Mark Million, "The Voice of Social Media.": 2012

This product is updated at approximately 2 AM, 8 AM, 2 PM, and 8 PM EDT from June 1 to November 30. Special outlooks may be issued as conditions warrant.

Place your mouse cursor over areas of interest for more information

Archived Outlooks

GIS data: .shp

ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
200 AM EDT SAT AUG 25 2012

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL
STORM ISAAC...LOCATED ABOUT 55 MILES SOUTHWEST OF PORT AU PRINCE
HAITI.

1. A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION
JOYCE...IS LOCATED ABOUT 750 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE LEEWARD
ISLANDS.  ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DO NOT APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR THE
REMNANT LOW TO REGENERATE INTO A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS.  THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOW CHANCE...10 PERCENT...OF
BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE AGAIN DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS AS IT
MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD TO NORTHWESTWARD AT ABOUT 20 MPH.

2. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE CHANGE IN THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
ASSOCIATED WITH A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE CENTERED ABOUT 300
MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.  ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS ARE MARGINALLY CONDUCIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS THE SYSTEM
MOVES TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 MPH. THIS SYSTEM HAS A
MEDIUM CHANCE...30 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING
THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

Tropical Storm Isaac 2am ET advisory issued; storm is 55 miles SW of Port au Prince, Haiti

Mark Million's Blog

Friday, August 24, 2012

Jury: Samsung should pay Apple more than $1 billion

Mark Million's Blog

Romney makes a birther joke in Michigan: ?No one has ever asked to see my birth certificate?

Mark Million's Blog

Hurricane Could Make a Mess of RNC

By AMY BINGHAM

Hurricane Isaac, currently a tropical storm brewing southeast of Puerto Rico, is on track to hit Florida the same day that Mitt Romney and 50,000 Republican delegates, journalists, protestors and guests descend on Tampa for the Republican National Convention.

While it is too early to accurately predict the storm's path, ABC meteorologist Max Golembo said it will hit southern Florida. Whether it will skim the east coast near Miami or crash head-on into Tampa, is still up in the air.

"Any way you take it, it's going to be a wind and rain event in Tampa," Golembo said. "We don't know if it's going to be damaging to Tampa, cancelling the convention or just delaying it."

As of this morning, the worst possible scenario is that Hurricane Isaac stays on the western track, skating over the Caribbean Sea south of Haiti, crossing the primarily flat landscape of western Cuba into the Gulf of Mexico then curving east and hitting Tampa dead-on.

"Tampa is just as vulnerable as New Orleans was in the sense that the water will funnel into the bay area and from the storm surge which will flood completely the whole entire city of Tampa," Golembo said referring to Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005.

"It would be a disaster in the Tampa area," Golembo said.

But Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn downplayed any serious threat to the convention.

PHOTO: Isaac, left, reached tropical storm status and is approaching the Lesser Antilles islands as it moves westward, Aug. 22, 2012 in the Atlantic Ocean.

NOAA via Getty Images

Isaac, left, reached tropical storm status... View Full Size

Could a Hurricane Hit GOP Convention? Watch Video

Tampa Police on Alert Over 'Suspicious' Discovery Watch Video

Chris Christie to Deliver Keynote at GOP Convention Watch Video

"Come on down," Buckhorn said. "The event is going to take place, it's going to be a great event and we're looking forward to having you."

He said Isaac was still 2,500 miles off the Florida coast and "is not an imminent threat."

While most prediction models show the storm taking a more eastern track, Golembo said one "very important model," one the meteorologists use "a lot," has Isaac slamming directly into Tampa.

"That's why the meteorologists are pulling their hair out right now," Golembo said. "If it was a model we wouldn't care, but it's THE model."

Buckhorn said "at this point we don't lose a lot of sleep over" the possible storm because Floridians are "accustomed to these types of storms."

"We haven't been hit by a hurricane in 90 years, but that doesn't mean we let our guard down," Buckhorn said. "We've got plans in place that we practice all year round. We've got plans on top of plans. The only thing the RNC does is add about 50,000 more people to the equation."

The Republican National Convention has been working with local, state and federal authorities for more than a year to create contingency plans in the event this worst case scenario came true. RNC spokesman James Davis told ABC News that convention planners are "monitoring the storm" and "will make sure everyone's health and safety is protected."

"We will release information as we get it. Right now we are looking forward to having a great convention," Davis said. "We are confident we will be able to get the business done of our convention which is to nominate Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan."

Davis would not say when or if the convention would be called off, rescheduled or moved.

Under the best case scenario, the storm could smash into the mountains of Haiti which "would really kill the system," then the weakened storm could sweep over the Bahamas and swirl off the east coast of Florida, bringing strong winds and rain to Miami, but missing Tampa, Golembo said.

In that scenario, Tampa would see 30 mph winds and about 1 inch of rainfall, Golembo said.

The weatherman said, "I don't think they would have to cancel anything."

"Pack an umbrella at least and maybe a poncho and galoshes, but don't quite break out the boats and don't start building the arc," Golembo said.

USADA to Strip Armstrong of Tour de France Titles

By NEAL KARLINSKY

It's being called one of the greatest frauds in the history of sport: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs to cheat his way to the top, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, whose allegations will no longer be challenged by Armstrong.

Armstrong, 40, essentially walked away from the doping case the USADA brought against him, calling it an "unconstitutional witch hunt" and declining to fight it in arbitration. But even as he did so, Armstrong maintained his innocence.

"If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a fair setting and -- once and for all -- put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance," Armstrong said in a lengthy prepared statement Thursday evening. "But I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair."

Read Lance Armstrong's full statement by clicking here.

USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart reacted late Thursday to reports of Armstrong's decision not to enter arbitration, though the group said it had not yet received formal notice.

Lance Armstrong Doping Charges: Secret Tapes Watch Video

Armstrong Faces New Doping Charges Watch Video

Lance Armstrong Faces Doping Charges Watch Video

"It is a sad day for all of us who love sport and our athletic heroes," Tygart said in a written statement. "This is a heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture of sport, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition, but for clean athletes, it is a reassuring reminder that there is hope for future generations to compete on a level playing field without the use of performance-enhancing drugs."

Armstrong will now face a lifetime ban from all elite-level sports and the stripping of his tour titles, according to the USADA.

Armstrong, who is retired, argued that he never failed a drug test and that the USADA should not have the right to strip him of his titles.

"USADA cannot assert control of a professional international sport and attempt to strip my seven Tour de France titles," Armstrong said. "I know who won those seven tours, my teammates know who won those seven tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven tours. We all raced together. For three weeks over the same roads, the same mountains, and against all the weather and elements that we had to confront. There were no shortcuts, there was no special treatment. The same courses, the same rules. The toughest event in the world where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that. Especially not Travis Tygart."

The battle to avoid this moment has been epic. Armstrong enlisted help from Congress to pressure the Anti-Doping Agency and, through his team of high-powered lawyers, he sued USADA in federal court.

None of it worked, leaving Armstrong to face a reported 10 former teammates under oath and more damaging revelations. Rather than face them, he walked away.

So if he never failed a drug test, how did he cheat? A former teammate widely believed to be one of the Armstrong witnesses, Jonathan Vaughters, confessed his own doping on the New York Times opinion pages just two weeks ago, writing, "When I was racing in the 1990s and early 2000s, the rules were easily circumvented by any and all."

Convicted doper Floyd Landis, another Armstrong teammate, said he saw Armstrong using the performance enhancing drug EPO.

"I also received some from him," Landis told ABC News. "You know, rather than go into entire detail of every single time I've seen it: Yes, I saw Lance Armstrong using drugs."

Armstrong always boasted he was the most tested athlete in sports history -- but that may not have been quite true.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Raped, pregnant and ordeal not over

Mark Million's Blog

Wake up: It's not just Akin

Mark Million's Blog

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Rudy Giuliani on Joe Biden: ?He isn?t bright?

Mark Million's Blog

Scientists find mutant butterflies exposed to Fukushima fallout

By Tecca | Today in Tech

Radiation from Japanese nuclear plant disaster deemed responsible for more than 50% mutation rate in nearby in …

In the wake of last year's massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, the Fukushima nuclear power plant on the country's northeast coast barely avoided a complete meltdown. Tens of thousands of residents were displaced and officials assured the world that the release of harmful radiation posed little threat. Now a new paper published in Scientific Reports has found that this is likely far from the truth, as at least one species of butterfly from the surrounding area has suffered major damage stemming from radiation exposure.

According to the report, mutations caused by Fukushima radiation had affected 12% of adult pale grass blue butterflies in the surrounding area two months after the March 2011 disaster. When they mated, these butterflies produced an offspring with an 18% mutation rate. In the next generation, mutations were found in 34% of the insects born. When scientists returns to Fukushima in September 2011, the adult butterflies they collected displayed a 28% mutation rate and their offspring had a whopping 58% mutation rate.

Butterflies affected by the radiation have suffered genetic damage resulting in malformed wings, legs, antennae, and eyes. In addition, their trademark spotted markings have completely disappeared as the mutation rate has increased.

Scientists involved in the research say that their findings show the need for detailed studies of other insects and animals living near Fukushima. They believe the impact on humans is likely far less severe due to our higher resilience to radiation, but their discoveries nevertheless shed new light on the real fallout from this horrible disaster.

'A New Low'? Campaign Rhetoric Turns Ugly

Mark Million's Blog

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Police say NJ man kept girlfriend locked in room

Mark Million's Blog

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Olympics Day 16: 'Glorious' Games come to an end

By Richard Allen Greene and Steve Almasy, CNN

Fireworks light up the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.

HIDE CAPTION

Olympic Closing Ceremony

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: London Games declared over
Team USA wins second consecutive basketball gold
Marathoner Stephen Kiprotich wins Uganda's first medal in a thrilling race
Super heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua wins gold for Britain

London (CNN) -- Legendary track star and chairman of the London Organizing Committee Sebastian Coe congratulated his fellow Britons for a "glorious" Olympic Games on Sunday night.

"When our time came, Britain, we did it right," Coe told the 80,000 gathered at Olympic Stadium for the closing ceremony.

Coe said these "two glorious weeks" would "inspire a generation."

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the London Games officially over.

He echoed Coe's sentiments.

Day 16: The best photos of the Olympics

Re-live the London Olympics

Women make their mark on the Games

"These were happy and glorious Games," he said. "The legacy of the Games of the 30th Olympiad will become clear in many ways. Concrete improvements in infrastructure will benefit the host nation for years to come. The human legacy will reach every region of the world. Many young people will be inspired to take up a sport or to pursue their dreams."

As the Games came to a close, the United States led the medal count with 104 overall, 46 of them gold.

China finished second, with 87 medals, with Russia third with 82. Great Britain finished with 65, its best total since 1908.

Singers from all eras performed. There was rock great Ray Davies, pop heroes George Michael and Annie Lennox, and new boy-band One Direction. Even comedian Russell Brand joined in, singing The Beatles "I Am The Walrus."

The crowd gave the Spice Girls a rousing ovation after they performed two of their hits.

Other performers payed tribute to some of the artists who didn't attend or had passed away.

Singers Jessie J and Taio Cruz teamed with rapper Tinie Tempah to sing "You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees (born on Isle of Man). Ed Sheeran led a quartet with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Richard Jones of the Feeling and Mike Rutherford of Genesis in covering "Wish You Were Here."

Later Monty Python actor Eric Idle led the crowd in singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

To close the music medley Jessie J also joined Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, belting out "We Will Rock You."

The Who closed out the ceremony with a medley of the band's hits, ending with "My Generation."

In a new twist, the 10,000-plus athletes entered the stadium through the stands, some high-fiving members of the audience as they descended the steps to the field.

There was also one final medal ceremony as Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda was awarded his marathon gold and listened along with the spectators to his national anthem.

The White House released a statement that said President Obama called British Prime Minister David Cameron congratulating London on an "extremely successful" games.

CNN Olympic experience and highlights

Olympics close with fireworks display

Will Rio be ready for the 2016 Olympics?

One of the U.S. golds came as expected on the basketball court, but in a tougher contest than expected.

Led by Kevin Durant's 30 points, the United States fought off a stiff challenge from Spain to win the gold medal 107-100.

The Americans defended their title from four years ago in Beijing, also against Spain.

"This game was fun. It was a challenge, but we stepped up to it," Kobe Bryant told NBC, an official broadcaster of the Games.

LeBron James had 19 points and Bryant scored 17 for the Americans, who led by only one point after the third quarter.

"We all respect each other," Durant said. "We all know it's our common goal."

Russia narrowly edged out Argentina for the bronze.

London itself took center stage on the last day of the Olympics on Sunday, with the men's marathon course running past the city's major landmarks from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace.

Kiprotich won a thrilling race in 2:08:01, dueling for miles with early leader Wilson Kipsang of Kenya and his compatriot Abel Kirui.

The Kenyans worked together to try to box the Ugandan in, but as the race neared its end, he blew past them to finish with a commanding lead, giving Uganda its first medal of any color in these Games.

Kirui took silver and Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich took the bronze, with Eritrea-born American Meb Keflezighi coming fourth, about three minutes behind the winner.

The hosts snatched yet another boxing gold medal later Sunday, with super heavyweight Anthony Joshua winning gold for Britain. Italy, whose Roberto Cammarelle won silver, launched an appeal after the fight ended 18-18. Joshua was awarded victory on countback -- using the scores of all five judges, not just the middle three scores.

"It was a tough first round. The judges will always do their job and I do my job," the champion said. "I have had close decisions in other tournaments but I just take it on the chin."

The Italian said the decision was curious.

"I did everything I could. I don't understand the score," he said. "Where did they get all the points they gave him at the end?"

Team USA picked up another gold medal earlier, when Jacob Stephen Varner won the 96-kilogram freestyle wrestling contest.

"I came here to win a gold medal and that's what I've done," he said. "I played more defense then I wanted to, but it's awesome for the United States."

Uzbekistan's Artur Taymazov became first man to win three consecutive freestyle wrestling golds, defeating Davit Modzmanashvili of Georgia.

"I wanted to get the third gold," said Taymazov, who also won a silver at the Sydney Games in 2000. "There was also a time pressure, because I am 33. But it was my time."

At the 2000 Olympics, Greco-Roman wrestler Alexander Karelin won three straight golds and then a silver.

"I'm glad I have equaled his medal total," Taymazov said, "but he has won more world championships than I have won so I must do more over the next two seasons."

In men's water polo, Ratko Rudic guided Croatia to an 8-6 victory over Italy in the gold medal match, a record fourth win for the a coach. Rudic has led three nations -- Yugoslavia, Italy and his native Croatia -- to gold as well as winning a silver medal in 1980 as a player with Yugoslavia.

Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania won the final gold medal of the London Games with an Olympic record score in the modern pentathlon.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Monday, December 10, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Friday, December 7, 2012

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Monday, November 26, 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Monday, November 12, 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Monday, November 5, 2012

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Monday, October 29, 2012

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012