UK Fears Flooding Over Winter

After the wettest April, May, and June on record, followed by more rain yet in July, September, and October the United Kingdom is concerned about flooding over the winter.

Concern is specifically high for western, northern, and south western England and Wales, where winters often bring a lot of moisture.

The ground is completely saturated and rivers are at their peak levels, leaving no room for any further rain.

Due to this floods are a heavy concern, as even a light amount of rain could lead to it, with moderate rains ensuring flooding.

People can sign up for flood warnings, from the government, which can be sent via email, text, or a voice mail to their land or cell phone.

So far over one million people have signed up the alerts.

Syrian Army Abandons Saraqeb as Rebels are Accused of War Crimes

Another Syrian base has fallen to the rebel forces.

National forces abandoned a base near the northern town of Saraqeb, on Friday.

A heavy assault by rebels pushed the army out of the area.

It is yet one more blow against the Assad regime's control and one more move for the rebels to cut Aleppo off.

However, Thursday a video came out of what appears to be Syrian rebels executing captured military forces, during the assault.

The UN has condemned the video as proof of war crimes, which the government has regularly accused the rebels of.

18 Killed in Pakistan Bus Shooting

Two gunman, in Khuzdar, Pakistan, shot up a bus on Friday, as it was fueling at a station.

Eighteen people were killed in the attack, sixteen on the bus, and two in a nearby car.

No arrests have been made and no one has claimed the attack, but suspicion is definitely on the Taliban.

Attacks by the group have becoming increasingly unpopular, after their failed assassination of Malala Yousufzai, last month.

Their growing unpopularity is forcing the Taliban out of the cities and into the country side, but they are still a force for Pakistan to have to deal with.

FBI Name Man The Brady Bunch Bandit

The FBI has nicknamed a man the Brady Bunch Bandit, after witnesses said he looked like one of the cast from the show.

He has gone into six Colorado banks, each time giving a note demanding money, and then runs out of the bank.

Each time he used a different disguise, including a beard and wigs.

Police describe him as a white man between twenty-five and thirty-five, six foot tall, weighing about one hundred and sixty pounds.

Anyone with information should call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171.

Preview: Call of Duty Black Ops II

Significant others of gamers know it's just a matter of time til they lose their partners for another period of time. It's going to be a busy combination the next couple weeks.

Halo 4 comes out on the sixth, and is followed one week later by Call of Duty Black Ops II. Preorders are all ready reaching record levels for both games.

Black Ops II features three story lines, in single player mode, one in the 1970s, 1980s, and in 2025. In the 70s and 80s you play as Alex Cross, the main character from the first Black Ops, whereas in 2025 you play as his son, David.

The game features branching story lines, where the player's decisions effect what choices they will have in the future, to such a degree that the Cold War could end in a different fashion than it did historically.

With the 2025 campaign, expect a lot of focus to be on futuristic weaponry.

Zombies will be returning for the game, but with their own campaign as well. Unconfirmed rumors have it that you may even be able to continue playing, after being turned into a zombie.

Multiplayer co-op mode has been expanded, allowing for eight players, instead of just the four seen in the first game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II hits stores Tuesday, November 13.

October Employment Numbers -- Still Not Good News

Despite rumors of a delay due to Hurricane Sandy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the October report on-time.

The report predicts that there will be little change to employment due to the storm.

The report also indicates a rise in unemployment to 7.9%, up .1% from the initial September numbers.

The report also revises the September and August numbers, making the employment situations worse than initially reported for those months. This should come as no surprise, as it has been the trend over the past 44 months under this, our 44th president.

The U6 numbers are also relatively unchanged, despite a small increase in full-time employment.

The number of applications for food subsidies increased more than new hires for the 44th month in a row.

SSDI numbers were not available at the time of publication. However, the trend of new people claiming anxiety or depression for Social Security Disability has been staggering over the past few years. That means more and more people leaving the workforce, but taking disability handouts because they have mental anguish over the inability to find employment, after 99 weeks of receiving unemployment insurance payments.

The Workforce Participation Rate reportedly increased by a very small, almost negligible, amount. A number of students preparing for seasonal work during their break between semesters as well as those preparing to graduate at the end of the fall term could account for that slight shift in job seekers.

Overall, this is not good news. It is bad news in the effect that it demonstrates a largely stagnated economy. Jimmy Carter would have called this "malaise" during his term. Ronald Reagan demonstrated that it was poor Keynesian economic policies that caused the "malaise". Obama would have you believe that it was the supply-side and more laissez-faire policies of Reagan, Newt and the congress who twisted Clinton's arms, the tax cuts to increase revenue under JFK, and similar policies that utilize the Laffer Curve that lead to this current economic condition.

However, unemployment is lower in "right to work" states, especially those with less-progressive, lower, or non-existent state income taxes. Ironically, those states doing the best have also proposed legislation or constitutional amendments to nullify the PPACA.

Full article originally published at P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido:

46th CMA Awards

Thursday night held the 46th Country Music Awards.

Entertainer of the year went to Blake Shelton.

Male vocalist of the year went to Blake Shelton.

Female vocalist of the year went to Miranda Lambert.

Vocal group of the year went to Little Big Town.

Vocal duo of the year went to Thompson Square.

New artist of the year went to Hunter Hayes.

Album of the year went to Chief by Eric Church.

Single of the year went to Pontoon by Little Big Town.

Song of the year went to Over You by Miranda Lambert.

Musical event of the year went to Feel Like a Rock Star by Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw.

Music video of the year went to Red Solo Cup by Toby Keith.

There was also a special tribute to Willie Nelson.

Just in case you were worried, the awards weren't all fun and games, things did get pretty serious.

Who Will Control The Senate? A Look at the 7 Most Hotly Contested Races

 Updated - 11/2/2012

According to Rasmussen tracking, conducted through telephone surveys, seven of the thirty-three Senate races are hotly contested and too close to call at this time.

Toss Up Races

Connecticut

Democratic Congressman Chris Murphy now holds his biggest lead yet over Republican Linda McMahon–Murphy with 51% of the vote to McMahon’s 45%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.

Florida

Incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is ahead by three-points in Florida’s U.S. Senate race. Nelson has earned 49% support with 46% going to his Republican challenger, Congressman Connie Mack.  Two percent (2%) like some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.

Montana

Democratic incumbent Jon Tester and his Republican challenger, Congressman Denny Rehberg, are now tied in Montana’s U.S. Senate race. Tester and Rehberg have each garnered 48% support. Three percent (3%) like another candidate in the race, and two percent (2%) are undecided.

Ohio

Incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has clinched 50% support for the first time in his bid for reelection in Ohio. Brown has 50% support to Republican challenger Josh Mandel’s 48%. One percent (1%) prefer another candidate in the race, and another one percent (1%) are undecided.

Pennsylvania

The U.S. Senate race is tied in Pennsylvania. Incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Jr. has 46% of the state’s support, while Republican Tom Smith has 45%. Nine percent (9%) are still undecided.

Virginia

Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen are still neck-and-neck in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race. Kaine has gained 49% support to Allen’s 48%. Three percent (3%) are still undecided.

Wisconsin

Former Governor Tommy Thompson and Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin are tied in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race. Thompson holds 48% support to Baldwin’s 47%. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

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Much is at stake in the battle for Senate control. The GOP has 37 seats not up for grabs while the Democrats have 30.  Republicans are expected to win 10 of the 33 seats up for grabs while Democrats are expected to pick up 16.  In order for the GOP to gain control of the senate, they must win at least 4 of the 7 toss up races, in addition to all the races they are projected to win.

3 Year Old Without Brain Dies

Three year old Nicholas Coke, of Pueblo, Colorado, died on October 31.

Nicholas was born with anencephaly, and most babies that are born that way do not survive days, let alone years.

Babies with anencephaly are born without a full brain, only the brain stem is present.

His family considered him a miracle, and say that he taught them true joy whilst he was alive.

The family will always remember his laughter, the action he did the most.

Taylor Swift's Red Sells 1.2 Million Copies in First Week

Taylor Swift's new album Red, gave her yet another record.

Only one week after it's debut, the album has sold over 1.2 million copies.

It's her second album in a row to sell over a million in the first week, Speak Now did so as well.

That makes her the only woman to have two albums that each sold that many.

Only one group has ever had two albums sell more than one million in their first weeks, that was NSYNC with their albums No Strings Attached and Celebrity.

Celebrity almost sold two million albums, in it's first week.