This large strato volcano is acting up and may erupt big time. Thousands down-slope evacuated, probably more should be. see attached graphic and image….
Mayon Volcano active again
A good graphic depiction of a strato volcano found along the Ring of Fire
While we here in Hawaii watch the Governor and the labor unions bicker over the layoffs of state workers to help balance the budget, the California State University system is taking massive steps to reduce their spending by $584 million. That’s close to the total state budget deficit for Hawaii!
So what are the CSU folks doing? They’re going to reduce enrollment in the system by 35,000 to 40,000 students! Next spring semester is closed to new applicants. That’s correct, NO applicants being accepted, nada, none. Go somewhere else. (Are colleges in Hawaii taking notice of this?)
full details follow:
Quarter Campuses Directed to Close Applications for Winter
Claudia Keith or Erik Fallis (562) 951-4800
(July 9, 2009) – As part of an overall strategy to address an unprecedented budget reduction of $584 million for 2009-10, California State University campuses will not accept student applications for the 2010 spring term – with very few exceptions. In addition, quarter campuses that have been accepting admission applications for the 2010 winter term ceased accepting applications as of July 6, 2009.
“Only fully-eligible first-time freshmen, upper division undergraduate transfers or graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants who have applied for admission prior to July 6, 2009 may be offered admission to the 2010 winter term,” said Jeri Echeverria, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer.
In addition, no admission applications will be accepted for the 2010 spring term at either quarter or semester campuses, for any enrollment category. CSU has typically enrolled more than 35,000 freshmen, undergraduate transfer and graduate students during the spring term.
Despite budget cuts, CSU’s enrollment for the past several years has exceeded the state funding received for each student. Echeverria said that the measure is needed to bring enrollment in line with available resources. Overall, CSU is looking to reduce its enrollment by 40,000 students systemwide for 2010-2011 through a combination of enrollment tools. The decision to close spring admissions is part of the overall effort to reduce enrollment.
CSU has been working to finalize a plan to address the unprecedented budget cut, which will include measures to reduce enrollment, employee furloughs, possible student fee increases, salary and hiring freezes, and restrictions on travel and purchases. The CSU Board of Trustees will consider the overall plan to address student fees, enrollment and employee furlough plans at its July 21 meeting.
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About the California State University The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 450,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 90,000 annually. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. (well perhaps not anymore!)
NASA may have found evidence of UFOs beneath the waters of Lake Baikal, or are the Russians having fun?
see image at: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=38721&src=eoa-iotd
Misplaced cropcircles, undersea UFOs warming up, who knows. Didn’t a UFO come out of the frozen wastes in X-files?
HMMMMMM
The Hawaii Supreme court ruled the Superferry operations were a no-no without having the Environmental Impact Statement approved for the necessary state facilities that support its operations, even with a special law passed by the lolo State legislature. The company laid off most the employees and said maybe we’ll come back some day if the EIS ever gets completed and approved.
So they filled up the Superferry’s fuel tanks, loaded supplies for the crew, and left on a voyage back to the place where the ship was manufactured along the Gulf coast for refitting and probably a new paint job.
Don’t be surprised if it and it’s much younger sister ship wind up serving the U.S. Navy in some capacity, like hauling Army tanks and other equipment away from Iraq and Kuwait. Otherwise they might be leased out to some other ferry business somewhere besides the third world of Hawaii.
Big undersea eruption happening in Tonga.
see news: http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/undersea-volcano-continues-erupting-2569716
Would be great to be near there and watch the show!
Check this out. What the ^%()& are they thinking? Do they have any idea how important it is to protect Hawaii’s coastal zone and the planning program? Beware, Numb nuts at work, and wasting your tax money at the same time.
Please note that the measure passed out of the Senate today, a vote of 19-6, and referred to the House.
Aloha All,
Some of you may not yet know of the existence of this measure, as it seems to have been flying ‘under the radar’ this session, but I would like to draw your attention to it now.
SB1318_SD1 proposes to eliminate the State Office of Planning by repealing HRS 225M and repealing outright HRS 205A, the State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) statutes.
Some of the consequences of the measure are summarized here:
While the committee reports site this as a “belt-tightening” measure, this will cost the state far more than it will save: both in terms of the loss of federal funding for coastal programs; and in the long-term through the loss of our state’s most precious land and ocean resources.
Please also feel free to distribute this to other interested individuals and organizations.
Yes, took this shot today from my lanai looking out towards the reef runway. Sure thing, the billion dollar guided missile cruiser was run up on the reef last night.
They are unloading fuel to lighten it, and might be able to pull it off the reef at high tide tonight. Meanwhile, the Navy is a bit embarrassed and not saying much.
The state will probably fine them big time for screwing up the reef.
Situation beyond fubar.
Drillers looking for geothermal energy on the Big Island of Hawaii got a pipe full of magma. Only 2.5 km down, the well hit a source of magma and up it came. The magma quickly cooled and solidified. The geologists were surprised by the shallow depth of the magma.
For story details see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7780873.stm
The most recent lava flows from Pu’u O’o are approaching the area of numerous petroglyphs found within the lowlands of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Vistors to the park might want to get in there before the lava flows bury the petroglyphs forever.
Bringing home the goodies to Alaska
The truth is out now. Sarah Palin just loves big game, especially dead ones on her car.
North to Alaska, with fresh meat (elk) on the roof!
