Human Interest

2015 was officially the hottest year on record, following a gradual rise in temperatures worldwide for over a century. The Hindu reports: The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and NASA announced on Wednesday that 2015 was by far the hottest year in 136 years of record keeping. The NOAA said 2015’s temperature was 58.62°F (14.79°C), passing 2014 by a record margin of 0.29°F. That’s 1.62°F above the 20-century average. NASA, which measures differently, said 2015 was 0.23°F warmer than the record set in 2014.

Bob Dole slammed Ted Cruz and warned against nominating him:

“I don’t know how he’s going to deal with Congress,” he said. “Nobody likes him.”

But Mr. Dole said he thought Mr. Trump could “probably work with Congress, because he’s, you know, he’s got the right personality and he’s kind of a deal-maker.”

The remarks by Mr. Dole reflect wider unease with Mr. Cruz among members of the Republican establishment, but few leading members of the party have been as candid and cutting.

You know America's economy (and politicians) has become entirely financialized when Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says the following:

• *REID: LAWMAKERS SHOULD `STAY CALM' DESPITE STOCK MARKET DROP
• *REID: TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT RESPONSE TO STOCK-MARKET DROP

Stocks are down 10% from their highs after doubling or more for 6 years. Speechless.

Here's why!!

Mainstream business media could not stop itself from exuberating all over Netflix' earnings last night, but apparently some sober reading overnight reminded investors that US member growth is slwoing and cash burn hit a record high. From up 10% to down 6%... NFLX is tumbling...

and FANTAsy stocks are FUBAR once again...

According to the director of the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (Seti), this century will see the end of humanity as we know it as a new species of aliens rise to power.  Seth Shostak says the end of mankind will happen as a result of designer babies and artificial intelligence (Ai) merging. ‘We can eventually produce offspring that are as different from us as dogs are from grey wolves,’ Shostak said in an article for Seti.