I sensed something terribly amiss about the Republican Presidential debate. It was big on obfuscation and confusion and low on policy elaboration. It confounds me why people should bother to listen to debate. Cohen's insight all of a sudden makes me realize what we are doing. We hate Washington D.C. passionately for it gave us Iraq, financial meltdown, economic stagnation and unsolvable budget deficit. Worst of all, we have absolutely no idea what to do about it. We are looking for the worst possible boyfriend to bring home to meet the parents so that we can turn Washington upside down. That's why Newt attracts our attention.

In the first verse God swears by the sky[1] and its function of ‘returning’ without specifying what it ‘returns.’ In Islamic doctrine, a divine oath signifies the magnitude of importance of a special relation to the Creator, and manifests His majesty and the supreme Truth in a special way.

The second verse describes the Divine Act that made the sky a ‘ceiling’ for the dwellers of earth.

Let us see what modern atmospheric science has to say about the role and function of the sky.

The atmosphere is a word which denotes all the air surrounding the earth, from the ground all the way up to the edge from which space starts. The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each defined because of the various phenomena which occur within the layer.

In the first verse God swears by the sky[1] and its function of ‘returning’ without specifying what it ‘returns.’ In Islamic doctrine, a divine oath signifies the magnitude of importance of a special relation to the Creator, and manifests His majesty and the supreme Truth in a special way.

The second verse describes the Divine Act that made the sky a ‘ceiling’ for the dwellers of earth.

Let us see what modern atmospheric science has to say about the role and function of the sky.

The atmosphere is a word which denotes all the air surrounding the earth, from the ground all the way up to the edge from which space starts. The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each defined because of the various phenomena which occur within the layer.
This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive to solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica writes:

“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds Travel agent precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]

Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat. In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar, Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]

Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]

Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:

“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.

Thanks

Admin of agenda software

Excuse me, was this an ad for a new line of tin foil hats or something? I would point out that incoherency does not improve with repetition . . .

I have seen a few of this tiresome irrelevant writing on FP comment section lately. It is not advertising. It aims to irritate serious readers. I ignore them altogether.

Cohen writes, "One can reasonably argue whether Newt is a smart guy or a brilliant politician, but when it comes to offering realistic solutions to difficult national challenges he's notably deficient."

Literal facts contradict this statement as during Newt's time as Speaker; he lead the effort that involved balancing the National Budget for the first time in a seventy year period. A note: taxes were decreased while efforts towards accomplishing a goal that could only be categorized as impossible became historical reality resulting from the bi-partisan efforts from both Newt and Clinton.

Regarding the label, "shallow" that I deemed appropriate due to the lack of depth associated with this contribution I offer the following example provided by Cohen when he states, "There's no "effective deterrent" to that, claimed Newt (we'll ignore for a moment that Newt is conflating the actions of Iran proxy Hamas with the strategic calculus of the Iranian government)."

Issue? Choosing to ignore as opposed to offering insightful discourse that would explain in detail the strategic calculus of the Iranian government, an example offered by Cohen; there exist many in this piece, however this example provides ample substance that clearly illustrates Cohen's lack of depth involving numerous topics

As an individual who is neither ideologically aligned or associated with either political party; offering contributions that provide insightful accurate information is the absolute goal of journalist that adhere to the merits of "integrity". True enlightenment is a simple concept where offering information to the public that is truthful and factually sound, as oppossed to the selfish actions that reinforce political alignments through institutions whose sole purpose is to inform the public. Informative journalism is non-existent as finding any submission of this nature is rare if not extinct. I hope to see one in my lifetime, however my pessimism that has evolved from today's political climate by far overshadow's any optimism that might have existed.

Issue? Choosing to ignore as opposed to offering insightful discourse that would explain in detail the strategic calculus of the Iranian government, an example offered by Cohen; there exist many in this piece, however this example provides ample substance that clearly illustrates Cohen's lack of depth involving numerous topics

Cohen writes, "One can reasonably argue whether Newt is a smart guy or a brilliant politician, but when it comes to offering realistic solutions to difficult national challenges he's notably deficient."

Literal facts contradict this statement as during Newt's time as Speaker; he lead the effort that involved balancing the National Budget for the first time in a seventy year period. A note: taxes were decreased while efforts towards accomplishing a goal that could only be categorized as impossible became historical reality resulting from the bi-partisan efforts from both Newt and Clinton.

Regarding the label, "shallow" that I deemed appropriate due to the lack of depth associated with this contribution I offer the following example provided by Cohen when he states, "There's no "effective deterrent" to that, claimed Newt (we'll ignore for a moment that Newt is conflating the actions of Iran proxy Hamas with the strategic calculus of the Iranian government)."

Issue? Choosing to ignore as opposed to offering insightful discourse that would explain in detail the strategic calculus of the Iranian government, an example offered by Cohen; there exist many in this piece, however this example provides ample substance that clearly illustrates Cohen's lack of depth involving numerous topics

As an individual who is neither ideologically aligned or associated with either political party; offering contributions that provide insightful accurate information is the absolute goal of journalist that adhere to the merits of "integrity". True enlightenment is a simple concept where offering information to the public that is truthful and factually sound, as opposed to the selfish actions that reinforce political alignments through institutions whose sole purpose is to inform the public. Informative journalism is non-existent as finding any submission of this nature is rare if not extinct. I hope to see one in my lifetime; however my pessimism that has evolved from today's political climate by far overshadows any optimism that might have existed.

Issue? Choosing to ignore as opposed to offering insightful discourse that would explain in detail the strategic calculus of the Iranian government, an example offered by Cohen; there exist many in this piece, however this example provides ample substance that clearly illustrates Cohen's lack of depth involving numerous topics

Cohen writes, "One can reasonably argue whether Newt is a smart guy or a brilliant politician, but when it comes to offering realistic solutions to difficult national challenges he's notably deficient."

Literal facts contradict this statement as during Newt's time as Speaker; he lead the effort that involved balancing the National Budget for the first time in a seventy year period. A note: taxes were decreased while efforts towards accomplishing a goal that could only be categorized as impossible became historical reality resulting from the bi-partisan efforts from both Newt and Clinton.

Regarding the label, "shallow" that I deemed appropriate due to the lack of depth associated with this contribution I offer the following example provided by Cohen when he states, "There's no "effective deterrent" to that, claimed Newt (we'll ignore for a moment that Newt is conflating the actions of Iran proxy Hamas with the strategic calculus of the Iranian government)."

Issue? Choosing to ignore as opposed to offering insightful discourse that would explain in detail the strategic calculus of the Iranian government, an example offered by Cohen; there exist many in this piece, however this example provides ample substance that clearly illustrates Cohen's lack of knowledge and desire to engage in topics that require depth.

As an individual who is neither ideologically aligned or associated with either political party; offering contributions that provide insightful accurate information is the absolute goal of journalist that adhere to the merits of "integrity". True enlightenment is a simple concept where offering information to the public that is truthful and factually sound, as opposed to the selfish actions that reinforce political alignments through institutions whose sole purpose is to inform the public. Informative journalism is non-existent as finding any submission of this nature is rare if not extinct. I hope to see one in my lifetime; however my pessimism that has evolved from today's political climate by far overshadows any optimism that might have existed.

Huntsman's supposed fluency in Mandarin Chinese has been thoroughly debunked numerous times. It's "truthiness" with a vengeance to mindlessly keep repeating it.

What, exactly, brought on this article? There are more candidates in the Republican field to consider.

I think the most interesting development in the race is Gingrich's surge, Romney's faltering, and Ron Paul skimming into a strong second place and showing momentum. Considering Gingrich's heavy baggage, his willingness to blurt out whatever (sometimes incoherent) thoughts cross his mind, his utter lack of specificity, his disordered campaign, and the enmity from the right-wing media establishment, he's a very weak front-runner. Almost anything could happen in this race. That's where analysis might be interesting.

Huntsman doesn't rate a mention; his poll performances are vanishingly small.

Will Gingrich be able to mend bridges with Wall Street Republicans? Can he win a get-out-of-jail-free card with the social conservatives who disapprove of his many moral failings? Can he get his campaign organized, finally? Will he say something specific - anything, really - about how he would govern? Will Republican voters decide to grit their teeth and trust an unapologetic narcissist-egoist?

Ron Paul is trustworthy; anyone who has followed his career knows he'll speak truth (as he sees it) to power and stick to his guns. Can Ron Paul convince Republican voters he's not insane? That it's time to quit toppling regimes and maintaining armies all over the globe? That it's time to stop imprisoning people for taking drugs that don't generate profits for the pharmaceutical and medical industries? Can he return them to their libertarian/isolationist 19th Century roots, and break the grip of monied interests on the party leadership? He's organized, he's an able debater, he has a solid core of fans (some say fanatics), and he scares the establishment like no other candidate in either party, at a time when Tea Partiers *want* to scare the establishment.

Romney is afraid to talk to the press. He has his own flip-flopping professional-politician baggage to haul around, and his attempts to characterize himself as a jobs creator falls flat when you actually look at how he conducted his business. And he's a Mormon. Social conservatives don't much like the whole magic underwear/Jesus walked around in prehistoric America/become a god of your own planet in the afterlife spiel. Romney has big money behind him, and not much else. Is that all it takes to clinch the Republican nomination? Does nothing else matter to Republican voters? If polls are to be believed, no amount of Wall Street money can succeed in cramming Romney down Republican throats. If true, that will be a very interesting development.

And what the hell happened to the Tea Party candidates, anyway? All that noise and smoke and no fire. It seems that anti-intellectualism and paranoia sell poorly even to the Republican base. Are Republican voters actually growing a desire to, you know, govern? Put someone halfway qualified into office? If that's why the Tea Party candidates are doing so poorly, it's a trend worth noting.

I'd appreciate seeing some analysis of how this might play out, and what it means for the future of the Republican Party and the nation.

The sunlight that we can see represents one group of wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. seslichat They heat the thin layer of gas there to very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to the extreme heating they undergo.