Saturday 15 February 2014

Mayor could face fine for smoking


THE Junta de Andalucia regional government may fine the mayor of Benaojan, Francisco Gomez, for allegedly smoking inside the town hall.


The Councillor for Equality, Health and Social Policies, Maria Jose Sanchez, said that Gomez began smoking during a council meeting and that when he was reprimanded by the opposition, he responded rudely.


She said he should set an example, in matters regarding health, and that measures will be taken against him, as they would against any citizen, although they may be more severe due to the position he holds. The opposition socialist party has asked for him to resign, and say that it is not the first time he has smoked within the town hall.


Gomez himself said that he accepted that measures should be taken against him because he had violated rules which he, as mayor, must enforce. However, he says he will also bring a complaint against whoever filmed him smoking near the exit to the town hall, as the plenary meeting was over and filming him was not allowed. He has said that he is a heavy smoker, but claims that he was not smoking inside the building, but had simply lit up a little ahead of time as he was heading outside.



Heavy metal's last frontier






South African photographer Frank Marshall captured Botswana's heavy metal fans and bands as part of his "Renegades" series. South African photographer Frank Marshall captured Botswana's heavy metal fans and bands as part of his "Renegades" series.

CNN met up with Botswana's metal heads back in 2012, and caught up with them nearly two years later to see how the scene was developing.CNN met up with Botswana's metal heads back in 2012, and caught up with them nearly two years later to see how the scene was developing.

"Skinflint" are one of Botswana's leading metal bands, and have played in South Africa, Kenya and even as far afield as Sweden."Skinflint" are one of Botswana's leading metal bands, and have played in South Africa, Kenya and even as far afield as Sweden.

"There has been a strong interest in the African metal scene. It has grown both locally and internationally," says Skinflint singer and guitarist Giuseppe Sbrana."There has been a strong interest in the African metal scene. It has grown both locally and internationally," says Skinflint singer and guitarist Giuseppe Sbrana.

photographer Marshall, 26, was one of the top 10 finalists in the Sony World Photography Organisation Student Competition and the sole contestant from Africa. photographer Marshall, 26, was one of the top 10 finalists in the Sony World Photography Organisation Student Competition and the sole contestant from Africa.

Of Botswana's metal fans, Marshall said: "They embody the very aggressive elements of metal. It's an expression of power. Everything is an expression of power for them, from the clothes to the way they speak to the way they walk."Of Botswana's metal fans, Marshall said: "They embody the very aggressive elements of metal. It's an expression of power. Everything is an expression of power for them, from the clothes to the way they speak to the way they walk."

With names like Demon and Gunsmoke it would be easy to dismiss the rockers as thugs. In fact, the titles come with a strong awareness of social responsibility.With names like Demon and Gunsmoke it would be easy to dismiss the rockers as thugs. In fact, the titles come with a strong awareness of social responsibility.

For hardcore fans, heavy metal is more than just a scene -- it's part of their identity. For hardcore fans, heavy metal is more than just a scene -- it's part of their identity.

"There's a strong sense of camaraderie amongst them," Marshall said. "That's the first thing you'll notice about them as an outsider coming in. They've got a very strong bond and friendship with each other." "There's a strong sense of camaraderie amongst them," Marshall said. "That's the first thing you'll notice about them as an outsider coming in. They've got a very strong bond and friendship with each other."

Skinflint's new drummer, Alessandra Sbrana, is a rare female musician in Botswana's rock scene.<!-- --> </br>One female rock fan, Katie, told CNN: "I just enjoy it. It's a happy feeling. If you knew my brothers and sisters, it's something that we are as a family.Skinflint's new drummer, Alessandra Sbrana, is a rare female musician in Botswana's rock scene.One female rock fan, Katie, told CNN: "I just enjoy it. It's a happy feeling. If you knew my brothers and sisters, it's something that we are as a family.

'Hardcore (Hellrider),' 2012. Rather than Hell's Angels, Gunsmoke believes the rockers are increasingly seen as guardian angels. "Kids follow us around. Parents approach us. We're there for a good cause actually. We help people on the streets at night," he said.'Hardcore (Hellrider),' 2012. Rather than Hell's Angels, Gunsmoke believes the rockers are increasingly seen as guardian angels. "Kids follow us around. Parents approach us. We're there for a good cause actually. We help people on the streets at night," he said.

Botswana's rockers have carved a unique image reminiscent of the 1970s British heavy metal scene.Botswana's rockers have carved a unique image reminiscent of the 1970s British heavy metal scene.

Animal horns, as seen in the background, are an important fashion accessory in the Botswana heavy metal scene. "We always have a symbol that represents Africa," says rocker Gunsmoke.Animal horns, as seen in the background, are an important fashion accessory in the Botswana heavy metal scene. "We always have a symbol that represents Africa," says rocker Gunsmoke.

CNN's Errol Barnett -- or "Killah" as he was dubbed by Gunsmoke -- gets down with the rockers for Inside Africa in 2012.CNN's Errol Barnett -- or "Killah" as he was dubbed by Gunsmoke -- gets down with the rockers for Inside Africa in 2012.

'Venerated Villain,' 2010. African mythology and folklore loom large in Skinflint's lyrics. "We have a lot of ancestral beliefs -- back in the day they used to believe that if someone dies and you touch the dead person then Gauna will come and take your soul," Sbrana said. 'Venerated Villain,' 2010. African mythology and folklore loom large in Skinflint's lyrics. "We have a lot of ancestral beliefs -- back in the day they used to believe that if someone dies and you touch the dead person then Gauna will come and take your soul," Sbrana said.








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  • Botswana has a vibrant heavy metal scene

  • CNN wrote about the scene in 2012 - now find out what happened next

  • Band "Skinflint" recently toured Sweden and are recording their fifth album

  • "The last frontier of rock and metal music is African," says photographer Frank Marshall




Every week, Inside Africa takes its viewers on a journey across Africa, exploring the true diversity and depth of different cultures, countries and regions. Follow host Errol Barnett on Twitter and Facebook.


(CNN) -- Botswana may not be the first country you'd associate with head banging and shredding guitar solos, but in recent years its heavy metal scene has been making a name for itself.


Back in June 2012, CNN's Inside Africa traveled to the southern African country of Botswana to meet up with some of the country's metal heads, and found the bands' powerful riffs were matched by the fans' passion -- and a penchant for the old-school metal getup of leather, studs and cowboy hats.


"Metal is a music about power, independence and freedom," said Giuseppe Sbrana, singer of local band Skinflint. "That's what I believe in -- fighting for what you believe in no matter the consequences. Standing up for what you believe in and showing individuality."





African musicians defy stereotypes

South African photographer Frank Marshall captured Botswana's rockers in all their Hell's Angels-style glory as part of his "Renegades" series of portraits.


"Metal was seeded here [in Botswana] by a classic rock band that started in the early 70s. Since then, it's evolved and grown," he said.


"In the last 10 to 20 years, it's come to be visually composed of what it looks like now -- the guys dressed in leather. It started off with classic rock and later on more extreme forms of metal were introduced."


Read this: Somali rappers defy bullets, death threats





The last frontier of rock and metal music is African.

Frank Marshall, photographer




Nearly two years after that first meeting, CNN caught up with Marshall to find out how the country's fledgling metal scene is developing.


"The difference is quite extreme," said Marshall. "Before then it was largely unknown and now there seems to be a lot of interest. If you look over the internet people have a lot of interest in this new form.


"The last frontier of rock and metal music is African now, is what people are saying, so they are very interested in seeing this scene grow from its, sort of, infancy and seeing where it could go."


And Marshall thinks African bands could one day bang heads with the biggest international names in stadium rock.


"I think it's just going to take hold and grow rapidly," he said. "Africa will start producing very notable international rock bands and metal bands as well and probably in 10 years' time it won't be unusual to see bands from Africa headlining big stages and sharing stages with bands like Metallica. It's not beyond reason -- I'd like to see that happen."


Skinflint's Sbrana also believes that dream could be realized. "Considering the feedback and support we have received from abroad, I would say that it is a strong possibility," he said. "In fact, Africa already has metal bands which have toured Europe, and if given the chance, we will deliver."


Since Inside Africa met them in 2012, Skinflint have gone on to tour Southern Africa and Kenya -- even headlining two concerts in Sweden last year. They are now working on their fifth studio album.


Sbrana says the local metal movement has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years.


"There has been a strong interest in the African metal scene," he says. "It has grown both locally and internationally. As for the music, I would say that the band has matured and is further expanding on the African metal genre by incorporating more elements from African culture into our music."


For those Africans about to rock, we salute you.


For more on Botswana's metal heads, read the original story here.



'Loud-music' jury stuck on one count





  • "They're struggling, obviously," judge says of the jurors

  • Michael Dunn opened fire on 4 teens in an SUV in 2012, killing 17-year-old Jordan Davis

  • He's charged with first-degree murder; if convicted, he faces up to life in prison

  • Dunn says he was acting in self-defense




(CNN) -- Within half an hour of resuming deliberations Saturday in the case against Michael Dunn, accused of shooting and killing an unarmed teenager in Florida after he had asked him to turn down the music in the SUV he and three other youths were in, jurors submitted a list of three questions to the judge.


"They're struggling, obviously, but it's not for want of trying to reconcile all of this," Judge Russell L. Healey told the courtroom early Saturday, after the jurors had spent some 20 hours in deliberation and before he called them back to the courtroom to answer the questions. "I think we've got some analytical people in there who are trying to do just that -- trying to analyze this from every possible angle."


The questions and answers:


-- "Is the defense of self-defense separate for each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."


-- "Are we determining if deadly force is justified against each person in each count?" Judge: "Yes."


-- "Or, if we determine deadly force is justified against one person, is it justified against the others?" Judge: "No. Self-defense and justifiable use of deadly force applies separately to each count."


With that, he sent them back to the jury room for further deliberations.


Dunn is charged with first-degree murder in the November 2012 death of 17-year-old Jordan Davis in Jacksonville. He was one of four black teenagers who were in an SUV fired upon by Dunn -- who is white.


The violence erupted after an argument over loud music.


Some have compared the Dunn case to the trial of George Zimmerman in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, which, like the current trial, had racial overtones and claims of self-defense.


In a statement, Trayvon Martin's parents Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton said Davis' killing was another reminder that in Florida, "racial profiling and stereotypes" may serve as the basis for illegitimate fear "and the shooting and killing of young teenagers."


Whatever the verdict, Davis' parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, will never see their son again, they noted, adding, "We know that pain all too well. We walk with Jordan in defining his legacy to reflect our hopes by advancing love and tolerance in his memory, and continuing the fight against unjust gun laws."


"Tomorrow is my boy's 19th birthday," his mother tweeted Saturday. "I pray we will celebrate not only him but a just and righteous verdict. Patiently we wait."


But Dunn's defense attorney Cory Strolla told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Friday that the Zimmerman and Dunn cases aren't so similar.


There was a physical confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin, and police gave Zimmerman the benefit of the doubt about defending himself, Strolla said.


"My client did not wait to become that victim; my client did not wait to either get assaulted by a weapon or have someone potentially pull a trigger," he said.


Unlike the Zimmerman case, police rushed to charge Dunn with murder, the defense attorney said.


"They already made up their mind before they even had the evidence basically looked at and put together," he said.


Though a weapon was never found, Strolla maintains the youths could have had one. Dunn felt threatened and acted to defend himself, he said.


"Now, does it sound irrational? Of course it sounds irrational. But have you ever been in that situation," Strolla asked.


Jury cannot decide


The jury in Dunn's case deliberated all day Friday, then sent a message to the judge shortly before 7 p.m. that they had "reached a wall for the evening."


"This is one admirable group," Healey told the court shortly before dismissing the jury. "They are clearly taking this thing as seriously as they should. And I couldn't be more proud of them for how hard they are working."


The announcement capped a relatively uneventful day Friday after what had been an emotional trial.


Prosecutors contend that Dunn's firing into the SUV was an act of murder in the first degree. He is also charged with three counts of attempted murder and a fifth count of shooting or throwing deadly missiles. If found guilty, he faces up to life in prison.


In the wake of the widespread attention that the case has attracted, a "comprehensive public safety plan" has been established ahead of a verdict, according to the Duval County joint information center handling the Dunn trial.


"All contingencies have been planned for," the statement said. "We will not discuss the specifics of any security plan. We will continue to protect the rights of those who choose to peaceably demonstrate."


CNN's Sunny Hostin, AnneClaire Stapleton and John Couwels contributed to this report.



The rich are so clueless





  • Jennifer Erickson: The rich like Tom Perkins and Bud Konheim live in a bubble

  • Erickson: Konheim's idea that the poor in America are actually wealthy is ludicrous

  • She says median incomes in American are lower now than they were in 2000

  • Erickson: Without a vibrant middle class, America will fall behind in economic growth




Editor's note: Jennifer Erickson is the director of Competitiveness and Economic Growth at the Center for American Progress.


(CNN) -- Venture capitalist Tom Perkins is back in the news with a big (and ridiculous) idea: If you pay a million dollars in taxes, you should get a million votes. While some media outlets have since pointed out that Perkins was perhaps courting controversy, his system of wealthier Americans having more say at the ballot box follows an equally bizarre argument this week from Bud Konheim, CEO of luxury retailer Nicole Miller.


Konheim took a different tack on the inequality debate, asserting instead that all Americans are wealthy. According to Konheim, "We've got a country that the poverty level is wealth in 99% of the rest of the world. So we're talking about woe is me, woe is us, woe is this. ... The guy that's making, oh my God, $35,000 a year. ... Why don't we try that out in India or some country we can't even name ... China, anyplace -- that guy is wealthy."


For now, it's safe enough to assume that Perkins' dollar-a-vote initiative is unlikely to take off. But Konheim's argument actually falls into a growing category -- members of the wealthiest income group in the country trying to convince average Americans that they, too, are all very wealthy.



Jennifer Erickson


Last summer, a commercial funded by the conservative Charles Koch Foundation tried to persuade people that the middle class in America is actually rich by pointing out that someone making over $34,000 -- a decidedly middle-class income -- was part of "the wealthiest 1% in the world."


Seriously? Let's look more closely at this idea that the poor -- or even the middle class -- in America are actually wealthy.


Konheim's argument probably does not hold much weight among millions of Americans who skipped filling a prescription in 2012 because of the costs, according to Commonwealth Fund's Biennial Health Insurance Survey. Nor does it likely ring true for many in the middle class who are trying to buy a home at a time when home prices have doubled since 1970. And let's not forget the cost of a public four-year college education, which has risen by an eye-watering 250% over the past 30 years.


The federal poverty level in the United States for a family of four is $23,550, significantly less than estimated living expenses. More than 3 million Americans earn the minimum wage or lower, and today's minimum wage has 30% less buying power in real terms than the minimum wage in 1968. Or put another way, someone on minimum wage would have to work for more than 130 hours to buy the $950 dress that Konheim's company is selling right now at Saks Fifth Avenue.


To be sure, Americans do not need to buy luxury dresses. But they do need to buy food. And according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 14% of Americans were food insecure at some point in 2012. In other words, in the wealthiest country on Earth, millions of Americans could not be sure where their next meal was coming from. And poverty is much more prevalent than you might think -- more than half of Americans between the ages of 25 and 64 will spend a year of their lives in or near poverty.


As worrisome as these statistics are on U.S. poverty levels, there is also alarming data about the state of the middle class.


Median incomes in America are actually lower now than they were in 2000, and household debt levels have skyrocketed. If we look at millennials -- the youngest part of our workforce -- there were 10 million of them who were unemployed or underemployed last summer, more than the entire population of New York City.


Comparisons Konheim would have us make with developing countries miss the point. The United States is not a developing country, and it does not serve us well to try to ignore the real difficulties of many Americans. So the question is not whether a full-time retail worker earning $14,000 in Texas is better off than a full-time retail worker in India, or even whether a household with $34,000 in Philadelphia is doing better than many families in China. The question is whether the economic conditions we have now are serving us -- all of us -- well.


And the answer to that is: not really. Or, more positively: We can certainly do better.


Economic growth in the United States is lagging behind our historical average, and unemployment five years from the Great Recession is still too high. And the American Dream, the notion that if you work hard and play by the rules you can get ahead, is taking a serious knock when economic mobility -- the ability to move from the wealth you were born to another level -- is lower in the United States than in countries like Canada and Germany.


Doing better for all Americans is not about creating divisions between income levels. And it's certainly not about trying to convince workers who are struggling to pay their rent that they are actually rich.


Simply put, doing better for all Americans -- the wealthiest included -- and growing our economy in a sustainable way requires a growing and vibrant middle class that is contributing to an innovative and entrepreneurial workforce, while providing a stable source of economic demand. In short, we need Americans to be both productive workers and reliable consumers.


Acknowledging the very real struggles many of our fellow Americans face is not just a moral imperative, it is also an economic one. And we can't have a constructive conversation about how we improve the country's economy if we ignore the difficult realities facing many Americans today.


Konheim and Perkins can disparage their fellow citizens all they want, but the truth is that the American economy will do better when more Americans are doing better.


Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.


Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion.


The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jennifer Erickson.



Team USA hockey team beats Russia





  • Team USA beats Russia in a thrilling game

  • The U.S. won in a shootout

  • The loss does not knock Russia from contention




(CNN) -- In a heart-pounding finish, Team USA punched a victory Saturday against Russia, in what is one of the hockey world's greatest rivalries.


Tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, the game went into a shootout, where American T.J. Oshie scored four times on six tries to ensure a U.S. victory.


The finish was dramatic and the victory clutch, but it was also controversial. The Russians scored what appeared to be a game-winning goal in the third period, but it was disallowed because the net had moved from where it was supposed to be.


The U.S.-Russia match-up was one of the most anticipated matches at the Sochi winter games. Both hockey giants stepped onto the ice with 1-0 records in the tournament and are contenders for the gold.


While the game had a thrilling conclusion, the loss does not push Russia out of contention.


The shootout performance by Oshie, who plays professionally for the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, made it look like he had nerves of steel, but that's not the whole story.


"My hands are a little tingling, my feet are tingling," Oshie said after the game. "It was pretty nerve-racking out there. We knew it would take 65 minutes and then some [to win]."


When the game was on the line, the United States put the match in his hands.


"I did [feel pressure] a little bit, but then the puck hits your stick and you start skating," he said. "It's just you and the goalie. I was fortunate enough to keep him guessing."


The Russian goalie who he kept guessing was Sergei Bobrovski, who also plays in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets.


"Obviously I'm very disappointed. It was a shootout; we wanted more. It is heartbreaking," Bobrovski said.


Oshie also complimented USA goalie Jonathan Quick., who plays for the Los Angeles Kings.



Severe weather blamed for giant sinkhole in UK


Experts believe that the recent wet weather in the UK could be to blame for a giant sinkhole opening up in Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire.


The 35ft-wide sinkhole opened up at around 6am on Saturday morning, leading to dozens of houses being evacuated as a safety measure from a street in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The area, as well as surrounding roads, has been closed.


Local police evacuated 17 homes in Oatridge Gardens, Hemel Hempstead, as residents reported feeling earth movement during the night.


Gas and electricity are being cut off as a further precautionary measure.


This latest incident is the third in a week, on Wednesday a 15ft-deep sinkhole opened up on the M2 motorway, and another, measuring 30 feet, opened up in High Wycombe, taking a car with it earlier this month.


At least 140,000 homes were initially without power following gale force of up to 80mph, and two people have lost their lives.


One woman was killed as a building fell on her car in London on Friday night. Her two passengers were taken to hospital.


A passenger was killed after a freak wave hit a cruise liner in the English Channel.


The weather is causing yet more travel chaos, causing disruption on rail routes, including Southeastern, South West Trains and Southern.


The weather is expected to ease during Saturday afternoon; however the Met Office has yellow warnings for heavy wind and rain in place across much of England and Wales.



Different weather; same system





  • Yep, this is unusual; NOAA says so -- and, in part, why

  • The odd weather pattern stretches from California to Russia

  • It includes the Southwest's drought, the recent blasts of snow, UK flooding

  • And it's warming the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi




(CNN) -- It's official: The weather has been a bit weird this winter. The nation's climate agency says so -- and, in part, explains why.


There is method to the meteorological madness.


And it has served to spread the weirdness around the world, from the American West all the way to Russia, a climate expert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.


The drought parching California; those two snowpocalypses in the South; the unrelenting New England snow; the sopping soaking of the UK; short sleeves on Sochi's snow-hungry slopes.


One single weather event has a hand in all of them, said NOAA environmentalist Bill Lapenta.









Vehicles are piled up in an wreck Friday, February 14, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Traffic accidents involving multiple tractor-trailers and dozens of cars completely blocked one side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike outside Philadelphia.Vehicles are piled up in an wreck Friday, February 14, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Traffic accidents involving multiple tractor-trailers and dozens of cars completely blocked one side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike outside Philadelphia.



A pedestrian walks through a cloud of steam on a snowy street in New York on February 14. Commuters faced slick roads after a winter storm brought snow and ice to the East Coast.A pedestrian walks through a cloud of steam on a snowy street in New York on February 14. Commuters faced slick roads after a winter storm brought snow and ice to the East Coast.



A traveler walks through Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 14. Numerous flights were canceled and delayed this week as a result of the snowstorm that pounded a huge section of the country.A traveler walks through Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 14. Numerous flights were canceled and delayed this week as a result of the snowstorm that pounded a huge section of the country.



People dig out vehicles buried in snow in Albany, New York, on February 14.People dig out vehicles buried in snow in Albany, New York, on February 14.



Chris Starace works to clear snow from his roof in Ossining, New York, on Thursday, February 13.Chris Starace works to clear snow from his roof in Ossining, New York, on Thursday, February 13.



Snow and ice cover an Atlanta neighborhood on February 13.Snow and ice cover an Atlanta neighborhood on February 13.



People walk through the snow on February 13 in Brooklyn, New York.People walk through the snow on February 13 in Brooklyn, New York.



The lower Manhattan skyline is seen behind a pile of snow in Brooklyn on February 13.The lower Manhattan skyline is seen behind a pile of snow in Brooklyn on February 13.



After spending the night at Reagan National Airport, Ernie Harmon of Long Island, New York, watches a movie while waiting for his flight February 13.After spending the night at Reagan National Airport, Ernie Harmon of Long Island, New York, watches a movie while waiting for his flight February 13.



Snow covers cars in Brooklyn on February 13.Snow covers cars in Brooklyn on February 13.



Claire Lamborne removes snow from her car in Warrenton, Virginia, on February 13.Claire Lamborne removes snow from her car in Warrenton, Virginia, on February 13.



A snowman is seen in front of a hardware store in Washington on February 13.A snowman is seen in front of a hardware store in Washington on February 13.



Don Hammond of Newtown, Connecticut, shovels his driveway as snow continues to fall February 13. Don Hammond of Newtown, Connecticut, shovels his driveway as snow continues to fall February 13.



A long line of travelers winds around the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on February 13 as people attempt to catch flights previously canceled because of the massive winter storm. A long line of travelers winds around the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on February 13 as people attempt to catch flights previously canceled because of the massive winter storm.



Rescue workers in Oxon Hill, Maryland, attempt to upright an overturned tractor-trailer on Interstate 495 on February 13.Rescue workers in Oxon Hill, Maryland, attempt to upright an overturned tractor-trailer on Interstate 495 on February 13.



Snow collects at the base of escalators at the Dupont Circle Metro Station in Washington on February 13.Snow collects at the base of escalators at the Dupont Circle Metro Station in Washington on February 13.



A postal worker makes his delivery rounds through blizzard conditions in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on February 13.A postal worker makes his delivery rounds through blizzard conditions in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on February 13.



Motorists push a vehicle on Highway 70 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 13, a day after the worst of the storm struck the town.Motorists push a vehicle on Highway 70 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 13, a day after the worst of the storm struck the town.



A man helps push a car in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on February 13.A man helps push a car in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on February 13.



Snow blankets a street in Ossining, New York, on February 13.Snow blankets a street in Ossining, New York, on February 13.



A traveler kills time as work crews continue to clear snow from the runways at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 13.A traveler kills time as work crews continue to clear snow from the runways at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 13.



A man in Bethlehem helps push a stranded motorist February 13.A man in Bethlehem helps push a stranded motorist February 13.



Lyall MacFee shovels snow in front of Sciortino's Pizzeria in Albany, New York, on February 13.Lyall MacFee shovels snow in front of Sciortino's Pizzeria in Albany, New York, on February 13.



A man digs out a small snowplow that got stuck while clearing snow from a sidewalk in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on February 13.A man digs out a small snowplow that got stuck while clearing snow from a sidewalk in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on February 13.



A man braces his umbrella while walking through the wind and snow in New York City on February 13.A man braces his umbrella while walking through the wind and snow in New York City on February 13.



Police work to tow a bus that slid off the road in Philadelphia on February 13.Police work to tow a bus that slid off the road in Philadelphia on February 13.



A man walks along the snow-covered Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington on February 13.A man walks along the snow-covered Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington on February 13.



A woman covers her face while walking in New York City on February 13.A woman covers her face while walking in New York City on February 13.



A worker clears a snowy sidewalk in Washington on February 13.A worker clears a snowy sidewalk in Washington on February 13.



Cars sit covered in snow on a street in Manassas, Virginia, on February 13.Cars sit covered in snow on a street in Manassas, Virginia, on February 13.



A man in Philadelphia shields his face from the elements February 13.A man in Philadelphia shields his face from the elements February 13.



A snowplow removes snow from the sidewalk in Washington's Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, on February 13.A snowplow removes snow from the sidewalk in Washington's Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, on February 13.



People walk through snow February 13 in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York City.People walk through snow February 13 in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York City.



People help push a car stuck in the snow February 13 in Alexandria, Virginia.People help push a car stuck in the snow February 13 in Alexandria, Virginia.



Kevin Miller looks out the passenger window of his friend's car as they sit stuck in traffic during a winter storm in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 12.Kevin Miller looks out the passenger window of his friend's car as they sit stuck in traffic during a winter storm in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 12.



Traffic moves slowly along Wade Avenue in Raleigh on February 12. Motorists were encouraged to stay off roads.Traffic moves slowly along Wade Avenue in Raleigh on February 12. Motorists were encouraged to stay off roads.



Katharine Newton, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, calls her parents February 12 while walking more than two miles from campus to her parents' home.Katharine Newton, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, calls her parents February 12 while walking more than two miles from campus to her parents' home.



Snowplows clear Interstate 75/85 in downtown Atlanta on February 12.Snowplows clear Interstate 75/85 in downtown Atlanta on February 12.



A downed power line is draped across several vehicles in Atlanta on February 12.A downed power line is draped across several vehicles in Atlanta on February 12.



A police officer redirects traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 12.A police officer redirects traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 12.



Ice coats trees hanging over a sign for the Broadway at the Beach tourist attraction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on February 12.Ice coats trees hanging over a sign for the Broadway at the Beach tourist attraction in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on February 12.



A sign warns drivers of winter weather as they travel on a bleak section of Highway 141 in Norcross, Georgia, on February 12.A sign warns drivers of winter weather as they travel on a bleak section of Highway 141 in Norcross, Georgia, on February 12.



A truck in Bossier City, Louisiana, blocks access to Interstate 220, which was closed because of icy conditions on February 12.A truck in Bossier City, Louisiana, blocks access to Interstate 220, which was closed because of icy conditions on February 12.



City workers spread a mixture of sand and salt on an intersection in Avondale Estates, Georgia, on February 12.City workers spread a mixture of sand and salt on an intersection in Avondale Estates, Georgia, on February 12.



Ice and snow cover Interstate 26 in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 12.Ice and snow cover Interstate 26 in Columbia, South Carolina, on February 12.



Shmetrice Moore, a nurse at an Emory University hospital in Johns Creek, Georgia, scrapes snow and ice off her windshield as she and others are released early from their shift on February 12.Shmetrice Moore, a nurse at an Emory University hospital in Johns Creek, Georgia, scrapes snow and ice off her windshield as she and others are released early from their shift on February 12.



Hossam Shalaby waits for his rescheduled flight under a departure board at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, February 11.Hossam Shalaby waits for his rescheduled flight under a departure board at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Tuesday, February 11.



A vehicle travels in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 11.A vehicle travels in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 11.



People shop for what is left at a Publix grocery store in Decatur, Georgia, on February 11.People shop for what is left at a Publix grocery store in Decatur, Georgia, on February 11.



Vehicles slowly make their way over a snow-covered Route 35 in Fort Payne, Alabama, on February 11.Vehicles slowly make their way over a snow-covered Route 35 in Fort Payne, Alabama, on February 11.



Weather data is projected onto the face of Clint Perkins, director of state operations for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, as he works in Atlanta on February 11.Weather data is projected onto the face of Clint Perkins, director of state operations for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, as he works in Atlanta on February 11.



A vehicle drives through falling snow on the U.S. 421 bypass in Sanford, North Carolina, on February 11.A vehicle drives through falling snow on the U.S. 421 bypass in Sanford, North Carolina, on February 11.




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Southeast storm moves northSoutheast storm moves north






Ice storm cripples U.S. air travel




Storm blamed for 100 car pileup




Northeast buried by winter storm

"They are associated with that long-wave pattern, so they are connected in that sense," he said.


That "long-wave pattern" is like a whip that got swung in California and has cracked in all the other places.


A big, sturdy ridge of high pressure air has blustered rain clouds away from California, and at the same time, it has pushed the jet-stream way up into Canada.


What goes up...


In reaction to that, the jet-stream has swung back deeper into the South than usual, carrying Canadian cold with it.


Voila. Snow and ice from Louisiana to the Carolinas.


Then it has whipped back up, helping big storms dump snow over the Northeast.


From there, the same jet-stream has crossed the Atlantic and brought weather that flooded Great Britain in the wettest January there in two and a half centuries.


Down the road a bit, at the Winter Olympics, it's practically springtime in Sochi, and it's that same jet-stream dragging in warmth that's boosting temperatures well above freezing.


But it gets even worse.


The jet-stream is moving slower than in past years, which means that all that ugly weather is hovering over places for longer periods, plaguing them with more of its nastiness than usual.


It has weather-beaten people in many parts of the world groaning the same moan: "I've never seen weather like this before."


Are they exaggerating? Maybe not.


Let's have a look at the season's weather, starting with the whip's handle -- in California -- and follow the jet-stream's lash from there.


Cali-dehydration





Princes pitch in on flood relief efforts




Vehicles slipping and sliding in the storm




Beer saves town from crippling drought

The dryness in California is making its mark in the history books.


The state grows more than the lion's share of the tomatoes used in U.S. processed foods, farmer Mark Borba brags. This year? Zero, he said.


For the first time in its history, the California Water Project - a system of canals and reservoirs that provide water to two thirds of the people in the state's Central Valley -- set its allocation for all of them to zero.


This pertains to people in the country and in cities alike.


Borba blames it in part on bureaucratic tangles between state and local authorities who decide over the water's release.


But that doesn't negate the fact that there is a water shortage.


His farm gets its water from reservoirs 500 miles to his north. This year, they are running on bare minimum.


Further down the jet-stream, there's been precipitation to boot.


Winter blunderland


If you haven't been living under a rock, you've heard about or felt the winter ills that have walloped the nation's Southeast.


About two weeks ago, less than three inches of snow turned the region's largest city into a gridlocked parking lot, where thousands of motorists sat for as much as 20 hours in their cars, while lows dipped into the teens.


Not being able to deal with snow is no surprise for a region that usually gets iced over every ten years or so -- although the last such shellacking came three years ago.


Then this week, a second winter storm polished a path of white from Alabama all the way up to Maine.


Not that the Northeast is not used to snow, after all it's winter, and it's normal there. But the frequency of heavy snows has had leaders in the region huffing for a break.


New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio greeted reporters covering the storm with the line: "Welcome to winter storm six of the last six weeks."


And as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said before the worst of the storm hit: "This has just been a brutal winter where it never really has gotten warmer. And so the natural melting away of snow and ice is not happening."


Exaggeration or winter storm exhaustion?


It may have been a long-planned vacation, but after the last storm passed, Christie took off with his family for the warmer latitudes of Puerto Rico.


A previous recent snow-thumping wrecked much of his inauguration celebration -- along with that bridge scandal.


Add to that increased frequency of snowfall a quick CNN weather factoid: Over the last week, the continental United States has had snow on the ground in 49 of 50 states.


Oh, Britannia


Following the jet-stream across the North Atlantic, things get warmer, but also, much, much wetter.


London is used to rain, but this? The River Thames has burst its banks.


What British meteorologists say makes it sound like they may have already heard NOAA's Lapenta mention of hovering, long-lasting storms.


The Met Office, the UK's national weather service, said the recent series of winter storms "has been exceptional in its duration, and has led to the wettest December to January period in the UK since records began."


Some communities in low-lying areas in southwest England are looking more like the water-bound city of Venice, Italy. They have been under water since December.


And there's no letup in sight just yet.


Authorities have warned communities along the Thames that more flooding is on its way, as the river reaches its highest level in 60 years.


A powerful Atlantic storm that is blowing in on Friday will add to people's woes.


Where's that coming from? It's what's left of a storm that plastered the United States with snow and ice.


Let it snow!


Photos of Olympic cross-country skiers striding for miles in the snow in short sleeves were all the rage this week.


They illustrate how warm it has been in Sochi, Russia, at the Winter Games. Low temperatures have been well above freezing, and daytime highs have hit the 50's, NOAA says.


Spectators may find it pleasant to walk around in light jackets -- or amusing to sit in the sun in shorts and t-shirts.


But for the organizers, the warm weather, which Lapenta says is strongly influenced by that same jet-stream, has been no laughing matter.


They've had to crank up snow machines to keep some pistes white.


Sochi has been one of the warmest cities to host the winter Games, NOAA says on its website.


But that's not really shocking, the climate agency says.


"Sochi sits in a marginally wintry zone along the Black Sea coast near the Caucasus Mountains," it says.


But with the current jet-stream pattern, marginally wintry does not seem to be enough to hold back balmier air.


Luckily, many events are being held indoors or at higher, colder elevations.


Blasts of warm weather at Winter Olympic Games is nothing new, and it has been worse before.


"In 2010, Vancouver, Canada experienced its warmest January ever recorded," NOAA says.


Snow machines were powerless against it, so organizers had to ship in snow by truck and helicopter.


NOAA advises that the Olympic Committee should consider awarding the Games to cities in solidly cold regions -- as global warming increases.


That leads to a pertinent question that is often on people's minds when the weather goes haywire these days.


Yes or No


Can we chalk this wacko winter up to climate change?


Lapenta would like to know, too. Cracking that code will be very complicated.


But there is something else that baffles his team. Why has the jet-stream gotten to be so slow this year?


"That's an area of research that we're currently investigating. We don't have a clear-cut answer to that question," he said.


If climate scientists can make that connection, it will allow them to better predict weather craziness as much as a month or two ahead of time, Lapenta said.


So we'll all know what we've got coming.


CNN's Miguel Marquez contributed to this report.