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| English: Angelina Jolie and Condoleezza Rice during the World Refugee Day at the National Geographic Society (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
10:16pm MDST
Angelina Jolie Appears In The U.K. Parliament To Discuss Sexual Violence By The Islamic State
*Daily Mail:* *ISIS is using rape as 'the centrepoint of their terror', Angelina Jolie tells Parliament as she recalls meeting girls as young as seven brutally assaulted in conflict zones* * Hollywood star tells peers that sexual violence is an 'effective weapon' * Warns it is used by the the 'most aggressive terrorist group in the world' * Called for a 'very, very strong response' to the fanatics in Iraq and Syria * Appearing at committee alongside former Foreign Secretary William Hague Hollywood star Angelina Jolie today told the Houses of Parliament that ISIS is using rape as th... more »
End The Empire-- Jeb Bush Really Is George W. Bush, But Rand Paul Is Not Ron Paul
Sabrina Siddiqui is a reporter for *The Guardian* covering the presidential primaries. Writing from Plymouth, New Hampshire, over the weekend, she tried finding out what each presidential candidate wants the U.S. to do about the refugee crisis in Europe. Just two, she reported, Martin O'Malley and John Kasich, talked about taking in more refugees. She was unable to get comments from Hillary, Bernie, Jeb or Rubio (although Rubio, the self-proclaimed Republican foreign policy expert, babbled some typical GOP nonsense about al-Nusra and ISIS, then added, "It’s not just solely the Uni... more »
How Big is The Islamic State Army?
Images from Gaza-demo *Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, War On The Rocks:* *How Many Fighters Does The Islamic State Really Have?* Estimates of the number of fighters in the ranks of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are extraordinarily wide-ranging. On the low end of things, CNN’s Barbara Starr recently reported that “U.S. intelligence estimates that ISIL has a total force of somewhere between 9,000 to 18,000 fighters.” In late 2014, the CIA’s estimate of ISIL’s numbers was slightly higher, as its analysts assessed that the group had between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters betwe... more »
Keynes: the good, the bad, and the truly freaking horrible
Pedro Schwartz at EconLib has a nice overview of the devilish John Maynard Keynes—the good, the bad, and the truly freaking horrible. This defunct economist, both when he was right and when he was so very frequently wrong still casts a long shadow across the paths of would-be economists. *The conundrum is why so many swear by his name though so little has been kept of the original model of his *General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money* (1936), except his insistence that aggregate demand is the main mover of the economy and that the price system does not function well.* T...more »
Peg with Pen: Relay Graduate School Indoctrination
Peg with Pen: Relay Graduate School Indoctrination: This blog, and many future blogs, are going to be focused on the Relay Graduate School indoctrination occurring in my school and many schoo... more »
Long to reign over our relative decline
England’s Queen is now the longest-reigning British monarch. I wouldn’t normal comment, except that Michael Reddell has compares NZ’s economic performance against the other old dominions—Canada and Australia—since her reign began. It’s a sad old tale. *In 1952 … New Zealand has (just narrowly) the highest GDP per capita of any of the three old dominions” of Canada, Australia and us.* That was in 1952. *And although the point of this post is mostly whimsical, it is hard to go by without the sad picture of New Zealand’s deep and prolonged relative decline [since].* [image: domini... more »
14 Hospitalized as Jet Catches Fire on Take-off in Vegas
[image: British Airways Fire Vegas- 400 000] "I'm glad to be alive," said Jeremie Pantin. Karen Bravo, who is from Las Vegas, said the incident was handled well by all who were involved, from the British Airways crew to the fire department. She said she is not... Continue reading *“14 Hospitalized as Jet Catches Fire on Take-off in Vegas”* at *lasvegassun.com*.
Musical Interlude: Gandalf, “Colors of a New Dawn”
Gandalf, “Colors of a New Dawn” - https://www.youtube.com/
4 Ways to Keep From Being Overwhelmed by the Tribe
*Gary ‘Z’ McGee* - No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. The post 4 Ways to Keep From Being Overwhelmed by the Tribe appeared first on Waking Times.
"A Look to the Heavens"
“There is no sea on Earth large enough to contain the Shark nebula. This predator apparition poses us no danger, though, as it is composed only of interstellar gas and dust. Dark dust like that featured here is somewhat like cigarette smoke and created in the cool atmospheres of giant stars. After being expelled with gas and gravitationally recondensing, massive stars may carve intricate structures into their birth cloud using their high energy light and fast stellar winds as sculpting tools. The heat they generate evaporates the murky molecular cloud as well as causing ambient hydr... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "The Apple Orchard"
*"The Apple Orchard"* "Come let us watch the sun go down and walk in twilight through the orchard's green. Does it not seem as if we had for long collected, saved and harbored within us old memories? To find releases and seek new hopes, remembering half-forgotten joys, mingled with darkness coming from within, as we randomly voice our thoughts aloud wandering beneath these harvest-laden trees reminiscent of Durer woodcuts, branches which, bent under the fully ripened fruit, wait patiently, trying to outlast, to serve another season's hundred days of toil, straining, uncomplaining, by not ...more »
Photos Reveal Russian Soldiers In Syria
Pictures of Russian troops taken across western Syria have been uploaded to social media. A video from Syria supposedly filmed on August 23 during the battle of the port of Latakia also shows an ultramodern Russian-made infantry combat vehicle *Daily Mail:* *EXCLUSIVE: First picture 'proof' that Russia has troops on the ground all over Syria helping dictator Bashar Al-Assad - and they've been there since APRIL * * Images showing Russians troops in Syria posted on social media accounts * Some have been taken at Russia's small naval facility in Tartus, Syria * But forces seen at other... more »
What could these poor saps be thinking? (A contest with no prize)
*That's it -- no crying, fellas. Big boys don't cry.* *by Ken* This morning, in honor of the return of Congress from summer vacation, washingtonpost.com used this photo to kick off "The Daily 202" newsletter ("Congress comes back to shutdown talk, Iran debate and Boehner threats"), with the caption "John Boehner and Mitch McConnell during the February showdown over funding the Department of Homeland Security." Somehow I just couldn't stop looking at the picture. Talk about a woebegone duo, our intrepid legislative solons, who are responsible for making the wheels of Congress, er, ... more »
Chet Raymo, “The Journey”
*“The Journey”* by Chet Raymo “Here's a deep-deep sky map of the universe from "Nature." The horizontal scale is a 360 view right around the sky; the vertical gaps at 6 hours and 24 hours are the parts of the universe that are blocked to our view by the disk of our own Milky Way Galaxy. The vertical scale- distance from Earth- is logarithmic (10, 100, 1000, etc.) measured in megaparsecs (a parsec equals 3.26 light-years). Across the top is the Big Bang, and the oldest and most distant thing we can see, the cosmic microwave background, the radiation of the Big Bang itself. A few rel... more »
"An Open Mind..."
"Dogmatism breeds intolerance. Like ideology, dogmatism puts blinders on what its adherents can see, disables their questioning faculties, and breeds fervor and fanaticism. Having an open mind does not mean that one never comes to any convictions in life. It is perfectly possible to have an open mind and live a very principled life, without holding one's beliefs dogmatically. Having an open mind means being prepared to question even your most central beliefs if there is occasion to do so. It means being open, when the time comes, to having your mind changed by an argument better th... more »
“Discouraged, But Not Without Hope”
*“Discouraged, But Not Without Hope”* by Tom Walsh “Sometimes it gets difficult to remain positive in our world of today. After all, there are many wars going on, we're on the tail end of a recession that has decimated the financial well-being of millions of people (ours included), many people have lost their jobs and many more continue to do so, our education system is taking hit after hit by losing money and good teachers and raising class sizes, and our newscasts are filled with reports of crime and tragedy and death and destruction. But of all these things, I think that what is... more »
Get excited!
To all those who’ve asked me, YES, you *can* watch AFL on telly in NZ. And just in time for finals! I’m told that Sky NZ currently broadcasts one AFL match per week of the premiership season (though I’ve never heard of anyone finding when), including the upcoming finals series. And TVNZ has just signed up to broadcast up to three live games per week for the next two years, and a further two matches either live or delayed per week of the home and away season, all on the Freeview 13 channel. And if like me you prefer watching online, there’s both WatchAFL (live games plus replays)... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Twickenham, Richmond upon Thames, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by!
"From This Biased Point Of View..."
"We have looked first at man with his vanities and greed and his problems of a day or a year; and then only, and from this biased point of view, we have looked outward at the earth he has inhabited so briefly and at the universe in which our earth is so minute a part. Yet these are the great realities, and against them we see our human problems in a different perspective. Perhaps if we reversed the telescope and looked at man down these long vistas, we should find less time and inclination to plan for our own destruction." - Rachel Carson
"Why the 'Chemtrail Conspiracy' Is Real"
*"Why the 'Chemtrail Conspiracy' Is Real"* by Sayer Ji "While any discussion of the "chemtrail" phenomenon today is immediately labeled conspiracy theory, a new study provides evidence that a global covert program is underway, made possible through political, commercial, and government interests working in collusion to release extremely toxic material into the atmosphere ostensibly to "combat global warming." Admittedly, when the topic of "chemtrails" comes up, I get a bit uneasy. Like connecting vaccines with autism, certain topics have been so loaded with misinformation for so l... more »
Has Putin Won The War In Ukraine?
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Feb. 11 in Minsk. The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany have agreed on a ceasefire deal. © AFP *Marvin Kalb, Washington Post*:* Putin won his war in Ukraine* The war in Ukraine has slipped off the front pages. Eighteen months ago, when Russian President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea and then instigated a pro-Russian rebellion in the Donbas region, Ukraine was hot news. Putin was roundly denounced, and Russia was hit with damaging economic sanctions. East-West relations soured badl... more »
If our banks won’t lend to the real economy, Corbyn’s QE and National Investment Bank will
KJ get's there in the end, with help from Fee and Chris... SOURCE TELEGRAPH: Five good things about Corbyn (even if you're not a Labour supporter) Did you ever wonder why the banks and the City (who caused the great recession) were also the largest beneficiaries of re-inflating the economy with quantitative easing? And did you not perhaps feel a little aggrieved that, once they’d got
Crime scene at a local bookshop
Time Out bookstore in Mt Eden have a new window display… *A criminal act! Our new window display is packed full of 'offensive' material that has been banned in various countries at various times. *Into the River* by Ted Dawe is in the forefront (though, concealed in a paper bag as it's illegal to display it.* No *Fountainhead*, I’m afraid (apparently out of stock). And no *Satanic Verses –* presumably for very different reasons… [UPDATE: no, also not currently in stock, but also on its way back in.) Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to re... more »
Rand Paul Headlining ‘Defund Planned Parenthood Rally’ at Capitol Thursday
[image: Rand Paul] Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will headline a Thursday rally outside the Capitol to call for Planned Parenthood funding to be excluded from the government spending bill, according to anti-abortion groups. Paul will appear alongside a range of anti-abortion groups, including... Continue reading *“Rand Paul Headlining ‘Defund Planned Parenthood Rally’ at Capitol Thursday”* at *thehill.com*.
Navy Exonerates Chaplain Who Shared His Christian Beliefs
[image: chaplain wesley modder - 400] The Navy has exonerated a highly decorated and respected chaplain, denying a formal request by his commanding officer to dismiss him from the military based on statements he made to sailors during private counseling sessions. Chaplain Wesley Modder's former commander,... Continue reading *“Navy Exonerates Chaplain Who Shared His Christian Beliefs”* at *worldmag.com*.
New Cold War: 2015 Update
See Michael Klare, A New Cold War in Asia? - TomDispatch (here) for discussion of the New Cold War in Asia. See my previous blogpost about rising militarism in Japan: Majia's Blog: Why the Secrecy About Fukushima? Now let us move into the present. In July 2015 the LDP successfully pushed through Japan’s lower house of parliament a collection of bills allowing Japan’s armed forces, known as the Self-Defense Forces, to defend an ally under attack, representing a new interpretation of the role of Japan’s self-defense forces. The bill is now with the upper chamber, which is cont... more »
A Trip Through Some of the Most Insane Acts of Violence in the Bible
*Video - *Are the horrors written about in the Old Testament allowing for the justification of horrific acts if carried out in the name of God? The post A Trip Through Some of the Most Insane Acts of Violence in the Bible appeared first on Waking Times.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 8, 2015
*Rick Noack, Washington Post*: *This map helps explain why some European countries reject refugees, and others love them* As hundreds of Germans held up "Welcome Refugees" signs last weekend, much of Europe watched in bewilderment. “Germany is the only country that is welcoming us,” said Alalie, a 37-year-old from Damascus and one of the thousands of refugees who arrived at the main train station in Munich. Nearly all of the refugees had come from Hungary -- a country with restrictive immigration policies and where many said they authorities had treated them inhumanely. But why ar... more »
Quote of the Day: On prices, price signals and the business cycle
*“In the 1920s, Hayek began to grasp the importance of price signals. Problem was: how these signals related to coordination & dis-coordination. “Hayek realized that when price signals were leading to coordination people were learning the right things; when price signals systematically misled people were systematically learning the wrong thing.”* - The Hayek Centre’s twitter account, summarising Bruce Caldwell’s explanation of Hayek’s insight. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Violence For Peace?!?
It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Protesters for peace turning violent? Violence doesn't solve anything. Like, when I see someone physically attacking someone on the street and calls for them to desist don't work, the next stage is to circulate a petition amongst the people passing by, imploring the assailant to stop. Or, I drop to my knees and begin to pray that the attack ends. Finally, if all else fails I do some research about how violence harms both the victims and the perpetrators. (My friend, the post-structuralist, sometimes opens up a can of food and pours the content... more »
We Are Dyett
By Julie Vassilatos, Monday at 12:19 pm I think it's time for a little clarity. The Fight for Dyett is not resolved. The mayor's Frankenschool solution created without a single stakeholder, and imposed autocratically ("we are not negotiating"--Forrest Claypool) solved nothing and indeed, despite Eric Zorn's crowing about how well hunger strikes work, and hooray, it's over, and ding dong the witch is dead, the strikers are still striking. Furthermore, the Fight for Dyett is not 12 people trying circumvent "procedure" and "bully" the mayor. It is 12 people standing up and saying no.... more »
Vaccine-derived polio breaks out in Ukraine and Mali
Vaccines & Viruses: Vaccine-derived polio breaks out in Ukraine and Mali *Polio problems.* Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced polio had paralyzed a 4-year-old and 10-month-old in Ukraine, marking* Europe’s first polio outbreak in five years.* And on Monday, WHO said *a child in Mali,* a nation in West Africa, had *contracted polio and been paralyzed. * *In both cases, the polio came not from a virus circulating in the wild but from oral polio vaccines*, which use weakened, *live versions* of the virus that carry a rare but persistent possibility of mutating int...more »
World News Briefs -- September 8, 2015 (Evening Edition)
Refugees and migrants approach Greece's border with Macedonia, near the Greek village of Idomeni, September 8, 2015. REUTERS/YANNIS BEHRAKIS *Reuters:* *U.N. says 850,000 to cross sea to Europe in 2015 and 2016* At least 850,000 people are expected to cross the Mediterranean seeking refuge in Europe this year and next, the United Nations said on Tuesday, giving estimates that already look conservative. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR called for more cohesive asylum policies to deal with the growing numbers. Many are refugees from Syria, driven to make the voyage by intensified fight... more »
Nestle Pays Only $524 to Extract 27,000,000 Gallons of California Drinking Water
*Claire Bernish* - Putting the potential profit for Nestle in the tens of billions. The post Nestle Pays Only $524 to Extract 27,000,000 Gallons of California Drinking Water appeared first on Waking Times.
The Migration of Populations vs. The Individual
*Jon Rappoport* - The modern State works from the assumption that you are renting your life and your self. The post The Migration of Populations vs. The Individual appeared first on Waking Times.
The Public Continues its Fight Against GMO Giant Monsanto
*Video - *The founder of March Against Monsanto talks about public initiatives that continue to threaten the GMO giant Monsanto and what we can do to fight the the DARK Act, The post The Public Continues its Fight Against GMO Giant Monsanto appeared first on Waking Times.
Hillary Clinton Apologizes: Email Set-up “a Mistake. I’m Sorry”
[image: SALT LAKE CITY - OCTOBER 25: Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at a rally for the Utah Democratic party October 25, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several Utah Democrats express surprised that Hillary came to Utah to speak ten day before the national elections, since Utah is considered a heavily Republican state. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)] Hillary Clinton on Tuesday told ABC News' David Muir that using a personal email account while Secretary of State was a "mistake" and that she is "sorry" for it. “That was a mistake. I'm so... more »
Sept. 8: Trivial news; trivial election
Federal elections are almost always fought on trivialities In the U.S., Trump is a big challenge just milking the relatively minor issue of Mexicans crossing the border. This is a man running for president of a country whose standards of living are in rapid decline, whose society is showing very dangerous signs of breakdown, whose education system is a mess, whose system of democracy died a long time ago, killed by the big money that runs whoever gets elected. This is the country with the biggest debt in history largely because of lavish and very, very corrupt war spending. This is ... more »
Europe's Migrant Crisis -- News Updates September 8, 2015
*Daily Mail:* *Collapsing from exhaustion, clashing with police and too scared to go to the toilet in case they miss their chance to leave: Ordeal of the 20,000 migrants trapped on Lesbos* * Refugees have been stranded on Greek island for weeks, running out of money and desperate to reach the mainland * Authorities have become overwhelmed by influx of 20,000 migrants – around a fifth of the island's entire population * Fights break out as refugees wait in long lines for hours to register in the summer heat after days without showers * Locals complain about bottles, plastic bags and ... more »
Vimeo Stole My Stuff (Again)
Spike, Firstly, we did actually give you a warning period. We put a contextual notice on the account and sent a warning email at least two weeks before taking action. I'm not saying you're wrong, but can you tell me when that was? Because I didn't see it, and nothing red flashed up on my account to say *Take Action Now Before We Delete All Your Work! *- I would have remembered that. If it was from a human being, I would have seen it and responded to it - if it was from a machine, and autogenerated it would have been filtered out by my junk mail filter, along with four thousan... more »
The Syrian Refugee Crisis (4 Maps And Charts)
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *VOX:* *The Syrian refugee crisis, in 4 maps and charts* It took a graphic photograph of a dead child washed up on the Turkish shores for much of the world to finally wake up to the human catastrophe of the Syrian refugee crisis. That crisis is not new: More 4 four million Syrians have been forced out of their home country since fighting began there in 2011. Many were hastily resettled in squalid refugee camps in neighboring countries. Since then, thousands of these refugees have risked drowning in the Mediterranean in hopes of finding a better life in... more »
"Do NOT Open Until 2056"
*James Otto is a prominent civil rights attorney based in Northridge, CA. He served as an officer in the Marine Corps from 1976 to 1980 and later worked for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, prosecuting violators of California's civil rights laws in both employment and housing. Presently, he is developing new legal theories to protect American workers and green-card holders from national-origin discrimination. Recently he filed a law suit against Disney, whose preference for foreign workers over U.S. workers resulted in over 700 competent U.S. workers in F... more »
Bernard v Jim
*The Spectator *has helpfully transcribed the relevant bit from this morning's *Today* where Tory MP Bernard Jenkin gave the BBC both barrels over its pro-EU bias and James Naughtie lost his cool and began sulking as a result. Unfortunately, the transcription doesn't really do justice to the encounter. It really needs to be heard (on either of the above links). But for those who refuse to listen, here's the *Speccie*'s transcription, with a few additions and corrections *[in bold]* from me: ****** Jenkin: There is the other problem. Jim, you know the history of the BBC’s coverag... more »
INCOMING! (And I totally missed it)
It's hot and I'm having a shitty day. So out of boredom and in need of distraction, I googled "fern hill dammit janet" and look what I found from Canadian (formerly "Christian") Association of Pregnancy Support Services, aka fake clinics/crisis pregnancy centres. We are excited to be holding the first annual CAPSS National day of Prayer on Thursday, April 2, 2015 There's a lot a jeezuzy stuff, then things get specific. Joyce Arthur of Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada and I are targeted for prayer assaults. Joyce's many crimes against truth, science, and good care for women are... more »
Need another economist
[image: image] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
The U.S. Senate Can Still Block The Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on a nuclear deal with Iran at American University in Washington August 5, 2015. REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST *Andrew C. McCarthy, NRO*: *Obama’s Iran Deal Is Still Far from Settled* The review process under the Corker law never began — by the law’s own terms. To undermine President Obama’s atrocious Iran deal despite the Republican-controlled Congress’s irresponsible Corker legislation, it will be necessary to follow, of all things, the Corker legislation. On Wednesday, Barbara Mikulski became the 34th Senate Democrat to announce support f... more »
U.S. Senate Democrats Block Vote On Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the Greater Boston Labor Council Labor Day Breakfast in Boston, Massachusetts September 7, 2015. REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE *Reuters*: *Obama musters key 41 Senate votes for Iran nuclear deal* President Barack Obama secured 41 votes in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday for the international nuclear deal with Iran, enough to block a measure of disapproval in the 100-seat chamber. Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal, Gary Peters and Ron Wyden all said they would support the agreement. Their backing along with that of 38 other Democratic and independent ... more »
The Case Against Co-Ed Baby Showers
[image: baby showers] There is a disturbing trend among my "Millennial" peer group that needs to be stopped: In yet another example of our culture's obsession with dissolving even the most helpful distinctions between the genders, some women are now hosting co-ed baby... Continue reading *“The Case Against Co-Ed Baby Showers”* at *acculturated.com*.
Why the Left Loves ‘Change’
[image: Obama Campaign Change - 900] "We are the change that we seek" "Hope and Change" These statements and campaign slogans of candidate Barack Obama in 2008 exemplified a basic difference between the Left and Right. The further left one goes the greater the belief in... more »
To See Those Pews Full Again, Learn From Best Buy
[image: Best Buy guy] Rather than abandon the traditional mantle for other, lighter ones that feel more colorful and cool and contemporary, synagogues should reiterate that their predominant commitment is, as it has always been, to the collective practice of religious ritual. Instead of... Continue reading *“To See Those Pews Full Again, Learn From Best Buy”* at *tabletmag.com*.
'Panorama' and Jeremy Corbyn
Last night's *Panorama *on the rise of Jeremy Corbyn provoked massed howls of outrage from the battalions of Corbynistas on Twitter - and, according to Mr Fawkes, from Mr Corbyn's own team as well. The terms "character assassination" and "hatchet job" were widely banded about. Even some people on largely right-wing forums are saying that the BBC appeared to be trying to stick the knife into Jeremy Corbyn here. And I have to say that I think they're right about that. (And, from my own biased point of view, quite right too!) Of course, *Panorama *isn't averse to putting out hatch... more »
Anecdote for the Day
Here's an anecdote that *may *signify something... My place of work is full of people who don't *usually* sound off about BBC bias (in fact, *ever*). And yet today two people came into work and, almost immediately and quite independently of each other, started really fuming about the BBC for questioning the killing of two 'British' Islamic State jihadis by UK drones. Apparently, they'd heard a BBC interviewer challenging a government minister over the rightness of the drone attacks. My workmates didn't like that interviewer's line of questioning one bit. "What's wrong with them?"... more »
Is Iran Giving Up Its Right To Produce Plutonium A Big Concession?
Source: McKenzie Intelligence Services. The New York Times *New York Times*:* Plutonium Is Unsung Concession in Iran Nuclear Deal* At first glance, the metals that give atom bombs their destructive fury might seem interchangeable: Uranium and plutonium are both more valuable than gold. Both captivate would-be atomic powers. And both fueled bombs that leveled Japanese cities — uranium at Hiroshima and plutonium at Nagasaki. But to see them as equal is to ignore a crucial difference: Of the 15,000 or so nuclear warheads on the planet, atomic experts say, more than 95 percent rely on... more »
The Secret of Mother Teresa’s Greatness
[image: Mother Teresa - 400] Last year I was in Skopje, the capital city of what is called by some the Republic of Macedonia and by others FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). I was there under the auspices of East-West Ministries of Dallas to... Continue reading *“The Secret of Mother Teresa’s Greatness”* at *foxnews.com*.
Iran President: Ready To Hold Talks On Syria With The US And Saudi Arabia
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani arrives for a bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo on the sideline of the Asian African Conference in Jakarta April 23, 2015. REUTERS/MAST IRHAM/POOL *Reuters:* *Iran will discuss peace in Syria with any country, Rouhani says* Iran is willing to sit down with its rivals to discuss the crisis in Syria, President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, but suggested Tehran would not debate the future of President Bashar al-Assad until peace is achieved. The world's attention has once again turned to Syria in recent weeks as tens of thousand... more »
"How It Really Is"
Lint... ◆
The Economy: “The Absurdity of the ‘Living Wage’”
*“The Absurdity of the ‘Living Wage’”* by Bill Bonner GUALFIN, Argentina – “Yesterday was Labor Day. Most of the world pays homage to its sweating, busing, trucking classes, its poor huddled masses… yearning for a cushier seat and a better deal… on May 1. President Grover Cleveland chose the first Monday in September. On Friday, the Dow fell again – down 272 points. But don’t worry, Tobias Levkovich, Citi’s chief U.S. strategist, told CNBC there was a 96% chance (96%, not 95%!) that the Dow would be higher one year from now. Well, we can’t fight those odds, can we? So b… b… buy! N... more »
Plant paper pulled when authors can’t pay fees
A paper on chicory plants — also known as “blue daisies” — won’t get its moment in the sun. The “accepted author version” was published online in June, in Plant Signaling & Behavior. But before the so-called “version of record” could make it into an official issue of the journal — which is online-only — it was retracted. Why? The authors […] The post Plant paper pulled when authors can’t pay fees appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Easiest Garlic Knots
My husband and I love going out to eat. For years we have just taken our older daughter with us even to very nice restaurants. It has never been a big deal and she has always been well behaved. When our second daughter came along, suddenly we realized how hard it was to take multiple kids to a restaurant, even if they are behaving. We have gone out less and less over the last couple of years, so instead we have started trying to make our favorites at home. These garlic knots are our take on the amazing knots from our favorite pizza place, they get major bonus points for being so ea... more »
Back To My Roots: More Exposure Of The Fraudulent Apollo Moon Landings And The Scam Artists Behind NASA - THIS Alone Should Tell Everyone That NASA Lies!
I began my own journey on the road to enlightenment and understanding the truth about exactly who controls our very sick world some 36 years ago now when I was informed in a Physics lab, at the local University that I attended taking Engineering courses, by a most brilliant professor that the entire 'man on the moon' missions were a complete fraud.... It was shocking and most disturbing, but always being a critical thinker, I wanted more details and information.... At that time in 1979 there was little to show how NASA scammed the entire world with their fraudulent Apollo moon land... more »
Supplemental: Reviewing our back-to-school press-watch agenda!
*TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015The SATs make it three:* In the next two weeks, we’ll be conducting our annual review of the mainstream press corps’ back-to-school journalism. In last week’s preview posts, we offered some background concerning two questions we would be discussing: Are black kids suspended more often in Southern states than in the rest of the country? Also, what sort of progress has occurred in the New Orleans schools over the past ten years? Each question received a bit of attention as the press corps traveled back to school in the past few weeks. This week, we’re add... more »
Turkey - Kurd War News Updates -- September 8, 2015
*Bloomberg:** Turkish Conflict Escalates as Erdogan Responds to Militants* Turkey was gripped by a dramatic escalation of violence as security forces responded to the killing of 30 soldiers and policemen by Kurdish separatists with airstrikes and the deployment of special forces. Militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, killed 13 policemen in a roadside bomb attack on Tuesday in the Igdir province bordering Iran and Armenia, according to both pro-government and pro-Kurdish news agencies. Another policeman was shot dead in the eastern province of Tunceli. The attacks fo... more »
Free Trade 52, More on the Gravity model
A presentation by Dr. Ramon Clarete of UPSE during the UPSE-Ayala forum early this year was entitled "*Going Regional: Which Mega Trade Deals Should the Philippines Join?*" He used the Gravity model of trade in estimating the level of bilateral exports or imports between two trading partners. So the dependent variable is the flow of trade between and among countries studied, the independent or explanatory variables are the following and their expected signs or relationships: GDP (+), population (+), distance between two countries (-), commonality of language (+), shared borders (+)... more »
Cartoon: ‘We Pledge Allegiance … ‘
[image: Ramirez - 090815 - We Pledge Allegiance]
Kim Davis Freed from Jail, Thanks Supporters, Gives ‘God the Glory’
[image: This Thursday, Aug. 3, 2015 photo made available by the Carter County Detention Center shows Kim Davis. The Rowan County, Ky. clerk went to jail Thursday for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, but five of her deputies agreed to comply with the law, ending a two-month standoff. (Carter County Detention Center via AP)] GRAYSON, Ky. (AP) -- The Kentucky county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples was released Tuesday after five days behind bars, emerging to a tumultuous reception from thousands of cross-waving supporters. “... more »
Letter From a Political Neophyte
*A copy of this letter arrived in my inbox recently.......* Dear Stephen About 6 months ago, a friend of mine told me that I need to learn more about Canadian politics, especially during an election. He was right, so I decided to start with learning about you and your government. I certainly don't have the extent of political knowledge that my friend has, but I now have a better understanding about you and what your party stands for. Next I will be studying about Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, then Thomas Mulcair and the NDP and then Elizabeth May and the Greens. I was planning on ... more »
Under the Gaze of the Mighty: Humanity's Unwelcome Watchers
*Under the Gaze of the Mighty: Humanity's Unwelcome Watchers* *By Scott Corrales* Music video enthusiasts might fondly remember a 1987 clip by British rocker David Bowie which portrayed angels filming all details of human existence--even the most sordid ones--with suitably "angelic" white-painted cameras. The concept of God's minions looking upon our every act is central to many religions, along with a belief in the existence of angels. In the 1960's and '70s, a number of researchers and theorists began to examine the possibility that the UFO and attendant phenomena were merely a ... more »
How Welfare Programs Penalize Marriage
[image: Low Income Couple Welfare - 400] When it comes to marriage, the U.S. tax code is roughly neutral: The number of people penalized for being married is roughly the same as the number who benefit from it. The same is not true for social welfare programs,... Continue reading *“How Welfare Programs Penalize Marriage”* at *blogs.wsj.com*.
The Free Market Wisdom of Milton Friedman
[image: milton friedman] Only a short time ago, the prediction that Professor Milton Friedman would receive the Nobel Prize in economics would have been greeted by a broad spectrum of reactions ranging from horrified impossibility to an unemotional expression of obvious inevitability. Indeed,... Continue reading *“The Free Market Wisdom of Milton Friedman”* at *theimaginativeconservative.org*.
ISIS Loyalists Eye Afghanistan
[image: Map of Afghanistan] KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Homegrown militants loyal to the Islamic State group are making inroads into Afghanistan, controlling territory in some parts of the country and ruling with the harsh hand the group is notorious for in Iraq and Syria,... more »
Hillary Had Two Emails with Top Secret Information, CIA Review Confirms
[image: 150729_hillary_clinton_pp_gty_1160_1160x629__1438255531_70.119.142.63] A special review by two intelligence agencies confirmed that two of the emails contained on Hillary Clinton's personal email system contained top secret information at the time they were sent. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) conducted the... Continue reading *“Hillary Had Two Emails with Top Secret Information, CIA Review Confirms”* at *freebeacon.com*.
41 U.S. Senators Support Iran Nuclear Deal, Democrats Say
[image: Iran nuclear talks] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats clinched the crucial Senate votes Tuesday to block passage of a disapproval resolution against the Iran nuclear accord, an outcome that would be a major win for President Barack Obama against united Republican opposition. But supporters... more »
KB 3081455
*At least one user installed this update without problems* Apologies, this blog post – on a somewhat well-known blog primarily dedicated to physics and philosophy of science – is a test trying to measure how many people will find the blog post identified by a new Microsoft patch that was released tonight, on the September 2015 Patch Tuesday, when the number of Googlable articles about that patch is basically zero. This patch KB3081455 is a cumulative update for the 64-bit systems running Windows 10. I am downloading it right now and the patch should be ready – perhaps for a rebo... more »
Venezuela - Colombia Border Crisis Escalates
*Reuters*: *Venezuela extends Colombia border closure, sends 3,000 troops* Venezuela has extended a partial border shutdown with Colombia and sent another 3,000 troops to the area in a crime crackdown that has sent thousands of Colombians fleeing their adopted homeland and led to accusations of rights abuses. The border dispute has also created a diplomatic blow-up between President Nicolas Maduro's socialist government and the conservative administration of Juan Manuel Santos in Colombia. Critics say Maduro is creating a distraction and playing the nationalist card before a Dece...more »
Is Microsoft Integrating Windows 10–Style "Spyware" Into Windows 7 & 8?
*Edward Snowden's infamous PRISM slide, showing Microsoft's collusion with the NSA starting in 2007.* *by Gaius Publius* I mean that headline as a real question. Is Microsoft actually integrating Windows 10–style "spyware" into Windows 7 & 8? We've been looking (here and here) at the issue of whether Windows 10, the new Microsoft operating system ("OS" in tech-speak) is designed as spyware. I've personally concluded that it is, based on a number of reports, such as those detailed at the links above, and based on the giant holes written into their Privacy and License agreements. ... more »
Iranian Warships ‘Routinely’ Confront U.S. Navy
[image: Iranian Ships-400] U.S. naval forces operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, are "routinely approached by Iranian warships and aircraft" on a "nearly daily basis," according to a Pentagon official familiar with operations in the region. During... Continue reading *“Iranian Warships ‘Routinely’ Confront U.S. Navy”* at *freebeacon.com*.
Christian Hostages Kidnapped by Islamic Militants Reportedly Alive
[image: christian hostages] A Syrian priest, along with 270 Muslim and Christian hostages kidnapped by Islamic militants earlier this summer in an offensive on the city of Homs, are reportedly alive and hoping that they’ll be released after negotiations. Fides News Agency said that Father... Continue reading *“Christian Hostages Kidnapped by Islamic Militants Reportedly Alive”* at *christianpost.com*.
Mediation
The Justice system has a history premised on conflict. The parties battle each other through trial and a single victor emerges as winner. A person charged with a crime is convicted or acquitted. A lease is found valid or is voided. A child is taken, on not taken, into care. The trouble with this win/lose paradigm is that it ignores the broader societal impact of a battle between parties. This is especially true in family law matters. If a mother and father see each other as enemies instead of coworkers in raising children they are likely to be bitter and resentful instead of the... more »
Pentagon’s Impact on the Oceans
* Maine Peace Walk – Militarization of the Seas* *October 9-24* *Ellsworth, Maine to Portsmouth, New Hampshire* The Pentagon has the largest carbon footprint on our Mother Earth. Waging endless war consumes massive amounts of fossil fuels and lays waste to significant environmentally sensitive places on the planet – particularly the oceans. The oceans are inhabited by a multitude of different life forms, from microorganisms to whales, many of whom are able to sense sound and use it to find food, navigate, communicate, and avoid predators. Navy sonar blasts wreak havoc on these... more »
SKrashen: The limits of phonics (and phonemic awareness)
SKrashen: The limits of phonics (and phonemic awareness): Sent to the New York Times, Sept. 8, 2015 Daniel Willingham's approval of the findings of The National Reading Panel is not justified... more »
Ukraine: Janes- Reduced ceasefire violations & a coup in Donetsk. Updated !
*Janes: Country Risk Daily Report* *Interested in some input. Haven't been following the Ukraine situation closely for some time now.* EVENTOn 6 September 2015, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the previous week was the first since the signing of Minsk II ceasefire agreement on 12 February 2015 in which a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine had been implemented. Ceasefire violations along the line of contact (LoC) in Donetsk and Luhansk regions diminished from an average of more than 150 per day in mid-August 2015 to 10 a day in early September. Both separatist militants and secu... more »
Iraq’s Oil Revenue Down $1 Bil in August 2015
Iraq experienced a large drop in the price for its crude in August 2015. That resulted in a $1 billion decrease in its revenue. On top of all that its exports dipped a bit as well. That means the country will continue to face budgetary and deficit problems into the foreseeable future. In August Iraq exported an average of 3.079 million barrels a day. That was down from July’s 3.104 million, June 3.187 million, and May’s 3.145 million. The main cause was the breakdown in the budget deal between Baghdad and Irbil. Under that agreement the Kurds were to export oil for the central go... more »
Freddie Gray’s Family to Get $6.4 Million
[image: Freddie Gray-900] BALTIMORE (AP) -- The family of Freddie Gray, who died after being critically injured in police custody, reached a tentative $6.4 million wrongful death settlement with the city of Baltimore, resolving civil claims about a week after the first hearing... more »
In New Book, Trump Likens his Schooling to Military Service
[image: Donald Trump - 400] Donald J. Trump, who received draft deferments through much of the Vietnam War, told the author of a forthcoming biography that he nevertheless "always felt that I was in the military" because of his education at a military-themed boarding school.... Continue reading *“In New Book, Trump Likens his Schooling to Military Service”* at *nytimes.com*.
Why Kim Davis Was Right Not to Resign
[image: kim davis] Should Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who is jail for refusing to issue marriage license, have resigned? Over the past week many people, including many Christians sympathetic to her cause, have said Davis should resigned from her elected position as Rowan... Continue reading *“Why Kim Davis Was Right Not to Resign”* at *blog.acton.org*.
Huge Protests In Moldova Over Massive Bank Fraud
*Deutsche Welle:* *Anger over 'fraud of the century' in Moldova* Protesters have pitched around 100 tents in the capital Chisinau, demanding the resignation of the president and snap elections. The scandal over $1 billion missing from state banks has sparked a political crisis. Protesters who camped overnight in Chisinau vowed Monday to press the round-the-clock action against what they see as widespread corruption and force the resignation of the country's leadership. The protests in Europe's poorest country of 3.5 million people were triggered by an unprecedented scam that saw $... more »
U.S. And Iranian Warships Are Approaching Each Other On A Daily Basis In The Strait Of Hormuz
*Adam Kredo, Business Insider/The Washington Free Beacon*: *US official: Iranian warships approach US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz 'on a nearly daily basis'* U.S. naval forces operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, are “routinely approached by Iranian warships and aircraft” on a “nearly daily basis,” according to a Pentagon official familiar with operations in the region. During these interactions between U.S. and Iranian forces, American aircraft and ships are routinely photographed by the Iranians for intelligence purposes, according to the offi... more »
Whistleblower released after being held for 4 days in Bangkok airport
A UK academic who’s lived in Thailand for decades has just been released from the Bangkok airport where he had been held for four days, the apparent result of his years-ago decision to expose a Thai official who had plagiarized his PhD thesis. A university investigation several years ago eventually found that Wyn Ellis was, indeed, correct: […] The post Whistleblower released after being held for 4 days in Bangkok airport appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Survivor of TV Shooting in Virginia Released from Hospital
[image: Vicki_Gardner_FB] ROANOKE, Va. (AP) -- The woman who survived an on-air shooting that killed two TV journalists has been released from the hospital, nearly two weeks after the attack. Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce,... more »
5 Things to Know about Queen Elizabeth II
[image: SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 11: Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she arrives to name Cunard's new cruise-liner Queen Elizabeth II in Southampton Docks on October 11, 2010 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson)] CORGIS, SWANS, ROYAL FISH Elizabeth’s love of the corgi is well known. Her father, George VI, introduced the breed to the royal famiy in 1933 when he bought a corgi called Dookie. The animal proved popular with his daughters, and... more »
5 Most Cringeworthy Problems With BuzzFeed’s Viral ‘I’m Christian, But I’m Not’ Video
[image: Buzzfeed viral video I am Christian but not__1441718402_70.119.142.63] The Gospel of Luke includes many parables, including one about a Pharisee and a tax collector. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral lesson, and a Pharisee was a member of a Jewish sect known for... Continue reading *“5 Most Cringeworthy Problems With BuzzFeed’s Viral ‘I’m Christian, But I’m Not’ Video”* at *thefederalist.com*.
Pennsylvania Is # 1 in Starving Its Poorest Schools
Jim Horn School opens this year with many teachers knowing they will not get paid for September. From a piece by Jeff Bryant for Salon: Schools that serve communities that are so disproportionally poor are bound to be financially at risk in a system such as America’s where the financial base for schools starts with local property taxes. But the state of Pennsylvania compounds the problem by deliberately under-funding the schools in the state that are most in need of money. As Rutgers University professor Bruce Baker explains on his blog, “the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has among ... more »
Greek Migration Minister: 'Jihadists Passed Through Greek Borders' per GreekReporter.com
This is from Greece http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/09/07/greek-migration-minister-jihadists-passed-through-greek-borders I wonder if they are making it to Northern Europe? The UK? '"It would be foolish to say that no jihadists have entered the Greek border," said Mouzalas in response to a question about the migrants and refugees entering Greek territory through the Aegean border. "I think that the European countries' secret services can confirm that a small number is likely to have gained access to Europe," he added. '
Yemen War News Updates -- September 8, 2015
*Reuters:* *Number of Saudi-led coalition troops in Yemen rises to 10,000: Al Jazeera* A Saudi-led alliance has deployed 10,000 troops to Yemen, Qatari news channel Al Jazeera said on Tuesday, in an apparent sign of determination to rout Iran-allied Houthi forces after they killed at least 60 Gulf Arab soldiers on Friday. Yemen's neighbors ramped up air strikes on the capital Sanaa on Tuesday and hope to launch a decisive assault soon on the city which the militia seized last year. "The number of coalition soldiers who have already entered Yemen has risen to 10,000," Jazeera cor... more »
5th retraction for Voinnet follows correction, EoC to PLOS Genetics paper
After correcting a paper due to problematic figure panels, researchers led by high-profile biologist Olivier Voinnet have now retracted it, after “further analysis of the paper revealed flaws in the interpretation of” another figure. PLOS Genetics published the retraction notice September 3 for the 2013 paper on the molecular details of embryonic stem cells in mice. First author Constance Ciaudo and Voinnet […] The post 5th retraction for Voinnet follows correction, EoC to PLOS Genetics paper appeared first on Retraction Watch.
World News Briefs -- September 8, 2015
*VOA*: *Turkey-PKK Violence Continues With Airstrikes, Bus Bombing* Turkish fighter jets carried out more airstrikes Tuesday morning targeting Kurdish militants, while a bomb attack on a minibus in eastern Turkey killed at least 12 police officers. Turkish officials said more than 40 jets took part in six hours of airstrikes in northern Iraq that state media said killed up to 40 fighters from the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. *MIDDLE EAST* Air war rages *over Syria and Iraq**.* German intelligence confirms Isis *used mustard gas in Iraq, says news report.* ISIS captu... more »
FLUNKING THE SATs: At the Post!
*TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015Part 1—Flunking the journalism:* College-bound high school students are sometimes flummoxed, derailed—or even “exposed”—by the SATs. That said, no high school student has ever flunked the famous tests quite like the Washington Post has. We refer to the 1120-word, front-page news report which appeared in last Thursday’s Post. The report was written by Nick Anderson, an experienced education writer at the narrative-driven newspaper. Mercifully, Anderson’s editors went unnamed when the news report appeared. Who knows? Perhaps Anderson submitted competent w... more »
Kim Davis is in Jail. So Why Isn’t the DC Police Chief for Refusing to Issue Gun Permits?
[image: Why Isn’t the DC Police Chief in Jail for not Issuing Gun Permits?] Kim Davis, the Democrat Kentucky county clerk who refused to issue same-sex marriage licenses because of religious objections, was ordered to jail for contempt of court last Thursday. She suggested removing her name from the licenses, but Federal District Court Judge... more »
“What Will It Take To Set Off Your Alarm Bells?”
*“What Will It Take To Set Off Your Alarm Bells?”* by Tom Chatham “What does it take to make you sit up and take notice of the problems surrounding society today? What will it take to make you respond to the many crises taking place today? You have eyes so you can see and ears so you can hear but for many people any negative news is a reason to tune out the world and only think good thoughts. The problems we face continue to pile up and doing nothing is not an option if you expect to survive the next few years in tact. Prior planning and execution of a plan is now required to stay ... more »
Two High School Football Players Investigated for Hit on Referee
[image: high school football] Two San Antonio, Texas high school football players are under investigation after they smashed into a referee during a game, according to local media. In a play during John Jay High School’s game on Friday, one of the team’s defensive... Continue reading *“Two High School Football Players Investigated for Hit on Referee”* at *sports.yahoo.com*.
How Gregory Peck Fought Hollywood Bigotry
[image: 2011 United States postage stamp of movie star Gregory Peck. Sacramento, California, USA - September 27, 2011: A 2011 United States postage stamp with an image of actor Gregory Peck (1916-2003). Peck began his movie career in 1944, and won a Best Actor Academy Award for his role as lawyer Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1962.] Peck also denounced anti-Semitism, most notably through his role in the 1948 film "Gentleman's Agreement." It is easy today to forget the strength of anti-Semitism in the U.S. before the 1960s, where Jews faced widespread discrimination in h... more »
Clinton Interview: Calls for Global Effort to Help Refugees; Refuses to Apologize for Using Private Email System
[image: Hillary Clinton__1441714477_70.119.142.63] CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) -- Hillary Rodham Clinton is calling for a “concerted global effort” to assist the hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia seeking refuge in Europe. In an interview with The Associated... more »
Boehner’s Future as Speaker in Doubt
[image: 150904-john-boehner-1160-ap2__1441716017_70.119.142.63] Something has changed for John Boehner. Figures in his close-knit circle of allies are starting to privately wonder whether he can survive an all-but-certain floor vote this fall to remain speaker of the House. And, for the first time, many... Continue reading *“Boehner’s Future as Speaker in Doubt”* at *politico.com*.
Why Paul Krugman Prefers Trump Over Jeb
Yesterday we looked at how the unicorn-like "reform conservatives" are trying to rationalize what is coming to look like Trumpian inevitability. Oddly enough, at the same time Paul Krugman was publishing a column in the *NYTimes* about how Trump is right on economics. Jeb, he notes, is giving Trump a pass on racism but attacking him on his economic views, "as a false conservative, a proposition that is supposedly demonstrated by his deviations from current Republican economic orthodoxy: his willingness to raise taxes on the rich, his positive words about universal health care... M... more »
the other side of waste management in peel: shocking lack of recycling in apartment buildings
Goodbye, old friendsIn the 10 years I've lived in Mississauga, I've always been impressed with Peel Region's recycling and trash management. Now that I live in an apartment, I'm seeing another side of those services, and it's not pretty. First, there's no "green bin" - organics - recycling. I've grown so accustomed to throwing all food waste, coffee grinds, tea bags, tissues, wet paper, dog fur, and other organics into the green bin, it feels very strange and wasteful to toss these in the trash. Instituting an organics recycling program for apartment buildings would be challenging,... more »
Untitled
*Over 1 in 10 With Student Loans Don’t Even Know They Have Them* A postsecondary credential is almost universally viewed as important. As student debt levels continue to rise, however, Americans are losing confidence in the quality and affordability of their higher education. A clear majority of Americans think that the quality of higher education in the United States has stagnated or declined, and almost three-quarters think that higher education is not affordable for everyone who needs it. At the same time, in spite of rising costs and debt levels, investments in postsecondary e... more »
Report: Planned Parenthood Has Failed to Report Sexual Abuse
[image: sexual abuse child abuse__1441713702_70.119.142.63] Planned Parenthood clinics have displayed a pattern of failure to report sexual abuse, according to a report by Alliance Defending Freedom. Alliance Defending Freedom, a non-profit legal organization that advocates freedom of religion, compiled a report that states clinics in Alabama, Arizona,...more »
Will Boehner’s Leadership Be Challenged? Conservative Lawmaker Says It Depends on Budget, Planned Parenthood
[image: John Boehner-900] GLEN ALLEN, VA.--For one conservative lawmaker, Congress's upcoming debate on funding the government and stripping Planned Parenthood of federal dollars could play a significant role in whether a challenge to House Speaker John Boehner is mounted. In an interview with... more »
Francis’ Annulment Changes Stress Prompt Decisions, Power of Local Bishops
[image: Francis] Pope Francis has substantially and significantly altered the process for those seeking annulments of marriages in the Catholic church, eliminating sometimes lengthy and redundant judicial procedures and empowering local bishops to make judgments on their own in "particularly evident" cases.... Continue reading *“Francis’ Annulment Changes Stress Prompt Decisions, Power of Local Bishops”* at *ncronline.org*.
Untitled
*More on the latest scare from NASA* *Scientists from Australia's CSIRO have backed it. As a result, Geologist Geoff Derrick emailed Dr Rintoul, a so-called scientist from CSIRO -- as below:* To Dr Steve Rintoul: Dear Steve The CSIRO was once a respected science organisation. By putting your name to these rancid projections from NASA on Antarctic and Greenland ice and sea levels (see below) , you have as much scientific credibility as Obama, which is close to zero. I hope Steyn's book is now in your library. What is contained therein should be motivation enough to examine the... more »
Rehousing Syrian refugees in Europe is an Israeli plan
* Algerian activist:* Abdul Razzaq Maqari, president of the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP), blamed the west for the Syrian refugee crisis, *accusing them of carrying out an Israeli plan,* *Quds Press* reported yesterday. Posting on his Facebook page, Maqari wrote: “*Israel is happy to get rid of the Palestinian refugee camps in the region.”* He added: *“Some might think that the EU states are doing the refugees from Syria, including the Palestinian refugees, a favour when they welcome them into their countries. The Western countries know very well that they are the cause... more »
Thinkingaboot Number 6 the Mystery of ISIS child
ISIS oh ISIS your a Mysterious Child To summarize my past analyze of this group : Bullshit. There are so many things wrong with this picture its hard to know where to hang oneself. I just know in my heart the group that manufactured ISIS were Bob Dylan fans. They are Bob Dlyan fans! I might have to support this effort. They are Bob Dlyan fans. They are throwing babies out of incubators, no not yet but soon I expect. A group so bad Al Queda threw them out. Thats like being so rich wall street will not deal with you. Major fake poppycock. If they really want to make a Islamic supersta... more »
Slacker Universe
Normal people are not going to compete in the Olympics or play in the NHL we do not need the winners compete hell We have already won at birth especially a virgin one there is always joy for daughter or son The stars hold the key to behaviour it only takes one look to reveal its a slacker universe thats real
A Note on Jeremy Corbyn and Panorama
You didn't have to read any of the materials around last night's *Panorama* to know that their half hour programme was going to be a hatchet job. And it didn't disappoint. The gruel served up on this occasion was the declaration made at the Second Cairo Conference Against Capitalist Globalisation and US Hegemony, held in December 2003. It recognised the right of Iraqis to resist any illegal invasion of their country (in fact, it urged support for the resistance). As Stop the War was present in the form of its then chair, John Rees, because the declaration was then featured on their... more »
What odd priorities
At the end of this BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34181475 appears an odd comment. 'Muslim leaders in Cardiff have called for proof that Khan was plotting a terrorist attack on the UK' It's odd you don't hear these same 'Muslim leaders' in Cardiff and elsewhere Muslim leaders asking their Muslim community to report anyone that is thinking of joining ISIS or has terrorist sympathies so as to try to prevent any more terrorist atrocities being perpetrated in the UK.
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 8, 2015
*FOX News*: *US reportedly plans to revamp Syrian rebel training program after early failure* The Pentagon is overhauling its plan to train and equip a fighting force of moderate Syrian rebels against ISIS after many of the program's first 54 graduates were attacked and a number of its fighters captured in late July, according to a published report. The New York Times, citing four Defense Department and Obama administration officials briefed on the issue, reported late Sunday that the Pentagon is now considering several changes aimed at improving the program's effectiveness. Tho... more »
‘Give It a Go, Joe': Pittsburgh Union Crowd Cheers on Biden
[image: Joe Biden Labor Day Parade Pittsburgh__1441711818_70.119.142.63] PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Hearing chants of “Run Joe, run,” Vice President Joe Biden marched in Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day parade on Monday as speculation swirled about a potential late entry into the Democratic presidential campaign. The vice president donned a... more »
Congress Returns to Tight Deadlines, Key Votes on Iran Deal, Planned Parenthood
[image: House-back_small] Congress returns Tuesday to face several key decisions and short-term deadlines -- including votes on the Iran nuclear deal and a spending bill that if connected to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood creates the potential for another government shutdown. The House... Continue reading *“Congress Returns to Tight Deadlines, Key Votes on Iran Deal, Planned Parenthood”* at *foxnews.com*.
Why Aren’t We Celebrating Self-Amputation?
[image: self amputation] The condition is called body identity integrity disorder (BIID) and it was recently the subject of an article in the New York Post titled, "The Strange Condition That Has People Hacking Off Healthy Limbs." According to Susannah Cahalan, BIID was...more »
Trump Surge Challenges Bush to Fight, Yet Keep the ‘Joy’
[image: Jeb Bush and Donald Trump_900] LACONIA, N.H. (AP) -- Jeb Bush wanted to run for president as a joyful front-runner, above the fray of the pack. Instead, he heads into the fall campaign as a fighter with a foil: Donald Trump. There’s a new urgency... more »
Huckabee to Join Rally for Kentucky Clerk Opposed to Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
[image: Mike Huckabee__1441709965_70.119.142.63] LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will join protesters at a Tuesday rally outside the jail where a Kentucky clerk is locked in a cell over her refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay... more »
President Obama Films Episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls
[image: Bear Grylls] A wildlife spot in Dillingham, Alaska, where Barack Obama touched down as part of a stopover visit intended to highlight the damaging effects of climate change, has been renamed the Bearack Viewing Area in his honour. The bear in question... Continue reading *“President Obama Films Episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls”* at *theguardian.com*.
Is Europe Being Colonized by Muslims?
[image: Islamic, Muslim] In the mushrooming "refugee crisis" in Europe, there is a big dog that is not barking. Why are the more than one million Muslim refugees so anxious to get to northern Europe and not, say, Saudi Arabia or Egypt? Why... Continue reading *“Is Europe Being Colonized by Muslims?”* at *breitbart.com*.
The Universe
“Psssssst... Not that you ever would, but when someone tells their best friend about their difficult day, or how tricky relationships have been, or that they have a jolly good life in most regards except financially, not only do they relive the unpleasantness, but they commission all the elements to project into their future whatever they've been claiming. Happily, it works even faster in reverse. Tell them about all that now serves you, however meager your portion, and it shall promptly multiply. Besides, you'd never say, "jolly." “Better to whisper sweet nothings,” The Unive... more »
How I Dumped the Bigger-is-Always-Better Church Model and Found Something Bigger
[image: clasped hands] I knew the right answer to that question. I was supposed to say, "Oh, yes, Lord! You must increase and I must decrease!" It may have been the right answer, but it was not the real answer. I wanted to... Continue reading *“How I Dumped the Bigger-is-Always-Better Church Model and Found Something Bigger”* at *foxnews.com*.
An Analysis On Financial Warfare And Its Growing Importance In Future Conflicts
Former CIA and NSA director Gen. Michael Hayden. Photo: Reuters/Chris Usher/CBS News *James G. Richards, Darien Times:* *Conversation with a spy* Only one person has ever been director of both the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency. That person is retired Four-Star General Michael Hayden. Recently I had the chance to talk to Mike Hayden on Capitol Hill. We were both there as part of a conclave to discuss the status of Iran-U.S. negotiations on uranium enrichment. We had a chance to talk one-on-one about my specialty, which is financial warfare, and the po... more »
Economic News , Data and Views ( September 8 , 2015 ) Europe In Focus ( EZ GDP data revised up for Q2 , Political and Debt situation items for Ukraine , Greece Election / geopolitical and economic items , Refugee crisis items , Economic data for France and Germany , Farmers items ) ..... Asia Updates ( China sees horrible data for imports / exports / iron ore imports / auto imports - yet stocks magically rise 5% in last 30 minutes of trading , Japan stock market erases yearly gain - no such magic for Nikkei , Malaysia protest continue as to push for Najib's resignation )
Overview..... *zerohedge* @zerohedge 5m 5 minutes ago Futures Soar After Dramatic Chinese Last Hour Intervention Following Latest Bout Of Terrible Trade Data http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-09-0 8/futures-soar-after-dramatic-chinese-last-hour-intervention-following-latest-bout-ter … Evening wrap..... *Elizabeth Tsirigoti* @Tsirigoti 17m17 minutes ago @fredwalton216 Apparently she kicked a few other refugees as well. So, there's our baseline. http://www.businessinsider.com/camerawoman-tr ipping-refugee-in-hungary-2015-9 … *Manos Giakoumis* @ManosGia... more »
Time to Take a Stand: Interview With the Benham Brothers
[image: NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 31: Authors David Benham and Jason Benham speak onstage during the 3rd Annual KLOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House on May 31, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for KLOVE)] ALAN EASON -- At a recent conference in Dallas I heard the Benham Brothers speak about how they are traveling throughout the country speaking to churches and encouraging Christians in the pews to stand up and be bold in challenging our... more »
Could China's Economic Crisis Spark A War?
*National Interest*:* Could China's Economic Troubles Spark a War?* *Know this: It is not unprecedented for a government that feels besieged to attempt to distract a discontented public by fomenting a foreign-policy crisis. Washington should tread carefully.* Global attention has focused on the plunge in the Shanghai stock market and mounting evidence that China’s economic growth is slowing dramatically. Moreover, the contagion appears to be spreading, characterized by extreme volatility and alarming declines in America’s own equity markets. Those worries are compounded because the... more »
Australian Mother Plans To Set Up Anti-vaccination Day Care Centre by Jenni Ryall
JuanitaAustralian mother plans to set up anti-vaccination day care centre by Jenni Ryall Mashable Australia, 4 September 2015 An Australian mother has announced she is starting her own childcare centre for parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated. Juanita "Wanda" Halden, who lives in Tabulam, in the northern region of New South Wales, wrote on Facebook she planned on creating the Anti Vaxx Childcare Project to "highlight human rights violations." According to the *Daily Mail Australia*, the mother-of-two is referring to Australia's "No jab, no play, no pay" policy. ... more »
The Pentagon Wants A 'Flying Aircraft Carrier'
MARVEL'S S.H.I.E.L.D. "HELICARRIER" -- FICTIONAL (FOR NOW). IMAGE SOURCE: MARVEL. *Motley Fool: **It's Official: DARPA Will Build a Flying Aircraft Carrier* Initially, they'll start small. "How small?," you ask? Read on and find out. Ever since Marvel Comics first popularized the idea, the world has been waiting for someone to invent an honest-to-goodness flying aircraft carrier. Now, DARPA says it's going to give it a try. *Baby steps* Not all at once, though. At least, not initially. Late last month, DARPA -- the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- announced the la... more »
MSPO 2015: Remontowa Shipbuilding Unveiled Several New Projects to Answer Polish Navy Needs
[image: Remontowa Logistic Support Ship]At MSPO 2015, the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Poland which took place in Kielce from the 1 to 4 September 2015, Polish shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding was showcasing several ongoing projects it is currently developing in order to answer future Polish navy needs such as the Batlyk, Supply or Magneto programs. The first and largest project unveiled by Remontowa at MSPO 2015 is the OWL Baltyk. It is developed to answer a future Polish Navy need for ocean going support vessel(s). The main characteristics of the vessel are the fol... more »
The U.S. Air Force Wants Property Owners To Give Up Their Land Near Area 51
Wikipedia *Daily Mail:* *Air Force issues ultimatum in battle over land near Area 51 site and says government will seize property unless owners accept 'last best offer' of $5.2million* * Air Force came in '40s but owners trace mining and mineral claim to 1870s * Nuclear tests began in 1951 and mine mill mysteriously exploded in 1954 * Groom Mine overlooks Area 51 aka Groom Lake * Barbara Manning and cousin have led fight on behalf of about 20 owners * Manning said her father put the value of the property at some $13.6million in a May 1986 letter sent to the Air Force as part of an en... more »
Another Dear Little One Sacrificed On The Alter Of Big Pharma, Bad Science & Medicine & Funded by Dirty Politics
Brenda Wilson No history of seizures...babbling, making perfect eye-contact. Goes in for a routine well-visit....receives several shots in one day...suddenly becomes spaced-out with glossy eyes within an hour....then begins to have seizures. Admitted into Childrens for days...neurologist does EEG and says, 'her seizures are so bad....we cannot pinpoint which part of the brain her seizures are coming from.' She gets discharged with meds...which did not help...she was having 7-8 seizures a day...and then started losing balance, started crawling into walls, was losing eye-contact...a... more »
French Navy Orders Four BSAH OPV from PIRIOU & DCNS Joint Company KERSHIP
[image: French Navy future BSAH OPV (Picture: Kership)]The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has selected the joint bid from PIRIOU and DCNS (KERSHIP) for the supply of four Offshore Patrol Vessels for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) BSAH program (Bâtiments de Soutien et d’Assistance Hauturiers or offshore support and assistance vessels). The contract includes associated maintenance as well. KERSHIP, a joint venture created by the two naval partners, will act as prime contractor for this program which includes two firm vessels and two optional. PIRIOU provides design and c... more »
Pyongyang could fire missile next month
[image: Unha-3 rocket at Tangachai-Ri Space Centre]Will North Korea launch a long-range missile around the foundation day of its ruling Workers' Party on Oct. 10? Military officials as well as experts on North Korea and national security are wondering, following the Aug. 25 South-North peacemaking agreement. The agreement, under which South and North Korea promised to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, was made after a four-day marathon talk between the two sides. The talk was held as tensions reached record levels after landmines exploded on Aug. 4 inside the Demilitarized Zone... more »
New CH-5 drone can carry 8 AR-1 missiles and FT-7 bombs
[image: Yi Long (Wing Loong) UAV]China's new CH-5 — or "Rainbow 5" — larged-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can carry at least eight AR-1 missiles and even the under-development FT-7 small diameter bomb, reports the Beijing-based Sina Military Network. The CH-5, developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is a long-range, low-mid altitude drone capable of both reconnaissance and strike missions. Made predominantly with composite materials, the CH-5, which reportedly completed its maiden flight last mo... more »
What Killed the Cute Knut?
We discover an unusual cause of brain swelling and are properly warned. This is easily added to the checklist to work up when behaviour change is observed. I have seen cases of diagnosed mental illness in which it was also obvious the the body was fighting something else as well and could well have been related to brain swelling. We really need a smart way to detect inflammation in the brain. This should actually be possible... *What killed the cute Knut? Scientists solve riddle 4 years after polar bear died at Berlin Zoo* *By Frank Jordans, The Associated Press | The Canadian Pr... more »
Discoveries in Spanish cave suggest Neanderthals Had Hot Water and Bedrooms
This is effective confirmation of successful cooking arrangements. That certainly puts them as coequals which we have come to suspect anyway. It also makes the whole behavior of inter breeding completely practical and exceedingly likely. This was a question that i asked long before it was asked and now we seem to be well into mainstream acceptance. Actually rather fast in fact. All good. *Discoveries in Spanish cave suggest Neanderthals had hot water and bedrooms* *29 AUGUST, 2015 - 04:11 APRILHOLLOWAY* *http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/discoveries-... more »
Scientists Reverse Aging in Human Cell Lines
The take home is pretty straight forward. We are all going to start ingesting ample glycine. Time for well boiled beef tendon. This also explains apparent wasting taking place as folks become elderly. This is also a significant deficit among vegetarians as well that also needs to be addressed. The observation was always there and now we have a clear cause and effect that can be addressed sensibly. The other take home is that glycine rich will hugely restore cellular function to a much younger apparent age which then added to teleorase reversal as well may well be good enough ... more »
Are Humans really Beings of light?
We have already reached a very important conjecture or even a conclusion as no other option is even slightly evident. It is that every single living cell is operated by its own internal logic machine we can safely refer to as a cellular astral body. Thus when the whole human astral body leaves the body, a portion of this goes with it at least if not totally upon death. Way more important though is that all this takes place at the scaling level of so called Dark Matter and that means that the radiation is ultraviolet. Recall we have actually produced a vacuum tube in which the ... more »
50 years later, Bell’s Cobra helicopter still going strong
[image: AH-1W Super Cobra]Many people will go about their lives on Labor Day unaware that it’s the golden anniversary of the first flight of an aircraft that played a huge role in the Vietnam War. “The Cobra saved hundreds if not thousands of lives in Vietnam by flying as an escort to Hueys,” said Mike Folse, 81, of Denton. Folse, a Bell Helicopter engineer from 1954 to 1971, said he designed the Bell AH-1 Cobra in an act of desperation. After Bell lost a contract to Lockheed for production of an attack helicopter, Folse said he started working on a conceptual sketch of a new warbir... more »
Italy's F-35A Lightning II Flies Inaugural European Flight
Italy’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, flew for the first time today marking the program’s first-ever F-35 flight outside the United States. Lockheed Martin F-35 test pilot Bill “Gigs” Gigliotti, lifted off the runway at 1:05 p.m. European Standard Time for a 1:22 hour check flight in AL-1 marking a historic milestone for Italy, Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi manufacturing cooperation and Lockheed Martin. “The first flight of AL-1 is a monumental achievement thanks to the hard work and dedication of ... more »
The BEST Kitchen Organizing Tips
We are moving into a new house in a little while and my kitchen in the new place couldn't be more different than our current kitchen. I have been looking all over the internet for some fantastic ideas to turn my new kitchen into a space I love and found some great content that I want to share with you. Check out the ideas below! Look for a new way to organize your pantry? Check out this fantastic video on how to organize your pantry. I love these tips! Especially the spice one! If your fridge is the part of your kitchen that needs organizing, check out this video! Or check out th... more »
Selex to provide electronic warfare system for Brazilian Navy's Lynx helicopters
[image: AH-11A Lynx]Finmeccanica's Selex has secured an order to deliver a suite of electronic warfare equipment for eight Lynx Mk21A aircraft used by the Brazilian Navy. Under this contract, which was received from prime contractor AgustaWestland, Selex will be responsible for the supply of Sage electronic support measure (ESM), in addition to its defensive aid suite (DAS) controller, and a third-party countermeasure dispensing system. Selex's electronic warfare system, Sage, is designed for RF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Read more
S. Korea Readies Viking Anti-submarine Planes
[image: S-3B Viking]South Korea is moving ahead to introduce refurbished S-3 Viking anti-submarine warfare (ASW) planes to counter threats from North Korea, Yonhap reported quoting a military source. The proposal to incorporate 12 former U.S. Navy Vikings into service was approved late last month by a military program review group, say sources. The latest development comes after the Navy proposed taking over 20 Vikings that have been kept in storage since 2009 to shore up the country's detection and attack capabilities against Pyongyang's submarine fleet. Read more
IAF to get mini drones for covert operations
[image: Garud special forces]From Israeli sniper and assault rifles to European "underwater open-circuit diving equipment", the Special Forces of the armed forces are slowly but surely inducting specialised weaponry and equipment for their clandestine warfare and counter-terrorism operations. Defence ministry sources on Monday said the latest acquisition is the Rs 27 crore contract for 65 micro UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or spy drones for IAF's Garud Commando Force. The Navy, in turn, awaits the already-approved construction of two "midget submarines" or "chariots" for its mar... more »
Military Photo of the Day: September 8, 2015
[image: Fire Training-900] U.S. and Hungarian soldiers conduct fire training at Camp Slim Lines in Pristina, Kosovo, on July 15, 2015. Thank you to Ardian Nrecaj for taking this compelling photograph!
Russia’s Deadliest Nuclear Sub Heading to Kamchatka
[image: Project 935 (Borei) class SSBN]Russian Borei-class nuclear-powered ballistic submarine Alexander Nevsky is set to join the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet in late September, a senior Navy representative said on Tuesday. Alexander Nevsky, the first nuclear submarine of the Borei-class, started a subglacial passage in mid-August from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet for permanent combat duty. It was expected to arrive at its base in the settlement of Rybachiy in Kamchatka during the first ten-day period of September. Read more
MoD admits British submarine dragged fishing trawler through Irish Sea
[image: Karen trawler]A British submarine damaged a fishing trawler it dragged through the Irish Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The Karen was pulled at 10 knots after the sub snagged in its fishing nets 18 miles from Ardglass on the south-east shore of Northern Ireland in April. The trawler was badly damaged but the crew escaped unharmed. MoD minister Penny Mordaunt said: “The Royal Navy has now confirmed that a UK submarine was, in fact, responsible for snagging the Karen’s nets. The incident, the delay in identifying and addressing the events on that day, and their co... more »
Australia's New Submarines: Run Silent, Run German?
[image: U-216 class SSK]Germany’s bid for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project could reasonably be described as coming from a safe pair of hands. Since 1960, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) through its Howaldwerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) subsidiary has delivered 161 diesel-electric submarines to 20 navies. Of this total, 123 have been built for international customers —including six NATO navies—51 of them in South Korea, Turkey, Greece and Brazil. All have been built to fixed price contracts, a model which clearly works otherwise, as noted by TKMS Board member Torsten Konk... more »
Is North Korea's Kim Jong Un's Days Numbered?
*CNN*: *Defector: Kim Jong Un's days are numbered* (CNN)He's a fairly young man, wearing an ill-fitting suit. His thin neck is pronounced, giving way to an equally thin face and frame. We're meeting over a meal of sushi, something he specifically requested because it's rare for those trapped in North Korea. For his safety, I'll limit descriptions of this defector. We've agreed that I can say he worked among the elites in Pyongyang. He is by far, the most recent defector I've ever interviewed; he's only been in the free world for a year. CNN found him through university researcher... more »
Political corruption
corrupt |kəˈrʌpt| adjective1 having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain Most politicians, even in democratic societies, are corrupt. It is part of the job description to misrepresent intentions and hide actions in order to maintain power and/or implement an agenda. Voters do not respond to honesty if the honesty does not fit their preferred narrative.
A Revolt In The Vatican?
Newly elected Pope Francis appears at the window of his future private apartment to bless the faithful, gathered below in St. Peter's Square, during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican March 17, 2013. REUTERS/MAX ROSSI *Washington Post:* *A conservative revolt is brewing inside the Vatican* VATICAN CITY — On a sunny morning earlier this year, a camera crew entered a well-appointed apartment just outside the 9th-century gates of Vatican City. Pristinely dressed in the black robes and scarlet sash of the princes of the Roman Catholic Church, the Wisconsin-born Cardinal Raymond B... more »
US Seeks Occupation as US Fighters Flood Syria
US policy paper called for the occupation of northern Syria with special operations forces. Now Foreign Policy reports northern Syria is being flooded by "volunteers" from America. *September 8, 2015* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - US corporate-funded policy think-tank, the Brookings Institution, published a June 2015 paper titled, "Deconstructing Syria: Towards a regionalized strategy for a confederal country." The signed and dated open-conspiracy to divide, destroy, invade, then incrementally occupy Syria using no-fly-zones and both US and British special forces is now demonstrably und... more »
Who are Britain’s jihadists? Asks BBC News
The BBC ask here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32026985 Who are Britain's jihadists? Oddly nowhere do they give a split by religion...
Musical Interlude: Marc Enfroy, “A Beautiful Soul”
Marc Enfroy, “A Beautiful Soul” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdz2UfCua9k
Wall Street Sugar Daddies in the Board Room and Bedroom, Perverting Higher Education
← As Shanghai Stock Market Tanks, China Makes Mass Arrests: ‘You Could Disappear at any Time’ Wall Street Sugar Daddies in the Board Room and Bedroom, Perverting Higher Education By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: September 7, 2015 Faculty, Students and Community Groups Protest NYU Management at a Rally in Washington Square, September 1,
“Gay but Chaste” Is Not Enough for a Faithful Christian Witness
[image: gay] [For part one of the series, go here.] When smelters use a crucible to remove contaminants from metal they know that the more junk they remove, the harder it is is to find the last bits of unwanted junk. That's... more »
Senior UK Engineering Officer On The F-35 Program Is Critical Of Its Performance So Far
The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Photo: MoD *Daily Mail:* *Controversial £5billion fighter jet which took 15 years to build dogged by problems every week, says engineer* * Joint Strike Fighter has already cost £5billion and taken 15 years to build * It has suffered a series of setbacks including a fire which grounded fleet * It was also beaten in a combat exercise by a jet designed 40 years ago * Senior engineers have now revealed yet more faults with the aircraft The controversial Joint Strike Fighter stealth jet is being dogged by new technical... more »
Former Taliban Leader Claims That Pakistani Intel Ordered Him To Conduct Attacks in Afghanistan
Mustafa Abu Yazid, al Qaeda’s former emir for Afghanistan and general manager, and Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, a former senior military commander in the Afghan Taliban, from a video released by As Sahab. Screen capture from the Site Intelligence Group. *Long War Journal:* *Dissident Taliban commander claims Pakistani intel ordered him to conduct assassinations, attacks in Afghanistan* A former senior Taliban leader who was ousted by Mullah Omar in 2007 has rejected Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour as the new emir of the group and accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorat... more »
El Niño of the 21st century so far: a warm 2016?
Yesterday, a new weekly report on the El Niño conditions was released by NOAA. El Niño is a little boy in general or Baby Jesus in particular (in Spanish). It indicates that the Pacific Ocean has something extra (positive temperature anomaly) in between the leggy hemispheres (equator), unlike La Niña (a little girl) who is missing something (some heat) in the middle. For the first time, the conditions were labeled as an El Niño episode again; see the 22nd page of the PDF file above. An episode requires at least five consecutive overlapping 3-month periods with the anomaly at least 0... more »
Another voice of concern about possible September crisis
*Adrian Salbuchi of Argentina is fearful of an assassination* *attempt **on Pope Francis when he visits America this month* I found this video on Fig Trees and Vineyards blog and believe it's a very good assessment of the extreme risks the world is facing this month due to a "Perfect Storm" convergence of events and issues. I have already published three previous posts on this "Perfect Storm". Mr. Salbuchi feels that it might be Pope Francis who is targeted. The Pope will be in Washington and New York in mid September. Perhaps. But I believe both Vladimir Putin (who will also be in ... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
Sometimes, if you wait long enough for a clear and moonless night, the stars will come out with a vengeance. One such occasion occurred earlier this month at the Piton de l'Eau on Reunion Island. In the foreground, surrounded by bushes and trees, lies a water filled volcanic crater serenely reflecting starlight. * Click image for larger size.* A careful inspection near the image center will locate Piton des Neiges, the highest peak on the island, situated several kilometers away. In the background, high above the lake, shines the light of hundreds of stars, most of which are within ... more »
Happy Labor Day
"The golf links lie so near the mill, That almost every day, The children at their labor, May watch the men at play." -Sarah Cleghorn This is what assholes like Sen. Mike Lee want to bring back. You remember him, don't you? He's the right wing nut job that was elected to the Senate at the same time as his running buddy Tailgunner Ted Cruz. Less than a week and a half after he was sworn in, Lee said that child labor laws were "unconstitutional." Of course, Lee's got the day off like most of the rest of us except Congress critters never needed a fucking union to get paid holi... more »
Chet Raymo, “You'll Be The Death Of Me Yet”
*“You'll Be The Death Of Me Yet”* by Chet Raymo "What parent hasn't said that to a child. Or at least thought it. "You're taking years off my life," we say. And maybe we mean it and maybe we don't, but it seems like all that energy we are investing in our offspring must come from somewhere. Scientists talk about the "disposable soma" theory. (Soma refers to an organism's body as distinct from its reproductive cells.) According to the theory, producing and raising children diverts the body's limited resources away from the task of maintaining and repairing cells, with early aging as... more »
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “Praying”
*“Praying”* “It doesn't have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch a few words together and don't try to make them elaborate, this isn't a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.” - Mary Oliver, “Thirst”
The Daily "Near You?
Kent, Washington, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
The Point of No Return
[image: The Point of No Return] In aviation it’s called the point of no return. That point in a flight when catastrophe strikes and the airplane, because of low fuel or mechanical impairment, cannot make it safely back to its take-off point. That’s where we are... more »
The Past and Future of the Refugee Crisis
[image: The Past and Future of the Refugee Crisis] The refugee crisis in Europe is one of those human tragedies for which there are no real solutions, despite how many shrill voices in the media may denounce those who fail to come up with a solution. Some options may...more »
One Big Union-- Bernie, Shakespeare, Tim Buckley, Elizabeth Fraser, Ted Lieu...
Chances are you've gotten Labor Day messages from politicians all day today. Even Democrats who devote their entire careers to super-serving the interests of Wall Street, like Florida New Dem Patrick Murphy (a member of the House Financial Services Committee, where no Republican ever outdoes him in his commitment to fellating the banksters), felt obligated to make some noises about the dignity of labor. "Today," Murphy tweeted, "we recognize the hard work and sacrifice of American workers who are the heart & soul of our economy." Problem with that, of course, is that the other 364...more »
"Let It Roll Off Our Back: Dodging and Deflecting"
*"Let It Roll Off Our Back: Dodging and Deflecting"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "When we are criticized or attacked it is important to not take it into our heart space. One of the most difficult challenges in life is learning not to take things to heart and hold on to it. Especially when we’re younger, or if we’re very sensitive, we take so much of what comes our way to heart. This can be overwhelming and unproductive if it throws us off balance on a regular basis. When we are feeling criticized or attacked from all directions, it becomes very difficult for us to recover ourselv... more »
"This Is Your Life..."
“This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be. Every time you don't throw yourself down the stairs, that's a choice. Every time you don't crash your car, you re-enlist. If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character... Would you slow down? Or speed up?" - Chuck Palahniuk
A Look At How An RAF Team Sitting 3,000 Miles Away Were Able To Kill Two Jihadists With A Drone Strike
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *The Daily Mail:* *Wiped out by an RAF team sitting 3,000 miles away: The controversial technology behind the remote controlled drone attack* * British jihadists Reyaad Khan, 21, from Cardiff and Ruhul Amin, 26, from Aberdeen, killed in attack on August 21 * They were blitzed in Syria by a drone controlled by RAF pilots sitting 3,000 miles away in Lincolnshire * Airmen were operating the controversial £10m Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from hub at RAF Waddington * The use of pilotless planes mirrors the plot of popular US drama Homeland, shown on... more »
Could China's Economic Crisis Spark A War?
*National Interest*:* Could China's Economic Troubles Spark a War?* *Know this: It is not unprecedented for a government that feels besieged to attempt to distract a discontented public by fomenting a foreign-policy crisis. Washington should tread carefully.* Global attention has focused on the plunge in the Shanghai stock market and mounting evidence that China’s economic growth is slowing dramatically. Moreover, the contagion appears to be spreading, characterized by extreme volatility and alarming declines in America’s own equity markets. Those worries are compounded because the... more »
Amanda Knox Acquitted Because of ‘Stunning Flaws’ in Investigation
[image: amanda knox] Italy's highest court acquitted Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito of the 2007 murder of the British university student Meredith Kercher, because there were "stunning flaws" in the investigation that led to their convictions, according to judges' legal... Continue reading *“Amanda Knox Acquitted Because of ‘Stunning Flaws’ in Investigation”* at *theguardian.com*.
Untitled
*Fundraising is steaming ahead for National Hurricane Museum & Science Center planned in Lake Charles ~Richard Burgess, The Advocate *
New film 'Who Are My People?' takes on the Big Greens and Energywashing
Documentary Films and Public Policy Communications Contact: Robert Lundahl robert@studio-rla.com "Who Are My People?" to Screen at the Joshua Tree International Film Festival 9/19/2015 Film takes viewers inside efforts to construct the largest renewable energy facilities on the planet, "fast tracked" by US "Green Energy" Policies "Who Are My People?" by documentary filmmaker,
The Virginia Shooting Is Fake: Did Alison Parker Do Two Takes For Shooting? Watch Video And Decide!
I must apologize to my readership... I honestly wanted to close the books on this fraud Virginia shooting at this point, simply because by this time I had hoped that everyone would have seen this for what it was .... A fraud and a hoax! But again, I continue to see some of the Jew spew media outlets, especially in the United States, continue to proclaim this fraud as being real and the crisis actors involved in this scam out there doing the media rounds calling for gun control across America... Therefore it appears that more conclusive evidence is required to expose this fraud once... more »
The U.K. Government Admits That It Ordered The Assassination Of Two Of Its Citizens In Syria
*Daily Mail:* *RAF drones take out two British jihadis: Cameron reveals ISIS fighters were killed to stop plot to carry out 'barbaric' attacks on streets of UK* * Reyaad Khan, 21, from Cardiff, was among three killed on August 21 * Cameron insists that Khan was a 'terrorist directing murder on our streets' * Two other jihadis killed by RAF including Aberdeen schoolboy Ruhul Amin * United States killed Briton Junaid Hussain in an airstrike on August 24 * PM defends decision to launch action without getting MPs' approval * Doubts raised about legal basis for the use of RAF Reaper dr... more »
Conscience & Property Rights: Obama vs. Little Sisters of the Poor
[image: little sisters of the poor] I have added my name to a friend of the court brief in the case of Little Sisters of the Poor vs. Burwell. Professor Nathanial Oman of the law school at William and Mary proposed and took the lead in... Continue reading *“Conscience & Property Rights: Obama vs. Little Sisters of the Poor”* at *theimaginativeconservative.org*.
Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Poll — and Gets 25 Percent Among Blacks
[image: Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Poll — and Gets 25 Percent Among Blacks] Whoa! SurveyUSA has just come in with a national poll, conducted Sept. 2-3, showing Donald Trump leading Hillary Clinton 45 to 40 percent. Clearly even as Clinton’s unfavorables are going up, Trump’s are going down. The top line is not... Continue reading *“Donald Trump Beats Hillary Clinton in Poll — and Gets 25 Percent Among Blacks”* at *washingtonexaminer.com*.
Mohawk Nation News 'Dodge a Bullet'
DODGE A BULLET Posted on September 7, 2015 Please post & distribute. Nia:wen. MNN. Sep. 7, 2015. About five years ago Mr. SOS got in touch with me by email. He was affiliated with a group at McGill University environmental issues and a group of Montreal Island history aficionados. He also worked with kahnawake elders to list Mohawk place names on Montreal Island and surrounding areas.
The Economy: “The Danger Of Eliminating Cash”
*“The Danger Of Eliminating Cash”* by Alasdair Macleod “’In the early days of central banking, one primary objective of the new system was to take ownership of the public's gold, so that in a crisis the public would be unable to withdraw it. Gold was to be replaced by fiat cash which could be issued by the central bank at will. This removed from the public the power to bring a bank down by withdrawing their property. A primary, if unspoken, objective of modern central banking is to do the same with fiat cash itself.’ There are of course other reasons for this course of action. Gove... more »
The U.S. Is Rethinking Its Strategy For Battling The Islamic State in Syria (Updated)
Rebel fighters, graduates of a training program, displayed their rifle skills in July in a camp near Damascus, Syria. Credit Bassam Khabieh/Reuters *Reuters*: *U.S. rethinks strategy for battling Islamic State in Syria: NYT* The United States is rethinking its strategy for battling the Islamic State in Syria, the New York Times reported on Monday, with the Pentagon looking into moving more fighters into safer zones, providing better intelligence and improving the skills of trained rebels. The options, which are classified, are circulating among top officials at the Department of De... more »
TV Watch: We've hit T-minus-one-day in the countdown to "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"
*Stephen C reveals: "I'm really mostly a hoofer. Mostly song and dance."* *by Ken* The wait is over, just about. Tomorrow night *The Late Show with Stephen Colbert* debuts on CBS, and as washingtonpost.com's Emily Yahr notes ("What can we learn about Stephen Colbert’s 'Late Show' from his first two weeks of guests?"), the first two weeks' worth of guests have been announced, giving rise to much analysis and speculation. Here's the list: *WEEK 1* *Tuesday, Sept. 8*: Actor George Clooney; Jeb Bush; house band Jon Batiste and Stay Human *Wednesday, Sept. 9*: Actress Scarlett Johanss... more »
3 Powerful Practices for Accessing the Healing Power of Your Mind
*Justin Faerman - *How do you fully integrate integrate your knowlege of wellness? The post 3 Powerful Practices for Accessing the Healing Power of Your Mind appeared first on Waking Times.
10 Best Cancer Killing Phytonutrients To Eat
*Sayer Ji* - Let food be thy medicine. The post 10 Best Cancer Killing Phytonutrients To Eat appeared first on Waking Times.
Labor Day 2015
Happy Labor Day! I've featured this one before, but this is a great rendition of one of the best tunes for the day. It's from the Pete Seeger 90th birthday concert. My most in-depth post for Labor Day was this 2011 post. If you wrote a post celebrating the day, feel free to link it in the comments.
China, Trying to Bolster Currency, Taps Foreign Reserves
[image: china] China is burning through its huge stockpile of foreign exchange reserves at the fastest pace yet as it seeks to prop up its currency and stem a rising tide of money flowing out of the country. Even after a record... Continue reading *“China, Trying to Bolster Currency, Taps Foreign Reserves”* at *nytimes.com*.
Tech Companies Tangle With U.S. Government Over Access to Data
[image: tech comapnies] In an investigation involving guns and drugs, the Justice Department obtained a court order this summer demanding that Apple turn over, in real time, text messages between suspects using iPhones. Apple's response: Its iMessage system was encrypted and the company... Continue reading *“Tech Companies Tangle With U.S. Government Over Access to Data”* at *nytimes.com*.
Time stamps Equilibrium
Whispers of life we never hear the whispers of life become screams sometimes but for the most its background noise cause we never really listen at all really When the whispers of life become scrreams the source is most often an unusual thing one time it brings pleasant surprises letting pealing joy bells ring repeated offences become ugly small town dings where your car is keyed and then the horror is up in everything no cell phone Still no matter how loud no matter how proud the clock it never stops its a gravity planetary trip on life that we work to save with psychics and physics a... more »
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