"You're riding in a Jodel D-140 over the stark beauty of Iceland, where this very volcano melts cauldrons in glaciers and threatens to shut down air traffic across the western world. At least you're in the hands of an experienced bush pilot. Peruse this guy's YouTube channel and you'll see what I mean."http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/flying-over-an-active-volcano-in-iceland-1632984273
Scratches to Sketches
Thursday, 11 September 2014
Holuhraun Largest Lava Eruption in Iceland since 19th Century | Iceland Review
"The ongoing volcanic eruption in Holuhraun has already become the largest lava eruption in Iceland since the 19th century, according to volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson. More lava has been emitted than in the largest lava eruption of the 20th century, Krafla in 1984."
Bárðarbunga Eruption Major Worry | Iceland Review
"An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 shook the area to the northeast of Bárðarbunga this morning at 5:28 am.
The probability of an eruption in Bárðarbunga is now thought to be increased due to a steady lowering of the surface above the volcano's crater. This greatly worries scientists and Civil Protection Department representatives, ruv.is reports.
An eruption in Bárðarbunga, which lies underneath Vatnajökull glacier, could potentially be massive, emitting high quantities of ash into the air, according to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson. The glacial melt water would ultimately break out as a great flood in one of the glacial rivers. This is the scenario which the Civil Protection Department is preparing for."
http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/09/10/bardarbunga-eruption-major-worryIceland Volcanic Eruption Sends Toxic Gases Throughout Region - WSJ
Is this the system of volcanos that seriously gassed Europe in the 1700's?
"Foul-smelling gases from a volcanic eruption in Iceland are pestering the region, reaching Norway and Finland more than a thousand kilometers away.
Unusually high concentrations of volcanic gases from the continuing Holuhraun eruption have been detected as far away as Finland. In Iceland, health authorities are urging locals near the volcano to stay inside due to significant levels of sulfur in the air."
http://online.wsj.com/articles/iceland-volcanic-eruption-sending-gases-throughout-region-1410446383Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Bubble-Era Home Equity Loans Are Set to Bite Borrowers - Businessweek
"Some 2.5 million homeowners may soon face a shock: The home equity loans they took out a decade ago, in the credit-flush run-up to the housing crash, are coming due.
Home equity loans extend a line of credit to homeowners based on (and secured by) the value of their houses. Borrowers pay only the monthly interest on the loans for a set period of time, typically 10 years. After that, they must start paying down the principal. The balance on outstanding home equity loans nearly tripled from the start of 2003 through the peak in the first quarter of 2009, according to data from the New York Fed. All these loans will come due in the next five years."
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-09-09/bubble-era-home-equity-loans-set-to-bite-borrowersEven from Paul Krugman, A Surprising Argument
"Interviewed on September 8th by Joe Weisenthal, Paul Krugman argues that the "adverse consequences" of raising the minimum wage - even to $15 per hour - "would be much less than people imagine." Such an argument from Mr. Krugman isn't surprising. What is surprising is his reasoning - in particular, his assertion that most minimum-wage workers are in jobs that are especially difficult to mechanize."
The dark ages of Hayek. Very strange economics?
Elizabeth Warren and Paul Krugman on the Middle Class (Video) | Ring of Fire
Two Liberals talking about poverty in the firmer middle class of America.
"Last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman spoke about the middle class at the Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY).
The event began with the two discussing what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been able to accomplish in the three years since its creation, and went on to cover topics including student loan debt, bankruptcy protection, the minimum wage, and women's healthcare."
http://ringoffireradio.com/2014/09/elizabeth-warren-and-paul-krugman-on-the-middle-class-video/BBC News - Scottish independence: Cameron, Clegg and Miliband make Scotland 'No' vote plea
"The leaders of the main UK parties have travelled to Scotland to urge voters to reject independence in the referendum.
Prime Minister David Cameron said he would be "heartbroken" in the event of a "Yes" vote, while Labour leader Ed Miliband said the case for the Union came from the "head, heart and soul".
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the leaders could not be trusted.
Meanwhile, a new opinion poll has suggested 47.6% of voters back "No", 42.4% "Yes", with 10% undecided."
The Scots are no fools. They will vote No and then go on to innovate England... Everyone likes the Pound Sterling. A Scottish currency would be?
The Weak Sisters of Europe | The Moderate Voice
Perhaps, it was Russia that did damage to the Ukraine first in the 1930's, then the NAZI's allies of the Russians?
"Europe refuses to remember its history. Perhaps it's because that might entail doing something to prevent history from repeating itself. The Russian "invasion" of Ukraine with the goal of the eastern Ukrainian states achieving independence and becoming part of a greater Russia is reminiscent of Hitler's grab of the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia in 1938. Hitler's pretext was that German speakers in the Sudetenland wanted to be part of a greater Germany, just as Putin wants eastern Ukraine with its Russian speakers to be part of a greater Russia. And European leaders sit and twiddle their thumbs. They have even been wary of labeling Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an invasion as that might force them to act more decisively, almost afraid of displeasing Russia."
Russian warplane makes ‘provocative’ pass over Canadian frigate | Ottawa Citizen
"Russian military jets made "provocative" flyovers on a Canadian frigate taking part in a multinational naval exercise in the Black Sea this week, ratcheting up the war of words a notch.
HMCS Toronto has been serving in the Mediterranean in recent months as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Forces. Last week, though, the frigate sailed into the Black Sea to take part in the U.S.-led Operation Sea Breeze, which will see ships from several other alliance members engaged in three days of exercises off the southern coast of Ukraine."
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/russian-warplane-makes-provocative-pass-over-canadian-frigate
Russia: 'ethnic cleansing' of Crimean Tatars
"In a Sept. 9 statement, Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkevics accused Russia of carrying what is "in essence the ethnic cleansing" of the Tatar people from annexed Crimea. Mustafa Cemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatars who has been banned from his homeland by the Russian authorities, added that Russia's FSB security agency has been raiding the homes of Tatar leaders in an effort to intimidate them into fleeing Crimea, accusing Moscow of "the systematic violation of human rights on the peninsula." Russian authorities banned Cemilev from his homeland for five years after the annexation of the peninsula, and he took refuge in Kiev. But he said in an interview that Russian authorities have called for him to appear for an interrogation, and he fears he would be arrested if he appears. (EuroMaidan Press, Sept. 9)"
IS women take up jihad cause on social media and in the streets
"Laws prohibiting mixing between genders has limited women's presence on the front lines, but they are increasingly recruited for support roles as doctors, nurses and engineers.
Some work to communicate the militants' message to the world using platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Kik. Others have joined one of several female brigades, reports New York Magazine."
http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/is-women-take-up-jihad-cause-on-social-media-and-in-the-streets/story-fnh81ifq-1227053757287Adriana Cohen: Where is outrage vs. Sharia Law? | Boston Herald
"In August, ISIS kidnapped 3,000 women and girls at Mount Sinjar and are
using them right now as "war booty." These women — and girls as young as 12 — are
being beaten, humiliated and raped daily.
Yet American feminists and liberal women's groups have remained shockingly silent on this barbarism. Instead of focusing on this very real war on women, Democratic women reserve their vicious attacks for Republicans and the Tea Party."
Where is outrage at what is happening to Canadian native women?
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/adriana_cohen/2014/09/adriana_cohen_where_is_outrage_vs_sharia_lawStatoil's Norway Well Prompts a Complaint from Greenpeace - September 10, 2014 - Zacks.com
"According to the Norwegian unit head of Greenpeace, the field's proximity to vulnerable resources such as Bear Island and the ice edge makes the drilling of the well highly risky. However, the impact of Greenpeace's complaint on Pingvin well's operation is still uncertain. This appeal is the fifth one filed by Greenpeace against Statoil's drilling in the Barents Sea.
http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/146751/statoils-norway-well-prompts-a-complaint-from-greenpeace
The latest complaint comes in the wake up sanctions on Rosneft, which owns a 20% stake in license 713 where Pingvin is located, due to Russia's involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Due to this, the timing of some of Statoil's projects with Rosneft in Russia, regarding onshore and offshore exploration have been adversely affected."
Judge says Chesapeake Energy must face racketeering trial | Petro Global News
"A judge ruled Tuesday that the company will go to trial for allegedly defrauding private landowners in Oklahoma during oil and gas leasing sales in 2010, Reuters said.
The racketeering charge carries a fine of up to $100,000. The 20 counts of using false pretenses carry fines of up to $10,000 per count or triple the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater."
So are these people Americans or Russians?
http://petroglobalnews.com/2014/09/judge-says-chesapeake-energy-must-face-racketeering-trial/Rosneft sells $1 billion stake in Vankor fields to CNPC | Petro Global News
"The EU said the implementation of the sanctions will be delayed as its determines whether a cease-fire in Ukraine will hold.
The sanctions would further restrict Rosneft's access to foreign loans, prohibiting the company from receiving any loans with more than 30 days maturity.
Rosneft's finances have been strained by the EU and U.S. sanctions spurred by Russia's involvement in the Ukraine."
http://petroglobalnews.com/2014/09/rosneft-sells-1-billion-stake-in-vankor-fields-to-cnpc/Sanctions start to hurt Rosneft | Europe | BDlive
"The sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and Europe in response to its military action in Ukraine have cut Rosneft's access to Western financing and technology, complicating the servicing of its $55bn debt and closing the way to cutting-edge industrial science it needs to keep developing its energy resources.
http://www.bdlive.co.za/world/europe/2014/09/10/sanctions-start-to-hurt-rosneft
Few doubt that Rosneft will be able to withstand the pressure in the medium term — its earnings amount to $30bn a year and billions more are still available via Chinese credit lines and Russian state coffers in case of emergency. However, the world's biggest listed oil producer — which produces more oil than Opec members Iraq or Iran — faces unprecedented challenges to its long-term expansion and modernisation plans."
Provide Endangered Species Protection to Monarch Butterflies | French Tribune
"Monarch population in the US has drastically declined to 90%, which is below its 20-year average, say environmental and food-safety groups. The population has reduced from 1 billion in the mid-1990s to around 35 million in 2013. The groups have asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide endangered species protection to the monarch butterfly.
The petitioners have blamed Monsanto Co.'s Roundup herbicide and Roundup Ready crops for the decline. Due to the increased planting of genetically engineered crops in the Midwest, where a majority of monarchs are born, a decline has been seen in the butterfly's population."
http://www.frenchtribune.com/teneur/1423548-provide-endangered-species-protection-monarch-butterfliesSuzuki recalls nearly 19,000 Kizashi sedans due to spider infestation problems | French Tribune
"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday that Japanese automaker Suzuki has announced the recall of nearly 19,000 Kizashi mid-size sedans in the US, because of spider infestation problems.
The recall affects Kizashi mid-sized sedans from model years 2010 through 2013. The Kizashi was one of Suzuki's best-seller vehicles in the US for nearly three decades, before the automaker pulled the vehicle from the US market last year.
About the problem prompting the recall of Kizashis by Suzuki, the NHTSA said that, in the affected Kizashi models, a hose to vent gasoline vapors from the vehicles can potentially be blocked because of webs weaved by spiders."
http://www.frenchtribune.com/teneur/1423475-suzuki-recalls-nearly-19000-kizashi-sedans-due-spider-infestation-problemsTornado Spotted above Iceland’s Bardarbunga Volcano | Austrian Tribune
"An incredible tornado of gas and fire, swirling 3,280ft (1km) into the air, has been captured on Wednesday last week above Iceland's rumbling Bardarbunga volcano, which has been exhibiting seismic activities and eruptions since last month with some of its lava fountain reaching as high as 700 feet in the air.
The footage was taken last week by an aircraft-fitted infrared camera designed to monitor and allow pilots to see potentially dangerous ash clouds.
Scientists are still unsure what caused the tornado-like phenomenon, but have suggested it may be due to the difference between hot and colder air rising above Bardarbunga (located under Vatnajökull, Iceland's most extensive glacier) has caused something similar to a 'dust devil'.
Dust devils are small, rotating columns of air, which can be seen because of the dust and debris they pick up from the ground. They form because hot air close to the ground rises, punching through the layer of cooler, denser air above."
http://austriantribune.com/informationen/144594-tornado-spotted-above-iceland-s-bardarbunga-volcanoVolcano tornadoes in Iceland are what your worst nightmares are made of : SCIENCE : Tech Times
"On Sept. 3, an infrared camera that was specially designed to monitor and allow pilots to see possibly dangerous ash clouds from planes captured a twister of gas and fire swirling as high as 3,300 feet into the air above Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano, which has been exhibiting seismic activities and eruptions since last month with some of its lava fountain reaching as high as 700 feet in the air."
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