Conde Nast  recently said  These are the Safest Countries in the World in 2025 .  They consulted the 2025 Global Peace Index.   1 is most peaceful, 5 is the least. Where was the USA?  #128!!! My impression was that  Conde Nast  and the Institute of Economics and Peace ( they report on that GPI)  likes cold weather countries.  Or maybe there is something about chilly conditions that keep people home to avoid danger. So anyway, the top ten. #10  Finland ( 1.42 )  Famous for also being the happiest country in the world. #9   Slovenia ( 1.409 )  Has extremely low crime rates and terrorism risk, with the best castles and lakes. #8  Denmark ( 1.393 )  Dropped six spots from 2024, having something to do with militarization. #7    Portugal ( 1.371 )  Is a beacon of economic resurgence and low crime rates.  Many from Europe retire there. #6    Singapore ( 1.357 )  The only Asia...

 The Texas flooding catastrophe is up to 119 dead and 160 still missing. Both the Texas storm and the July 7 North Carolina flood caused by Tropical Storm Chantal were 1000-year events.  And President Donald Trump is encouraging greater use of fossil fuels, while cutting back on global warming research. A 100-year flood means that there is a 1% chance that this will happen at your home's location in any given year. A 1000-year flood means there is a 0.1% chance of this occurring. Read details here. Now, on to the topic of today.  My field of knowledge primarily spans from energy to the environment and into ocean resources.  I drafted when working in the U.S. Senate the original hydrogen bill which became law, and same for ocean thermal energy conversion.  My first job was in biomass engineering, and I later did research in geothermal energy, wind energy and grew marine microalgae in a raceway fed by the waste gases from a small powerplant to someday remediate gl...

I'll lead off with Hurricane Milton, who began the day at 85 MPH, but is now up to 175 MPH as a Category 5 Super Hurricane.  The expectation is a drop in strength to a Category 2 when the eye, as now projected, will pass over Tampa Wednesday afternoon, then Orlando.  Hurricane Milton should leave Florida around midnight, and will be in the Atlantic Ocean as a Category 1.   Today is the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel .   1200 were killed, and 200 taken hostage, with 100 probably still alive somewhere in the Gaza Strip.   41,000 have so far been killed in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians. Israel continues to bomb the Gaza Strip. Beirut now too, killing more than 1400 in Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country faces war on SEVEN fronts. The Middle East is in an advanced state of a major war. On the  Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris front , tomorrow will signal the 4-week period to November 5. Harris taped an int...