Operation Payback flyer (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
we're on the boat for the queen charlotte islands and i feel like burning some film (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
"Santa Pacifica" taking on logs in Prince Rupert, BC (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Dan Siegel, legal advisor to @JeanQuan told her not to raid #occupyOakland (Photo credit: Steve Rhodes) |
Skype 1.0 running on an Android 2.2 device (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
we took a ferry down the inside passage between prince rupert and port hardy. this is the very beginning of the 16 hour trip. we had boarded the boat, but could not leave until the ferry from the queen charlotte islands arrived. i took a photo because this was the very same ferry that we took the day before. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Example of residential network including VoIP (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Image via CrunchBase |
Al Jazeera English
With the #US looking to ease its reliance on foreign oil, #AJFaultLines investigates the impact of #fracking | http://aje.me/UeSKxQ
France Accuses America of Hacking Sarkozy's Computers
GlobalPost
@GlobalPost
Gaza: The roots of the conflict | GlobalPost's @erinmcunningham http://glpo.st/WxdROo
RT @abbymartin: Israeli Activism Against Occupation, Pakistan's War on Poverty, Latin American's #DrugWar 180: http://ow.ly/ftx3O
MJ Rosenberg
@MJayRosenberg
Liberals:Obama = Conservatives: Bush. Hero worshipping fools. I used to be one.
10:14 am MST
Wiretapping the web: New technology could allow governments to listen in on your Skype conversations
New eavesdropping technology could allow government agencies to 'silently
record' conversations on internet chat services like Skype in real time.
Until now, so called voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services have been
difficult for police to tap into, because of the way they send information
over the web. (but not impossible)
The services convert analogue audio signals into digital data packets,
which are then sent in a way that is costly and complex for third parties
to intercept.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2236306/Revolutionary-technology-allow-governments... more »
4.0 Magnitude Earthquake QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.0
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 14:46:32 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 06:46:32 AM at epicenter
Location
52.439°N, 131.769°W
Depth
15.5 km (9.6 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region
QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION
Distances
229 km (142 miles) SSW (206°) from Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
Faith, Faith, come here.
No comment....
Seed Newsvine
Faster than light
*A thought experiment that is yet to be confirmed.*
*Mr. Einstein is famous for his theories and thought experiment, one of
those thought experiments led to the Theory of relativity and special
theory of relativity.*
*Some where along the lines don't know where or how it's said that Einstein
reasoned that NOTHING can go faster than light. 186,282.3959 miles per
second.*
*Recently there was a news item that a humongous star is traveling across
the vastness of space to the speed of 1/3 the speed of light. What forces
or event flung that star or caused it to move at such an incredib... more »
Cyberwar.battle report #6....Stuxnet update
Give credit, where credit is due...Cryptome Who did the Stuxnet? Final
Episode
We have previously referred to this issue briefly before. The previous page
is here:
https://secure.cryptome.us/2012/09/corrupt-ir-us-12-0922.htm
Unedited Press.ir video referenced below , titled "30 US spies arrested in
Iran-Iran Today-06-21-2011," in two parts (edited version published in
Iran): https://secure.cryptome.us/2012/09/30-us-spies-01.zip (Zipped FLV,
58MB)
https://secure.cryptome.us/2012/09/30-us-spies-02.zip (Zipped FLV, 65MB)
We have received new information from credible sou... more »
Anonimous infiltrators, Cyber Battle Report #5
*Who Got Barrett Brown Vanned?* This document was found in Jen Emick aka
@AsherahResearch funpack - part of a much larger release on William Welna
aka @Sanguinarious. There are 846 megs of logs from a variety of IRC
networks. There are suspicions that the two were altering or fabricating
logs to cover Welna's tracks or to implicate their enemies in crimes.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/104103462/Emick-BK Interesting bits from this
document: Anonymous infiltrator Mandy Nagy http://twitter.com/Liberty_Chick
http://imgur.com/sqApS Attempting to tie Velvet Revolution to Operation
Payback... more »
Cyber war update #3
Donate for the Cryptome archive of files from June 1996 to the present
------------------------------
18 August 2012 *Official and Fake Leak Sites*
------------------------------
From: To Luke Allnutt
Date: 10:54 AM 8/7/2012
Re: interview request Dear John Young and Deborah Natsios, I'm a journalist
at RFE/RL looking at digital whistleblowing. In short, after WikiLeaks came
on the scene a number of clones popped up and were heralded as the future.
However, many of them are defunct today and haven't produced the fruits the
boosters were expecting... more »
Genetic fountain of youth...Found
*About 20 years ago while writing the book "The clone Messiah." It was
suggested in the book that indeed the genetic make up in the blood of
Christ would have entailed a Telemere with an unsual lengh and a bulbous
end cap. Meaning he would have lived a very long life and regeneration
capabilities...*
*This finding together with the incredible DNA repair nano biological
machines means that we have found the source of our own Genetic fountain of
youth.*
*Ben Judea*
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have found that biological
age and life expectancy can be predicted b... more »
A pandemic for under a $1000
Pestis Found on the fleas of wild cats and rats *How easy is it to create
a pandemic in this day and age?*
*The authorities have reason to be as be wary. As more information becomes
available to lone wolves it becomes ever more possible for a single
miscreant to cause real trouble for all of mankind.*
*Authors Note...While this Blog post is strictly for causing others to see
and think about things that are hiding in front of our face. This
particular post is rather unnerving. Because We didn't that it would be so
easy and cheap to obtain the materials and equipment. The authoriti... more »
Ελληνική Τράπεζα HSBC Λίστα Λογαριασμών
Ελληνική Τράπεζα HSBC Λίστα Λογαριασμών
Οι εικόνες αυτές δημοσιεύτηκαν από το Ελληνικό περιοδικό Hot Doc. Δείχνουν
μια μερική λίστα από 2.059 τραπεζικούς λογαριασμούς τους ισχυρισμούς που
πραγματοποιήθηκε κρυφά από τους Έλληνες σε ελβετικό υποκατάστημα της HSBC.
These images were published by the Greek magazine Hot Doc. They show a
partial listing of 2,059 bank accounts allegedly secretly held by Greeks in
a Swiss branch of HSBC.
*Greek HSBC Bank Accounts List*
Seed Newsvine
Untitled
هيكل حددها الباحثون روتجرز هو بنية معقدة بدء النسخ من البكتيريا. هيكل يوفر
أساسا لفهم البكتيرية بدء النسخ وتنظيم النسخي ويوفر نقطة انطلاق لتطوير مضادات
الجراثيم الجديدة التي تعمل بواسطة تثبيط النسخ البكتيرية. لأن الأجهزة النسخ في
البكتيريا والكائنات العليا من الناحية الهيكلية والمتعلقة ميكانيكي، وهيكل كما
يوفر إطارا لفهم وتنظيم النسخ النسخي في أعلى الكائنات الحية، بما في ذلك البشر
.
هيكل يحدد التفاعلات التي RNA بوليميريز وجعل سيغما مع الموقع DNA لبدء النسخ،
والمعروفة باسم "المروج". على وجه الخصوص، وهيكل يعرف التفاعل مع شريحة من
المروج أن الحمض النووي الريبي بوليميراز و سيجما ا... more »
Seventeen Techniques used against Truth
What is fair in cyberwar?
Strong, credible allegations of high-level criminal activity can bring
down a government. When the government lacks an effective, fact-based
defense, other techniques must be employed. The success of these techniques
depends heavily upon a cooperative, compliant press and a mere token
opposition party.
1. Dummy up. If it's not reported, if it's not news, it didn't
happen.http://anonanalytics.com/
2. Wax indignant. This is also known as the "How dare you?" gambit.
3. *Characterize the charges as "rumors" or, better yet, "wild rumors."
If, in spite of... more »
Top secret Drone launcher
Some happy fellas send this picture for us all to see...
Seed Newsvine
A major cause of Global Warming?
3 million miles of paved roads in America 1 street light per 100' Feet.
Comes to 52.8 or 53 lightpost per mile (5280 feet per mile) or 159 million
of those things in America Alone.
Those lights usually are on for about 11 hrs per night.
How many barrels of oil is burned per night?
*One single mile of road, 53 lightposts burning at 300Watts =15900
kilowatts will use an incredible.... 390 gallons of diesel oil per hour.*
Do your own convertion here.
www.sciencelab.com/data/conversion_calculators/energy-conversion.shtml
Typical street light....400 Watts. Sh... more »
Big Quake due in Washinton state coast Area
*If you watch for earthquake type patterns...You'll notice **that the Area
pictured here is relatively quiet as if priming for the next big one,
possibly within the next 12 months. 7.5?*
*Go to the link below to see how quiet....*
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
Washington State Earthquake History
Major earthquakes in Washington since 1880 (source: USGS)
On December 14, 1872, a strong earthquake in the Cascade Mountains caused
damage at Victoria, British Columbia, and Seattle. It was felt over a very
large area, about 390,000 square kilometers, extending as far so... more »
Egg & sperm from SAME woman
*News you missed.*
*Based on the story below It will be possible for a woman to become both
the mother and father to her own child. You see scientists have regressed
mature cells into Sperm and eggs. you might read the following headline
from LE MOND in the years 2054. "WOMAN IS BOTH MOTHER AND FATHER TO HER
CHILD". Scientists **have announced the birth of a baby girl 'Eva'
conceived via regressed egg and sperm obtained from the stem cells of a
single donor. An unnamed woman has subjected herself to...*
*Ben Judea*
Want baby mice? Grab a petri dish. After producing normal mouse ... more »
Super massive Black hole explodes
*The jet known as ‘PKS 0637-752’* Each bright point in the "Tail" has
more mass than our own entire solar system.
Contrary to popular dogma, Blackholes do explode.
Ben Judea
Seed Newsvine
Porque ser Pobre?
Quieres seguir pobre? O quieres
cambiar tu vida?
Son muchas las personas que visitan este lugar. Este blog se dedica a
compartir la mejor informacion que se puede, con el poco tiempo disponible.
La differencia entre los pobres y los que estan en mejor condicion
economica es la Actitud hacia la pereza, o sea la vagancia. La
Actitud, "Es mejor seguir pobre porque hacer eso es muy dificil, mejor no
hago nada"
Dejenme contarles una experiencia de la condicion Humana y lo fuerte que es
la pereza.
Al uno comvertirse en dueño de tu propio negoci... more »
Embassy attack, Suspect found
What was that guard doing taking pictures in the middle of a gunfight?
On Tuesday, Sean Smith, a Foreign Service Information Management Officer
assigned to the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, typed a message to
the director of his online gaming guild: ”Assuming we don’t die tonight. *We
saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures*.” The
consulate was under siege, and within hours, a mob would attack, killing
Smith along with three others, including the U.S. ambassador.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/
Seed Newsvine
Build a better WIKILEAK
John Kozlowski sends: *ShofarLeaks builds a takedown resistant
whistleblower network* ShofarLeaks™ has gone public with their plans to use
the technology behind ShofarDomain™ and ShofarPortfolio™ to provide a
platform for whistleblowers and leak sites to distribute data, and the
analysis work of others, securely and anonymously. The project is built on
top of other projects to build a complete technical foundation for
independent and autonomous sites. The domain name system in ShofarDomain
which provides true domain name ownership rather than domain name rental
also ensures tha... more »
World Ocean Currents to shift in less than....
The real possibility that the *world ocean currents* stop circulating for
a few months or even a year while it re-routes itself is very real. Here's
the kicker...It could well happen within the next 15 yrs.
Look at the evidence below
This recent satellite Picture shows melt down.
More explanation below
http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/rapid-climate-change/1
That deep water formation also called conversion point where warm water
sinks to form the return point will/has changed The ice cap no longer holds
back the conversion point. Result...clima... more »
Evidencia, Vitaminas REDUCEN el Cancer
*En las noticias que se nos escapan...*
*La efficacia en los resultados o sea la razon por la cual no se obtubieron
mejores resultados al final del estudio mayor notado abajo son varias. Y
usted como lector tiene que tenerlas en mente.*
*1) La calidad the las MULTIVITAMINAS. **
*2) La efficiencia intestifloral de los subjetos. *a*
*3) le fue dañada la efficiency intestifloral de el estomago a los
subjetos por el uso execesivo de los anti-bioticos?*
*Conclusion de este autor es que si muchos pueden ser curados del cancer
SOLO si reparan la efficiencia del estomago y consumen las multy... more »
النساء من إغراء
يجب أن نطلب منك حقيقية أو وهمية؟
Type text or a website address or translate a document.
Cancel
Example usage of "":
automatically translated by Google
قيقية أو كاذبة
متعة منتصف الليل شيء للأكل
Seed Newsvine
Η λιτότητα δεν κόβει για το κοινοβούλιο
μακρά προ-ψηφοφορίας συνεδρίαση που διακόπηκε, όταν ο υπουργός Οικονομικών Γιάννης
Στουρνάρας ανακοίνωσε ότι οι περικοπές μισθών θα επηρεάσει επίσης
κοινοβουλευτική εργαζόμενοι - που ανταποκρίθηκαν, απειλώντας να κατέβουν σε
απεργία αμέσως.
Ο κ. Στουρνάρας αργότερα υπενθύμισε την πρόταση, ανοίγοντας το δρόμο για την
αναμενόμενη αργά το βράδυ ψηφοφορία για το νομοσχέδιο, το οποίο περιλαμβάνει
σκληρές περικοπές σε συντάξεις, μισθούς και κοινωνικές παροχές.
http://www.news.com.au/business/markets/greece-protests-at-austerity-vote/story-e6frfm30-1226512738709
Γεννήθηκε στις 10 Δεκεμβρ... more »
Topless protest at White House
Protest not shown in popular media...
Nobody got arrested...
Is this what the Taliban is afraid of?
The Freedom to express and make a fool of yourself shall not be infringed
Checking for proper protest permits...
Not known if Mitchel or Barry looked out the window...
More Photographers than Protesters....Hmmnnn.
Passerby will never understand neither the propetst aim or the wasted time
and energy...
So how were they going to make the little dog go topless?
Seed Newsvine
Increibles maquinas biologicas
Noticias que perdiste.
*A ver si se puede entender esto...Lo que dicen estos cientificos es que
hay unas maquina biologica que viven junto a cada cadena de nuestra ADN.
Estas maquinitas son responsables del mantenimiento de nuestra ADN, ellas
controlan la duplicacion, alimento de ese hilo que llamamos ADN.*
*Segun ellos estas maquinitas son como microscopicas arañitas que se pasean
a lo largo del hilo ADN arreglando, permitiendo y negando el paso de
la proteinas que componen la ADN por consequencia puede que esas arrañitas
de ARN sean responsable de nuestra salud y enfermedades en... more »
Life on other planets....
The search for extraterrestrial life is on full swing. We’ve sent probes
just about everywhere and every nearby planet and moon. Even as we read
these words our quest for life on other planets even microbial life is
being done on a now dead planet, Mars.
Mars has great lessons for those would be planetologists and planetary
biologist.
Two newly submitted studies verify 41 new transiting planets in 20 star
systems. These results may increase the number of Kepler's confirmed
planets by more than 50 percent: to 116 planets hosted in 67 systems, over
half of which contain more... more »
EGYPT REVOLTS AGAINST MORSI
*21 November 2012, Al Jazeera torched in Egypt.*
Egyptians are revolting against the hated Morsi, who belongs to the CIA's
Muslim Brotherhood.
Pre election poll, May 4-10, 2012, University of Maryland Poll
36% Abul Fotouh moderate Islamist
28% Moussa Independent
14% Shafiq Last PM under Mubarak
8% Morsi Muslim Brotherhood
By election day, the only two candidates left on the ballot were Shafiq and
Morsi.
Turnout was less than 20%, and Morsi won, through fraud.
Morsi represents 10% of the electorate.
Website for this image
*Egyptian Chronicles* keeps people up to date on Egypt.... more »
Paisaje con montañas y un lago
[image: Paisaje de montañas y lagos]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más imágenes de lagos
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Israeli 'settlements'
I keep hearing that Israel is expanding settlements in the West Bank, but
is that the case? this blogger says no:
1. The last time a settlement was set up was in 1997. The last time an
unofficial outpost was set up which then became a settlement was in 2003.
Almost a decade.
2. There is no settlement activity in Area A.
3. There is very little settlement activity in Area B, though in a number
of places along the edges of Area B there are some local cases of
overstepping the line. Which means that for all the failure of the Oslo
process, Israel is still respecting its transfer of co... more »
Stay tuned . . .
THE
MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY believes it has discovered something
"earthshaking". Exactly what that something is, they're not saying right
now. Check out Nancy Atkinson's account on io9, "Scientists claim to
have discovered something “earthshaking” on Mars".
In an interview on NPR today, MSL Principal Investigator John Grotzinger
said a recent soil sample test in the SAM instrument (Sample
Gaza
What can we do? We can't even guarantee free and fair elections in our own
country. We can't get our own government to respect the source of its own
authority. How the fuck are we supposed to get our illegitimate government
to do the right thing on Gaza? Instead, we have our coward Fucking Affairs
Minister John Baird babbling like the idiot he is:
Hamas is targeting innocent civilians with an onslaught of rockets. It’s a
despicable act of terror, and yet, as Israel responds, as it has every
right to, it is the target of condemnation. Canada, however, stands by
Israel’s side.
I hav... more »
US 'launched Flame cyber attack on Sarkozy's office'
A French news magazine has accused the US government of hacking into the
office of Nicolas Sarkozy in the final weeks of his presidency of France.
L'Express said a cyber war agency whose job it is to detect and prevent
hacking had found a "powerful worm" in the computers of the Elysee Palace.
The palace has since confirmed a big cyber attack did take place.
The US embassy in Paris "categorically denied" the US had been involved in
any cyber attack on the French government
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20429704
World powers want new nuclear talks with Iran quickly
Six world powers are committed to holding a new round of nuclear
negotiations with Iran as soon as possible, said a spokesman for the
European Union's foreign policy chief, who represents the six in talks with
Iran.
Officials from the six countries - China, Russia, the United States,
Britain, France and Germany - met in Brussels on Wednesday to plan for
future contact with Iran, in an effort to make progress in the decade-long
rift over Tehran's atomic work.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-iran-nuclear-statement-idUSBRE8AK0W420121121
FDA took 684 days to warn meningitis-linked firm: files
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took 684 days to issue a warning
letter after uncovering serious issues at the pharmacy at the center of the
deadly U.S. meningitis outbreak, newly released documents showed.
The New England Compounding Center (NECC) chastised the FDA for taking so
long, telling the agency its response time was nearly 18 months longer than
the FDA's average response, according to letters released by a Freedom of
Information Act request from Reuters.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-usa-health-meningitis-fda-idUSBRE8AK0T520121121
Men with Guns (Goma)
First off, this is my first post. Thanks to Dan and the rest of the crowd
for inviting me, though I fear they – and Duck readers – may soon tire of
hearing about how building effective control over a given territory is just
really damn hard. But, then again, why else would one invite
Continue reading
Carretera junto alas montañas en un dia nublado
[image: Paisajes de carreteras]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más imágenes de montañas
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Turkey asks NATO for missile defense against Syria
NATO said on Wednesday it would consider a Turkish request to deploy
Patriot missiles on its territory to help it defend itself against any
Syrian attacks.
"Ambassadors will have an initial informal discussion on the Turkish
request today," a NATO official said. Turkey said the NATO ambassadors
would meet shortly, while the head of NATO said the alliance would discuss
the request "without delay".
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-syria-crisis-turkey-nato-idUSBRE8AK0UZ20121121
Hamaoka Reactor Damaged in Seawater Accident
Hamaoka reactor likely wrecked in seawater accident Nov 21, 2012 by JIN
NISHIKAWA/ Staff Writer Asahi Shimbun
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201211210004*[Excerpted]
*A restart may be impossible at one of Japan's idled nuclear reactors
without substantial repairs, after an accident during a shutdown procedure
last year in which hundreds of tons of seawater flooded equipment including
the central pressure vessel.
Unrefined seawater contaminated sensitive appliances and subsequent
inspections have found rust on many key components of the affected unit,
the No.... more »
Yaqui Vicam Pueblo International Gathering for the Defense of Water
*Live from Vicam Pueblo, Sonora, Mexico, *
*by Brenda Norrell copyright*
*Censored News*
*http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com*
Greetings from the International Gathering for the Defense of Water, hosted
by the Yaqui Traditional Authority, in Vicam Pueblo, Sonora, Mexico. The
gathering, yesterday and today, Nov. 20-21, 2012, has brought together
Indigenous Peoples from all areas of Mexico. In solidarity with the
Zapatistas, Indigenous speakers included Yaqui leaders, and Ofelia Rivas,
O'odham, one of the representatives of Mexico's Indigenous National
Congress.
Rivas sang a sacre... more »
Lago en otoño, un lindo paisaje natural
[image: Lindo lago en otoño]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más imágenes de lagos
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Did Wells Fargo Routinely Overcharge Veterans Under a Federal Loan Refinancing Program?
Wells Fargo must face suit over veterans’ loans, judge says by David
McLaughlin and David Beasley, Published: November 20 The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/wells-fargo-must-face-suit-over-veterans-loans-judge-says/2012/11/20/924b3e6c-3365-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines
[Excerpted] Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Wells Fargo & Co., the
biggest U.S.
home lender, must face a lawsuit that accuses the bank of overcharging
veterans under a federal loan-refinancing program, a judge ruled.
U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg in Atlanta denied Wells Far... more »
Iglesia nevada en invierno
[image: Iglesia navada en invierno]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más imágenes de Hermosos paisajes
Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com
Fed Chief Coined Term Fiscal Cliff
*That should make you reach for your wallet! Last time these guys hollered
fire it cost trillions to bail out Wall Street banks. *
"GOP hints of dealing to avert fiscal cliff" by Bobby Caina Calvan and Michael
Kranish | Globe Staff, November 08, 2012
WASHINGTON — Anything new....
*
**Nope. *
An* election* that essentially *kept the status quo*....
Unless a deal is reached by year-end, a series of tax hikes and hefty
spending cuts would go into effect, which some fear could lead to *another
recession*....* *
*
**Okay, unless you are at the top end you never had a recovery. **What t... more »
Carbon tax percolates through U.S. political system – Washington state representative introduces Managed Carbon Price Act
[image: A coal-fired power plant in the U.S. TIM VIZER / Belleville
News-Democrat / MCT]
By Kevin G. Hall
20 November 2012
WASHINGTON (McClatchy Newspapers) – The president downplays it. Insiders
insist it doesn’t stand a chance. Yet as negotiations between the Obama
administration and Congress take form over a deal on taxes and budgets, the
idea of a carbon tax is discussed with greater frequency.
Oddly enough, there’s no high-profile leader out there championing a carbon
tax, yet it’s the subject of reports, conferences and a flurry of maneuvers
by groups for and against it.
... more »
Bye, Bye Miss American Pie
By Capt. Fogg
Indications are that the Mayans were right and that 2012 is indeed the end
of an era, not because of some change in politics or religion and not
because of anything cosmic or tectonic, but because a piece of America as
we knew it has died. An America, exuberant in itself, proud, forward
looking, confident. Hostess bakeries died this week and not because of
mismanagement but because of what America has become: timorous, ashamed of
what it loves and afraid of being provincial. Our sweet land of phony
authenticity. Of thee I sing.
The Twinkie, the Ho-Ho, the Snowba... more »
Wednesday Morning Linkage
I got back from an extended trip to London last night. To all the people
who hosted me for talks, entertained me, and generally made the trip both
fun and productive: a big thanks! I also bought some sweet rubber ducks at
the British Museum. I’m going to start repeatedly flogging the nomination
process and
Continue reading
Rumors at NPR: almost life found on Mars
NPR offered us a provoking story yesterday:
Big News From Mars? Rover Scientists Mum For Now (audio, video)
The Curiosity rover's SAM device, Sample Analysis at Mars, found something
"Earth-shaking" and ready for "history books" in the Martian soil,
according to John Rotzinger, the principal investigator of the whole rover
mission.
So chances are that it is either some embarrassing elementary error or
impurity or something close to this scene:
Note that not so much time ago, they wanted to claim the discovery of
methane on Mars before it was shown to be methane from Florida.... more »
Rhee Announces Teachers Should Suffer During Holidays, Too
Exclusive: Michelle Rhee Takes Aim at Teachers During Holidays
[image: Michelle Rhee]
The former D.C. chancellor, leader of Michelle First, believes that if
we’re going to use tenure to retain teachers, we must do it 'based on
measures that matter' to Eli Broad and Bill Gates Read More >>
When you get on the *Waiting for Superman* email list like I did, you get
an uninterrupted supply of propaganda, with headlines, stories, and pics
like the one above (slightly altered) of Eli Broad's poisonous puppet,
Michelle Rhee, in one her most Hitlerian poses, complete with backlighting
spots.... more »
First pictures of dead dolphins with gunshot wounds show that humans are to blame for spate of mysterious deaths on U.S. Gulf Coast
They are the horrific pictures which prove that a mysterious spate of
dolphin deaths along the northern Gulf Coast of America have nothing to do
with natural causes.
This bottlenose dolphin was found dead along the coastline of Mississippi
after being shot. When investigators examined the mammal, they found a
bullet inside its body.
It is one of a number of dolphins which have washed ashore along the
northern Gulf Coast over the past few months.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236116/First-pictures-dead-dolphins-gunshot-wounds-humans-blame.html
Money Didn't Matter This Past Election
*So is the monied mouthpiece media spin (sigh)!*
"Independent election spending had little impact" by Dan Eggen and T.W.
Farnam | Washington Post, November 08, 2012
WASHINGTON — Record spending by independent groups largely defined how the
2012 elections were fought, but the *money had no discernible impact* on
the outcome of most contests, according to an early analysis of ballot
results and expenditures by the Washington Post.
*
**Yes, what difference did a few millions make?*
A *clutch of conservative billionaires* and privately held corporations
fueled about $1 billion in spe... more »
Read Stuff, You Should
Happy Birthday to Stan Musial, 92.
The good stuff:
1. Excellent article on women in politics and the remaining barriers by
Kate Sheppard, but it isn't quite true that Heidi Heitkamp is the "first
woman to represent North Dakota in Congress, ever." First woman elected to
do so, but when Quentin Burdick died in 1992, Jocelyn Burdick served for
two months.
2. Really good point about unintended consequences and Senate reform from
Sarah Binder. Something I need to keep in mind more often: what we "see"
happening in the Senate may not reveal to us the full options that both
sides have... more »
WotW: Summarize the Web with One Mouse Click
We've all been there – you go to a blog/website/article and you're excited
to read it. Then you see how long it is. Your brain does some quick mental
math:
length of article x time spent reading / reward level = read? Typically
this equation amounts to the common phrase, "Too Long, Didn't Read."
(TLDR). All because an article is either too long – or appears too long due
to poor web formatting – we would rather skip it than benefit from whatever
information might be contained therein. We can't blame ourselves too much
though because we're busy and there are too many things to read. W... more »
Wisconsin Republicans Already Working To Prevent Citizens From Voting
No doubt you heard Paul Ryan trying to deflect blame from his policy agenda
for the gigantic GOP losses this month by blaming "urban people" for voting.
Yes, lots of Blacks, Latinos and educated people voted, always a negative
for Republicans-- although, with the sole exception of the old slaveholding
states, Democrats also swept the nation's suburbs, something that doesn't
fit in to Ryan's racist narrative. Nonetheless, homestate ally, Governor
Scott Walker, is following up on Ryan's grousing by trying-- once again--
to disenfranchise those pesky "urban voters."
Walker would like... more »
Untitled
*Inmate's death at OPP raises questions about investigation *
*Drew: Saints offense and defense feeding off one another*
*Lee Zurik Investigation: Payback at the RTA?*
*Two Truckloads Of Supplies Donated By New Orleans Residents Arrive On
Long Island*
*Mayor Landrieu begins purge of homeless people from area around Superdome*
*Isaac disaster spending eclipses $10 million locally*
*Hydrogen sulfide gas found in sinkhole-area vent well*
*The Des Moines Register editorial: Corps of Engineers needs a balanced
solution*
Happy Thanksgiving Day 2012
**
*Wishing all whom find their way to my blog this day a lovely Thanksgiving
Day on Thursday, November 22nd. If you don't celebrate this tradition in
the Land in which you live, then wishing you a lovely Thursday.*
*For more information on the Thanksgiving Holiday, please click on the link
provided below:*
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving*
Military cargo plane catches fire, crashes in Yemeni capital; 10 killed
A small military cargo plane crashed in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday,
killing all 10 passengers, the country's defense ministry said.
The plane caught fire shortly after taking off from Sanaa International
Airport, airport officials said. The crew tried to head back to the
airport, but the plane crashed near a public market in the Hasaba area of
Sanaa.
The defense ministry said passengers were on a pilot training mission, with
the head pilot instructing trainees from the government's armed forces.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/21/world/meast/yemen-plane-crash/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
China: Boys' deaths in bin sparks outrage
Eight Chinese officials have been fired or suspended after five boys died
in a rubbish bin after suffocating on fumes from charcoal they burned to
stay warm, according to state-run media.
The bodies of the boys, aged between 9 and 13, were found by a trash
collector on Friday in Bijie in China's southwestern Guizhou province,
Xinhua reported.
They are believed to have died the night before, as rain fell and
temperatures plunged to as low as six degrees Celsius (43 degrees
Fahrenheit).
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/21/world/asia/china-boys-dead-dumpster/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
friday in the u.s.: support walmart workers
This Friday, on the biggest shopping day of the year (also known as International
Buy Nothing Day), hundreds of courageous Walmart workers will stand up to
their bullying employer and demand their right to organize, free of
retaliation.
The workers of Organization United for Respect at Walmart - OUR Walmart -
already have begun striking and demonstrating at Walmarts in 23 states. On
Friday, November 23, the day after US Thanksgiving, strikes, pickets, and *in-store
actions* will take place at Walmart stores throughout the United States.
Walmart workers have been organizing to figh... more »
Something Stupid
Tom Walkom writes, in this morning's *Toronto Star*, that Stephen Harper is
a victim of his own success. That was the reason he and Jim Flaherty were
sending mixed messages last week. Flaherty said that the government's goal
of balancing the budget by the next election would have to be postponed:
In laying out all of this, Flaherty was onside with most standard economic
analysis. The International Monetary Fund has warned that the teetering
world economy cannot withstand too much fiscal austerity. It says that
countries with some leeway — like Canada — should move cautiously to
b... more »
French citizen kidnapped in Mali: security source
A French citizen has been kidnapped in Mali near the border with Mauritania
and Senegal, a Mauritanian security source and Mauritanian state media said
on Wednesday.
The man had crossed into Mali from Mauritania by car on Tuesday morning and
had been kidnapped near the Malian town of Kayes, according to state press
agency AMI.
The Mauritanian security source confirmed the information, but provided no
new details.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-mali-crisis-kidnap-idUSBRE8AK0M820121121
Al Jazeera studio in Cairo set ablaze after angry protest
A studio used by the Al Jazeera TV network in Cairo was set on fire on
Wednesday in an attack that an employee said was carried out by a mob that
had been chanting slogans against the Qatari-owned station.
The studio overlooks Tahrir Square and is located near the scene of violent
clashes between youths and the security forces this week in which dozens of
people have been injured. Those confrontations grew out of protests to mark
the first anniversary of lethal street battles in the same area.
The first-floor office used by Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, a station set up
after the uprisi... more »
Greece's lenders fail again to clinch debt deal for 2nd Week,.....will try again Next Week
International lenders failed for the second week to reach a deal to release
emergency aid for Greece and will try again next Monday, but Germany
signaled that major divisions remain.
Several European officials played down the delay, saying the disagreements
were technical and a deal would be reached when they meet again on November
26.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-eurozone-greece-idUSBRE8AK0JT20121121
saturday across canada: end the siege of gaza
This Saturday, across Canada and around the world, people will gather to
condemn Israel's massacre of Gaza. The call:
*Stop Israel's war on Gaza!
Stop the killing. End the blockade. Free Palestine. Support BDS.*
In Toronto:
Rally & March
Saturday, November 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Israeli Consulate, 180 Bloor Street West
TTC: St. George or Museum
For listings across Canada, see the Canadian Peace Alliance.
Facebook event
The Canadian government has failed to condemn Israel's latest attack on
Gaza. Instead, it provides Israel with the military, economic and
diplomatic support necessary to car... more »
4.4 Magnitude Earthquake SOLOMON ISLANDS - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.4
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 12:40:08 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 11:40:08 PM at epicenter
Location
8.622°S, 159.166°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Distances
65 km (41 miles) SSE (167°) from Dadali, Solomon Islands
Israel Warns Journalists to Stay Away from Hamas
The warning comes after several targeted attacks hit high-level targets
seeking refuge in the same building holding journalists.
The Israeli army says it "surgically targeted a Hamas intelligence
operations center on 7th floor of a media building in #Gaza." The military
claims a "direct hit."
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/israel-warns-journalists-stay-away-hamas_663755.html
Chaos erupts at Newark City Hall meeting; Police pepper-spray residents rushing stage
A behind-the-scenes political maneuver by Newark Mayor Cory Booker to fill
a vacant council seat with his choice led to a near-riot in city hall
tonight, with dozens of residents rushing the council stage and police
responding with pepper-spray.
After weeks of jockeying for Rep. Donald Payne’s successor, Booker made an
unprecedented personal appearance to cast the deciding vote with his
council allies for Shanique Davis Speight, a longtime ally of power broker
Stephen Adubato, over the angry objections of residents.
"In the absence of a quorum, I have an obligation to sit in," Booke... more »
4.5 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF SUMBA, INDONESIA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.5
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 11:26:24 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 07:26:24 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.622°S, 119.657°E
Depth
26.1 km (16.2 miles)
Region
SOUTH OF SUMBA, INDONESIA
Distances
167 km (103 miles) SSW of Lailunggi, Indonesia
President Obama Gives Pakistan And Yemen Permission To Attack United States?
Sunday
morning in Thailand, President *Barack Obama* exchanged the usual
pleasantries and gave the usual declarations to the press one would
expect
when a president begins a three-day tour of Southeast Asia. When asked
about the ongoing (and growing) Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the
president
gave a full-throated defense of Israel’s decision to launch military
strikes on Gaza in return for Palestinian rocket attacks.
But *Reason*‘s *Mike Riggs* noticed something particularly
hilarious/sadabout the president’s remarks: Obama accidentally satirized
himself and
American foreign policy... more »
The general costs principle of ‘loser pays’ applies in estate litigation
*Salter v. Salter*, 2009 CanLII 28403 has a useful comment on costs in
estate litigation matters (note, I have not "loser pays" applied frequently
in estate matters but the case is a useful citation for the principle):
“From a year of acting as administrative judge for the Toronto Region
Estates list I have concluded that the message and implications of the *McDougald
Estate* case are not yet fully appreciated. A view persists that estate
litigation stands separate and apart from the general civil litigation
regime. It does not: estates litigation is a sub-set of civil litigation.
... more »
Puppet State America
Global Research
Dr. Paul Craig Roberts
The United States government and its subject peoples think of the US as
“the world’s only superpower.” But how is a country a superpower when its
entire government and a majority of the subjects, especially those members
of evangelical churches, grovel at the feet of the Israeli Prime Minister?
How is a country a superpower when it lacks the power to determine its own
foreign policy in the Middle East? Such a country is not a superpower. It
is a puppet state.
In the past few days we have witnessed, yet again, the “American
superpower” grove... more »
George Brown grads win class-action suit over misleading course description
*It is quite extraordinary for a college or university to be held liable --
this is a remarkable case: *
*
*Full story
A group of graduates has won a class-action suit against George Brown
College for a course description that promised three credentials it was not
qualified to deliver.
Of 118 students represented in the case, two-thirds came from other
countries and paid $11,000 in tuition each for the eight-month
International Business Program, which delivered none of the three added
industry qualifications — international trade, custom services and
international freight forwardi... more »
Bye bye Mummy
In loving memory of my mother, Vera Margaret Brain, who has just died
suddenly. The doctor said it must have been instantaneous, probably as she
was having an afternoon nap.
It's not quite 12 hours since we found her body.
My thanks to the ACT Police, whose kindness and professionalism made a very
real difference.
Obama's 'Constituency Groups' Checklist Offers No Options for Whites or Men?
Fresh off his reelection, President Barack Obama is asking his supporters
to complete a survey that asks the people being polled to check off which
“constituency groups” they identify with – there are 22 groups listed but
not one for “whites” or “men.”
The post-election survey, distributed through www.barackobama.com to “take
this organization forward,” includes the question, “Which constituency
groups do you identify yourself with? Select all that apply.” It then lists
22 groups.
But whites and men are not on the list – women are, as are African
Americans, Arab-Americans, Latinos ... more »
What's Next For Mitt Romney?
*“We’ve seen, for the most part, the last of Mitt Romney.” *
*Good.*
One man openly wept....
There is no more battery of aides making sure he has the peanut butter and
honey to make his beloved sandwich. Instead, some Republicans speculate
he’ll return to being an *outcast in his own party* and could relocate to
the West Coast to start anew without the harsh glare of the national
political spotlight.
--more--"
"For Romney camp, a high-tech meltdown on Election Day; Online
voter-turnout setup crashed Tuesday" by Michael Kranish | Globe
Staff, November 10, 2012
WASHINGTON — Mitt... more »
Twitter status
Apparently my account has now been un-suspended but I still can't access
it.
Updates as and when.
Post-Election Aftermath: The Changing Face of the GOP
*Maybe it's time to give the Ron Paul people a chance, 'eh?*
"Republicans ponder party’s future course" by Christopher Rowland | Globe
Staff, November 08, 2012
Republican time to ruminate on *what has gone wrong*....
The Republican Party’s *aching hangover* after Tuesday’s defeat of
presidential nominee Mitt Romney and failure to capture the Senate has
spurred a round of existential introspection and debate about the future of
the party.
On immigration, abortion, and even tax policy, some Republicans worry, the
party is *losing touch* with the *mainstream of the US electorate*.*... more »
Federal Workers to Congress: Leave Us Out of Deficit Deal
The Federal-Postal Coalition -- a group representing more than two dozen
federal employee unions -- pleaded with Congress on Monday to spare their
members in any deal related to the "fiscal cliff."
Federal workers, the coalition wrote in a letter, have contributed more
than their fair share toward reducing the debt and are the only group that
has been targeted so heavily.
http://nationaljournal.com/congress-legacy/federal-workers-to-congress-leave-us-out-of-deficit-deal-20121120
FRANCE ACCUSES USA OF HACKING
The United States used U.S.-Israeli spy software to hack into the French
presidential office earlier this year, the French cyberwarfare agency has
concluded, according to the newsmagazine l'Express.
The magazine reported late Tuesday that the computers of several close
advisers to then-president Nicolas Sarkozy – including Chief of Staff
Xavier Musca – were compromised in May by a computer virus that bears the
hallmarks of Flame, which was allegedly created by a U.S.-Israeli team to
target Iran's nuclear program. Anonymous French officials pointed the
finger at the United States.
“... more »
4.4 Magnitude Earthquake SEA OF OKHOTSK - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.4
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 10:44:32 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 09:44:32 PM at epicenter
Location
51.485°N, 150.750°E
Depth
522.3 km (324.6 miles)
Region
SEA OF OKHOTSK
Distances
386 km (240 miles) WNW (285°) from Severo-Kuril'sk, Kuril Islands, Russia
Bomb kills three soldiers in Pakistan, toll "likely to rise"
A bomb killed three soldiers in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Wednesday
and security officials said the death toll was likely to rise.
Officials said the bomb exploded near a security vehicle escorting
schoolchildren. About 10 people were seriously wounded. A Reuters reporter
saw the corpses of three soldiers under the vehicle as it burned.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-pakistan-violence-idUSBRE8AK0HA20121121
Syrian jets bomb Damascus suburb for second day
Syrian warplanes bombed a Damascus suburb on Wednesday, opposition
activists said, as heavy fighting raged for the second day on the
outskirts, challenging President Bashar al-Assad's hold on the capital.
MiG fighter jets hit the suburb of Daraya, situated amid farmland near the
main southern highway, where rebels have been battling elite Republican
Guard units that have deployed around the town, a major opposition centre
of the 20-month revolt.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-syria-crisis-damascus-idUSBRE8AK0HX20121121
Congo rebels plan to "liberate" country after Goma falls
Rebel forces in eastern Congo said on Wednesday they planned to take
control of the whole of the vast central African country after they
captured the eastern town of Goma while United Nations peacekeepers looked
on.
A spokesman for the M23 rebels, a group widely believed to be backed by
Rwanda, said they planned to "liberate" the country, by moving to the town
of Bukavu and then marching on the capital, Kinshasa, nearly 1,000 miles
away.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-congo-democratic-idUSBRE8AI0UO20121121
Hector Camacho Shot In Face
Three-time boxing world champion Hector "Macho" Camacho could be left
paralysed after he was shot in the face while sitting in a car.
Another man died in the attack after at least one gunman opened fire on the
vehicle in the city of Bayamon, according to a statement from police.
Camacho, 50, was rushed to San Juan's Centro Medico trauma centre, where he
was in critical but stable condition and expected to survive, Dr Ernesto
Torres said.
http://news.sky.com/story/1014386/ex-boxing-champ-hector-camacho-shot-in-face
Israel: Explosion On Tel Aviv Bus Hurts Ten
At least 10 people are thought to have been injured in an explosion on a
bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
Israeli media reported that the blast was caused by a bomb.
Television footage showed pictures of a smoke-filled bus, with its windows
broken.
The blast happened across from the military headquarters in Israel's second
largest city and commercial capital.
Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
said the explosion was a "terrorist attack".
http://news.sky.com/story/1014448/israel-explosion-on-tel-aviv-bus-hurts-ten
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake SUMBAWA REGION, INDONESIA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 09:59:42 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 05:59:42 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
8.873°S, 118.575°E
Depth
129 km (80.2 miles)
Region
SUMBAWA REGION, INDONESIA
Distances
13 km (8 miles) SSW of Tolotangga, Indonesia
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 09:17:42 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 07:17:42 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.586°S, 151.760°E
Depth
89.9 km (55.9 miles)
Region
NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
147 km (91 miles) SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
1957 Anti-American Riots
A friend of mine passed me these photos off of eBay from the Baltimore Sun
(thanks, M). They are pictures of the US embassy in Taipei after the
destructive 1957 riots. Others are here, here, and here. The riots were
apparently stage-managed. This site has the story.
________________
*Daily Links*:
- Tour guides protest low pay for guiding Chinese tourists. This is a
manifestation of one of the most problematic aspects of the Chinese tourism
"boom" -- it exists largely on paper.
- Japanese scholars say they have detected high radiation on Orchid Isla
imes
- Taipei T... more »
Gaza 'will not be liveable by 2020' - UN report (Aug 2012)
The Gaza Strip will not be "a liveable place" by 2020 unless action is
taken to improve basic services in the territory, according to a UN report.
Basic infrastructure "is struggling to keep pace with a growing
population", the UN Country Team (UNCT) in the occupied Palestinian
territory said.
It estimates Gaza's population will rise from 1.6m to 2.1m by 2020.
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza after the Islamist movement Hamas seized
power in the coastal territory in 2007.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19391809
UN GAZA 2020 Report in FULL
Blueneck Massachusetts
“The fact is Massachusetts is not a particularly good training ground for
running for president....
Massachusetts has *become something of a backwater*....
Massachusetts wasn’t always jinxed....
--more--"
How Cornflower Eases Anxiety and Improves Immune Function by Susan Patterson
Source:
http://woodlanddiary.blogspot.se/2011/06/cornflowers-and-old-diaries.htmlPretty
and Practical Herb: How Cornflower Eases Anxiety and Improves Immune
Function
by Susan Patterson
Natural Society, 20 November 2012
The stunning sky-blue cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) native to the near East
and frequently seen in gardens throughout Europe and temperate regions of
North America is a common wildflower with amazing health promoting
properties. Known as ‘bachelors button’ this attractive plant has been
prized for its medicinal properties for centuries.
Cornflower is an easy-to... more »
DOWD AND DOWDINPANTZ: This too was bogus!
*WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012*
*Part 4—The way the news looked in real time:* Once again, this is the
analysis to which we were treated on Sunday:
*When Susan Rice appeared on those Sunday shows, she should have used her
security clearance to obtain, and then release, classified information!*
And not only that:
*She should have agreed with the rather wild statement made by that Libyan
pol! *
U.S. intelligence hadn’t established the claim the Libyan pol was making;
as far we know, they still haven't. But so what? Rice should have agreed
with him anyway!
On their face, these judgm... more »
EU set for Budget cut, but Britain will still end up paying more to Brussels
David Cameron is winning crucial support in his fight for a real-terms cut
in the EU budget – but risks a hollow victory as Britain’s annual
contributions increase regardless.
The Prime Minister is understood to be reconciled to a rise in the UK’s
annual payments to Brussels, thanks to Labour’s decision to give up part of
the budget rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher in 1984.
He faces a battle at a crunch EU summit tomorrow to fend off demands for
Britain to give up still more of the deal, struck after Mrs Thatcher
produced evidence that Britain’s relative payments were far hig... more »
How the UK is STILL run by private school elite: Study shows 80 per cent of those who hold key positions in British society received privileged education
At least eight in ten of the most influential people in Britain went to
private or selective school while 44 per cent of those at the top arts,
business, education, civil service and the media attended a fee-paying
school.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2235719/Britain-run-private-school-elite-study-shows.html
Pepsi found to be in breach of advertising rules after refusing to pay competition 'winner'
Pepsi was found to be in breach of advertising rules when the drinks giant
refused to pay an angry competition ‘winner’ who claimed to have won
hundreds of random £500 cash prizes.
The promotion on bottles and cans of Pepsi offered the chance to win £500
every hour by emailing or texting the last four digits of the barcode on
the product.
The customer ‘won’ hundreds of times, but complained to watchdogs when soft
drink giant PepsiCo said they would only pay up one £500 prize per entrant.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236174/Pepsi-breach-advertising-rules-refusing-pay-comp... more »
INNOCENT PATSY HANGED
1. *Kasab - innocent patsy.*Ajmal Kasab, the innocent patsy framed for
the Mumbai Attacks of 2008, has been hanged.
The Mumbai Attacks were designed to get India and Pakistan into a war.
*David Headley.*
The Mumbai attacks were organised by an American, David Headley, who worked
for the US government, presumably as a CIA asset or agent.
There is evidence of involvement by Israelis and officials of the Indian
and Pakistan governments.
*HEADLEY'S JEWISH LINKS*
India, like Pakistan, is a corrupt, feudal, fascist state. It is run by
politicians in league with the C... more »
Gunmen drag body through the streets of Gaza WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Six men accused of being 'Israeli spies' were dragged through the streets
of Gaza City and executed in front of a chanting mob today as Israel warned
Palestinians to evacuate some areas of the territory in apparent
preparation for a ground invasion.
Witnesses said the six were taken to an intersection in the north of the
city where they were summarily shot for providing intelligence that helped
Israel pinpoint key figures in Hamas and the Islamic Jihad targeted by
their warplanes.
The names of the men are said to have been scrawled on the road after they
had been questioned by Ha... more »
Anger as sex abuse report 'turns blind eye to Asian gangs Praying on White girls' despite admitting they account for QUARTER of all cases
The author of report into gang sex abuse today hit back at government
criticism of her findings that there was no particular problem among Asian
groups.
The study by deputy children’s commissioner Sue Berelowitz came to the
controversial conclusion, despite figures in her own report revealing that
more than a quarter of perpetrators of gang-based child abuse known to the
authorities are Asian.
Senior Whitehall figures have branded the report 'hysterical' and 'highly
emotional'.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236045/Anger-sex-abuse-report-Sue-Berelowitz-turns-blind-eye-Asi... more »
Britain set to be lashed by floods and strong winds as alerts warn that downpours will affect several counties
Parts
of Britain were put on flood alert today with heavy rain due in the
coming days, the Environment Agency has warned.
Forecasters are predicting that up to four inches of rain will fall in
south-west England and south-east Wales before the weekend.
With the downpours falling on already saturated ground, there is a risk
that river and groundwater flooding will occur in several counties.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2235946/Britain-set-lashed-floods-strong-winds-alerts-warn-downpours-affect-counties.html
Tel Aviv University charging foreign students twice for dorm rent
Tel Aviv University charges students in its school for overseas students
double the amount Israeli students pay to live in its dormitories. Overseas
students pay nearly NIS 2,400 a month for their share in a double room and
nearly NIS 3,200 for a single room while Israelis pay about NIS 1,200 a
month to share a room with a roommate.
In the introductory materials the university sends to overseas students it
recommends that they stay in the dorms on campus and says that renting a
room in an apartment off campus with one or two roommates would cost
between NIS 2,500 and NIS 3,600 per m... more »
Poland Thwarts Terror Attack on Top Leaders
A Polish university researcher driven by nationalistic and anti-Semitic
hatred was arrested for planning to detonate a four-ton bomb in front of
the Parliament building in Warsaw with the president, prime minister,
government ministers and lawmakers inside, authorities said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the suspect and his plot were discovered as
investigators looked into Polish links to the Norwegian mass murderer
Anders Behring Breivik. Polish security officials have said that Breivik
bought small amounts of material for his bomb-making in Poland.
The foiled attack come... more »
Syrians may be better off without cheerleaders
Having spent a year trying to make their favoured opposition group, the
Syrian National Council, into a government in exile, the United States and
other western countries have abandoned these attempts and hammered together
the unwieldy-sounding National Coalition for Revolutionary and Opposition
Forces. It is barely a week old but, with schoolboy enthusiasm and indecent
haste, France and, as of Tuesday, Britain, have recognised it as the "sole
legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.
So is significant military assistance on the way? The common assumption is
that the rebels m... more »
Merkel ally rules out "haircut" after Greek deal failure
A senior lawmaker from Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives warned on
Wednesday against any write-down of public holdings of Greek debt, saying
it would send a fatal signal to other bailout countries and fail to address
the roots of Greece's woes.
Greece's international lenders, who met in Brussels late on Tuesday, failed
for the second week running to agree how to get the country's debt down to
a sustainable level and will have a third go at resolving their most
intractable problem in six days' time.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-germany-greece-idUSBRE8AK0BT2012... more »
Papers refuting black hole firewalls spread
Some research activity following the provoking black hole firewall claim by
AMPS (Polchinski et al.) continues. The papers that say – or pretty much
say – that black holes don't have any firewalls at/near the event horizon
start do prevail.
It's interesting to mention that Samir Mathur's idea of fuzzballs used to
look as an early predecessor of "firewalls". Many of us were slightly
skeptical because it looked like Mathur was saying that the black hole
interior never looks empty.
But he never did. While the interior has a complicated structure if you can
measure all the degrees of f... more »
Food banks alarmed as drought dents supplies
The worst U.S. drought in more than half a century has weakened the safety
net for the 50 million Americans who struggle to get enough to eat, and the
nation's food banks are raising the alarm as the holiday season gets into
full swing.
Demand for food assistance - unrelenting as the U.S. economy slowly
recovers from the worst recession since the Great Depression - ticks higher
during the winter holidays.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-usa-hunger-holiday-idUSBRE8AK08Q20121121
Asian shares, euro fall on uncertainty over Greek bailout
The euro skidded on Wednesday and Asian shares fell after European
officials failed to reach a deal on another bailout for Greece, a day after
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke highlighted the dangers of a U.S.
fiscal crisis.
U.S. stock futures eased 0.4 percent, pointing to a weak Wall Street open.
Financial spreadbetters predict London's FTSE 100 .FTSE, Paris's CAC-40
.FCHI and Frankfurt's DAX .GDAXI would open down as much as 0.2 percent,
following weakness in Asia. .L .EU .N
The euro slumped 0.5 percent to $1.2752, extending losses and retreating
from Tuesday's two-week hig... more »
Gaza shakes, Israelis killed as Clinton seeks truce
A general view of destroyed government offices is seen after what witnesses
said was an Israeli air strike in Gaza City November 21, 2012. Israeli air
strikes shook the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rockets struck across the
border.
Israeli air strikes shook the Gaza Strip and Palestinian rockets struck
across the border as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks in
Jerusalem in the early hours of Wednesday, seeking a truce that can hold
back Israel's ground troops.
Egypt's new Islamist government is mediating talks and had floated hopes
for a ceasefire by late Tuesday bet... more »
Gaza Ceasefire Delayed As Israel intensifies its bombardment of Gaza
A ceasefire between the Israelis and the Palestinians in Gaza has been
delayed – but a diplomatic push is under way to try to stop the fighting.
On Tuesday night, Hamas official Ayman Taha said an Egyptian-brokered truce
had been finalised and would take effect from 10pm.
But a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the
announcement was premature.
The United States has now stepped in, with Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton meeting Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
http://news.sky.com/story/1014294/gaza-ceasefire-delayed-as-shelling-continues
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.8
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 07:05:50 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 05:05:50 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.063°S, 154.425°E
Depth
243.2 km (151.1 miles)
Region
BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
168 km (104 miles) ESE of Taron, PNG
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake CHIAPAS, MEXICO - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 05:13:43 UTC
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 11:13:43 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
16.409°N, 90.889°W
Depth
41.9 km (26.0 miles)
Region
CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Distances
28 km (17 miles) WSW of Benemerito de las Americas, Mexico
The (almost) New iMac
The refurbished iMac arrived from Apple computer today. I cannot see a
single blemish on this thing it looks in perfect condition. Nice huge
screen too! Thank you all for your help with this replacement for the dead
PC! This is so much nicer to work with and takes up a lot less space.
Still organizing the desk and moving files on to this thing. That will
take a while.
Artifact on Mercury
This folks is an artifact. It is also not an artifact of digital
processing flaws either because aspects along the perimeter are not natural
to the terrain either. That is besides the obvious that it is a clear
rectangle with some variation likely reflecting engineering choices.
We have had other prospective artifacts but nothing this explicit. What
this is is a huge deliberate excavation that drops some distance into the
crust. The purpose is obvious in that such a construct opens a large area
on the bottom that receives only a fraction of the cosmic flux allowing
... more »
Four Story Vertical Farm
It will be interesting to see just now these efforts really work out. It
is hard to see it as the highest and best use of urban land for example.
Yet if the need exists deliberate allocation may be worthwhile.
Yet it is still some version of green house technology that optimizes
energy inputs to maximize output.
It is always about the economics and I suspect the jury remains out.
*4 Story tall Vertical Farm that is up to ten times more productive than
regular farms*
*NOVEMBER 08, 2012*
*
http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/11/4-story-tall-vertical-farm-that-is-u... more »
Carbon Dioxide Seive Developed
Separating any molecule is always a huge problem often difficult at the
best and often costly in terms of energy. A sieve is always the best
choice if it is available because little energy is needed.
Separating CO2 is critical in many chemical processes, not least in
dealing with natural gas. This technology will impact broadly throughout
all aspects of the chemical industry. Even pollution control for smoke
stacks can be tackled with this trick. Just stripping CO2 allows the
remainder to be pumped back into the burn to complete oxidation.
It will be interesting t... more »
Largest Quantum Number for Entanglement
It appears from this that entanglement will become useful as we learn to
work with it. This is an impressive result. It any thing, we have a problem
using the baggage of classical wordage to describe it. Toss all that out
and we have partially bounded curvature behaving in a synchronized manner
across possibly time and space.
This is the real beginning of research into photon behavior and structure.
For what it is worth, with my new metric it is possible to precisely model
the surfaces that form photons, at least in theory, although we are dealing
with huge synchronize... more »
Science Academies and the L'Aquila Earthquake Trial
The science academies of the US and UK have responded very differently than
several of their European counterparts to the recent verdict in an Italian
court against government scientists involved in the L'Aquila affair. The
French, German and Italian academies have adopted a much more sophisticated
-- and ultimately more constructive -- approach to understanding the
implications of the lawsuit for the practice of science advice in
government. This contrasts with the ill-informed snap judgement offered by
the US and UK academies. This post provides some details on the different
app... more »
Twitter account suspended - please assist
It seems that overnight my Twitter account has been suspended, I presume
because some pro-Palestinian (for which you can read anti-Israel and maybe
anti-Semitic) people have complained about me tweeting the truth about
Israel and the Palestinians. I have appealed:
'I have tried to access my twitter account this morning but have found that
it has been suspended. Why has this happened? My twitter account is
important to me as an adjunct to my blog. I do not spam, tweet threats,
swear or anything else that should result in my account being suspended.In
fact I am generally over-reasonab... more »
Why tossing Alauddin Merali under the bus may not have been a good idea
Health Minister Fred Horne contemplates the Ghost of Firings Past. Or,
wait, maybe that’s Michael Giuffre with the Ghost of Pre-Election
Advertising Campaigns Past. Whatever, it’s not as grim as the Ghost of
Elections Yet to Come, and players in Alberta’s health care system may not
be exactly as illustrated. Below: Allaudin Merali, Sheila Weatherill, ... more »
Here's a Dandy Idea
We have a number of more-or-less progressive blog aggregators. It is
possible that these bloggers, collectively, play some role in progressive
politics, shed some useful light on progressive issues.
From time to time some of us send letters, e-mails or other communications
to our supposedly progressive legislators and leaders raising what are
often important questions and inviting responses. It seems, however, that
almost invariably, these queries go without response.
Here's an idea that may spur those who aspire to leadership positions to
actually respond.
Whether it's LibLogs... more »
Update by Sheldan Nidle for the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Galactic Federation 11/20/2012
*
* *
* *Update by Sheldan Nidle for the Spiritual Hierarchy and the Galactic
Federation 11/20/2012*
9 Muluc, 17 Xul, 9 Eb
Dratzo! We return with news about what is happening on your world. As part
of our more direct involvement in Earth affairs, we are asking our allies
to begin a blackout period to prevent dissemination of information about
the completion of the various projects that we are monitoring, and this
blackout's duration cannot be discussed. What we wish to ascertain is why
these leaks are occurring. The various cabal-controlled governments use
their communication te... more »
The true nature of Israel and her enablers
Gilad Sharon, son of war criminal and former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon, writing in *The Jerusalem Post*:
*We need to flatten entire neighborhoods in Gaza. Flatten all of Gaza. The
Americans didn't stop with Hiroshima – the Japanese weren't surrendering
fast enough, so they hit Nagasaki, too.*
*
* *There should be no electricity in Gaza, no gasoline or moving vehicles,
nothing.*
*Jewish Telegraph Agency*, “Israeli peace activist says Hamas’ Jabari
received truce document – and Israel knew”:
Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin said that *hours before Israel
assassinate... more »
anatomically acurate - Michael Reedy
there are better photo-realist artists, but none do what artist/professor Michael
Reedy does; literally strip the skin from and visually dissect the life
models in his graphically alluring paintings.
*Michael Reedy*
*Associate Professor
Eastern Michigan University
Full Time / Tenure
Foundations Drawing I & II, Intermediate Drawing, Advanced Drawing I & II,
Beginning Life Drawing, Intermediate Life Drawing, Advanced Life Drawing I
& II, Introduction to Art.*
Looking at his other work on the website, you'll see that his BACKGROUNDs
and MINOR CHARACTERs are treated with as much consi... more »
My (Now Open) Letter to Trudeau the Lesser
Here is the text of an e-mail I sent today to Justin Trudeau, MP.
*I am troubled by your support of the bitumen industry, generally, and the
Nexxen deal in particular. Are you aware that, if we are to have any hope
of staying within the 2C warming limit, fully 80% of known fossil fuel
reserves will have to be left in the ground? It’s your own children’s
future that hangs in the balance. *
*The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report
yesterday that made a chilling point. Anyone 27 and under has never
experienced a month in which global temperatures were belo... more »
Ending The Financial And Information Siege of America And Planet Earth
*America is under an information siege.*
"I believe very much that secrecy is the main cause of most social evils. I
think information is the most precious commodity in the world. As a matter
of fact, I think that information is the source of all wealth. The
classical economic theory is that wealth is created by land, labor and
capital. But if you have a piece of land, and you've got capital, and you
hire labor, and you drill for oil, and there's no oil there--you won't get
rich. What makes somebody rich is drilling for oil where there is oil, and
that's based on having correct ... more »
Maybe Time Does Heal All Wounds
There may be hope that the current younger generation can clean up a lot of
messes that have bedeviled their elders and will otherwise be dropped in
their laps.
For example, it is hoped that young Republicans, who grew up never really
knowing Ronald Reagan as a demi-god, will ditch the corporatism of the
radical Right and the Tea Party lunacy and restore moderate conservatism to
the GOP.
And, in Gaza, there are signs that a youth movement is surfacing that is
fed up with both sides, Israeli and Hamas, that have plagued their lives
and their future.
*Gaza Youth's Manifesto for Chan... more »
Public Works Canada Placed on Probation?
How does the federal government, in the form of Public Works Canada, get put
on probation?
Public Works and Government Services Canada has pleaded guilty under the
Canada Labour Code in the gruesome, October 19 death of 51 year old Peter
Kennedy.
Kennedy, an engineer at the Ottawa River, Cliff Central Heating & Cooling
Plant, was trying to fire up a boiler than had undergone asbestos removal.
It exploded, engulfing him in steam and hot gasses. He later died.
*PWGSC pleaded guilty to counts under the Canada Labour Code including
failing to have a health and safety policy and provi... more »
How to Make A Little Girl Happy
Take two little girls, dress one up as Snow White and the other as
Pocahontas.
Add a dash of Finding Nemo, especially Bruce.
Make sure Mickey Mouse makes an appearance.
Dance through a fairy tale with their favorite princesses.
Add a little Yee-Haw with Jessie, Woody and Buzz.
Watch a ginormous whale swallow Pinocchio.
See Mulan go from spilling tea to chopping her hair and becoming a
solider.
Work out with the Incredibles...
and feel the love tonight.
Needless to say the girls were thrilled with Disney on Ice. I think we
have decided to make it an annua... more »
Lamar W. Hankins : 'Death with Dignity' Defeated
Image from WNYT.com.
'Death with Dignity' defeated:
Freedom denied by Massachusetts voters
If I decide that it is time for my life to come to an end for reasons important to me, that should be my decision.
By Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog / November 21, 2012
"The greatest human freedom is to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. From advance directives to
Sergeant John Russell accused of Iraq shooting "psychotic": doctor
A U.S. soldier accused of killing five fellow servicemen at a military
combat stress center in Baghdad in 2009 was psychotic and suffered from
post-traumatic stress disorder during the shooting frenzy, a top U.S.
forensic psychiatrist testified on Tuesday.
Sergeant John Russell, 48, is accused of going on a shooting spree at Camp
Liberty, near the Baghdad airport, in an assault the military said at the
time could have been triggered by combat stress.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-usa-iraq-trial-idUSBRE8AK04U20121121
Euro zone, IMF fail to strike Greek debt deal
Greece's international lenders failed for the second week running to agree
how to get the country's debt down to a sustainable level and will have a
third go at resolving their most intractable problem in six days' time.
After nearly 12 hours of talks through the night during which myriad
options were discussed, euro zone finance ministers, the International
Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank failed to reach a consensus,
without which emergency aid cannot be disbursed to Athens.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-eurogroup-idUSBRE8AJ0NI20121121
Police chief killed in Libya's Benghazi
A top security official in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi was killed
in front of his home overnight on Wednesday, security officials said, in
the latest violence to plague the cradle of the North African country's
revolt.
Faraj al-Deirsy, head of Benghazi police, died from multiple gunshot
wounds, police and interior ministry sources said.
"This happened in front of his house when unknown attackers opened fire and
hit him before fleeing," a police source.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/21/us-libya-security-idUSBRE8AK03N20121121
Mount Tongariro no longer spewing ash, New Zealand
This afternoon's small eruption at the Te Maari crater on Mount Tongariro
appears to be over, GNS Science reports.
Accordingly, GNS scientists have now decreased the Aviation Colour Code
from Red to Orange, signalling that ash is no longer being emitted.
However, minor eruptive activity continues and the Volcanic Alert Level
remains at 2.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/mount-tongariro-no-longer-spewing-ash-5230221
Iran's Fordo Nuclear Complex Reaches Capacity
Iran has finished installing all the critical equipment at a deep
underground site where it is producing nuclear fuel that could quickly be
converted to use in a nuclear weapon, international inspectors reported on
Friday. But they said Iran has yet to ramp up production, leaving several
months for President Obama and his allies to work on a diplomatic solution
that could avoid a military confrontation.
The report, by the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said that
satellite photographs show Iran has worked for months to alter another site
that the agency has long suspected ... more »
Gaza conflict tests Israeli defense system......Is this being tested for the War with Iran?
A missile defense shield jointly developed by the United States and Israel
is intercepting nearly 90 percent of Palestinian rockets that appear to be
a threat to populated areas, Israel claimed Friday while making clear that
it is not now seeking U.S. military help.
The conflict that began Wednesday is the largest test yet of the Iron Dome
missile defense system designed to protect southern Israeli towns from
rockets fired from the bordering Palestinian territory of Gaza. Its limits
were evident Friday, when two Palestinian rockets were fired toward
Jerusalem, beyond the zone regula... more »
Fat Duck chefs killed in Hong Kong car accident
Two chefs from Heston Blumenthal's restaurant The Fat Duck have been killed
along with their taxi driver in a collision with a bus in Hong Kong.
The pair, who are yet to be identified, were travelling in the Chai Wan
district when a bus travelling downhill collided with the oncoming vehicles.
The Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, confirmed both men were
senior members of staff.
Hong Kong Police Force said the bus driver, 57, had been arrested.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-20410800
Afghan loses death penalty appeal over French deaths
A military court has rejected an appeal by an Afghan soldier sentenced to
death for killing five French troops in an insider attack in January, an
official said Monday.
So-called green-on-blue attacks have spiralled this year, with a total of
61 NATO troops killed by members of the Afghan security forces, fuelling
distrust between the allies in the war against Taliban Islamist insurgents.
The French casualties prompted France to withdraw combat forces from
Afghanistan earlier than planned.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDKcCDBLMmKH9rqbiqpX0BrWJIaQ?docId=CNG.6f6... more »
Attacker stabs guard at US embassy in Tel Aviv: police
A man apparently suffering from mental health problems stabbed a security
guard at the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday and was apprehended,
police said.
"A Mazda car stopped next to the U.S. embassy and a man got out carrying a
red bag and a pitchfork," said David Cohen, 48, who told Reuters he
witnessed the incident while jogging along Tel Aviv's Mediterranean
promenade.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/20/us-israel-usa-embassy-idUSBRE8AJ0GJ20121120
Wen Jiabao adamant on South China Sea claim
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has made a strong defence of his country's claim
to almost all of the South China Sea after a summit of world leaders ended
in bitter disagreement over how to ease tensions in the strategic and
resource-rich waterways.
"China's act of defending its sovereignty is necessary and legitimate ...
and we have properly handled the incidents that were not of the making of
China," Mr Wen told 17 other leaders on the final day of the East Asia
Summit in Phnom Penh, according to Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying.
US president Barack Obama told the leaders to rein... more »
Congo: UN security council condemns Goma takeover by M23 rebels
The United Nations security council has unanimously condemned the seizure
of the Congolese city of Goma and asked the UN secretary general, Ban
Ki-moon, to report on what external support the rebels have received.
Diplomats at the United Nations and regional mediators in Central Africa
sought on Wednesday night to ward off a deeper conflict after rebels widely
believed to be backed by Rwanda captured the eastern Congolese city.
Uganda's president is trying to broker a meeting between the leaders of
Congo and Rwanda in Kampala.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/21/congo-united... more »
Mount Tongariro volcano erupts in New Zealand
A New Zealand volcano used as a backdrop to "The Lord of the Rings" films
erupted on Wednesday, sending a column of ash two kilometres (1.2 miles)
above the North Island, scientists and witnesses said.
The official GNS Science monitoring service issued a potential threat alert
after the 1:25 pm (0025 GMT) eruption at Mount Tongariro, which became
active in August this year after lying dormant for more than a century.
While a nearby highway was closed as a precaution, Civil Defence
authorities described the eruption as minor and told local residents they
could expect light ashfall, ... more »
Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit,
please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges
we've taken on so far.
There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read
through it ... however, if you don't have the time right now, you might
find the following quick links helpful:
- The #CTWW Gang
- The Honor Society
- My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
- A question rather than a challenge
Last week we focused on reducing. What I found interesting about this
challenge is that no matte... more »
Is Marco Rubio Really A Bigger Idiot Than Mark Pryor?
All day yesterday people were making fun of Marco Rubio for his idiotic
comments to *GQ* about how old the earth is. Basically, he didn't want to
get into that debate-- "I'm not a scientist"-- because Hate Talk Radio, Fox
News and the Bronze Age religionist fanatics who control much of his
political party will not countenance anyone veering from their fairytale
about how the Earth was created in 6 days 5 thousand years ago. Personally,
I was more interested in his unlikely comments about Public Enemy, Tupac
and Pitbull:
But as Krugman pointed out on his *Times* blog a few hours la... more »
Greek Debt Solution Eludes Euro Ministers After 11-Hour Talks
European finance ministers failed to agree on a debt-reduction package for
Greece after battling with the International Monetary Fund over how to
nurse the recession- wracked country back to fiscal health.
With creditors led by Germany refusing to put up fresh money or offer debt
relief, the finance chiefs were unable to scrounge together enough funds
from other sources to help alleviate Greece’s debt burden, set to hit 190
percent of gross domestic product in 2014.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-21/greek-debt-solution-eludes-euro-ministers-after-11-hour-talks.html
Mumbai Terrorist Mohammed Kasab Is Executed In India
The sole surviving Mumbai terrorist attacker has been executed after the
Indian president rejected his mercy plea.
http://news.sky.com/story/1014271/mumbai-terrorist-mohammed-kasab-is-executed
4.5 Magnitude Earthquake KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude M 4.5
Region KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA
Date time 2012-11-21 03:58:28.1 UTC
Location 1.03 S ; 127.36 E
Depth 10 km
Distances 193 km S Tidore, Indonesia
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 01:18:40 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 11:18:40 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.903°S, 151.707°E
Depth
8.4 km (5.2 miles)
Region
NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
177 km (109 miles) ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake OAXACA, MEXICO - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 00:30:51 UTC
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 06:30:51 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
16.427°N, 98.304°W
Depth
13.8 km (8.6 miles)
Region
OAXACA, MEXICO
Distances
31 km (19 miles) SSE (156°) from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake KURIL ISLANDS - 21st November 2012
Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 00:22:12 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 11:22:12 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
44.145°N, 147.649°E
Depth
106.7 km (66.3 miles)
Region
KURIL ISLANDS
Distances
84 km (52 miles) ENE of Shikotan, Russia
Robert Jensen : What Starts at UT... Accelerates Destruction?
Image
from Latinitas.
UT motto modification:
What starts here...
accelerates destruction?
While UT administrators may be heartfelt in their belief that 'we are
driven to solve society’s issues,' most of the so-called solutions that
are generated ignore or intensify the fundamental problems of the
systems.
By Robert Jensen / The Rag Blog / November 21, 2012
AUSTIN -- I want to suggest a slight
3.6 Magnitude Earthquake ILLINOIS - 20th November 2012
Magnitude
3.6
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 23:28:22 UTC
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 05:28:22 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
38.452°N, 87.891°W
Depth
17 km (10.6 miles)
Region
ILLINOIS
Distances
8 km (5 miles) NNE (12°) from Bellmont, IL
4.3 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA - 20th November 2012
Magnitude
4.3
Date-Time
Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 21:46:48 UTC
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at 04:46:48 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.028°S, 102.906°E
Depth
39.5 km (24.5 miles)
Region
SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
Distances
94 km (58 miles) W of Kuripan, Indonesia
Ceasefire elusive as Israel-Hamas clash rages on
More here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/20/israel-gaza-palestinian-idf-hamas.html
The Cookie Didn't Fall Far From The Tree
I'm not sure exactly when, why or how this happened, but growing up I
always liked cookies. Peanut butter and chocolate chip, were favorites,
and I always looked forward to mom baking up a fresh batch of ginger snaps
during the Christmas holidays. She made ginger snaps at other times during
the year of course, but some reason, I've always associated ginger snaps
with Christmas. Pushing inexorably toward 40 Christmases now, that adds up
to a lot of cookies. Thankfully, I was blessed with a fast metabolism
because by rights I'm sure I'd weigh something like 400 lbs otherwise.
I gu... more »
Economist Validates and other Predictions
A few posts down, I noted how The Economist "criticism" of President Ma was
actually a backhanded affirmation of his policies and provision of cover
for the many deep issues that plague his Administration. I observed:
...By using the term *bumbler* to adumbrate the many such issues
surrounding Ma's presidency, The Economist actually hides the severe
problems with Ma while making a pretense of criticizing him.
The Taipei Times reported today on The Economists' response to the issues
raised by the pan-Green media's outpouring of glee...
Ministry spokesperson Steve Hsia (夏季昌) said Domi... more »
Difference Between Propaganda and Reality
Daily Bell
*Politicians Haven't Listened ... Merkel Climate Advisor Blasts Global
Inaction ... Politicians need to get their act together on climate change,
says Chancellor Angela Merkel's leading climate advisor Hans Joachim
Schellnhuber just days before the global warming conference in Qatar. The World
Bank agrees, releasing a report on Monday highlighting the serious
consequences that await should global temperatures continue rising
unchecked. – Der Spiegel*
*Dominant Social Theme: *Climate change is a terrible thing.
*Free-Market Analysis:* First it was called "global warming" ... more »
Northerntruthseeker Now An Author At "Pragmatic Witness"
I have been in long conversations with my good friend, Whitewraithe, who
writes the fabulous blog: Pragmatic Witness (www.pragmaticwitness.com), and
she recently asked me to help out on her blog by being one of the
authors. I felt it would be an honor, and I have given her my word that
I would do my utmost to meet the great standards that she has set for her
blog.
Just to let everyone know, Whitewraithe herself has been extremely busy the
last while with family, personal business, and having to return to the work
force. She has also been suffering from some recurring health iss... more »
How Long Before It's Too Late?
We are continuing right now to see the massive buildup of Israeli forces
around the Gaza Strip, and at any time now, they will be given the go ahead
to march into the Gaza Strip itself. When that happens, and it is no
longer a question of "If", we will see the slaughter of thousands of
innocent Palestinian civilians at the hands of the evil and murderous
Israelis. What is especially shocking is the lack of world outcry against
this impending act of mass genocide!
I have been a follower of John Kaminski's work (www.johnkaminski.info) for
a very long time, and just yesterday I came... more »
Want to live where it's always 56° and NASDAQ is always eyeing FB warily? Come into my elevators
*In the cocoon of our elevators, there's a
world outside that's always 56 degrees.*
*by Ken*
You probably have these in the elevators of your commercial buildings too:
little video screens on which nuggets of "news" can be flashed for the
purpose of being interspersed with advertising. If you don't have them,
count yourself lucky. For more than a century eople have found ways to
occupy their minds during the journey between the ground floor and their
destination floor without requiring force-feeding of tiny tidbits of
newslike, er, stuff.
At least in my building, the displays als... more »
Health hazard: Drs. Schack & Mehra: Teens not getting enough sleep because of school schedule & pressure
Mira Costa will look into zero-period, start time to address teen sleep
issues
The Beach Reporter, November 14, 20
http://tinyurl.com/b4f7bvu
by Carley Dryden
Local doctor Linda Schack, an adolescent medicine specialist, had grown
concerned.
High school students flooded her practice complaining of headaches,
abdominal pain and fatigue. When she asked how much sleep they got on
weekdays, she received the same answer: six hours. But on weekends, they
would sleep until noon or 1 p.m.
Alarmed by the local teens’ sleep patterns and ailments, Schack and fellow
doctor Mini Mehra reviewed s... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, "Reflection"
Liquid Mind, "Reflection"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcfAk78v4Qk&feature=fvwrel
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Take Me Tenderly”
Liquid Mind, “Take Me Tenderly”
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b42u4FRI2X8
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Galaxies of the NGC 7771 Group are featured in this intriguing skyscape.
Some 200 million light-years distant toward the constellation Pegasus, NGC
7771 is the large, edge-on spiral near center, about 75,000 light-years
across, with two smaller galaxies just below it. Large spiral NGC 7769 is
seen face-on to the right.
* Click image for larger size.*
Galaxies of the NGC 7771 group are interacting, making repeated close
passages that will ultimately result in galaxy-galaxy mergers on a cosmic
timescale. The interactions can be traced by galaxy distortions and faint
streams of st... more »
Extending time to appeal civil matters
*Laczko v. Alexander*, 2012 ONCA 803 sets out the test for extending the
time to appeal a civil matter – the test is virtually the same as for
criminal matters:
[2] In deciding whether to extend the time, the following factors
are relevant: (1) whether the moving parties formed an intention to appeal
within the relevant period; (2) the length of and explanation for the
delay; (3) any prejudice to the responding party; (4) the merits of the
appeal; and (5) whether the justice of the case requires it: *Kefeli v.
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology* (2002),... more »
"Something You Already Know..."
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine
and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to
your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody
is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how
hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and
keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what
you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be
willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where
... more »
Chet Raymo, “New Philosophy - 2”
*“New Philosophy - 2”*
by Chet Raymo
"Koyré's "From the Closed World To the Infinite Universe" was published in
1957. When I started teaching college in 1964, the required reading for my
general studies science course included two articles by two prominent
physicists published in "Scientific American" at about the same time as
Koyré's book. George Gamow, a principal architect of the big bang theory,
made the case for a universe that began billions of years ago as an
explosion from an infinitely dense and infinitely small seed of energy.
Fred Hoyle, stalwart champion of the stead... more »
Christian Slaves of Israhell Defend The Murder of Palestinians
*Christian fundamentalist leader John Hagee bows before his god, AIPAC.*
Israhell's slaves instinctively and unthinkingly blame Muslims for
everything that's wrong with Gaza and the Middle East. It's never
Washington's or Israel's fault. Whenever there is a flare up of violence in
the region, it's always the fault of "the terrorists." Don't get me wrong,
I don't like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and extremist Islamists because
they are political opportunists. But I love the truth, and the truth is on
the side of the Palestinians in this historic fight between an oppressor
and t... more »
Affordable housing, “churn,” and David Shearer’s new pony
A blogger at the Labour blog The Sub-Standard has found time between posts
eviscerating the Labour leader to criticise John Key’s criticism of
KiwiBuild, the Labour leader’s plan for his government to build 100,000 new
houses around the country costing $300,000 or less and to give everybody a
new pony. (How? Somehow.)
At least *we* have a plan for affordable housing (says the rebel in the Red
Team), pointing the finger at the Blue Team who he says only have arm
waving and rhetoric and plans to build 2,000 to 2,500 new homes in
Hobsonville costing more than $485,000 each!
Which is... more »
GAZA WAR – THE MYTH OF THE ‘HUMAN SHIELD’
lataan.blogspot.ca/2012/11/gaza-war-myth-of-human-shield.html
*Matt's thoughts:*
Some intriguing points are brought up.
1. Beware Hamas interviews. The IDF continually warns reporters not to go
near Hamas because "they will use you as human shields." Strangely, that
doesn't appear to matter though, since the IDF has now killed a number of
reporters and media personnel in Gaza, and bombed media facilities. Is this
an honest reason, or do they simply not want Hamas to gain any interview
time? Isn't such behavior contradictory to a democracy?
2. Rockets are being fired from civilian a... more »
EFN Asia 14: Conference 2012 Resolution on Populism
**
*
It is an annual tradition that at the end of each Economic Freedom Network
(EFN) Asia Annual Conferences, participants produce a conference resolution
-- short, one page, clear and direct -- that summarizes and concludes the
two-days activity. I am posting the conference resolutions last year
(theme: Competition: Engine for Prosperity, October 11-12, 2011, Kuala
Lumpur) and this year (theme: How Welfare Populism Destroys Prosperity, November
6-7, 2012, Hong Kong).
*
*
*
**
*EFN Conference 2011 *
*Statement on Competition and Prosperity*
*
Preamble*
Competition is an essential ... more »
‘No Twitter for Terrorists’: pro-Israel CUFI group demands Hamas tweet ban in censorship bid
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/11/20/250678.html
*Matt's thoughts:*
1. Note the two initial messages in the image above that sparked the
"Twitter War". When you get down to it, they're the same identical message:
"We're going to kill you, so watch out." Strangely though, while the IDF is
allowed to make such threats, Hamas is not. Shouldn't both be censored if
the honest intention is to prevent groups from spreading hate and violence
using Twitter?
2. If a cause is in the right, why would they want to censor the other
side? Are they afraid of something? Won't their ow... more »
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