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Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

9 December - Blogs I'm Following II

Steve Harper: Get your nose out of GW's backsideSteve Harper: Get your nose out of GW's backside (Photo credit: Grant Neufeld)
Some of the rocks at America's StonehengeSome of the rocks at America's Stonehenge (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Schemata of Webster Tarpley's model o...English: Schemata of Webster Tarpley's model of state-sponsored false flag terror operations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Webster Tarpley, author, journalist, ...English: Webster Tarpley, author, journalist, lecturer, and critic of US foreign and domestic policy, attending the Axis for Peace conference round table, 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
10:19 pm MST

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake TONGA - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 3 minutes ago
Magnitude 5.2 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 20:52:38 UTC Monday, December 10, 2012 at 10:52:38 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 16.155°S, 174.224°W Depth 129.7 km (80.6 miles) Region TONGA Distances 55 km (34 miles) WSW of Hihifo, Tonga

We Need Schools To Turn Out More Robots For The Workplace?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 19 minutes ago
When I was a senior executive at Warner Bros, I used to drive our head of human resources crazy. She claimed my requirements for people to work in my office were down right insane. I insisted that my assistants be able to discuss not just music, film, art and popular culture but also literature, history and current events. She kept asking me how many words per minute I needed them to type. My longtime assistant, Ilene, was a Columbia grad who was not just more educated but also smarter than most of the company's senior executives, many of whom had a zero more on the end of their p... more »

Coming Crisis December/Christmas Help-a-thon! (Let's make the next 72 hours a success! New posts appear below)

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 49 minutes ago
*We can't survive without your support.* *================================* *Do you visit us each day?* *Would you like us to stay online?* *Like to know how you can help?* *Please contribute right now. * Without your financial support, we couldn't do all the work we do, including delivering the news to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can give a one-time donation, or subscribe monthly, both of which help tremendously. *One-time donation* Small donation $5.00 USD Medium donation $10.00 USD Large donation $20.00 USD Saviour donation $50.00 USD True friend of... more »

NATO Appears to be Rushing for Syria Conclusion

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 57 minutes ago
Syria & the Fall of Princes on Agenda for Gulf Monarchies | RT Interview with Webster Tarpley. *December 8, 2012* (RT - Tarpley.net) ....

Finding Fear and Faith in Georgia

Rocker at MSM Monitor - 57 minutes ago
*Hey, what can I say, my newspaper is full of it.... * "Murder case reveals alleged terrorist plot; Prosecutor says soldiers killed 2 to protect plans" by Russ Bynum | Associated Press, August 28, 2012 LUDOWICI, Ga. — Four Army soldiers based in southeast Georgia killed a former comrade and his girlfriend to protect an *anarchist militia group*they formed that *stockpiled assault weapons* and *plotted a range of antigovernment attacks*, prosecutors told a judge Monday. * **So which government agency were they working for?* A prosecutor in Long County, near the Army post Fort Stewa... more »

Steve Harper, the Manchurian Candidate

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 1 hour ago
In the course of but one week Steve Harper deals a massive blow to America's biggest and plainly distressed defence contractor *and* approves the transfer, to America's biggest geopolitical rival, 300,000 acres of prime Albertan Tar Sands. This is the same guy who came to power having nary a good word to say about the People's Republic, who seemingly castigated them at every turn. The same guy who supposedly wanted a foreign and military policy in lockstep with Washington. Now it's Steve who's turned. First word leaks out that Canada is finally going to ditch the Lockheed F-35... more »

Mississippi Post Runs Dry

Rocker at MSM Monitor - 1 hour ago
*That's what happens when you stop reading a newspaper. * "Low water may block Mississippi barge traffic" by Jim Salter and Jim Suhr | Associated Press, November 18, 2012 ST. LOUIS — The *stubborn drought* that has gripped the Midwest for much of the year has *left the Mighty Mississippi critically low* — and it will get even lower if the Army Corps of Engineers presses ahead with plans to reduce the flow from a Missouri River dam. Mississippi River interests fear the reduced flow will force a *halt to barge traffic* at the river’s midpoint. They warn that the *economic fallout w... more »

Paris hit by wave of street muggings and grave robberies

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 2 hours ago
Austerity-struck Paris has been hit by a wave of street muggings and grave robberies with thieves prepared to exhume bodies to steal gold and jewellery. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9732943/Paris-hit-by-wave-of-street-muggings-and-grave-robberies.html

Oops!

Way Way Up at Fort McMurray Adventures - 2 hours ago
Well, after a streak of more than two years, it finally came to end an end late this afternoon as I managed to injure myself on the job. Thankfully it's none too serious and I'm already cleared for work in the morning. So while I'm annoyed with myself I know there are certainly a lot worse ways to get hurt so as I told my foreman at the end of the day, I think I'll put the horse shoe back in and go buy a lottery ticket now. In case your wondering, I'm fine, Mom. Although I'm pretty sure I may have uttered a few bad words immediately afterward.

The ACT Party is dead.

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 3 hours ago
If the ACT Party had ever been true to their principles themselves, they would have much to say to the people of Christchurch—whohave had their property rights stripped, their property stolen from them, and their city turned into a welfare project. But like the rest of the people of New Zealand, the people of Christchurch are never going to listen again to a word the ACT Party say. See: They’re not going to listen to a word they say because they’ve poisoned their own message. Because as a coalition partner they’ve voted for every brutality imposed on the people of Christchurch by... more »

The Myth of Khomeini

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 3 hours ago
*The man who railed against America, famously labeling it "The Great Satan," was put into power by America's secret deep state. * "Persecuted by the despot, expelled from the country, Khomeini was the idol and conscience of the people. To destroy the myth of Khomeini was to destroy something holy, to shatter the hopes of the wronged and the humiliated." - Ryszard Kapuscinski, *"Shah of Shahs."* [1]. The history of world events and political figures in the 20th century that we get in classrooms, textbooks, newspapers, and films is a fiction. Here are two examples of a world event... more »

There's a silver lining to the FCC's plan to rewrite the law to accommodate Rupert M (and Rupert M wannabes)

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 3 hours ago
*Rupert M under glass*: *Who besides a few left-wing malcontents thinks that Rupert M himself (aka "Mr. Democracy") and Rupert M wannabes should be forced to do stuff they don't, you know, wanna do?* *"People think a billion dollars buys you a President, but they're wrong. It barely gets you a lemon like Mitt Romney."* *-- billionaire Sheldon Adelson, as quoted in the Borowitz Report* "Billionaires Warn Higher Taxes Could Prevent Them from Buying Politicians" *by Ken* I know there's a lot of consternation on our crazy wide-eyed socialist side of the political spectrum over the FCC... more »

Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 3 hours ago
Samson. He brought the house down.

“The number of children dying from assaults each year has not changed in more than a decade”

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 5 hours ago
A news item appeared this morning that set me wondering about the efficacy, or not, of her anti-smacking law. You’ll recall that Sue Bradford, Helen Clark and John Key between them agreed four years ago to ban parents disciplining their children by smacking. This, we were told by Bradford, Clark and Key—and by virtually the entirety of the chattering classes—would stop parents beating and killing their children. How has it worked out? Well, that this was never about evidence-based harm reduction can be understood when you realise the evidence for how this worked out has never r... more »

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 5 hours ago
[xkcd cartoon] Atrios touched on the nerdrage earlier and links to Digby this afternoon who did the longer. I've been watching this explode on the internets myself so I'll take the medium. We go through this internal bickering every time the Hill shakes itself out of its stupor and tackles a big issue. You're either too shrill or too trusting. Too combative or too accomodating. A warrior for the cause or a tool of the establishment. Conflicts over priorities are the curse of diversity. But the strength of our diversity in in our combined voice. Nobody is doing it wrong. Everybod... more »

Harper's Athabascan Desperation or How Stephen Harper Became Beijing's Bum Boy

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 5 hours ago
Canada's best Tar Sands journo, Andrew Nikiforuk, reveals the rank desperation that drove Stephen Harper into the service of China's Communist regime on the Nexen takeover. It's an ugly story and one that every voting Canadian needs to read. This is a disaster that could blow up in Canada's face. A huge h/t to Troy Thomas for this one.

Iran condemns US nuclear test

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 5 hours ago
Iran condemned arch foe the United States on Saturday for conducting a limited nuclear test, saying it showed Washington's "inattention to full disarmament," the state television website reported. The US Energy Department said it conducted a "subcritical" test at an underground site in Nevada on Wednesday to study the behaviour of nuclear materials without triggering an atomic explosion. It was its first since February last year. http://www.france24.com/en/20121208-iran-condemns-us-nuclear-test *Matt's summary:* Just so I get it correct: IRAN: Experienced the suffering and destruct... more »

Egypt’s President Morsi prays for destruction of Jews: not enough for Zawahiri who wants full implementation of Sharia law…CatholicismUSA | CatholicismUSA

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 5 hours ago
http://www.CatholicismUSA.com/egypts-president-morsi-prays-for-destruction-of-jews-not-enough-for-zawahiri-who-wants-full-implementation-of-sharia-law/ Remember President Morsi is the choice of the Muslim Brotherhood, the organisation that the BBC's Middle East editor described as moderate & peaceful. 'nuff said?

Parasites on Parade

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 6 hours ago
All you have to do is part with one million George Washington smackeroos, and your corporation people will get *exclusive* access to the festivities at the Second Coming of Obama next month. This means that all the little people will be *excluded* and will not be around to breathe on you or otherwise disturb your VIP *exclusivity* during your foray inside the Beltway.* * If you didn't get your invitation yet, don't despair. They were delivered, en masse, via email, and merely give the illusion of being engraved. They are actually kind of cheap and tawdry-looking. And the spelling s... more »

Appearing on National Progressive Talk Radio Tonight

Kenneth Thomas at Middle Class Political Economist - 6 hours ago
Sorry for the short notice, but I will be on Lane Prophet's live call-in show on National Progressive Talk Radio at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific for one hour. I'll be talking about the so-called "fiscal cliff" and, probably subsidies as well. Here is the announcement from NPTR: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/national-progressive-talk-radio/2012/12/10/the-fiscal-cliff--kenneth-thomas--nptr-29 If you want to call in, the number is 347-326-9690.

Northerntruthseeker Rant For Sunday, December 9th, 2012

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 6 hours ago
I had one hectic day yesterday running around doing errands most of the day, and then spending the evening with family and friends. Therefore there were no articles in this blog for yesterday. I have said that family comes first and that this blog sometimes has to wait.... Well, another Sunday, and time for my weekly rant.... Lets just say that in spite of the "ceasefire" in the Israeli murderous attack on the Gaza Strip, things are still heating up in the Middle East.... The criminals in NATO and Israel were not able to destroy Gaza, or have been unable to get their war on Iran... more »

PORTAL 2012: DAY OF THE CONTACT

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 6 hours ago
Sunday, December 9, 2012 * * *MAKE THIS VIRAL!* *DAY OF THE CONTACT* *12-21-2012* It is time to take action! It is time to take the destiny of our world in our own hands! Therefore we will meet in groups large and small, as individuals and couples, at the exact time of solstice, at the end of the Mayan 5125 year cycle, on December 21st. On that day, a powerful flash of energy from the Galactic Central Sun will reach the Earth and trigger long lasting changes. Masses will gather on that day and invoke the presence and intervention of our positive extraterrestrial Star ... more »

OBAMA IS VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL -- AS WELL AS AMERICAN -- LAWS BY KILLING PEOPLE WITH DRONES. DO ANY AMERICANS CARE?

éminence grise at Cherchez la Verite - 6 hours ago
------------------------------ * the**REALnews Permalink* December 9, 2012 *Obama Writing "Rules" for Killing People with Drones* Michael Ratner: Pres. Obama debating rules that allow him to kill extra-judicially anyone considered an enemy combatant anywhere in the world including US citizens and by logical extension, within the United States More at The Real News *Bio* Michael Ratner is President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York and Chair of the European Center for... more »

Grandma Edna Hawk Elder's Broomstick Revolution

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 6 hours ago
A BROOMSTICK REVOLUTION Hawk Elder Teachings for a New Age www.BroomstickRevolution.com “This book is dedicated to all the Peoples of our Mother the Earth. I send it out like an arrow of love from my heart to YOUR hearts! It’s FILLED with Instructions and Secrets for those who understand’m! But always remember, Creation itself is the biggest Secret of all! * “WE NEED CHANGES

D-FOX: Please contact us if you can read this

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 6 hours ago
To D-fox: if you're reading this, please contact us at thecomingcrisis@gmail.com. It's important -- we believe.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RECENTLY PUBLISHED A GRAPH THAT IN THEIR WORDS IS AN "AP EXCLUSIVE" WHICH "SUGGESTS THAT IRAN [IS] WORKING ON A BOMB." HOWEVER THIS GRAPH, WHICH COULD BE USED TO "JUSTIFY" AN ATTACK ON IRAN, IS DEMONSTRABLY AN AMATEURISH FAKE AND THEREFORE A DANGEROUS HOAX ...YET AP REFUSES TO RETRACT IT.

éminence grise at Cherchez la Verite - 6 hours ago
------------------------------ AP's dangerous Iran hoax demands an accounting and explanation Evidence proves that the graph trumpeted by AP as evidence of Iran's nuclear weapons program is an obvious sham ------------------------------ Glenn Greenwald guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 November 2012 14.51 GMT ------------------------------ An article published by Associated Press about Iran's nuclear program has sparked controversy(screen shot of AP story) Photograph: AP *(updated below w/AP's response)* It's important to return to the story about AP's nuclear Iran "exclusive" ... more »

How Safe is Radiation Exposure?

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 7 hours ago
A recent review of radiation studies should lead NRC to examine the amount of radiation it claims is safeHat tip: Thanks Craig

ALEC Legislators - How Much Personal Gain????

2old2care at Because I Can - 7 hours ago
This snip has been bothering me all week. Gonna be some keyboard yelling in this one. I have no reason to question the validity of this snip, based on the source. For years, ALEC has helped corporations maneuver around laws in Wisconsin and elsewhere designed to govern special interest influence by calling the gifts a "scholarship" and filtering the spending through a bank account held by ALEC. All legislators who are ALEC Task Force members are eligible for generous offers of flights and hotel rooms from the Task Force Scholarship Fund, paid for by the task force's corporate me... more »

Accountability In Politics Is Not Very Strong-- Not Here And Not In Italy Either

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 7 hours ago
I thought Italian former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a billionaire with criminal, perverted and fascist tendencies, was in prison. I was wrong. And he wants to be prime minister again. In October of 2011, Berlusconi, suffering from a series of scandals around underage call girls, was convicted of tax fraud. With Italy's economy cascading out of control, he resigned-- in disgrace-- the next month. Ironically, now he and his right-wing party will run against Mario Monti's failed Austerity Agenda. Berlusconi confirmed the long-expected news almost casually on Saturday, tellin... more »

Curative proviso in context of serious error in judge alone trial

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 7 hours ago
*R. v. Ellis*, 2012 NLCA 75 considers the curative provision of the Criminal Code and holds its application is exceptional: [17] The onerous test that is to be applied by this Court when considering the curative proviso in the wake of a serious error in a judge-alone proceeding is outlined in *R. v. Pavlov,* 2009 NLCA 44 (CanLII), 2009 NLCA 44, 287 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 19 at para. 21: … As Sopinka J. indicated in *S.(P.L.)*, at para. 43, and the majority confirmed in *Khan,* at paras. 29-31, once an error as to law has influenced a verdict so as to remove it from the category o... more »

What's the best number?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 8 hours ago
"The best number is 73. Why? 73 is the 21st prime number. Its mirror (37) is the 12th and its mirror (21) is the product of multiplying 7 and 3. In binary, 73 is a palindrome, 1001001 which backwards is 1001001." This passage appeared in the 73rd episode in the entire Big Bang Theory series.

Why Washington Treats 9/11 First Responders Like Trash

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 8 hours ago
An excerpt from, *"9/11 first responders still waiting on aid, 2 years after Obama signed compensation bill"*: Ground Zero responders and lower Manhattan residents sickened or injured in the 9/11 attacks can forget about any financial help from Uncle Sam before the holidays. Nearly two years after President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act on Jan. 2, 2011, no one has gotten a dime. "We're going into the third year of the law, and the fact that no one's been compensated after eight years of hard work to get the bill passed is unacceptable," fumed Groun... more »

Harper's Industry Minister Says China Can Explain What We're Supposedly Getting Out of Nexen Deal

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 8 hours ago
It's positively stomach churning. 300,000 acres of Athabasca Tar Sands now in China's hands and Canada's industry minister has the gall to say he can't discuss it and it's up to China to tell us what the Canadian people got out of this. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/paradis-says-it-s-now-up-to-china-to-explain-deal-to-canadians-1.1072194 Paradis did list two benefits - the Nexen board will be predominantly Canadian and the head office will remain in Calgary. Seriously, that's what that clown had to say.

Bolivia 'Loss and Damage and what it means for development' 2012

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 8 hours ago
    English   https://docs.google.com/open?id=1-MhIvYO1YU4X4Yu_avurCTVnC8LniDjfNUJcamKESdfRaKvgZx3FTKC-YubN Espanol https://docs.google.com/open?id=1rxMLJmiQXicSrHEuHuit-zPmJZZVNNBUYDRaqwzxnJrX5IijsEAw7_iCG_k8 Un saludo hermanas y hermanos, compartimos con el mundo un documento producido por Bolivia para la COP18 sobre las pérdidas y daños que no pueden ser enfrentados con la

Sunday Question for Liberals

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 8 hours ago
I was going to wait to ask this one, since we're a couple of years away from learning her answer, but since it's on the front page of the NYT today...Are you hoping that Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2016? Or are you hoping she'll pass? Why?

Stuck with these clowns

noreply@blogger.com (fern hill) at DAMMIT JANET! - 8 hours ago
Today on Twitter, Comets Mum was appalling amusing her followers by tweeting information on the educational attainments of the CONtempt Party's cabinet ministers, taken from the official source. There are 38 cabinet ministers, including the Trained Economist PM. There are 12 lawyers: Nicholson, MacKay, Toews, Clement, Fast, Oliver, Valcourt, Bernier, Flaherty, Van Loan, Raitt, and Paradis. Of that gang, Van Loan and Raitt seem to have gone a bit beyond the LLB. Mr. Van Loan obtained a master of science degree in planning and a master of arts in international relations from the Unive... more »

The History of Climate Change Negotiations in 83 Seconds

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 8 hours ago
From CICERO, Norway's Center for International Climate and Environmental Research:

Snow covers Europe

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 8 hours ago
Hundreds of countries signed an extension to the Kyoto protocol – it will annoy and steal from Europe and others (while bringing no benefits whatsoever) – until the year 2020. Nature has seen how well-behaved all of us have been and it immediately rewarded us with a continental snowfall which replaced the temperatures going up to –30 °C at various places of Czechia (and Switzerland and other countries) in recent days. For example, we think of Croatia as one of the Czech tourists' most typical summer destinations. It's warm over there because the Forefather Croat wasn't as lazy an... more »

The Difficulty Writing About Video Games

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 8 hours ago
I'm outing myself as a video gaming pseud. I played them feverishly as a kid, completely lost interest in my 20s, and now only occasionally plunge into the odd retro game. My taste is mainly in the games of the late 80s and early 90s. I don't get on with the sweeping, cinematic masterpieces that dominate modern gaming, nor am I keen on so-called casual games, which appear to me as so many latter day retreads of proper old school 8 bit computer titles. That's me, those are my tastes. Despite having almost zero interest in the PS3, the 360, the Wii (and Wii U), I'm not so down with t... more »

Obama Writing "Rules" for Killing People with Drones

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 8 hours ago
Rule #1. There are no rules. "The context of the debate is crazy," says Michael Ratner, adding, "There is already a set of rules, and that's called international law that tells you who you can and can't kill. And the administration has gone way beyond those rules since the Bush era, but under Obama it's taken on a particularly nasty turn." Source: The Real News.

Who’s to blame?

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 9 hours ago
Normally I wouldn’t comment on the circus around a suicide, but the nurse who killed herself after taking a prank call is virtually the only allegedly “hard news” in which the press has really been interested this weekend. Turn on any media, and you can’t avoid it. Which is the point at the heart of this comment at the UK* Daily Mail*’s website, which quickly became the top rated comment on its thread before being pulled (but not before being captured by a vigilant twitterer): [image: image] Hard to disagree with that, really. It brings to mind a comment made to the media back in... more »

Who Likes Nexen Way Better than the Canadian People? Liberals

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 9 hours ago
The Canadian public, including Conservative voters, think the Chinese takeover of Nexen is terrible, borderline treasonous. An Ekos poll finds barely 15% of us support it. It's a safe bet those miserable numbers would be worse yet if it wasn't for the strong support given for the takeover by Justin Trudeau and the slightly fudged support of his rival Marc Garneau. And, while it's unclear whether Martha Hall Finlay will go the predictable "duck and cover" route, we know she can't wait to get high-carbon bitumen sailing the seas to Beijing. They're not quite up to Stephen Harpe... more »

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 9 hours ago
Magnitude 4.8 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 19:09:32 UTC Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 09:09:32 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 52.448°N, 170.071°W Depth 48.3 km (30.0 miles) Region FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA Distances 47 km (29 miles) ESE of Yunaska Island, Alaska

4.9 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 9 hours ago
Magnitude 4.9 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 18:59:48 UTC Monday, December 10, 2012 at 04:59:48 AM at epicenter Location 37.914°N, 143.913°E Depth 35 km (21.7 miles) Region OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN Distances 268 km (166 miles) E (97°) from Sendai, Honshu, Japan

Sunday Question for Conservatives

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 9 hours ago
What do you think Senate Republicans should be doing on filibuster reform?

Family is Family

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 9 hours ago
I know I promised to get back to political commentary soon but that was before I got a phone call from Mrs. JP's family in Vero Beach this afternoon. Not to get into graphic detail, Mr. JP's mother is feeling *very*poorly and there's some concern in the family this may be her final Christmas. I have to put Barb on a plane at TF Green airport in Providence-Warwick in less than 48 hours and I've had less than two hours at this time to psychologically and emotionally adjust to the realization that not only am I going to be spending Christmas alone, but Barb will be gone ... more »

China's Solar Panel Makers Teetering on Bankrutpcy

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 9 hours ago
A cautionary tale of industrial growth gone completely wrong seems to be emerging out of China's once-promising solar panel industry. *Nearly all the “big names” of the industry, including companies such as LDK Solar, Yingli Solar (which sports fans will recognize from its sponsorship at recent international soccer events) and Suntech Power Holdings are all facing the possibility of bankruptcy, consolidation, or both following a remarkable few years in China’s solar industry.* ***China’s solar module manufacturing capacity (supply) has exploded following the 2008 global financial ... more »

Another thing to do on your wood heat stove

risa bear at A Way to Live - 9 hours ago
Here it is December and we have some leftover tomatoes. Nobody seems to want these, as they came in last month and don't have that summer ripeness of taste. Lots of apples too, one after another going bad. What to do? Well, a friend who extols the virtues of steam juicing found us a juicer at a flea market for, I think, $5.00. it's simplicity itself. Set the bottom tray on your wood cook stove, wood heat stove, or range and load it with water. Nest the second tray, which has your juice-run tubing attached, on the first tray. Set the third tray, which is basically a sieve, atop the ... more »

Taking the Real Measure of Netanyahu, An Arab Woman Speaks Up

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 10 hours ago
There's a new name being given to Benjamin Netanyahu's newest illegal settlement crime. It's being called the "*Doomsday Settlement*," a term coined by the Israeli founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, Daniel Seidemann. Nicola Nasser, an Arab journalist based in the West Bank, or at least what remains of it after years of Israeli predations, warns that this settlement is unlike all of the others. *The international outcry is not against the Israeli policy of settlements on Palestinian occupied land per se, but against this one particular settlement, known as East One (E-1), and Netan... more »

Egypt: Mohamed Morsi Cancels Decree That Gave Him Sweeping Powers

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 10 hours ago
http://the2012scenario.com/2012/12/egypt-mohamed-morsi-cancels-decree-that-gave-him-sweeping-powers/#more-155389 Graffiti criticising Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is painted on the outer walls of Egypt’s Presidential Palace,. Photograph: Ed Giles/Getty Images *Egypt: Mohamed Morsi Cancels Decree That Gave Him Sweeping Powers* 2012 DECEMBER 9 Posted by Stephen Cook *Stephen: In this light-filled week, the Light is assisting with incredible ‘containment’ backflips... ensuring we all stay out of ‘dark tunnels’.* * * * * * * * * * * * * *Annulment of measure that sparked days of ... more »

Decades old report warned New York officials of inevitable superstorm eerily similar to Sandy as Obama plans $60bn relief fund

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 10 hours ago
More than three decades before Superstorm Sandy, a state law and a series of legislative reports began warning New York politicians to prepare for a storm of historic proportions, spelling out scenarios eerily similar to what actually happened: a towering storm surge. Overwhelming flooding. Swamped subway lines. Widespread power outages. The Rockaways peninsula was deemed among the ‘most at risk.’ But most of the warnings went mostly unheeded, either because of tight budgets or the lack of political will to prepare for a hypothetical storm that may never hit. http://www.dailymail.c... more »

Vortex Aurora

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 10 hours ago
Vortex Aurora, Alaska photographer's note: Taken about 150 miles north of the arctic circle, during a geomagnetic storm. photo credit: ©BenHattenBach

Reduction: No Other Truths

Storm at Schools Matter - 10 hours ago
1. Words are provisional. Ideas, as expressed, are words and so provisional. Prometheanism fails; so does relativism. All control is illusion. 2. Still, we concretize our parochial thinking. The sand is stone to us on one side; stone is sand upon the other. 3. They are lying. Some of us are good. Some of us care about you. But some of us turn into they and vice versa. 4. One morning Josef K woke to discover someone had been telling lies about him. 5. Nationalism is a murdering identity. Someone is always worthy of eradication. "Exterminate the brutes!" 6. Lincoln was a ... more »

Hundreds of fishermen missing after Philippine typhoon – Philippines climate negotiator appeals for action at Doha

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 10 hours ago
[image: Workers clear debris inside a church swept in by flash floods caused by Typhoon Bopha, in the village of Andap in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province, the Philippines, on 8 December 2012. Ted Aljibe / AFP / Getty Images] By Bullit Marquez 9 December 2012 NEW BATAAN, Philippines (AP) – The number of people missing after a typhoon devastated parts of the southern Philippines jumped to nearly 900 after families and fishing companies reported losing contact with more than 300 fishermen at sea, officials said Sunday. The fishermen from southern General Santos ... more »

5.2 Magnitude Earthquake NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 10 hours ago
Magnitude 5.2 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 18:30:07 UTC Monday, December 10, 2012 at 04:30:07 AM at epicenter Location 3.644°S, 141.110°E Depth 58.4 km (36.3 miles) Region NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA Distances 110 km (69 miles) S (190°) from Vanimo, New Guinea, PNG

It's a Wonderful Life

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 10 hours ago
Found this posted at: http://goo.gl/2iBBA

It is just not possible to envision what is coming your way

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 10 hours ago
*It is just not possible to envision what is coming your way* December 9, 2012 by John Smallman As the moment for your awakening approaches, the vast majority of humanity is in the process of releasing their last remaining ties to the illusion. Only a very small number of souls have elected not to awaken, and some of those are thinking seriously about changing their minds. You can always change your minds! There is absolutely no need for any of you to worry or concern yourselves about loved ones who seem to you to be unaware of the great changes that are about to occur. ... more »

But How Will They Describe Inhofe?

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 10 hours ago
The U.S. Congress wants president Obama to outlaw the word "lunatic." *Senator Kent Conrad, one of the sponsors of the measure, said: "Federal law should reflect the 21st Century understanding of mental illness and disease, and that the continued use of this pejorative term has no place in the US code."* Wait a second. With the inmates running the asylum on Capitol Hill, is it really a good idea to ditch "lunatic"?

A massive release of pent-up negative energy is occurring in preparation for humanity’s awakening

Obi-Wan Kabuki at American Kabuki - 10 hours ago
* * * * *A massive release of pent-up negative energy is occurring in preparation for humanity’s awakening* * * 12/09/2012 by John Smallman As the time left before your awakening shrinks away, focus on showing compassion to those whom you find offensive, remembering that all unlovingness is caused by a lack of self worth, a sense of unacceptability, and the fear that that generates often leads to offensive behavior. This does not mean condoning offensive behavior, but reacting with a counter-attack is unhelpful and often causes a severe escalation of anger. Fear and anger arise ... more »

USA, JIHAD-JANE, KATE NURSE, KHASHOGGI, CHILD ABUSE...

Anon at aangirfan - 10 hours ago
*The most (dis)honest three and a half minutes of television ... - YouTube* *1.* Spot the errors in the above video. The video seems to be saying that America is a free country and has done wonderful things in the past. This sounds like very clever CIA propaganda. *If you add up the totals over the years, the USA is probably responsible for the biggest holocaust of all time.* * **aangirfan: WASHINGTON RULES; AMERICAN HOLOCAUST* *2.* I was terrorised to the point where I was no longer able to think for myself I was broken completely by the age of 9 *No Way Out* -* updated.* *... more »

40 Years On, Meadows Revisits "The Limits to Growth"

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 10 hours ago
In 1972 professor Dennis Meadows published "The Limits to Growth" in which he predicted the world was on a path to economic collapse. Now, in an interview with *Der Spiegel,* Meadows affirms we're very much staying the course. *The problem that faces our societies is that we have developed industries and policies that were appropriate at a certain moment, but now start to reduce human welfare, like for example the oil and car industry. Their political and financial power is so great and they can prevent change. It is my expectation that they will succeed. This means that we are goi... more »

Detroit Free Press: Snyder - Betrays Voters

2old2care at Because I Can - 11 hours ago
SNIPS from the Detroit Free Press *Editorial: A failure of leadership: Snyder's about-face on right-to-work betrays voters* Two years ago, a newly elected Rick Snyder told the Free Press editorial board he was determined to be a new kind of governor -- a pragmatist focused like a laser on initiatives that promised to raise standards of living for all Michiganders. And until last week, we believed him. Snyder's ostensible rationale for embracing right-to-work legislation -- it was, he insisted, a matter of preserving workers' freedom of association -- was equally dishonest. It al... more »

Are We Becoming Subdued?

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 11 hours ago
The *Occupy Movement* came and went. Yet it was never truly confrontational. It was vocal, a revolving protest, that, in retrospect, seems more of a whiney lament than a drive to compel change. Today's Gen X'ers and Millennials seem unaware that the change they're going to need is rarely achieved without a fight especially when plutocracy has displaced democracy as the operating system of the state. The oligarchs will not willingly yield the political power they have truly "captured" these days. They know what's coming and they know they will need that power more than ever in... more »

Sunday Classics: In which Beethoven's violin sonatas turn out to be OK after all

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 11 hours ago
*David Oistrakh and Sviatoslav Richter play Beethoven's First Violin Sonata, in 1970.* * * *by Ken* As I mentioned in Friday night's preview, I came away from a recent three-recital series presenting the complete Beethoven violin sonatas, well, impressed but unenchanted. The violinist and pianist seemed earnest and competent, and from their performances as well as their spoken comments there didn't seem any doubt about their appreciation for the music. And yet I came away thinking my longtime fondness for this music had maybe been outgrown. Now the Beethoven violin sonatas aren't ... more »

For no raisin

Roobin at THROUGH THE SCARY DOOR - 11 hours ago
For no raisin, Wikipedia’s list of known English-language portmanteaus: anacronym Amerithrax backronym bicurious blaccent blaxploitation bodacious Bootylicious breathalyzer bromance brunch camcorder carjack celesbian cheeseburger chuggers Chunnel Chinglish chortle cocacolonization cyberdelic cyborg Diamat digerati digipeater ebonics edutainment fantabulous femdom feminazi foon flavorite Franglais Frappuccino fratire gaydar Gerrymander greenwash guyliner hasbian homoerotic irregardless jazzercise jeggings linner lupper mangina manscaping mathlete mechatronics metrosexual mizzle mobeload m... more »

For no raisin

Roobin at THROUGH THE SCARY DOOR - 11 hours ago
For no raisin, Wikipedia's collation of known English-language portmanteaus: anacronym anecdata Amerind peoples Amerithrax backronym bicurious blaccent blaxploitation bodacious Bootylicious breathalyzer bromance brunch camcorder carjack celesbian cheeseburger chuggers Chunnel Chinglish chortle cocacolonization cyberdelic cyborg Diamat digerati digipeater ebonics edutainment fantabulous femdom feminazi foon flavorite Franglais Frappuccino fratire gaydar Gerrymander greenwash guyliner hasbian homoerotic irregardless jazzercise jeggings linner lupper mangina manscaping mathlete mechatronics m... more »

Why the Secrecy About Fukushima?

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 11 hours ago
There are of course many reasons for the secrecy surrounding Fukushima. It is my opinion that rising militaristic tensions in the region are one important factor. See Michael Klare's "A New Cold War in Asia?" http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28080 Countries like the US and Japan are run by people who see the world as a chessboard. Their goals are to acquire resources and achieve strategic positions in geopolitically sensitive regions. Japan is relatively closely aligned with the US, which has emerged as an overt imperialist over the last twenty years. An examp... more »

Don't Believe Harper's Post-Nexen Tough Line on Foreign Ownership of Canada's Resources

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 11 hours ago
Steve Harper says he's stopped foreign takeovers of Canada's resource industries but experts from the business sector say that foreign money and ownership will continue. *CBC News* reports that foreign money will continue to flood in, only "Harper style." Steve Harper is the master of incremental change, little baby steps that, over time, add up to big change. *In announcing the long-awaited approvals of a Chinese takeover of Nexen Inc. and a Malaysian takeover of Progress Energy Resources Corp., Harper said there are limits to how much foreign state-owned influence is acceptab... more »

Internet governance talks in jeopardy as Arab states, Russia ally

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 11 hours ago
A landmark attempt to set global rules for overseeing the Internet threatened to fall apart on Friday as a rift pitting the United States and some Western countries against the rest of the world widened, participants in the talks said. A 12-day conference of the International Telecommunications Union, taking place in Dubai, is supposed to result in the adoption of a new international treaty governing trans-border communications. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/08/us-un-internet-treaty-idUSBRE8B704420121208

German Finance minister doesn't rule out Eurogroup candidacy: paper

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 11 hours ago
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble declined to rule himself out as a candidate to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as chairman of euro zone finance ministers, in an interview published on Sunday. Juncker, Luxembourg's prime minister, said he would step down as Eurogroup chief at the end of this year or early next, leaving policymakers just four weeks to find a successor to fill a potential power vacuum. He has headed the group since 2005. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-eurozone-eurogroup-idUSBRE8B803R20121209

Germany's SPD names former finance minister as Merkel challenger

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 11 hours ago
Germany's opposition Social Democrats (SPD) formally nominated former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck on Sunday as their candidate to run for chancellor against Angela Merkel in next September's election. Steinbrueck promised a more just society and called for a united fight against Merkel's centre-right coalition in a speech aimed at winning over the hearts of the oft-divided centre-left SPD at a special party congress. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-germany-politics-spd-idUSBRE8B807T20121209

Tulare County Indian reservation Shooting: 3 dead, 4 wounded

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 11 hours ago
Authorities say three people are dead and four others—including two young girls—are wounded after a shooting Saturday night on a Tulare County Indian reservation. Sheriff's officials say when deputies were called to trailer on the Tule Indian Reservation at 7:47 p.m. they found the body of a man and a woman in the trailer and a third body— that of a another man—nearby. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22157373/3-dead-4-wounded-reservation-shooting

Nigel Farage An Enemy of Brussels, and Not Afraid to Say So

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 11 hours ago
THE floor of the European Union’s cavernous and mostly vacant parliamentary chamber here is hardly known for its lively debates. At least not until Nigel Farage, the Brussels-bashing leader of Britain’s fastest growing political party, gets up to speak. The vast majority of the European Parliament’s 754 members, as they process the torrent of rules and regulations that Europe bestows upon them, are not inclined to question why they are here. The pay and perks are generous for those elected to five-year terms in low-turnout elections throughout the European Union’s 27 member countrie... more »

Out of My League

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 11 hours ago
How about this? Floor seats. Centre stage. Row 5. Yours for only $24,950 per ticket. And they're going fast. That's for next Saturday night's *Rolling Stones* concert in Newark, New Jersey. Those seem to be the best seats remaining. The cheapest seats, behind some pillar up in the Gods, will still set you back $350. And parking? That's another $82. To me it's obvious that the last time I saw the Stones in concert will probably be the last time I saw the Rolling Stones.

True danger from Syrian chemical weapons is if militants acquire them – Russian FM

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
The Syrian government does not intend, and has never planned, to use chemical weapons against rebel forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, addressing rumors the that the Assad regime is preparing to use its chemical weapons arsenal. The biggest threat surrounding Syria's chemical weapons is their “probable acquisition by militants,” Lavrov said. “According to our information, and this information we pass to our US colleagues, and European colleagues, [the Syrian] government does not have such intentions and cannot have, because this is all very serious,” the minis... more »

Dealing with politically sensitive topics in the classroom

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 12 hours ago
*Guest post by education writer Jillian Terry* *Dealing with politically sensitive topics in the classroom* Presidential campaigns, political scandals, the world economy, healthcare,and controversial social issues: topics like these can incite some pretty vitriolic arguments among even the most civilized adults.I know I've seen my fair share of arguments about the issues both on and offline, the majority of which are far from polite and even further removed from substance. I'm sure you can think of any number of incidents of such explosive arguments. It's that kind of occurrence ... more »

We'll All Be Singing This Tune Before Long

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 12 hours ago
It goes like this: "*If we had had more ambition [on emissions cuts from rich countries], we would not have to ask for so much [money] for adaptation. If there had been more money for adaptation [to climate change], we would not be looking for money for loss and damage. What's next? Loss of our islands?*" That retort was delivered by Ronald Jumeau, representing the Seychelles, to the U.S. negotiator at the now concluded Doha climate summit. The developing countries actually reached an agreement - to throw more money (supposedly) at the poor and vulnerable countries most heavily ... more »

thinking out loud

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 12 hours ago

Egypt's Mursi scraps decree, fails to appease opponents

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
A concession offered by President Mohamed Mursi failed to placate opponents who accused him on Sunday of plunging Egypt deeper into crisis by refusing to postpone a vote on a constitution shaped by Islamists. Islamists say they see the referendum as sealing a democratic transition that began when a popular uprising toppled Hosni Mubarak 22 months ago after three decades of military-backed one-man rule. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/uk-egypt-politics-idUKBRE8B706S20121209

Typhoon Bopha: Fears for Philippines missing

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
The number of people missing after Typhoon Bopha struck the southern Philippines has risen to more than 800, with 620 confirmed dead. The number of missing had risen dramatically because contact was lost with 300 fishermen at sea, Civil Defence chief Benito Ramos said. Rescuers are continuing to search parts of Mindanao island devastated by the typhoon on Tuesday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20656846

Jihadist-backed rebels take Syrian army command post

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
Syrian rebels backed by radical Islamists captured a northern regimental command center of President Bashar al-Assad's army, activists said on Sunday, as Russia dismissed speculation that it is preparing for its ally's possible exit from power. Assad's forces hammered rebel units on the outskirts of Damascus as they tried to drive back opposition fighters rebels seeking to advance toward the embattled leader's seat of power. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE8AJ1FK20121209

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
Magnitude 4.8 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 14:42:17 UTC Monday, December 10, 2012 at 12:42:17 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 37.745°N, 143.978°E Depth 34.2 km (21.3 miles) Region OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN Distances 246 km (152 miles) ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan

5.0 Magnitude Earthquake BOUVET ISLAND REGION - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
Magnitude 5.0 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 12:38:40 UTC Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 12:38:40 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 54.038°S, 1.941°W Depth 9.9 km (6.2 miles) Region BOUVET ISLAND REGION Distances 348 km (216 miles) W of Bouvet Island, Bouvet Island

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 9th December 2012

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 12 hours ago
Magnitude 4.6 Date-Time Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 11:47:04 UTC Sunday, December 09, 2012 at 09:47:04 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 38.172°N, 143.749°E Depth 34.8 km (21.6 miles) Region OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN Distances 202 km (125 miles) SE of Kamaishi, Japan

A Smoking Gun in harper's hands?

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 12 hours ago
Commenter "The Salamander" has passed along some links about a story wherein the harpercons are deliberately suppressing scientists studying diseases in salmon farms. This is all out of my balliwick, but as I understand it, the story is as follows: 1. Canada is legally obligated to inform the relevant international authority about the appearance of a new disease among Canadian fisheries as well as to inform that same international authority as to the spread of a disease from another part of the world to Canadian fisheries. 2. In the short-term, reports of diseases among the fish... more »

Even Right Wingers should be able to understand . . .

Eric Whitney at Reality Pimp - 12 hours ago
. . . this message, if they'll just watch it all the way through: Thanks to the *California Federation of Teachers* and to Ed Asner.

Fiscal Cliff Fact of the Day

Greg Mankiw at Greg Mankiw's Blog - 13 hours ago
As reported in the *NY Times*: Even if Republicans were to agree to Mr. Obama’s core demand — that the top marginal income rates return to the Clinton-era levels of 36 percent and 39.6 percent after Dec. 31, rather than stay at the Bush-era rates of 33 percent and 35 percent — the additional revenue would be only about a quarter of the $1.6 trillion that Mr. Obama wants to collect over 10 years.

What comes first – a Syrian chemical attack or a US-led military showdown?

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 13 hours ago
For the past week, US officials have kept up a flow of leaks to the media suggesting that Syrian President Bashar Assad was on the verge of ordering his army to unleash chemical weapons. The details built up as the week went by, starting with the detection of “unusual movements” of Syrian chemical weapons units, advancing to reports that the Syrians were “mixing precursor chemicals” for the nerve gas sarin and on Thursday, Dec. 6, that bombs had been made ready with sarin gas for loading onto Syrian Air Force fighter-bombers when Assad gave the word. http://www.debka.com/article/225... more »

Walker ( ALEC - WI) Stinking Thinking On Higher Ed

2old2care at Because I Can - 13 hours ago
I have to believe that these talking points were given to Scottie either by ALEC, or the Heritage Foundation or the Mackinac Center. Scottie is just not the brightest bulb on the Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Christmas tree. Definitely not bright enough to come up with all by himself without a Masters Degree in Political Science, with a Minor in How to be a Governor and a sub-specialization in ALEC Copy & Paste Legislation Cause he doesn’t have one! (Well, maybe he did complete the ALEC Copy & Paste Legislation certificate program.) A little educational something, something from a couple of ... more »

US Navy sends 2 more warships for N. Korean missile launch

Matt at The Coming Crisis - 13 hours ago
The Navy has positioned two more warships in the Pacific to monitor North Korea’s upcoming long-range missile launch. The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain and the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh have joined the USS Benfold and the USS Fitzgerald, both guided-missile destroyers, to monitor the launch, a Navy official said Saturday. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/8/navy-sends-2-more-warships-for-n-korean-missile-la/#ixzz2EZOI1cpx

Mohawk John Kane 'My Sovereignty is not the American Dream'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 13 hours ago
John Kane My Sovereignty is not the American Dream By John Kane, Mohawk Let's Talk Native Pride http://www.letstalknativepride.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-sovereignty-is-not-american-dream.html?m=1 I often hear people say that standing on your birthright is too idealistic, to defend our sovereignty sounds good but we can't defend ourselves with sovereignty; it won't hold up in court. I

Reaching

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 13 hours ago

in toronto: noah richler, u.s. war resisters, and the militarization of canadian culture

laura k at wmtc - 14 hours ago
Something else I resumed after quitting my crappy day-job: attending events with friends, or, socializing through activism. Few things make me happier. I have four events to blog about. * * * * Last Friday night at Innis Hall, the War Resisters Support Campaign put on "Telling Our Story: A Fundraiser for U.S. War Resisters and Their Ongoing Struggle". The evening began with songs of hope and struggle sung by Common Thread Chorus. Common Thread's music is beautiful, but their orientation to the world is what's really impressive. They sing songs of peace, social justice, and struggle... more »

Happy Hanukkah!

Daniel Nexon at Duck of Minerva - 14 hours ago
I am a very bad Jew: the kind who not only married a shiksa, but pretty much only does Hanukkah and Passover. Well, the wife’s out of the country for the entire holiday this year, but Lyra and I managed to have a nice little first night before rushing off to her tumbling-and-trampoline clinic. I always find Chrismukkah Continue reading

IF SODOMY, WHY NOT NECROPHILIA?

NO ONE TO VOTE FOR at NO ONE TO VOTE FOR - 14 hours ago
. If Sodomy is as culturally acceptable as it seems to be, then why not necrophilia? After all, an individual gets to exercise their human right of sexual self-expression and, if the other party is as entirely passive as it inevitably must be, we can state with certainty that no feelings have been abused and, therefore, no suffering was inflicted. Thus, according to enlightened 21st century moral sensibilities, all criteria for acceptable sexual behaviour are met. There seems to be no possible moral objection that can arise that might impede the dedicated necrophiliac from marryi... more »

Ulster burns yet again, all at the will of the Internationalists

Rufus News From Atlantis at News From Atlantis. - 14 hours ago
The relationship between Great Britain and Ireland is a complicated one. The people of Ireland, for example, are strongly related to the people of southern Scotland. The term Scotland itself is derived from the ancient Celtic tribe known as the Scotti, who ironically came from Ireland. The Picts and the other indigenous peoples of Scotland are distinct from the Scotti, yet the nation is referred to by the name of a related but different group, who were not originally from Caledonia. The inter-ethnic confusion which exists in the north of Ireland is exacerbated by the fact that ... more »

'Justin Trudeau' ... the musical

leftdog at Buckdog - 15 hours ago
* * * Featuring "Justin ... get yer gun" !* *This is going to be the 'feel good' production of 2013. I can hardly wait! .....*

Independent Candidates Cost The Republicans 5 House Seats Last Month

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 15 hours ago
I've always bitten the bullet in the past and voted for the lesser of two evils, even pulling the lever for the much-hated Joe Lieberman when he ran for Vice President with Al Gore. Even voting for the very compromised Gore was a stretch for me. He was never the kind of populist, like his father, I prefer. But last month-- first time ever-- I came out of the voting booth feeling somehow clean. I didn't vote for Obama, absolutely the far lesser of two evils compared to Romney. Of course, I live in California, where Obama would be getting over 60% of the vote anyway, regardless of wh... more »

Murphy's Conundrum

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 15 hours ago
Pity poor Rex Murphy. He doesn't understand what he calls the "unbalanced and disproportionate" antipathy Canadians feel for Stephen Harper: For, step back a little, make a little space, and you will see that in his personal and domestic conduct, Harper is almost stereotypically Canadian. He’s a mild, unobnoxious, hockey-mad fellow. He doesn’t boast.He shuns the spotlight he could be commanding every day. He keeps his privacy and doesn’t insist, like many public figures, in conducting a soap opera around his position or his family. He’d be the ideal neighbour — he wouldn’t just d... more »

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 15 hours ago
*The Levee Podcast, Episode 4: Levees.org* Harry Shearer (center between founder Sandy Rosenthal and engineer H.J. Bosworth) will talk about Levees.org's latest campaign on his radio show called "Le Show." Harry will talk about our demand that the Army Corps of Engineers reveal the whereabouts of 50-80 deficient levees as described on Page 1 of this Engineering Letter. When: Sunday, Dec 9 at 12 noon CST on KCRW also at 8pm on WWNO *Corps of Engineers rejects request for more water from Missouri River* *Video: Spud reads the ''Cajun Night Before Christmas'' on the air * *Today: New G... more »

Patrick Moore, 1923 - 2012

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 16 hours ago
Very sorry to hear about Patrick Moore. He may have been an old xenophobe and UKIP botherer, but Patrick will be missed by millions of science fans. *The Sky at Night* will never be the same again. Nor xylophony.

U.S. drone strike kills another al Qaeda commander in Pakistan

Lynsey at The Coming Crisis - 17 hours ago
A U.S. drone attack killed a senior al Qaeda commander in Pakistan's northwest on Sunday, military intelligence officials said, the second militant leader to be killed in strikes by the unmanned aircraft in three days. The attack killed Mohammad Ahmed Almansoor and three others in a village close to Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, near the Afghan border. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/09/us-pakistan-drone-qaeda-idUSBRE8B802620121209

Pesticide-Chemical in Tap Water Linked to Increase in Food Allergies by Mike Barrett

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 18 hours ago
Pesticide-Chemical in Tap Water Linked to Increase in Food Allergies By Mike Barrett Natural Society, 6 December 2012 There is no question that pesticides are fueling numerous health complications; the research shows it time and time again. It's also interesting that many health conditions such as obesity and cancer are simultaneously escalating with pesticide use, revealing a very serious connection. New research has just shown that yet another health problem is also *increasing along with pesticide use - food allergies*. Using government data, researchers at the American Co... more »

Ready To Kiss The Social Contract Bye-Bye?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 19 hours ago
By the time Obama and Boehner present their Grand Bargain to the public, it will be too late to stop it. They're both hell-bent on "structural reform" to Medicare, which means, among other things, raising the eligibility age. If they could get away with it, they'd raise the Social Security retirement age as well. Both really want to badly, though neither wants the blame. In return for an inconsequentially small hike in tax rates for the richest in America-- almost all of whom, at least among the billionaire class, have gotten so rich through criminal enterprise-- Obama has an excus... more »

NYT Series Illuminates -- And Confuses -- The State of the Subsidy Wars

Kenneth Thomas at Middle Class Political Economist - 19 hours ago
Louise Story's series in the *New York Times *this week has created a substantial buzz about the issue of economic development subsidies.This is a welcome development, because it's an issue that doesn't get nearly enough attention in the highest profile media. Story has, in addition, appeared on shows such as MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and NPR's "Fresh Air," bringing subsidies to an even wider audience. She crafted a number of stories that highlighted the big picture issues: imbalance in bargaining power between city governments and giant multinational corporations, the blatant conflicts... more »
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