The recently organized International Earthquake and Volcano Prediction Center (IEVPC) announces today that it has stopped its internal earthquake test program early because of a near perfect record in its predictions and the vital need to begin saving lives immediately. The IEVPC has just achieved an almost flawless level in earthquake prediction as demonstrated in the first three tests of its Catastrophic Geophysical Event (CGE) Monitoring and Warning System (CMWS). As a result, the IEVPC has decided to stop further evaluations and immediately begin notification of governments around the world of its now verified ability to predict large destructive earthquakes with a high degree of certainty.
According to Chairman/CEO Mr. John L. Casey, “We can no longer hold back in letting the earthquake prone nations of the world know that a proven system for highly reliable prediction of large earthquakes now exists. These geophysical dangers routinely kill thousands of people around the world every year, while at the same time destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure, thereby extending the damage and suffering for many thousands more. The need to cut short our internal test program, originally planned for almost twenty earthquakes, is obvious. We now have a process for earthquake prediction that is so reliable that it must immediately be put into place wherever lives are at risk. The decision we have made to stop evaluation of our CMWS is similar to important drug testing programs. It is not unusual for promising new drugs to have testing stopped abruptly if the initial results are so compelling and people are dying every day without the drug. Likewise, we have decided we must not wait any longer but must aggressively get out the word about our capabilities.”
“What we need now is for nations of the world to recognize that it is a myth that earthquakes cannot be predicted and to begin to establish communication networks and standardized monitoring systems in known high risk zones. Other international groups are also coming out with effective tools for earthquake prediction. They, like us, realize that CGE’s can be predicted because of recent advances in technology, especially satellite sensor technology, and because of the integration of many prediction techniques and precursor signals into a single predictive process. Once in place, we believe we can maximize the time people have to prepare for these destructive events by providing months, weeks, and days of advance notice. While we will doubtless continue to improve our process for quake detection, there is no longer a need to continue the test program. At the same time, there is an overwhelming humanitarian need to end it,” notes Casey.
Casey states, “In September of last year I was approached by some of the world’s best seismologists in earthquake prediction to create this new organization that would integrate their combined skills, techniques, and decades of experience. They came to me because of my success in climate change prediction and especially how it relates to variations in earthquake and volcanic activity. Under the leadership of Director of Research Dr. Dong Choi, we have been busy assembling the best and brightest in earthquake prediction under one roof. That effort has now paid off. Many people worldwide will ultimately benefit from this initiative.”
In the past two months, the IEVPC concluded three separate tests in different areas of the world included the following:
1. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. This test resulted in the correct prediction of timing and location of a major earthquake event that resulted in an amazing ten earthquakes ranging from M4.6 to M5.8 over a short eight day period spread along a fault line to a distance of about 1,500 km. Eight of the quakes hit within the first two days. These temblors, in combination, replaced the IEVPC’s previously predicted single quake of M7.5-M8.8. Mercifully for the people of Kamchatka and the Pacific Rim, as the substantial energy of the quake being monitored by the IEVPC approached the surface, it dispersed among several faults lines off the east coast of Kamchatka during October 14-22, 2012. This quake in its final form of multiple powerful quakes produced no known loss of life. Had a single quake struck, thousands of lives might have been lost because of direct quake effects and the generation of a Pacific-wide tsunami. Several IEVPC Associate Scientists were involved with this prediction including Dr. Z. Shou, Dr. M. Hayakawa, Dr. A. Bapat and Mr. V. Straser under the leadership of IEVPC Director of Research, Dr. Dong Choi.
2. Celebes Sea of Northern Indonesia. As a result of IEVPC precursor analysis conducted by lead investigator and Director of Research, Dr. Choi, a large oceanic quake (M6.0) was correctly predicted and took place on October 17, 2012 at the location and within the time frame estimated. Because of the deep ocean nature of this isolated quake’s epicenter, no damage or loss of life was recorded.
3. Myanmar. On November 11, 2012 a M6.8 quake struck central Myanmar near the location predicted with the magnitude and in the time frame as internal IEVPC estimates had forecast. Twelve lives were lost based on initial figures released by the government. Leading the initial precursor signal analysis and early detection of the Myanmar quake was renowned Indian seismologist Dr. Arun Bapat. Dr. Choi was also involved in this quake’s analysis and used other signals to confirm Dr. Bapat’s preliminary conclusions. The final opinion arrived at was for a potentially catastrophic geophysical event (CGE) which would strike central Myanmar within two weeks after November 6, 2012 and would have a magnitude between M6.5 and M7.0.
In his assessment of the Myanmar test CEO Casey explained, “I am of course delighted at the success of Dr. Bapat and Dr. Choi in their trial prediction of the Myanmar quake. Dr. Bapat is one of the most distinguished leaders in this field and his history making prediction of the Myanmar quake is only one example of the talent that resides in the IEVPC.
Unfortunately, it was impossible to know whether the Myanmar quake would happen since the IEVPC process had not been evaluated for an inland quake before. Issuing a warning was out of the question for what was then an unproven method with such a short time-span to strike, in a country with little or no effective earthquake reaction training for its citizens. It would have been grossly irresponsible. Issuing a public alert ran the risk of possibly causing panic throughout the country, resulting in far more deaths than that seen in the remote areas where the quake epicenter was located.”
From Dr. Bapat we have, “The fact that the Myanmar quake struck as predicted, and that it did so along with the Celebes Sea quake and the Kamchatka quake event has given us enough justification to end the test program early. Mr. Casey and Dr. Choi have done a great service to all by asking those like myself with many years in the field of earthquake prediction to come together to end the myth that these destructive earthquakes cannot be predicted. I believe we are now at that point in human history.”
Dr. Choi added, “We have had a remarkable level of success in our very first three tests. Further, they included diverse geophysical situations. The Kamchatka event was a traditional off shore Pacific Rim oceanic trench fault type. The Celebes Sea quake was a central oceanic deep ocean event with no companion fault. The Myanmar event was an inland quake with an associated known fault line.
What is important to note is that our process worked correctly in three distinctly different geological areas. This gave us another reason for ending the test program quickly. If our process had worked only for one type of quake and not others we might have had to stop and reevaluate our process. That is no longer required. It’s time to put our program for earthquake prediction in the field and start saving lives.”
Mr. Casey echoes Dr. Choi’s comments with, “This level of success in our predictions for Kamchatka, the Celebes Sea and Myanmar carries even more significance when one realizes all our work has been done in a start-up phase on a shoestring budget. A greater level of prediction success and improved warning notification time can be achieved for a state, region, or nation with requisite funding of global and on-site monitoring teams from the IEVPC.
In the special case of Kamchatka where we issued warnings during much of 2012, we remain concerned for the potential of another major seismic event and all should remain vigilant in that unique region of the planet where there is a history of powerful earthquakes. Our Russian colleagues are, however, well versed in parametric precursor analysis similar to what we employ.
We have also provided them additional information to detect a new unexpected earthquake and quickly react should that highly unstable area produce another threat. In any case it was gratifying to see the positive level of reaction to our warnings demonstrated by Russian geologists, Ambassador Kislyak’s office in Washington, and by President Medvedev’s trip to Kamchatka in August. While there he checked on the status of earthquake preparedness. We will nonetheless continue to keep Kamchatka on an active but lower alert status over the next year until relative stability returns. We believe a major earthquake will remain a serious threat for Kamchatka residents for some time.
Beginning this week we will start a systematic program for raising the capital needed to expand our operations out of our start-up phase and notify every nation that has to deal with CGE’s that we are here and able to help protect their people. The IEVPC has demonstrated that a new era in reliable earthquake forecasting has arrived.”
ABOUT IEVPC
The International Earthquake and Volcano Prediction Center is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA. The primary research facility is in Canberra, Australia with branch offices of cooperating scientists and researchers planned for the USA, India, China, and Japan. The IEVPC is a non-profit science research organization dedicated to the mission of protection of people through early prediction of Catastrophic Geophysical Events (CGE) such as earthquakes, associated tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The IEVPC web site is at www.ievpc.org.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, which is Christ the Lord
/in Culture War, News/by Dr. Rich SwierFROM THE BOOK OF LUKE 2:7-20 (KJV)
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Grassroots movement to arm teachers gains momentum
/in Education, Must Read, News, Policy, Politics/by Dr. Rich SwierLong before Wayne LaPierre held his press conference the internet was alive with practical solutions on how to prevent another Newtown, CT like attack on schools. Most comments coalesced around arming school based administrators and teachers. One idea is to provide concealed carry training to school based administrators and on a voluntary basis to teachers. The school district would cover the costs of the training, license and purchase of an approved weapon.
Virginia is considering legislation requiring teachers be armed.
Several photographs and photo-shopped signs were circulated graphically demonstrating the popularity of this solution. Two stand out and were the most often received by WDW. Below is a widely distributed photo allegedly depicting an Israeli teacher and her class of elementary school students:
This photo-shopped sign with the caption “Which sign is most likely to deter a school shooting?” is widely circulating on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites:
Comments on these images may be best represented by a common sense approach to the issue. The argument goes something like this – if there is something valuable that society wants to protect and defend then society must have armed guards in place. Examples of protected areas include: government offices at every level, sensitive installations such as military bases or nuclear power plants, airports, banks, prisons and national parks.
Many are asking why we are not similarly protecting our most precious natural resources – our children?
USA Today reports, “About 70% of public schools don’t have [a] police officer and almost 60% don’t have any security staff. Those with police tend to be big and urban schools, according to a USA TODAY data analysis.” Clearly at some point schools decide to have an armed guard present. The only restriction is cost weighted against the potential threat.
Political opponents focus on taking away guns, not on protecting the children as is done for most politicians. History and statistics work against opponents to arming those most responsible for the protection of our children – school based administrators and teachers.
PLEASE TAKE OUR ONLINE SURVEY ON THE QUESTION OF ARMING SCHOOL STAFF:
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Florida braces for major job losses in 2013
/in Economy, Must Read, National Security, News/by Dr. Rich SwierAccording to the Heritage Foundation, “The Budget Control Act’s $1.2 trillion automatic sequestration cuts, out of $46.3 trillion in total spending, would impose draconian cuts on defense (on top of an estimated $407 billion in cuts from its spending caps). This would slash the defense budget and jeopardize the U.S. military’s ability to defend the nation. Entitlement spending—the biggest part of the budget— would scarcely be touched by comparison.”
Florida has twenty-one military installations, and is home to U.S. Central Command at MacDill AFB in Tampa.
Florida stands to lose 79,459 jobs and $4.1 billion in labor income by the end of fiscal 2013 if $1.2 trillion in federal defense cuts take place in January as planned. A report conducted by George Mason University economist Stephen Fuller reports Florida would suffer the sixth highest job losses of all the states.
The report measures the impact of both defense and nondefense employment reductions at federal agencies and their contractors, as well as at businesses that count them as customers.
A little more than half of Florida’s lost jobs in the next fiscal year — 41,905 — would result from Department of Defense cuts, and the rest would stem from reductions at civilian agencies. During that period, Florida would also see gross state product losses of $8 billion.
The George Mason University report concludes – The magnitude of economic impacts resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 over the combined FY 2012-FY 2013 period have been shown to be large and their impact on the U.S. economy to be significant:
• Combined DOD and non-DOD agency spending reductions totaling $115.7 billion in FY 2013 would reduce the 2013 U.S. GDP by $215.0 billion.
• These spending reductions would result in the loss of 746,222 direct jobs including cutbacks in the federal workforce totaling 277,263 and decreases in the federal contractor workforce totaling 468,959 jobs, thus affecting all sectors of the national economy.
• The loss of these 746,222 direct jobs and 432,978 jobs of suppliers and vendors (indirect jobs) dependent on the prime contractors would reduce total labor income in the U.S. by $109.4 billion.
• The loss of this labor income and the resultant impacts of reduced consumer spending in the economy would generate an additional loss of 958,508 jobs dependent on the spending and re-spending of payroll dollars associated with the direct and indirect jobs lost as a result of BCA.
• This loss of $215.0 billion in GDP and 2.14 million jobs in 2013 would erase two-thirds of the GDP gains projected for the year and raise the national unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points by the end of 2013.
• These economic impacts would affect every state with their respective vulnerabilities to projected DOD and non-DOD spending reductions being determined by their agency mix and relative magnitudes of federal payroll and procurement. Based on current patterns of federal spending by state, ten states account for more than half of total federal payroll and procurement outlays. This significant concentration of federal spending represents a major threat to these states’ economies in 2013. While other states may appear less vulnerable to federal spending reductions, these may also suffer significant impacts dues to their smaller sizes or more specialized economic structures.
To read more click here.
A Clash of Organizations in the War on Christmas and the Good Guys Win
/in Culture War, Featured/by Dr. Rich SwierANN ARBOR, MI — On Saturday morning, December 15th, John Satawa with the help of family and friends and the Boy Scouts once again erected the Nativity on a public median in Warren, Michigan. The joyous occasion was the culmination of a four year legal battle in defense of the Nativity waged by the Thomas More Law Center against the County Road Commission and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
While the Nativity was being erected, Warren police controlled traffic as well-wishers gathered, reporters and TV stations conducted interviews, carolers sang Christmas songs, a priest from nearby St Anne’s Catholic Church blessed the display, and passing cars and trucks sounded their horns and drivers gave a ‘thumbs-up” in approval.
A Nativity at that location was a tradition begun by John Satawa’s father in 1945. It was observed every year thereafter without a single complaint until 2008 when the Road Commission capitulated to a demand letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation and ordered Satawa to take it down. That is when John Satawa contacted the Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The beginning paragraph of the U.S. Court of Appeals opinion which ruled in favor of the Nativity, described the clash between the Thomas More Law Center and the Freedom From Religion Foundation as follows:
“The Macomb County Road Commission faced a dilemma.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation,an organization dedicated to “protect[ing] the fundamental constitutional principle of separation of church and state,” had written a letter objecting to a private citizen’s placing a crèche on a sixty-foot-wide median at Christmas time, as the citizen and his family had done for more than sixty years. The county immediately ordered the crèche removed. In response, the Thomas More Law Center, an organization dedicated to “restor[ing] and defend[ing] America’s Judeo-Christian heritage,”took up the citizen’s cause . . .” (emphasis added)
As a result of the Court of Appeals ruling, the Macomb County Road Commission agreed to allow John Satawa to resume the annual tradition of erecting the Nativity display during the 2012 Christmas season and all future Christmas seasons. The Nativity display will stay up until December 29th.
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life. It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America. The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.
VIDEO: Rep. Buchanan wants to send lump of coal to Egypt’s Morsi
/in Featured, National Security, News, Policy/by Dr. Rich SwierRepresentative Vern Buchanan (FL-13) does not believe the American taxpayers should send their hard earned money in the form of 20 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. According to an email Rep. Buchanan states, ” I’ve introduced legislation, H.R. 6646, to immediately suspend U.S. aid to Egypt. We can no longer afford to buy friends across the world that don’t have our best interests in mind. It’s time to put America first.”
Buchanan notes, “In the spirit of the holiday season, even Santa Claus would have trouble sending a stocking full of American F-16 fighter jets to an Egyptian regime that supports Hamas and is looking more and more like a dictatorship than a trustworthy democracy. And yet, unbelievably, that is exactly what the United States government is doing.”
David French from National Review Online reports, “In an era of ballooning budget deficits, looming cuts to our own military, and tax increases for millions of Americans, it’s heartening to know that the American taxpayer still has the financial wherewithal (or good credit with China) to provide — free of charge — brand-new F-16 fighters to the Muslim Brotherhood-led Egyptian government just as its hold on power looks increasingly shaky. These new weapons will start to arrive roughly a month after the vote on Egypt’s proposed Brotherhood-supported constitution.”
Please watch this 90 second video that French and his colleagues at ACLJ created:
Charlie Crist Supporter Arrested for Election Fraud
/in Must Read, News/by Dr. Rich SwierRobert Waechter
In late June of 2010 a fundraiser was held for Charlie Crist. Crist had decided he would run as an Independent for the US Senate seat currently held by Marco Rubio. At that fundraiser was former Republican Party of Sarasota Chair Robert “Bob” Waechter.
Waechter was one of the “movers and shakers” of the Republican Party at the time. There was an outcry from party members that Waechter was there in violation of his sworn oath as a member of the Republican Executive Committee to only support party candidates. He broke his oath and resigned from the executive committee but not from the party.
Fast forward to recent events and we find Waechter running for the position of Treasurer of the Republican Party of Sarasota on Monday, December 10, 2012. Waechter was defeated by Roy Wells in his bid to re-enter the party executive board structure. So we have Waechter, a supporter of Crist, working his way back into the party favored and power network.
Waechter would have remained a power player if not for one thing – his attempt at election fraud.
On Friday, December 14, 2012, just days after his failed bid to become the party treasurer, he was according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, “[C]harged with a felony after authorities say he stole the identity of a political rival and made campaign donations in her name to a Democratic candidate for Congress to embarrass her.”
Here is the irony. This is not the first felony that Waechter has been charged with.
In 1979 Waechter was accused of felony burglary. This felony charge, of which he was never convicted, came to light when he was running for the Chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota. His plea to the members of the Executive Committee was this was a one-time mistake, which he would not repeat. So much for promises made by Waechter.
Some have accused Republicans of becoming more and more like Democrats. Conservative voters have begun to wonder who really represents them. The Republican Party of Sarasota has touted itself as a conservative organization; but it is leaders like Waechter who call into question the core values of the party structure. A structure that keeps embracing the Waechters over and over again.
The Republican Party of Sarasota’s website states, “The mission of the Republican Party of Sarasota County is to serve as the umbrella organization for all GOP activities leading to the election of qualified, loyal Republicans, through education, communication and the motivation of the electorate.”
Perhaps the Republican Party of Florida needs to define what a “qualified, loyal” member is first?
Gingrich vs. The Pope on Gay Marriage
/in Culture War, Elections, Hot Topics, News/by Dr. Rich SwierFormer Speaker of the House, architect of the Republican revolution, Presidential Candidate, social conservative and Catholic Newt Gingrich stated, “gay marriage is both inevitable and okay by him”. It appears that Newt’s dramatic change in attitude is politically based. “Legalization of same-sex marriage in three states in 2012’s election changed the landscape, and conservatives have to come to terms with it,” he said according to The Hollywood Gossip magazine.
The Pope in an end-of-year speech warned that the very future of mankind is at stake over gay marriage .
According to The Telegraph, “In the fight for the family, the very notion of being – of what being human really means – is being called into question,” the Pope stated in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
The Pope spoke of the “falseness” of gender theories and cited at length France’s chief Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, who has spoken out against gay marriage.
“Bernheim has shown in a very detailed and profoundly moving study that the attack we are currently experiencing on the true structure of the family, made up of father, mother, and child, goes much deeper,” Pope Benedict XVI said.
Reuters reports, “Bernheim, also a philosopher, argues that homosexual rights groups ‘will use gay marriage as a Trojan Horse’ in a wider campaign to ‘deny sexual identity and erase sexual differences’ and ‘undermine the heterosexual fundamentals of our society’. His study, ‘Gay Marriage, Parenthood and Adoption: What We Often Forget To Say’, argues that plans to legalize gay marriage are being made for ‘the exclusive profit of a tiny minority’ and are often supported because of political correctness.”
Is Gingrich being politically correct? Have Republicans caved on the most important social issue facing mankind? Does politics trump core human principles?
“The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
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The Two Faces of Gunslinger Charlie Crist
/in Must Read, News, Politics/by Dr. Rich SwierWhen Charlie Crist was a Republican and later an Independent, he always identified himself as a strong supporter of the rights of gun owners, but now as a Democrat, it’s clear that his past support for the Second Amendment was based on political expediency and not principled conviction.
“We need to have some restrictions, that’s pretty obvious to most people. What do you need a 30-clip magazine for? Not to go hunting deer. I can tell you that because I hunt deer.” – Charlie Crist
There are many instances where ”Chain-Gang” Charlie was as a staunch political gunslinger as there ever was one that would never waiver from his pro-gun positions. Is there a better example of a political opportunist in the country than Charlie Crist?
Charlie Crist with shotgun
Crist is ‘Pro-Gun:’
“I’m pro-gun. I strongly support the Second Amendment. It’s fundamental. It’s our Second Amendment for a reason; the Founding Fathers thought it was that important.” (Florida Times-Union, 8/20/06)
Crist Opposed Bans on Assault Weapons:
Crist Opposed Both the Assault Weapons Ban and the Brady Bill. “Graham voted for the ban on assault weapons and for the Brady Bill, which imposed a waiting period for handgun purchases. Crist opposes both. “I believe citizens do have the right to bear arms,” said Crist, who is a hunter.” (Orlando Sentinel, 10/11/98)
Crist Says We Need to Ban Criminals, Not Guns:
Crist: “Yes, I do, [own] a shotgun. I hunt pheasant, duck. I’m a very strong defender of the Second Amendment. What we need to do is ban criminals, not guns. As a member of the Senate select committee on juvenile justice reform I took testimony at a hearing from a young man involved in a life of crime as a youth, who had turned that life around. (He) explained how foolish it was to try to limit law-abiding citizens’ rights to have a handgun . . . Prior to a criminal’s illegal act involving a handgun, they don’t ordinarily take the time to look . . . to see if they’re violating the law.” (St. Petersburg Times, 11/5/94)
Charlie Crist Received A+ Rating from NRA for Never Taking a Position Adversarial to 2nd Amendment:
Former Florida NRA Chairman Marion Hammer: ‘You Can’t Get an A+ Unless You Have a Strong History on Our Issues.’ “Hammer said Crist earned an “A” rating as a political newcomer, the highest grade bestowed to a rookie candidate by the NRA, and subsequently received an “A+” in future years based on his voting record. “You can’t get an ‘A+’ unless you have a strong history on our issues,” Hammer said.” (Politifact, 7/14/10)
Crist advocated bringing guns to the work place:
Crist Supported the ‘Bring your Gun to Work Bill’ “I understand there are competing interests. There always are in this process. “But people being protected is most important to me.” (Orlando Sentinel, 4/15/08)
Crist denied it was “too easy” to get guns in FL
“I understand … there are some numbers that are disconcerting, particularly as it relates to murder and other violent crimes,” Crist said Tuesday. Despite the rise in gun crimes, Crist said it is not too easy to get a gun in Florida but didn’t elaborate on why gun crimes are going up so much. (AP, 6/26/07)
TRUE THE VOTE DEMANDS ACCESS TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY POLL BOOKS
/in Elections, Must Read, News/by Dr. Rich SwierTrue the Vote (TTV), the nonpartisan election integrity organization, today submitted formal requests to review all voter registration records, including poll books, to St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections Gertrude Walker in the aftermath of the 18th Congressional District recount.
“Florida voters deserve a full, unfiltered explanation of the facts,” True the Vote President Catherine Engelbrecht said. “We cannot know whether all the votes add up unless all the relevant information is made available for public inspection,” adding that True the Vote is “committed to performing a county-wide audit of all registration records for the 2012 Election.”
True the Vote’s request follows a high-profile recount battle where St. Lucie County election officials admitted to hastily releasing vote tallies, failing to count half the precincts on election night, and double counting votes in others. Following the concession of Congressman Allen West, all investigations into the various irregularities ceased.
“Our goal is to fully deconstruct this episode so that this type of travesty won’t happen again,” Engelbrecht continued. “It’s unacceptable to allow flawed counting systems to remain in place because a candidate concedes a race. Faith in the American election system has been shaken enough in recent years – the people of Florida and our Republic deserve better.”
True the Vote’s request conforms to standing Florida open records and federal election laws, specifically 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg-6(i)(1), stating that “all records concerning the implementation of programs and activities conducted for the purpose of ensuring the accuracy and currency of official lists of eligible voters” be made available for public inspection.
True The Vote (TTV) a nonpartisan, nonprofit grassroots organization focused on preserving election integrity is operated by citizens for citizens, to inspire and equip volunteers for involvement at every stage of our electoral process. TTV empowers organizations and individuals across the nation to actively protect the rights of legitimate voters, regardless of their political party affiliation. For more information, please visitwww.truethevote.org.
Voto Honesto (TTV) es una organización sin fines de lucro, no partidaria, enfocada en preservar la integridad en las elecciones y operada por ciudadanos para ciudadanos, ara inspirar y equipar a voluntarios para envolverse en cada una de las etapas del proceso electoral. TTT capacita a organizaciones e individuos a través de la nación para activamente proteger los derechos de los votantes legítimos, sin importar a que partido político perteneces. Para más información, por favor visite www.truethevote.org.
Florida Muslim planned jihad mass murder at New York landmark
/in Must Read, National Security, News/by Dr. Rich SwierJihad Watch reports, “He wanted to carry out a jihad attack in a crowded area in New York, so as to murder as many infidels as possible — perhaps a jihad-martyrdom suicide bombing, so that he could claim the Qur’an’s promise of Paradise to those who ‘kill and are killed’ for Allah (Qur’an 9:111).”
“Prosecutors: Fla. man planned NY terror bombing,” by Curt Anderson for the Associated Press, December 18 (thanks to Lookmann):
Adoption of Common Core Standards a Big Mistake?
/in Education, Hot Topics, Policy/by Dr. Rich SwierOn July 27, 2010 State Board of Education Chairman T. Willard Fair issued the following statement:
“Today, the Florida State Board of Education, in a unanimous and unified vote, approved the adoption of the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts and Mathematics. This approval marks a vital next step on Florida’s long-standing and successful education reform journey by strengthening our curriculum standards for these critical subjects and laying the groundwork for the comparison of our state’s academic progress with our nation and the world.”
Sandra Stotsky, Professor of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas and former Senior Associate Commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Education, states in a research report:
“Since coming to office, the Obama Administration has been intent on standardizing what is taught at each grade level in all of the nation’s schools. It has used its flagship ‘Race to the Top’ competitive grant program to entice states to adopt the K–12 standards developed by a joint project of the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). It has also suggested, in its 2009 Blueprint for Education Reform, that adoption of these common standards could one day be a qualification for states wanting future Title 1 dollars for low-income schools.”
“Parents, teachers, and education leaders along the political spectrum are increasingly raising questions about the constitutionality and transparency of this joint project, called the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI). They are also expressing concern about the high cost of implementing the standards and the national tests that will be based on them, as well as the potential loss of local control of curriculum and instruction,” notes Stotsky.
Stotsky concludes, “Common Core’s standards not only present a serious threat to state and local education authority, but also put academic quality at risk. Pushing fatally flawed education standards into America’s schools is not the way to improve education for America’s students.”
On announcing the appointment of Dr. Tony Bennett as Commissioner of Education, State Board Chair Gary Chartrand said, “Florida has made a great deal of educational progress over the past decade as yesterday’s announcement of the international assessment results clearly showed. We still have more work to do as we continue our transition to Common Core State Standards and ensure we offer a world-class education to Florida’s students.”
Dr. Bennett is touted by some as a free market educator. However, Indiana adopted the Common Core Standards on August 3, 2010. If CCSSI is “a serious threat to state and local education authority” and “puts academic quality at risk” then it is also incompatible with a free market education philosophy.
What will Dr. Bennett do now that the CCSSI strategy is being questioned?
Preventing Another Sandy Hook
/in Must Read, News, Policy/by Dr. Rich SwierWDW received the following in an email from Dan Bongino. Dan served for over a decade in the United States Secret Service as a special agent and owns a number of small businesses in Maryland with his wife Paula.
There are simply no words appropriate to describe the tragedy at Sandy Hook. As a father to two young daughters I can’t help but ask, “What if it were my daughters?” I am sending you this email because there are experiences and lessons I learned while working with the Secret Service that may help assist in preventing another tragedy.
In 2002, the Secret Service, in conjunction with the Department of Education, conducted a research study on school shooting incidents called the Safe School Initiative. The study sought information about the shooters’ pre-attack behaviors and communications. Their stated goal was to “identify information about a school shooting that may be identifiable or noticeable before the shooting occurs, to help inform efforts to prevent school-based attacks.” Although this email is not an appropriate forum for an exhaustive list of their conclusions I have highlighted a few of the study’s main conclusions below with a link to the complete report at the bottom.
According to the Secret Service website, the study highlights include the following:
You can view the report at http://www.secretservice.gov/ntac/ssi_final_report.pdf .
Very Respectfully,
Dan Bongino
WDW thanks former Secret Service Agent Bongino for his insights and making us aware of the special report.
ABOUT DANIEL BONGINO
Daniel proudly joined the ranks of the U.S. Secret Service in 1999 as a Special Agent where he graduated the Secret Service training academy with honors. Beginning his career in the New York Field Office, he was assigned to investigate federal crimes, including but not limited to, computer crimes, bank fraud, credit card fraud, protective intelligence and counterfeiting. His early career was marked by a number of investigative successes. Although the details of his signature investigation are still for official use only, it involved over 300 million dollars in potential financial fraud and a nexus to international terrorism. This joint investigation in cooperation with the FBI, IRS, SSA and a number of local police agencies, was responsible for collapsing a major international fraud ring. The investigation earned Daniel the Department of Justice recognition award, along with other agency specific awards, for excellence in federal investigations.
Daniel left the New York Field Office in 2002 to become an instructor at the Secret Service Training Academy in Beltsville, Maryland. He was the project manager for the re-design of the investigative tactics training program which he subsequently taught to incoming trainees. Daniel was awarded a number of commendations for his work in researching and re-designing the investigative curriculum to reflect current trends in federal crime.
In 2006, Daniel entered into duty on the elite Presidential Protection Division in the administration of President George W. Bush, graduating at the top of his class in the difficult detail training program. Daniel distinguished himself early by becoming one of the earliest tenured Special Agents to be given responsibility for an operational section of the protective detail. Daniel remained on protective duty during the change in administration to President Barack Obama and again distinguished himself by quickly becoming the highest ranking member of his operational shift of agents. With this distinction came greater responsibility and Daniel quickly rose to the challenge. He was designated as the lead agent responsible for the coordination of the President’s trip to Prague for the signing of the START treaty, his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, among a myriad of terror threats, and finally as the lead agent responsible for the President’s visit to an active war zone in Afghanistan. With the successful coordination of these historic events, Daniel was awarded a series of commendations and left the protective detail as one of the most distinguished agents in their history.
Daniel transferred to the Baltimore Field Office in 2010 where he immediately made an impact on the community, breaking up one of the largest fraud rings in Maryland’s history.
Florida based Earthquake Prediction Center Ends Successful Test Program Early
/in Environment, Featured, News/by Dr. Rich SwierThe recently organized International Earthquake and Volcano Prediction Center (IEVPC) announces today that it has stopped its internal earthquake test program early because of a near perfect record in its predictions and the vital need to begin saving lives immediately. The IEVPC has just achieved an almost flawless level in earthquake prediction as demonstrated in the first three tests of its Catastrophic Geophysical Event (CGE) Monitoring and Warning System (CMWS). As a result, the IEVPC has decided to stop further evaluations and immediately begin notification of governments around the world of its now verified ability to predict large destructive earthquakes with a high degree of certainty.
According to Chairman/CEO Mr. John L. Casey, “We can no longer hold back in letting the earthquake prone nations of the world know that a proven system for highly reliable prediction of large earthquakes now exists. These geophysical dangers routinely kill thousands of people around the world every year, while at the same time destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure, thereby extending the damage and suffering for many thousands more. The need to cut short our internal test program, originally planned for almost twenty earthquakes, is obvious. We now have a process for earthquake prediction that is so reliable that it must immediately be put into place wherever lives are at risk. The decision we have made to stop evaluation of our CMWS is similar to important drug testing programs. It is not unusual for promising new drugs to have testing stopped abruptly if the initial results are so compelling and people are dying every day without the drug. Likewise, we have decided we must not wait any longer but must aggressively get out the word about our capabilities.”
“What we need now is for nations of the world to recognize that it is a myth that earthquakes cannot be predicted and to begin to establish communication networks and standardized monitoring systems in known high risk zones. Other international groups are also coming out with effective tools for earthquake prediction. They, like us, realize that CGE’s can be predicted because of recent advances in technology, especially satellite sensor technology, and because of the integration of many prediction techniques and precursor signals into a single predictive process. Once in place, we believe we can maximize the time people have to prepare for these destructive events by providing months, weeks, and days of advance notice. While we will doubtless continue to improve our process for quake detection, there is no longer a need to continue the test program. At the same time, there is an overwhelming humanitarian need to end it,” notes Casey.
Casey states, “In September of last year I was approached by some of the world’s best seismologists in earthquake prediction to create this new organization that would integrate their combined skills, techniques, and decades of experience. They came to me because of my success in climate change prediction and especially how it relates to variations in earthquake and volcanic activity. Under the leadership of Director of Research Dr. Dong Choi, we have been busy assembling the best and brightest in earthquake prediction under one roof. That effort has now paid off. Many people worldwide will ultimately benefit from this initiative.”
In the past two months, the IEVPC concluded three separate tests in different areas of the world included the following:
1. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. This test resulted in the correct prediction of timing and location of a major earthquake event that resulted in an amazing ten earthquakes ranging from M4.6 to M5.8 over a short eight day period spread along a fault line to a distance of about 1,500 km. Eight of the quakes hit within the first two days. These temblors, in combination, replaced the IEVPC’s previously predicted single quake of M7.5-M8.8. Mercifully for the people of Kamchatka and the Pacific Rim, as the substantial energy of the quake being monitored by the IEVPC approached the surface, it dispersed among several faults lines off the east coast of Kamchatka during October 14-22, 2012. This quake in its final form of multiple powerful quakes produced no known loss of life. Had a single quake struck, thousands of lives might have been lost because of direct quake effects and the generation of a Pacific-wide tsunami. Several IEVPC Associate Scientists were involved with this prediction including Dr. Z. Shou, Dr. M. Hayakawa, Dr. A. Bapat and Mr. V. Straser under the leadership of IEVPC Director of Research, Dr. Dong Choi.
2. Celebes Sea of Northern Indonesia. As a result of IEVPC precursor analysis conducted by lead investigator and Director of Research, Dr. Choi, a large oceanic quake (M6.0) was correctly predicted and took place on October 17, 2012 at the location and within the time frame estimated. Because of the deep ocean nature of this isolated quake’s epicenter, no damage or loss of life was recorded.
3. Myanmar. On November 11, 2012 a M6.8 quake struck central Myanmar near the location predicted with the magnitude and in the time frame as internal IEVPC estimates had forecast. Twelve lives were lost based on initial figures released by the government. Leading the initial precursor signal analysis and early detection of the Myanmar quake was renowned Indian seismologist Dr. Arun Bapat. Dr. Choi was also involved in this quake’s analysis and used other signals to confirm Dr. Bapat’s preliminary conclusions. The final opinion arrived at was for a potentially catastrophic geophysical event (CGE) which would strike central Myanmar within two weeks after November 6, 2012 and would have a magnitude between M6.5 and M7.0.
In his assessment of the Myanmar test CEO Casey explained, “I am of course delighted at the success of Dr. Bapat and Dr. Choi in their trial prediction of the Myanmar quake. Dr. Bapat is one of the most distinguished leaders in this field and his history making prediction of the Myanmar quake is only one example of the talent that resides in the IEVPC.
Unfortunately, it was impossible to know whether the Myanmar quake would happen since the IEVPC process had not been evaluated for an inland quake before. Issuing a warning was out of the question for what was then an unproven method with such a short time-span to strike, in a country with little or no effective earthquake reaction training for its citizens. It would have been grossly irresponsible. Issuing a public alert ran the risk of possibly causing panic throughout the country, resulting in far more deaths than that seen in the remote areas where the quake epicenter was located.”
From Dr. Bapat we have, “The fact that the Myanmar quake struck as predicted, and that it did so along with the Celebes Sea quake and the Kamchatka quake event has given us enough justification to end the test program early. Mr. Casey and Dr. Choi have done a great service to all by asking those like myself with many years in the field of earthquake prediction to come together to end the myth that these destructive earthquakes cannot be predicted. I believe we are now at that point in human history.”
Dr. Choi added, “We have had a remarkable level of success in our very first three tests. Further, they included diverse geophysical situations. The Kamchatka event was a traditional off shore Pacific Rim oceanic trench fault type. The Celebes Sea quake was a central oceanic deep ocean event with no companion fault. The Myanmar event was an inland quake with an associated known fault line.
What is important to note is that our process worked correctly in three distinctly different geological areas. This gave us another reason for ending the test program quickly. If our process had worked only for one type of quake and not others we might have had to stop and reevaluate our process. That is no longer required. It’s time to put our program for earthquake prediction in the field and start saving lives.”
Mr. Casey echoes Dr. Choi’s comments with, “This level of success in our predictions for Kamchatka, the Celebes Sea and Myanmar carries even more significance when one realizes all our work has been done in a start-up phase on a shoestring budget. A greater level of prediction success and improved warning notification time can be achieved for a state, region, or nation with requisite funding of global and on-site monitoring teams from the IEVPC.
In the special case of Kamchatka where we issued warnings during much of 2012, we remain concerned for the potential of another major seismic event and all should remain vigilant in that unique region of the planet where there is a history of powerful earthquakes. Our Russian colleagues are, however, well versed in parametric precursor analysis similar to what we employ.
We have also provided them additional information to detect a new unexpected earthquake and quickly react should that highly unstable area produce another threat. In any case it was gratifying to see the positive level of reaction to our warnings demonstrated by Russian geologists, Ambassador Kislyak’s office in Washington, and by President Medvedev’s trip to Kamchatka in August. While there he checked on the status of earthquake preparedness. We will nonetheless continue to keep Kamchatka on an active but lower alert status over the next year until relative stability returns. We believe a major earthquake will remain a serious threat for Kamchatka residents for some time.
Beginning this week we will start a systematic program for raising the capital needed to expand our operations out of our start-up phase and notify every nation that has to deal with CGE’s that we are here and able to help protect their people. The IEVPC has demonstrated that a new era in reliable earthquake forecasting has arrived.”
ABOUT IEVPC
The International Earthquake and Volcano Prediction Center is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA. The primary research facility is in Canberra, Australia with branch offices of cooperating scientists and researchers planned for the USA, India, China, and Japan. The IEVPC is a non-profit science research organization dedicated to the mission of protection of people through early prediction of Catastrophic Geophysical Events (CGE) such as earthquakes, associated tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. The IEVPC web site is at www.ievpc.org.
Arm Teachers and Ban Gun-free Zones
/in Education, Must Read, Policy/by Dr. Rich SwierSir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote, “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.”
There are three truths that are emerging from the tragedy in Connecticut.
The first is that gun-free zones do not work. Glenn Harlan Reynold in his column,”Gun-free zones provide false sense of security” notes, “”After a shooting spree,” author William Burroughs once said, “they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it.”
According to Reynold, “There are a lot of problems with this approach, but one of the most significant is this one: It doesn’t work. One of the interesting characteristics of mass shootings is that they generally occur in places where firearms are banned: malls, schools, etc. That was the finding of a famous 1999 study by John Lott of the University of Maryland and William Landes of the University of Chicago, and it appears to have been borne out by experience since then as well.”
The second is that school administrators and teachers must be armed. David A. Patten in an exclusive interview with Professor Lott, one of the nation’s leading gun experts asked, “Could arming teachers and getting rid of gun-free zones have averted a tragedy such as we saw in Connecticut? Professor Lott responded:
The amount of time that elapses between when the attack starts and when someone can get to the scene with a gun is very important in determining what the carnage is going to be. The faster you can get somebody [there], the more you can limit it. If you could get the police there in 8 minutes, which would be record time, that would be an eon for people who are there helplessly having to face the killer by themselves with no protection.”
The third truth is doing more of the same things inextricably leads to more deaths. Time for a paradigm shift.
Failure to Arrest Illegal Alien Senate Intern Demonstrates Obama Administration Cannot Be Trusted to Enforce Immigration Laws
/in Featured, Government Transparency, Immigration/by Dr. Rich SwierAccording a report by the Associated Press, political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) repeatedly instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents not to arrest an illegal alien sex offender who was employed as an unpaid intern in the office of Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) until after the elections. If confirmed, this overtly political act further demonstrates the shocking politicization of immigration enforcement under the current DHS leadership, charged the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
“The Department of Homeland Security knew that Luis Sanchez Zavaleta was both an illegal alien and a registered sex offender as early as October. Nevertheless, high ranking DHS officials placed electoral politics ahead of public safety and the law, when they instructed ICE agents not to arrest Mr. Sanchez until after the 2012 elections,” said Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
These latest actions of DHS officials ratify charges by career ICE agents that the Obama administration is recklessly disregarding immigration law. In a 2010 press release, the union representing ICE agents accused DHS and ICE leadership of having “abandoned the Agency’s core mission of enforcing United States immigration laws and providing for public safety” and have instead focused their attention on promoting amnesty for illegal aliens.
“This case calls into question the ability of Secretary Janet Napolitano to serve as the nation’s top immigration enforcement official,” stated Stein. “There is now even greater doubt than before about whether Secretary Napolitano and those around her can be trusted to faithfully execute the responsibilities of their offices. Based on the allegations of the ICE officers and strong evidence that DHS leadership interfered in a criminal arrest for political reasons, there must be a full and independent investigation.”
Today’s revelations also underscore the inherent dangers in granting illegal aliens amnesty, whether through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the DREAM Act, or a “comprehensive” immigration reform bill. The fact that it was local law enforcement officers who tipped off the federal government regarding Mr. Sanchez, plus the different treatment juvenile offenders receive, demonstrates that the federal government may in fact have no idea whether an amnesty beneficiary is in fact a criminal.
“It has been clear for years that the Obama administration has been politicizing enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. The case of Mr. Sanchez, and the manner in which it was reportedly dealt with by DHS, raises serious questions about whether our immigration laws are being subverted to serve the political aims of this administration,” Stein concluded.
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization of concerned citizens who share a common belief that our nation’s immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest.
Visit FAIR’s website at www.fairus.org.