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Friday, March 28, 2014

Oso Landslide Part I: Data from Oso and Jim Creek Naval Station

Oso, WA landslide from JCW Seismograph (Jim Creek) of March 22nd. The middle energy signature is present in all graphs below for March 10, March 19-22
UW postdoctoral researcher Kate Allstadt has a comprehensive post on PNSN on Seismic Signals generated by the Oso Landslide. Among the more interesting notes in her post is a "sound recording" of the landslide at 160x speed. Local geologist Dan McShane has a number of excellent posts on the geology of the region and the landslide itself. Chuck Forsberg of Omen.com generously shipped me a dump of VLF transmissions log from Jim Creek Naval Station. The the JCW seismographs compiled below show March 10th (date of 1.1 quake) and March 19 - 22.  My guess is that the recurring 8 - 10 AM energy signature identified by Kate Allstadt as a "cultural source" is probably some cycle of the nearby 250 KW VLF transmissions in Jim Creek. Seismographs from PNSN.  Click to enlarge.
From left to right: March 10, March 19 - 22.  Note the two sharp disturbances early morning of  March 21st; the day before the slide. Also note the persistent "cultural source" signature that shows up in each plot. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Testing for Evidence of Fukushima in Bellingham: Part I

45 days of filtration in a Bellingham neighborhood that heats with wood.


I am working on (DIY)  testing for evidence of Fukushima fallout in Bellingham. This is a "science project" fraught with difficulties for a layman. I will leave pictures and R code output without much comment for now. So far most of my testing has been exploratory and I looking at how to systemize my methodology.  I have collected three years worth of external air filters sealed in plastic. I change them out every 45 days as they are so filthy with smoke and soot! 

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Why you should install heat pump technology now!

In a statement Tuesday, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Hoeven (R-ND) called on the Obama administration to order the DOE to quickly evaluate more than 20 applications to export LNG to countries without a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. Specifically, they want DOE to approve all of the pending permits within 60 days, or provide reasons why they can't be approved.
"For the first time in a generation, America is in a position to export energy, and acting strategically to increase our natural gas exports will weaken [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's grip on energy supplies for Europe and Ukraine," Warner said. "We're suggesting a comprehensive, bipartisan approach that will have a positive impact in the near term and the longer term on the energy security of Ukraine and the EU." from 
http://www.naturalgasintel.com/articles/97781-europe-ukraine-discuss-pipeline-upgrades-reversals
Don't believe energy company hype about Shale Gas. It is not a panacea and the energy industry is seeking to make profits exporting LNG!  Global warming and the new Cold War will result in future shock to your household each winter. I recommend you install either the new 'greenspeed' or  the hybrid heat pump technology for your heating needs.  Our gas bill this January in Bellingham, WA? $38.00.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Passed the three year anniversary of Fukushima last week...

A John Servais column about radiation found in the Fraser River Valley in Northwest Citizen reminded me that we passed the three year anniversary of Fukushima last week.  Little is known about the effects of the radiation releases on the West Coast because the monitoring is so sparse and distrusted. For what it is worth, here are the EPA RadNet (air source) graphs of ten different gamma energy ranges in Seattle, Fairbanks, and Juneau for the last six months. Click to enlarge:


My general feeling is the radioactive releases from Fukushima are affecting our health now and will for a very long time.  My guess is that the amount and effects of such releases are being covered up or dismissed.

Fwd: SEP Newsletter: What the Western-backed regime is planning for Ukrainian workers

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Socialist Equality Party" <sep@socialistequality.com>
Date: Mar 16, 2014 11:05 AM
Subject: SEP Newsletter: What the Western-backed regime is planning for Ukrainian workers
To: "rferrisx@gmail.com" <rferrisx@gmail.com>
Cc:

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Fwd: Today on the WSWS

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "World Socialist Web Site" <list@wsws.org>
Date: Mar 9, 2014 10:57 PM
Subject: Today on the WSWS
To: "rferrisx@gmail.com" <rferrisx@gmail.com>
Cc:

Doubling Tar Sands production for Imperial War » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

Doubling Tar Sands production for Imperial War » CounterPunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names

Fwd: Downtown Bellingham Plan: March 27 Planning Commission Meeting Materials

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pool, Lisa A." <lapool@cob.org>
Date: Mar 13, 2014 12:29 PM
Subject: Downtown Bellingham Plan: March 27 Planning Commission Meeting Materials
To:
Cc:

DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM PLAN: March 27 Planning Commission Meeting Materials

All documents associated with the draft Downtown Bellingham Plan are scheduled for a public hearing at the March 27 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission packet, including the staff report and City Center Implementation Strategy, is now posted online here: http://www.cob.org/government/public/boards-commissions/planning-materials.aspx.

Written comments should be submitted to planningcommission@cob.org no later than March 25, 2014, for consideration at the meeting. All comments submitted prior to or during the meeting will become part of the written record.

Thanks,
Lisa Pool, AICP
Senior Planner
City of Bellingham, WA

My incoming and outgoing email messages are subject to public disclosure requirements per RCW 42.56.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

The Post Crimean World Order...

The U.S. blinked!  The situation is still fluid, but the apocalypse didn't happen.  The world will now pursue a "Post Crimean World Order".  In this new world, major economic powers will each pitch  the less powerful countries in the World. States from Ukraine to Ecuador will have some choices to make in alliances: US or Russia Federation or China or Brazil or... perhaps the "middle way" of balancing between all of them! Hey, it worked for the French!

Russia is not weak anymore. The United States economy is still too weak to engage in substantial military or economic risk. The neo-conservative / neo-liberal dream of interfering far and wide has seen limits. With the Asian axis developing strong capitalist economies, national power will become more globally diffuse or 'multilateral'.  In the 'Post Crimean World Order' the Asian economies will increase in power and strength.  Europe and Japan will to have to bend towards them.  The United States is in a difficult position for now. It's aggressive neo-colonial era launched under the guise of the 'war on terrorism' has resulted in lost international good will. But this can change.

My contention is that the world will be at  greater peace and eventually more prosperity with a stronger Russia. With a burgeoning capitalist economy of its own now, it should be able to help China, Brazil, India challenge the economic and political axis of the West. It is possible that with less (or more hard earned) foreign economic opportunity, the US may have no option but to substantially grow and innovate the domestic economy. This could increase the prosperity of the US workforce and shrink the wealth gap. It might also shrink all of our ridiculously bloated defense and intelligence budgets.  And that, dear reader, is an outcome worth hoping for!

Of course, there are always other outcomes.  The U.S. could become bitter and reactionary, engaging in more needless foreign intrusions. An impoverished America could fall into nationalism and elect right wing extremists convinced that nuclear wars are "winnable"....  But I don't think this is going to happen. The general public here is sick of sending there sons to die in foreign countries and hearing about how we supported neo-Nazis to overthrow elected governments like Ukraine.  Let us hope the future brings out the best in United States and the rest of this very large and growing world!

Fwd: SEP Newsletter: The David Miranda ruling and the attack on press freedom

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Socialist Equality Party" <sep@socialistequality.com>
Date: Mar 2, 2014 4:55 PM
Subject: SEP Newsletter: The David Miranda ruling and the attack on press freedom
To: "rferrisx@gmail.com" <rferrisx@gmail.com>
Cc:


World Socialist Web Site

Socialist Equality Party Newsletter

Below is a selection of articles appearing on the World Socialist Web Site last week. Six days a week, the WSWS publishes on all the major political, social and cultural developments. To sign up for the daily newsletter, click here.

Contents:




Sunday, March 2, 2014

The brilliance of Neo-Nazi paramilitarism combined with Neo-Con dreams of world domination....

"If Russia wants to be a G8 country, it needs to behave like a G8 country."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
So  Mr. Secretary, when we invaded Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria... What exactly were we behaving like in the United States? It turns out that supporting a bunch of Neo-Nazi paramilitary reactionaries to overthrow Ukraine's elected government was a really bad idea!  Victoria Nuland and the rest of the neocon world have now learned the lesson that Ukraine isn't El Salvador. Wow! How freaking brilliant for them to learn this at the expense of our country and world economic stability. More on these subjects later. For now read, please William Engdahl....

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Fwd: Downtown Bellingham Plan: Planning Commission Public Hearing and DNS Notices

I'm a bit late with this forward...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pool, Lisa A." <lapool@cob.org>
Date: Feb 25, 2014 4:17 PM
Subject: Downtown Bellingham Plan: Planning Commission Public Hearing and DNS Notices
To:
Cc:

DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM PLAN: Public Notices

Two items pertaining to the Downtown Bellingham Plan are now available online:
-          Notice of Public Hearing for the March 27 Planning Commission Meeting: http://www.cob.org/cob/Pubnot.nsf/frmNotice/79E8F0216FD0EEC288257C8A00771146?OpenDocument
-          Determination of Non-Significance: http://www.cob.org/cob/Pubnot.nsf/frmNotice/7332DE73F39985A788257C86006285C6?OpenDocument

The Planning Commission staff report for the Downtown Plan will be posted online by March 13, 2014.

Contact Lisa Pool, Senior Planner, at lapool@cob.org or 360-778-8390 with comments or questions.