Month: February 2014 | Page 2

February 25, 2014

Warmth Records Worldwide Don’t Help Eastern Half of US as New Vortex Descends

Polar Vortex Returns to US Despite World’s 4^th Warmest Winter

Remember the polar vortex in January 2014 that took temperatures in the eastern half of the US into double digits below zero? Starting today and continuing for the remainder of the week, another polar vortex will bring down eastern US temps again. http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/bitter-cold-finish-february-20140221 Northeasterners should expect snow, too! http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-24/polar-vortex-set-to-bring-more-snow-on-return-to-u-s-this-week.html

That’s a small piece of the global weather, where for all time since the first 1880 weather records the average temperatures reached the 4^th highest ever. Compared with 2013, temps were about 1.17 degrees Fahrenheit higher in January 2014, not that Midwestern and east coast US residences would notice. http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2014/02/20/world-had-4th-warmest-january-as-eastern-us-froze

News reports describe how polar vortexes form and behave, how world warmth hit the Sochi-based Olympics, and generally how everywhere except my family home in Wisconsin, USA, has felt a warm winter. In the mean time, in the US, residents will face higher energy bills than ever for February. http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/steo/report/electricity.cfm

We look forward to miserable cold in the eastern half of the US for the rest of February. http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com In other words, Yuck! We’re staying on the road, more specifically, the west coast of the US, for another month. How about you?

hamilton.jerry

February 24, 2014

Should You or I Use Dropbox or Similar Online Cyber Storage Services? Is it safe yet?

Today’s Cyber Reality Raises Questions; Is It Safe Yet?

The statements shown below came today in email from an online digital storage service called Dropbox which I have used only to an extremely small degree. I found the terms interesting for what they do not say and for the aspirations expressly stated, more than what they say on the surface. On balance the Dropbox statements leave me wondering about many questions. For example, what are the laws (North American, Euro, Asian, South American, African, etc.) that provide for privacy and how might they be improved?

Do you wonder as I do about privacy, government intrusion with or without legal authority, and protection of innocent users? What might you and I do to act more defensively or wisely in today’s cyber reality? Or am I foolishly worried about nothing?

Dropbox’s Government Data Requests Principles

We understand that when you entrust us with your digital life, you expect us to keep your stuff safe. Like most online services, we sometimes receive requests from governments seeking information about our users. These principles describe how we deal with the requests we receive and how we’ll work to try to change the laws to make them more protective of your privacy.

Be transparent: Online services should be allowed to report the exact number of government data requests received, the number of accounts affected by those requests, and the laws used to justify the requests. We’ll continue to advocate for the right to provide this important information. Learn more.

Fight blanket requests: Government data requests should be limited to specific people and investigations. We’ll resist requests directed to large groups of people or that seek information unrelated to a specific investigation. Learn more.

Protect all users: Laws authorizing governments to request user data from online services shouldn’t treat people differently based on their citizenship or where they live. We’ll work hard to reform these laws. Learn more.

Provide trusted services: Governments should never install backdoors into online services or compromise infrastructure to obtain user data. We’ll continue to work to protect our systems and to change laws to make it clear that this type of activity is illegal. Learn more.

February 24, 2014

Greenhouse Gas Rules Challenged In US Supreme Court Today

Greenhouse Gas Regs Challenged Today in US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court extended from the normal 60 minutes hearing time to 90 minutes to permit all the parties to argue today about whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overstepped when expanding the Clean Air Act to apply to greenhouse gases. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/24/us-usa-court-climate-idUSBREA1N06Q20140224

A US Federal Appeals Court for the DC Circuit approved in June 2012 of the new EPA regulations that require every new facility to obtain environmental construction permits if the planned facility would emit any pollutants whatsoever. The EPA calls its program the Prevention of Serious Deterioration (PSD) regulations. http://www.epa.gov/NSR/psd.html

Since establishment of the PSD program, 335 facilities have applied for new construction permits, certifying that the facilities use the best known technology available for limiting pollutants covered in the regulations. One utility company and 16 states will argue in support of the PSD rules, while manufacturing groups oppose them. Although nuances for arguments on each side vary, the gist of regulation supporters is that momentum for stricter controls must be continued to address rising environmental degradation issues. Opponents argue the EPA has no authority without Congressional action to expand federal laws that directly impose economic burdens on businesses seeking to build new facilities.

Analysts at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com expect no real change in EPA programs regardless of how the court rules on Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, U.S. Supreme Court, No. 12-1146. http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/briefs-v3/12-1146_pet_state.authcheckdam.pdf

A ruling will be announced by the end of June 2014. However, a defeat for the Obama administration on this centerpiece administrative law could undermine political momentum and add to a growing list of failed Obama programs.

Hamilton.jerry

February 23, 2014

Volcanic Ash Lowers Global Warming Rate

Volcanic Ash Accounts for Warming Slow-down, Maybe More

The 17 volcanoes since the year 2000 account for a slow-down in global warming, according to a Lawrence Livermore environmental study released today. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/23/climate-volcanoes-idUSL6N0LQ2K620140223

Ash from the volcanoes shaded the atmosphere enough to counteract effects of higher carbon dioxide that traps heat in the planet biosphere. Maybe this explains why winter in my home state of Wisconsin, USA, seems as cold as when I grew up in the 1950’s. Next week temperatures will drop below zero, according to local forecasts. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/La+Crosse+WI+54601:4:US

Some predict that decreased attention to warming might impact the UN climate deal to be signed in Paris during 2015. http://www.franceonu.org/france-at-the-united-nations/un-express-922/article/21-may-2013-france-will-host-in The “21^st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” will be the site for agreement by 200 nation-states around the world over $1T of expenditures to move the world toward renewable energy sources.

To analysts at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com there is little likelihood of any change for the planned signing of the UN climate convention. Nonetheless, they note that if volcanoes increase their activities around the globe for the foreseeable future, the argument for global warming prevention might suffer political setbacks.

What do you think?

February 22, 2014

No Matter What We Do, Floods Must Hit All Coasts Due to Pine Island Glacier Thaw

Antarctic Ice Thaw To Flood For Decades Even Without Global Warming

Global warming does not account for the Antarctic’s Pine Island Glacier thaw dumping water into the ocean for the foreseeable decades or longer, whether or not global warming persists and whether or not human societies change their energy consumption patterns. It happened at least once before, according to glacier scientists, and it is happening again right now. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-climate-antarctica-idUSBREA1J1V620140220

The consequences of the big thaw cannot be overstated. They include rising coastal shores across every continent, meaning evacuation of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of homes; relocation of flood refugees to higher ground; and likely tensions as refugee numbers mount in places where available land remains scarce. http://www.climatecodered.org/2010/01/pine-island-glacier-loss-must-force.html

That’s just the tip of the consequences, however. With the net increase in ocean water, the capacity of the planet to store energy increases, meaning weather patterns will shift, first along coasts, but soon, that is, within a few decades, across plains, along the mountain ranges, and in every jungle, desert, and steppe region there is. http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v4/n2/full/nclimate2094.html

Here at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com historically we have joined with other organizations to promote awareness of global warming trends, accepting the predominant sentiment that if societies could change their energy consumption patterns, effects of warming might be delayed, minimized, or better, controlled. http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/fcons/fcons4.asp With the latest reports of Antarctic thawing on Pine Island, however, a new priority has emerged. We, meaning all of humanity, must move away from coastal shores en masse…NOW.

That’s the view in our corner, but what do you think?

hamilton.jerry

February 22, 2014

Was Edward Snowden Justified Disclosing Illegal US Government Spy Conduct?

Edward Snowden, while employed by a contractor working for a US government agency, disclosed through various means information considered classified by the US government about that government’s unlawful spy activities worldwide and within the US. Was he justified?

The fallout from Snowden’s disclosures persist through today. http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/18/julian_assange_on_being_placed_on

The attorney for Snowden this week suffered interrogation by British authorities, presumeably simply because of serving as Snowden’s legal counsel.http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/18/attorney_for_edward_snowden_interrogated_at

Here at HamiltonFinanceServices.com we hold the following opinion: Edward Snowden was faced with a moral dilemma of historic proportions when he became aware through his employment of classified information about US government spy activities worldwide and within the US, and Mr. Snowden chose to act in accordance with his conscience to violate the laws of the US. That choice has already caused many changes in US and international conduct, and we expect continual changes to unfold for the foreseeable future and beyond. http://www.thenation.com/article/178467/what-snowden-leaked-was-nothing-compared-what-he-didnt

The thought that US government spies watched the Internet activities of millions without consent or notice chills free speech and privacy to unparalleled levels. http://www.theguardian.com/world/edward-snowden

Here at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com we feel embarrassed by recent actions of the US government disclosed through Edward Snowden’s actions.

What do you think?

February 22, 2014

China Sees Mental Illness in Too Much Time Online

Internet Addiction: A New Chinese Clinical Disorder?

People who spend inordinate amounts of time online doing…anything online too much…are labeled and treated for a clinical disorder, at least in China. http://webjunkiemovie.com/ More than 400 treatment facilities dot the Asian landscape in order to therapize those poor addicts of the Internet. http://sciencefriday.com/blogs/02/19/2014/the-internet-s-dark-side-exposed-in-three-new-films.html?series=20&utm_source=Science+Friday+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=fbc0523937-Newsletter_February+21_2014_Final&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10d8eab927-fbc0523937-53813845

So the Orwellian horror-mare has come to bite us. Now big brother, in the form of the Chinese government, sees you when you’re sleeping and sees you when you’re online. If you are addicted, as judged by standards somewhat hard to comprehend for some westerners, you must be compelled into addiction therapy for your own and for society’s health and safety. http://www.helpguide.org/mental/internet_cybersex_addiction.htm

Some take the addiction painfully seriously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder

From the perspective of analysts at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com, a budding new type of psychotherapy may be the dark side of the Internet of things. What do you think?

hamilton.jerry

February 21, 2014

WhatsApp Low Tech Good Facebook Long Strategy

Still Pondering the WhatsApp Deal by Facebook

Looking into Facebook’s giant payment for WhatsApp continues to occupy my attention, and maybe I understand it a little more today than yesterday. http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/02/21/whatsapp-ceo-on-facebook-deal-its-about-staying-independent/?KEYWORDS=whatsapp

Surveying the leading message services across the planet, many have added a few bells & whistles such as games, shopping, or extra communication functions. But not WhatsApp! Instead, WhatsApp offers very simple text messaging for the low price of $1.00 per year. As a result, it has attracted nearly half a billion users in the developing economies of Asia, South America, and to a limited degree Africa. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/21/us-whatsapp-facebook-idUSBREA1K0U120140221

That brings into focus the reason for the $19B price to be paid by Facebook. Who would FB want to prevent from future competition? The obvious candidates: Google, Apple, and maybe Amazon and Microsoft. By essentially buying half a billion customers in the largest market on earth, Facebook has strategically placed itself in the emerging markets on the bet that half a billion will turn into three or five billion within a decade. That means Facebook will grow into a dominant, if not the dominant, player in the social net business of the next decade. http://www.forbes.com/sites/hollymagister/2014/02/21/whatsapp-19-billion-secret-formula/

Too forward looking? Too strategic? Maybe, but it fits the present data to explain why the huge price tag for a rather ho-hum text messaging service. http://www.afp.com/en/node/1277993

That’s the view from analysts at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com, but what do you think?

hamilton.jerry

February 20, 2014

FB To Buy WhatsApp for $19B, But Why?

Communication, Content and Cyber Society

Facebook’s focus on the content of light verbal bursts and replies coupled more recently with images of common themes will expand to include more concentrated text exchanges, if the WhatsApp acquisition by Facebook announced today for $19 B comes to pass. Who really knows how FB might expand? The huge price implies big changes should be expected all the same. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-whatsapp-facebook-idUSBREA1I26B20140219

A subtext runs with this latest business deal, once you pass the sticker shock of multi-billions paid for texting tech. What could possibly be worth mega bucks to Facebook? Apparently a robust market segment vehemently declines participation in the FB fashion of trivial talk, preferring instead mobile texting as the primary method of content exchange, and that’s what FB seeks to include in its social net. The attraction for users: Avoidance of carrier fees to send text. The attraction for FB: More users. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-whatsapp-facebook-idUSBREA1I26B20140220

Still, the persistent question runs beneath the surface of tech and money: Why do people FB in the first place? Or why do they blog? Why do they text? Why do they bother sending almost meaningless trillions of words and images to each other if they really have almost nothing to say? What is it about the human species that needs to show images of kittens and babies, food and sex, or sunsets and ocean waves to each other? Why do people jabber on and on about how babies smile, lovers hug, and party people drink or smoke so much? http://www.fastcompany.com/3021749/work-smart/10-surprising-social-media-statistics-that-will-make-you-rethink-your-social-stra

Sure, FB tracks the jabber, sells stuff based on the inane exchanges, and calls it good on the bottom line when beans are tallied. That justifies the big ticket for WhatsApp, perhaps, although it remains to be proven with actual returns on such an investment. But why do people act as they do with either FB or WhatsApp? What’s the appeal? http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/07/google-facebook-twitter-and-blogs-when.html

Maybe some humans beings feel connected and therefore more secure when they friend, tweet, or poke another human being, or maybe they fill so much time with reading and replying or writing and reading and…replying because they’re fundamentally bored and disconnected. Analysts at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com hope this blog entry will rise slightly above the shallow chaos to pose a meta-query about the big picture. What is the point of all this chatter? What do you think?

From HamiltonFinanceServices.com, this is hamilton.jerry

February 19, 2014

Google Official Blog Confirms Fiber Plans for US Cities

Fiber Frenzy Across US

With an announcement on Google’s official blog about expansion of its fiber optics systems today, a frenzy of related blogs has coalesced.

Here’s the official Google blog site: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/exploring-new-cities-for-google-fiber.html

And here’s the list of new cities currently in the running for Google Fiber: https://fiber.google.com/newcities/

But Google is not the only game in towns. Comcast, planning to become the biggest cable company in the world if the merger with Time Warner passes inspection by US antitrust regulators, already feels threatened by Google Fiber push. AT&T also has aggressive intentions, if cities will give it deals such as those extended to Google. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/19/us-google-fiber-idUSBREA1I1ZT20140219

So is this the future? Will the fiber infrastructure expand across America? Has any other nation-state already built such a network of fiber optic cables? What experience does any other large economy have with these expensive systems? Is there something even better out there?

If you have information or answers implicitly raised by the Google Fiber frenzy, please let us know at http://HamiltonFinanceServices.com or directly by email.

hamilton.jerry