Lifehacker • 18 hours ago
Suzie-Q • 11 hours ago
Wall Street Execs Warn Boehner On Debt Ceiling Brinksmanship
Boehner the Bluffer (Photo: Speaker's office) Report: Wall Street execs warn Boehner on debt ceiling brinksmanship by Jed Lewison for Daily Kos Wed Apr 13, 2011 at 12:40 PM EDT Politico: Republicans are growing increasingly concerned about the impact a bruising fight over raising the nation’s $14.29 trillion debt ceiling could have on U.S. financial markets.House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohi
Afternoon Jukebox: Bad Romance
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Pakistan Demands U.S. Cut Drone Strikes, CIA Agents
Pakistan demands U.S. cut drone strikes, CIA agents By Agence France-Presse via: Raw Story Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 — 10:41 am WASHINGTON — Pakistan has told the United States to sharply cut the number of CIA agents and special forces operating there, and to rein in drone strikes against militants, a US newspaper said Monday. The New York Times said the order highlighted the near collapse of
Fukushima: From Bad To Worse
Fukushima reactor contamination zones. Source US Department of Energy Fukushima nuclear complex goes from bad to worse by DarkSyde for Daily Kos Tue Apr 12, 2011 at 09:35 AM EDT Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear reactor complex appears to have gone from bad to worse, in part due to continual aftershocks and a small fire Monday morning. That nation’s nuclear safety agency will raise the crisis le
Amygdala ★ 9 
Blogging Is Like A Simile
BLOGGING IS LIKE A SIMILE. Let's try some news and article dumping throughout the day here, eh? The Amygdala staff has been slack, scattered, and unfocused on posting to this blog; the staffers responsible have been sacked; once again, new staffers for new brain connections!So: 2 US servicemen mistakenly killed by drone attack in Afghanistan. [...] The Marines under fire were watching streaming
Pottery Barn Libya, Part 1
video POTTERY BARN LIBYA, PART 1 What is to be done?Colin Powell famously said of Iraq, quoting Tom Friedman (who got it wrong)'You are going to be the proud owner of 25 million people,' he told the president. 'You will own all their hopes, aspirations, and problems. You'll own it all.' Privately, Powell and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage called this the Pottery Barn rule: You break it,
Pottery Barn Libya, Pt 2: Anthony Cordesman, One Man Army, Or Give Peace A Chance?
video POTTERY BARN LIBYA, PT 2: ANTHONY CORDESMAN, ONE MAN ARMY, OR GIVE PEACE A CHANCE?Part 1 on Amygdala!In Pottery Barn Libya, Part 1 (or do you prefer ObWi?), I began explaining the situation in Libya. Now, more, and what America and NATO should do.The tactical day to day sway of battle does not matter, save to those brutally slaughtered in it, and suffering from it. Suffering greatly.What matters
Hello, Goodbye: You Say Goodbye, I Say Go To Hell, Glenn Beck
video HELLO, GOODBYE: YOU SAY GOODBYE, I SAY GO TO HELL, GLENN BECKGlenn Beck is leaving Fox News, but not, I'm afraid, leaving us alone.FOX NEWS AND MERCURY RADIO ARTS ANNOUNCE NEW AGREEMENT (New York, NY) Fox News and Mercury Radio Arts, Glenn Beck’s production company, are proud to announce that they will work together to develop and produce a variety of television projects for air on the Fox Ne
April What?
video APRIL WHAT?It's still April 1st on the Left Coast for another two hours and five minutes (when I started this post; an hour and ten minutes when I finished), no matter what date you read above this post. Some foolish links are in order!So, out of order!Japan is on everyone's mind, but we need to remember than it's not all doom and gloom, and yet in the spirit of helping:The Tactical Philant
What Is Best In Academic Freedom, Cronon? Not To Crush Your Enemies
video WHAT IS BEST IN ACADEMIC FREEDOM, CRONON? NOT TO CRUSH YOUR ENEMIESThe current attempt by the radical "conservative" Republican Party of Wisconsin, which is so typical of the national and other state Republican Party leadership, has met a roadblock.But a reminder of what the philosophy of the GOP is, here:Wisconsin Republic Party Leader: Hao! Dai ye! We won again! This is good, but what is best
Green & White ★ 7
NaanMap goes mobile
Naanmap the halal food finding service has launched apps for mobile phones. Launched for iTunes and Windows 7 Mobile. With this now you can not be out of reach of halal restaurants and store when you are on the road. Details here http://www.naanmap.com/mobile.html NaanMap is the fastest way to experience the near by halal restaurants and stores. Works with only one tap. Instant searches without us
Convofy getting spotlight on the web.
Convofy after its initial launch and video is getting some rave reviews, here is the feedback. Robert Scoble has done a detailed demo run with Faizan, embedded below with come comments from around the world wide web. And twitter is exploding with Convofy too Just when we thought we figured out the new “social enterprise” market along comes Convofy. I tried to be skeptical, but the collaborative
Google Summer of Code Program 2011. Opportunity for Pakistani Students
BrightSpyre’s blog had this useful information about a Google Program. Some snippets for quick information from the post are (do follow the link for details on BrightSpyre original post) According to Google Summer of Code Program “Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global program that offers student developers stipends to write code for various open source software projects.” In this program along
Abid Beli sells Beliscity.com
Beliscity.com is one of the top online shopping site of Pakistan, founded as early as 2001. Abid Beli was the founder of this thriving online business. More recently they have diversified their offering from typical online products by adding a dedicated book section (in partner ship with Liberty books) and an online Grocery store. However recently Abid Beli has sold his venture to an online distri
injury rates Afghanistan U.S. military - Google Blog Search ★ 40
GLOBAL POLITICAL AWAKENING: Globalists Positioned to Exploit ...
Bangkok, Thailand April 14, 2011 - With US troops occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting military operations in Pakistan, Libya, Somalia, and covertly inside Iran, and troops tied up at more than 820 installations in at least 135 countries, ... Adding Insult to Injury While the globocrats myopically obsessed over exploiting a contrived crisis in Libya, there were smatterings of interest gravit
Military News | Headlines | April 15 2011 | veteranjournal.com
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Navy is planning to cut 3000 mid-career sailors from its ranks because of record retention rates, according to an administrative message and guidance put out Thursday by the Navy Personnel Command. ... The Army is facing a “critical” shortage of neurologists, partly because of recent policy changes designed to improve diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic bra
Suicide of Prominent Iraq, Afghanistan Vet Highlights "Sham" of ...
Part of Clay was killed in Afghanistan and the rest of him was killed in Houston, Texas. And if that is not reflected in military statistics, it's a shame.” Last September, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen addressed the increased rate ...
Oregon labor leaders to Congress: end the war
More than 1400 American soldiers have died in Afghanistan since 2001, and suicide and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder rates for veterans have hit record highs. We have seen the outrage at this attack on the middle and working classes erupt ... By all major indicators—US casualties, civilian casualties, corruption, security—the military strategy is failing. With fewer than 100 Al Qaeda members rep
I am really worried about my family serving in Afghanistan. Can't ...
http://tomhayden.com/home/the-war-goes-savage.html. An unexploded IED, discovered by an Army task force. The death toll of American soldiers in Afghanistan has jumped to 1516 since 2001. 886 of the deaths have occurred during the Obama presidency ... suffering brutal injuries to the limbs and genitals. These require shocking rates of amputation. Amputations by military doctors performed on U.S. s
Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin
Gilani slams US drone strikes. Liberal groups wary of Obama's cuts. Libyan rebels urge stronger US military role. NATO strikes two Libyan cities. World powers rally behind Libya rebels. Mubarak, 3 others, detained for graft investigation ... The bomber struck in Kunar, one of Afghanistan's most restive provinces and an insurgent stronghold on the border with Pakistan, where Taliban-led militants f
Obsolete ★ 26
A front page for the ages.
Yes, that's a young woman described as both a tart and a moll due to her relationships with two different men, an actress brave enough to admit she's struggled to cope with mental illness referred to as "loopy", while lastly the always handy idle dole scrounger provides today's two-minutes hate. Makes you almost yearn for the Daily Sport, doesn't it? (No.)
Good and bad immigration.
It isn't exactly news that politicians can at times be cynical beasts. After having campaigned fairly vigorously for that age old misnomer "controlled immigration" last year, David Cameron and the Conservatives then mostly forget they had said any such thing. The Tory policy of reducing net immigration from "hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands" (page 21 of the manifesto) didn't receive a
No alternative.
Three weeks away from the alternative vote referendum, and to hazard an extremely unscientific guess, I'd imagine that a majority of those shortly to get their cards through the door probably don't have the first idea that it's even happening, or what the alternative vote is and why we're having a referendum on it. This is hardly surprising, as many of those who do know about it, myself included,
The ties that bind.
Tom Watson, whom in hindsight I was more than a little harsh on last year, has called on Rebekah Brooks to do the decent thing and resign as chief executive of News International. The appointment of Brooks a couple of years back wasn't a surprise, as it had long been rumoured that she was being groomed for a management role, yet it's only now that Brooks' unwillingness to take any responsibility
Phone-hacking: and now?
There's a lovely insight provided by the exchange of letters between Keith Vaz and Rebekah Brooks as to just how important parliament felt the revelation that the press had previously paid the police for information was. It's taken a mere eight years before the chairman of the media select committee felt it was the time to ask the then editor of the Sun to clarify her remarks. Presumably not want
Obsidian Wings ★ 32
Your beer and geography open thread
by liberal japonicus Whoops. I've got no classes on Friday for this new school year, which means that I try to get everything I haven't done all week done, which means I forgot the Friday open thread. So here is is. The fact that I had a night out with some others at a place in town that serves Bass Pale Ale draft may have also contributed. The place has a bunch of imported beers, but bei
Start Another Fire and Watch It Slowly Die: The Aftermath of Regime Change
by Eric Martin Adam Curtis, a documentary filmmaker, traces a loose history of the modern concept of humanitarian intervention in the West and its philosophical underpinnings - punctuated, unsurprisingly, with several compelling documentary film clips. While historians may quibble with certain aspects of his rendition, there was one passage that stood out: The movement had begun back in Biafra b
Executive Decision
GUEST POST by McKinneyTexas, NOT by Gary Farber First, thanks to Gary Farber for the kind invitation to guest post. Initially, I'd begun a sort of semi-reflective, Kumbaya piece but then it occurred to me that my role was to introduce of bit of diversity here at ObWi, to provoke thought from the other side of the spectrum. So, here it is: your dose of provocation: One glaring fault of the Le
Drones Don't Declutter, And Neither Do Expulsions
by Gary Farber We can't "win" militarily in Afghanistan any more than we could in Vietnam. "AfPak" is still AfPak, no matter that it displeases Pakistan, no matter how the U.S. placates. It's one war, and it can't be won militarily without invading Pakistan. Anyone up for that? 2 US servicemen mistakenly killed by drone attack in Afghanistan [UPDATE, 3:41 p.m., P
full circle
by russell It is, by now, a familiar story. Successful company in a developed country, making money and with a strong brand, wants to improve the bottom line, so it outsources labor overseas where costs of production - notably labor costs - are lower. Lower labor costs come along with crappy conditions and generally poor treatment of workers. Back home the owners are shocked and dismayed, of cou
Distributed Denial of Blogging Service Part I
by Doctor Science Livejournal[1] has been hit by waves of Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks since March 24th. I've been following this story all along, because I have an account there, as do many of my e-friends. I haven't posted about it here because I didn't feel that I knew enough, but the story has now gotten on the radar of some major news organizations, and I at least know more
IPS Inter Press Service Earth Alert: Confronting Climate Change ★ 23
JAPAN: Quake's Aftermath Weighs Heavily on Women
Since the horrific Mar. 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated her coastal town of Minato, in Ishinomaki city, Masami Endo's three-year-old daughter has been crying and clinging to her every night.
China's Green Blueprint Raises Stakes at U.N. Climate Talks
China's rise as a leader in the environmentally friendly, low-carbon economy is giving the Asian giant new diplomatic muscle for this year's round of climate change negotiations leading up to the COP17 U.N. summit in Durban, South Africa in November.
JAPAN: Difficult Shift From Aid Donor to Recipient
April has traditionally been the time for ‘hanami', or cherry blossom festivals, when millions of Japanese hold parties under the pink flowering trees in parks and streets lit up gaily by lanterns.
Antarctic Penguin Population Declines with Krill
Two species of Antarctic penguins have declined sharply over the past 30 years as their chief food source has been devastated by a combination of other predators, over-fishing, and rapidly melting sea ice caused by global warming, according to a new study released here Monday by the National Academy of Sciences.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Developing Countries Step In Where Richer Nations Fear to Tread
Led by countries like Indonesia, 48 developing nations are rolling out a range of pledges to voluntarily cut their respective emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2020, the year climate scientists say the earth's rising temperature should peak by if an environmental catastrophe is to be avoided.
ENVIRONMENT: U.N. Tries to Put Its Own House in Order
In the past few years, United Nations headquarters in New York has undergone a transformation. Besides renovating the entire building, the U.N. is trying, as a leading international organisation, to take more responsibility and set an example for environmentally-friendly, sustainable practices by implementing such changes as cutting back on printing, posting more documents online, and creati
Syria Comment ★ 33
“Syria’s New Government,” By EHSANI2
“Syria’s New Government” By EHSANI2 For Syria Comment April 15, 2011 Since the new Syrian Government was announced, the public reaction has largely been subdued. Most people are mesmerized by the extraordinary events on the ground, nevertheless, let me discuss the people of the new government and what it may mean for Syria’s domestic policy. CVs of all ministers.. The first notable change is the
Syria: the Dangerous Trap of Sectarianism,” by Nikolaos Van Dam, ambassador and author
Syria: the dangerous trap of sectarianism By NIKOLAOS VAN DAM For Syria Comment April 14, 2011 * Nikolaos van Dam is former Ambassador of the Netherlands to Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Germany and Indonesia and the author of The Struggle for Power in Syria, its 4th updated edition is to be published shortly. The fact that the issue of sectarianism has, thus far, not figured prominently in discussions on
Western Press Misled – Who Shot the Nine Soldiers in Banyas? Not Syrian Security Forces
video A number of news reports by AFP, the Guardian, and other news agencies and outlets are suggesting that Syrian security forces were responsible for shooting nine Syrian soldiers, who were killed in Banyas on Sunday. Some versions insist that they were shot for refusing orders to shoot at demonstrators. Considerable evidence suggests this is not true and that western journalists are passing on bad i
SYRIA’S PRESIDENT ASSAD: WHY IS ANYONE SURPRISED?” by Brian J. Davis, Canadian Ambassador to Syria, 2003-2006uesd
SYRIA’S PRESIDENT ASSAD: WHY IS ANYONE SURPRISED? By Brian J. Davis, Ottawa, ON: [bj.davis@rogers.com] For Syria Comment Tuesday, April 12, 2011 As Canadian Ambassador to Syria from 2003 to 2006, I had the opportunity to observe President Bashar Assad and his regime under intense stress as a result of the U.S. invasion of neighbouring Iraq, the UN Security Council Resolutions forcing Syria out of
News Round Up
Syria Sacks Head of State-Run Tishreen Newspaper, Arabiya Says 2011-04-09, By Massoud A. Derhally April 9 (Bloomberg) — Syria sacked Samira al-Masalma the editor-in-chief of state-run newspaper Tishreen after she blamed security forces for killings of protesters, Al-Arabiya television reported today without saying where it obtained the information…..[she cried in the interview over relatives of he
The Revolution Strikes Home: Yasir Qash`ur, my wife’s cousin, killed in Banyas
video The Syrian revolution struck home yesterday. My wife, Manar Qash`ur [Kachour], burst into tears last night as she read the Facebook page that has kept her updated on events in her hometown, Latakia. Lt. Colonel Yasir Qash`ur, who was Manar’s cousin and 40 years old, was shot in Banyas on Sunday. He was one of two Lt. Colonels and 10 military personnel killed – more were wounded. Yasir’s funeral w
(title unknown) ★ 14
Cote d’Ivoire discussed – Africa – Al Jazeera English
Cote d’Ivoire discussed – Africa – Al Jazeera English.
Sing It!
I need some inspiration, a shot of adrenaline. Ladies and gentleman: Dame Shirley BASSEY!
“What the World Needs Now…”
I was eleven years old. The riots were still fresh. The “Poor People’s March” had failed to ignite the revolutionary redistribution of wealth. “Soul Brother” graffiti was still plastered on burnt out buildings in DC. The faint smell of tear gas could be conjured by its mere mention. On the radio, I heard the song below. Young as I was, I was terribly moved by it. Back then, in spite of the assassi
Cote D’Ivoire Update: BBC
From the BBC: Ivory Coast: Ouattara wants EU sanctions lifted Ivory Coast’s internationally recognised President Alassane Ouattara has urged the EU to lift sanctions, in a bid to restart the ailing economy. Mr Ouattara now controls the main cocoa-exporting port of San Pedro, and wants to restart the trade. But his troops are still not in control of all of the main city Abidjan, where his rival Lau
Why I Appreciate the Black Blogosphere and the Afrosphere
Universal Negro Improvement Association and the African Communities League Because our voices are local and they are global. Black people are all over the world speaking truth to power in the way that matters to them! And just what are we talking about? And do we have a right to speak “our truths”? Well as I have gone through the black blogosphere, I have found numerous interesting voices
Phronesisaical ★ 34
Bits and Pieces - April 15, 2011
Roger Ebert reviews "Atlas Shrugged."Seems to me that the solution to these two problems is for journalists to understand what they're writing or talking about. Clothes make the interview. "He said, she said."Want an itemized receipt for your taxes? Here is is.Senator Dick Durbin (D, IL) takes down Jamie Dimon (pdf). Nice to see a legislator who understands the laws he's proposing.
Seven Out Of Seven
I have avoided saying anything here about the INES rating scale for nuclear accidents, because I don't think it's worth discussing. I've mentioned before the penchant of reporters for simple ways to report complex stories, condensing them down into a single number if possible. For those people, the INES rating scale is a godsend, as well as for the people who have been salivating for "another Cher
The BEIR VII Report
I’ve been looking for numbers. What is the probability of a radiation dose of x millisieverts producing a cancer? I should have found the BEIR VII report, BEIR standing for Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation, some time ago. It’s been almost twenty years since BEIR V was a constant background presence at my job, the guide for understanding the radiation that my workers and I might be exposed
Bits and Pieces - Graphical Edition
America's military expenditures, via Ezra Klein.Fukushima temperatures, pressures, and water heights in graphical form. The other pages have good stuff, too.Another chart on radiation levels (h/t helmut).
On the Budget Deal
Steve Benen pretty well sums up my thinking. A hostage strategy works well when the hostage taker makes it clear that killing the hostage is a perfectly viable option. And it's worth adding in the paragraph from Matt Yglesias that Benen omits: I hope people remember this year next time large Democratic majorities produce an inadequate stimulus bill, a not-good-enough health reform bill, a somewhat
Fukushima Threat Down?
The Los Angeles Times reports that the crisis at Fukushima appears to be ebbing, and that at least some US experts believe that the fuel has not melted in any of the reactors. The most telling evidence about the condition of the reactors is the absence of heavy radionuclide contamination around the plant, which would indicate that uranium fuel became so overheated that it vaporized heavy fission p
American Leftist ★ 12
On Vacation Until 4/21
Meanwhile, the Second Reagan Revolution proceeds unimpeded.
Eurocentrism
UPDATE 1: Oh, by the way, if you are a woman, and show silent support for a woman wearing a niqab, you'll get arrested, too: Halima, a 53-year-old mother from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, who wears a normal headscarf, was detained by police for standing silently with the niqab-wearers at Notre Dame. She said: This is the first time I've ever protested over anything. I'm not in favour of the niqab, I
Egypt Erupts
UPDATE 1: The Arabist has another account of the attack. Interestingly, the person who provided it also says that a sit-in at the Israeli embassy was attacked brutally. David Dietz has also provided a description of the attack that confirms that it appears to have been prompted by the participation of Egyptian military officers in the protest: The desperation turned to delight when 15 army office
Surveillance of Student Protest at the University of California, Davis
I graduated from the University of California, Davis undergraduate program in 1983, and the campus law school in 1986. The intensity of student protests against substantial registration fee increases while the salaries of high level administrators skyrocket has prompted this response from Chancellor of UC Davis, Linda Katehi: Students are questioning their rights to free speech after a Public Reco
Vote or Die
It has been awhile since I have posted on the subject as to whether the US political system provides any meaningful opportunity for participation for the vast majority of the populace. I have periodically elaborated on this theme in posts entitled Vote or Die, an sarcastic reference to someone here who commented that the choice in the 2008 election was either death or voting for Obama. If you ar
Free Fire Zone Afghanistan
You may have seen this elsewhere already, but I think it is important to acknowledge these atrocities. From Mark Boal's article in Rolling Stone, The Kill Team: The morning of May 2nd, the platoon was on a routine patrol in a village called Qualaday, a few miles from base. Following standard procedure, the unit's leaders entered a house to talk with a man who had previously been arrested for havi
ALL THINGS PAKISTAN ★ 24
Smart Donkeys: Photo-Shopped or Real? Either Way, Its Funny
Tamashbeen Smart Donkeys. Stop at the red light. And look both ways before you proceed. Now, if only the rest of us on Pakistani roadways could also get that message. Is this photo-shopped or is this real? It matters little. Because its funny. And in a profound sort of way!
Who Speaks for the Other Pakistan?
Adil Najam Every time I read one of Shirazi’s wonderful posts I am reminded of the fact that even though Pakistan is still a predominantly rural entity, the voices that speak about it are nearly entirely urban. Not surprisingly, we tend to speak about Pakistan in a mostly urban idiom, with a dominant urban bias, and using a strikingly urban imagery. There is , of course, nothing wrong with the ur
Abdul Sattar Edhi: A Giant Amongst Men
Adil Najam Like so many others, I consider Abdul Sattar Edhi to be amongst the greatest Pakistanis. Indeed, a great human being. A giant amongst men. At ATP we have written about him often – and just writing about him and recalling his contributions is inspiring. In particular, we did a series of posts on Edhi sahib back in 2007, beginning with two Quiz posts (here and here) with some excerpts fr
What is the Weather in Pakistan Like?
Adil Najam If you put this question – What is the Weather in Pakistan Like? – into Google Search, the top hit you get is a site called Answers.com and their answers is: “The weather in Pakistan is very hot especially in the summer but as it comes to September to about December it’s like living in the north pole!!” Maybe you have a better answer. If you do not, these interesting graphics from Weath
Pakistan Zindabad in French Rap
Adil Najam A reader sent me a link to this video: A rap song on Pakistan, in French. WPvideo 1.10 I should confess that I do not understand French and I am not really big on rap – except the kind from Yaqub Atif Bulbula. But the song is catchy and the home-made video endearing in its own way. Just from the key words I can understand, it seems like a group of young second-generation French-Pakis
Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy: Should HEC Live or Die?
Pervez Hoodbhoy The Higher Education Commission (HEC) stands on death row. Appeals for reprieve have been rejected by the commission responsible for implementation of the Eighteenth Amendment. That commission’s chairman, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, declared that “the HEC act will be revisited and reframed to shed its role as a centralised funding authority.” His logic is that this constitutional am
altmuslim ★ 14
Quran burning: Burning the myths about Islam
The recent violent protests in Afghanistan - a reaction to the burning of the Quran by a small church in the United States last month - recalled an inescapable reality. Extremists on all sides - whether in free, democratic America, or in corrupt, occupied Afghanistan - create havoc and chaos, demonstrating the danger brought about by a deadly cocktail of ignorance and idiocy. Ultimately, they caus
The Arab revolution: The Jersey Shores of Tripoli
If you've ever been through New York's Museum of Natural History, and you're a person of color, conscience, or a student of critical race theory, I'm sure you walked out feeling deeply offended. The museum organizes human populations as if they’re animals along a Darwinian ladder of civilizational evolution. All sorts of “exotic” — the right word here, with all the right implications, might be “e
After Tahrir: Protecting US Muslims from bigotry
Of all the images to come out of the North African uprisings, this is the one that consistently makes me tear up. These are Coptic Christians in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, holding hands around Muslims during Friday prayer, to protect them from surprise attack. We could do this. We could do this here, in the United States, to keep our Muslim citizens safe. All of us, Christians and Jews and atheists,
Indonesia: Overcoming fears of radicalism in MENA
Many scholars are pessimistic that Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution and the political transition in Egypt will successfully bring about democracy in these countries, and worry that there is a significant risk of Islamic political groups, some with radical interpretations of shari’a (Islamic principles of jurisprudence), taking on an inordinately influential role during the political transition. Is the
Islamic law in the US: The Sharia within
There are more than a dozen states that are currently trying to enact laws seeking to ban Sharia law, the amorphous corpus of Islamic law that has been developed – and is still being developed – over the last 15 centuries. These lawmakers are trying to protect the American public from the “creeping threat” of Sharia law to the safety and security of the United States. But, I am here to declare tha
Muslims in the public square: Is this about American Muslims, or America?
Lately, Congress appears to be obsessed with Muslims. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) held hearings Tuesday (March 29) on "Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims," and Chairman Peter King has announced a second set of hearings on "Radicalization in the American Muslim Community" in the House Homeland Security Committee, this set focusing on radicalization in prisons. Although the word "Muslim" is
ArmsControlWonk ★ 41
FEPC Info Sheet 4/14
Your daily information sheet sheet from our friends at FEPC. Update to Information Sheet Regarding the Tohoku Earthquake The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPC) Washington DC Office As of 12:00PM (EST), April 14, 2011 Radiation Levels On April 13, TEPCO announced the result of the analysis of water samples from the spent fuel pool at Unit 4 of Fukushima Daiichi
FEPC Info Sheet 4/13
We have some interesting comments on yesterday’s thread about the wonders of the INES. I wonder Fukushima results in a fundamental reform of the scale, with the IAEA taking on a role in vetting how states rank their nuclear disasters. Olli Heinonen thinks so, or at least that is how Pete Spots paraphrases him in the Christian Science Monitor. Anyway, your daily fix from our friends at FEPC after
FEPC Info Sheets 4/11, 4/12
The Japanese government is conducting selective evacuations of areas outside the 20 km evacuation zone and has upgraded the accident to a 7 on the INES scale. Thoughts on those two events, along with your daily information sheet from our friends at FEPC after the jump. Evacuations: The Japanese government is ordering a partial evacuation of communities outside the the 20 km evacuation zone. The l
Can Nuclear Deterrence Last?
Fred Charles Iklé did not leave lasting impressions during long stints in government as President Nixon and Ford’s Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and as President Reagan’s Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. In both jobs, he served alongside higher fliers, and he shied away from media attention. Iklé was a thoughtful skeptic of arms control who wrote books on deep subjects i
FEPC Info Sheet 4/8
Well, it looks like TEPCO may have turned a corner at Fukushima. Ralph Vartabedian, who is one of the better reporters on technical issues, writes in the Los Angeles Times that Administration officials on background have said that radiation levels and heat loads are dropping and suggesting reports that Unit 2 melted through appear premature. (The story, by Matthew Wald and Andrew Pollack in the
Mongolian SNF Depot
During the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, a senior State Department official revealed discussions between the United States and Mongolia on a 123 Agreement for nuclear cooperation. It was a thing of beauty to behold — a well-aimed indiscretion by a cunning bureaucrat who framed US-Mongolian discussions in terms of turning Mongolia into a nuclear waste dump. The story hit the pr
Texas Liberal ★ 44
Katy Students Walk Out To Protest Education Cuts—Now They Can Go Home And Ask Their Parents If They Voted For Republican Rick Perry
Students in the Katy Independent School District–located here in the Houston-area–walked out of class Thursday afternoon to protest sharp public education cuts being planned in the Texas Legislature. From the Houston Chronicle—- “An estimated 400 students at two Katy ISD high schools walked out of class today to protest teacher layoffs triggered by a state budget shortfall. Students spent about 30
Texas Wildfires Are Ongoing—Facts About Wildfires
There are major wildfires taking place in West Texas, in other plains states, and in portions of Mexico. (Above– The current Texas Wildfires as seen from the U. of Texas owned McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.) Update—4/15/11—While some fires are mostly contained, other are starting or rekindling. Update 4/15/11 –The Texas Forest Service has ongoing reports of wildfires i
Despite How Much Texans Say They Love The Federal Government, Space Shuttle Not Landing In Houston
Many in Houston are upset that the Obama administration did not locate one of the three soon-to-be retired space shuttle orbiters at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. (Above–The Space Shuttle Endeavour flying over the Johnson Space Center and Houston. It will not be landing in Houston.) It is hard to imagine that anybody thought one of these shuttles would come to Texas. Given all the anti-go
Of Course The Texas Motor Speedway Received A Large Public Subsidy When It Was Built
Republican U.S Senator from Texas John Cornyn attended a NASCAR race at the Texas Motor Speedway over the last weekend. Above is a picture of our white-haired blue-shirted Senator. He is just one of the folks out at the NASCAR race. He is just one of us. When I saw that our conservative government-bashing Senator Cornyn had visited the Speedway, I just knew that the Texas Motor Speedway had to h
The Stone Which Has Been Rejected Will Become The Cornerstone
At the Houston Astros’ game this weekend, I saw these two stones outside the stadium. It reminded me of Psalm 118 in the Bible where it says--depending on which translation you read—”The stone that has been rejected will become the cornerstone.” Those stones may seem discarded, but I bet they have some useful purpose. Everybody has some purpose. Sometimes the person who seems furthest away from w
Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up
Here is the weekly posting of the Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas. Not to suggest that this is not a lot, but this is all I have for the blog reading public today. The round-up— Off the Kuff notes that when one Bradley goes away, another one gets nominated. Three Wise Men examines the possibility of a federal government shutdo
Pickled Politics ★ 30
The British media and ‘dog bites man’ stories on immigration
There’s an old maxim in journalism: ‘Dog Bites Man’ is not a story; it’s when a man bites the dog it becomes a story. I.e. you write about the unexpected not the stuff that will make people yawn. I say this because the story: ‘Cameron thinks immigration should be limited’ is a Dog Bites Man story. It would be more surprising if the Pope declared that Christianity was the best religion ever. So, I
Happy Vaisakhi
video Today is Vaisakhi. In Sikhism, it commemorates the anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh, depicted here. Readers may wish to refer to last year’s Pickled Politics article about Vaisakhi for a summary of the historical, ideological and theological factors involved. Along with fully militarising the Sikh population, Guru Gobind Singh was also responsibl
The difficulties in moderating large websites and blogs
Women’s Views on News has an article criticising the comments that many feminist articles on CIF get. Instead of dealing with these misogynistic and deeply offensive comments, CiF allowed them to dominate the thread. The editorial team must be aware of the power of their online platform, and their trusted name, and how damaging it is when set to promote an agenda which is discriminatory and found
‘whistleblowers’
video
UK rules out Burkha ban; protest against French ban, in London today
The Home Office released this statement yesterday: It is not for government to say what people can and cannot wear. Such a proscriptive approach would be out of keeping with our nation’s longstanding record of tolerance. Accordingly we do not support a ban on wearing the burka. That’s a welcome statement. There’s also a demo today at the French embassy to protest against the French ban, which come
BNP election candidate arrested for alleged Qur’an burning
Sion Owens, a BNP candidate in Wales, has been arrested and charged under the Public Order Act and remains in custody. Another BNP candidate has been arrested but was bailed: On Friday, police were given a video which appeared to show Mr Owens dousing a copy of the Koran with a highly flammable fluid, before setting it alight and watching it burn. Later that day he and another of the party’s cand
WWF - Latest News ★ 24
New hope for survival for elusive saola
Quang Nam, Vietnam: Indochina’s elusive saola, a recently discovered and critically endangered relative of antelopes and cattle, now has new hope for survival with the establishment of a dedicated nature reserve in the province today. Quang Nam’s People Committee today agreed to the Forestry Protection Department establishing a Saola Natural Reserve in the Annamite mountains along the border of
Tigers could reappear in Kazakhstan under new plan
Tigers could roam again in Central Asia under a new plan by the Kazakhstan government to reintroduce them in part of the country where they went extinct decades ago. WWF-Russia, together with the government and experts of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced today a new programme to return tigers to the region. The plan seeks to relocate Amur tigers from the Russian Far East to suitable habita
WWF partners with business school on unique MBA programme
The new One Planet MBA programme will launch in September 2011, representing a unique partnership between WWF and the University of Exeter Business School. It will be the world’s first MBA systematically devoted to embedding the need for a sustainable approach to strategic business management. The One Planet MBA will be global in outlook, developing leaders and managers capable of running organis
Substandard dam assessment opens way to fisheries destruction on Mekong
Bangkok, Thailand: Disruptions to fish migration and food supplies for millions in the Mekong basin are likely if the first mainstream dam on the lower Mekong is allowed to go ahead, WWF predicted as it released expert analysis showing the dam feasibility study and environmental impact assessment failed to address key environmental risks. The WWF commissioned review – coordinated by the WorldFis
Forest friends winners start replanting in tiger habitat
Pekanbaru, Indonesia — As a follow-up from last year’s campaign by the youth initiative Forest Friends, the first section of 106 hectares of critical habitat for the Sumatran tiger that had been deforested by illegal activity is being replanted with local tree species. The first phase of replanting activities, covering 30 hectares, is taking place in Tesso Nilo National Park, on the island o
Wrangling in Bangkok Delays Progress in UN Climate Talks, Says WWF
The UN climate talks in Bangkok concluded today with little to show for the weeklong session, says WWF. “We are disappointed with the outcome,” says Tasneem Essop, delegation leader for WWF. “Instead of building on the fragile compromise brokered at the last talks in Mexico and using this session to address the unresolved issues, delegates leave Bangkok without progress. This is unacceptable.
Hatewatch | Southern Poverty Law Center ★ 18
State Department Advertises Interpreting Services of White Nationalist
Among the white nationalist intellectual vanguard, few figures are as widely known as Jared Taylor, founder of the New Century Foundation and editor of its racist journal American Renaissance. Despite his infamy, the State Department advertises the polyglot’s language skills on the website of the U.S. embassy in Japan. Taylor’s name, E-mail address and home address in Virginia appear on the Tokyo
Woman Sentenced for Harboring ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Who Shot at Police
A Michigan woman has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for harboring a sovereign citizen who fired shots at Florida state troopers when they tried to stop him last year, an act that once again shows the danger faced by officers when they encounter extremists from the bizarre world of sovereign citizenry. Yvonne Theresa Clark, 35, of Royal Oak, Mich., pleaded guilty on Friday to interfering with an
Black Extremists Blast Obama’s Decision to Weaken Qaddafi, With One Predicting Spaceships
President Obama’s decision to intervene militarily in Libya to cripple dictator Muammar Qaddafi’s ability to combat rebels trying to topple his regime didn’t sit well with two American black nationalist leaders who consider the long-time strongman a friend and ally. “Now you may laugh, but in a few days, something is going to wipe the smile and the laugh from your face,” Louis Farrakhan, leader of
New Evidence Trove Found in MLK Day Bomb Attempt
Federal agents investigating the attempted bomb attack on a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Spokane have found a pile of new evidence abandoned in a remote area near the U.S.-Canadian border. Forensic comparison tests are now being conducted at the FBI lab on 75 items to see if they are tied to a “weapon of mass destruction” case brought last month against Kevin William Harpham, a 36-year-old
Arizona Jury Hands Second Nativist Murderer a Death Sentence
An Arizona jury has handed down a second death sentence in the murder of a Latino man and his 9-year-old daughter, who were targeted by border vigilantes two years ago as part of a plot to steal money and fund an increasingly militant operation against immigrants along the border. Jason Bush was sentenced to death Wednesday, a month after being convicted of murdering Raul Junior Flores, 29, and h
FAIR Bringing Anti-Immigrant Talk Radio Hosts to D.C.
Starting today, the anti-immigrant hate group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is holding its fifth annual Hold Their Feet to the Fire (HFTF) event. Fifty talk radio hosts are in Washington, D.C., for what FAIR calls “the largest immigration ‘town hall’ of the airwaves to date.” The hosts will broadcast from near the Capitol, chiefly to demand that members of Congress and other of
infowarsnews at Yahoo! Groups ★ 15
Globalist Bid To Ban Cars Is Part Of "Planned-Opolis" Agenda
Globalist Bid To Ban Cars Is Part Of "Planned-Opolis" Agenda Only the elite will be allowed to drive vehicles, while the rest of the population will be tightly
Nuclear Expert Calls Global Warming Alarmist Monbiot "Criminally Irr
Nuclear Expert Calls Global Warming Alarmist Monbiot "Criminally Irresponsible" For Downplaying Fukushima Dr. Christopher Busby calls Monbiot's claims "total
Pseudo-Intellectual Hit Piece Emblematic Of Crumbling Elitist Media
Pseudo-Intellectual Hit Piece Emblematic Of Crumbling Elitist Media New York Magazine smear portrays Alex Jones as paranoid, Fox News-wannabe while assuring
Japanese Authorities Admit Deadly MOX Plutonium Reactor Is Leaking
Japanese Authorities Admit Deadly MOX Plutonium Reactor Is Leaking Has cover-up of leakage been ongoing since massive March 14 explosion? Paul Joseph Watson
Chernobyl-Style Yellow Rain Causes Panic In Japan
Chernobyl-Style Yellow Rain Causes Panic In Japan Authorities assure alarmed citizens yellow powder is pollen, but victims of Chernobyl radiation were told the
Fukushima Radiation Release Rivals Chernobyl
Fukushima Radiation Release Rivals Chernobyl Despite media spin downplaying severity of crisis, Fukushima is likely to be a worse catastrophe than 1986
The Galloping Beaver ★ 50
On a positive note . . .
"HOW DAVID BEATS GOLIATH" is a fine article by Malcolm Gladwell in the New Yorker, on aspects of what it takes for the underdog to win. Plus cartoons, even.When underdogs choose not to play by Goliath’s rules, they win, Arreguín-Toft concluded, “even when everything we think we know about power says they shouldn’t.”
s*%tharperdid . . . .
The definitive record of stevie in one place.Spread the word . . . .H/T "drf"
Night shifts...
I've been following the dozing air traffic controller issue in the US a bit. Mr Babbitt announced on Wednesday that the FAA would place an additional air traffic controller on the midnight shift at 27 control towers across the country; previously, they had been staffed with only one controller during that shift.The issue rose to prominence last month when two jets were forced to land at about
Hmmm . . . could happen
According to Bizarro. We Canadians know all about 'em, we got the Cootie Party of Canada, after all.
Dear undergrads,
Many of you are or soon will be lining-up outside a office doors and sending emails to your professors and TAs about your grades on various exams, term papers, and assigments. Some of you will rudely or politely demand an improved grade "because I need good grades," or "worked hard so I deserve one," or whatever other entitlement fantasy you've come up with.You are not entitled to an A, B or C-.Wh
Quick thoughts on last night's Leader's Debate
I didn't see the whole thing as this is exam and paper grading season in universities, but from what I did catch, the camera seemed to be directly in front of Harper but generally had inclined views of Ignatieff, Duceppe and Layton. What the hell is up with that (did someone receive a briefcase of cash?)? They might has well have made the evening a campaign advert for the Cons.Duceppe, Layton
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment