USA WEATHER (Dangerous cold descends on the U.S.)
As the Midwestern United States shivered through the region's lowest temperatures in two decades and forecasters warned that life-threatening cold was heading eastward, officials in Chicago and other districts said schools would be closed on Monday (January 6). Icy conditions snarled travel across the Midwest and thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, days after the Northeast was hammered by the first winter storm of the season. The coldest temperatures in almost two decades will spread into the northern and central U.S. today behind an arctic cold front, the National Weather Service said on Sunday. Combined with gusty winds, these temperatures will result in life-threatening wind chill values as low as 60 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit/minus 51 degrees Celsius).
In weather that cold, frostbite can set in on uncovered skin in a matter of minutes, experts warned. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton ordered all public schools in the state closed on Monday to protect children from dangerously cold weather.
Chicago public schools followed suit - reversing an earlier decision - saying in a statement on its website that it would be dangerous for children to commute to school amid sub-zero temperatures and high winds. The NWS said the widespread chill was a result of a relatively infrequent alignment of weather conditions, allowing the Arctic polar vortex to be displaced unusually far south.
Forecasters warned Chicago and Indianapolis could see overnight lows of minus 12 F (-24 C), Minneapolis minus 29 F (-34 C) and Fargo, North Dakota, minus 31 F (-31 C). The coldest temperature reported in the lower 48 states on Sunday was minus 40 F (-40 C) in the towns of Babbitt and Embarrass, Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. Between 6 inches and a foot (15-30 cm) of snow was predicted from Chicago to Detroit, AccuWeather said, while icy sleet and rain was forecast for much of the Northeast, where a brief thaw was forecast before intense cold returned late Monday.
Minnesota's Changing Demographics | Brig. Gen. David Hamlar Jr.
The Minnesota National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General (Air), Brig. Gen. David Hamlar Jr., talks about Minnesota's changing demographics.
The American Presidential Election of 1988
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The 51st episode in a very long series about the American presidential elections from 1788 to the present. I hope to have them done by Election Day 2016. In 1988, Paul Simon and the rest of the 7 Dwarves try to take down a Bush after their Hart is lost.
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The 51st Presidential election in American history took place on November 8, 1988. It was the earliest one I remembered. By many accounts, Ronald Reagan had a solid Presidency. He helped end the Cold War, and the economy remained strong. But there was some bad stuff, too. Like the Iran Contra Affair, in which the Reagan administration secretly sold weapons to Iran in exchange for hostages, but also to pay the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua. Oh yeah, and it was later revealed the C.I.A. was also sneaking in and selling millions of dollars worth of cocaine and sending the profits it made also to the Contras.
But most Americans didn’t know about that, and when Reagan appointed George H.W. Bush, his Vice President, as the best man to be his successor, many Republicans were on board. Bush did face some challengers, though. One that stood out was Bob Dole, the Senator from Kansas who was Gerald Ford’s running mate back when they failed to win the election of 1976. Another was, believe it or not, Pat Robertson, the former Southern Baptist minister and media mogul. (clip?) In the Iowa caucus, Bush came in third, behind both Dole and Robertson. But Bush rebounded, eventually taking a strong lead to easily win the Republican nomination, with Dan Quayle, a young Senator from Indiana. Quayle was a controversial pick among Republicans, though, because he was criticized for his lack of experience and sometimes stumbled over his words.
The Democrats had the 7 Dwarfs. No, not those 7 Dwarfs. These 7 Dwarfs. Ok, that was sort of mean, but it’s what critics called the seven leading contenders for the Democratic nomination. They included Jesse Jackson, who was back for a second try, Al Gore, another young Senator from Tennessee, Bruce Babbitt, the Governor of Arizona, Joe Biden, a Senator from Delaware. Dela WHERE? Hahaha, Sorry Delaware. Then there was Richard Gephardt, a U.S. Representative from Missouri, Paul Simon. No, not that Paul Simon. Yes, that one, a Senator from Illinois who looked very good in bow ties, and finally Michael Dukakis, the governor of Massachusetts.
Now, the Democrats tried to recruit New York Governor Mario Cuomo to run, but he declined. Then there was Gary Hart, who at first seemed destined to become nominee and the party’s leader of the future. However, the media all of sudden decided to pry into his personal life, and, as it turns out, he was cheating on his wife. Many of his supporters turned against him after they found this out, and he ended up suspending his campaign because of it.
With no clear frontrunner, the Democrats had a long and exciting primary race. In the end, it was Governor Dukakis who got the nomination. Jesse Jackson finished second, and his supporters argued he should be Dukakis’ running mate, but Dukakis disagreed, instead choosing Lloyd Bentsen, a Senator from Texas.
The Bush campaign aggressively attacked Dukakis. Bush capitalized on the word “liberal,” which was now considered by many a dirty word to call a politician. He called Dukakis a liberal when it came to everything. A guy named Lee Atwater helped circulate rumours to the media that Dukakis’s wife Kitty had burned an American flag to protest the Vietnam War, even though it wasn’t true. Bush argued Dukakis was ignorant when it came to the military.
And Dukakis responded poorly to these criticisms and rumours. I mean, he staged a photo op where he road around in a tank to try to prove he knew military matters, and it backfired horribly. That, a poor debate performance, and the fact that Bush was capitalizing on a good economy and Reagan’s popularity all greatly hurt Dukakis.
Writers Speak | Min Jin Lee in conversation with Claire Messud
Min Jin Lee is the author of two novels, Free Food for Millionaires (2007) and Pachinko (2017). Both books have been New York Times bestsellers. Pachinko was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, as well as one of the New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2017. A graduate of Yale and Georgetown Law School, Min has written for the New York Times Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, the Times of London, and the Wall Street Journal, among many other publications. She lives in New York.
Video #1: How to Find Arrowheads Indian Artifacts On Rivers & Streams What You Need THE BASICS
A group of items you will need to TEAR IT UP Artifact/Arrowhead hunting on rivers. This will be the 1st video in a several video series to TEACH you how to find at least 5x's as many Artifacts. The next video will show the technique's involved in the field. Using this technique I have NEVER went looking for Artifacts and not found something nice----EVER.
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Bluewater Lake, Minnesota
Moose Hollow Lodge Family Reunions by Resort Lodging
Luxury cabin resort in Pigeon Forge Tennessee that has all the amenities need for a wonderful family reunion vacation. This 9 bedroom 8.5 bath sleeps 56 and has a rumble seat theater that seats 22, a heated indoor pool, and a private chapel and conference center.
Cedar Run Aerial Tour | New Homes in Blacklick, Ohio
Cedar Run Aerial Tour | New Homes in Blacklick, Ohio
Cedar Run is a beautiful community of single-family homes tucked away in Blacklick that offers over 15 acres of reserve spaces and a park conveniently located in the center of the community. The welcoming tree-lined lots and scenic streetscapes are sure to make you feel at home. Get to know your neighbors in this warm, family-friendly community with special events and holiday parties. Cedar Run is proud to be a part of Licking Heights School District, which was rated excellent by the State Board of Education. You'll love Cedar Run’s convenient location near I-270 and Broad Street. Everyday conveniences are just around the corner, and for even more options Easton Town Center is only 10 miles away. There are so many great employers in the area, including L Brands, Mount Carmel Hospital, and Amazon. It’s easy to get out of town with John Glenn Columbus International Airport, or enjoy an easy commute to Columbus, Newark, and Granville.
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A Literary Guide to Washington, D.C.: Walking in the Footsteps of American Writers
Kim Roberts discusses her book, A Literary Guide to Washington, D.C.: Walking in the Footsteps of American Writers from Francis Scott Key to Zora Neale Hurston.
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MN Hockey: Land of 10,000 Rinks - Full Documentary
Drive through just about any community in northeastern Minnesota during the winter months and you’re likely to find kids playing hockey. Hockey culture runs deep in the Northland, from the mini-mites learning to skate for the first time, to accomplished high school and college players striving to take their game to the highest level.