Links and comments

This is the height of the hurricane season. The last few years have been abnormal with most Atlantic hurricanes heading toward the U.S., but not making landfall here, getting deflected by weather fronts to the northeast, fizzling out in the cooler waters there, sometimes making it all the way back across the Atlantic and hitting Europe, like Gert did earlier this summer.
What is different is that ocean water is warmer, causing hurricanes to increase in strength faster and to get stronger than they would have previously.

Arctic sea ice once again shows considerable melting
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-09/awih-asi091517.php


Trump Administration Seeks to Avoid Withdrawal From Paris Climate Accord
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/trump-administration-wont-withdraw-from-paris-climate-deal-1505593922


How a bill requiring Florida nursing homes to have backup AC died
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/how-a-bill-requiring-nursing-homes-to-have-back-up-ac-died/2337550


GOP eying 'blue slip' break to help Trump fill the courts
republicans used this rule, among others, to block President Obama's appointments. Now they are whining it's unfair for Democrats to use it against some of Trump's appointments.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/350956-gop-eying-rule-change-to-help-trump-fill-the-courts


Trump makes good on pledge to donate to Harvey relief
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/350999-trump-makes-good-on-pledge-to-donate-to-harvey-relief


Equifax Suffered a Hack Almost Five Months Earlier Than the Date It Disclosed
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-18/equifax-is-said-to-suffer-a-hack-earlier-than-the-date-disclosed


Soviet officer who averted cold war nuclear disaster dies aged 77
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/18/soviet-officer-who-averted-cold-war-nuclear-disaster-dies-aged-77