Sen.McCain

Any human being with any race, religion or culture has the right to live anywhere 

~ US Sen. John McCain 

August 25, 2018 

John McCain, a Navy Admiral 's son and a Navy fighter pilot who ran for US president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008 and became a prominent critic for his Nation's national issues, a Patriot, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81

McCain, a US senator from Arizona for over three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017, and had not been at the US Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April (2018).

A statement from his office said: "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years." No further details were immediately provided.

August 24, 2018
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for brain cancer, citing the disease’s progress, his family announced Friday morning. 

The decision comes more than a year after the 81-year-old senator made public his diagnosis of an aggressive form of glioblastoma. McCain’s prognosis was serious, his family recalled in a statement provided to HuffPost.

“In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival,” the statement said. “But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment.”

The senator has been treating the cancer primarily at the Mayo Clinic in his home state of Arizona. Doctors there confirmed the diagnosis last year after removing a blood clot above McCain’s left eye. 

McCain’s family initially released an optimistic statement to say the senator was “in good spirits.” His doctors said in the following months that he was responding well to treatment. 

“Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John’s many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers,” the McCain family said. “God bless and thank you all.”

McCain has served in Congress for more than three decades after being elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. He became a senator in 1987 and has served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. Famously, he ran a presidential campaign in 2008 against Democratic candidate Barack Obama with then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. 

Upon his return to Capitol Hill just days after receiving his diagnosis, the longtime senator received a standing ovation. 

“I got very choked up,” McCain said of the moment in an interview on “60 Minutes.” “And then, of course, you know, all of them coming over and giving me a hug. It was deeply moving. I had never seen anything like that.”

He voted against President Donald Trump’s effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a dramatic thumbs-down gesture the president has since mocked at rallies. Several months later, in December, McCain was forced to miss a major vote on the Republican tax bill to undergo treatment in Arizona. 

McCain told “60 Minutes” that he accepted his diagnosis by telling his family, “[W]e’re going to do what we can, get the best doctors we can find and do the best we can. And at the same time, celebrate with gratitude a life well-lived.”

EV2018

SERIOUSLY
The world still have lots of oil and gas reserves for at least next 50 years (or may be more) by estimate. Big oil & gas companies have influence on world similar to smoke companies, drinking alcohol companies, weapons makers. And changing infrastructure worldwise will not be an easy task.  I always wonder when nations will introduce electric powered military hardwares, big trucks, SUV. They are the real big consumers of petrol. I see here that Norway is the lead example by implementing great stuff and on right track quietly and consistently for its nation and people for long live.

"If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Credit to Unknown Researcher

Introduction

As of the end of 2016, two million electric vehicles (EVs) had hit the roads globally, or according to the IEA 0.2% of all passenger cars. Auto manufacturers have invested substantial capital into EV technology, betting EVs are the future of the transportation. Tesla, the leading manufacturer of EVs, have showcased to the world the potential of EVs. The introduction of the Model 3, and other manufacturers releases at competitive price points, EVs are set to disrupt the global market.

One significant advantage of EVs are zero emissions during operation, Increased pressure to limit the global carbon footprint, EVs have become a personal favorite of policymakers. governments around the world are creating an environment through financial incentives to attract new EV customers.

Policy Support for Electric Vehicles

Norway, has one of the most impressive EV targets, planning to completely ban the sale of petrol cars by 2025, and 37% of new vehicle sales are currently EVs. In Norway, electric cars are exempt from acquisition tax, representing around NOK 100 000 (USD 11 600), furthermore, they are exempt from the 25% value-added tax (VAT) on car purchases. This, coupled with a large number of waivers on fees such as road tolls and ferries, continues to provide a favorable environment for electric car uptake.

In Iceland, electric vehicles are exempt from all import duties on car purchases, which are customs 0-65%, depending on CO₂ emission level, and 24% value-added tax (VAT). With these generous incentives, BEVs and PHEVs accounted for 11.7% of total new car registrations in 2017. Iceland sometimes gets overlooked, probably because of its small size, but the country is actually at second place behind Norway.

In China, policies continue to provide strong financial and non-financial incentives to EV adoption. Exemptions from purchases and additional taxes ranged between CNY 35 000 and CNY 60 000 (USD 5 000 to USD 8 500). Local and regional authorities can complement these within the limit of 50% of the central subsidies. As of June 2016, EV sales have increased a staggering 162% compared to the same period the previous year. The combination of policies is encouraging consumers to buy electric cars at a financially comparable price tag.

In Japan, a new subsidy scheme was introduced in 2016 that grants gradually higher subsidies as the battery range increases, with the maximum subsidy set at JPY 850 000 (USD 7 700). For example, a Nissan Leaf with a 30-kWh battery, the purchase incentive amounts to JPY 330 000 (USD 3 000).

The United States federal government and a number of states offer financial incentives, including tax credits, for lowering the upfront costs of plug-in electric vehicles. Federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax credit is for $2,500 to $7,500 per new EV purchased for use in the U.S. The size of the tax credit depends on the size of the vehicle and its battery capacity, for example, the best-selling EV in 2016, Tesla Model S would be applicable to the full $7,500 subsidy. At a state level, Colorado is by far the most attractive, offering an additional tax credit of $5,000, and with the federal subsidy, you can get a maximum of $12,500 off the sticker price of an EV.

The United Kingdom will offer up to 35% of the purchase price of an EV, or up to a maximum of £4,500, and have recently announced that this will be extended until March 2018. In addition, a grant of £500 is available to contribute towards the cost of home charging installation.

In Canada, the Government of Ontario offers a subsidy of up to $14,000 off the purchase price of an EV and up to $1,000 of the price of a home charging station and a green license plate. The Government of Quebec offers a rebate of up to $8,000 and 50% of the cost of a home charging station, or up to a maximum of $600. The government of British Columbia offers a rebate of up to $5,000 of the price of an EV.

The incentives for EVs in Canada have been predominantly at a province level, however, this is likely to change, unlike the United States, Canada has adopted the federal incentive for EVs, however, Marc Garneau, The Minister for Transport recognizes the public’s concerns and has this to say:

“We understand Canadians’ concerns about the environment and are developing an aggressive strategy to tackle climate change” and went on to say, “we are investing in the future of cleaner transportation for all Canadians”

Nothing concrete is yet to appear; however, all the signs suggest Canada is set to launch federal incentives to attract consumers towards EVs.

Concluding Remarks

It is clear that the evolution of EV incentives will continue to support EV adoption, while technological innovations will allow EVs to become increasingly more competitive with internal combustion vehicles. It is difficult to argue that Norway’s aggressive strategy, makes it the global leader in EV adoption. Nearly a third of new cars sold in Norway are electric, the highest proportion worldwide, followed by 11.7% in Iceland, 6.4% in the Netherlands, and 3.4% in Sweden. The key to the success of EVs is not just policy support, although it plays a major role. For countries looking to become a prominent player in EVs, it will take a combination of policy incentives, support from the automotive industry and a user-friendly infrastructure. Whether for business or personal use, it is probably the best time to purchase an EV if you want an incentive. As EV popularity increases, the need for government incentives is likely to decrease

TiTan ; A Frozen Earth in the Universe

Saturn's reputed Moon
Titan ; One of Most Earth Like World

One (1) moon orbits our planet Earth. Saturn has the most moons in our solar system. So far, 62 moons have been discovered in Saturn's orbit, and 53 of them have been officially named. 

In many respects Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is one of the most Earth-like worlds we have found to date. With its thick atmosphere and organic-rich chemistry, Titan resembles a frozen version of Earth, several billion years ago, before life began pumping oxygen into our atmosphere.

Titan is of great interest to scientists because it has a substantial, active atmosphere and complex, Earth-like processes that shape its surface. The moon is enveloped by an orange haze of naturally produced photochemical smog that frustratingly obscured its surface.

Titan's surface is shaped by rivers and lakes of liquid ethane and methane (the main component of natural gas), which forms clouds and occasionally rains from the sky as water does on Earth. Winds sculpt vast regions of dark, hydrocarbon-rich dunes that girdle the moon's equator and low latitudes. Volcanism may occur as well, but with liquid water as the lava.

On its journey to Saturn, Cassini carried the European-built Huygens probe. On Jan. 14, 2005, Huygens achieved humankind's first landing on a body in the Outer Solar System when it parachuted through Titan's murky skies. Huygens took measurements of atmospheric composition and wind speeds during its decent, along with an incredible series of images showing telltale patterns of erosion by flowing liquid. The probe came to rest on what appeared to be a floodplain, surrounded by rounded cobbles of water ice.

As the Cassini Equinox Mission progresses, the spacecraft will monitor Titan's atmosphere and surface for signs of seasonal change. The spacecraft's radar and camera systems will continue to peer through the haze, expanding our high resolution maps of the surface. And scientists will eagerly await new data that could confirm the presence of a liquid ocean beneath the giant moon's surface.

The exploration of this amazing place is just beginning. Frigid and alien, yet also remarkably similar to our own planet, Titan is a new world – revealed before our very eyes by the Cassini and Huygens spacecraft.

Scientists report definitive evidence of the presence of lakes filled with liquid methane on Saturn's moon Titan. 

• Based on the lake characteristics, Cassini scientists think they are observing liquid-filled lakes on Titan today. Another possibility is that these depressions and channels formed in the past and have now been filled by a low-density deposit that is darker than any observed elsewhere on Titan. However, the absence of wind-blown features in this area makes the low-density hypothesis unlikely.
• These northern hemisphere lakes are the strongest evidence yet that Titan's surface and atmosphere have an active hydrological cycle, though with a condensable liquid other than water. In this cycle, lakes are filled through methane rainfall or intersect with a subsurface layer saturated with liquid methane.
• As Titan's seasons progress over the 29-year cycle of Saturn's orbit around the sun, lakes in the winter hemisphere should expand by steady methane rain, while summer hemisphere lakes shrink or dry up entirely.

RECENT DISCOVERIES (as of Dec 12 2010)
When Cassini arrived in 2004, Saturn's northern hemisphere had a different look than when NASA's Voyager spacecraft flew by the planet in 1980. When Voyager visited, it was near the time of equinox, with ring shadows only across the equator and golden-hued clouds covering the planet. When Cassini got to Saturn, ring shadows draped across the northern hemisphere, whichappeared bluish, much like the deep, clear atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune. Scientists say that the ring shadows probably cooled the atmosphere down in the north, so golden and tan-colored clouds, visible in the Voyager images, sink to depths where they are no longer visible. (See Cassini Spacecraft Witnesses Saturn's Blues.)

Saturn has powerful lightning storms, 10,000 times stronger than on Earth, that occur in huge, deep thunderstorms columns nearly as large as the entire Earth. The storms occasionally burst through to the planet's visible cloud tops.

Saturn's auroras vary from day to day as on Earth, but rather than last a few minutes as on Earth, they can continue for days. The Sun's magnetic field and solar wind may have more to do with the aurora than previously believed.

Lets Hubble (that) Cosmic Puzzle

Lets Hubble
Estimated 15,000 galaxies, about 12,000 of which are forming stars. Hubble’s ultraviolet vision opens a new window on the evolving universe, tracking the birth of stars over the last 11 billion years back to the cosmos’ busiest star-forming period, which happened about 3 billion years after the big bang.

Hubble Paints Picture of the Evolving Universe

Astronomers using the ultraviolet vision of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have captured one of the largest panoramic views of the fire and fury of star birth in the distant universe. The field features approximately 15,000 galaxies, about 12,000 of which are forming stars. Hubble’s ultraviolet vision opens a new window on the evolving universe, tracking the birth of stars over the last 11 billion years back to the cosmos’ busiest star-forming period, which happened about 3 billion years after the big bang.

Ultraviolet light has been the missing piece to the cosmic puzzle. Now, combined with infrared and visible-light data from Hubble and other space and ground-based telescopes, astronomers have assembled one of the most comprehensive portraits yet of the universe’s evolutionary history.

Astronomers have just assembled one of the most comprehensive portraits yet of the universe’s evolutionary history, based on a broad spectrum of observations by the Hubble Space Telescope and other space and ground-based telescopes. In particular, Hubble’s ultraviolet vision opens a new window on the evolving universe, tracking the birth of stars over the last 11 billion years back to the cosmos’ busiest star-forming period, about 3 billion years after the big bang. This photo encompasses a sea of approximately 15,000 galaxies — 12,000 of which are star-forming — widely distributed in time and space. This mosaic is 14 times the area of the Hubble Ultra Violet Ultra Deep Field released in 2014.

Credits: NASA, ESA, P. Oesch (University of Geneva), and M. Montes (University of New South Wales)

The image straddles the gap between the very distant galaxies, which can only be viewed in infrared light, and closer galaxies, which can be seen across a broad spectrum. The light from distant star-forming regions in remote galaxies started out as ultraviolet. However, the expansion of the universe has shifted the light into infrared wavelengths. By comparing images of star formation in the distant and nearby universe, astronomers glean a better understanding of how nearby galaxies grew from small clumps of hot, young stars long ago.

Because Earth’s atmosphere filters most ultraviolet light, Hubble can provide some of the most sensitive space-based ultraviolet observations possible.

Exposed Urinals for Men

you need one for ladies first
chop chop french fries

Paris

'Urinoir' furore: Paris residents peeved at eco-friendly urinals

Île Saint-Louis residents demand removal of bright-red receptacles with no stall

Reuters in Paris

Mon 13 Aug 2018 16.00 BSTLast modified on Mon 13 Aug 2018 18.45 BST

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 The designer of the ‘Uritrottoir’ said it offered an ‘eco solution to public peeing’. Photograph: Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

A set of eco-friendly but completely exposed urinals that have been introduced to the streets of Paris are provoking uproar among residents.

One of the bright-red “urinoirs” installed on the Île Saint-Louis, not far from Notre Dame Cathedral and overlooking tourist boats passing on the Seine, has caused particular indignation.

Residents and businesses have written to the town hall to demand its removal and are planning a petition.

“There’s no need to put something so immodest and ugly in such an historic spot,” said Paola Pellizzari, 68, owner of a Venetian art store.

“It’s beside the most beautiful townhouse on the island, the Hôtel de Lauzun, where Baudelaire lived,” she said, referring to the 19th-century French poet.

She feared the urinal, installed about 20 metres from a primary school, “incites exhibitionism”.

The designer of the “Uritrottoir” – a combination of the French words for urinal and pavement – said it offered an “eco solution to public peeing”.

The device is essentially a box with an opening in the front and a floral display on top containing straw which transforms into compost for use in parks and gardens.

But residents and businesses of Île Saint-Louis said the receptacle, with no stall around it of any kind, could blight the neighbourhood.

“It’s horrible,” said the 50-year-old owner of a nearby art gallery, who declined to give his name. “We’re told we have to accept this but this is absolutely unacceptable. It’s destroying the legacy of the island. Can’t people behave?“

Ariel Weil, the local mayor, said the devices were necessary. Paris authorities have rolled out four of theurinals in spots where public peeing has been a problem, and a fifth is planned.

“If we don’t do anything, then men are just going to pee in the streets,” Weil said. “If it is really bothering people, we will find another location.”

Some have described the urinals as discriminatory.

“They have been installed on a sexist proposition: men cannot control themselves [from the bladder point of view] and so all of society has to adapt,” said Gwendoline Coipeault of French feminist group Femmes Solidaires. “The public space must be transformed to cause them minimum discomfort. It’s absurd, no one needs to urinate in the street.”

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Turkey (* + Tariffs War

To be direct in that regard, South Korea, China and Japan suffers way more than Turkey
Believe it or not but it will have ripple effects across all great oceans of the world

Los Angeles August 18, 2018

Senior US tourism officials are concerned that global trade tensions ignited by the United States could negatively impact the number of visitors to the country, which is nearly five times the size of the American steel industry that is at the heart of the trade disputes.

China's Xinhua news agency reported that according to a report by azcentral.com, a popular news website in the state of Arizona, President and CEO of the US Travel Association Roger Dow expressed his worries during a visit to Phoenix.

Dow said global trade tensions could discourage international visitors or undermine the value of their currencies, which would make trips to the Unites States less affordable. The association's data shows that visits by international travellers are down about six per cent over the past two years.

That decline is the result of several factors, including the strong US dollar, economic weakness in Latin America and the proliferation of low-cost European airlines that has encouraged travel within Europe, Dow said, adding that the rhetoric by the White House that might not make some international visitors feel welcome also could be taking a toll.

"It's a fragile thing this thing we call travel," Dow said. "A dip in travel could have more impact than the steel and aluminium tariffs combined."

Dow said he is especially concerned about a possible reduction in the number of visits by Chinese tourists, given the Trump administration's claim that China is the main source of trade imbalances.....

Turkey Situation Here Aug17, 2018
Turkey on Friday threatened to respond if the United States levied further sanctions over the detention of an American pastor, which has sparked a diplomatic standoff and battered the Turkish currency.

"We've already responded based on the World Trade Organisation rules and will continue to do so," Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Washington warned on Thursday that it would impose more sanctions unless pastor Andrew Brunson, described by US President Donald Trump as a "hostage", was released.

Brunson's detention since October 2016 on terror-related charges has soured relations between the two NATO allies, sending the Turkish lira into a tailspin.

The lira, which earlier this week traded at well over seven to the dollar, was at 5.8 against the dollar and 6.7 against euro on Friday.

Last week, Trump tweeted that his administration was doubling aluminium and steel tariffs for Turkey, and in response Ankara sharply hiked tariffs on some US products.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested Thursday the next spiral of tit-for-tat sanctions was coming soon, in a sign of a deepening spat

Five companies from Turkey among world\'s biggest steel producers Erdemir Group, Habas, Icdas, Diler Group and Colakoglu Metalurji were included in the world\'s leading steel & metal markets publication Metal Bulletin\'s \"Biggest Steel Producers List\" for 2010. Five Turkish companies have been named among the world's biggest steel producers. Turkish companies Erdemir Group, Habas, Icdas, Diler Group and Colakoglu Metalurji were included in the world's leading steel & metal markets publication Metal Bulletin's "Biggest Steel Producers List" for 2010. A total of 116 companies from all over the world entered World Bulletin's list. Erdemir Group was ranked the 47th in the list with its steel production reaching 7.1 million tons, while Habas was ranked the 72nd with a production of 4.4 million tons, Icdas was positioned the 76th with its production of 3.6 million tons, Diler Group was at the 108th place with its production around 2.3 million tons and Colakoglu Metalurji was ranked the 110th with its steel production reaching 2.1 million tons. ArcelorMittal from Luxembourg; Hebei Steel, Baosteel and Wuhan from China; and Nippon Steel from Japan topped World Bulletin's annual list. One big company that I used to know not even in list, so you see what it mean Europe’s leading steel pipe manufacturer, Borusan Mannesmann has started its business in 1958 as the first enterprise of Turkey's leading industrial power, the Borusan Group. Having Borusan Group’s power and reliability, Borusan Mannesmann has become a trusted brand for more than 55 years and all over the world. A journey, which started with 27 employees and 5 types of products, is proceeding with 1400  employees and a product range of 4000 items today. Borusan Mannesmann having a global vision; signed a partnership with Europe's leading steel and technology company, Salzgitter Mannesmann GmbH in 1998, and strengthened its position of competitiveness in the international arena. Today Borusan Mannesmann, with it’s 5 plants in 3 continents,1.4 mn tons of production capacity and high sales volume, is among Europe and the world's leading producers in the steel pipe industry... While exporting products to various countries in Americas (similar to South Korea’s Hyundai Steel and South Koreans are suffering more), Europe, Africa and Asia, Borusan Mannesmann contributes to Turkey and it also grows into one of the main driving forces of the Turkish economy due to its assurance for future developments. Utilizing its experience to the markets overseas, especially in USA, Europe and Middle East, Borusan Mannesmann has successfully accomplished producing pipes for numerous major energy, oil and gas pipeline projects. The name of Borusan Mannesmann can be found under many great worldwide projects. The company provides products for various international projects such as The Baku – Tbilisi - Ceyhan Pipeline, The NK1 Oil Pipeline, The Şahdeniz, The Blue Stream, The Turkey – Greece Pipeline, Hungary Gas Pipeline, USA-Elba Express Natural Gas Pipeline and TANAP projects. CAUSE & EFFECT The hurt that President Trump laid on Turkey on Aug. 10 was feather-light— a doubling of tariffs on imported Turkish steel and aluminum. Turkey sells only about $1.4 billion in primary metals to the U.S. in an average year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. So the new levies will reduce the country’s gross domestic product by just about 0.04 percent. And that’s assuming Turkish mills and smelters have to cut prices by 25 percent to retain their American customers—the hit will be even less if the Turks find customers in other nations that aren’t jamming it with high tariffs. So why did a 0.04 percent slap on the wrist—more of a tap, really—cause the Turkish lira to plummet; prompt President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to complain of “economic warfare”; push down the currencies of Argentina, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Zambia; and raise Italy’s borrowing costs to their highest vs. Germany’s since May? It’s simple, actually. Conditions for a crisis were ripe. Financial weakness and poor policies in Turkey and other vulnerable nations supplied dry tinder. Two headstrong characters, Erdogan and Trump, butting heads like flint and steel, provided the spark. “Countries go through stress in two ways, gradually and then suddenly. We’re seeing the ‘suddenly’ right now,” says Samy Muaddi, a Baltimore-based money manager at T. Rowe Price Group who manages the Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund. The currency crisis is a huge blow to Erdogan, who won reelection in June. Investors grew restive after the vote when he appointed his son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, as treasury and finance minister and exerted pressure on the central bank not to raise interest rates, which would have helped defend the currency and lower inflation. Now things are coming to a head. Turkish banks and nonfinancial businesses borrowed heavily in dollars, so the fall of the lira will sharply increase their financing costs, raising the risk that this becomes a full-blown debt crisis. “The authorities need to act decisively, but history suggests that they will instead procrastinate,” writes Nafez Zouk, the lead emerging-markets economist at Oxford Economics in London. Erdogan has been wanton in his management of the economy. He suggests that high interest rates are “the mother and father of all evil” and subscribes to a theory that increasing them causes inflation. In striving to show financial independence, the autocrat has done the opposite: raised the likelihood Turkey will eventually require assistance from the International Monetary Fund, China, or someone else. On Aug. 14 he was reduced to threatening a boycott of iPhones. The next day, Qatar threw him a lifeline, promising to invest $15 billion in Turkey. The strongman appears weak. For the rest of the world, the risk is contagion, the transmission of financial problems from one nation to another. Even if Turkey doesn’t directly infect other countries, its troubles could instigate a general retreat from vulnerable emerging markets