Weather Vortex Hits U.S.

Weather Jet Stream Model

The weather in the U.S. and other parts of the world is a little off the mark. Many are calling it a Weather Vortex. Winter does bring cold weather but not like what the U.S. is experiencing in the early month of 2014. Cities throughout the mid-west are reporting temperatures of  20 below zero with wind chill factors creating a 50 below zero feel.

This is wicked weather.  These weather patterns have not been seen in decades and many communities in the southern U.S. are not prepared for the effects of these sub zero temperatures.  Schools and other community building have closed.  People are staying home instead of venturing into the life threatening weather.

St. Louis and Chicago are setting all time records for low temperatures.  The frosty feel is even pushing into the south where Texans are looking strangely at the cattle.  (You gotta stay warm some how, you know.)

The large area of cold weather has affected over 100 million U.S. citizens as this pattern moves in behind a first pattern that dumped large amounts of snow and ice.  The new frontal push is worsening the situation causing dangerous situations for truckers and the cancellation of thousands of flights.  The storm comes at the end of a major U.S. holiday season as people are trying to return home to begin the new year.

While the Weather Vortex grinds out over the U.S. some wonder how this will affect fuel and food prices.  If shipping is strangled by bad weather prices in the grocery market are soon to feel the effects.  Many items will become depleted on the shelves as suppliers are unable to deliver product.

Fuel used for heating will surely see a spike as well as demand increases and perhaps exceeds capacity.  The state and city governments will continue to close non-essential facilities to keep heating fuels available to the communities.

How long will the Weather Vortex vex the U.S.? Some view it as a polar hurricane and as such it will blow through hard but fast.  So bundle up and keep from overexposure.

How is the weather where you are?  Leave us comment. Report the weather news from your area in the comment section.

Russian Billionaire Heads to Switzerland

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former Russian oil tycoon, was recently released from prison after a 10 year term for tax evasion and fraud. Khodorkovsky was pardoned on Dec. 20, 2013 by Russian president Vladimir Putin. 

Khodorkovsky,  his wife and two children have recently arrived in Switzerland. The government says that the family arrived to return their twin boys to school.  It is not immediately apparent if the Khodorkovsky family will be remaining in Switzerland.  

The Russian government has received criticism over the years concerning the case and ultimate imprisonment of Khodorkovsky and some state that Putins' pardon came suspiciously ahead of world attention as the Olympics come to Russia.  Putin is obviously concerned over recent bomb blasts that have surfaced the word boycott in recent media reports.  Russia is being closely watched by the world audience. 



  

The U.S. military left Iraq in 2011.  Baghdad appears to be under attack by the very one's who we removed from power.  What did we accomplish? How many other countries will we 'occupy' to apparently reach our goals, disengage, and then watch it fall back into the powers that we removed.

Sunni led rebel groups are fighting along the highway to Baghdad.  They have taken Ramadi the capital of the Anbar province and Falluja. What have we accomplished? Years of warfare and thousands of dead American soldiers.  Are their deaths justified? Is there stability in Iraq or is another ruler oppressing an ethnic group? The Sunni tribe looked to America for protection from the Shiite. Now they look to militant rebels for that protection.

What have we accomplished?