhY_FQFhyTRCbmIC1AP1g0pmVADqDOs/s1600/Mortgage+Securitization+Chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCO_hS5Kp3p18TE37nVeccmmfVBVJaC16JLffH8PCu3cTfpn6ylX0BLVdhBdwdoXZRGKErnNvJ1N0ZcnTL3HmsGMvxsPOf-qv93lnDSu2X5SlhhY_FQFhyTRCbmIC1AP1g0pmVADqDOs/s400/Mortgage+Securitization+Chart.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><br />
While the chart is loaded with legal terms and appears to be authoritative, its provenance depends on authorship. If the author is a <i>financial meltdown enthusiast</i> of some sort, the chart could be dismissed as a narrow-focus example, an exaggeration, or perhaps just plain wrong. The chart follows the paths taken by just one mortgage (the author's), through our securitization maze.<br />
<br />
We're learning in real-time about a consumer debt system that ran amok. Have a look at this example of ridiculously reckless development, before we examine the author's bona fides.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1ikKpVlP3Tho4vZFmVLwjQYxUL3pnUvoB26wpegyyyAojUJVJlldxSCabZ-lasKLMrcIwxNQE-TraGSEUCaXZoHtU3PD8Q7UHMJgFfbFFor7Z772YJ4vNj_K9qLxEOay-pAIdf_Z7ek/s1600/mortgage+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1ikKpVlP3Tho4vZFmVLwjQYxUL3pnUvoB26wpegyyyAojUJVJlldxSCabZ-lasKLMrcIwxNQE-TraGSEUCaXZoHtU3PD8Q7UHMJgFfbFFor7Z772YJ4vNj_K9qLxEOay-pAIdf_Z7ek/s400/mortgage+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dan Edstrom's chart isn't the product of a hobbyist, although more than a few banks must wish that it was. Dan is a <i>Securitization Auditor</i>. Not only does he analyze mortgage transactions in a professional capacity, he also lectures at <a href="http://securedocumentresearch.eventbrite.com/">securitization seminars</a> given to attorneys. Why do attorneys pay $500 to attend his one-day seminars? The HuffPo article and a related post on the <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/article/just-when-you-thought-you-knew-something-about-mortgage-securitizations">Zero Hedge financial blog</a>, mention only that Dan is employed by DTC Systems.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURZRyZdUrT3ArCbFzZxbicj09Re4HTCva4IkNvYzYepFKqoQ4no61UOI-iAGdOnpRBM_y3Di_rvbfYSxjV0h7BEA1Q53jzt2WHbRjdIP2c9Io3rhGzOcpjPMsmRkvksArL5uZAXa9uIA/s1600/mortgage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURZRyZdUrT3ArCbFzZxbicj09Re4HTCva4IkNvYzYepFKqoQ4no61UOI-iAGdOnpRBM_y3Di_rvbfYSxjV0h7BEA1Q53jzt2WHbRjdIP2c9Io3rhGzOcpjPMsmRkvksArL5uZAXa9uIA/s400/mortgage+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dan's bio presents a strong claim to mortgage securitization expertise: <i>President of DTC Systems, Inc, having been in Information Technology for the last 18 years as a Systems Architect and Software Architect. The transformation of complex business requirements to complex Wall Street Engineering was an easy one. Securitization Expert, Daniel Edstrom analyzes complex financial engineering securitization transactions as well as providing a failure analysis, with well over 4,000 hours of research into Securitization. Besides working for his own company, Daniel is a Senior Securitization Analyst for <a href="http://www.luminaq.com/">Luminaq</a>. </i><br />
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If this post hasn't been sufficiently alarming, consider that Dan needed <u>a year</u> to chart the myriad transactions associated with his own mortgage! After such effort, by a mortgage securitization expert who knows all the institutions, transaction paths and players, the mortgage disaster is easier to understand and more reprehensible than we knew.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpFp8Z47d_6j_5Rwr_Fzhyphenhyphen9lmWrRmkIcPYVsr6FpAxmP3Fu-wARSylGOoXtpW0rTVkunJ2kPsyyZTGMW-XAcDwr1b8ojh5-mVhldBB0zaELo85I7Ufb8QuP0fPOnMDje0iIDzG8pW6MQ/s1600/mortgage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpFp8Z47d_6j_5Rwr_Fzhyphenhyphen9lmWrRmkIcPYVsr6FpAxmP3Fu-wARSylGOoXtpW0rTVkunJ2kPsyyZTGMW-XAcDwr1b8ojh5-mVhldBB0zaELo85I7Ufb8QuP0fPOnMDje0iIDzG8pW6MQ/s400/mortgage+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Dan's explains all to CNBC, <a href="http://dtc-systems.net/tag/dan-edstrom/">here</a>. <br />
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Chart: Huffington Post<br />
Pictures: Huffington Post<br />
Captions: TheRavenTheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-60196582192095613852010-11-14T18:29:00.003-05:002011-01-05T19:50:49.404-05:00Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktuNcEWP3a6nvNkJUxWFEKIBj4Pn6TdC_u5lLjEw4wEdTnkpmPlzr6n3hRfPgtdGpvd0nnXKQGbZBrP4Au0p_wMPYhZMR-OiVy0oz6SgF71YcsYoSww6-_vJKqLEEk_rUfnUm6VoSROU/s1600/35418_400669888442_14190928442_4456886_939068_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktuNcEWP3a6nvNkJUxWFEKIBj4Pn6TdC_u5lLjEw4wEdTnkpmPlzr6n3hRfPgtdGpvd0nnXKQGbZBrP4Au0p_wMPYhZMR-OiVy0oz6SgF71YcsYoSww6-_vJKqLEEk_rUfnUm6VoSROU/s400/35418_400669888442_14190928442_4456886_939068_n.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />
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Nashville<br />
June, 2010TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-73967494953912215992010-11-14T17:54:00.004-05:002010-11-14T18:06:50.441-05:00Destroyer!It sure was good news to see The Wall Street Journal announce that America had launched a brand new battleship. The ship is named for a Marine hero who gave his life while saving others. To be fair, the Journal is merely passing along a wire piece from the Associated Press. Problem is, America decommissioned all its battleships years ago, if fact, all battleships were removed from the Naval Registry in 2006.<br />
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Here's the article:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MpGYWWHpcwe3ZQPqECZLdRZArzx1NdTTdueuRVTj6Siwk6PNmFGH68A2kzj_gOLJ04BtOmPVQqt7MMu7i5eBITZhWGWuRS8nfo0_ND15JWCqOAtgIHdTQblPHFXx16E0pJ_vZOQrdXE/s1600/destroyer+article.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MpGYWWHpcwe3ZQPqECZLdRZArzx1NdTTdueuRVTj6Siwk6PNmFGH68A2kzj_gOLJ04BtOmPVQqt7MMu7i5eBITZhWGWuRS8nfo0_ND15JWCqOAtgIHdTQblPHFXx16E0pJ_vZOQrdXE/s400/destroyer+article.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>While Old Media is bemoaning its fate in the Internet age, someone ought to consider old habits, like fact checking. The article mentions "battleship" twice while also describing the ship as a destroyer. That's like confusing a Mustang with a stretch limo. Poor Old Media, just can't get it right.<br />
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The <i>USS Jason Dunham</i> is America's newest <i>destroyer,</i> named for a Marine Corporal who won the Medal of Honor. The <i>Jason Dunham</i> is the 59th <i>Arleigh Burke</i><i>-class</i> destroyer. The first <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyer, named the <i>USS Arleigh Burke</i>, was launched July 4, 1991.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdXNdlGHN753jqbtwta-CnmcuZ9o43Be1dUeo4VSS_2-qwKIBlkOmLMo8WSZxs_ye5aEqBT6NZfOiMbEhiqAzrU5_ymOU8MkZ0cNjy4tIA0hkLT8WJMCIVa9pe6HSMUKl6ZvqmdRWXew/s1600/destroyer+USS+Arleigh+Burke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdXNdlGHN753jqbtwta-CnmcuZ9o43Be1dUeo4VSS_2-qwKIBlkOmLMo8WSZxs_ye5aEqBT6NZfOiMbEhiqAzrU5_ymOU8MkZ0cNjy4tIA0hkLT8WJMCIVa9pe6HSMUKl6ZvqmdRWXew/s400/destroyer+USS+Arleigh+Burke.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As you can see from these pictures, it's fairly difficult to confuse a destroyer with a battleship. The Associated Press really, really wanted get it wrong, and they admirably succeeded. The Wall Street Journal shares blame, for trafficking such gross inaccuracy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bUkzrvUj9_XxAXTq10sOhUr7rBdQotTPAifmFdGkaHKZp89nW6bNpV-4-DHXLVphWhL7wSIrrzIQJV6kXrxtwTFmCUwGQDIdmEm6zGuFCNnYCAjShHFQj5NQzJR8bRguCXhWqABnHMY/s1600/destroyer+USS+Iowa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bUkzrvUj9_XxAXTq10sOhUr7rBdQotTPAifmFdGkaHKZp89nW6bNpV-4-DHXLVphWhL7wSIrrzIQJV6kXrxtwTFmCUwGQDIdmEm6zGuFCNnYCAjShHFQj5NQzJR8bRguCXhWqABnHMY/s400/destroyer+USS+Iowa.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>Old Media's problem isn't just its appalling lack of accuracy. Old Media peddles false equivalency in place of genuine comparison. The former appeals to intellectual lightweights while the latter is hard work. But perhaps Old Media's biggest failing is that it doesn't publish terribly interesting stories. Years of downsizing has led Old Media to ignore most stories that have nothing to do with abduction, murder or political echo chambers.<br />
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Case in point, who was Arleigh Burke, and why does America need another warship? <br />
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Arleigh Burke was a naval officer who served in WW2, Korea and during the Cold War. His 38-year career originated with destroyers. He was known for pushing his ships to the limit of their endurance and won several combat awards. He rose up the ranks to become Chief of Naval Operations in 1955. Admiral Burke lived to see the first launch of a <i>class</i> of warships bearing his name. He died in 1996, at the age of 94. His epitaph simply reads: <i>Sailor</i>. You should recognize at least three faces in the 1961 photo (below), which shows Admiral Burke in the back of the room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbizsBojxhyNHujD_4BNFkoAqy8Ur-T0q-URq3rpAQtTjLfUMqVJCk_DoC8g0b517Di-x1lmdBnDheoZAOe9nPpOTPGXQeVZjMGsVzJ0vdpQ1b0tuOMaPIkaUUbKFu5E1lfrvAfY8tCc/s1600/destroyer+Burke+1961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbizsBojxhyNHujD_4BNFkoAqy8Ur-T0q-URq3rpAQtTjLfUMqVJCk_DoC8g0b517Di-x1lmdBnDheoZAOe9nPpOTPGXQeVZjMGsVzJ0vdpQ1b0tuOMaPIkaUUbKFu5E1lfrvAfY8tCc/s400/destroyer+Burke+1961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Just a little digging reveals that <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyers will become, for all intents and purposes, America's destroyer fleet. Very few of the advanced <i>Zumwalt-class</i> destroyers are planned and the first two won't be delivered until 2015. The last <i>Spruance-class</i> destroyer was decommissioned in 2005. <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyers will also replace older <i>Charles F. Adams</i> and <i>Farragut</i> class guided missile destroyers, according to the Navy.<br />
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American citizens have paid for 59 <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyers over the past 20 years. What have we purchased? In part, necessary technology upgrades. The Navy says that <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyers develop 100,000 horsepower, with speed exceeding 30 knots. Considering that Admiral Burke hit 34 knots in WW2-era destroyers, if safe to assume that, for obvious reasons, the Navy's official speed rating is a bit understated. <br />
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We also purchased lower operating costs in ships that can attack all manner of targets and defend themselves against all manner of threats. <i>Arleigh Burke</i><i>-class</i> destroyers are the first U.S. warships with an air-filtration system that defends against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. Their biggest value is the <i>Aegis Combat System</i>, an integrated target acquisition and defense system that can attack in-bound ballistic missiles. This means that <i>Arleigh Burke-class</i> destroyers play a crucial role defending countries like Israel, from countries like Iran. They are a vital asset, helping keep the lid on WW3. They may actively prevent such war from occurring.<br />
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Production of the <i>Arleigh Burke</i><i>-class</i> will be expanded to offset reductions in planned <i>Zumwalt-class</i> ships. America now defends the free world in a cost-effective manner, with destroyers that can shoot down nuclear missiles. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoww9AY3RPhlDDRzNO4fFwxry9zNq2qCa2cFmTXvrflrQJRa9h5kWILVAqnLfmlvgwZhjOOhss6QMq5wI9QZTcdlLjx7NYwGYsG5p8eFxKtRLNOhYn4EQnpwflFxLxLIZzvm3CzbH2nVI/s1600/destroyer+zumwalt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoww9AY3RPhlDDRzNO4fFwxry9zNq2qCa2cFmTXvrflrQJRa9h5kWILVAqnLfmlvgwZhjOOhss6QMq5wI9QZTcdlLjx7NYwGYsG5p8eFxKtRLNOhYn4EQnpwflFxLxLIZzvm3CzbH2nVI/s400/destroyer+zumwalt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This post is an example of the care and effort Old Media has abandoned for cheap sensationalism. A few web searches, a little data synthesis and a modicum of writing produce something more interesting and relevant than an erroneous wire piece. A junior reporter could have produced something better - with a few quotes from Naval officials, military technology experts, etc., - in no more than 1-2 hours.<br />
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Is Old Media's problem really digital technology, or are well-informed readers simply tired of being insulted?TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-24740083210068680452010-11-10T21:06:00.001-05:002010-11-10T21:06:51.559-05:00CO2 increase records, in contextJust in case the last four posts went by too quickly, this post puts the Top-30 increases over 52 years of Muana Loa data in context. Let's begin with a look at the Top-30.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitVwReAzmBVpAQajOGDXohyphenhyphen5dklVbJQSZ75vni9serpvbuSHOgfqacylgYe7xoqB9Zoy8BVwNgg3xmxC0FCtri7C9srJ7WTHWRs_Ola7nUJ3C9j9_c8yRCP2eUmbv6tQ9EE_ar98D_RA/s1600/co2+-+top-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitVwReAzmBVpAQajOGDXohyphenhyphen5dklVbJQSZ75vni9serpvbuSHOgfqacylgYe7xoqB9Zoy8BVwNgg3xmxC0FCtri7C9srJ7WTHWRs_Ola7nUJ3C9j9_c8yRCP2eUmbv6tQ9EE_ar98D_RA/s640/co2+-+top-30.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br />
You might be thinking that TheRaven's Mega Melt Enthusiasm is misplaced. Where's the evidence that we face impending acceleration of global temperature increase, melting ice and rising seas? The Top-30 list helps discern some patterns.<br />
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Each year in the list is color-coded. This makes it easy to see that 1998 contributed more Top-30 records than any other year. Also, note that the magnitude of CO2 increase in the Top-30 ranges from 2.64ppm up to 3.92ppm. Those increases are +30% to almost 2-times their respective trailing, 5-year averages. Given the concentration of Top-30 jumps in CO-2 over the past dozen years, this is evidence of ongoing trend acceleration.<br />
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Said concentration, over the past dozen years, is a bit less obvious. This summary improves clarity. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlkei0H5ONiKdHZYKt7OsU9KFAPG4a-UVAcoT2ub_uP44cTOT1Gy3QfVzSQpXzpjao9Qol-9Pdioj37mHo_hTQytsBPebkD6qIG9BEfxaqTdZM2br819AhcZBLRtrDbtQrlytXKMqIig/s1600/co2+-+years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlkei0H5ONiKdHZYKt7OsU9KFAPG4a-UVAcoT2ub_uP44cTOT1Gy3QfVzSQpXzpjao9Qol-9Pdioj37mHo_hTQytsBPebkD6qIG9BEfxaqTdZM2br819AhcZBLRtrDbtQrlytXKMqIig/s400/co2+-+years.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br />
Top-30 records have been created in only ten years (out of 52). Twenty-three records (3/4th's) have occurred in over just the past dozen years and, thus far, 2010 is the 5th-most productive year on record. While 2010 won't deliver the future-shock awesomeness of 1998, I've got high hopes for 2011. Given population and economic growth that's occurred since 1998, ongoing recovery in the world economy and comparatively greater limitations in Earth's ability to absorb atmospheric carbon, I'm looking at 2011 pretty much as the Cowboys view it. TheRaven and the Cowboys both say....<br />
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<i><b>Wait 'til next year!</b></i>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-20442000575916378972010-11-10T19:50:00.000-05:002010-11-10T19:50:04.017-05:00This is more like it!October sure restored TheRaven's Mega-Melt Enthusiasm!<br />
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As you might recall, <a href="http://theravenspoke.blogspot.com/2010/05/april-set-record.html">April set a new all-time record</a> and <a href="http://theravenspoke.blogspot.com/2010/06/no-record-in-may-but-close.html">May nearly set another one</a>. This promising one-two punch was followed by solid but, quite frankly, unspectacular CO2 growth in June through September. <br />
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<i>Hello, October!</i><br />
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CO2 jumped an impressive +2.88ppm over October 2009, the second-highest October increase in the history of Muana Loa data! Perhaps equally impressive, October 2010 recorded the 16th highest annual increase of any month over the past 52 years.<br />
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If global ice melt were the Olympics, 2010 has shaped up as a fairly decent year. In the harbinger competition, 2010 has won a gold (April),a silver (October) and a bronze (May). We'll just overlook the disappointing stretch from June through September.<br />
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Your Mega-Melt Enthusiast is back, with a vengeance!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y5K6jfjo1MGKD5HqiyhTxehGrtNT1bqud2-W0ylv-l1s0O3rtAYp6DjlJPl2SpC-dNxcGMUZKF8foh3o_tmyv1E_DCjJugX6oMruP4QK_R_icsxkS0hOjQX42YKiTEl5q60WMSCP5Vo/s1600/co2+-+oct+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y5K6jfjo1MGKD5HqiyhTxehGrtNT1bqud2-W0ylv-l1s0O3rtAYp6DjlJPl2SpC-dNxcGMUZKF8foh3o_tmyv1E_DCjJugX6oMruP4QK_R_icsxkS0hOjQX42YKiTEl5q60WMSCP5Vo/s400/co2+-+oct+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-59635671119686723632010-11-10T19:33:00.000-05:002010-11-10T19:33:35.892-05:00Wrong direction!What the hell is going on with atmospheric CO2?<br />
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September 2010 saw only a +2.02ppm increase, over September 2009. This is spot-on the trailing 5-year average annual increase, but TheRaven has predicted continued acceleration in CO2 growth, not more of the same-old, same-old.<br />
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Mega Melt Enthusiasm grows cold, waiting for October to bring bigger news.<br />
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Oh well, here's September:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvvFllq4anFZgpJqVvtctM3q7wEh0z1m5dXD4vs8PSb8T1NSi58W0reVZCe9e9JjfPSQELP3n9d6udsq1BJ5-sQpcBlaye0RYn1apoO-6_5w3-K6Y-A_Qfh7nsWcGjSXDG44Z2ot__DQ/s1600/co2+-+sept+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvvFllq4anFZgpJqVvtctM3q7wEh0z1m5dXD4vs8PSb8T1NSi58W0reVZCe9e9JjfPSQELP3n9d6udsq1BJ5-sQpcBlaye0RYn1apoO-6_5w3-K6Y-A_Qfh7nsWcGjSXDG44Z2ot__DQ/s400/co2+-+sept+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-34046626793921668082010-11-10T19:27:00.000-05:002010-11-10T19:27:04.041-05:00Nothing to get enthusiastic aboutPicking up where the prior post left off, we turn to August 2010 CO2.<br />
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August 2010 saw a +2.23ppm gain vs. August 2009. This increase is somewhat above trailing 5-year average annual increase, but far outside the Top-30 increases in the entire Muana Loa data set.<br />
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Mega-Melt Enthusiasm will have to sit on ice, waiting for September.<br />
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Meanwhile, here's August:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTktexJS46D2YBWon7y7BZYwpWU4BQrgh2OpxR_HI4pxtTkFVv1VTd1BFU7o5_TSfWQ5gc5KWLfxOhcR-C_AVQ_BwcPV3fUwPgzMbl2kF7fr9_9cDKzrwvNoLvaBNUGvp5-HvZbE9aSGc/s1600/co2+-+aug+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTktexJS46D2YBWon7y7BZYwpWU4BQrgh2OpxR_HI4pxtTkFVv1VTd1BFU7o5_TSfWQ5gc5KWLfxOhcR-C_AVQ_BwcPV3fUwPgzMbl2kF7fr9_9cDKzrwvNoLvaBNUGvp5-HvZbE9aSGc/s400/co2+-+aug+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-29975995625086788192010-11-10T19:13:00.004-05:002010-11-13T22:32:39.795-05:00Mega Melt EnthusiastCO2 isn't the only made-man agent of ice destruction, but NOAA's Muana Loa observatory has been recording and publishing monthly CO2 levels since 1958. That's a great data set for advancing my new role as a ....<br />
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<i><b>Mega-Melt Enthusiast!</b></i><br />
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We're not talking about some fast food concoction. Nope, this is the real deal, the defining event of the 21st century, unfolding in real time for everyone but our elected Republican politicians. TheRaven says: s<i>top worrying about government gridlock and embrace the rising seas</i>.<br />
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CO2 levels are simply the harbinger of the inexorable loss of all surface ice. Rising temperatures follow rising CO2 and rising seas follow rising temps. CO2 hasn't been this high in the past 15-30 million years and, when it was, Earth was much warmer, there was very little surface ice and Hollywood didn't need CGI to conjure up gigantic reptiles.<br />
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It's possible that CO2 has never risen so much in such a short time span, except for that unfortunate accident 65 million years ago that ended the careers of a few dinosaurs.This blog is a guide to your future. Enjoy the ride.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">***********************************************</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">TheRaven has a bit of catching up to do. This post will cover July 2010 and the next three will bring us current with October. You know the drill: CO2 levels rise in summer and fall in winter. This isolating cycle has marched steadily higher for the past 50+ years and has greatly accelerated over the same period. The rate of average annual increase roughly tripled between 1960 and 2000. The Great American Banking Disaster, which put the developed world's economy into a tailspin, didn't put a scratch in CO2 growth. </div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #cccccc;">TheRaven is on an enthusiastic hunt for new monthly records, defined as new highs in year-over-year CO2 growth. Sadly, July was a disappointment. July 2010 saw +2.29ppm CO2 increase vs. July 2009. This puts July 2010 pretty far outside the Top-30 increases seen over the entire data series. The July 2010 increase was modestly higher than trailing 5-year average.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RCzUl7jGbhKUfaBsQcuKyJI-p5hR8o1Hvr7EIcA2NoX88sIy4dFICPZpLIDOUBTVksxJDrGG1RTpzYIhR7beRdPaHYZRn2t6N8S40t851LbjCCYYb0AXRwUAUyB1TAlUMPj8RE7Yr78/s1600/co2+-+july+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RCzUl7jGbhKUfaBsQcuKyJI-p5hR8o1Hvr7EIcA2NoX88sIy4dFICPZpLIDOUBTVksxJDrGG1RTpzYIhR7beRdPaHYZRn2t6N8S40t851LbjCCYYb0AXRwUAUyB1TAlUMPj8RE7Yr78/s400/co2+-+july+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-80537976106488868432010-11-08T13:24:00.001-05:002010-11-08T13:25:32.118-05:00No Hope for Change<b>Memo to Republican party</b>: <i>be careful what you ask for, whoops, too late......</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwWNUrFjUHmi0f7jOUmlY26lgLnMDt5TbZD5Oz6OKh2_jpGE1ENuze2KiiF0bBn9Ra1RnoCYPOZ4XJFI0z1Hp1n0sCyZEuchr6PJ7o4NpEZZ71Il0xQuEyjvT8vXSAWFZwvKPBI-X9gM/s1600/palin+poster+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwWNUrFjUHmi0f7jOUmlY26lgLnMDt5TbZD5Oz6OKh2_jpGE1ENuze2KiiF0bBn9Ra1RnoCYPOZ4XJFI0z1Hp1n0sCyZEuchr6PJ7o4NpEZZ71Il0xQuEyjvT8vXSAWFZwvKPBI-X9gM/s400/palin+poster+1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytGq7lsu3UEPwNkgZC284aAnqBCiE0Tlxa88W8Szxufa2mMCOWN1rNiDwQCStXCM7o_8svNgrmlsz8WRm1jgRP87nMXMHzwIGu3t73PKi7ZsbOtjFuv4x4IsTBPMHp1hWVJoOWMP7AUA/s1600/palin+poster+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytGq7lsu3UEPwNkgZC284aAnqBCiE0Tlxa88W8Szxufa2mMCOWN1rNiDwQCStXCM7o_8svNgrmlsz8WRm1jgRP87nMXMHzwIGu3t73PKi7ZsbOtjFuv4x4IsTBPMHp1hWVJoOWMP7AUA/s400/palin+poster+2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiHJocjlo8kdyGyKDxtrF8bMm2eCl-skEdx3xYlnEcu4ASeiiZT6AXfXcLVZIqO7E0QutUXNlIycDyRb3YhZvbX6hXiz3DiET5Ql7lpiendNJDp_4wk1R_jU6JVRkgsPl-aC-RhQaMp4/s1600/palin+poster+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiHJocjlo8kdyGyKDxtrF8bMm2eCl-skEdx3xYlnEcu4ASeiiZT6AXfXcLVZIqO7E0QutUXNlIycDyRb3YhZvbX6hXiz3DiET5Ql7lpiendNJDp_4wk1R_jU6JVRkgsPl-aC-RhQaMp4/s400/palin+poster+3.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFRvfP8zivQyLbn6N6I04Vsa5I2NN0CJpHjCvcIVtriJPU7SIV8NVVp7kfMGolspwx7aqGTEYnrfZYPv6JoOsHPluOY-nSdOZwtAxkXcMkta4u3AGsmLY9WPZynlW2RpEISL04LmgeJg/s1600/palin+poster+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFRvfP8zivQyLbn6N6I04Vsa5I2NN0CJpHjCvcIVtriJPU7SIV8NVVp7kfMGolspwx7aqGTEYnrfZYPv6JoOsHPluOY-nSdOZwtAxkXcMkta4u3AGsmLY9WPZynlW2RpEISL04LmgeJg/s400/palin+poster+4.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHXC-CK0cOHCgUZtPhouT3Czs9VN8Kqhm8Hxz7qVcP9C5QCEnjJDq_maPwr11Umi5THiFhzTsV4oca_K0fL69_K80paULWRfsex8AztEKEWWLKwQvu5LXHHEI_htWs9LGZsFNnjjVwcA/s1600/palin+poster+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHXC-CK0cOHCgUZtPhouT3Czs9VN8Kqhm8Hxz7qVcP9C5QCEnjJDq_maPwr11Umi5THiFhzTsV4oca_K0fL69_K80paULWRfsex8AztEKEWWLKwQvu5LXHHEI_htWs9LGZsFNnjjVwcA/s400/palin+poster+5.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVIVdoIH-ge2DZLmhC143kpte-p1jIWnT8bQ9mjo2BtEUwyOSfsHswX-hgzC8hyphenhyphenEsuQE0SIV1n-PgRcav5ApjoCVm5pEOhYA4QyWuXof6_aIhGaC1A9iDkh_oO79ws6kXfwwR_mBYR8E/s1600/palin+poster+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVIVdoIH-ge2DZLmhC143kpte-p1jIWnT8bQ9mjo2BtEUwyOSfsHswX-hgzC8hyphenhyphenEsuQE0SIV1n-PgRcav5ApjoCVm5pEOhYA4QyWuXof6_aIhGaC1A9iDkh_oO79ws6kXfwwR_mBYR8E/s400/palin+poster+6.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><i>Click image to view full-size</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09ftKMH_NWZ0yZ3xJSWEy8y3R37fMwAOk9Rr53SV5L2bLpupU_NiIpzIAuP5EDJ7p43Vmn5E2gNf_yNpf94fKEEnh2AcD_dd31bMtcNzPJNl0XmlDF4NU6tc1J4cPdPcAFOKPUMRnBEI/s1600/palin+poster+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09ftKMH_NWZ0yZ3xJSWEy8y3R37fMwAOk9Rr53SV5L2bLpupU_NiIpzIAuP5EDJ7p43Vmn5E2gNf_yNpf94fKEEnh2AcD_dd31bMtcNzPJNl0XmlDF4NU6tc1J4cPdPcAFOKPUMRnBEI/s400/palin+poster+7.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-14265431492717641832010-11-05T22:23:00.005-04:002010-11-10T18:17:50.435-05:00CounterblasteIn 1604, a European monarch was moved to write a treatise on a new social problem. King James I of England, of <i>King James Bible</i> fame, was upset by the introduction of an addictive new product to his realm. He predicted this product would damage certain parts of the body, such as the lungs, and applied a stiff excise tax to curb its use.<br />
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We're talking about <i>tobacco</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.laits.utexas.edu/poltheory/james/blaste/blaste.html">You can read King James' treatise here</a>. It's recommended for fans of early-modern English.<br />
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The CDC publishes periodic reports on tobacco use in the 50 states and DC. The <i>counterblaste</i> continues, more than 400 years after the King of England couldn't stem the tide. The CDC just published its 2009 report on tobacco use, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5943a2.htm">which may be read here</a>. This post provides data from the CDC report as visual information.<br />
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We begin with tobacco use by men. Combined use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products are ranked from highest to lowest state. The CDC report covers population subsets that use both forms of tobacco. That data was used to eliminate overlap between cigarette and smokeless use ratios.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXhOoEmYmTAGKiMaIrUVW-w-jWwn_BG_gwYFbifkD8WsXxv5CKFf2-GXJZtdXj_AYzNWYvuOPMMtIr1Z9fSQorRTIjHjb2eTtU8JRo05Mc2IvEuDS8_pSCW7bZSuN6sF7Zqy-YP9HpN8/s1600/cdc+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXhOoEmYmTAGKiMaIrUVW-w-jWwn_BG_gwYFbifkD8WsXxv5CKFf2-GXJZtdXj_AYzNWYvuOPMMtIr1Z9fSQorRTIjHjb2eTtU8JRo05Mc2IvEuDS8_pSCW7bZSuN6sF7Zqy-YP9HpN8/s400/cdc+1.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Fun fact</span> - ratios of cigarette use are higher for men in all but eight states. The states in which female cigarette use is at least one percentage-point higher are: Arkansas; Idaho; Kansas; Montana; North Dakota; South Dakota; West Virginia; and Wyoming. (It should be noted that men in Wyoming and West Virginia are heavy users of smokeless tobacco). <br />
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We now look at use by women. <span style="color: orange;">Fun fact </span>- the three states with the highest ratios of female smokeless users are: Alabama (2.5%); Indiana (2.4%); and Tennessee (1.9%).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqb1PWSfkcJVJxooY1r-bckiM18QN33H_D5KNWIxDuVX-EL3kVNn3DWJXzYGn9vW050RxL4bmmr2SUHVcBIRdWtuDwwwBFNEyVOFPNhfAXVndWgocSfk53IuYVAvTCf46FBS7-q7h12o/s1600/cdc+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqb1PWSfkcJVJxooY1r-bckiM18QN33H_D5KNWIxDuVX-EL3kVNn3DWJXzYGn9vW050RxL4bmmr2SUHVcBIRdWtuDwwwBFNEyVOFPNhfAXVndWgocSfk53IuYVAvTCf46FBS7-q7h12o/s400/cdc+2.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The third presentation juxtaposes adult tobacco use with higher education attainment. Higher education attainment is defined here as the proportion of adults who've earned a bachelors degree (or higher). Education attainment data is from 2008 and was published by the Census Bureau. Note the correlation between high levels of tobacco use and low levels of higher education attainment, and vice versa.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjwSTNmBsdCWPY1a8KSS-Z1qdW1YHH_1Y6z8IPUwfuwTvxVulXQ1O_Aw7H1oufslIspzh49wsxICQJMK7l8afhj5Qt_SJyZR0wyRG1-w2QK5r7yFrWGVivgHZzHJ_tGUDvMoJUibvpmw/s1600/cdc+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjwSTNmBsdCWPY1a8KSS-Z1qdW1YHH_1Y6z8IPUwfuwTvxVulXQ1O_Aw7H1oufslIspzh49wsxICQJMK7l8afhj5Qt_SJyZR0wyRG1-w2QK5r7yFrWGVivgHZzHJ_tGUDvMoJUibvpmw/s400/cdc+3.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;">Fun fact </span>- more adults use tobacco than have obtained a bachelors degree in nine states, including: Alabama; Arkansas; Indiana; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; Missouri; Oklahoma; Tennessee; West Virginia and Wyoming.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">While the CDC surveyed 432,607 adults, its survey was limited to persons with land line telephones. The CDC reports that persons who rely exclusively on cell phones are twice as likely to use tobacco. If survey results differ from reality, the only logical conclusion is that reality is worse.<br />
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Accepting that no one sees tobacco in a positive light, our next presentation compares current (2009) levels of tobacco use with state cigarette taxes in 1995. Big tobacco still held sway in historic "tobacco states" 15 years ago. Higher levels of tobacco tax are associated with lower consumption, so the converse must hold true. Comparing current levels of tobacco with tax rates in effect 15 years ago makes sense because, as we all know, nicotine is highly addictive.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iaF5pRGJgfEqBhsGp7m-b_Rf02ZvIExbE_1vH8aPfHDte-5YkZ74nbriTmutwU_bQR-neU_ECNtvndvBVTUIUqgDG5vLPSW1SIx3gIq151R8drAeQ8zEd4UiL3tYcQYjYjjDvWOrfU0/s1600/cdc+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iaF5pRGJgfEqBhsGp7m-b_Rf02ZvIExbE_1vH8aPfHDte-5YkZ74nbriTmutwU_bQR-neU_ECNtvndvBVTUIUqgDG5vLPSW1SIx3gIq151R8drAeQ8zEd4UiL3tYcQYjYjjDvWOrfU0/s400/cdc+4.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Fun fact </span>- four states had a cigarette tax of less than ten cents per-pack in 1995: Kentucky ($0.03); North Carolina ($0.05); South Carolina ($0.07); and Virginia ($0.03).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
In context of public disapproval of tobacco, 15 years was a long time ago. State legislatures have had more than enough time to see cigarette taxes as the most effective deterrent to long-term public health issues, such as lung cancer. Anti-public smoking laws gained traction years ago. Have the states wisely applied retail economics to reduce their tobacco problem?<br />
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The Federal government finally got religion and quadrupled its excise tax in 2009, from $0.24 to $1.01 per pack. Have a look at state tobacco taxes in 2009 and then we'll compare 1995 with 2009.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-MVn5PVqFxw1_ZcACOgwaQOPf0E2V4WABlB7XlMkRfHFjrPXzPr1vd7p7TtiBfnnqcboTCXRzY-lXEyv-Nr05GqDYoiCYucO6RTPaWmQ-aacMNQ3_Y7DHk0GG4LXSQzUF1XNlq9Uj94/s1600/cdc+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-MVn5PVqFxw1_ZcACOgwaQOPf0E2V4WABlB7XlMkRfHFjrPXzPr1vd7p7TtiBfnnqcboTCXRzY-lXEyv-Nr05GqDYoiCYucO6RTPaWmQ-aacMNQ3_Y7DHk0GG4LXSQzUF1XNlq9Uj94/s400/cdc+5.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><br />
<i>Uh-oh</i>. 2009 tax levels indicate that the states with the biggest tobacco problem, who needed to raise taxes the most, in fact did the least. Pennsylvania and Montana are exceptions. Let's have a look at differences between 2009 and 1995 tax levels to zero in the culprits.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sSNEbAimeP0zq84A_Il5amphitrZg78HojaoJOOfE4T_1IfaRrgfEJ3OFxkFvy4EPiKv_6axu_JK0Uc4_tL8ctvi0kIjZEVFZDqu_TtLNP2ZWwaF-1ft_sHm7rTcBVGi0D1AwDv7cRA/s1600/cdc+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sSNEbAimeP0zq84A_Il5amphitrZg78HojaoJOOfE4T_1IfaRrgfEJ3OFxkFvy4EPiKv_6axu_JK0Uc4_tL8ctvi0kIjZEVFZDqu_TtLNP2ZWwaF-1ft_sHm7rTcBVGi0D1AwDv7cRA/s400/cdc+6.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div><br />
<span style="color: orange;">Fun fact </span>- five states didn't raise cigarette taxes by a single penny between 1995 and 2009. More than 20% of adults are tobacco users in four of these states:<br />
(1) Florida ($0.34 tax / 18% use);<br />
(2) Mississippi ($0.18 tax / 27% use);<br />
(3) Missouri ($0.17 tax / 26% use);<br />
(4) North Dakota ($0.44 tax / 24% use);<br />
(5) South Carolina ($0.07 tax / 23% use).<br />
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South Carolina is its own special case. South Carolina's cigarette tax remains a pathetic $0.07 per pack. With regards to the health of its citizens, failure of the South Carolina legislature to take appropriate action can only be described as cruel and irresponsible.<br />
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To put cigarette tax in a broader context of responsible vs. irresponsible politicians, the ten highest-tax states average $2.23 per pack while the ten lowest average only $0.30. <br />
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Does any of this really matter? Has any scientific evidence been established that demonstrates higher levels of cardiovascular disease, stroke and lung cancer in states that have high levels of tobacco use and low tobacco taxes?<br />
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You be the judge:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSTo0iFFJXFeCdB8cUbAvEu6aNB9he9KETo9gzvIbAggUHPa_3n_8lev0mD4p6M_ogGGCBvArUuxdd0i58Cy8E3sNUY9uRizatvo7iNLJWpFkKL6DyKap-GKDtxNPBbzMVKHfA5S3Qro/s1600/cdc+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSTo0iFFJXFeCdB8cUbAvEu6aNB9he9KETo9gzvIbAggUHPa_3n_8lev0mD4p6M_ogGGCBvArUuxdd0i58Cy8E3sNUY9uRizatvo7iNLJWpFkKL6DyKap-GKDtxNPBbzMVKHfA5S3Qro/s400/cdc+9.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div style="color: yellow; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click image to view full-size</span></i></div></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-54740398844921033682010-10-26T22:43:00.003-04:002010-10-26T22:52:36.344-04:00Jerry's comeuppance?NFL news this past weekend recalls an old saying about love and war. Jessica Simpson has made a career out of organic dumbness married to blonde hair dye. She was too dumb for a Tony Romo, which recalls another old saying about scorned women.<br />
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Tony got crunched by his arch-foes from New York. His injury tops the list of things quarterbacks really don't want to think about. Tony will be out for at least half of the remaining season.<br />
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It falls to his 38-year old, journeyman backup, Jon Kitna, to resurrect the Cowboy's season. I watched Kitna play in Cincinnati. Television somewhat masks a weak-armed quarterback. Sitting in the stadium it was obvious that, at least in his ability to throw the ball, Kitna wouldn't qualify as a good <i>high school</i> quarterback. Yes, this was during the Bengal's darkest hours, when the proletariat wanted Mike Brown's head on a pike. Brown saved his skin with an inspired choice for head coach and by drafting Carson Palmer. Kitna eventually went off to Detroit, where, yes, he won a few games and set a club passing record. Said record says more about the Lions, than of Kitna.<br />
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That Kitna ended up on the Cowboys roster is another indictment of Jerry Jones. Perhaps he and Al Davis have the same astrologer. Or, embalmer. I give Kitna credit for perseverance. This oft-injured, perennial free agent has drawn NFL paychecks for over a decade. That's a lot more than the vast majority of NFL players, past, present or future, will ever see.<br />
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He may have learned the art of a career backup since leaving Cincinnati. Kerry Collins is a good example of someone who profited from painful experience. He knows not to press past his limitations. Kitna blew many games trying to <i>make something happen</i>, a tough task when no DB in the league respects the velocity you can put on the ball. Or, ability to make good decisions while pressured. At least Kitna has sufficient reserves of painful experience.<br />
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I think Kitna will further expose Jones' folly. He's no improvisation artist. Unlike Romo, he lacks skills necessary to overcome a deficient offensive line, like being able to pass effectively while on the run. Jones now risks the ultimate comeuppance, the possibility that the first <u>all-New York Superbowl</u> will be played <b><i>in his brand-new stadium</i>.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght_b4c88zCVIoyLDfPTYKBbSvvcHQH60iSQJty-FGP-yKWfw1aRkCPq_UXIsv2dKy3oJroVhCGVqok1JIMBJ8-V9M28EpIP1cAK3cWXYvyKeSv13Oojy1mK900Ww8sHAoCi9AN69JUM0/s1600/romo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEght_b4c88zCVIoyLDfPTYKBbSvvcHQH60iSQJty-FGP-yKWfw1aRkCPq_UXIsv2dKy3oJroVhCGVqok1JIMBJ8-V9M28EpIP1cAK3cWXYvyKeSv13Oojy1mK900Ww8sHAoCi9AN69JUM0/s400/romo+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-755812469648274029.post-53006729338359375462010-10-24T16:52:00.004-04:002010-10-25T00:07:29.508-04:00Modern womanWith America's politics and economy in 19th century retrograde, we might as well look around for a few other supposedly modern notions that were actually established before anyone now living was born. For example, women who date or marry significantly younger men. Did the 19th century see any of these so-called <i>cougars</i>?<br />
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Jennie Jerome was born in Brooklyn, New York, 1854. She was raised there, too. At age 20, she married a man five years here senior. This photograph was taken before her marriage.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0KW_dBPOnsu2Lq9qYPRIrjiqBVuFwNMamCw9pGElBRWUZFNgyV6DucFy705lgDTKXuDBQUEPU4o4vBK4uRPK_LFxnNJ5mMt_hgLKEPOWlCwP2PXpbAYMLq4N45RHNdKpi1ZaClOsiw0/s1600/LRC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0KW_dBPOnsu2Lq9qYPRIrjiqBVuFwNMamCw9pGElBRWUZFNgyV6DucFy705lgDTKXuDBQUEPU4o4vBK4uRPK_LFxnNJ5mMt_hgLKEPOWlCwP2PXpbAYMLq4N45RHNdKpi1ZaClOsiw0/s400/LRC.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>Jennie gave birth to a son eight months after her wedding and, six years later, to a second son. Her husband passed away in 1895. Five years later, at age 46, she married for the second time. Her new husband was 26 years old, the same age as her oldest son.<br />
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She married for a third and final time in 1918, to a man born in 1877. Her third husband was 41, while she was 64. He was three years younger than her oldest son.<br />
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Jennie would otherwise be a footnote to cultural history, were it not for her first marriage, by which she became known to us as <i>Lady Randolph Churchill</i>.<br />
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Her oldest son was named <i>Winston</i>.TheRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124702548876469474noreply@blogger.com0