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| "Clean water and health care and school and food and tin roofs and cement floor, all of these things should constitute a set of basics that people must have as birthrights." -- Paul Farmer (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, KBE (Persian: صدرالّدين آغا خان, Ṣadr ad-Dīn Āghā Khān) (17 January 1933 – 12 May 2003) served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 1966 to 1978. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: The village of Trnovo which was destroyed during the hostilities in the prior Yugoslavia. The village will be fully reconstructed through funding by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The work will be completed by a local contractor by the end of 1996. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| English: Workers from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and CARE gather bundles of shelters and mosquito nets that have been dropped from a U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Packages containing tents, tarps, and mosquito netting sit in a field in Dadaab, , December 11, 2006, after being delivered via C-130 Hercules aircraft by U.S. service members assigned to . The organization is providing humanitarian aid and relief supplies to the approximately 160,000 people stranded by recent flooding in rural areas of Kenya. DoD photo by Tech. Sergeant Steve Staedler, U.S. Air Force. (Released) (Released to Public) Location: DADAAB REGION, KENYA AFRICA 3 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
So we have a fiscal-cliff "compromise." Here's a glimpse of some of the corporate giveaways that are actually in it
*
* *by Ken*
The *Washington Post*'s Lori Montgomery and Rosalind S. Hedlerman reported
tonight at 11pm ET:
The House late Tuesday gave final approval to a Senate-backed bill that
will let taxes rise for the richest Americans, shield the middle class from
tax hikes and extend emergency unemployment benefits, ending Washington's
long drama over the "fiscal cliff."
The dramatic vote followed a wild day in which the critical measure was
assumed for several hours to be headed for defeat because of widespread
Republican objections. The vote was 257 to 167, with 85 Republicans joining
... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Few star clusters are seen to be so close to each other. Some 7,000
light-years away, though, this pair of open or galactic star clusters is an
easy binocular target, a lovely starfield in the northern constellation
Perseus. Also visible to the unaided eye from dark sky areas, it was
cataloged in 130 BC by Greek astronomer Hipparchus.
*Click image for larger size.*
Now known as h and chi Persei, or NGC 869 (above right) and NGC 884, the
clusters themselves are separated by only a few hundred light-years and
contain stars much younger and hotter than the Sun. In addition to bein... more »
Another Long, Cold Night in Afghanistan
*Been a lot of them over the years.*
"In a separate development Sunday, the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees distributed emergency cold weather supplies to families in a *refugee
camp* where two days earlier a *3-year-old child died *of exposure. But
camp leaders and Afghan government officials criticized the aid delivery as
inadequate to protect camp residents from *continued cold conditions* and
to prevent more deaths."
*
**Where is the damn global warming when you really need it?*
*
**Also see*:
*Cold Killed Afghan Children*
The Children of Afghanistan
*Maybe the Af... more »
Fiction/nonfiction debate a diversion from the big question: Should we have common core standards?
Posted as a comment at:
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/12/literature_versus_nonfiction_d.html#comments
The debate over fiction vs. non-fiction in the Common Core is diverting us
from a more important question: should we have common core standards?
The rational for the standards is the belief that our schools are "broken."
There is no evidence this is true: Middle class American students who
attend well-funded schools score at the top of the world on international
tests. Our unspectacular scores are because US has such a high percentage
of child poverty, 23.1%, the se... more »
Happy New Year!!!!!
Happy New Year, friends! :).
I had an absolutely fabulous New Year's Eve. We were supposed to go to a
friends' house for drinks and hanging out, but her daughter got the flu and
they did not want to infect everyone, so they cancelled and we decided to
stay in, which is our fav thing to do on NYE anyway. Our night consisted
of a competitive game of Sequence, a bottle of champagne I bought for the
night from Whole Foods, and some mixed drinks, as well as football bowl
games. It was awesome, and we were in bed by 1201 AM. Loved every second.
Also, the champagne we had was really ... more »
Chet Raymo, “When No One Is Looking?”
*“When No One Is Looking?” *
by Chet Raymo
“Here is a short passage from Rachel Joyce's sweet little novel “The
Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry”. Harold, a retired, henpecked,
sixty-something couch-potato, for a reason we need not describe, is
walking, absurdly ill-equipped, 500 miles across England. Footsore,
discouraged and forlorn, he steps into a cathedral: "When no one was
looking, Harold slipped to his knees and asked for the safety of the people
he had left behind, and those who were ahead. He asked for the will to keep
going. He also apologized for not believing."
Whe... more »
End Of Year Notes By John Friend
I am doing some catching up on some great articles put out by my friends in
this, the real truth movement, so bear with me... It is very important that
the message presented by everyone be shared so as to reach as many people
as possible...
I want to share with my own readers one great article that comes courtesy
of my friend, John Friend, who writes the blog: John Friend's Blog, at
www.johnfriendsblog.blogspot.com. It is simply entitled: "End Of Year
Notes" and John does a great job of summing up 2012 and our battle against
Jewish criminality in fine detail. I have that article r... more »
Checking Up on Afghanistan's Abductions
"US doctor rescued from Taliban in Afghanistan" New York Times, December
10, 2012
KABUL — An *American doctor* kidnapped by the Taliban was *rescued* Sunday
by Afghan and coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. At
least *six people were killed* and two Taliban leaders were arrested during
the rescue.
The American, Dilip Joseph, and two Afghan doctors were abducted Wednesday
as they traveled to a clinic in the Sorobi District of eastern Afghanistan,
about an hour outside of the capital, Kabul, said the district police
chief, Naqeebullah Khan.
The rescue took place ... more »
An Undefeated Insurgency in Afghanistan
*We knew that **two years ago**.*
"NATO says Afghan attacks increase" July 28, 2012
KABUL — Insurgent attacks in Afghanistan during the past three months were
up 11 percent, compared with the same period last year, according to the
latest statistics on monthly violence released by the US-led coalition.
The figures, which NATO released on Thursday, also show that the number of
attacks in June was the highest for any month since fighting surged in the
summer of 2010.
The *disturbing increase* comes at a time when foreign troops are leaving
and insurgents are trying to prove they rem... more »
The "real hurdle" in educational reform: Poverty
Protecting children from the impact of poverty
Sent to the Chicago Sun Times, January 1, 2013
Yes, poverty is the “real hurdle to education reform” (Dec. 29).
We can protect children from some of the impact of poverty immediately and
inexpensively. Poverty means inadequate diet, inferior health care, and
lack of access to books at home, in school and in the community, among
other things, and each of these has a devastating effect on school
performance.
We are investing billions in new standards and tests, and there is no
research indicating that this will help children. Instead, ... more »
Long Forgotten Afghanistan Post
*I'm sorry it took so long for me to get around it, readers. *
"Afghan war barely echoes in US; Battles rage in Afghanistan, but political
and public focus fades" by Bryan Bender | Globe Staff, August 17, 2012
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — The *longest war in American history commands
little attention or debate* — in the halls of Congress, on the presidential
campaign trail, or in the public square....
For most Americans, the *war is not at the forefront of their political
consciousness*, even though Americans will be in combat for at least
another two years, and some troops could ... more »
Important Health News: Video - Vaccine Nation
I have been warning people for years to absolutely stay away from vaccines,
period. It has been especially troubling for me to see people being
gullible and lining up for their poisonous seasonal "flu shots". I have
repeatedly warned people to not fall victim to the media and government
lies about the "need" for seasonal flu shots, but it does appear that my
words have fallen on deaf ears.
I want to present a fabulous video that I came across some time ago. It is
entitled: "Vaccine Nation", and the facts that it presents about vaccines
is truly shocking and an eye opener. I ... more »
Paulo Coelho, “The Imperfect Attracts Us”
*“The Imperfect Attracts Us”*
by Paulo Coelho
"Beauty exists not in sameness but in difference. Who could imagine a
giraffe without its long neck or a cactus without its spines? The
irregularity of the mountain peaks that surround us is what makes them so
imposing. If we tried to make them all the same, they would no longer
command our respect.
It is the imperfect that astonishes and attracts us. When we look at a
cedar tree, we don’t think: ‘The branches should be all the same length.’
We think: ‘How strong it is.’ When we see a snake, we never say: ‘He is
crawling along the ... more »
Happy New Year From The Northerntruthseeker
I have been busy all day today with family and friends.... Only now have I
been able to surf the net and take the time to focus on this blog....
I want to wish everyone, and especially my friends in this, the real truth
movement, a very Happy New Year.
This will most definitely be a very troubling year, with the danger of full
world economic collapse coming, as well as a new push for war against the
innocent nation of Iran. And we will definitely see the push by the
criminal Jewish elements to have full gun control laws imposed on the
citizens of the United States to finally ensla... more »
Happy 2013
I plan on calling it twenty thirteen, by the way. Thirteen is a significant
number in my life, in many good ways. So I've been waiting for a great
graphic to express my hopes for this year and a facebook friend delivered a
Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from 1996. Possibly the last panel Waterman ever
posted.
I still miss this cartoon so much. Wish he hadn't retired.
Thankful to be in Afghanistan
"US troops in Afghanistan celebrate Thanksgiving" by DEB
RIECHMANN, Associated Press / November 22, 2012
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) —There was roast turkey, sliced turkey, ham and
rib-eye steaks. The troops were served steaming side dishes of dressing,
corn, collard greens, yams and mashed potatoes and gravy that some lapped
up with spoons. For dessert, there was a massive cake with a turkey etched
in icing, pumpkin spice cookies and scores of pies.
A short walk from the dining hall, service members were playing a modified
version of American football. Parts of the scene could have co... more »
House GOP ready to push America over the cliff
Latest word is the House Republicans will maybe end up allowing the passage
of the Senate bill at some point tonight, but not before making a day long
public spectacle of their dysfunction. Clear highlight being Cantor's brief
challenge for the gavel. Which apparently failed if one is to take the
clues from the subsequent solidarity photo ops. Like this one:
[Photo: AP file/J. Scott Applewhite]
To which the White House replied:
[photo via Zeke Miller]
I've seen a few call this day a turning point on the twitter. Not so sure
we've really reached peak wingnut myself, but surely t... more »
Right-wingers at sea both literally and figuratively, says Richard Cohen
*
**"Nothing good happens when Republicans leave land."*
*-- Richard Cohen, in his WaPo column* "Republicans adrift"
*by Ken*
This observation by columnist Cohen is prompted by a pair of right-wing
ocean voyages: the famous one in 2008 when loony tunes gathered by *The
Weekly Standard* headed north to Alaska and made a shocking discovery, and
one just this past November, organzied by *National Review*, when the
cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam chugged out of Fort Lauderdale carrying a
shipload of crazies who no doubt booked passage thinking they would be
celebrating the Great Triumph ov... more »
Fueling Afghan Corruption
"US watchdog raises worry about Afghan fuel program" Associated
Press, September 11, 2012
WASHINGTON — The watchdog for US spending in Afghanistan says lax
accountability in a *$1.1 billion* program *supplying fuel* to the Afghan
National Army needs ‘‘immediate attention’’ before control of the program
is turned over to the Kabul government in less than four months.
There’s no proof the fuel is actually being used by Afghan security forces
for their missions, meaning it is not known how much fuel has been *lost,
stolen, or diverted* to the insurgency, according to a report released ... more »
Interview With Edward F. Edinger ["The psyche is real"]
*"Archetype of the Apocalypse: Divine Vengeance, Terrorism, and the End
of the World,"* by the late Jungian analyst Dr. Edward F. Edinger.
Dr. Edward F. Edinger "was a leading Jungian analyst and founding member of
the C.G. Jung Foundation of New York. He was chairman of the C.G. Jung
Training Center in New York, where he practiced for many years." [Source:
Amazon.com].
Dr. Edinger died on July 17, 1998. Here is an excerpt from The New York
Times obituary, dated August 2, 1998, titled, *"Edward F. Edinger, 75,
Analyst And Writer on Jung's Concepts"*:
Dr. Edward F. Edinger, a ... more »
The Chicago archdiocese's Gang of Seven promotes panic in the parishes
*Cardinal George, ringleader of the Chicago Gang of Seven*
*
* *by Ken*
When the lame-duck session of the Illinois State Senate resumes this
afternoon, one piece of legislation scheduled to receive consideration, and
possibly a Thursday vote, is same-sex marriage. And so predictably, the
Archdiocese of Chicago is on the job. As Kate Sosin reported for *Windy
City Times*:
Chicago's Archbishop wants Catholics to oppose efforts to pass same-sex
marriage in Illinois.
With a vote on marriage equality possibly days away, Cardinal Francis
George has issued a letter against same-sex marri... more »
Sunday Globe Special: Sweeping Kabul's Streets
Afghan streets get overdue facelift
*
**Same with **this blog**. *
Raising Raziq
"Police Chief in Southern Afghanistan Survives Attack That Kills 4 Civilians
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The Taliban tried and failed to kill one of their
most hated enemies late on Monday when the police chief of Kandahar
Province, who is pursuing an aggressive campaign against the insurgents in
their former southern homeland, survived a powerful suicide car bombing
that killed four civilians and wounded 20 more, Afghan officials said
Tuesday.
The police chief, Gen. Abdul Raziq, who has survived several Taliban
assassination attempts, was driving through the eastern part of Kandahar
c... more »
Afghan Bonfire
*Just for show.*
"5 British marines charged in Afghan death" by Jill Lawless | Associated
Press, October 15, 2012
LONDON — Also Sunday, Afghan officials announced that counternarcotics
police poured gas on more than 24 tons of narcotics and other illegal
substances, then set the pile ablaze on the outskirts of Kabul.
Afghan authorities said the drugs, drug-making chemicals, and alcohol were
seized in and around the capital during the past nine months.
Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, deputy minister of counternarcotics at the Interior
Ministry, said the destroyed drugs included heroin, opiu... more »
Night in an Afghan Jail
*In the custody of.... ?????? *
"US to keep control of some detainees in Afghanistan" by Charlie Savage and
Graham Bowley | New York Times, September 06, 2012
WASHINGTON — The *US military will maintain control over a cluster of
foreign detainees* and *new ones captured on the battlefield* in
Afghanistan, even as the two countries prepare to *ceremonially turn over
detention operations* to Afghan control at President Hamid Karzai’s demand,
Afghan and US officials said.
The *persistence of US-run holding cells* in Afghanistan, in a section of
the main Parwan prison complex, *under... more »
High School Student Faces Expulsion For Writing Poem About Sandy Hook Massacre
After the shooting in Newtown, Conn. left her emotionally traumatized, high
school student Courtni Webb vented the best way she knew how, through
poetry.
Her poem spoke about the possible motivations that could have inspired Adam
Lanza’s murderous rampage, but apparently that was ground not to be treaded
on as the school suspended her for it and is threatening to permanently
expel her.
Her school, the Life Learning Academy on Treasure Island in San Franscisco,
Cali., saw the poem as a threat and said it violated their zero tolerance
policy on violence.
http://www.infowars.com/hi... more »
50 doomiest stories of 2012
At some point, the pace of doom will overtake this blog’s capacity to
document it. In 2012, Desdemona came pretty close to this threshold, as a
burst of extreme weather events battered civilization and illustrated
the
nature of abrupt climate change to the most obdurate of nation states.
“The new normal” is how observers from Christiane Amanpour to *The
Onion*characterized the various forms of extreme weather that wrought
havoc
around the globe. Thousands of high-temperature records fell in the
United
States alone, and immense swaths of boreal forest burned across the
Northern Hemi... more »
50 doomiest stories of 2012
At some point, the pace of doom will overtake this blog’s capacity to
document it. In 2012, Desdemona came pretty close to this threshold, as a
burst of extreme weather events battered civilization and illustrated
the
nature of abrupt climate change to the most obdurate of nation states.
“The new normal” is how observers from Christiane Amanpour to *The
Onion*characterized the various forms of extreme weather that wrought
havoc
around the globe. Thousands of high-temperature records fell in the
United
States alone, and immense swaths of boreal forest burned across the
Northern Hemi... more »
The Most Important New Drug Of 2012: Kalydeco?
Matthew Herper, a science and medicine blogger for Forbes, says that
Kalydeco, a new drug which treats cystic fibrosis, "is a triumph of
genetics and drug development." The pharmaceutical concern is Vertex, which
also makes Incivek for hepatitis C.
He points out that Kalydeco itself will only help about 2,800 patients
worldwide. As such, it is not the numbers this one drug will serve which
make it significant. Rather, Mr. Herper claims "it’s probably the most
exciting as a harbinger of drugs to come."
Herper gives three reasons why he believes Kalydeco is important. The first
po... more »
The very politically incorrect truth about the Second Amendment
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Fat-Free Econ 35: World's 25 Largest Economies in 2012
This is my article in TV5's news portal last December 31,
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/51641/fat-free-economics--philippine-economic-prospects-viewed-against-global-growth-scene
-----------
Diversity and spontaneity are important characteristics of the human mind
if unhindered in pursuing individual talent and creativity. The more
restrictions and limitations imposed on people, the less creative and
innovative they can be.
This is the case of many developed economies as welfare populism has tied
their entrepreneurial creativity and public finance, resulting in slow
growth, a... more »
Enbridge Pipeline and Stephen Harper, Both Will Be Stopped
* *
* ** Breakaway Oil Rig, Filled With Fuel, Runs Aground* *"* *An enormous Shell
Oil offshore drilling rig ran aground on an island in the Gulf of Alaska on
Monday night after it broke free from tow ships in rough seas, officials
said.....**The rig, the Kulluk, which was used for test drilling in the
Arctic last summer, is carrying about 139,000 gallons of diesel fuel and
12,000 gallons of lubricating oil and hydraulic fluid, the officials said.
....**officials from Shell, Alaskan state agencies and other groups that
has been directing the response since the troubles with the rig b... more »
Happy New Year
Fireworks, nice food, wine, beer, other high octane or low octane drinks.
Good way to greet the new year, always looking up, hopeful and cheerful for
the coming year.
A good friend, Boye Quiambao, posted this in her facebook wall yesterday, I
like it, so am reposting here.
*Recipe for a Happy New Year**
**(Anonymous)**
**
**Take twelve fine, full-grown months and see that these are thoroughly
free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate. Cleanse them
completely from every clinging spite. Pick off all specks of pettiness and
littleness. In short, see that these months are ... more »
The Reading (Half)Year
I read. Really, I do. In fact, I read alot. But most of the reading I do,
I’ve figured out, is for one of two particular purposes. First, I read to
review. The International Feminist Journal of Politics gets about 100
manuscripts a year, and I read about 30 books between the Oxford Series on
Continue reading
earthrise
Download and enlarge this image
and you can see structures
inside the large crater near the bottom.
(moon rising)
(download this image)
AmericaBlog's Gaius Publius points out that the Bush tax cuts HAVE EXPIRED, and therefore . . .
*by Ken*
Over at AmericaBlog, Gaius Publius notes: "Bush tax cuts have expired, no
law has replaced them." As he points out :
No, a handshake between Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell is not a new law,
desite what you're reading in the papers. And yes, the negotiating ground
has changed, despite what you're reading in the papers.
I'm not absolutely sure that's the case, bearing in mind what WaPo's
Village Fixer Chris Cillizza pointed out the other day about congressional
electoral math: that whatever the polls say, congressional Republicans are
pretty much invincible in their distric... more »
Untitled
*LIFE IN MUTUALISM:*
*IN THE BEGINNING PART ONE-THE TIMES OF GENESIS:*
Life probably began about 3.8 billion years ago.during the Eoarchaen Era
(4 > 3.6 Billion years ago).This is the approximate time that we find the
oldest rocks of Earth. Before this time the surface of the Earth was
molten, and hence there there is no recoverable record., This was the
Hadean eon. The Eoarchaen era left few signs in the fossil record, but of
those which remain there is at least some evidence of bacterial colonies.
Why 'colonies' ? Why was life undetectable until the arrival of a colonial
lifest... more »
Russia throws poisonous meat back to US
Pravda
Anastasia Garina
[image: Russia throws poisonous meat back to US. 48807.jpeg]
U.S. meat supplies to Russia have been banned. The Russian Federation and
the United States differ in the assessment of the causes of the situation.
Russia claims that the reason for the ban was the presence of ractopamine
drug in US meat. America insists that Russia's actions were a response to
the adoption of the Magnitsky Act by the Senate and accuses Russia of
violating WTO rules.
On December 7, 2012 Russia's Federal Agency for Agricultural Control,
Rosselhohznadzor, banned the imports of meat c... more »
Bachmann - Doesn't Deserve a Raise or To Be Paid
From a local newspaper:
Michele Bachmann Introduces Legislation to Rescind Congressional Pay Raise
"We have a spending problem in our country and we should be looking for
areas to cut spending," Bachmann said ... "we should not increase
government spending and add to the debt burden by giving members of
Congress a pay raise."
Oh - Michele - SHUT UP - please, just SHUT UP
Nobody cares about what comes out of your piehole.
No - dear Michele - we have - an abundance of idiots like you in congress
and we should be looking at getting rid of all of them, not paying them.
Maybe she sho... more »
Passing A Very Bad/Lousy/Nationwide-Regrettable Deal (Why Financial Criminals Get A Free Pass (Largely) and Small-Time Nonviolent "Criminals" Do All the Time)
Paul Krugman | Perspective on the Deal Paul Krugman, The New York Times
Krugman writes: "If Obama stands his ground on the debt ceiling, this deal
won't look bad in retrospect. If he doesn't, yesterday will be seen as the
day he began throwing away his presidency and the hopes of everyone who
supported him." READ MORE And from the Congress: Harkin Blasts Fellow
Democrats: ‘No
Evidence of Fukushima Fallout: Increase in Global "Background" Radiation Levels
An Enenews poster, Vital1, has been collecting and graphing his radiation
monitoring data. His careful data collection help document an increase in
background radiation over the last year and a half.
I find his data particularly concerning because he is in the southern
hemisphere and therefore is not directly downwind of Fukushima fallout from
the jet stream, which is I believe the most significant atmospheric conduit
of Fukushima fallout* *outside of Japan.
Furthermore, his data support my empirically based observations that
fallout significantly increased in December of 2011 and... more »
Overnight Stay at an Afghan Hospital
*The doctor may not be right with you*:
"US should investigate alleged abuses at Afghan hospital" August 02, 2012
The photos of Afghan patients at the *US-funded* Dawood National Military
Hospital in Kabul are troubling.
*
**It is not that I think Afghans are not worthy of medical care, but this
as we are prescribed Medicare and Medicaid cuts here at home.*
*
**I suppose it wouldn't be so bad were they not there based on a series and
sequence of unholy lies.*
Injured Afghan soldiers, photographed by US military whistleblowers, are
seen on beds at their country’s premier military hosp... more »
Dissension Among US House ALEC-ers????
Proof that there is no honor among thieves.
*ALEC-ers in BOLD below *
From The Hill today
Boehner's 100 loyal soldiers might give him political cover on 'cliff'By
Bob Cusack - 01/01/13 03:06 PM ET
By Bob Cusack - 01/01/13 03:06 PM ET
Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) has about 100 Republican members he can count
on if and when the Senate-passed "fiscal-cliff" bill hits the House floor,
according to an analysis by The Hill.
The following is the list of 92 House Republicans who didn't defect on any
of the five fiscal cliff bills reviewed by The Hill.
1. Aaron Schock (Ill.)
2. *Adr... more »
Baling Together This Post About Afghanistan
*Turned out to be a patsy when I was all done. *
"Robert Bales – Lone Nut or Scapegoat?; What are the Americans
hiding?" by Justin Raimondo, March 23, 2012
The murder of 17 Afghan civilians – most of them children – by staff
sergeant Robert Bales may be far worse than we think at present. The
semi-official story, as related by our compliant news media, is that a
formerly model soldier went bananas under the pressure of war-related
injuries, financial problems at home, and the all-purpose PTSD explanation for
military misbehavior, whereupon he decided – at 3 am in the morning, after ... more »
Crocker's Car Crash
"Ex-ambassador to Afghanistan faces charges of drunken driving, hit-run
SPOKANE, Wash. — Former US ambassador Ryan Crocker is facing hit-and-run
and *drunken driving* charges in Washington state after striking a semi
truck when he tried to make a right turn from the left lane, authorities
said Thursday.
The 63-year-old Spokane native registered a 0.160 blood-alcohol content — *twice
the legal limit* — and a 0.152 in successive breath tests when he was
arrested Aug. 14 in Spokane Valley, State Trooper Troy Briggs said.
Crocker, who was driving a 2009 Ford Mustang convertible, was sto... more »
"Empires of Illusion and the Credibility Trap"
*"Empires of Illusion and the Credibility Trap"*
by Jesse
"I came across a nice, compact interview with Chris Hedges which
illuminates his thesis of the decline of the American Empire and the
illusory thinking that accompanies it. Can the shock and meltdown of Karl
Rove on election night be any better contemporary illustration of the power
of selective thinking to delude a group of seemingly rational people to
their own downfall?
The end of empires and the accompanying sea change of social organization
are always remarkable for their extremes of human behavior. The almost
frene... more »
Why wait? Read 2013’s shocking political headlines right now on Alberta Diary!
The Dagny Taggarts, a synchronized skating team from Ottawa get ready to do
their popular routine, “Where Is John Galt?” Defence Minister Joan Crockatt
is in the front row, second from right. Below: Senator Tom Flanagan; U of C
economics student Kim Jong-un, in full Calgary drag; Deputy Premier Thomas
Lukaszuk, ecstatic for his boss; ... more »
Karl Denninger, "Only One Thing To Say To This"
*"Only One Thing To Say To This"**
by Karl Denninger
"Yeah, it's pretty clear, eh? "The Senate early on New Year's Day voted
overwhelmingly in favor of a fiscal cliff deal that would extend tax rates
on annual household income under $450,000 and postpones automatic spending
cuts for two months. The bill was approved in an 89-8 vote that came after
only 10 minutes of formal floor debate and no official score from the
Congressional Budget Office. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated it
would reduce federal revenue by $3.93 trillion over the next decade
compared to current law... more »
New Year's Resolutions: The 52 & 7 Challenge...
*this is something I can run with.*
This whole year long resolution thingy just doesn't work. You know that
and I know that. So why do we still keep doing it? It's a mystery.
Jon Acuff has come up with a great idea. *Really* great!
From *Jon Acuff:*
[...]So how do I approach 2013?
Knowing that I’ve had much more enjoyable years when I’ve been deliberate
with my time do I change my design on the year?
Easy, I break the year down.
There are 365 days in the year.
There are 7 core areas of life. (Spiritual, Financial, Physical, Social,
Mental, Career, Family.)
365 divided b... more »
One tweet to fool them all and in the darkness bind them
The Senate passed a bill in the early hours of January 1st, meaning
technically the Bush tax cuts have expired and we've been effectively
pushed off the "fiscal cliff." So now we're waiting for the House to pick
up their side of the legislative safety net to break the fall. I'd advise
not to hold the breath, since Cantor has already announced the House GOPers
haven't yet decided to take a vote today. Hey, what's the rush?
Booman explained the Senate deal. Clearly it's not perfect. It's far from a
resounding victory for liberalism, but Dems have made much worse
concessions and GOPer... more »
"To the Class, and People, of 2012"
*"To the Class of 2012"*
By Bill Bonner
"We spent the weekend in Charlottesville, VA…at the UVA graduation for our
son, Henry. The University of Virginia is probably the most handsome campus
in America. Especially in May. It has a green central esplanade bordered by
columned buildings in the Greco-Roman style. At one end is the famous
Rotunda. Flowers and trees bloom everywhere. We know of no other president
who achieved anything equivalent. Some waged dubious wars. Some launched
weasely social welfare programs. The best of them idled away their careers,
shaking hands, making de... more »
Greenhouse effect doesn't contradict any laws of physics
It's the new year, 2013, and I will start it with some sort of "hardcore
skeptic bashing".
Needless to say, it's not the first time when you can read a text on this
blog that could be described in this way. Your humble correspondent is
balanced when it comes to the catching of mistakes spread by "alarmists" as
well as "skeptics", "believers" as well as "infidels", and so on.
*The glass greenhouses resemble the greenhouse effect in the sense that
they make it harder for the heat to escape. However, the methods to achieve
so are different. The greenhouse mechanically stops convectio... more »
Russia's Sanctuary for Deposed Leaders
You've
probably never heard of Barvikha, Russia. It's a posh little villageon
the A105 out of Moscow. And it might soon be the new home of Syrian
strongman Bashar al-Assad.
*The village hosts a luxury sanitarium popular with Russian presidents
and
top drawer nobs. It also serves as a refuge for several deposed bad
guys,
the type who understood when they absolutely had to get out of Dodge.*
*This improbable small town of villas and luxury boutiques, built around
the sanitarium, is home to half a dozen or so deposed leaders and
members
of their families.*
* *
*In its snowy tranqui... more »
Shell drilling rig runs aground in heavy Alaska seas
[image: The Kulluk drill barge as it was being towed Sunday south of Kodiak
Island in Alaska, 30 December 2012. Heavt seas forced crew members to
disconnect the rig from its last remaining tow line and the vessel went
aground on a small island south of Kodiak on 1 January 2012. U.S. Coast
Guard]
By Kim Murphy
1 January 2013
(Los Angeles Times) – Days of efforts trying to guide a mobile offshore
drilling rig through stormy Alaska seas hit a crisis Monday night when crew
members were forced to disconnect the rig from its last remaining tow line
and the vessel went aground on a smal... more »
Thought for the day...
heh
Gleefully stolen from rmactsc via Phoebe's Detention Room.
“Javert’s Religion of Statism”
*“Javert’s Religion of Statism”*
by Jeffrey Tucker
"Those who take prosperity for granted- and all of us do whether we admit
it or not- would do well to make their way to the film "Les Misérables",
which features Russell Crowe playing the role of the relentless French cop
Javert (not to mention an astonishingly effective presentation of “I
Dreamed the Dream” by Anne Hathaway). This film brilliantly pictures a
level of poverty that none of us has ever known. We do well to reflect on
it and the reasons that we do experience such poverty now (hint: it’s not
because of Congress.) An... more »
My Store, Mi Tienda
Store Menu
By Price All Prices Under $10 From $10 to $15 From $15 to $20 From
$20 to $25 From $25 to $30 From $30 to $35 From $35 to $40 From $40 to
$50 Over $50 The Burning question One of a kind copyrighted,
thought provoking original art work to wear. People will ask you, "where
did you get it?"
[image: For thinkers, problem solvers ant those who find themselves
in a dilema to solve or don't know where to go in life.] The burning
question products iPad Sleeve $22.49 [image: For thinkers, problem
solvers ant those who find th... more »
Monbiot, 2012 - The Year of the Great Polishing
To *The Guardian's* enviro-scribe, George Monbiot, 2012 was the year we did
our best to abandon the natural world.
*In 2012 governments turned their backs on the living planet, demonstrating
that no chronic problem, however grave, will take priority over an
immediate concern, however trivial. I believe there has been no worse year
for the natural world in the past half-century.*
*...Their indifference was distilled into a great collective shrug at the
Earth Summit in June. The first summit, 20 years before, was supposed to
have heralded a new age of environmental responsibility. Dur... more »
Fate On A Subway Platform-- And Ugly, Ignorant Uniquely American Racism And Xenophobia
For the last two weeks the *only* news in India-- and 24/7-- has involved
the brutal gang rape of a 23-year old unnamed woman in Delhi who died from
her injuries over the weekend. She was undergoing medical treatment in
Singapore and her body was shipped back to Delhi today. Delhi has been
overtaken with protests-- and shocking police brutality-- the entire time.
The center of Delhi has ground to a halt, even the subway system shutting
down all the stations in the center of town. And the roads were all blocked
by the heavy-handed security forces who treated the hundreds of thousand... more »
One Little Word for 2013
Fearless. In 2013, I want to be Fearless. So many times I have let fear
dictate my life. It has kept me from doing something things and almost
paralyzed me into not doing other things. Fear almost kept me from going to
my first blogger event in 2012 and I am so glad it didn't. The blogger
community is an incredible thing to be apart of. Something I wouldn't miss
for the world. Fear often keeps me from driving. I never know when a
migraine is going to hit and so I just don't go anywhere. I let fear trap
me.
I know it is impossible to actually be fearless for 2013, so the goal is
... more »
Satire: "Washington Celebrates Solving Totally Unnecessary Crisis They Created"
*"Washington Celebrates Solving Totally*
* Unnecessary Crisis They Created"*
by Andy Borowitz
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)— "Official Washington was in celebration
mode on New Year’s Day after kind of averting a completely unnecessary
crisis that was entirely of its own creation. “This deal proves that if we
all procrastinate long and hard enough, we can semi-solve any
self-inflicted problem at the very last minute in a way that satisfies no
one,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky). But even as
Sen. McConnell basked in self-congratulation, he warned Con... more »
My New Store Mi nueva Tienda
Store Menu
By Price All Prices Under $10 From $10 to $15 From $15 to $20 From
$20 to $25 From $25 to $30 From $30 to $35 From $35 to $40 From $40 to
$50 Over $50 The Burning question One of a kind copyrighted,
thought provoking original art work to wear. People will ask you, "where
did you get it?"
[image: For thinkers, problem solvers ant those who find themselves
in a dilema to solve or don't know where to go in life.] The burning
question products iPad Sleeve $22.49 [image: For thinkers, problem
sol... more »
Northern Ireland: Evacuation after pipe bomb thrown
A viable pipe bomb was thrown at a house in west Belfast on New Year’s Eve.
Dozens of homes in the Glenalina Park area of Ballymurphy were evacuated
during the alert just after 10pm on Monday.
Residents were moved to the nearby Whiterock Community Centre but were
allowed back into their houses at about 12.30am.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/evacuation-after-pipe-bomb-thrown-1-4632501
Happy New Year
I got lost yesterday but all of you were in my thoughts, and I raised a
glass to all at midnight -- in my dreams. Thirteen is a lucky number in my
life. Here's hoping that translates to a prosperous and happy year for
everyone.
Middle Class - No Kids? Fiscal Deal was Not for You.
*Middle Class?*
*No kids?*
*Middle Class?*
*No kids living at home?*
*Middle Class?*
*No kids going to school?*
The fiscal cliff deal done in the middle of the night does nothing for you.
*Absolutely nothing.*
*We weren't even considered in the process last night. *
*We don't count, even though there are a lot of us in today's society.*
Is the House going to pass it?
Frankly - I don't give a damn.
Republicans - Democrats - Independents - they are all the same to me today.
* *
* (Except - *Democrats Thomas R. Carper (DE), Michael Bennet (CO),
and Tom Harkin (IA) who voted no)
* ... more »
Stephen Ashton Killed In Thailand 'Gang Attack'
A British tourist shot dead in Thailand has been named by the Foreign
Office as Stephen Ashton.
He was reportedly killed at a New Year's Eve party after being caught in
the crossfire during a fight between two local gangs.
The 22-year-old was said to have died as he danced with friends at a beach
bar on the island of Koh Phangan.
http://news.sky.com/story/1032169/brit-tourist-killed-in-thailand-gang-attack
Islamic militants massacre five women teachers travelling to primary school in protest at female education in Pakistan
Five
female teachers in Pakistan have been slaughtered by Islamic militants
bent on keeping women and girls away from education.
They were murdered in a New Year's Day ambush on the van carrying them
home
from their jobs at a community centre and primary school in the
north-west
of the country.
The teachers and two health workers - one man and one woman - were
killed
this afternoon in the conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of
Pakistan.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255649/Islamic-militants-massacre-women-teachers-travelling-primary-school-protest-female-education-Pa... more »
Sean Cawthray: Police hunt for dangerous serial rapist who walked out of open prison
A serial rapist is being hunted by police after walking out of an open
prison.
Sean Cawthray, 41, was jailed indefinitely in 2002 after attempting to
kidnap a 14-year-old girl by dragging her away from a bus stop.
He was last seen at Leyhill Open Prison in south Gloucestershire at 5.30pm
on Sunday and is believed to have left the unit before 8.30pm.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255642/Public-warned-approach-dangerous-serial-rapist-walked-open-prison.html
*Police warn public not to approach him, so what's he doing in an open
prison?*
Drifting Shell drill ship grounds on rocks off Alaska
A large drill ship belonging to oil major Shell ran aground off Alaska on
Monday night after drifting in stormy weather, company and government
officials said.
The ship, the Kulluk, broke away from one of its tow lines on Monday
afternoon and was driven to rocks just off Kodiak Island, where it grounded
at about 9 p.m. Alaska time, officials said.
The 18-member crew had been evacuated by the Coast Guard late Saturday
because of risks from the storm.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/01/us-alaska-ship-idUSBRE90005S20130101
Pussy paranoia . . .
UNLIKE
STEVIE, it can be hard to tell what your cat may be up to, cats are
subtle creatures. Matthew Inman's oeuvre is available at Amazon and
elsewhere.
There is No Printable Title for This
Saw this on the top of the ever evolving front page of Daily Kos and it
pissed me off more than anything I have read in a long time.
Here's some cheery news to take your mind off the fiscal cliff curb. The
Chicago Sun-Times reported on Saturday:
WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama is urging the Illinois General
Assembly to legalize gay marriage in his home state as lawmakers are poised
to take up the measure as early as this week in Springfield.
"While the president does not weigh in on every measure being
considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone ... more »
David Brooks to American voters: Drop dead!
*TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2013*
*Rhetorician, heal thyself:* David Brooks was looking for someone to blame
for a rather weak budget agreement and for more failures to come.
He settled on a familiar safe target. And yes, we have that date right:
BROOKS (1/1/13): *Whom should we blame for this?* Again, we should not
blame Obama and Boehner. In their different ways, they and a number of
other people in the Congress are trying to find a politically palatable way
to deal with these hard issues. They got what conditions allowed.
*Ultimately, we should blame the American voters. The average Med... more »
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake KEPULAUAN SULA, INDONESIA - 1st January 2013
Magnitude
5.0
Date-Time
Tuesday, January 01, 2013 at 15:18:37 UTC
Wednesday, January 02, 2013 at 12:18:37 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
1.105°S, 126.818°E
Depth
32.8 km (20.4 miles)
Region
KEPULAUAN SULA, INDONESIA
Distances
98 km (60 miles) WNW of Laiwui, Indonesia
Tuesday Morning Linkage Club
Happy New Year, if you’re into that whole Gregorian calendar thing. (And
this photo is, inshallah, our last Gangnam Style reference.) Sorry to those
of you who thinks this blog inclines too much toward America-centric
linkage; there’s a lot of that in today’s edition. Look below for more
traditional IR links. On a related note,
Continue reading
Sex Offender Sent to Afghanistan
*No wonder the Afghans want us to leave. *
"Oregon soldier on probation can go to Afghanistan" by STEVEN DUBOIS |
Associated Press, September 15, 2012
PORTLAND, Ore. — An Army Reserve corporal can deploy to Afghanistan without
the fear he will be arrested when returning home, the Oregon Supreme Court
ruled Friday.
Derrick James McDonald, 22, had asked the court to resolve a conflict
between his Army orders to deploy and his local probation requirements.
In response to the emergency request, the court directed Washington County
Judge Gayle Nachtigal to modify the terms of the sold... more »
Django reviewers in chains: Can A. O. Scott possibly mean that?
*TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2013*
*The press corps’ relation to power:* The wonderful thing about certain
movies is you get home so *early.*
Yesterday, that’s the way it was when we went to see Django Unchained. We
were back in the car by 3 o’clock, not the expected 5.
“Free at last,” we appreciatively murmured as we hurried from the
multiplex. While inside, we had endured a very long string of numbingly
dim-witted trailers, then a 40-minute dose of Tarantino’s latest.
Were we driven from the theater by the much-heralded blood and violence? By
the use of the N-word? Actually, no—in the e... more »
Another Year, Another Deal
So, did you have an exciting New Year's Eve? I sure did. I wore a tacky
necklace made out of purple beads and a plastic shot glass, watched a bit
of Twilight Zone marathon, switched over to CNN to watch the orgy, and
switched off the TV the minute the ghoulish ricti of Shrillionaire Mayor
Mike Bloomberg and his union-busting, Occupy-evicting girlfriend Diana
Taylor appeared. It could always have been worse. At least he wasn't
tonguing Lady Gaga this year.
"It could always have been worse" is the conventional wisdom of the
Great Fiscal Cliff Averting deal apparently reached last nigh... more »
The Terrorists Haven't Won... Yet.
If we had gone off fiscal cliff, GOP wouldn't have had to vote on tax
hikes, only cuts. Obama made 'em break the pledge.
— The Rude Pundit (@rudepundit) January 1, 2013
The latter-day Republican Party is more misused than an internet
apostrophe. The party that a couple of generations ago had given and had
helped give us a progressive tax rate of 90% on the 1%, the Eisenhower
Highway System, a strong national defense and kick-ass foreign policy has
degenerated into the world's premiere clown show, the worst show on earth.
It's one that's reduced to heckling the President and o... more »
Kathy Griffin "jumps the shark"...
*by kissing the sardine on live TV.*
*Vile, vile people! *
Way to go, CNN.
*
**From NewsBusters:*
*Kathy Griffin Kisses Anderson Cooper's Crotch On National Television*
Glad I was in bed by 10:30.
COMING CRISIS ESTABLISHES LINK BETWEEN HILLARY CLINTON'S INJURIES AND IRANIAN PLANE CRASH
*Around Dec 30, Media quietly reports plane landing in Ahvaz, Iran on Dec
14:*
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-us-plane-leaves-emergency-landing-181542975.html
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/30/uk-iran-plane-usa-idUKBRE8BT01M20121230
*Debka hints at plane crash/emergency landing link in Ahvaz, Iran:*
http://www.debka.com/article/22645/Hillary-Clinton-in-hospital-amid-speculation-of-plane-accident-in-Iran
*Hillary's ailments / hospitalization stories begin appearing Dec 15.*
*Commander Job Price, head of Hillary's security detail, dies inexplicably,
without any solid, confirmed date... more »
Iran warns off foreign planes during naval drill: report
Iran has warned off foreign surveillance planes that have tried to approach
its forces during naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian military
spokesman said on Tuesday.
The drills, which began on Friday, are aimed at showcasing Iran's military
capability in the shipping route through which 40 percent of the world's
sea-borne oil exports pass.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/01/us-iran-military-drill-idUSBRE90004O20130101
U.S. arms sales to Asia set to boom on Pacific "pivot"
U.S. sales of warplanes, anti-missile systems and other costly weapons to
China's and North Korea's neighbors appear set for significant growth amid
regional security jitters.
Strengthening treaty allies and other security partners is central to the
White House's "pivot" toward a Pacific region jolted by maritime
territorial disputes in China's case, and missile and nuclear programs, in
North Korea's.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/01/us-usa-asia-arms-sales-idUSBRE90005D20130101
Pakistan Bomb Blast: Explosion In Karachi
At least two people have died after a bomb exploded in a crowded area of
Karachi, according to Sky sources.
More than 30 people have been injured in the explosion, which damaged six
buses and four motorbikes.
http://news.sky.com/story/1032129/pakistan-bomb-blast-explosion-in-karachi
Word-nappers: A subjectively abridged history of plagiarism
The word “plagiarism” is derived from the Latin for “kidnap,” and the
presence of word-nappers in this country is astounding, and growing —
arguably at a rate commensurate with the growing ubiquity of electronic
information*.*
Plagiarism certainly is not a new problem, either, although some
postmodernists would argue it’s an outdated and/or irrelevant relic from
the Romantic era, when the acknowledgement of intellectual property as
something tangible came into the public eye. Pre-romantic scholars and/or
anarchists would argue that plagiarism can not exist because intellectual
pr... more »
AmeriKan Military Clears Haze in Afghanistan
"A military jury recommended Tuesday that a sergeant receive a sentence of
30 days in prison for mistreating and assaulting Private Danny Chen, whose
suicide in Afghanistan last year drew national attention to the standing of
Asians in the US military."
*
**Also see: **The Haze of Afghanistan*
A Bad Year For The Environment
Canada's native peoples understand how toxic the Harper government is for
the environment. So does the *Toronto Star*:
Bill C-38 included more than $160 million in cuts to environmental
spending, significantly impairing our ability to measure or mitigate our
impact on Canada’s wilderness and wildlife. Yet it was never put before the
Commons environment committee, nor does the bill ever mention climate
change.
The Harperites know exactly what they are doing. That is why they do it
secretly.
Apparently the Department of Fisheries and Oceans can’t find the $2 million
per year re... more »
The Bottom Line in Afghanistan
"The bottom line is I see no real change."
Sunday Globe Special: Nigeria in the New Format
*In an entirely new yet similar style, and an exciting yet still familiar
format.*
"Radicals kill at least 15 in Nigerian village" by Haruna Umar |
Associated Press, December 30, 2012
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — *Gunmen suspected of belonging to a radical Islamist
sect* attacked a village in northeast Nigeria, *tying up men, women, and
children* before *killing at least 15* in the troubled region’s latest
attack, witnesses said Saturday.
The assault happened early Friday morning in the village of Musari on the
outskirts of Maiduguri, the city where the sect known as Boko Haram first ... more »
New Year Will Bring New Format
*I know you have heard that before; however, I think you will find less
Boston Globe, less highlighting, and more commentary. *
Angela Merkel fires warning shot at City as she calls for banking clampdown in New Year's address
Angela
Merkel has used her New Year's Eve speech to launch an open attack
on the City of London as she attempts to win a third term as German
Chancellor in 2013.
In a move that will be grasped by British Eurosceptics, Mrs Merkel told
Germany that she will repress Europe's biggest financial markets and
fight
to strengthen the EU's grip on banking.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255527/Angela-Merkel-fires-warning-shot-City-calls-banking-clampdown-New-Years-address.html
Venus Fly Trap
Malicious insects better watch out ...
No sloshing digestive juices. Just clean oblivion.
Grand merci to Lady Seraphina for the inspiration.
Shark Scare Closes Australia's Bondi Beach
Thousands of bathers enjoying the hot New Year's Day weather on Australia's
Bondi Beach fled the water on Tuesday after a shark alert was sounded.
The crowded sea was cleared in a matter of minutes after authorities raised
the alarm when a surf patrol boat said it had seen what it thought could
have been a large shark.
A helicopter was called in to scour the water but found no sign of the
animal and the beach was reopened 25 minutes later.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/shark-scare-closes-australias-bondi-beach/564135
Hollande vows to revive French supertax
France's President Francois Hollande says he still plans to raise the top
rate of income tax after his 75% plan was struck down on technical grounds.
In a national address on New Year's Eve, he said the law would be
redesigned, adding, "we will still ask more of those who have the most".
However, he did not mention the 75% figure, leading some to speculate that
the move would be watered down.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20881383
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