Just headlined on MSNBC.com and CNN.com...

Here's the place to get the latest seismic information...
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/...

Information is scarce right now...

go here:
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/...

for the latest on tsunami watches (right now there's only a local watch bulletin!)

Reading further...it appears the experts don't believe there's a wider threat.

See below the fold..

I think we NEED to have our resident lawyers weigh in on the exact language here.

THe problem I can see, at this point, is the way this bill provides certain proper protections...and then puts them at the discretion of the executive branch.

There's no place to discuss the necessary role of the public and our branches of government and what needs to be done. Almost as a necessity, I find myself drawn into the dogfight of getting the Republican party's stranglehold on our country broken.

I suffer through reading and hearing people who earnestly believe the talking points that come right out of Ken Mehlman's talking points memorandi.  (My favorite whipping boy on that one is "The Centrist Coalition" blog 'Centerfield')  These folks earnestly (important note there...sincerely, earnestly, honestly) believe some of the rhetoric and make some compelling arguments in its favor.  

I try to remind myself that this doesn't indicate the death of American compassion or leadership...it, instead, indicates that said American stature is snuffed and waiting for a fresh breath of oxygen to get going again.  

While out riding my bike this weekend I had a bit of an epiphany and wanted to share it (or at least ramble it out into 'print').

The justices ruled 5-4 against the plaintiffs, with a total of 6 opinions issued.  The opinions issued were the primary ruling with 2 concurring and 3 dissenting papers.  

Find the "position" of the Washington Supreme Court's plurality over the fold.  "Judicial Activism" as a conservative talking point against "Liberal Judges" is now DEAD, IMO.  I've not seen a more rampant case of "Judicial Activism" before in my life.

He's finally replied and I've included his (slighly redacted :-) ) reply below the fold...

Every time we get into a vast left-wing furball here on DKos, I'm left with the "how would I answer/argue these points if I suddenly found myself in the midst of a Faux News ambush" reaction.

There's a seeming disconnect between arguing (sometimes an echo-chamber!!) here and trying to convince others who reject our premise.  Let me lay out my view of the issues and see if we can get some discussion around how to argue them most successfully...

This is what made my jaw start to drop...

Tirhas Habtegiris, a 27-year-old terminal cancer patient at Baylor Regional Medical Center in Plano, Texas, was removed from her ventilator last month because she couldn't pay her medical bills. The hospital gave Ms. Habtegiris' family 10 days' notice, and then, with the bills still unpaid, withdrew her life support on the 11th day. It took Ms. Habtegiris about 15 minutes to die.

Bloggers, most prominently "YucatanMan" at Daily Kos, are appalled because "economic considerations," as opposed to what the bloggers call "compassion," drove the decision to unplug Ms. Habtegiris. I conclude that YucatanMan either doesn't understand what an economic consideration is or doesn't understand what compassion is, because in fact the two are not in conflict.

There's more..

That's the subject of this diary...big ol honkin wind generators! Coming soon to an electrical grid near you!  In all seriousness, look below the fold for more on the power of wind!

While some of it is focused on the Ford public image, other parts of it touch on subjects discussed in Jerome's diaries on energy sources.  In particular, Mr. Ford brings up the subject of government investment in the worker and the need for a comprehensive energy policy.  

Kennedy: I'll support Kerry in 2008 race

By GLEN JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

BOSTON (AP) -- Sen. Edward Kennedy said Wednesday he would back fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 - even if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton also pursues a White House bid.

"If he runs, I would support him," Kennedy told The Associated Press in an interview at his Boston office.

..snip...

From the Associated Press Link

The congressional official who relayed word of Bush's decision did so on condition of anonymity because it was not clear when the formal announcement would be made.

Congress approved a $10.5 billion first installment in relief funding last week. A second congressional official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Federal Emergency Management Administration, was spending about $750 million a day and would soon need additional funds.

What, pray tell, are they spending it on?  I know it's not Food, Water, Beds, Buses, Heavy Equipment, Transports, Aircraft, and Pop-Tarts!? (Cherry ones are Chertoff's fave)

More below the fold...

UPDATED: Thanks to DHinMI for pointing out that the bolded sections of the bill are the only parts that have been modified or added to the current verbiage!

This is a bill that was introduced on May 10th to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

...snip...section removed after DHinMI's correction

more below the fold

The House Judiciary Committee is reviewing the activities of justices on the Supreme Court and in other circuits to determine whether they have overstepped their authority and must be reined in, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (search) told FOX News Radio's Tony Snow on Tuesday.

On that list for review is Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy (search), DeLay said, calling the judge's written decisions "outrageous."

"We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States. That's just outrageous, and not only that, he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet. That is just incredibly outrageous," DeLay said in the interview.

Internet research..god forbid!

more on the flip