Saddam In 1970s promoting women's education and literacy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)My Feedly!
10:30pm MDST
South Korea Accuses North Korea For last Weeks' Landmine Explosion That Wounded Two Soldiers
South Korean soldiers patrol along the DMZ. CNN *CNN:** South Korea warns North will pay 'harsh price' over DMZ landmine blast* The South Korean military says North Korea will pay a "harsh price" for a landmine blast that wounded two South Korean soldiers last week. "North Korea will pay a harsh price proportionate to the provocation that North Korea made," said Maj. Gen. Koo Hong-mo, director of operations of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. U.N. forces on Monday said North Korea was behind a landmine explosion last week that wounded two South Korean soldiers in the demilitariz... more »
Saddam Hussein's Former Army Officers Now Run The Islamic State's Military And Intelligence Operations In Iraq And Syria
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* Daily Mail/AP: *The secret to ISIS's success: Over 100 former Saddam Hussein-era officers run jihadi group's military and intelligence operations in Iraq and Syria * * Intelligence source said 100 to 160 former Iraqi army officers with ISIS * The 2003 US led invasion of Iraq led Saddam Hussein to allow foreign fighters to join the resistance against the invaders * ISIS's deputy leader Abu Muslim al-Turkmani was an Iraqi army major Once part of one of the most brutal dictator's army in the Middle East, over 100 former members of Saddam Hussein's milit... more »
Santa Barbara Horror Film Featuring College Killer Sparks Backlash
Thousands have signed a petition against indie horror film “Del Playa,” asserting that the movie, featuring a college killer, too closely resembles the 2014 Isla Vista killings. “Del Playa,” directed by Shaun Hart and produced by Berger Bros. Entertainment, follows... The post Santa Barbara Horror Film Featuring College Killer Sparks Backlash appeared first on The Stream.
Satellite Images Show China Staging A Mock Invasion Of Taiwan
Image Credit: Victor Robert Lee, Digital Globe and Airbus Defense & Space *Victor Robert Lee, The Diplomat:* Satellite Imagery: China Staging Mock Invasion of Taiwan? Images from an Inner Mongolia training base show what looks like a replica of central Taipei. A time series of satellite images confirms that in 2014 and early 2015 China constructed for military training purposes a building that closely resembles Taiwan’s Presidential Office Building in Taipei. The new building, at the PLA’s expansive Zhurihe combat training base in Inner Mongolia, is situated on a newly constructed... more »
These Seven Countries Are Now Facing Bankruptcy
*USA Today:* *Seven countries near bankruptcy* Puerto Rico defaulted on its $58 million debt repayment this week for the first time in its history. With its failure to repay creditors, the commonwealth joins the ranks of countries and governments burdened by crippling debt levels and extremely low credit ratings. Moody's Investors' Service rates seven countries Caa1 or worse, several tiers lower than Ba1, which still carries a significant credit risk. These countries are approaching or have narrowly escaped bankruptcy. Ukraine is rated Ca, which is currently the lowest credit ratin... more »
Catching up with Ian Welsh -- on character and ideology, understanding the world, and applying the Golden Rule
*by Ken* I trust everyone is keeping up with our friend Ian Welsh now that he's posting on his contribution-fueled superschedule. Of course he's been chiming in on the expectable subjects, like the pulverizing of Greece by the German-led avenging angels of the Eurozone (in which connection, by the way, I heartily recommend Ian Parker's *New Yorker* profile of former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, "The Greek Warrior"; if you're pressed for time, the subtitle, "How a radical finance minister took on Europe -- and failed," tells the story in a nutshell). And lately he's pro... more »
Can Google's Search Algorithm Influence Elections?
*Adam Rogers, Wired*: *Google’s Search Algorithm Could Steal the Presidency* IMAGINE AN ELECTION—A close one. You’re undecided. So you type the name of one of the candidates into your search engine of choice. (Actually, let’s not be coy here. In most of the world, one search engine dominates; in Europe and North America, it’s Google.) And Google coughs up, in fractions of a second, articles and facts about that candidate. Great! Now you are an informed voter, right? But a study published this week says that the order of those results, the ranking of positive or negative stories on t... more »
Russia's New 'Spy Ship' ‘Track And Locate’ Gaps In US Missile Defense
The ship was commissioned into the Russian navy during a large naval parade attended by President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad on Sunday. Pavel Rebrov / Reuters *Moscow Times:** Russia Launches Cutting-Edge Spy Ship to Track U.S. Missile Defense* Russia inducted a new-generation spy ship into the Northern Fleet on Sunday during navy day celebrations. The new vessel will be tasked with monitoring U.S. anti-missile defenses on the high seas, a navy spokesman said. The ship is known as the Yury Ivanov, the lead boat of the Project 18280 intelligence sh... more »
PCP
*“When I was young PC meant ‘Police Constable.’ Nowadays, I can’t seem to tell the difference…”* - Manic Street Preachers, ‘P.C.P.’ *“…political correctness: that strange, nebulous world of safety and compliance that seems to be binding us all in hoops of steel at the moment.”* - Stephen Fry Well-meaning young folk offended by Donald’s Trump’s offensiveness have latched onto his attack on political correctness, saying “political correctness is a phony idea,” that it doesn’t really exist as a concept – that being “sorry for being un-PC" is simply “a way to shift the responsib... more »
Innovation Has Made Building Barriers Around FOBS And Bases Much Easier
*We Are The Mighty*: *The most important battlefield innovation is not a weapon* Great aircraft and vehicles aren’t very useful without somewhere to park them, and troops need good cover to keep them safe from attacks. So, for all the innovations coming out of DARPA and the weapons being developed by the military, it’s the humble Hesco barrier that became an icon of security in Iraq and Afghanistan. The barriers are a staple of deployed-life where they formed many of the outer perimeters and interior walls for NATO installations. *WNU Editor:* It certainly beats filling up sandbags.
The Unseen Consequences of Zero-Interest-Rate Policy
*Guest post by Ronald-Peter Stöferle* [image: The Unseen Consequences of Zero-Interest-Rate Policy] In a dynamic economy, an action not only triggers just one effect, but always an entire series of different consequences. While the cause of the first effect is easily recognizable, the other effects often occur only later and no such recognition occurs. Frédéric Bastiat described this phenomenon in 1850 in his ground-breaking essay “What Is Seen and What is Not Seen”: *In the economic sphere, an act, a habit, an institution, a law produces not only one effect, but a series of eff... more »
Al Gore and the Pillar of Fire
Skyfire-a dance of giants from chris tangey on Vimeo. September 11 2012. A freak natural event occurs in the middle of nowhere. Incredibly, only minutes before it begins just 300 meters away, a TV cameraman already has his camera on a tripod and rolling on something else. Al Gore tries to buy the video, and is rejected, twice..... and a global firestorm of coverage and controversy ensues. Original music by the Netherlands' Tjerk de Groot copyright 2013 vision copyright Chris Tangey 2013 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the ... more »
Musical Interlude: Justin Hayward, “I Heard It”
Justin Hayward, “I Heard It” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ONxsCbDqE&list=PLF6BBBB6ABA85A3EC
"A Look to the Heavens"
“What created the Waterfall Nebula? No one knows. The structure seen in the region of NGC 1999 in the Great Orion Molecular Cloud complex is one of the more mysterious structures yet found on the sky. Designated HH-222, the elongated gaseous stream stretches about ten light years and emits an unusual array of colors. *Click image for larger size.* One hypothesis is that the gas filament results from the wind from a young star impacting a nearby molecular cloud. That would not explain, however, why the Waterfall and fainter streams all appear to converge on a bright but unusual non... more »
AFL: The best 10
You have to know very little about the world’s most libertarian sport to enjoy this weekend’s best marks, moves, goals and fumbles … and Adam Goodes. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
President Obama Is Doing Right By America And The World By Distancing His Regime From The Extremists At AIPAC
*AIPAC's decline into madness began years ago. Now they're just being called out on their lunacy by the most powerful man in the world. And it's about damn time. Photo Source.* *An excerpt from, "Fears of Lasting Rift as Obama Battles Pro-Israel Group on Iran" by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The New York Times, August 7, 2015: * WASHINGTON — President Obama had a tough message for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac, the powerful pro-Israel group that is furiously campaigning against the Iran nuclear accord, when he met with two of its leaders at the White House this ... more »
Chet Raymo, “The Shape of Night”
* “The Shape of Night”* by Chet Raymo “In Shelley's “Prometheus Unbound”, the Earth speaks these wonderful words: “I spin beneath my pyramid of night Which points into the heavens, dreaming delight, Murmuring victorious joy in my enchanted sleep; As a youth lulled in love-dreams faintly sighing, Under the shadow of his beauty lying, Which round his rest a watch of light and warmth doth keep.” Beautiful words, but beautiful too that the poet has fixed in his mind's eye a geometry that was first imagined by astronomers in the ancient Near East. Night as a ... more »
"Life Is Hard?"
"Life is hard? True- but let's love it anyhow, though it breaks every bone in our bodies." - Edward Abbey
"The 12 Rules of Survival"
* "The 12 Rules of Survival"* by Laurence Gonzales "As a journalist, I've been writing about accidents for more than thirty years. In the last 15 or so years, I've concentrated on accidents in outdoor recreation, in an effort to understand who lives, who dies, and why. To my surprise, I found an eerie uniformity in the way people survive seemingly impossible circumstances. Decades and sometimes centuries apart, separated by culture, geography, race, language, and tradition, the most successful survivors–those who practice what I call “deep survival”– go through the same patterns of... more »
The Poet: Eugene O'Neill, "Free"
*"Free"* by Eugene O'Neill "Weary am I of the tumult, sick of the staring crowd, Pining for wild sea places where the soul may think aloud. Fled is the glamour of cities, dead as the ghost of a dream, While I pine anew for the tint of blue on the breast of the old Gulf Stream. I have had my dance with Folly, nor do I shirk the blame; I have sipped the so-called Wine of Life and paid the price of shame; But I know that I shall find surcease, the rest my spirit craves, Where the rainbows play in the flying spray, 'Mid the keen salt kiss of the waves. Then it's ho! for the plunging deck of... more »
"Something You Already Know..."; "No Special Hurry..."
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where yo... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Chandler, Arizona, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
“Dry bar” ends in tears
I hate to see a fellow losing money, but that aside this is a good-news story from shot to show: [image: image] The “dry bar” opened recently but “has shut its doors after only five weeks of business on Karangahape Rd.” Co-owner Grady Elliott said “the bar had a few customers but they drank water and little money was passed over the counter. “Non-alcoholic bars and clubs were emerging internationally,” says the* Herald*’s story, “with establishments in London, New York and Sweden tipped as ‘the next big thing’ by overseas media [but] … it seems Aucklanders are not so keen.” No... more »
“NZ has imposed some of the world's strictest blasphemy laws by stealth”
Did you know National’s Minister of Injustice Amy Adams’s new Harmful Digital Communications Act, “intended to stop cyber-bullying, could have the effect of landing a person in jail for two years for committing blasphemy...” *The Act stated digital communications "should not denigrate an individual by reason of his or her colour, race, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability." [Mark Honeychurch, the the New Zealand Humanist Society's president,] said the law would effectively impose some of the world's strictest penalties - including fin... more »
Free Download: D. L. Rosenhan, "Being Sane in Insane Places"
*"What Was The 'Thud Experiment'?"* by Century of the Self "The Rosenhan experiment, also known as the the 'Thud experiment', was a famous investigation into the validity of psychiatric diagnosis conducted by psychologist David Rosenhan in 1973. It was published in the journal Science under the title "On Being Sane in Insane Places." Rosenhan's study was conducted in two parts. The first part involved the use of healthy associates or "pseudopatients" who briefly simulated auditory hallucinations in an attempt to gain admission to 12 different psychiatric hospitals in five different... more »
"Few Really ASK..."
"Very few beings really seek knowledge in this world. Mortal or immortal, few really ASK. On the contrary, they try to wring from the unknown the answers they have already shaped in their own minds." - Anne Rice
SPHERE ALLIANCE MESSAGE #86The Frequency Modulators Are NOW Unplugged
*Frequency Modulaters is the Sphere Alliance term for those who interfere with the frequencies of humans (state of consciousness) and interdimensional communications -AK* *[8/9/15, 11:30:10 PM] IN JOY, WE HEAR YOU. THE ELECTROMAGNETIC ADJUSTMENTS THROUGH THE 3d 'STORMS' are continuously REQUIRED now to CLEAR the INTEREFERENCE FROM THE FORMER FREQUENCY MODULATORS THAT ARE RUNNING ON EMPTY. * *THE PLUG HAS BEEN PULLED and WE ADDRESS THE LACK of TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THIS WITH OUR NEW "ALLIES AND FRIENDS". * *THE PLUG HAS BEEN PULLED ON ALL FREQUENCY MODULATORS. * *WE REPEAT. PLU...more »
August 9: Let's start with the good news.
In Saturday's issue of the Moncton Times and Transcript, the comments were very, very good. For the first time in my experience, they were all, real commentaries. Norbert Cunningham has a very sensible one on how to follow the federal election. He dismisses the TV debates (and I quite agree. I've never learned anything from TV debates. They're just show biz.) Norbert suggests that the news media step in to search the issues, question the politicians, and demand answers. I agree with that approach, too. But I can't help noticing the Irving press has never done that, and has never re... more »
Jeremy Corbyn, Stalinism, and the Cold War Boilerplate
As if proof were needed that stupidity isn't the sole preserve of the right, along comes Jonathan Jones with a new angle in the anti-Corbyn effort. His target is the slight whiff of Marxism surrounding Jeremy's campaign. Because - gasp - the 's' word is getting more traction these days, it's time we "have to face up to what was done in the name of an extreme version of socialism in the 20th century." Quite what the road to the gulag has to do with the Labour leadership contest beats me. Jonathan's piece, of course, assumes a great deal. Foremost is that no one on the left has conte... more »
Al Giordano responds to Project Censored's Attack on Censored News
Al Giordano, publisher of authentic journalism at Narco News, responds to Project Censored's hypocritical claim to own words and its threat to file a lawsuit against Censored News Dear Peter Phillips, When in 2007 I rejected your Project Censored award I mentioned that I consider your organization a gigantic scam that abuses journalists and ordered you not to use my story in the book
Replacing Dave Reichert In Washington State With A Bold Progressive, Jason Ritchie
Blue America’s last endorsement of the 2014 cycle was Jason Ritchie, the candidate running for the Blue-leaning Washington State seat currently held by conservative Republican Dave Reichert, in a district that stretches from the suburbs south and east of Seattle all the way out to Wenatchee and Ellensburg. At the time, Ritchie vowed he word make a concerted effort to win the seat over at least two cycles. "I'll be back in 2016," he said, "and we're building the infrastructure, identifying the voters, and organizing to win now and in the future." This year Jason was Blue America's... more »
The Ancient Practice of Dream Yoga
*Video - *The state of your mind as you fall asleep can determine the course of your dreams...and the course of your life. The post The Ancient Practice of Dream Yoga appeared first on Waking Times.
"Are You Sane?"
*"Are You Sane?"* by Charles Hugh Smith “A sane person to an insane society must appear insane.” – Kurt Vonnegut, "Welcome to the Monkey House" "Madness has engulfed the entire world, with a concentration of power in the hands of a few psychopathic financial elite wielding an inordinate and dangerous expanse of power over the lives of the common man. They are a modern day version of Al Capone, except their weapons of choice aren’t machine guns, but a printing press, peddling debt, creating derivatives of mass destruction, and peddling heaping doses of disinformation. The contempor...more »
Top ten links
It’s always fascinating to me to see which link is the most popular in the Ramble every week. Some weeks. It’s amusing. Sometimes it’s surprising. And, some weeks, well, it’s all too predictable … 1. *Gymnast shamed for ‘showing vagina’* – NEWS.COM.AU 2. *Zizz and zing: Editor Jeremy Hansen visits New Plymouth's sensational new Len Lye Centre* – HOME 3. *The naked truth about barriers to foreign trade* – Jamie Whyte, NZ HERALD 4. *The Economist: The TPP is dead* – MACRO BUSINESS 5. *Why Generation Rent doesn’t care about your precious green belt* – Joel G... more »
a brief history of privatization
Privatization 101. Another take, also correct. Chomsky courtesy of Sugaring Off, a post about Harper privatizing Canadian health care. I disagree with the blogger's assessment of Harper's intentions, but I certainly agree with her/his conclusion.
Donald Trumps's closing remarks after the first debate of Republican candidates for president.
His pet pig keeps interrupting.
Royal Me
We are all now all kings and Queens in Royal sense because are we not entertrained We entertain ourselves instead of each other like the Royal we Princesses Di died in a tunnel for me
Rightwing Nuthouse: "5 Hilariously Unhinged Right-Wing Moments This Week"
*"5 Hilariously Unhinged Right-Wing Moments This Week: * *Trump Tries to Offend Every Single American"* By Janet Allon *"1. Trump clarifies which of Megyn Kelly's orifices he really meant, which is tremendously helpful. *In a rare backtrack, Donald Trump assured the world that he did not mean to imply that Fox anchor Megyn Kelly was “on the rag” when he said she had "blood coming out of her wherever" on Friday. Well, he did not so much backtrack as make a whiny plea that he was so misunderstood. Trump added that "only a deviant" would think he meant she was menstruating. Donald’s f... more »
Parades
Oh, and for all of you who recall David Cameron's complaint that the BBC should be re-named 'the British Broadcasting Cuts Corporation' and who might also remember all those complaints that the BBC was strenuously anti-unionist during the Troubles (the 'Blood Orange' period, as Peter Simple used to put it)... ...Shaun Ley (anticipating today's *The World This Weekend *on this morning's *Broadcasting House*) made the following statement: It's marching season in Northern Ireland - 140 parades this weekend alone. Police say austerity measures mean they can't afford to do the work that... more »
And relax...
It's a funny thing, but I actually feel that we here at your favourite blog, *Is the BBC biased?...* ...the ultra-hip bad girl of BBC bias blogs which, with sharp stilettos, loud lipstick, a burqa and an AK-47, well and truly out-Corbyns Jeremy Corbyn, Tarantino-style, when it comes to Hamas-style coolness - both in reaching the masses and blowing the heads off Beeboids... ...that, as I was saying,,.. ...that we here at *Is the BBC biased? *have actually pointed out a fair few plausible examples of BBC bias over the course of this weekend. That said, what follows is surely the wo... more »
BAND OF BROTHERS (HWH) #17 / HEALING WOUNDED HEARTS THROUGH THE POWER OF GRATEFULNESS
*Four combat veterans with PTSD face their deepest fears (the fears of their hearts) in Healing The Wounded Heart (Band of Brothers) Workshop # 17 ~ and through the power of gratefulness discover not only their true authentic self but awaken their closed hearts in the process: Allen L Roland, PhD* *“What happens when people open their hearts ~ They get better.”** ~ **Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood* *Brotherhood* *In my role as a volunteer heart centered workshop consultant, advisor and mentor*, I have recently assisted in the heart... more »
Obama, Not His Opponents, is Falsely Advertising His Iran Deal
Am I the only one getting tired of President Obama constantly berating his political opponents and accusing them of being bought? Well, he is doing it again, on his Iran nuke deal. You can always tell when Obama is nervous... The post Obama, Not His Opponents, is Falsely Advertising His Iran Deal appeared first on The Stream.
"Starting Your Day Well: Setting the Tone"
*"Starting Your Day Well: Setting the Tone"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "Each morning, find a way to start your day right as it sets the tone for your day. The choices you make upon waking can have a profound impact on your day. If, still drowsy, you hit the ground running, rushing to prepare yourself to face your worldly obligations, you will likely feel fatigued and overwhelmed for most of your day. A leisurely and relaxing morning, on the other hand, can energize and excite you, as well as give you the courage to meet the challenges waiting for you. By beginning your day in a... more »
Musical Interlude: Kitaro, Jon Anderson, “Agreement”
Kitaro, Jon Anderson, “Agreement” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPHzP-lrXBU
Double-Cross : The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe
*"I told you that I was trouble,* *You know that I'm no good..."* *- Amy* "It had occurred to Mooney that Joe Kennedy, *“the wily old bastard,*” had had a brainstorm. By putting Bobby in charge of the Justice Department, it could only be one of two things: Either Bobby would put the clamps on Hoover and tell him to lay off the Outfit as Jack and Joe had promised or Bobby would be utilized as henchman, with a virtual army of FBI agents at his disposal to destroy all those to whom the Kennedys owed favors. The former seemed hopeful but highly unlikely—it would be a behavior totall... more »
National Endowment for Democracy is Now Officially “Undesirable” in Russia
* August 10, 2015* (F. William Engdahl - NEO) - Vladimir Putin! Now you’ve really done it. You have had the temerity to declare our National Endowment for Democracy (NED), America’s most important Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to be “undesirable.” Where will this end? Don’t you respect our right, as a US Government-financed NGO, to meddle in internal Russian affairs? After all, we are the most important NGO of the world’s Sole Superpower. We can go wherever we want and do whatever we like. We are truly upset! This is the clear reaction of Washington to the decision by the Ru... more »
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
Among today's *#bbcbias* Twitter complaints (bypassing all the cybernats and Corbynites) was this one: Evidently increasingly suffering from an advanced case of Twittercoholism, I felt the urgent need to find out why this particular *Broadcasting House *feature was considered "sensational", "pathetic" and "sick" by this particular apoplectic Twitter user and why, in his opinion,* #r4bh *"shows the depths that the BBC is prepared to go".....and, above all, quite why this complaint got attached to the hashtag *#bbcbias *in the first place. So grabbing my pipe, violin and deer-stalke... more »
Sunday Classics snapshots: More Vickers -- "Otello fu," how he gets from here to there
*Jon Vickers (t), Otello; Rome Opera Orchestra, Tullio Serafin, cond. RCA-BMG, recorded July-Aug. 1960* *by Ken* Leonard Bernstein had such a strong feeling for the scene of the death of Otello as depicted by Arrigo Boito and Giuseppe Verdi that, as I recall the story (maybe somebody can help me out here? I can't remember where I read or heard him tell the story), he named a family dog "Otello Fu" -- and everyone assumed the name was Chinese. Last week, remembering Canadian tenor Jon Vickers, we heard two performances of the sublime Love Duet that ends Act I of Verdi's *Otello*, ... more »
what i'm reading: plainsong trilogy by kent haruf
I've recently read three books by Kent Haruf: *Plainsong*, *Eventide*, and *Benediction*, also known as the Plainsong Trilogy. These novels are set in the rural US west, in the fictional town of Holt, Colorado. Plainsong is a small, quiet, poignant story, about how some unrelated people come together to form a chosen family. Through various characters, especially boys and men, the author explores different visions of manhood and of parenting, different paths to being a good and decent person. A pregnant teenage girl, two elderly brothers who are ranchers, a schoolteacher whose w... more »
Northerntruthseeker Rant For Sunday, August 9th, 2015
[image: rant-jpeg-b] Well, it is Sunday again, and it means that it is time for my weekly rant... First, I have always been asked the question about how I decide which articles to post here at this blog... I constantly read and surf the Internet, and when I come across an article that sparks my own interest, I do further analysis of the facts that are presented by the links provided for that article, and then usually check for any other information online that backs up the information provided that validates the article... If that article originates from another blogger, then I alw... more »
Progressive Policies Make San Francisco Stink, Literally
How bad is the urine situation in San Francisco? This is not a joke: Monday night, a light pole corroded by urine collapsed and crashed onto a car, narrowly missing the driver. The smell is worse than I have known... The post Progressive Policies Make San Francisco Stink, Literally appeared first on The Stream.
The Magic Mirror: Seeing the Virtues of Infanticide from a Progressive Viewpoint...
*by John Harris.* The progressive mentality needs to preserve abortion as a signal achievement–and even a basic sacrament–because it “reorients” the participant’s consciousness toward the Movement. I had to turn off Rush Limbaugh a couple of weeks ago (the last day of July, I believe it was) when a caller from California began to explain to El Rushbo the difference between liberals and conservatives. The man’s voice was perhaps a bit whiney thanks to middle age (whose effects are not unknown to yours truly)… but there also seemed to be a touch of Thurston B. Howell the Third (“the... more »
Amy
* "There were no empty bottles, syringes, crack pipes or anything like that. It's not believed she had vomited."* *The Sun, 24th July 2011* "The inquest into Winehouse's death heard she was more than *five times the drink-drive limit* when she died on 23 July. Ms Greenway had said the "*unintended consequence*" of Winehouse drinking so much alcohol was her "*sudden and unexpected death*". *Three empty vodka bottles, two large and one small, were found at her fla*t, St Pancras Coroner's Court heard." *BBC, Feb. 1 2012* Double-Cross : The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe from Spike EP... more »
Are U.S. Special Forces 'Too White And Too Male'?
*USA Today:* *Pentagon's elite forces lack diversity* WASHINGTON — Many of the Pentagon's elite commando units — including the Navy SEALs — are overwhelmingly led and manned by white officers and enlisted troops, a concern at the highest levels of the military where officials have stressed the need to create more diverse forces to handle future threats. Black officers and enlisted troops are scarce in some special operations units in highest demand, according to data provided by the Pentagon to USA TODAY. For instance, eight of 753 SEAL officers are black, or 1%. An expert at the... more »
Cow based economy, because thats where we are headed with the idiots in charge
Imagine an economy based upon cows instead of gold because a cow gives you nourishment everyday and a feast on retirement while gold just weighs \ you down doubling down for for disaster or spending capital on worry which is even to the\ best practioners a out of control spread Lets pull the plug on the reality distortion field before it leaves the world starving and poor we humans have simple minds and flashy image over time diluted our simple minds do not forget to eat or shower or there could be a big stink one is for a limited time and can be corrected but the second choice is foreve... more »
Musings On Iraq In The News
Musings On Iraq was listed on bibliographyof resources on the Islamic State in the August 2015 issue of Perspectives On Terrorism.
For Humans Solutions never work
we twist the reason to our own self worth and destroy the product because it tastes bad but for humans eating vegtables sets the table on taking command
Russian Military Merges Air Force, Missile Defense, And Space Command
*The Diplomat:* *Russia Creates Powerful New Military Branch to Counter NATO* Moscow just merged its air force and aerospace defense forces. Russia has created a new military branch, the Aerospace Forces, by merging the Russian Air Force with the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, TASS reports. The $60 billion reorganization appears to be a direct response to the perceived increased risk of NATO air and missile attacks on Russian soil — in particular, the United States military’s Global Strike program has the Kremlin worried. The new service branch, officially called the Aerospace... more »
It Is Not Easy To Land On An Aircraft Carrier In Rough Seas
*Slate:* *How Difficult Is It to Land on an Aircraft Carrier in Rough Seas?* *Answer by Tim Hibbetts, three years at sea, more than 400 carrier arrestments:* Pitching deck landings are some of the most challenging semicommon aviation feats. Of course, there are different levels of deck motion, and it seems like it should just keep getting a little tougher with each foot of displacement. This isn't the case. Displacement matters, but speed is an even greater factor. There's also a nasty Dutch roll that the ship can pull off that not only messes with the glide slope but also lineup... more »
Cow Based Economy is the new spread
Imagine an economy based upon cows instead of gold because a cow gives you nourishment everyday and a feast on retirement while gold just weighs \ you down doubling down for for disaster or spending capital on worry which is even to the\ best practioners a out of control spread Lets pull the plug on the reality distortion field before it leaves the world starving and poor we humans have simple minds and flashy image over time diluted our simple minds do not forget to eat or shower or there could be a big stink one is for a limited time and can be corrected but the second choice is foreve... more »
Ban the bomb!
This morning's *Sunday Morning Live* began with the legacy of the atomic bombs dropped over Japan in 1945. Its first question was, "Do nuclear weapons keep us safe?" Sometimes you do have to laugh (really you do), because the opening report took us to Westminster Cathedral to, in Sian Williams's words, "hear" some "views" - *all* of which opposed the UK's retention of nuclear weapons. Among those giving their "views" was CND vice-president Mgr Bruce Kent, who I've not seen for years. For some strange reason I felt a bit nostalgic at that point, and he looks in good health, but ... more »
Write up of the Bolivian Day Parade in Jersey City
Yesterday the Bolivian Independence Day Parade took place in Jersey City, and some members of Amigos de Bolivia crossed the Hudson to check it out. One was so impressed he took the time to learn to take pictures with his smart phone, and in an hour had amassed 200, which we plan to put up as soon as we learn to transfer from phone to blog...and believe me, you will see a wealth of colour like no carnival, so next time you think of going to Rio, just wait till August and take the PATH train to Jersey City. There were dozens of bands each with dancers in elaborate native costume, An... more »
If Re-Elected The Conservatives Will Pass Law To Restrict Canadians From Travel To ' Hot Spots' ... Big Brother is alive and well in the brain of Stephen Harper !!
*Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said today if re-elected he will introduce legislation that will make it a criminal offence for Canadians to travel to parts of the world under the control of extremist groups. * *"A re-elected Conservative government will designate travel to places that are ground zero for terrorist activity a criminal offence," Harper said Sunday during a campaign stop in Ottawa. * *"Those who go will face the full power of the law." * *The proposed law would apply to certain "declared areas" Harper said, though he did not name any specific locations. * *"We a... more »
Turkey: HDP/Identity Politics Party Plays "Ceasefire" Card for Voter Manipulation
*As the cognitive dissonance continues- Yup, even in the so called alternative media. **Why did I actually believe that alt media looked at facts to the best of their ability? My mistake. * *Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. * *Yes, I'm frustrated with the repeaters.** This meme:* *"The Kurds are the best fighting force against ISIS"* *has reached pandemic levels. The war mongering media has implanted & spread that mind virus effectively and efficiently!! The alt media continues the dispersal process, without even asking why the msm is promoting a simplistic... more »
SPHERE ALLIANCE MESSAGE #67RARE EARTHand Off World Trade in Scarce Minerals from RARE EARTH
*A tidbit of information emerged from a personal information question from Shawn, a surprise piece of information about the subject of 4 versions of Earth came up. I inquired further about RARE EARTH and if there was a connection to RARE EARTH elements and RARE EARTH minerals, the most familiar of which are the very strong magnets produced by China, and the rare earths that go into cell phones. China's has the Rare Earth mineral market pretty much cornered, although there is growing recycling of rare earths from magnets and cellphones in the West. This is yet another example ... more »
Service Dog Saves Blind Owner’s Life During House Fire
A service dog is being hailed a hero after she jumped into action and saved her blind owner’s life by alerting authorities to a house fire in Philadelphia Thursday morning. The fire started inside Maria Colon’s home on the 4300... The post Service Dog Saves Blind Owner’s Life During House Fire appeared first on The Stream.
No "Knock-Out Blow" Against harper???
I'm glad that I didn't watch that debate a few days ago. Something told me that none of harper's opponents would be able to deliver the metaphorical "knock-out blow." Even though I, personally, believe it would be amazingly easy to neutralize him. Knock him out? It would be easy to knock him down and pound him into sauce. Remember the 2011 debates? When the wooden Ignatieff, and the gentlemanly Layton and the wily Duceppe spent more time arguing about economics with harper (which, given Ignatieff and Layton's mainstream delusions, was the equivalent of fighting with one arm tied b... more »
U.S. Intelligence Community: U.S. War Against The Islamic State Is A 'Tragic Waste With No Clear Goal And No End In Sight'
U.S. coalition warplanes in Syrian airspace after conducting air strikes against ISIS militants. (File photo: Reuters) *Trevor Timm, The Guardian:* *We're a year into the unofficial war against Isis with nothing to show for it* *But don’t take it from me – that’s the conclusion of the US intelligence community itself. Its a tragic waste with no clear goal and no end in sight* This Saturday marks one full year since the US military began its still-undeclared war against Islamic State that the government officials openly acknowledge will last indefinitely. What do we have to show for... more »
Friday's Taliban Attack At A Special Forces Base In Kabul Killed One U.S. Serviceman And Wounded Two Others
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com *CNN*:* U.S. service member among more than 50 killed in Afghanistan attacks* Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN)More than 50 people -- including 27 students at a police academy and one U.S. service member -- were killed in three separate attacks in Afghanistan on Friday, according to U.S. and Afghan officials. The American was killed when a NATO coalition base in the capital city, Kabul, was attacked, a defense official told CNN. Another official told CNN's Barbara Starr that nearly 20 people of varying nationalities were wounded. Separately, U.S....more »
From Eritrea With Love
That *Sunday *essay by the BBC's Yalda Hakim (above) on the plight on Christians in repressive, secretive Eritrea (according to Pew, a Christian-majority country) was certainly interesting, though I was left somewhat puzzled as to exactly what the regime there is doing to Christians, and why. From what I've read elsewhere, they don't seem to be suppressing Christianity, merely making its adherents conform to certain kinds of Christianity authorised by the state - just like they do with every other religion, and much else besides. It sounds like a complete 'control freak' kind of... more »
Who, In His Right Mind, Would Go into Public School Teaching? Anyone, Anyone?
What do you get when you combine a war against teachers, a crusade against professional teacher education, a thirty year campaign to resegregate schools, the corporatization of PreK-12, and college costs that create a lifetime of crushing debt? One thing you get is a serious teacher shortage, as reported by Rich in the New York Times. In many parts of the country, enrollment is down by over 50 percent in teacher education programs that are sometimes reduced to nothing more than test prep training.
The Republican Party War Against Democracy Is Unending-- Democrats Need To Oppose Them For Real
Donna Edwards, champion for democracy when we really need one Thursday was the 50th anniversary of LBJ signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Tuesday Ari Berman's new book, Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America, was published. The book is the story of the struggle for voting rights in America, from Reconstruction to the election of Barack Obama. The *National Journal* outlined 5 of the worst attacks on voting rights from the right since George W. Bush stole the election of 2000: *1. Ohio 2004.* The only reason the 2000 election even ended up in the Su... more »
Top Iranian Military Leader Supports And Praises The Nuclear Deal
*Reuters*: *Iran's military chief comes out in support of nuclear deal* Iran's military chief and a close ally to the Supreme Leader expressed his support on Saturday for the country's nuclear deal with world powers, a key endorsement for the accord that faces strong opposition from hardliners. Conservative members of the Iranian parliament and chief commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, have sharply criticized the deal, saying it undermined the Islamic Republic's military capabilities. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not publicly approve... more »
Iran's Revolutionary Guards To Benefit Greatly From Sanctions Relief
In this file photo released by the official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office on Monday, May 27, 2013, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, foreground right, attends a graduation ceremony of a group of Revolutionary Guard members, in Tehran, Iran. Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran *Reuters*: *Firms linked to Revolutionary Guards to win sanctions relief under Iran deal* Dozens of companies tied to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, a military force commanding a powerful industrial empire with huge political influence, will win sanctions relief under a nuclear deal... more »
Mike Huckabee: ‘Thank God for Chuck Schumer’ Opposing Iran Deal
ATLANTA, Ga. – During a speech Saturday morning, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee praised Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer for coming out against President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran. “Thank God for Chuck Schumer,” Huckabee said. Huckabee said Schumer, D-N.Y.,... The post Mike Huckabee: ‘Thank God for Chuck Schumer’ Opposing Iran Deal appeared first on The Stream.
3 Historical Developments That Explain Our Current Religious Liberty Battles
In recent political memory, religious liberty was a value that brought together conservatives, libertarians and progressives. As recently as 1993, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act was passed by a nearly unanimous Congress and signed by a Democratic president. Today,... The post 3 Historical Developments That Explain Our Current Religious Liberty Battles appeared first on The Stream.
American Soldier Killed, Others Wounded in Kabul Attacks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials say that an American soldier has been killed and several others have been wounded in a series of attacks Friday in Afghanistan’s capital. A wave of attacks rocked Kabul, leaving more than 40 people dead and... The post American Soldier Killed, Others Wounded in Kabul Attacks appeared first on The Stream.
Governor: Vermont Mom Is ‘Alleged Perpetrator’ in 4 Deaths
BARRE, Vt. (AP) — A woman who lost custody of her 9-year-old daughter is “the alleged perpetrator” in the deaths of three relatives and accused in a criminal charge of then heading to a nearby state office and gunning down... The post Governor: Vermont Mom Is ‘Alleged Perpetrator’ in 4 Deaths appeared first on The Stream.
Essays on Christian persecution
Radio 4's *Sunday* is running a short series at the moment looking at the persecution of Christians around the world. So far they've looked at North Korea and Eritrea, both authoritarian states (one communist, the other secular). Of the top 20 countries judged to be the worst in which to be a Christian, however, 14 out of 20 are Muslim-majority countries (unlike North Korea and Eritrea) so, presumably, next week's essay will be about one of those. (Iran maybe? Or Pakistan?). After all, *Sunday *wouldn't want to give listeners the wrong impression, would it, about where the main... more »
The Story On The Nagasaki Bombing Mission
The atomic bombing of Nagasaki *Ellen Bradbury and Sandra Blakeslee, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists*: *The harrowing story of the Nagasaki bombing mission* Seventy years ago, on August 9, at approximately 3:47 a.m. local time on the island of Tinian, a massive B-29 Superfortress aircraft roared down a tropical airport runway, carrying 13 men and what was then the world’s most destructive weapon—an atomic bomb called Fat Man. It was the second atomic bomb in existence (not counting the test in the Nevada desert about 3 weeks earlier). And it was far more powerful than the first atomi... more »
Untitled
*Preventing the tyranny of the minority: Disinvitation and dissenting opinions* Haverford College, the prestigious and bucolic liberal arts school located in the Philadelphia suburbs, made national news in May 2014 when Robert Birgeneau, former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, withdrew as commencement speaker following student complaints about his role in the 2011 Berkeley Occupy protests. The students’ letter, as summarized by Philly.com, urged Birgeneau “to meet nine conditions, including publicly apologizing, supporting reparations for victims, and writing... more »
The Right to Grow Your Own Food Is Being Taken by the Federal Government
*Christina Sarich * - The DARK Act isn't the only piece of legislation aimed at taking away your right to self-reliance. The post The Right to Grow Your Own Food Is Being Taken by the Federal Government appeared first on Waking Times.
Texas Police: 5 Children, 3 Adults Found Dead Inside Home
HOUSTON (AP) — Eight people — including five children and three adults — were found dead inside a Houston-area home following the arrest of a man who exchanged gunfire with police, Texas authorities said Sunday. Deputies were called to a... The post Texas Police: 5 Children, 3 Adults Found Dead Inside Home appeared first on The Stream.
NYC Sees Surge in ‘Synthetic Pot’ Use, With Dire Consequences
NEW YORK (AP) — Ignoring the police officers standing down the block and the disingenuous fine print on the foil packet peeking out of his front pocket — “Warning: Don’t Smoke” — a homeless man openly lit up a synthetic... The post NYC Sees Surge in ‘Synthetic Pot’ Use, With Dire Consequences appeared first on The Stream.
China Ordains 1st Catholic Bishop Since 2012 Amid Tensions
BEIJING (AP) — A diocese in central China has ordained the country’s first Catholic bishop in three years amid tensions between Beijing and the Vatican and a strained relationship between the Chinese leadership and the Christian religion in general. The... The post China Ordains 1st Catholic Bishop Since 2012 Amid Tensions appeared first on The Stream.
Untitled
*A new record Pause length: no warming for 18 years 7 months* *By Christopher Monckton of Brenchley* For 223 months, since January 1997, there has been no global warming at all (Fig. 1). This month’s RSS temperature shows the Pause setting a new record at 18 years 7 months. It is becoming ever more likely that the temperature increase that usually accompanies an el Niño will begin to shorten the Pause somewhat, just in time for the Paris climate summit, though a subsequent La Niña would be likely to bring about a resumption and perhaps even a lengthening of the Pause. Figure 1.... more »
Quantum Perception and the Recognition of Plant Consciousness
*Joseph S. Gallwitz* - If a tree falls in the forest with noone around does it make a sound? Of course. The post Quantum Perception and the Recognition of Plant Consciousness appeared first on Waking Times.
Christians Flee Islamic State
BEIRUT (AP) — Hundreds of Christian families have fled a central Syrian town as Islamic State fighters advance toward it, activists said Saturday, the anniversary of the U.S. beginning airstrikes against the extremists in Iraq. A U.S.-led coalition has conducted... The post Christians Flee Islamic State appeared first on The Stream.
Steady US Job Gains Likely Foretell a New Era: Higher Interest Rates
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new era of higher rates on home and car loans, steeper borrowing costs for businesses and the government — maybe even a bit more return for savers — is about to arrive. That, at least, is... The post Steady US Job Gains Likely Foretell a New Era: Higher Interest Rates appeared first on The Stream.
Debate Performance Puts Spark Into Fiorina’s GOP Campaign
ATLANTA (AP) — As Carly Fiorina stood at the back of a packed hotel ballroom to give a television interview, a gaggle of conservative activists watched, chattered and snapped pictures as if she were a Hollywood celebrity. Minutes later, more... The post Debate Performance Puts Spark Into Fiorina’s GOP Campaign appeared first on The Stream.
Calls to Abolish Nukes on Nagasaki Bombing 70th Anniversary
NAGASAKI, Japan (AP) — The city of Nagasaki marked the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing Sunday with calls to abolish nuclear weapons and halt the Japanese government’s push to loosen restrictions on what its military can do. With Prime... The post Calls to Abolish Nukes on Nagasaki Bombing 70th Anniversary appeared first on The Stream.
Google’s Search Algorithms Could Steal the Presidency
IMAGINE AN ELECTION — A close one. You’re undecided. So you type the name of one of the candidates into your search engine of choice. (Actually, let’s not be coy here. In most of the world, one search engine dominates;... The post Google’s Search Algorithms Could Steal the Presidency appeared first on The Stream.
Corporate Radio Picks On AFT Indiana
*by Doug Martin * A few days ago, WIBC 93.1’s Ray Steele and Mike Wilson, hosts of The 10 @ 10 Show, found a tweet by AFT Indiana and wentinto corporate bully mode. The AFT Indiana tweet read: “To all the heroes of the education world headed back to the trenches: Good luck & Thank You!” WIBC’s hosts were offended by the war metaphor, claimingthat teachers do not do anything like engage in battle from the “trenches” and that it was “ outlandish” for AFT Indiana to make such a statement. WIBC is ownedand operated by Emmis Communications. Emmis’ Executive Vice President is Scot...more »
Jeremy Corbyn backs greater public ownership for Labour per BBC News
The BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33839819 this: 'Labour should not shy away from putting "necessary things" in public ownership as it establishes its future direction, leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn says. He told the Independent on Sunday the party could restore its commitment to public investment in areas such as rail, either "restoring the Clause IV" or using a different one.' No mention of how the state would pay for the assets that it would nationalise but then why would the BBC report negatively about any left wing Labour politician?
The Central Question
https://twitter.com/hashtag/farleymowat Elizabeth Thompson reported yesterday that those who are invited to attend one of Stephen Harper's "public" events are now required to keep their mouths shut: Members of the public who attend Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s campaign events are being required to agree to a gag order before they can walk through the door, iPolitics has learned. While attendance is by invitation only, and attendees are vetted by the Conservative Party before receiving a ticket, those who want to attend a campaign event in ... more »
Special Greece Report ( August 9 , 2015 ) - Updates on Third Bailout Talks ( EU Officials to review progress , Finland may pass on participation of Third Bailout for Greece , Left Platform comment and other political commentary related to 3rd B.O Talks ) , Debt Divide - and not just for Greece , Refugee / Migrant situation in focus , IMF item of note , Odd & Ends
Tweets.... Greece.... *World Travel Pics ✈* @worldtravelgems 4m 4 minutes ago The village of Oia in Santorini, *Greece* [image: Embedded image permalink] *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 1m 1 minute ago Efforts are being made to conclude the negotiations, the horizon is by Monday night or early Tuesday: #*Greece* gov't official ~@*Reuters* *fred walton* @fredwalton216 2m 2 minutes ago Finland Throws Support Behind Greek Bailout It Says Won’t Work http:// bloom.bg/1Pex93d via @*business* Really hard to call this "support ". *Greece B+ Hub* @Gr... more »
East Texas Man Guilty of Assault Gets Life — in Matrimony
TYLER, Texas (AP) — An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend has been sentenced to life — in matrimony. Josten Bundy, 21, pleaded guilty on July 2 to assault with bodily injury for a February... The post East Texas Man Guilty of Assault Gets Life — in Matrimony appeared first on The Stream.
Gob-smacking!
“*It was possibly the most gob-smacking election launch in modern Canadian history**.”* *So says much respected parliamentary reporter **Susanna Kelley * *“The shockers began almost immediately after Stephen Harper announced he'd asked the Governor General to dissolve parliament and call an election for October 19 — at 78 days, it will be among the longest in Canadian history.* *"I feel very strongly ... that ... campaigns need to be conducted under the rules of the law. That the money come from the parties themselves, not from government resources, parliamentary resources or taxpaye...more »
"Feeling Fed Up With Humanity, In The World And In Ourselves"
*"Feeling Fed Up With Humanity, * *In The World And In Ourselves"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "It is natural to feel let down when we see our fellow humans behaving badly, return the focus to your own life. From time to time, we may all feel fed up with humanity, whether it’s from learning about what’s going on around the world, or what’s going on next door. There are always situations that leave us feeling as if people are simply not capable of behaving in a way that is coming from a place of awareness. Often it seems as if people are actually geared to handle things in the wor... more »
Am I right?
The weather man was right. Sorry, I mean the weather man was correct. I *am* sitting under a veil of cloud this morning while the rest of you are out frolicking in the sunshine. Never mind, all the better to stay in and obsess about the usual stuff. First, via a trail of links and clicks I alighted upon Adam Wishart’s Twitter. Topmost Tweet was about Melanie Phillips’s article in the Jpost, more of which later, but first I must say Adam Wishart is starting to sound petulant. I know it must be tough getting bombarded with criticism, but that’s what you get when you make films about... more »
The elephant in the room
This morning's *Sunday* also featured an interesting interview with Labour MP John Mann about his new book, *Antisemitism: The Oldest Hatred*. Mr Mann spoke about the recent growth in semi-veiled anti-Semitic language, especially surrounding depictions of Jews as being wealthy, powerful and in control of the media and the U.S. government. He was especially startled by the rise of such language in the Baltic States, saying that imagery that echoes that used in Nazi Germany is now becoming mainstream there (i.e. within the EU). William Crawley asked him about anti-Semitism's links ... more »
Forteana: A Witch in Mexico's Bosque de Heno?
*Forteana: A Witch in Mexico's Bosque de Heno?* *Prof. Ana Luisa Cid* has posted a video interview with *Daniela Flores*, a tour guide who takes visitors on nocturnal excursions of the forest known as Bosque de Heno in Huasca de Ocampo, state of Hidalgo. During one of these jaunts, she saw a fireball on one of the treetops and managed to photograph it. These lights are known as "brujas" (witches) and are commonly seen in forests and hilltops. The anthropologist Oscar Lewis - in his landmark study of urban poverty in Mexico, *Los Hijos de Sánchez* - mentions the effect that these "... more »
Selective attention
On that screenshot of the main headlines on the BBC News website, you'll notice that the anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri merits a place among the top stories (in the BBC's eyes). The anniversary has also resulted in a long BBC magazine article. And the anniversary was also marked by this morning's *Sunday* programme on Radio 4, where William Crawley talked to Tommie Pierson, a State Representative (for the Democrats). That magazine article and that interview on *Sunday* show again that the BBC has a strong interest in some stories but not others... more »
The 'sanitised narrative' of Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
I very much agree with Alan at *Biased BBC *about Rupert Wingfield-Hayes's news report on the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, *The 'sanitised narrative' of Hiroshima's atomic bombing*. Alan describes it as "possibly some of the worst and most sanctimonious, malevolent of BBC reporting you’ll ever see", and as "hand-wringing" driven by the BBC's "hatred of what it sees as the European/US, white dominance of history, its kneejerk cultural cringe and guilt-ridden fawning towards other races and cultures by its white reporters and a gleeful free for all from it... more »
Shhh!
There's a marked difference in news priorities this morning between the Sky and BBC websites. First, here's Sky News: And now here's BBC News: Sky's lead story is obviously *not* one which the BBC believes deserves attention. It is literally absent from their news homepage and their UK page. ITV, on the other hand, also includes the terror plot story among their 'top stories'. Unlike the BBC, ITV also clearly believes the story about an Islamist plot to bomb the Queen during the VJ Day commemorations (the lead in the Mail on Sunday) to be newsworthy: I would have thought it... more »
O Come All Ye Migrants
Rod Liddle is on form today at *The Sunday Times, *having his say on the *Songs of Praise *controversy:
(Why You Should Trust No U.S. Election) How Your Elections Were Stolen and How They Are Going To Be Stolen Again: Danger from Voting Machines (VIDEOTHEVOTE.ORG!) You Know That LinkedIn Is A Devious Lie (Friedman Alert!)
It's been a concerted effort not to count the ballots, change (rig) the totals, or have them reported erroneously. If you really believe that the 2000 and 2004 elections weren't purposely stolen, watch the videos below. Not to mention all the other elections since the 2002 HAVA voting act. Watch until the end and then look in the mirror and notice how much whiter your hair is. And it's
HMS Hood's Bell Has Been Successfully Recovered
On 7 August, 2015, a research team led by US philanthropist and entrepreneur Paul G. Allen successfully recovered the bell of the battlecruiser HMS Hood, which sunk in 1941 during World War II. Once restored, the bell will respectfully serve as a tangible and fitting memorial for the 1,415 lives lost when the Bismarck sunk the ship in the North Atlantic. Mr. Allen's team led the operation using his yacht M/Y Octopus, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Source
People Always Say How Wise I Am - The Wisdom Of Roland Oliva
*Source:**https://plus.google.com/+RolandOliva/posts*
Got To Believe Song - I Believe Project
As a songwriter I always felt a huge responsibility to write something from my heart that would add to the world and make it better place for all. Finding Mutual Responsibility and the Roundtable Live Project showed me that others felt this same concern and had found a way to work towards making it a reality. “Got To Believe” is a song that was born out of this inspired awareness and belief that together we really can start to make a difference and change our world. *Source:* *http://www.mutualresponsibility.org*
Military Photo of the Day: August 9, 2015
The chaplain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt celebrates mass with fellow U.S. service members on July 27, 2015. May God bless the men and women of our military as they serve around the world with such courage and honor. The post Military Photo of the Day: August 9, 2015 appeared first on The Stream.
Defence ministry to clear Rs 5,000-crore procurement contract for 'Made in India' Akash missile systems
[image: Akash SAM]The defence ministry is set to clear a Rs 5,000 crore procurement of 'Made in India' Akash missile systems for the air force in a contract that will involve significant private sector participation, with companies like Tata Power SED and Larsen & Toubro likely to get major work portions. An air force plan to induct seven squadrons of the Akash anti-air missile systems has been cleared at several levels and is likely to get a final approval from the high-powered defence acquisition committee shortly, sources told ET. Fourteen firing units of the missile will be boug... more »
Chinese naval survey vessel completes global navigation
[image: Chinese naval survey vessel]A Chinese naval survey vessel has returned home after successfully completing global navigation tour, the first such venture undertaken by China. The global navigation lasted 179 days and the vessel crossed the five continents, three oceans, seven Straits, with a voyage distance of nearly two laps around the globe. It is the first time for a Chinese naval vessel to conduct survey around the world, state-run People's Daily reported. Read more
Air Force nuclear costs $30 billion over next four years, report estimates
[image: B-2 Spirit]The Air Force will likely spend more than $30 billion to overhaul its nuclear arsenal over the next four years, according to a report from Congress’ top watchdog that quoted Defense Department estimates. Between this year and 2019, the service expects to spend $16.7 billion on operations, maintenance and personnel costs; $15.5 billion on research and development; and $2.5 billion on procurement and construction costs, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office. But that budget estimate is likely to increase throughout the 2020s, as the ... more »
Japan Commemorates The 70th Anniversary Of The Nagasaki Atomic Bombing
*Daily Mail*: *Nagasaki remembers its dead: Thousands gather to light lanterns in memory of 74,000 killed when U.S. planes dropped atom bomb on Japanese city in 1945* * 74,000 died when U.S. dropped an atom bomb known as 'Fat Man' on Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 * Thousands of lanterns lit at Nagasaki Peace Park on the eve of 70th anniversary of the attack, which killed 74,000 * An image of the blast's mushroom cloud was beamed onto Urakami Cathedral which was destroyed in the attack * Three days ago, tens of thousands gathered in Hiroshima to remember the 140,000 wh... more »
My grandmother loved words
By Brenda Norrell Censored News My grandmother loved words. She was a dirt farmer in the old south. Each day she would work the word puzzles in the newspaper, challenged and awakened by those words. At the turn of the Nineteenth Century, she received a college degree in English. But she returned to the land. She never cut her hair or said unkind words about others. I aked her once if she could
Men, Fornication is for Cowards
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” — 1 Corinthians 6:18 I had an interesting heart-to-heart with my dad the other day. We were... The post Men, Fornication is for Cowards appeared first on The Stream.
Russia Wants To Take Over The Arctic. Announces Arctic Military Modernization And Buildup
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *Business Insider:** This map shows Russia's game-changing militarization of the Arctic* As the Arctic warms, Russia is positioning itself to become the dominant player in a resource-rich and strategically positioned region. In order to capitalize on the oil and gas under the Arctic seabed and exploit new shipping routes as ice cover recedes, Moscow is undertaking a major military upgrade of its northern coast and outlying archipelagos. Its new bases — which include search-and-rescue stations, ports and airstrips, and military headquarters — are mean... more »
Protesters Shut Down Bernie Sanders Rally
Protesters who claimed affiliation with the Black Lives Matter movement stormed the stage during a rally for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Seattle on Saturday, taking over the microphone and forcing Sanders to leave without ever speaking. Moments after Sanders... The post Protesters Shut Down Bernie Sanders Rally appeared first on The Stream.
Free Trade 50, the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement
The proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement involving 12 countries in East and West Pacific, final negotiations collapsed last month. Reposting some relevant news and views about the issue. This chart is from FT.com. Some news reports on the subject. First, this old but long discussion in the Financial Times (FT). *(1) FT.com, *September 22, 2013. *"* *It is so difficult to envisage all 12 countries agreeing on such a complex agenda that some commentators have sought another explanation for the TPP. Many, noting the absence of China, regard it as a geopolitical club ... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "Sunset"
*"Sunset"* “Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors which it passes to a row of ancient trees. You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you, one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth, leaving you, not really belonging to either, not so helplessly dark as that house that is silent, not so unswervingly given to the eternal as that thing that turns to a star each night and climbs– leaving you (it is impossible to untangle the threads) your own life, timid and standing high and growing, so that, sometimes blocked in, sometimes reaching out, one moment your life is a ... more »
"The Small Beacon..."
"One is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return. One must negotiate this passage as nobly as possible, for the sake of those who are coming after us." - , "The Fire Next Time"
"The Breton Fisherman's Prayer: On Destroying What We Love"
*"The Breton Fisherman's Prayer: * *On Destroying What We Love"* by Robert C. Koehler “Oh God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.” "The Arctic ice is melting at a record pace this summer — just one more measurable phenomenon indicating that extraordinary change in the global ecosystem is in progress. As the ice melts, and the vast polar reflecting surface diminishes, the planet absorbs more and more of the sun’s energy and... grows warmer. More ice melts. So what? Sitting at my desk in Chicago, I was tempted to opt out of caring about this — trend Republican, you might say... more »
Mexico's Economy Is Starting To Flop
*Washington Post*:* Mexico’s economy was supposed to soar. It’s starting to flop.* Largely lost amid the frantic scramble after drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s dramatic prison escape, one of the biggest leaps of faith for the Mexican economy landed with a flop. At the first auction last month to sell the rights to drill for oil in Mexico — as the country opens its oil industry to foreign investment for the first time in eight decades — the government sold just two of its 14 blocks. The disappointing showing for President Enrique Peña Nieto’s signature economic reform prompt... more »
The Undeclared U.S. - Iran Alliance In Iraq Is Starting To Fray
Washington Post: *Expanding U.S. role in Iraq strains awkward alliance with Iran* The expanding U.S. military campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq relies in part on an uneasy, arms-length partnership with Shiite militias backed by Iran — organizations that were once relentlessly effective killers of U.S. troops. Now, as the campaign enters its second year, there are signs that this awkward alliance may be fraying: militia threats of renewed attacks on U.S. personnel, a greater U.S. effort to bolster Sunni forces that are traditional adversaries of Iran and accusations... more »
Thousands Have Been Executed in The Past Year By The Islamic State In Mosul
*Deutsche Welle:** IS executed thousands since taking over Mosul* "Islamic State" militants have executed over 2,000 people in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, officials say. IS has reportedly circulated a list of the victims' names. The latest figure applies only to the region around Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, which was seized by IS in June 2014. "(IS) assassinated in cold blood ... 2,070 residents of Nineveh for ... not cooperating with them," Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said in a video posted on the ministry's website on Friday. The group compiled the l... more »
Black Pastors Ask Smithsonian to Remove Bust of Planned Parenthood Founder
CNSNews.com) – A group of black pastors sent a letter to the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery asking that the bust of Planned Parenthood Founder Margaret Sanger be removed from the museum’s “Struggle for Justice” exhibit, citing her support... The post Black Pastors Ask Smithsonian to Remove Bust of Planned Parenthood Founder appeared first on The Stream.
President Obama: Iran's Supreme Leader's 'Death To America' Rhetoric Won’t Derail Iran Deal
*Bloomberg*: *Obama Says Ayatollah’s Anti-U.S. Comments Won’t Derail Iran Deal* President Barack Obama shrugged off anti-American barbs and tweets from Iran’s Supreme Leader, calling Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “a politician” whose rhetoric won’t threaten a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program. “Superpowers don’t respond to taunts,” Obama said in an interview on CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS” set to air on Sunday. Obama added that he’s “not interested in a Twitter back-and-forth with the Supreme Leader.” In defending his push for an Iran deal, Obama reiterated the arguments he’s made for w... more »
In An Open Letter To President Obama 29 U.S. Scientists Praise Iran Nuclear Deal
Dr. Richard L. Garwin at the Carnegie Institution for Science Washington on February 8, 2012. Press TV *New York Times*: *29 U.S. Scientists Praise Iran Nuclear Deal in Letter to Obama* Twenty-nine of the nation’s top scientists — including Nobel laureates, veteran makers of nuclear arms and former White House science advisers — wrote to President Obama on Saturday to praise the Iran deal, calling it innovative and stringent. The letter, from some of the world’s most knowledgeable experts in the fields of nuclear weapons and arms control, arrives as Mr. Obama is lobbying Congress... more »
“I Write This As A Warning To The World”
*Doctors Fall As They Work* *Poison gas fear: All wear masks* *Express Staff Reporter Peter Burchett was the first Allied staff reporter to enter the atom bomb city. He travelled 400 miles from Tokyo alone and unarmed carrying rations for seven meals – food is almost unobtainable in Japan - a black umbrella, and a typewriter. Here is his story from Hiroshima. * 1945 In Hiroshima, 30 days after the first atomic bomb destroyed the city and shook the world, people are still dying, mysteriously and horribly – people who were uninjured by the cataclysm – from an unknown something ... more »
Iran Defends Activity At Its Parchin Military Site. Continues To Bar Nuclear Inspectors
(*Click on Image to Enlarge*) A satellite image released by U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) shows the status of the site at the Parchin military complex that has been linked to high-explosive work related to the development of nuclear weapons in Iran. *Reuters*: *Iran rejects accusations about military site as 'lies'* Iran's foreign minister said on Saturday that accusations about activity at its Parchin military site were "lies" spread by opponents of its landmark nuclear deal with world powers clinched last month. A prominent U.S. think-tank on ... more »
After our Award, Gatekeeper Project Censored threatens Lawsuit
Pioused Gatekeeper of Media Thinks it Owns the Words 'Censored News' By Brenda Norrell Censored News Aug. 8, 2015 After receiving a Project Censored Award in 2008, Project Censored is now threatening to sue me because it thinks it owns the common words 'Censored News.' It shows the depth of degradation that even the so-called alternative media has succumbed to, attempting to strangle
Lifestyle Watch: Roz Chast shows us "How to Take a Nature Walk"
*by Ken* Possibly this won't be of interest to you country-livers and fitness fanatics, though wise people know that they can always learn something from, you know, everything. And many of the rest of us would like at least to make a gesture toward a fitter lifestyle, and where better to start than with a nature walk? By amazing coincidence, *The New Yorker*'s Roz Chast, that fearless embracer of all things new and improved, has lately tackled this very subject, and as a public service we pass on Part One of what looks to be an ongoing project -- though perhaps *extremely* ongoing... more »
This Man’s Predictions in 1958 are Becoming Today’s Reality
*Video - *Here's a rare 1958 interview where Aldous Huxley talks about the future of the US. Alarmingly, his predictions are becoming modern-day realities. The post This Man’s Predictions in 1958 are Becoming Today’s Reality appeared first on Waking Times.
Stephen Harper's closing remarks- first debate
Sorry folks. Something has gone wrong. Watch the video and you will understand what I mean.
CawRANT Events #10
*CawRANT Events #10* Well, folks, *the crow is Baaaaaaaack! Been gone so long that my RANTaciousness level is up to the boiling point....here goes:* Just returned from an out-of-province family reunion. One thing I learned about reunions is...when people are reminiscing about those members of the family who have passed on...it's nearly always about the kind people who did good deeds during their lives. In other words, all the education, all the career successes...and all the money earned means squat...*it's the good we do that immortalizes us.* Upon my return, in reviewing the g... more »
Obama Heads For Vacation at Elite Enclave Martha's Vineyard
With Congress having already blown town for their latest extended vacation that taxpayers are on the hook for, the Emperor himself wasn’t far behind. Barack Obama is packing up the plantation for a trip to the posh enclave of the wealthy in Martha’s Vineyard and he is starting a day earlier than planned. One of the greatest perks of being POTUS, outside of the costly security, cool helicopter rides and that big white party crib at 1600 Pennsylvania NW is that when it comes to taking vacations the sky’s the limit. There is no shame on Barry’s behalf in making the jaunt up the coas... more »
thoughts on re-watching m*a*s*h, one of the greatest tv shows of all time
Can the comedy-before-sleep slot be filled with overt social and political relevance? We'll soon find out. After struggling through the last seasons of 30 Rock, I've rewarded myself by starting M*A*S*H from season 1, episode 1. (Thank you, Netflix!) It's no coincidence that M*A*S*H, one of the best and most daring sitcoms of all time, first aired in 1972. It was a time of great openness and risk-taking in mainstream movies, radio, and publishing. That risk-taking extended right down to network television, bringing realism and social commentary to a level previously unseen - and not... more »
Tory Decadence and the Trade Unions
This blog has had occasion to comment on the decadence and stupidity of our Tory party friends. This isn't an *ad hom* attack, it's a properly social scientific concept - honest. Its chief manifestation is the pursuit of policies detrimental to the interests of British business as a whole - and sometimes harmful to its own base in the most regressive, backward, and socially useless sections of capital - but serve the immediate interests of the Tory party and/or the clique that presently run it. Sometimes, it doesn't even do that. It springs out of genuine spite. A key exhibit in re... more »
Whitters Goes Pop
Please feel free to make what you want of this (and I'm reserving judgement for the time being), but..... .....according to the Telegraph, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale warned the BBC within weeks of being appointed *not* to be pro-EU membership in the forthcoming referendum: In a letter dated June 15, Mr Whittingdale wrote to Rona Fairhead, chairman of the BBC Trust, seeking assurances over “impartiality” in the BBC’s coverage of the upcoming EU referendum. It is understood the Culture Secretary said the vote would be very “high profile” and that “timely” processes for dea... more »
Republican War On Women Turning Into Another Battlefront In The Republican Civil War?
Erick Erickson disinvited Trump from his for-profit GOP presidential forum today. "I am just not willing to give up being a decent person for Donald Trump," the notorious sexist pig Erickson told Red State attendees. Some applauded, some booed. But, ironically, Megyn Kelly had taken him on for his own grotesque misogyny last year on Fox (see video above above.) Planned Parenthood notes that Trump-slayer Erick Erickson compared pregnant women to “female animals” and called Texas state Senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis "Abortion Barbie." Dave Zirin tweeted this morning... more »
Use and value renewable resources and services
Here is one of twelve collages on The Permaculture Principles and how they might be applied, especially in the maritime Pacific Northwest. Concepts from David Holmgren's *Essence of Permaculture.* *Five. * "Use and value renewable resources and services" My first thought when contemplating this principle was the adage: "reduce, renew, reuse, repurpose, recycle." And you do see some of that here: at 2. the harvest/forage bag has been made from a conference tote bag by snipping the handles at one end and sewing them to each other to make a shoulder strap, while at 3. the compost bi... more »
Conservative Daily Kos Bans Donald Trump from Big Event
As the establishment fully embraces the phony Democrat “war on women” in the latest attempt to stop the momentum of the Trump revolution, those who seek to curry favor with the GOP party bosses are falling over themselves to pitch in. Take for example the conservative website Red State which is soaking up headlines for banning the Donald from their big annual whoop de doo where he was to have been the top guest. Red State is the flip side of that den of iniquity of the great orange Satan over at Daily Kos. Like it’s yappy liberal sister, Red State has become an American Idol for b... more »
Attacked from the Rear: Lindsey Graham Calls for GOP to Dump Trump
The blood is in the water and the sharks are swimming in an orgiastic frenzy as the full fury of the establishment is turned on billionaire usurper Donald Trump. With Trump’s debate clash with Fox News bimbo Megyn Kelly – who is being treated like Mother Teresa today – triggering a shock and awe carpet bombing, sock puppet opponents are going in for the kill. The establishment is not about to let Trump wriggle off the hook again like he did when he deftly escaped the ambush over drooling old John McCain’s “war hero” hagiography. This time they are ready to crucify him upon the cr... more »
The BBC, UKIP and Calais
Continuing with last night's *Newsnight....* The programme presented a report from Calais from BBC reporter James Clayton (who I think I'm now officially entitled to describe as "controversial"). *Newsnight* presented his report as being done at the instigation of a UKIP MEP, Mike Hookem. Whether it was or wasn't (and, obviously, like you, I've absolutely no idea), but... Mike was shown making his point about how easy it is for the illegals in Calais to breach the fences protecting the Channel Tunnel *but* James (of the BBC), doing his Jon Ronson impersonation, 'innocently' not... more »
Indian Villagers Kill Five People for ‘Witchcraft’
Villagers in a rural part of eastern India have killed five women whom they accused of practicing witchcraft, police said Saturday. Police in eastern Jharkhand state said a group of assailants dragged the women out of their huts and beat... The post Indian Villagers Kill Five People for ‘Witchcraft’ appeared first on The Stream.
Attending A Harper Election Rally IS An Exercise In Authoritarian Control - So goes the nation under his watch!
*Members of the public who attend Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s campaign events are being required to agree to a gag order before they can walk through the door, iPolitics has learned. * *While attendance is by invitation only, and attendees are vetted by the Conservative Party before receiving a ticket, those who want to attend a campaign event in person are also being asked to agree to a number of conditions including not to transmit any description of the event or any images from it. * *“Holder (of the confirmation of registration) is prohibited from transmitting or aidin... more »
Crying wolf, Newsnight-style
Just to further an earlier point (one I made four days ago, using sticky back plastic)... Ian Katz's *Newsnight* seems to be becoming somewhat obsessive in labelling its features as "exclusives". I speculated the other day that this is probably because of the Savile/McAlpine fiascos and that *Newsnight *is now desperately trying to justify its existence by boasting as loudly as it can about every new 'scoop' that comes its way - however tenuous those claims to a 'scoop' may be. Last night's *Newsnight *added the QED to that speculative point (or so I reckon). It began with the... more »
Paul Craig Roberts: "The bullion banks’ attack on gold is being augmented with a spate of stories in the financial media denying any usefulness of gold. On July 17 the Wall Street Journal declared that honesty about gold requires recognition that gold is nothing but a pet rock. Other commentators declare gold to be in a bear market despite the strong demand for physical metal and supply constraints, and some influential party is determined that gold not be regarded as money. Why a sudden spate of claims that gold is not money?" "The only possible explanation is manipulation." Blogger: Find out how they do it by reading this excellent article.
------------------------------ *Supply and Demand in the Gold and Silver Futures Markets – Paul Craig Roberts and Dave Kranzler * ------------------------------ July 27, 2015 | Original Here Go here to sign up to receive email notice of this news letter This article establishes that the price of gold and silver in the futures markets in which cash is the predominant means of settlement is inconsistent with the conditions of supply and demand in the actual physical or current market where physical bullion is bought and sold as opposed to tr... more »
Join Voices Against Privatizing Public Education's efforts to repeal the California charter school law
[image: Join Voices Against Privatizing Public Education's efforts to repeal the charter school law] There is a small grass-roots group that has been working diligently to create a ballot proposition to repeal the charter school laws. While a seemingly daunting task, there might not ever be another chance to do this before the privatizers eliminate public schools altogether (Eli Broad just announced his plans to cut LAUSD's public schools in in half). The group has an online petition that now has over 600 signatures. They also have a facebook group. Both of which are linked here: ... more »
Forecast For United States' Population To Go From 319 Million To 65 Million By 2025
*No one seems to really know much about Deagel.com . . some say it is a U.S. Gov Think Tank, others say they are disinfo . . regardless, there has been a LOT of work and energy spent creating this website and forecast . . .* *An 80% Drop In U.S. Population Forecast By 2025* *The chart below seems to indicate a VERY LARGE HIT by NEXT YEAR* This is a projected Population Reduction in the U.S. of 254 million souls. *The projected Population Reduction for the whole World is 400 million.* *63.5% of the projected reduction of the World is projected to be in the U.S.* See Chart Below: ... more »
Federal Election: First Debate
As you can see Harper came well prepared.
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