10:34 pm MST
'It's called capitalism': Google boss says he is 'proud' of the company's multi-million pound tax avoidance scheme
The boss of Google last night said he was ‘very proud’ of the elaborate
structure that helped the search giant slash more than £200million from its
UK tax bill last year.
Taxpayers were left to fund the shortfall after Google contributed just
£6million to government coffers – despite making sales of £2.6billion.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247321/Its-called-ca.html
Untitled
------------------------------
*Obdurate Washington*
------------------------------
December 11, 2012 | *Original Here*
With its power declining, Washington was not able any longer to keep Russia
out of the World Trade Organization. Congress showed its spite over its
impotence by hooking the normalizing of trade with Russia to what is called
the “Magnitsky rule.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20634768
Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian attorney who represented a British
investment firm accused of tax evasion and fraud in Russia. Apparently, the
UK firm supplied info... more »
EU inaction reminds Israel of Nazi camps, says Avigdor Lieberman
ISRAEL'S Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has criticised Europe, saying
its treatment of the Jewish state was comparable to policies during the
Holocaust.
Mr Lieberman said Europe had turned a blind eye to a speech by Hamas chief
Khaled Meshaal this week, in which he said the Palestinians would not "cede
an inch" of historic Palestine, which covers modern Israel.
"Once again, Europe has ignored calls for Israel's destruction," Mr
Lieberman told Israeli public radio.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/gaza-conflict/eus-jewish-policylike-1930s-says-avigdor-lieberman/story-fnge... more »
For North Korea, next step is a nuclear test
North Korea rattled the world on Wednesday by putting a satellite into
orbit using the kind of technology that appears to demonstrate it can
develop a missile capable of hitting the United States.
Its next step will likely be a nuclear test, which would be the third
conducted by the reclusive and unpredictable state. Its 2009 test came on
May 25, a month after a rocket launch.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/uk-korea-north-rocket-idUKBRE8BC05F20121213
Eurozone agrees on common bank regulator......Germany
Europe took its first big step towards banking union early on Thursday
morning, as eurozone finance ministers agreed a plan to cede power to a
common bank supervisor in Frankfurt.
After almost four months of fraught diplomacy that laid bare deep
Franco-German divisions, finance ministers brokered terms for the European
Central Bank to begin direct supervision of up to 200 eurozone lenders from
early 2014.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2946cbfe-44d4-11e2-8fd7-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2EuDpY4Qq
Australia: Hundreds of dead fish and Crabs found on beaches
IT could be some time before Fisheries authorities know what killed
hundreds of fish and crabs in Safety Bay this week but early indications
point to low oxygen levels.
Hundreds of fish including herring and flounder, blue manner crabs and eels
were found dead over several days on the beach near Tern Island and the
Bent Street boat ramp.
Many concerned readers contacted the Courier over the weekend after
spotting the dead marine life.
http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Hundreds-of-dead-fish-found-on-beaches/7637893/
Sweden: Mystery orb crash: 'It was like Armageddon'
Frightened residents in western Sweden reported seeing a bright, blue light
racing across the night sky on Tuesday before an orange-coloured orb
smashed into the ground in a mysterious phenomenon that has yet to be
explained.
"It lit up the sky and flew over us, then we heard an explosion," witness
Jessica Berg told the Aftonbladet newspaper.
"It was very weird. Uncomfortably weird."
http://www.thelocal.se/45012/20121212/#.UMlh6-TLS8A
Gas leak evacuates Little Miami High School students
More than 1,000 students were forced to evacuate Little Miami High School
this morning due to a gas leak.
Warren County radio dispatchers said the evacuation of students from the
Warren County high school to the junior high school that shares the school
campus at 3001 East US 22-3 was “controlled chaos.”
The leak was discovered at approximately 11:30 a.m., when lunchroom workers
in the kitchen of the high school smelled leaking gas. Melinda Briggs,
spokeswoman for the schools, said a maintenance worker then discovered a
pin-point leak in a gas line.
http://news.cincinnati.com/artic... more »
Bird flu alert in Indonesia
Indonesian authorities have stepped up bird flu monitoring after thousands
of poultry have died on Java island in recent months, officials said
Wednesday.
A strain of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus was believed to have caused
the deaths among poultry in Jakarta and other areas, said Emil Agustiono,
the head of the National Zoonosis Committee.
``We are investigating whether the source of the outbreak were imported
poultry,'' he said. ``If it came from one source, it will be easier to
contain.''
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/325824/poultry-deaths-prompt-bird-flu-alert-in-... more »
White Island volcanic alert level raised, New Zealand
The volcanic alert level at White Island has been raised to 2 and the
aviation colour code to orange.
GNS Science volcanologists have noticed a spiny lava dome at White Island
in an existing small crater formed as a result of eruptions in August.
"On Monday we were able to see a spiny lava dome that has grown in a crater
formed by an eruption on August 5.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10853605
Republican Voters-- Just Like Normal People-- Don't Back The Benefit Cuts Boehner And Congressional Republicans Are Demanding
A Republican mantra drilled into the cerebral cortex of anyone who's ever
had to sit down in a room with Fox News playing is that we don't have a
revenue problem, we have a spending problem. And, of course, they're not
completely wrong. Where they *are* completely wrong is that we certainly do
have a revenue problem-- the rich don't pay their fair share of taxes. But
where they're correct is that we have had a very serious spending problem.
Our political elites-- Washington's Conservative Consensus-- have spent
trillions on the same Military Industrial Complex that President Eisenh... more »
Cern Scientists Make Secret Zombie Film
British physicists have released a zombie film made secretly in the
world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator.
The 80-minute film, Decay, was shot in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) – a
27km tunnel 100 metres beneath the Swiss-French border at Geneva where the
Higgs boson or "God particle" was recently discovered.
The £2,000 movie follows a small group of students, played by physicists,
after a disastrous malfunction in the LHC tunnel.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024538/cern-zombie-film-shot-by-british-physicists
Brent Troy Bartel Arrested after Carving Pagan Symbol Into Six-Year-Old's Back
A Texas man rang the police to tell them he had carved a pentagram into his
six-year-old son's back because it was "a holy day".
Richland Hills police said Brent Troy Bartel faces charges of aggravated
assault with a deadly weapon and has been jailed in lieu of a $500,000
(£309,400) bond.
In the 911 call released by police, Bartel calmly provides the dispatcher
with his home address before telling her: "I shed some innocent blood."
When asked why he did it, Bartel replies: "Because it's a holy day."
http://news.sky.com/story/1024679/pagan-symbol-carved-into-six-year-olds-back
Klitschko Ringside For Ukraine Parliament Brawl
World heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko got a ringside spot as
the opening session of Ukraine's parliament descended into a mass brawl.
Scuffles erupted when members of several parties approached the stand
simultaneously and attempted to push each other out of the way.
At one moment the majority of those gathered in the parliament chamber
stood up and joined in.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024742/klitschko-ringside-for-ukraine-parliament-brawl
Argentina Sex Slavery Court Ruling Sparks Riots
Riots have broken out in Argentina after 13 people were acquitted over the
disappearance of a young woman who was allegedly kidnapped and forced into
sex slavery.
The court ruling has also prompted calls by political leaders to impeach
the three judges who delivered the verdict.
Many have called the ruling a setback for Argentina's efforts to combat sex
trafficking.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024733/argentina-sex-slavery-court-ruling-sparks-riots
McAfee Back In US After Release From Jail
Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee has arrived in the US after being
deported from Guatemala.
The 67-year-old, who is wanted for questioning in Belize over the murder of
his neighbour, had spent a week in a cell after arriving in Guatemala
illegally.
A short time after the commercial jet carrying McAfee landed in Miami, a
posting on his website announced he was at a hotel in the city's upscale
South Beach area.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024655/mcafee-back-in-us-after-release-from-jail
4.0 Magnitude Earthquake SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA - 13th December 2012
Magnitude ML 4.0
Region SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA
Date time 2012-12-13 03:40:12.0 UTC
Location 31.19 S ; 68.93 W
Depth 101 km
Distances 54 km NW San juan, Argentina
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION - 13th December 2012
Magnitude M 5.0
Region D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
Date time 2012-12-13 00:58:14.9 UTC
Location 9.96 S ; 154.70 E
Depth 10 km
Distances 425 km S Arawa
5.5 Magnitude Earthquake KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND - 13th December 2012
Magnitude
5.5
Date-Time
Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 00:53:32 UTC
Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 12:53:32 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
30.928°S, 178.252°W
Depth
64.9 km (40.3 miles)
Region
KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
Distances
83 km (51 miles) NE of L'Esperance Rock, New Zealand
Unmasking the Brotherhood: Syria, Egypt, and Beyond
*December 13, 2012* (Stop Imperialism) - The complexities of the Arab
Spring and the struggle for political freedom throughout the Arab world
should not obscure what has now become an absolutely essential
understanding for all anti-imperialists: the Muslim Brotherhood is one of
the most powerful weapons of the Western ruling class in the Muslim world.
While that may be a difficult pill for some to swallow for emotional or
psychological reasons, one need look no further than the insidious role the
organization is playing in Syria and the abuses of power and human rights
of the gov... more »
Meaning, Consciousness, and the Mayan Prophecy
Although my name is spelled M-a-j-i-a, it is pronounced Maya. My parents
didn't know how to spell the name.
The story is that my dad had a dream he would have a blonde haired,
brown-eyed daughter named Maya. He claims he had never heard the name
before, so didn't know how to spell it. His family is of Swedish-Italian
descent so it was probably the Swedish influence that led to the insertion
of the nonsensical "j" in my name.
His dream wasn't actually prophetic because I have blue eyes.
Anyway, I've always been interested in the Mayans for obvious reasons.
The Mayan prophecy of 201... more »
It's The Terror War System, Stupid!
*Blowback is not a bitch. Blowback is a beautiful bride. And The CIA's
priests of power have ordained a permanent marriage between U.S. policy and
blowback.*
*"The Terror War is not an event, or a campaign, or even a crusade; it is a
system.* Its purpose is not to eliminate "terrorism" (however this
infinitely elastic term is defined) but to perpetuate itself, to do what it
does: make war. This system can be immensely rewarding, in many different
ways, for those who operate or assist it, whether in government, media,
academia, or business. This too is a self-sustaining dynamic, a... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“In front of a famous background of stars and galaxies lies some of
Earth's more unusual trees. Known as quiver trees, they are actually
succulent aloe plants that can grow to tree-like proportions. The quiver
tree name is derived from the historical usefulness of their hollowed
branches as dart holders. Occurring primarily in southern Africa, the trees
pictured in the below 16-exposure composite are in Quiver Tree Forest
located in southern Namibia.
*Click image for larger size. *
Some of the tallest quiver trees in the park are estimated to be about 300
years old. Behind the t... more »
A tale of Lemonade Stand Operators and Snake Oil Distillers
A tale of lemonade stand operators and snake oil distillers....by Grant G
*"Released on Thursday, B.C.'s public accounts for the fiscal year
2009/2010 conclusively prove that the pre-election fiscal plan foisted on
British Columbians by Premier Gordon Campbell and his BC Liberals on Feb
17, 2009 was the worst -- the most egregious, the most deceptive --
"Fudge-it Budget" in provincial history.*
* **The public accounts show that the Campbell Liberals inflated revenues
in Victoria's main operating account, the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF),
by a stunning $2.558 billion -- yes, Bi... more »
Menards - Woe is Me.
From:Uppity Wisconsin
Progressive News from the Cheddarsphere
The Menards chain has been planning to move into Missouri with new stores
in three St. Louis suburbs, but yesterday the firm unexpectedly announced
that one of those stores, in suburban O'Fallon, is being dropped from the
expansion plan. Why? A Menards spokesman explained to local news media that
... deep breath... it's Obama's fault. The unnamed spokesperson said (according
to a St. Louis TV station):
“I’m very sorry, but we are a family owned business and with the Obama
Administration scaring the dickens out of all ... more »
Some good people get good Dem Senate committee slots -- but then there are also those other people
*Yes, Senator Warren is getting that Banking Committee slot!*
*by Ken*
It reminds me of nothing so much as the day when solons of college
fraternities break the good news to such of their incoming hopefuls which
of them have made the grade and will be received unto the elect. With,
maybe a few differences.
(1) When it comes to apportioning committee slots to Senate Democrats for
the 114th Congress, there's only one solon: Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Today, as you probably know, was the day when Leader Harry Reid manned the
phones spreading the good news. I don't know how many of t... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Twin Falls, Idaho, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
Cree block highway in protest of Harper legislation
The
Cree of Maskwacis held a pipe ceremony and peaceful demonstration on
Hwy 2A at Maskwacis.
'We are taking this opportunity, coinciding with 12th hour of the 12th
day of December 2012, to bring awareness to First Nations’ opposition to
legislation proposed by the Harper government.'
Photo by Samson Cree Nation.
Cree block highway
The Samson Cree Nation issued a statement Tuesday saying
"The Answer..."
"Very few beings really seek knowledge in this world - few really ask. On
the contrary, they try to wring from the unknown the answers they have
already shaped in their own minds - justifications, confirmations, forms of
consolation without which they can't go on. To really ask is to open the
door to a whirlwind. The answer may annihilate the question and the
questioner."
- Anne Rice, “The Vampire Lestat”
MI & WI - The ALEC Political Machine
ALEC Unveils Legislative Priorities for 2013
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2012
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC Legislative Priorities
ALEC
Legislative
Priorities
Don’t forget that:
* ALEC* *Legislative* Priorities
Almost two years ago, in March of 2011, I wrote the following:
Scott Walker appears to be the poster boy for ALEC because most everything
he has enacted reeks of ALEC stench.
At the top of each Act published in Wisconsin it says:
The people of the state of Wisconsin, ... more »
Over angry protests, Michigan passes 'right-to-work' legislation
Over the chants of thousands of angry protesters, Republican lawmakers made
Michigan a right-to-work state Tuesday, dealing a devastating and
once-unthinkable defeat to organized labour in a place that has been a
bastion of the movement for generations.
The GOP-dominated House ignored Democrats' pleas to delay the final passage
and instead approved two bills with the same ruthless efficiency that the
Senate showed last week. One measure dealt with private-sector workers, the
other with government employees. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder signed them
both within hours, calling them "pro... more »
Ohio, Ky. governors: Tolls may be used to fund Brent Spence Bridge project (Which then may itself be tolled, as NAFTA Super Highway project sprints onward)
Tolls may be used to pay for the multi-billion dollar Brent Spence Bridge
project following the signing of a cooperative agreement between Kentucky
Gov. Steve Beshear and Ohio Gov. John Kasich Wednesday. Joining the
governors was U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as all three
discussed ways to fund and build the bridge sooner rather than later. The
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) will formally establish a bi-state management team to
jointly oversee the project, according to a statement released by both
governors’ offi... more »
Population Control 16: RH Bill as HR, Coercion as Choice
The Reproductive Health (RH) bill as a human right (RH) was passed on
second reading at the House of Representatives early this morning. It was a
close fight and debate, 113 Yes and 104 No. I did not expect that. I
thought that it would be something like 150+ Yes and 60+ No, or other
overwhelming figures in favor of Yes to RH bill. What happened?
Nonetheless, here are my pieces of small debates in facebook recently:
A friend Louie Montemar posted, "*Ayon sa aking isang maaasahang Oracle,
papasa ang RH Bill na yan. Manalig kayo mga kasama! :)"** *
I replied,
Ako rin, kumbinsido mag... more »
Peaks Supporters Face Federal Charges in ‘Politically Motivated Attack’
Peaks
Supporters Face Federal Charges in ‘Politically Motivated Attack’Forest
Service attempts to ‘Ban’ them from the Peaks to Prevent Further
Protests
By Indigenous Action Media
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Klee Benally singing before arrest
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — On December 11, 2012 three Peaks activists peacefully
turned themselves over to U.S. Marshalls in
North Korean satellite 'tumbling out of control,' US officials say
The object that North Korea sent into space early Thursday appears to be
“tumbling out of control” as it orbits the earth, U.S. officials told NBC
News.
The officials said that it is indeed some kind of space vehicle but they
still haven’t been able to determine exactly what the satellite is supposed
to do.
In a statement, the White House said the rocket launch was a highly
provocative act that threatens regional security and violates U.N.
resolutions.
The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned the launch,
calling it a "clear violation" of U.N. resolutions. A spoke... more »
Viewing Jasper Mountain book trailer
Trying out making a "book trailer" for one of my earlier books, a
journal
of a hypothetical year here at Stony Run Farm. *Viewing Jasper
Mountain*was assembled about 2003 from blog posts dating as far back as
1996, hence
the references to record rainfall and flooding.
Print 9.99, EPUB 2.99, PDF 1.99. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/risabee
Also available from Apple Jack Creek Books (EPUB) at 99 cents, what a
deal!
risa bear's Books and Publications Spotlightwww.lulu.com
The editor and publisher of Stony Run Press is Risa Bear. She farms one
acre in
the Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Holiday message: Atheists dub Jesus a 'myth' on Times Square billboard
Just as midtown Manhattan comes alive with Christmas cheer, festive window
displays and Salvation Army bell ringers trying to channel holiday
generosity to the needy, an atheist group has a message for the masses
teeming into Times Square: Jesus is a myth.
With a picture of Santa Claus above another image of Jesus Christ, the
sign, sponsored by New Jersey-based American Atheists, urges passersby to
"Keep the Merry!" and "Dump the Myth!" Attacks on Christianity from the
group have become routine, and in the bustling heart of America's busiest
city, most folks don't even waste a shru... more »
HSBC, too big to jail, is the new poster child for US two-tiered justice system
Guardian
Glenn Greenwald
[image: Lanny Breuer, HSBC]
Assistant attorney general Lanny Breuer said taking away HSBC's US banking
licence could have cost thousands of jobs. Photograph: Richard Drew/AP
*(updated below)*
The US is the world's largest prison state, imprisoning more of its
citizens than any nation on earth, both in absolute numbers and
proportionally. It imprisons people for longer periods of time, more
mercilessly, and for more trivial transgressions than any nation in the west.
This sprawling penal state has been constructed over decades, by both
political parties, and ... more »
Robinson Crusoe in Formosa
I'm sure you've heard of *Robinson Crusoe*, Daniel Defoe's masterpiece,
first published in 1719. But Defoe also published sequels to *Robinson
Crusoe*, including the *Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe*, in which
the hero makes a stop at Formosa on his way to China....
*++++++++++++*
"We would have gone into the bay of Tonquin, for we wanted to inform
ourselves of what was to be known concerning the Dutch ships that had been
there; but we durst not stand in there, because we had seen several ships
go in, *as we supposed, but a little before; so we kept on NE. towards the
island... more »
A country where kids can't do math has a grim future
Honduras is in a constitutional crisis this week, as politicians take on
the Supreme Court. Important issues, to be sure.
But there’s another crisis. A major international report on math and
science knowledge gave horrible grades to the Honduran educational system.
The Human Sciences Research Council tested math and science knowledge of
students in 45 countries. Honduran students ranked at the bottom, with
South Africa and Botswana.
Children here aren’t stupid. They start school with potential. But they
don’t learn.
The tests were administered to Grade 8 students in most countries, Gra... more »
Google's tax avoidance is called 'capitalism', says chairman Eric Schmidt
Google chairman Eric Schmidt has insisted that he is "very proud" of the
company's tax structure, and said that measures to lower its payments were
just "capitalism".
Mr Schmidt's comments risk inflaming the row over the amount of tax
multinationals pay, after it emerged that Google funnelled $9.8bn (£6.07bn)
of revenues from international subsidiaries into Bermuda last year in order
to halve its tax bill.
However, Mr Schmidt defended the company's legitimate tax arrangements. “We
pay lots of taxes; we pay them in the legally prescribed ways,” he told
Bloomberg. “I am very proud o... more »
9 million voters were suppressed in the last election
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Anne Hawthaway Flashed
All that because of this?
Seed Newsvine
Old, old, OLD growth . . .
THE ARCHANGEL ANCIENT TREE ARCHIVE is preserving the genetics of the Earth's oldest trees.
Will Lockheed Even Compete for Canada's Fighter Business? Don't Count on It.
As a face-saving measure the instinctively dishonest Conservatives say they
have 'reset' the programme to find a CF-18 replacement and, this time,
there'll be a proper competition.
Don't hold your breath.
A real competition would have the rivals all flying in to Cold Lake for
flight demonstrations and evaluations. That's how the United States chose
the F-22 Raptor over the Boeing/General Dynamics contender, the F-23.
Both were put in the air, tested extensively and then a winner chosen.
When the Trudeau government went fighter shopping all the rivals took their
latest and gre... more »
Taxing The Rich-- For Real
Earlier this morning we saw far right zealot Brent Bozell asking why
shouldn't Obama demand $1.6 trillion in tax hikes on wealthy Americans.
"The Republican Party has now surrendered its principles," he insists, "and
is in full retreat, the Democrats taste blood, and they're going for it
all. I would too." Astute progressives are wondering the same thing-- more
or less. Chris Weigant, over at HuffPo, is wondering why we don't get
serious about making the richest Americans pay their fair share of taxes.
Is everything *really* on the table? Well, sure-- for working families...
their... more »
Welfarism 25: Sharing of Mandatory Discounts on Medicines of Senior Citizens
Republic Act (RA) 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 provides
for these new benefits to resident citizens of the Philippines who are 60
years old and above:
"SEC. 4. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. -
The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following:
"(a) the grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the
value -added tax (VAT), if applicable, on the sale of the following goods
and services from all establishments, for the exclusive use and enjoyment
or availment of the senior citizen
"(1) on the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of... more »
Bob Feldman : The Rise of the Klan in Texas, 1920-1930
Flyer for "Ku Klux Klan Day," October 24, 1923. Image from The Portal to Texas History.
The hidden history of Texas
Part 10: 1920-1930/1 -- The rise of the Klan in Texas
By Bob Feldman / The Rag Blog / December 12, 2012
[This is the first section of Part 10 of Bob Feldman's Rag Blog series on the hidden history of Texas.]
Between 1920 and 1930, the number of people living in Texas
Mohawk John Kane 'Most censored issue 2012: UN Indigenous Rapporteur'
Mohawk John Kane: Most censored issue in 2012 was the truth about UN Rapporteur James Anaya
First in a series of the most censored issues of 2012
By Brenda Norrell Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- What was most censored in Indian country in 2012?
John Kane, Mohawk, radio host of Let's Talk Native Pride, said the UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples
Deutsche Bank CEO Jürgen Fitschen and CFO Stefan Krause Under Investigation for Carbon Credit Sales Tax Evasion
Jürgen Fitschen CEO Deutsche Bank
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/top-deutsche-bank-executives-ensnared-by-tax-evasion-inquiry/
*Top Deutsche Bank Executives Caught Up in Tax Evasion Inquiry*
BY JACK EWING
FRANKFURT – After a raid at company headquarters, Deutsche Bank disclosed
Wednesday that two of its highest-ranking executives are a focus of a tax
evasion investigation, dealing a fresh blow to the German institution’s
already battered reputation.
German authorities are looking into whether bank employees conspired to
avoid sales tax on the trading of carbon emission c... more »
Welfarism 24: Comments on the Kasambahay, Solo Parents Bills
My article on FAT-FREE ECONOMCS | Why we don't need the Kasambahay and Solo
Parents bills has attracted a number of comments, I provided some reply to
those comments, below. These were made on November 26-28, 2012.
----------
*ariaanastacio* All I know is that This bill is nothing but helpful. I
believe that kasambahays deserve this kind of protection from the law. I
really don't see how some people would even think of going against it. I
can never imagine it being inefficient and non-beneficial. There's nothing
to lose with this bill. So why would people even complain? This bill is ... more »
"The Cause Of Extreme Weather Events"
*"The Cause Of Extreme Weather Events"*
By Richard Mills
"Over the last few months we have been witness to many extreme weather
events - heat waves, Europe suffering from a severe cold snap, the worst in
twenty five years, extreme flooding in Australia, Brazil and China, to
drought in the U.S. Many say the cause is global warming, and lay the blame
squarely on greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity. Are we, and
our activities at fault? What can we look forward to if/as the earth
continues to warm?
The Earth's climate has been continuously changing throughout its histo... more »
What's With Virginia Republicans?
Yesterday I said that it's highly unlikely that states will actually adopt
the "Pennsylvania plan" in which Republicans take advantage of GOP unified
government in states which vote for Democrats in presidential elections to
change the electoral vote allocation in those states, either to a district
scheme (like the Maine/Nebraska system) or a proportional plan.
So as soon as I posted that, Dave Weigel reports that a Republican state
senator from Virginia is pushing a district-based allocation there (and
apparently it's spread to Ohio, too).
Well, we'll see.
As Steve Benen points ou... more »
"How It Really Is"
Remember your basic math? Any number multiplied by zero is still zero.
In this case, 535 zeros remains zero. What a collection of idiots...
- CP
The Next Time Someone Rails On About Sharia Law, Remember This
From the December issue of Harper's, an item captioned *Grounded for Life.*
*From "God's Law: The Only Political Solution," by Charles R. Fuqua, an
e-book published in April and aiming to show how the Bible can be applied
to U.S. law. Fuqua, a former state legislator in Arkansas, was, as of
press time, again seeking election.*
*"The maintenance of civil order in society rests on the foundation of
family discipline. Therefore, a child who disrepsects his parents must be
permanently removed from society in a way that gives an example to all
other children of the importance of res... more »
Financial Wheeler-Dealer Peter Peterson Revealed: Devil Incarnate?
. . . with a $1 billion outlay from that fortune, Peterson established the
Peter G. Peterson Foundation to target "undeniable, unsustainable, and
untouchable" threats to America's fiscal future.But it wasn't America's
fiscal future, Mr. Petey Peterson was worried about, was it? This may seem
like old news. But it ain't. Wednesday, December 5, 2012 OtherWords For
Pete's Sake, What's
McAfee Released From Jail, Heading To US
Anti-virus software pioneer John McAfee is released from prison in
Guatemala and is due to catch a flight to the US.
A Guatemalan immigration official said the 67-year-old was being deported
after his arrest a week ago.
McAfee, who is wanted for questioning in Belize over the murder of his
neighbour, had been on the run for almost a month.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024655/mcafee-heading-to-us-after-release-from-jail
NOT PJ: One Chance
*This week, Bernard Darnton is taking his chances. But not on shopping for
handbags.*
[image: image]“We’ve got one chance to get this right,” is the catch-cry of
the Christchurch rebuild. Based on this one sentence it’s easy to conclude:
we’re fucked.
If we’ve only got one chance to get it right, the plan needs to be perfect.
No person, mayor, or czar, no committee, council, or cabinet can possibly
know enough to synthesize the needs and hopes of hundred of thousands of
citizens into the perfect city plan. Therefore, the plan won’t be perfect.
Therefore, we’re fucked.
A city isn... more »
Harper's 46-Billion Dollar Boondoggle
The numbers are in and the big number is 46 as in 46-billion dollars to
purchase, arm, fuel, fly and maintain a paltry fleet of 65 F-35s over a
42-year lifespan.
The KPMG report puts the lie to the Harper/MacKay/Ambrose/Fantino
fabrication machine. Yet the number might actually be on the low side.
The KPMG auditors factored in just one-billion loonies to make good
aircraft attrition. That sounds like something in the order of six
fighters lost to accidents or other causes over the lifespan of the
airplane. Given the single-engine vulnerability of the F-35 and the
remote are... more »
our first video: backyard play
Finally, a video of Tala and Diego!
How silly am I? Now that we have video capability, I felt sad that we don't
have video of all our past dogs, the ones who are gone. And because of
this, I didn't want to take videos of *these* dogs!
Very silly. I finally decided to not let that stop me anymore. So we just
taught ourselves the basics: shoot, edit, convert, upload. Ta-da. It's not
exactly professional quality, but it's good enough for YouTube.
This video is actually a test. More fun to come.
“Bank Takes Drug Money, Gets Handslap”
*“Bank Takes Drug Money, Gets Handslap”*
by Karl Denninger
"The "surprises "just keep coming, don't they? "HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA)’s
Mexican branches had become so well-known to drug traffickers as the place
to launder proceeds from illicit sales that cartels began using special
boxes to speed transactions, U.S. prosecutors said. From 2006 to 2010, the
Sinaloa cartel in Mexico and the Norte del Valle Cartel in Columbia moved
more than $881 million in proceeds through HSBC’s U.S. unit, said Lanny
Breuer, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Department’s
criminal divis... more »
Alan Waldman: 'Father Ted' is Howlarious Irish Series
Waldman's
film and TV
treasures you may have missed:
Anglo-Irish sitcom Father Ted brilliantly spoofs Catholic clergy in one
of the funniest TV series ever.
By Alan Waldman / The Rag Blog / December 12, 2012
[In his weekly column, Alan Waldman reviews some of his favorite
films and TV series that readers may have missed, including TV dramas,
mysteries, and comedies from Canada, England,
Worst Christmas gift ever: The Night Dad Went To Jail
Children's book explains what happens when a family member gets arrested:
Story
Out With the Old, In With the Younger Old
Behold at least three of the faces of the GOP presidential contenders
we'll be forced to endure within the next three years.
While driving Mrs. JP to the airport yesterday morning (she arrived
safe and sound, btw, for anyone who's actually interested or concerned), we
had one last face-to-face discussion about politics for a month. I didn't
really feel like talking about politics any more than I feel about writing
about it these days. But doing so as we were going through Providence,
Rhode Island served as a necessary distraction from my having to spend the
holidays alone.... more »
Stable isotopes of UnUnPentium - Bob Lazar's Element 115
UnUnPentium is the stand-by name for Bob Lazar's mythical alien spaceship
gravity drive fuel - it has been synthesised in high energy collisions
between accelerated Calcium-48 ions and Americium-243 target atoms but it
is HIGHLY UNSTABLE with half-lifes measured in microseconds.
UnUnPentium (Uup) is the Latin name for the numbers 1, 1 and 5 - actually
the 'pent' part is tagged-on Greek so that it wouldn't clash with Flerovium
(previously known as UnUnQuadium) i.e. element 114.
Strange that they didn't use the Latin number for "115" as in 'one hundred
and fifteen'; stupid botching ... more »
Jacob Tyler Roberts Killed two People Before shooting himself in Shopping Mall Massacre
The gunman who killed two innocent victims after opening fire at an Oregon
shopping mall on Tuesday afternoon has been identified as a 22-year-old man
who stole the weapon from a friend the day before the massacre.
Jacob Tyler Roberts, wearing a load-bearing vest and a mask like that from
horror movie Friday the 13th, ran into Clackamas Town Center near Portland
and opened fire with the stolen AR15 rifle.
He struck three people at random in the food court, Cindy Ann Yuille, 54,
and married father-of-two Steven Mathew Forsyth, 45, and critically
injuring 15-year-old Kristina Shevche... more »
"More Too Much of a Good Thing"
*"More Too Much of a Good Thing"*
by Bill Bonner
"Parley-vous francais? You can learn that much French in about 5 minutes.
If you knew no French before, this represents an infinite increase. In
about 5 more minutes you can learn “Je m’appelle Todd,” an increase of
about 100% on what you knew before. Thereafter, the rate of return
declines. By the time you are laboring over the past conditional form of
the subjunctive mood or the archaic simple past form, which is used only in
literature or formal writing, you will find progress hard to come by…with
hours of additional time and e... more »
Sentencing for crimes of serious personal violence
R. v. Nowdlak, 2012 NUCJ 19 holds that, in serious personal violence cases
deterrence, denunciation and protection of the public, not rehabilitation
that must be the foremost consideration of a sentencing court:
[41] In arriving at the form and duration of the sentence to be imposed in
this case, the Court has given anxious consideration to the purpose and
principles of sentencing set out in section 718 through 718.1 of the
Criminal Code <
http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-c-c-46/latest/rsc-1985-c-c-46.html>
. Denunciation and deterrence, both general and specific, ... more »
Thousands of squid carcasses wash up on California beaches: Is toxic algae to blame for disorientating the sea creatures leading to mass suicide?
Marine biologists are working to uncover what caused several thousand
Humboldt squid to wash ashore along the Santa Cruz County shoreline on
Sunday.
Thousands of squid carcasses are littering the 12 mile stretch of coastline
from Aptos to Watsonville, where the high tide may have had something do to
with the sea creatures essentially committing mass suicide.
The general public is advised by scientists not to touch or eat the squid,
as they may contain dangerous toxins.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2247028/Santa-Cruz-coastline-Thousands-squid-carcasses-wash-California-bea... more »
Asteroid 2012 XE54 came nearer to Earth than the moon (... but was only spotted two days before the close encounter)
A recently discovered asteroid gave Earth a close shave yesterday as it
came within the moon's orbit.
The near-Earth asteroid 2012 XE54, which was only spotted for the first
time on Sunday, came within 140,000 miles of our planet
The moon orbits at an average distance of 240,000 miles or so from the
Earth.
Astronomers estimate that 2012 XE54 is about 120ft wide - big enough to
cause substantial damage if it ever hits us.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2247037/3-mile-wide-asteroid-XE54-passes-just-226-000km--crosses-Earths-shadow.html
"The Oil Production Plateau: How The Global Oil Grab Affects You"
*"The Oil Production Plateau:*
* How The Global Oil Grab Affects You"*
by Byron King
"I was at a talk recently where a well-known oil economist made an analogy.
He said that if you gathered up all the crude oil that people have ever
pumped out of the ground since Col. Drake drilled his famous well in 1859,
it would cover California to a depth of about 10 feet. “Of course,” he said
with a smile, “we don’t have to worry about California drowning under 10
feet of oil. Over the past 150 years, mankind has taken all that oil,
burned it, harnessed the energy and put the combustion prod... more »
Syria Fires Scud Missiles at Insurgents, U.S. Says
Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have fired Scud missiles
at rebel fighters in recent days, Obama administration officials said on
Wednesday.
The move represents a significant escalation in the fighting, which has
already killed more than 40,000 civilians in a nearly two-year-old conflict
that has threatened to destabilize the Middle East.
One American official, who asked not to be identified because he was
discussing classified information, said that missiles had been fired from
the Damascus area at targets in northern Syria.
www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/world/middle... more »
ANOTHER Human rights farce after Euro judges award £6,000 payout to victim of playground fight over a football in Croatia TEN YEARS AGO
It was intended to prevent major abuses of human rights such as torture and
extra-judicial killing.
But yesterday the European Court of Human Rights was ridiculed when it
ruled - on a playground fight over a football.
The incident involved a thirteen-year-old boy from Croatia who got into a
row with another boy nearly a decade ago over who was the rightful owner of
the ball.
The alleged victim claimed the second boy's father had taken the ball away,
pulled his T-shirt and slapped and kicked him.
He claimed the incident had caused him 'significant distress' and that the
'memories o... more »
Oblivion, or, The Ruins of Future Earth
*Oblivion* is the next Tom Cruise vehicle. It looks rather nice.
Tom Cruise is a silly man with even sillier beliefs. But he has appeared in
some intelligent and relatively plausible science fiction flicks over the
years, and this must count as his first foray into the post-apocalypse (*War
of the Worlds* is firmly in 'apocalypse now' territory).
*Oblivion* is chock full of the sublime aesthetic of reclaimed, deserted
cityscapes; and the ergonomically terrific death-dealing drones are
suitably Apple-esque. It's the *Futurist Manifesto* on screen - a cinematic
invitation to gawp at... more »
GOP: There's a price for everything
Apparently the Republican plan is just keep on doing the same thing over
and over again. Looks like yet another hostage situation over emergency
relief funds to repair Hurrican Sandy damage.
But Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) told reporters on Tuesday that
he could not support the $60.4 billion supplemental in its current form,
and that he hoped offsets would be part of any negotiation of a final
package.
“At $60 billion? In this time when we’re trying to solve the deficit
problem?” Kyl said. “Can I verbalize that stinky look on my face?
I don't know if he can verbalize ... more »
Norovirus continues to wreak havoc as cases hit a five-year high
The winter vomiting bug is continuing to wreak havoc across the country,
with new figures out today showing cases are a staggering 72 per cent
higher than this time last year.
The number of cases is also a five-year high, according to the Health
Protection Agency (HPA), which released the information.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2246988/Norovirus-Winter-vomiting-bus-continues-wreak-havoc-cases-hit-year-high.html
Behind Obama's Chemical-Weapons Double Standard
After a brief scare last week, the Obama administration now believes that
the threat of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad using his sizable stock of
chemical weapons has abated. But that doesn't mean the threat is entirely
gone: as the rebels advance, and as strategic flashpoints like the Damascus
airport threaten to fall out of the regime's direct control, the temptation
to clear neighborhoods and intimidate Assad's opponents could become
overwhelming.
For the Obama administration, the use of chemical weapons in Syria would
transform official U.S. understanding of the conflict. War ... more »
Mo Beatles...
*Within You and Without You*
This is practically the same song as Tomorrow Never Knows. They have a
similar lyrical subject, a similar musical foundation1, similar structure
(verse/chorus followed by an apparently free section before returning to
the verse/chorus) and they are almost in the same key. No surprise then
that a mash-up (eww – hate that phrase) was eventually made from the two
songs.
Within You… does not have raw excitement of Tomorrow Never Knows. It is
emphatically not a rock song. Calling the lyric didactic would be like
calling the Sun hot. The true beauty is in ... more »
Paul Buhle : Comix Artist Spain Rodriguez (1940-2012)
Spain
Rodriguez's Trashman. Image from Dissent.
The passing of a comix pioneer:
Spain Rodriguez (1940-2012)
By Paul Buhle / Dissent / December 12, 2012
In Trashman: Agent of the Sixth International, the signature saga of his
early years, Rodriguez's revolutionaries took revenge on a truly evil
American ruling class.
We are now so far from the 1960s and ’70s that the crucial locations,
Stealth Tanks
Infrared camouflage of tanks to hide them from night vision.
Then there's the Russian shrink wrap camouflage of tanks....sorry this is
in Russian...
You can read the full article at:
http://johnkettler.com/black-programs-stealthy-tanks/
A note on John Kettler's blog. When I post a link it doesn't mean I
endorse all the views expressed. Cobra expressed something to me about John
Kettler's blog that I have long suspected. What John writes from his
sources, and John is a very good dramatic writer, is often true but 5 to 10
years out of date. Some of it is current, an... more »
The Senate and Accidents of HIstory
Excellent post today from Jordan Ragusa on the origins of the filibuster
and more. I especially agree with his conclusion about the controlling
importance of the "determine the rules" clause, which makes Senate Rule 22
clearly Constitutional.
Ragusa makes the point that legislative rules can be the result of
historical accident or contingency, combined with path dependence. In other
words, the whole "previous question" thing happens to Senate rules for no
particular reason at all, sits there quietly for a long time, and
eventually becomes the basis for filibustering -- and then stay... more »
Science, Politics and the "Hurricane Deductible"
The idea that coastal property owners should bear some of the risks of the
exposure to hurricanes is not particularly controversial. However,
implementing policies to align risks with economic incentives can be
challenging, and "Hurricane" Sandy provides a vivid case study in the
importance of institutions where science meets politics.
Some 18 states implement what is called a "hurricane deductible" as part of
insurance policies. While a normal deductible (i.e., the amount the
homeowner must pay in the event of a loss, before the insurance kicks in)
for property damage might be se... more »
Assertive Turkey key to U.S. role in Middle East
With its caustic rhetoric on Israel and its gold-for-gas trade with Iran,
Turkey is not the deferential U.S. ally it once was as it carves out a
growing role in the fast-changing politics of the Middle East.
The collapse of its ties with the Jewish state have put paid to U.S. hopes
it could be a broker in the Arab-Israeli conflict, while its gold sales to
Iran have provided a financial lifeline to a government meant to be under
the choke of U.S. sanctions.
Yet despite the strains, the relationship between Washington and Ankara is
arguably more important than ever.
http://www.reuter... more »
Hong Kong restaurant offers 'End of the World' meal for December 21
Aqua Restaurant Group's flagship in Peking Road will serve a six-course
"End of the World" meal on December 21 for HK$2,112.12 per person.
With the end of the Mayan calendar - and, according to some, the end of the
world - looming next week, a Tsim Sha Tsui restaurant is cashing in by
offering a doomsday dinner.
Aqua Restaurant Group's flagship in Peking Road will serve a six-course
"End of the World" meal on December 21 for HK$2,112.12 per person.
But guests will pay the ominous price only if the world is not going to end
- if the planet looks like it is heading for perdition, the r... more »
Democracy ... harpercon style
(The picture is just to give the ladies ... or dudes who're into that sort
of thing ... some morning eye-candy.)
So, let's remember how stephen harper thinks a representative parliamentary
democracy/constitutional monarchy should function:
1. Elections should be decided by out-right lying to the electorate about
what your policies are and how much they should cost. In this, he's joined
by the Chretien Liberals with their whole "Re-negotiate NAFTA/Kill the
GST/Red Book of Promises" shtick.
2. During election campaigns it's fine for parties to harass voters and
insult them while pre... more »
The Secret Rulers Of The World: Seven And A Half Things To Know
*
*
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/12/fomc-meeting-december-2012_n_2281669.html?utm_hp_ref=business
*The Secret Rulers Of The World: Seven And A Half Things To Know*
The Huffington Post | By Mark Gongloff
Posted: 12/12/2012 8:06 am EST
Science has determined that people need to know 7.5 things per day, on
average, about the world of business. You can't argue with science. Lucky
for you, the Huffington Post has an email newsletter, delivered first thing
every weekday morning, boiling down the day's biggest business news into
the 7.5 things you absolutely need to know. And... more »
Navajo women in solidarity with Palestine oppose Navajo president's visit to Israel
Louise
Benally/Photo Brenda Norrell
Navajo women in solidarity with Palestine oppose Israel's genocidal
practices, say Navajos don't need Israeli chemicals to grow food
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/12/navajo-women-in-solidarity-with.html
Navajo
women in solidarity with Palestine oppose Navajo President Ben Shelly’s
visit to Israel this week and spoke out
No One Wants A Bad Deal-- Including The Satanic Forces
Satan is not without allies-- Brent & Sean
Progressive activists have adopted a new mantra: "no deal is better than a
bad deal" and are working to head off corporate Democrats in Congress who
are willing to balance the budget on the backs of working families. This
week, for example, Howard Dean sent a fundraising letter to DFA members
asking for support in that group's work keeping congressional support for
an Obama-Boehner Grand Sellout to a minimum.
Republicans lost big in the election, but John Boehner is trying to force
his right-wing agenda on the American people anyway. Republ... more »
4.2 Magnitude ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY REG., QUEBEC, CANADA - 12th December 2012
Magnitude
4.2 (Preliminary magnitude — update expected within 15 minutes)
Date-Time
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 17:46:03 UTC
Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 12:46:03 PM at epicenter
Location
48.080°N, 69.955°W
Depth
15 km (9.3 miles) set by location program
Region
ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY REG., QUEBEC, CANADA
Distances
73 km (45 miles) ESE (111°) from La Baie, Québec, Canada
Lindas esferas de navidad color doradas con estrellas
[image: Esferas de Coleccion]
*Nota:* Haga usted click aquí para ver más *Esferas de coleccion *
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Egyptian army abruptly postpones "unity" talks
Egypt's liberal and secular opposition said on Wednesday it would back a
"no" vote in a referendum on a divisive new constitution promoted by
Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, calling off a boycott as long as
safeguards are in place for a fair vote.
The army called off "unity" talks involving rival factions, dealing a blow
to efforts to resolve a worsening political crisis over the referendum and
rein in street protests that have turned violent.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/us-egypt-politics-idUSBRE8B90RO20121212
U.N. Security Council discusses response to rocket launch
The U.N. Security Council met on North Korea's rocket launch on Wednesday,
a move Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned as a "provocative act" in
breach of resolutions banning Pyongyang from developing ballistic missiles.
Several council diplomats said they hoped the 15-nation body could swiftly
agree a similar condemnation and later consider a binding resolution,
possibly expanding already existing U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/us-korea-north-un-idUSBRE8BB16Q20121212
Bosque cubierto de nieve y un lindo reno
[image: Paisaje Nevado del Bosque]
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Removing The Shackles: Recent Arrests And Resignations Around the World
http://removingtheshackles.blogspot.ca/2012/12/resignations-arrests-and-oh-dear-too.html
TUESDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2012
*Resignations, Arrests, and oh dear, too sick to be seen in public...*
*...and for those looking for political news, here's a few links for you:
Please check back here as this article will be updated as I find more....
as you can see below.*
*edited 12/11/12 10:30pm est to add:*
*Italian police arrest ex-Finmeccanica exec, investigate former minister
for alleged corruption*
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/italian-police-arrest-ex-finmeccanica-exec-investig... more »
Hermosas esferas color rojo con estrellas
[image: Esferas de Navidad]
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"Friends of Syria" group recognizes opposition coalition
Western and Arab nations sympathetic to Syria's uprising against President
Bashar al-Assad gave full political recognition on Wednesday to the
opposition, reflecting a hardening consensus that the 20-month-old uprising
might be nearing a tipping point.
Meeting in the Moroccan city of Marrakech as rebels battled Assad's troops
on the outskirts of his Damascus power base, the "Friends of Syria" group
called on Assad to step aside and warned him against using chemical weapons.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE8AJ1FK20121212
Mutant Super Rats 'Spreading Across UK'
Rat catchers are asking for permission to use stronger poisons to deal with
a plague of super rats that have developed resistance to common vermin
control methods.
The mutant brown rats, which carry life-threatening diseases, have been
emerging from their traditional havens in sewers and ditches and taking
refuge in people's homes.
The problem has been made worse by recent wet weather, which has driven
hordes of rats from flooded drains.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024365/mutant-rats-catchers-call-for-stronger-poison
Una linda muñeca con un muñeco de nieve y un reno
[image: Navidad]
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Netanyahu Tells Hamas Leader Meshal In Private Letter: "I thank you with all my heart"
Alan Hart *writes*:
Hey readers, I’ve got a scoop. It’s the text of a letter – don’t ask me how
I got it – from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Hamas leader Meshal.
In his letter, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to the Hamas leader for
clarifying Hamas's real position about the state of Israel in his recent
speech in Gaza. Netanyahu said:
Thanks to what you said in Gaza, I can now look European and other leaders
in the eye and say, “It’s not me who doesn’t understand Hamas’s real
position, it’s you.” And if they continue to tell me I should accept Hamas
as a party to negotiation... more »
Reasons where witness inconsistent in evidence
R. v. Sandhu, 2012 BCCA 500 dealt with credibility and reasons for
believing a witness despite inconsistencies. The Court held some
explanation of the basis for accepting testimony in such cases is required:
[28] In the trial judge's reasons he did acknowledge that her testimony was
inconsistent. But he concluded that the inconsistencies in the
complainant's evidence did not matter because he believed her. The basis
for this belief could only have been supported by his assessment of the
complainant's demeanour. That is, the trial judge found that the
complainant was a "creditable... more »
Santa Claus y un muñeco de nieve brindando
[image: Navidad]
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Arbol de navidad adornado frente a la chimenea
[image: Arboles de Navidad]
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Representacion del nacimiento de Jesus
[image: Nacimiento de Navidad]
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Syrian Rebels Bomb the interior ministry Building in Damascus
A bomb has struck the interior ministry in Damascus, according to Syrian
state TV.
The blast reportedly occurred at the main entrance to the building situated
in the southwest district of Kafar Souseh - a battleground for rebels and
forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
"An explosion rocked the district of Kfar Sousa, and initial reports say a
bomb targeted the main entrance to the interior ministry," state television
said.
http://news.sky.com/story/1024532/syria-conflict-explosion-at-interior-ministry
Pueblito cubierto de nieve en el bosque
[image: Paisajes de Navidad]
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Protect the vote
It's a rather tepid statement. He's not advocating any particular action,
but at least Holder broached the subject of voting integrity:
Attorney General Eric Holder said during a speech on Tuesday night at the
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library that it’s time to consider setting
national standards for how elections should be handled. [...]
“This means taking steps to address long lines at polling places — and
ensuring that every polling place has an adequate number of voting
machines,” Holder said. “We must acknowledge that giving our fellow
citizens access to the voting booth f... more »
Personas patinando en el hielo en navidad
[image: Navidad]
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Should We Still Heed the IPCC?
Imagine you're aboard a commercial jetliner on a really foggy approach to
your destination. The aircraft has a ground speed of 220 miles an hour.
You're ten miles from the runway. The pilot's altimeter is out of whack,
telling the pilot that you're a thousand feet higher than you really are.
How many minutes will it take before your plane touches down safely on the
runway?
Yeah, okay, you're probably going to be a smoking hole in the ground long
before your ever reach the runway. This brings me to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC.
The IPCC has become... more »
Paisajes nevados - Feliz navidad
[image: Feliz Navidad]
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Who cares about international test scores!
*WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012*
*The Times cares—in certain editions:* As we noted yesterday, several new
sets of international test scores have been released this week.
The new data come from the TIMSS and the PIRLS. They’re two of the biggest
international test programs—and the tests are only given every four or five
years.
(Every four years for the TIMSS, every five years for the PIRLS.)
Given the constant hype about such scores, you’d think our major newspapers
would care about this release. Yesterday, the New York Times did care—but
only in certain editions.
As we noted, Moto... more »
Santa Claus caminando por el bosque con tres niños
[image: Santa Claus]
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Bosque con pinos Cubiertos totalmente de nieve
[image: Bosques]
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Pressing Need for Reform in Mineral Extraction Laws
Many US mining laws are over 100 years old. They allow miners and energy
companies to extract wealth while pushing the environmental and health
externalities of their operations onto government, local populations,
and
future generations.
Mining firm profits from public lands remain a mystery, new GAO study
shows.
The Washington Post. By Juliet Eilperin, Published: December 11
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/mining-firm-profits-from-public-lands-remain-a-mystery-new-gao-study-shows/2012/12/11/c3416110-43c1-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines[Exc... more »
Ducks Everywhere
The Onion reports on a story of profound importance to readers of this
blog. Well, go read!
4.54 Million Koreans Live Alone
One in every four households in Korea consists of just one person,
according to Statistics Korea on Tuesday. The number of single-person
households now amounts to 4.54 million, or 25.3 percent of the total
households.
In 2000, they made up only 15.5 percent of the total, but that had
increased to 23.9 percent by 2010.
"An aging population, nuclear families and a growing tendency to defer
marriage have all caused the number of single-person households to surge,"
a Statistics Korea spokesman said. That means the number of widows,
widowers and unmarried people have all increased.
ht... more »
IDF to begin giving its medics chemical weapons antidote
The IDF has acquired tens of thousands of doses of a drug used to combat
nerve agent chemical poisoning and will distribute them to all combat
medics in the coming months, according to a report in the new issue of the
army’s Bamahane weekly magazine.
The drug, diazepam, is an anti-convulsant, halting seizures caused by nerve
agents such as VX and sarin. Until now, the IDF supplied all medics with
atropine, a drug that counters attacks on the respiratory system, but
diazepam, which protects the central nervous system, was available only in
intravenous form and was distributed only t... more »
The mobile telephone was envisaged in 1906
Charles E. Alden was a visionary with his 'telephone for your vest pocket'
Why Do We Keep Whining About Kabul Corruption?
Yes, Afghanistan is, next to Somalia, the most corrupt nation in the
world. So, what else is new?
Now that we're coming to grips with the reality that our military
adventures in Afghanistan have been for naught, we seem to have taken up
Afghan corruption as a diversion.
*The Christian Science Monitor* points out that aid money continues to fly
out of Kabul airport about as fast as it flies in. What? Afghan leaders
are pocketing all that aid money we send in to help their people? Well
that's certainly a surprise. When did this start? Oh, when we started
sending aid to Afg... more »
Reunified Korea 'Would Distance Itself from U.S.' (Not the least bit surprising)
A U.S. intelligence report predicts that in 2030 a reunified Korea will try
to free itself from U.S. influence. The National Intelligence Council under
the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence made the forecast
in a report titled "Global Trends 2030."
The report forecasts that Northeast Asian countries will be economically
more dependent on China but continue to rely on the U.S. for security. It
said China rather than the U.S. is now the biggest trading partner of
Australia, India, Japan and Korea, but predicted they will maintain
security alliances with Washington a... more »
US recognizes NATO Council in Cairo as 'representing' Syria
*UPDATED
BELOW*
* *
Not that the council really does represent the Syrian people.
The Council represents the interests of multinational corporations,
bankers,the war machine and certain nations in the middle east. The
gullible masses, particularly in the 'free' west, are supposed to
*believe*it is so. Simply on the basis that the NATO nations along with
their GCC
partners and Israel dictate it.
It has been reported that the US has ‘recognized’ the NATO/Muslim
Brotherhood monstrosity, resident in Cairo, Egypt. It was only a matter
of
time.
*This of course means nothing but tyranny to... more »
Cable pratfalls: Union official talks around Ezra!
*WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012*
*Dean bungles age of the earth:* Michigan became a “right-to-work” state in
record time this week. In our view, the procedural con game performed by
Governor Snyder extends a continuing sad decline in the integrity of our
democratic procedures.
That said, our side can perform rather poorly too. Last night, we were
struck by one part of Ezra Klein’s interview with a Michigan labor official.
Ezra was guest-hosting for Rachel. After describing what happened in
Michigan, he introduced “Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees
International Union... more »
Pesticides A Risks to Us ALL
Pesticides: Now More Than Ever by Mark Bittman The New York Times
12/11/2012
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/pesticides-now-more-than-ever/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20121212
Excerpted: recent studies showing that routine, casual, continuing — what
you might call chronic — exposure to pesticides is damaging not only to
flora but to all creatures, including the one that habitually considers
itself above it all: us. a statement by the American Association of
Pediatrics — not exactly a radical organization — warning parents of the
dangers of pesticide and recommend... more »
Wednesday Morning Linkage Riffing
I stayed up too late last night drinking cheap Scotch and playing
Borderlands 2. Then I accidentally snagged the wife’s computer — she’s
somewhere that has a high of -40° today — but, thanks to the wonders of
multiple-user operating systems and Dropbox, I think I’ll get some work
today. Anyway…. I know that the
Continue reading
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
Well, it's about time - the mighty Canadian progressive-rock trio Rush has
finally - *finally!* - been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
And announced on 12/12/2012, which isn't *quite* Rush Day but it's close
enough.
Also, Heart. It's about time the girls got their due as well.
Southern Man's musical tastes have varied over the years, but those two
have been in his top-ten list since - well, high school. He saw Heart on
their very first solo national tour, way back in the day; they put on an
absolutely terrific show and were so overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of our
So... more »
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