DELEITURAS

One of fastest shrinking ice glaciers in the world is reversing course and starting to accumulate ice at an alarming pace, a new NASA study published Monday finds.

The Jakobshavn glacier, located in Greenland, began thinning around 2012 to nearly 130 feet annually. It’s now growing again at about the same rate in the past two years, a study in Nature Geoscience noted. Scientists reacted with surprise, noting that they grew accustomed to the glacier receding.

“That was kind of a surprise. We kind of got used to a runaway system,” Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland ice and climate scientist Jason Box told AP reporters Monday. “The good news is that it’s a reminder that it’s not necessarily going that fast. But it is going.”

Jakobshavn is “arguably the most important Greenland glacier because it discharges the most ice in the northern hemisphere. For all of Greenland, it is king,” said Box, who was not part of the study. The lead authors of the Nature Geoscience study claimed the natural cyclical cooling of North Atlantic waters was likely the catalyst for the reversal. They also say the phenomena is probably temporary.

This is ultimately bad news on the long-term because it suggests ocean temperature is a bigger player in glacier retreats than previously thought, NASA climate scientist Josh Willis, told reporters. Throughout the next several years water will be warming from climate change, he noted, adding that more than 90 percent of the heat greenhouse gasses trap folds into the ocean.

The study comes on the heels of research in 2017 showing that some of the largest non-polar glaciers in the world are either stable or growing due to a “vortex” of cold air over a 1,200-mile section of the greater Asia. Climate models have been unable to reproduce the phenomenon, an August 2017 study published in Nature revealed. The system is keeping Karakoram mountain range glaciers from melting.

Still, many scientists and activists have sounded the alarm on Antarctic ice melt. A recent assessment of Antarctic data found that ice melt had dramatically increased in recent years, but critics said that work did not take into account modeling errors of the movement of the Earth beneath the ice sheets.

Funds are often available and affordable to people with good credit history. Those who do not have good credit are on the risk of being denied with approval or to pay huge interest rates. It sounds unfair when the person who needs the cash is the one who does not qualify for it. Fortunately, there are different ways that this can have a solution, one of which is getting loans with no credit check.

Getting Personal Loans without Credit Check is Possible

Not a lot of businesses know this but there is an easier and quicker way to get the funds that they need. It is possible to request a personal loan without credit check. Through loans with no credit check, it is possible for a business to get the money it needs, while also having enough time to pay it back. Personal loans without credit check certainly open completely a new world of lending.

This type of personal loan comes in unique design so business owners can get the funds that they need that are usually unavailable to them because of their credit history. Aside from the fact that credit is not necessary, the request process for this type of loan is also easy. Usually, the business owner only needs to fill in the request form with necessary information, such as the income.

Most of the time, it does not even need to send in documentation making the request process quick, simple and easy. In addition, loans with no credit check often give up to 18 months to pay the loan back. In that way, business owners can have enough time to pay back the huge sum of money that they will borrow. They can pay it in their next accounting schedule or even next month when they have less constricted funds.

Business Owners with Bad Credit Can Get This Type of Loan

Before, bad credit is the biggest thing that makes it hard for business owners to get the funding that they need but not today anymore. If before it seems completely impossible to secure a loan when you have bad credit, getting cash loans is now possible with less documentation, no credit score check, and shorter waiting period.

This is possible with online loans, an easy and quick source of emergency funding. You can get loans available right away without having to wait for days or weeks. Online lenders make it possible by keeping processes simpler and straightforward. Typically, getting loans without credit check simply needs the business owner to indicate the amount of money that they need to borrow.

In addition, they need to indicate the length of time they need to pay the loan back. With only that, online lenders easily provide the funding business owners need to get back on their feet financially. There are different interest rates, terms and other options available for loans with no credit check. With that, careful and thorough research is vital to ensure one has seen all available choices.

It is greatly advantageous to get loans that do not need a credit check especially for business owners who made mistakes in their credit before. It gives them a chance to get the funding that they need as well as repair their credit history. As such, it is not surprising that many small business owners feel attracted to get a personal loan with no credit check.

 

From Warner Bros. Pictures and director James Wan comes an action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas, “Aquaman,” starring Jason Momoa in the title role.  The film reveals the origin story of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the journey of his lifetime—one that will not only force him to face who he really is, but to discover if he is worthy of who he was born to be…a king.

Oh, and Dolph Lundgren is in the film.

“It is good to be king. Basically, I try to keep the peace down there along with Amber Heard, who plays my daughter,” Lundgren said in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “She’s trying to convince me to join the right side. Then you have Nicole Kidman as Aquaman’s mother. We’re trying to avoid war between the surface [dwellers] and the people of Atlantis.”

The film also stars Amber Heard (“Justice League,” “Magic Mike XXL”) as Mera; Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (“Platoon,” “Spider-Man 2”) as Vulko; Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” “Green Lantern”) as Tom Curry; Dolph Lundgren (“The Expendables” films) as Nereus; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (upcoming “Baywatch,” Netflix’s “The Get Down”) as Black Manta; with Patrick Wilson (“The Conjuring” films, “Watchmen”) as Orm/Ocean Master; and Oscar winner Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “Lion”) as Atlanna.

The film is being produced by Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Rob Cowan, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns serving as executive producers.

Wan’s team behind the scenes includes such frequent collaborators as Oscar-nominated director of photography Don Burgess (“The Conjuring 2,” “Forrest Gump”), his five-time editor Kirk M. Morri (“The Conjuring” films, “Furious 7,” the “Insidious” films) and production designer Bill Brzeski (“Furious 7”). They are joined by costume designer Kym Barrett (“The Matrix” trilogy; “The Amazing Spider-Man”), along with Oscar-winning VFX supervisor Charles Gibson (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 & 2”) and VFX supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise).

As is fitting for the king of the sea, the shoot will take place mainly in locations spanning the stunning Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, with extensive filming to be accomplished at Village Roadshow Studios. The production will utilize the facility’s sprawling backlot and all nine VRS soundstages, including its newest, Stage 9, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Filming will also take place in Newfoundland, Sicily and Tunisia.

An icon for over 75 years, Aquaman is known by fans of DC Comics as the ruler of Atlantis but committed to protecting the entire globe, both land and sea.

Aquaman will hit theaters December 21, 2018.

Amateur video reportedly shot near Raqqa, Syria during U.S.-led airstrikes against ISIS targets in the area.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in December to 107.0 (2016 = 100), following a 0.5 percent increase in November, and a 1.3 percent increase in October.

“The U.S. LEI continued rising rapidly in December, pointing to a continuation of strong economic growth in the first half of 2018. The passing of the tax plan is likely to provide even more tailwind to the current expansion,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Director of Business Cycles and Growth Research at The Conference Board. “The gains among the leading indicators have been widespread, with most of the strength concentrated in new orders in manufacturing, consumers’ outlook on the economy, improving stock markets and financial conditions.”

The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index (CEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in December to 102.8 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in November, and a 0.4 percent increase in October.

The Conference Board Lagging Economic Index (LAG) for the U.S. increased 0.7 percent in December to 104.0 (2016 = 100), following a 0.1 percent increase in November and a 0.3 percent increase in October.

The summer travel season is one of the busiest for U.S. airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration, which is expected to screen 28.3 million Fourth of July travelers through July 9 and millions of others through the end of Labor Day weekend.  Smart planning and preparation is the key for travelers who want an easy start to their vacation, without the stress associated with airport crowds and security checkpoints, say the experts at Travel Leaders Network – one of America’s largest retail travel agency organizations.

“Many people procrastinate in making travel plans and then they are harried all the way to the airport, adding stress to the start of their happy, relaxing vacation time,” said Roger E. Block, CTC, President of Travel Leaders Network. “Planning and preparation from your itinerary to what’s in your suitcase makes a world of difference to landing on the right foot at your vacation destination. Travel Leaders travel agents provide their expert advice, time and talent to ensuring that their clients have an enjoyable journey from beginning to end.”

Here are 12 tips from the travel experts at Travel Leaders Network for easing summer travel:

1. Check-in online. Airlines generally allow passengers to check in online 24 hours in advance, with a cutoff a couple of hours before boarding time. Checking in well before heading to the airport, saves time. Travelers should opt to receive digital (and paper) versions of their boarding pass so that a backup is at the ready on a handy mobile device.
2. Leave home early. From traffic that may be heavier than usual and hard-to-find parking spots, to lines for security screenings, there is peace of mind when there is extra wiggle room in the schedule, whether traveling by train, plane or automobile. Arrive at the airport 75 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
3. Double check your baggage. Overhead space is at a premium during the heavy holiday travel seasons. So when preparing to pack bags, it’s ideal to check in advance whether luggage meets the airline’s size and weight restrictions for checked baggage and carry-ons. Nothing brings on the worry like finding out last-minute that one has to pay extra for overweight or oversized luggage filled with sun visors, flip flops, extra-large cosmetic cases or junior’s plush toy.
4. Pack smarter with essentials. Packing a few vacation essentials in a carry-on, such as a swimsuit and a change of clothes, helps if your luggage gets delayed, because you can still go for a swim upon arrival or put on a fresh change of clothes. This also comes in handy for those who arrive at the resort before the room is ready. Simply lounge by the pool or beach while you wait.
5. Remember 3-1-1 rule. TSA allows each passenger one quart-size bag of liquids and gels, including toothpaste, gel deodorant, and lotions. Each item must be 3.4 ounces or less. Excluded from the carry-on list this summer are canisters of powders larger than 12 ounces. This affects protein powder for your mid-flight energy drink or a large jar of your favorite ground coffee. But for most people the powders will not ring any alarms, as it applies only to international flights in-bound to the United States. Medication and infant formula are exempt from the rule — but keep them separate from other items in case they need to be hand-checked on your return trip.
6. Purchase TSA PreCheck, CLEAR or Global Entry. Travelers who enroll in one of the expedited security checkpoint services spend less time in line. PreCheck members don’t have to remove their shoes, belt or jacket or take their large electronic devices from their carry-ons. So not only is the security screening less cumbersome, it also saves time not having to repack items and retie shoes – which can be a hassle for a family of four. Those enrolled in CLEAR, which is integrated with TSA PreCheck, will be able to skip straight to a special lane to get their boarding pass checked. (Children under 18 can use the CLEAR lane for free when accompanied by a CLEAR-enrolled family member.) Global Entry cuts down on immigration and customs processing time when reentering the US after international travel. TSA Precheck for domestic travel costs $80 for a 5-year clearance and Global Entry for international travel costs $100 for 5-years and includes TSA Precheck. CLEAR is $179 per year. This small commitment saves time and stress upon arrival at the airport.
7. Airport lounge pass. Frequent travelers or those who arrive to the airport before boarding begins will enjoy an airport lounge pass over waiting at crowded gates. Most lounges offer complimentary food and beverages, along with free wi-fi. Those perks alone are worth the value for frequent travelers.
8. All-inclusive family resorts. After arriving at one’s destination, especially an international one, an all-inclusive resort is especially satisfying on that first day in town away from home. No need to navigate to another location for dining or worry about menu prices. An all-inclusive package alleviates some decisions when all that is top of mind is relaxing. It also helps keep one from going over budget. Spending more than one plans to raises stress levels, but with an all-inclusive travelers know in advance exactly how much they are spending on food and drinks.
9. Cruising along. There are many ways to take advantage of a cruise experience. First, arrive in the port city a day before sail time. This way, even if a travel companion misses a flight connection there is no worry about missing the boat. Once onboard, curtail exhaustion by skipping an excursion or two.  Take time to enjoy the ship with fewer people onboard while others are off exploring the port city. But when planning to go ashore, make sure you listen to the port talks. A lot of valuable information is relayed, as well as maps, taxi and shop information for those who choose to venture on their own.
10. Bon Jour. Konichiwa. Shalom. Learning a few words in the native language of the destination country will ease stress, as a simple hello or thank you in the native language can improve the kindness of strangers and even open doors – figuratively and literally. If there’s no time to learn a few words before leaving home, the traveler can download an app to their mobile phone that will translate even the most complicated of sentences. It’s a great way to make new friends.
11. Keep valid identification at hand. Children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling domestically with a companion, but passengers age 18 and older must show valid ID at the airport security checkpoint. Since most ID, like a driver’s license, has an expiration date, double-check that your ID will not expire before your return trip home. It’s a good idea to have color photocopies and digital copies of all important identification documents, including your passport, boarding passes, front and back of credit cards and health insurance information. Also have extra ID photos cropped to passport size in case you have to order a replacement at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Be sure to pack all paper copies or flash drives in a separate location for extra safe-keeping. Also remember to check the expiration date on your passport. If it expires within six months, you may not be able to enter most countries.
12. Put your travel agent on speed dial. Bring the email and cell phone number of your travel agent with you, and provide your travel agent with your personal contact information, as well as pertinent health and travel insurance information. Your travel agent can rearrange your itinerary should you decide to extend your trip, or if there’s an emergency.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) raised a historic amount of money in February, as Republicans gear up for 2020, The Daily Caller News Foundation learned Wednesday.

The RNC raised 14.6 million, a record high for the month of February in a non-election year, according to internal numbers shared with TheDCNF. The number is also the second highest of all time for the month of February, going back to 2004. The party is also zero dollars in debt, as the RNC has continued to beat The Democratic National Committee (DNC) in fundraising.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has continued to lead the committee to historic fundraising numbers, giving the party hope for the 2020 elections.

The RNC and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also raised a historic amount of money in the month of January, as Senate Republicans gear up for a fight to keep the Senate. The NRSC raised a record $5.58 million in January, the most money ever raised by the committee in that month.

The RNC announced in June that they would be fundraising throughout President Donald Trump’s first 500 days in office as a campaign strategy. For  five months the RNC released videos touting Trump’s success, which they believe will help lead them to victory for the midterm elections.

The committee filed a record-setting $19.8 million January 2017 after Trump was elected into office.

Existing-home sales declined in September after a month of stagnation in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. All four major regions saw no gain in sales activity last month.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, fell 3.4 percent from August to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.15 million in September. Sales are now down 4.1 percent from a year ago (5.37 million in September 2017).

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says rising interest rates have led to a decline in sales across all regions of the country. “This is the lowest existing home sales level since November 2015,” he said. “A decade’s high mortgage rates are preventing consumers from making quick decisions on home purchases. All the while, affordable home listings remain low, continuing to spur underperforming sales activity across the country.”

Yun echoed President Trump’s sentiment that raising interest rates too quickly will have a harmful effect on the U.S. economy and the nation’s spiraling debt.

“I’d rather pay down debt or do other things,” Trump recently said while criticizing the Fed’s actions. “I’m worried about the fact that they seem to like raising interest rates.”

The median existing-home price for all housing types in September was $258,100, up 4.2 percent from September 2017 ($247,600). September’s price increase marks the 79^th straight month of year-over-year gains.

Total housing inventory³ at the end of September decreased from 1.91 million in August to 1.88 million existing homes available for sale, and is up from 1.86 million a year ago. Unsold inventory is at a 4.4-month supply at the current sales pace, up from 4.3 last month and 4.2 months a year ago.

Properties typically stayed on the market for 32 days in September, up from 29 days in August but down from 34 days a year ago. Forty-seven percent of homes sold in September were on the market for less than a month.

“There is a clear shift in the market with another month of rising inventory on a year over year basis, though seasonal factors are leading to a third straight month of declining inventory,” said Yun. “Homes will take a bit longer to sell compared to the super-heated fast pace seen earlier this year.”

Realtor.com’s Market Hotness Index, measuring time-on-the-market data and listings views per property, revealed that the hottest metro areas in September were Midland, Texas; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Odessa, Texas; Boston–Cambridge–Newton, Mass.; and Columbus, Ohio.

According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage increased to 4.63 percent in September from 4.55 percent in August. The average commitment rate for all of 2017 was 3.99 percent.

“Rising interests rates coupled with increasing home prices are keeping first-time buyers out of the market, but consistent job gains could allow more Americans to enter the market with a steady and measurable rise in inventory,” says Yun.

First-time buyers were responsible for 32 percent of sales in September, up from last month (31 percent) and a year ago (29 percent). NAR’s 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers – released in late 2017 – revealed that the annual share of first-time buyers was 34 percent.

“Despite small month over month increases, the share of first-time buyers in the market continues to underwhelm because there are simply not enough listings in their price range,” said NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor^® from Columbia, Missouri and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty. “Entry-level homes remain highly sought after, as prospective buyers are advised to contact a Realtor^® as early in the buying process as possible in order to ensure buyers can act fast on listings that catch their eye.”

All-cash sales accounted for  21 percent of transactions in September, up from July and a year ago (both 20 percent). Individual investors, who account for many cash sales, purchased 13 percent of homes in August, unchanged from July and down from 15 percent a year ago.

Distressed sales⁵ – foreclosures and short sales – were 3 percent of sales in September (the lowest since NAR began tracking in October 2008), unchanged from last month and down from 4 percent a year ago. Two percent of September sales were foreclosures and 1 percent were short sales.

Single-family and Condo/Co-op Sales
Single-family home sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.58 million in September, down from 4.74 million in August, and are 4.0 percent below the 4.77 million sales pace from a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $260,500 in September, up 4.6 percent from September 2017.

Existing condominium and co-op sales were recorded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 570,000 units in September, down 3.4 percent from last month and 5.0 percent from a year ago. The median existing condo price was $239,200 in September, which is up 1.5 percent from a year ago.

Regional Breakdown 
September existing-home sales in the Northeast decreased 2.9 percent to an annual rate of 680,000,  5.6 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $286,200, which is up 4.1 percent from September 2017.

In the Midwest, existing-home sales remained the same as last month at an annual rate of 1.28 million in September, but are still down 1.5 percent from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $200,200, up 1.9 percent from last year.

Existing-home sales in the South decreased 5.4 percent to an annual rate of 2.11 million in September, down from 2.12 million a year ago. The median price in the South was $223,900, up 3.0 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the West fell 3.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.08 million in September, 12.2 percent below a year ago. The median price in the West was $388,500, up 4.1 percent from September 2017.

At this year’s BRICS summit, Russian President, Vladimir Putin’s security detail was challenged while trying to enter a building.

via the Daily Mail-

Armed guards from Vladimir Putin’s entourage were involved in an ugly fight in South Africa after they were ordered to put top secret suitcases – believed to contain the codes for Russia’s nuclear arsenal – through a security scanner.

Angry ‘pushing and shoving’ broke out after some members of Putin’s security detail were prevented from following the Russian president into the conference hall staging the summit, which was hosted by South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma and also involved Brazil, Russia, India and China.

What’s interesting is the apparent lack of diplomacy that happened next, when a Russian spokesman threw the host of the summit (South Africa) under the bus.

Kremlin officials blamed the embarrassing bust-up on the South Africans, with Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying: ‘They manage football better. A lot of confusion.’

He added: ‘The incident happened because of the fault of the inviting side.’

Also interesting?  The spokesman said South Africans “manage football  better” in response to the incident over the suitcase presumed to have nuclear codes.  This is interesting, because the American counterpart to that suitcase just so happens to be referred to as a “football” by members of our President’s security.  (of course, in this case, “football” refers to “soccer”, but an interesting tidbit, still)

SO WHAT IS THIS BRICS SUMMIT ABOUT, ANYWAY?

Simply put, it’s a group of five (it used to be four) nations that happen to have large populations and a lot of economic potential, but they lack the same kind of pull that the United States and Europe have enjoyed over the years.  It has been their hope that maybe they can band together and use their synergies to help achieve prominence and leverage on the world stage that they haven’t been able to obtain individually.  As this piece on Bloomberg details, their results, so far have been mixed at best.

WHO ARE THESE BRICS NATIONS?

An investment analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. famously came up with the BRIC designation (South Africa was an afterthought) in 2001

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.

While the Bloomberg piece suggests that the BRICS summit can sometimes (or often) come across as a fruitless endeavor, it should be noted that these countries are becoming more and more coveted by various corporations around the world due to their large populations and practically untapped markets.

India, for example, has been seen by many as the next place for a great smartphone boom, as more of it’s 1.2 billion citizens become upwardly mobile.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will continue its more than 60-year-old tradition of tracking Santa Claus as he leaves the North Pole to deliver presents across the world.

The twitter account for NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command announced Friday that Santa will be tracked on Christmas Eve regardless of whether or not a government shutdown has gone into effect.

“In the event of a government shutdown, NORAD will continue with its 63-year tradition of NORAD Tracks Santa on Dec. 24,” the agency said. “Military personnel who conduct NORAD Tracks Santa are supported by approximately 1,500 volunteers who make the program possible each and every year.”

WATCH:

Accordingly, Congress failed to pass a spending measure before government funding expired Friday at midnight, triggering a government shutdown.

The House passed a stopgap funding bill Thursday that included $5.7 billion for the a wall on the U.S.-Mexico. However, Senate Republicans were not able to get the necessary 60 votes needed to send the bill to the president’s desk. Prior to the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed that any legislation with additional funding for a border wall would be dead on arrival.

Regardless, NORAD is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, which is not included in the stopgap funding bill and has already been funded for the 2019 calendar year. President Donald Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act into law in 2018, which included a budget of $717 billion for the department.