English: Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Français : Pélerin en prière dans Masjid Al Haram, la mosquée interdite, à La Mecque (Arabie Saoudite). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
SnapShot as of 5:29am MSTThe Politics of Nutrition Science
[image: Food pyramid - 900] Have you heard? The GOP is declaring war on science again. In February, a government-appointed nutrition advisory panel said Americans should eat less sugar and red meat. It also suggested that environmental considerations should factor into a healthy diet, which... more »
The Busybody Left
[image: Groups of Equally Diverse Colored Pencils - 900] The political left has been trying to run other people’s lives for centuries. So we should not be surprised to see the Obama administration now trying to force neighborhoods across America to have the mix of people the government wants... more »
U.K. Government Trying To Keep Details Of Its Security Pact With Saudi Arabia Secret
Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of British weaponry. Reuters *The Independent*: *UK Government attempting to keep details of secret security pact with Saudi Arabia hidden from public* Exclusive: Theresa May agreed to ‘memorandum of understanding’ with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef last year. The British Government signed a secret security pact with Saudi Arabia and is now attempting to prevent details of the deal from being made public. The Home Secretary Theresa May agreed to the so-called ‘memorandum of understanding’ with her Saudi counter-part Crown Prince Muhammad bin ... more »
Is Kim Foxx The Face Of Cook County Reform In the Aftermath Of The Laquan McDonald Murder And Coverup?
The Cook County State’s Attorney election is coming up this March 15th, and it has caught my eye in light of recent revelations in Chicago around the murder of Laquan McDonald. Kim Foxx is the candidate we're following. It's not often that a local State’s Attorney’s election makes the national news, but Cook County is the second largest county in the United States. And, this vote couldn’t be happening at a more critical time in the series of conversations that are happening all around the United States on how to fix the broken criminal justice system. Kim Foxx’s opponent, embattl... more »
America's Long-Range Bomber Fleet Is Declining Fast
B-1B B-2 and B-52. Wikicommons *Gregory Noddin Poulin, The Hill*: *The Troubling State of the Air Force's Long-Range Bomber Fleet* The latest installment of the Republican presidential debate last week saw an unlikely object become the scorn of GOP attacks: the B-52 strategic bomber. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush began the assault, lamenting the U.S. military has “a lack of readiness that is quite scary. We have planes that…Harry Truman inaugurated, the B-52.” Followed soon thereafter by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who said, “our Military needs to be upgraded…Our B-52 bombers... more »
Musical Interlude: John Denver, "Sweet Surrender"
John Denver, "Sweet Surrender" - https://www.youtube.com/
Poll: Arabs Have Overwhelmingly Negative Views Of The Islamic State
*VOA*: *Survey: Arabs Overwhelmingly Oppose Islamic State* A new survey of more than 18,000 Arabs in 12 countries shows they overwhelmingly have negative views of Islamic State insurgents terrorizing many of their homelands. The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, Qatar, said it found that 80 percent of the people surveyed in face-to-face interviews throughout the Mideast expressed negative views about the Islamic State group that has proclaimed a caliphate through large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Another 9 percent said they viewed the group negatively "to some ex... more »
Untitled
*Whether or not he returns in 2015, Drew Brees should be back in 2016 ~Mike Triplett, ESPN*
UN Official Says Somalia Is No Longer a Failed State
[image: Nicholas Kay, Hassan Mohamud, Somalia, United Nations, U.N.] ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Somalia is no longer a failed state but a recovering fragile country, the top U.N. official for war-torn Somalia has said. In the last three years the country has stabilized but there is still a... more »
Rights Watchdog Accuses Russia of Civilian Killings in Syria
[image: Human Rights Watch London] BEIRUT (AP) -- A human rights watchdog on Wednesday accused Russia of using cluster munitions and unguided bombs on civilian areas in Syria in attacks that it says have killed hundreds of people in the past few months. The report... more »
AP Poll Of American Journalists: The Islamic State Is The Top News Story For 2015
CNN *The Hill:* *Rise of ISIS named top story of 2015* The explosive growth of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and international efforts to root out the extremist group was the top news story in 2015, according to a poll of American journalists from The Associated Press. Thirty-seven of the 100 editors and news directors taking part in the AP’s annual survey put the fight against ISIS — which has stretched from its self-proclaimed caliphate in the Middle East to Europe and across the Internet — at the top of the list. Second was the Supreme Court’s historic June rulin... more »
New Poll Reveals Evangelical Christians Fuel Republican Support For Israel
[image: Woman w Israeli flag] Writing for the Washington Post on December 14th, Telhami observed that "Regarding the importance of a candidate's position on Israel when voting, 64 percent of Evangelical Republicans say this matters 'a lot' compared with just 33 percent of non-Evangelical Republicans... Continue reading *“New Poll Reveals Evangelical Christians Fuel Republican Support For Israel”* at *forward.com*.
The Higher Power of Russell Wilson
[image: Russell Wilson] AT 9 A.M. ON Sunday, Oct. 18, after a choir of serene, smiling Christians sings a few songs about Jesus’ love for all people, a man takes the stage. He’s a dead ringer for the actor Patrick Fugit, with black... Continue reading *“The Higher Power of Russell Wilson”* at *espn.go.com*.
New Star Wars Villains Not Evil Enough, Says Vatican Movie Critic
[image: Star Wars - 400] Star Wars: The Force Awakens broke box office records and restored a new hope in the franchise to the delight of fans worldwide with a few exceptions, including the Vatican's newspaper. Emilio Ranzato, author and frequent movie critic for L'Osservatore... Continue reading *“New Star Wars Villains Not Evil Enough, Says Vatican Movie Critic”* at *catholicherald.co.uk*.
Lawsuit Pries Loose a ‘New Climate Data Scandal’
[image: NOAA, buoy, sensors, Pacific ocean, National Weather Service] A non-profit watchdog group's lawsuit against the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration may have spurred the agency to release documents to a congressional committee that reveal a “new climate data scandal.” Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit... more »
Appeals Court Says Government Can’t Reject “Offensive” Trademarks
[image: Underground Music Showcase 2012 - The Slants at Moe's BBQ in Denver] WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the government can’t refuse to register trademarks that might be considered disparaging or offensive, a decision that could bolster the Washington Redskins in their legal fight over the team name.... more »
Japanese Coast Guard: Armed Chinese Patrol Ships Spotted Near Disputed Islands In The East China Sea
A Chinese Coast Guard ship armed with what the Japanese Coast Guard described as a cannon has been sighted in waters near disputed islands in the East China Sea. PHOTO: AFP *VOA*:* Japan: Armed Chinese Vessel Spotted Near Disputed Islands* Japan says it has spotted an armed Chinese coast guard ship near a set of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are the center of a long-running territorial dispute between the two Asian economic giants. The Japanese Coast Guard released a photo Tuesday that showed the vessel sailing near the islands, which are referred to in Japan as Se... more »
Another Crisis Over (Now They Tell Us)
[image: Snowy walk, rain drops on the window, mid-winter, Greenwood Ave, Seattle, Washington, USA] Seattle: Here is a little example of the way the triangle of environmental groups, government agencies and media combine to exaggerate problems, and then fail to acknowledge improvement when a "crisis" goes away. The Pacific Northwest drought last summer is over,... more »
Will We See A Pay-Per-View Mud-Wrestling Match Between Lindsey Graham And Ann Coulter For A Trumpf Cabinet Position?
In an interview for HuffPo with Michelangelo Signorile, Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis, said of the GOP's Deep Bench, "My father would be so appalled at what’s going on. He would be so appalled at these candidates. I don’t think he would be a Republican. And if another Ronald Reagan came along right now, I don’t think the Republican Party would accept him." I wonder if supporters of Herr Trumpf have been noticing that one of the ways their Republican Members of Congress are sabotaging Herr is by endorsing other candidates-- including some with no chance of the nomination at... more »
Armenia Claims That Its Ceasefire With Azerbaijan Is Over
*Click on Image to Enlarge* *Al Jazeera:* *Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of all-out 'war'* Defence ministry says ceasefire doesn't exist as hostilities over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region escalate. Armenia says a ceasefire with neighbouring Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh no longer exists, describing frequent skirmishes at the front line as "war". Artsrun Hovhannisyan, a spokesman of Armenia's defence ministry, said on Tuesday that Azerbaijan was using "all existing armaments: tanks, howitzers, and anti-aircraft artillery" against Armenian soldiers in the ... more »
Franklin Graham Quits GOP over Planned Parenthood Funding
[image: Planned Parenthood sit-in protest_900] Evangelist Franklin Graham denounced the Republican party Monday for passing a "wasteful" $1.1 trillion spending bill that funds Planned Parenthood, saying that's one reason he has quit the party. "Seeing and hearing Planned Parenthood talk nonchalantly about selling baby parts from aborted fetuses... more »
The Vast Majority of Military Women Don’t Want to be Fully Integrated into the Combat Arms
[image: Female Soldier at the Shooting Range. (December 5, 2006) - The Field Training Week in Southern Israel, part of the IDF Infantry Instructors course, includes individual and group drills, navigation practice, sleeping in the field and camouflage training. At the end of the course the female soldiers will be placed in different positions, instructing IDF Ground Forces.] Don't confuse most military women with the tiny feminist cabal comprised of a few officers and a lot of political groups who've been pushing for complete integration of the combat arms. There is a vindictive refr... more »
How C.S. Lewis Made Christianity Seem Like Common Sense
[image: CS Lewis2 - 400] More or less by accident, the worlds of broadcasting and publishing have created one of the literary marvels of Christianity. It's a book called Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis, the scholar who became famous by writing the seven fantasy... Continue reading *“How C.S. Lewis Made Christianity Seem Like Common Sense”* at *news.nationalpost.com*.
The Ship Is Sinking
http://www.cbc.ca/ The Postmedia chain was in trouble when Conrad Black tried to convince Canadians -- and himself -- that he was the reincarnation of Lord Beaverbrook. Things have gotten worse since Paul Godfrey took over the chain. Andrew Mitrovica writes: Postmedia’s recent litany of sins is a long one, and familiar to anyone who worries about the state of journalism in this country. Its Toronto-based head office managed to disgrace itself thoroughly during the recent election by forcing 16 of its major daily papers to run edit... more »
Inside Apple’s New ‘Spaceship’ Headquarters
[image: Apple - 400] Apple's massive new headquarters complex, nicknamed the “spaceship,” is currently under construction in Cupertino, California. CEO Tim Cook and CBS News’ Charlie Rose took in a panoramic view in this image from 60 Minutes. When it’s complete, the campus will... Continue reading *“Inside Apple’s New ‘Spaceship’ Headquarters”* at *cbsnews.com*.
Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Provocative Question About Charity?
[image: Salvation Army - 400] Every December, our family has chosen names off charity trees and bought presents for needy kids and families. But this act of giving felt hollow. There's nothing wrong with wanting to give Christmas gifts to kids, but I remember the... Continue reading *“Have You Ever Asked Yourself This Provocative Question About Charity?”* at *theblaze.com*.
Secularism’s War Against Christianity Exposed in NPR Report
[image: Faith - 400] Tom Gjelten, journalist for National Public Radio produced a story titled, “Unbelief As A Belief System: Core Tenet For Christians’ Fight For Religious Rights.” Quoting me on the religious nature of secularism, Gjelten wrote: Christian conservatives who are battling for... Continue reading *“Secularism’s War Against Christianity Exposed in NPR Report”* at *charismanews.com*.
Dec. 22: God Bless America. God Save Us.
Except for Alec Bruce's column on Dec. 21, there is nothing worth reading in the Moncton Times and Transcipt for the last two days. There is little news, and most of it is trivia. I also checked its sister paper, the Telegraph-Journal. It was worse. Minimally, they could have done some ten minutes of reading up on glyphosate to see whether that might have some bearing on the persecution of Dr. Cleary. But they didn't and they won't. They understand their jobs; and hey understand us. We are not people. We are disposable labour. And we pay the taxes that the 'better sort' don't pay. ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 22, 2015
United States President Barack Obama chairs a United Nations Security Council meeting at U.N. Headquarters in New York, N.Y., Sept. 24, 2009. Wikipedia *Ian Bremmer, Time:* *The Absence of Global Leadership Will Shape a Tumultuous 2016* *What to expect in the year ahead* During the annual Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit in Manila in November, President Obama sought out two people for a pressing conversation. Not Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces were busy changing facts on the ground in Syria, nor Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose global economic strategy is paying of... more »
Anatomy of a Jellyfish, Michael Smyth Edition
*Written by Facebook Commenters* It absolutely amazes me what passes as journalism, in particular political/legislative journalism.. I`m not talking about some recent graduate from journalism school but no other than Michael Smyth.. How on earth can the Province Newspaper and Michael Smyth keep a straight face after putting their names to Smyth`s latest.. You see, this is what Robin Mathews rights about, what I and many other internet scribers write about...A Failed media, but it`s more than that, one can only come to the conclusion, that these MIchael Smyth type scribers are... more »
Motorcycle Suicide Bomber Kills Six US Troops In Afghanistan
A suicide attacker rammed a motorcycle laden with explosives into a joint NATO-Afghan patrol near Bagram air base in Afghanistan on Monday. A rocket barrage hit Kabul afterwards. It is the deadliest attack on foreign troops since August. Aljazeera reports: The soldiers were targeted as they moved through a village near Bagram Airfield, the largest US military facility in Afghanistan, NATO and Afghan officials said. Brigadier General Wilson Shoffner, head of public affairs for the NATO force, said in a statement that six service members were killed and three others wounded in the sui... more »
World News Briefs -- December 22, 2015
*Al Jazeera*: *Iraq's army storms centre of ISIL-held Ramadi* *Two-front attack met with sniper fire and suicide bombers as troops seek to retake key city from fighters.* Iraq's military fought its way into the centre of a key ISIL-held city on Tuesday in a major operation to oust the armed group that seized control of Ramadi in May. The attack on the capital of Anbar province began on Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the army's counter-terrorism unit told AFP news agency. "We went into the centre of Ramadi from several fronts and we began purging residential areas. The city will... more »
'Twas the Wednesday-before-Christmas Ramble . . .
*“Q: [Is it] appropriate for an atheist to celebrate Christmas?* *A: “The secular meaning of the Christmas holiday is wider than the tenets of anyparticular religion: it is good will toward men...* * The charming aspect of Christmas is the fact that it expresses good will in a **cheerful, happy, benevolent, non-sacrificial way. One says: ‘Merry Christmas’—**not ‘Weep and Repent.’ And the good will is expressed in a material, earthly **form—by giving presents to one’s friends, or by sending them cards in token **of remembrance…** “The best aspect of Christmas is the aspect usua... more »
Kentucky Gov. Bevin Orders the Removal of County Clerks’ Names from Marriage Licenses
[image: Bevin - 400] FRANKFORT, Ky. -- In one of his first major acts in office, Gov. Matt Bevin issued a series of executive orders Tuesday to remove the names of county clerks from marriage licenses in Kentucky and halt efforts by former Gov. Steve Beshear to restore voting rights to certain... Continue reading *“Kentucky Gov. Bevin Orders the Removal of County Clerks’ Names from Marriage Licenses”* at *courier-journal.com*.
Bumped to the top in light of Canadian fighter jet killing 9 Iraqi soldiers
*Canadian jet pilot killed 9 Iraqi soldiers, wounded many more "by accident" - Report* *UPDATE: December 22, 2015 * THIS IS THE LATEST NEWS SOURCE to confirm that *it was a Canadian Plane that shot up the batallion of Iraqi soldiers as they were battling ISIS (and winning!) *in Iraq. Calling it an "accident" and case of "friendly fire", the story goes that the Iraqis called their NATO allies for air support and the Canadian pilot came and shot the wrong side.* I say bullfeathers! to this. *It is exactly the kind of cowardly frame-up that I predicted in my original post-- re-posted ... more »
Trump's Tax Plan
An analysis from the Tax Policy Center.
General Patton Died 70 Years Ago- Liberated Europe From The Nazis
General George S. Patton died on 21 December 1945. He commanded the Third Army after the Normandy landings of 1944 and made an aggressive armoured push across France and into Germany. He was instrumental in ending the second world war and liberating occupied Europe and Germany from the Nazis. “The Old Man” died on December 21, 1945, as a result of injuries from a car accident. The Guardian reports: General Patton dies A habit of wearing two revolvers helps to make a general “news,” but it does not necessarily make him a great commander. The American General George S. Patton was alway... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 22, 2015
*Jonathan Marcus, BBC:* *Sangin: Kabul and Nato's failures laid bare* The grim strategic geography of Afghanistan, the province of Helmand and towns like Sangin and Lashkar Gah, is back in the headlines. They are places etched into the collective memory of the British military, which suffered over 100 combat fatalities in and around Sangin, almost a quarter of all those killed during Britain's Afghan intervention. Now the Taliban has swept across Helmand, taking control of all but two of its districts, and pushing Afghan forces in Sangin to the brink. *Military And Intelligence Ne... more »
Fatalities And Injuries From Terrorist Bombings In Afghanistan (Graph)
*WNU Editor:* The trend lines are very clear .... bombings and killings are on the increase.
Paul Ryan: Lifting Oil Export Ban ‘Like Having 100 Keystone Pipelines’ and Great for Foreign Policy
[image: Paul Ryan] House Speaker Paul Ryan says lifting the decades-old ban on oil exports will be “like having 100 Keystone pipelines” as he beats back criticisms that Republicans lost out by trading oil exports for extended green energy subsidies. "Having the oil export... more »
Judge Sides with Utah Gov. Against Planned Parenthood in Funding Battle
[image: Defund Planned Parenthood Success - 400] A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has the authority to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, dealing a major legal blow to the organization as it tries to preserve its funding in multiple states this year.... Continue reading *“Judge Sides with Utah Gov. Against Planned Parenthood in Funding Battle”* at *thehill.com*.
Winter Solstice Celebrated At Stonhenge
Thousands of people including Pagans, Druids and Witches gathered at Stonehenge to witness the sunrise on the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Crowds started to arrive at the Wiltshire landmark before dawn with many others travelling on to the Avebury stone circle, which is also in the county. #Stonehenge #WinterSolstice about 20mins to sunrise pic.twitter.com/dICSw6zazC — Katy Austin (@KatyAustinNews) December 22, 2015 The winter solstice marks the point when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun. The December solstice happens at the same insta... more »
Republicans In Their Own Words, Pt.1: It’s Republican World, 2015 In Review!-- Chapter Five
*-by Noah* The alternate universe of the mind that Republicans have chosen to live in is a world of staggering ugliness and hypocrisy. The real world, the one that normal people live in just isn’t the world republicans choose. So, off they go into some crazy twilight world where racism, misogyny and all manner of negativity are justified, conspiracies abound, and a veritable cornucopia of never ending hate is always available. Often the words of republicans themselves give normal people a view into the darkness of this other place. *1. Chipper Jones--* One day soon, former Atlan... more »
Prince Charles Ginger Hair Plot: Man Detained Indefinitely
A ginger haired man who felt marginalized by society for his hair color and was planning to assassinate Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, has been detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act. Mark Colborne, a “ginger extremist” fantasied about changing the British Monarchy in favor of ginger haired folk by assassinating the Prince of Wales so that Charles’s youngest son, Prince Harry could become king instead of Prince William. Prince Harry is a ginger haired monarch in waiting, unlike his brother Prince William, who is not deemed a pure ‘ginger’ because of his receding hair... more »
ISIS Leader’s Cell Phone Linked To Turkish Intelligence
A cell phone found by Iraqi volunteer forces belonging to one of the ringleaders of ISIS, has revealed proof that the Turkish spy agency support the terrorist group. “The mobile phone was found with one of the killed ISIL leaders in the Northern parts of Salahuddin province two days ago,” Commander Jabbar al-Ma’mouri announced. The ISIS cell phone contained history files containing messages from the Turkish intelligence agency which prove that Ankara support ISIS by providing them with security at points of entry from Turkey to Iraq. Farsnews.com reports: “The mobile phone also con... more »
Taiwan Ban GMO Foods From School Menus
Schools across Taiwan have been banned from serving GMO food to students, according to a new anti-GMO bill passed on Monday. The Ministry of Education say that the new regulations will take effect next semester and aims to eradicate genetically modified ingredients and any processed foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from all school menus. Chinapost.com.tw reports: The ban would affect the selection of ingredients often used in school lunches in the past, including soybeans, corn, salmon, tofu, and soymilk. The new law would apply to cafeterias and food stands ...more »
If Donald Trump Is So Great, Then WHY Did He Meet With Zio-Scumbag Sheldon Adelson?
I have been warning most of my American readers for the last few months at least to be absolutely weary of Donald Trump and his aspirations to become the next US President.... We have all seen the massive hype when the last "hero" and "savior" for America, Ron Paul, suddenly pulled the plug on his campaign back in 2012 and he allowed the skewered American "polling" system to destroy his entire campaign... Now these same fools are banking their hopes on Donald Trump as a means of saving America..... Just today, I came across a most interesting article that I want to share with everyo... more »
Musical Interlude: John Denver, “I Want To Live”
John Denver, “I Want To Live” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNQfvihsLI
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Big, bright, and beautiful, spiral galaxy M83 lies a mere twelve million light-years away, near the southeastern tip of the very long constellation Hydra. Prominent spiral arms traced by dark dust lanes and blue star clusters lend this galaxy its popular name, The Southern Pinwheel. But reddish star forming regions that dot the sweeping arms highlighted in this sparkling color composite also suggest another nickname, The Thousand-Ruby Galaxy. *Click image for larger size.* About 40,000 light-years across, M83 is a member of a group of galaxies that includes active galaxy Centaurus ... more »
Chet Raymo, “Under The Suns Of Heaven”
*“Under The Suns Of Heaven”* by Chet Raymo "A decade or so before he died, in 2006 at age 71, the Irish writer John McGahern wrote of his Catholic childhood: "I have nothing but gratitude for the spiritual remnants of that upbringing, the sense of our origins beyond the bounds of sense, an awareness of mystery and wonderment, grace and sacrament, and the absolute equality of all women and men underneath the sun of heaven. That is all that now remains. Belief as such has long gone." I trust his remark sounds familiar. You have often heard something similar here. McGahern is a year o... more »
Stop U.S. Destruction of Oura Bay
Right now in Okinawa, Japan, hundreds of people are putting their bodies in front of bulldozers. Why? Because a U.S. military base wants to expand, dumping landfill on the home of 5,300 species, including the rare Japanese dugong.We stand with the people of Okinawa. SHARE if you do too! Posted by Greenpeace International on Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Everybody is a Victim of the Structure
Sixth in the series, Warriors for Peace by Regis Tremblay. Veterans Speak. Fr. Peter Hinde, O. Carm., Catholic priest and former WWII fighter pilot in Japan. Involved in U.S. Civil Rights protests, missionary in Peru, and now working in Juarez, Mexico. An amazing story about an amazing life.
With The Afghan Province of Helmand On The Verge Of Falling To The Taliban, U.K. Soldiers Have Been Deployed To Stop Their Advance
*The Independent:* *Afghanistan war: British troops return to Helmand province in 'advisory role' as Taliban advance continues* They are being sent to a camp to advice Afghan forces still fighting the insurgency British troops are being sent back into Afghanistan’s Helmand province little over a year after David Cameron hailed the end of the 13-year intervention. Soldiers are being mobilised to help Nato and Afghan forces as the Taliban continue to advance, overrunning the key town of Sangin. The Ministry of Defence (Mod) emphasised that British troops would not be going into co... more »
More Than 1 Million Refugees And Migrants Arrived In The EU In 2015
*IBTimes*: *Europe Refugee And Migrant Arrivals Cross 1 Million In 2015, Watchdog Report Says* More than 1 million refugees and migrants have arrived by land and sea in the European Union this year in the fallout of war, poverty and persecution in Africa and the Middle East, the U.N. refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday. The number of people displaced by war and conflict is the highest seen in Western and Central Europe since the 1990s, the two agencies said in a joint statement. Half of those arriving this year were Syrians escaping t... more »
Hillary Promises to End Alzheimer’s by 2025 with Your Money. Actually, She’ll Prevent a Cure.
[image: Alzheimer's] Hillary Clinton is going to cure Alzheimer’s. That won't help her remember where she memory-holed her emails, of course, or just why we invaded Libya. But it will forward the illusion that government, empowered with your money, has the godlike... Continue reading *“Hillary Promises to End Alzheimer’s by 2025 with Your Money. Actually, She’ll Prevent a Cure.”* at *dailywire.com*.
Assad Makes Surprise Christmas Visit to Damascus Church
[image: al-Assad - 400] A Christmas choir had a surprise visitor overnight after Bashar al-Assad made an appearance at a church in the Syrian capital of Damascus where rehearsals were taking place. The Syrian president and his wife, Asma, visited the Notre Dame de... Continue reading *“Assad Makes Surprise Christmas Visit to Damascus Church”* at *rt.com*.
Obama the Unilateral Climate Warrior
[image: climate warrior] Amid the media's elation over the United Nations climate deal reached in Paris on Dec. 12, one significant outcome has been overlooked. The European Union failed to achieve its main objective, namely that the agreement adopt carbon-dioxide mitigation commitments that are... Continue reading *“Obama the Unilateral Climate Warrior”* at *google.com*.
Graham: My Wing of the Party has ‘Collapsed’
[image: Graham] Sen. Lindsey Graham admitted on the same day he dropped out of the 2016 presidential race that the more moderate wing of the Republican Party is a thing of the past. “What’s happened here is sort of my lane of... Continue reading *“Graham: My Wing of the Party has ‘Collapsed’”* at *washingtonexaminer.com*.
Anonymous Declare War On ISIS-Supporting Turkey
Anonymous have threatened Turkey with a crippling cyber-attack that will bring the country to its knees, after revelations emerged that Turkey support ISIS. Last week Anonymous kicked off the cyber-war by bringing down 40,000 Turkish websites. But that was just a small taste of things to come, the hacktivists say. Now, they say they will take down vital systems that power Turkish airports, banks and government facilities, as well as cripple “root servers” that underpin Turkey’s digital infrastructure. Mirror.co.uk reports: In a statement, Anonymous said: “Turkey is supporting Daesh... more »
Pentagon Prepare For War between U.S. And China
The Pentagon are sending strong signals to China that they intend to trigger a military conflict with them over disputed islands in the South China Sea. Admiral Scott Swift, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, recently told a defence conference that the U.S. Navy were prepared to run Chinese military exclusion zones with military surveillance aircraft and warships. Blacklistednews.com reports: When Swift is not busy throwing red meat to military contractors he is flying around the South China Sea on P-8A Poseidon advanced maritime surveillance aircraft. These aircraft are currentl... more »
U.S. Women Fired For Refusing Flu Vaccine Sue In Landmark Case
Two office workers from New Jersey are suing their employers after being fired from their jobs for refusing to take a mandatory flu vaccine. Alanda Watson and Denise Mercurius filed a lawsuit on Monday at the New Jersey Superior Court against the Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, saying that their Constitutional rights had been violated. Courierpostonline.com reports: They were fired for asserting religious objections to the flu vaccine and refusing to wear masks, they said in a filing by lawyer Alan Schorr. The lawsuit seeks reinstatement, monetary damages and attorney fees...more »
Climate Change U-turn: Scientists Now Say CO2 Cools The Planet
Climate change scientists have made made a startling U-turn on the theory surrounding the effects of man-made climate change. They now say that the burning of fossil fuels and cutting down of trees causes the earth to cool down, rather than warm up as previously believed. A new NASA study suggests that areas on Earth that have seen heavy industrialisation have actually cooled down, which completely flies in the face of traditional climate change science which dictates that the warming up of the Earth is man-made. Express.co.uk reports: Environmentalists have long argued the burning... more »
Anti-GMO Chipotle Suffers Financial Losses Amid Constant Bad Press
Fast food chain Chipotle has been hit with a series of E.coli outbreak headlines in recent weeks which has resulted in a sharp drop in its value on the stock exchange. Chipotle, it should be noted, is an anti-GMO fast food restaurant. Could the unusually prominent and frequent reports of E.coli be part of an agenda to stop other restaurants following in Chipotle’s footsteps? Zerohedge.com reports: Following yesterday’s announcement of yet more cases emerging involving E.coli, one of CMG’s biggest defenders, JPM analyst John Ivankoe has thrown in the towel, and first thing this morn... more »
Former Bush Official: Chemical Weapon Claim Against Assad Was ‘Bull’
A US establishment whistleblower says that Washington’s chemical weapon claim against Syria’s President Assad, was bull that “crossed the red line” Last week Turkish MP Eren Erdem also said that the Syrian Government did not have sarin gas and insists there are grounds to believe a cover up has taken place. Erdem claimed that Islamic State terrorists in Syria had received all the necessary materials to produce the deadly sarin via Turkey. In the following video by TeleSUR, Abby Martin interviews retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former national security advisor to the R... more »
"Longing..."
"All human eyes have longing in them." - Ernesto Cardenal
"10 Powerful Life Lessons from 'The Alchemist'"
*"10 Powerful Life Lessons from 'The Alchemist'"* by Thai Nguyen "'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho is one of the best-selling books in history. The story of Santiago, the shepherd boy on a journey to realize his “Personal Legend” has inspired people all over the world to live their dreams. Here are ten of the most popular passages and lessons to apply to your life: *1. Fear is a bigger obstacle than the obstacle itself: *“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because ev... more »
Chasing McCain Away: Brazen Acts of Native Americans in 2015
Chasing McCain off Navajo Nation*The brazen acts that the cardboard Flim Flam man of new media didn't want you to know in 2015* *By Brenda Norrell* *Censored News* copyright Apaches protesting Sen. McCain's copper mine on sacred Oak Flat Censored News pick for the most brazen act of 2015: Navajos Chasing Arizona Sen. John McCain off the Navajo Nation. Fabulously called "Sneaky Snake McCain," by San Carlos Apaches fighting McCain's new copper mine with McCain's best buddies at Resolution Copper, McCain's status as a bottom feeder is absolute. The fact that McCain is still on the US ... more »
7 Scrooge Sightings from the War on Christmas
[image: Grotto - 400] Who deserves a lump of coal this holiday season? Each year Becket names the most absurd affronts to Christmas and Hanukkah, listing the most outrageous offenders of holiday cheer until we reach the top bah-humbugging, grinchiest transgressor. Not only do... Continue reading *“7 Scrooge Sightings from the War on Christmas”* at *becketfund.org*.
Is The Bible Mistaken About the Time of Jesus’ Birth?
[image: Examining the Bible Magnifying Glass - 400] An apparent mistake in Luke’s timeline has been raised many times over the years as proof of the fallibility of the Biblical accounts. Upon closer examination, it really doesn’t hold up; there’s no need to think there’s any problem in... Continue reading *“Is The Bible Mistaken About the Time of Jesus’ Birth?”* at *comereason.org*.
Federal Watchdog to Conduct Audit of Fetal Tissue Research in Wake of Planned Parenthood Scandal
[image: fetal research - iStock_000016080144_Medium] A federal watchdog will conduct a full audit of all fetal tissue research supported by the U.S. government in the wake of the Planned Parenthood scandal. It will primarily center on whether the grants violate any federal requirements. Continue reading *“Federal Watchdog to Conduct Audit of Fetal Tissue Research in Wake of Planned Parenthood Scandal”* at *washingtonexaminer.com* .
US Muslims Begin to Publicly Confront Questions on Islam and Violence
[image: Muslim] CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Bassam Issa stepped in front of a crowded classroom of students this month at Southern Adventist University, a Christian college near here, for a presentation on being Muslim in Chattanooga -- recently named America's most "Bible-minded city."... Continue reading *“US Muslims Begin to Publicly Confront Questions on Islam and Violence”* at *nytimes.com*.
"Troubles..."
"I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, others come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready, you see. Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me." – Dr. Seuss
Supplemental: Is Donald Trump mentally ill?
*TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015The question is hard to avoid:* Is Donald Trump mentally ill, in a destructive way? It's hard to avoid the question. It also hard to know how the "press corps" could handle a question like that, or how that question can fit inside a White House campaign. Various pundits are taking different positions on what was most egregious about Trump's behavior last night. (Others are taking a standard approach, pretending not to notice what happened.) We see a competition building between two nominees: 1) Trump's use of the new verb, "schlonged," with reference t... more »
Assassination Of Donald Trump Could Spark Civil War
As was reported earlier in October, El Chap Guzman, the notorious leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, placed a 100 million dollar bounty on the head of Donald Trump. With a U.S. secret service agency (who protect Trump) in crisis amid security lapses scandals, and the Pentagon preparing for “mass civil unrest” – a Donald Trump assassination may well be on the cards. Abreureport.com reports: The Guardian reported some months ago that the Pentagon was “preparing for mass civil breakdown” and that wargames being conducted by the military were “consistent with a raft of Pentagon planning docu...more »
Holiday reading
It's that time of year again... Every year I try to keep the pile down, and every year the stack of holiday reading jes' keeps on growing. And it doesn't help that buying Kindle books is so damned easy! So, what's on your reading list this year? Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
The politics of the public toilet
The LA Times is reporting that a transgender public restroom initiative, supported by groups which, especially, don't want people with male genitalia to use women's restrooms, failed to gather enough signatures to make it onto the California ballot. *"Backers of a proposed ballot initiative that sought to require transgender people to use the public restrooms that correspond with their biological sex say they have failed to qualify the measure for the California ballot. Privacy for All's initiative would have prohibited transgender people from using the single-sex facilities tha... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
Iran’s Supreme Leader Says New World Order To Be Thwarted In 2016
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that he is confident the plans for a New World Order would be destroyed by next year. Making an appearance on State run television network IRIB over the weekend, the Supreme Leader said that America and its allies were now in the final desperate throws of trying to install their plans of a one world government, central bank, and a one world army. “America is thrashing about like a wild animal right now, frightened of the light being shone on it, hungry to complete its goal. America and its allies wish to dominate and enslave the world”, he... more »
Study Finds Fewer Than 50% of Millennials Have $1000
[image: millennials saving - 400] If you don't have much money in your bank account, you're not alone. According to recent data, a majority of millennials have less than $1,000 in savings. But wait: Before you shake your head at the poor financial habits of... Continue reading *“Study Finds Fewer Than 50% of Millennials Have $1000”* at *generationopportunity.org*.
As We Shift - A 5D Holiday Guide
With the completion of Hanukkah, the onset of Christmas and the upcoming New Year, the idea of holiday is all around. This is that time of year, for many of us, when thoughts turn homeward. Yet, we are shifting. What does a “5D” season include? *Accept* – Regardless of where you stand on the scale of belief – this is not your grandfather’s holiday. We are not the same, no matter what those Christmas songs keep reminding us to dredge up. This year… *Embrace* – our new way to festival. This may include more physical celebration, lots of community involvement and less money. T... more »
Washington Irving’s Christmas
[image: The Christmas Coach by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris] “In the depth of winter, when nature lies despoiled of every charm, and wrapped in her shroud of sheeted snow, we turn for our gratifications to moral sources.” -- Washington Irving Back before there was cable TV, Washington Irving won... more »
The Redeemer in the Womb and the Evil of Abortion
[image: Mary Pregnant with Jesus - 900] Soon the world will pause to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. The feast is traditionally called "the Nativity of the Lord," but many mistakenly refer to it as "the Feast as the Incarnation." Some use the words "Nativity" and... more »
Bowe Bergdahl Arraigned on Charges of Desertion, Misbehavior Before the Enemy
[image: Bowe Bergdahl] FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) -- U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, appeared Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy....more »
Pakistan MP’s Slam Saudi-Led Coalition
MP’s in Pakistan have voiced a very strong objection to their country being part of a Saudi-led coalition, allegedly formed to fight terrorism. Saudi Arabia recently announced the formation of a coalition comprised of 34 mainly Sunni nations, to fight terrorists in the the Middle East. Press TV reports: In a heated debate in the upper house of the parliament, the senators from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other opposition groups grilled Pakistan Prime Minister Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, over the role Pakistan is set to play in the coalition. T... more »
Science flags immune-boosting paper under investigation
Science magazine has issued an expression of concern for a paper on the discovery of a new immune-boosting protein. The paper’s findings, which received some press coverage when they came out last spring, are now under investigation by Imperial College London. The expression of concern follows a correction noting a Western blot mix-up. Science Editor in Chief Marcia McNutt told […] The post Science flags immune-boosting paper under investigation appeared first on Retraction Watch.
California governor's ties to oil and gas spotlights regulatory capture in Calif
Jerry Brown's ties to oil and gas industry spotlight regulatory capture in CA *by Dan Bacher * *Censored News* In the latest scandal to plague the administration of Governor Jerry "Big Oil" Brown, the Public Accountability Initiative on December 17 revealed that Brown's sister, Kathleen, was paid $188,380 in 2014 and $267,865 in 2013 .to serve on the board of Sempra Energy. That's the company responsible for the devastating Porter Ranch Gas Leak - called the worst in the state's history by Time magazine. The leak began October 23 and continued to foul the air as Brown posed as ... more »
New Lawsuit Challenges Approval of More Navajoland Coal Pollution at Four Corners
Lawsuit to Challenge Feds’ Approval of Decades More Coal Pollution at Four Corners By Shiloh Hernandez, Western Environmental Law Center Colleen Cooley, Diné C.A.R.E. Mike Eisenfeld, San Juan Citizens Alliance Rachel Conn, Amigos Bravos Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity Nellis Kennedy-Howard, Sierra Club PHOENIX — After years of refusal by U.S. government agencies to address coal pollution damage from the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine, Diné (Navajo), regional and national conservation groups today took joint legal action to seek justice for impacts to com... more »
The Alchemy of a New Dawn
*Soren Dreier* - Dharma is the ancient word for our intention in this life. Life’s path – life´s purpose. It holds the ‘why are you here’ answer. The post The Alchemy of a New Dawn appeared first on Waking Times.
Greece has recalled ambassador from Prague
Greece has recalled its ambassador in Prague for consultations (but most likely, they meant consumations, something that Greek public employees are better at) in the wake of "unacceptable" statements by Czech President Miloš Zeman. Last Tuesday, Zeman has said (to some Slovak media, TASR) that he was disappointed that Greece didn't leave the eurozone in the summer. He added that the Czech Republic will start the process of accession to the Eurozone a day after Greece leaves it. In the first reaction, the Greek ministry of foreign affairs entertained the listeners by saying that "C... more »
Donald Trump Michigan Speech: Hillary Got ‘Schlonged’ By Obama
Donald Trump has used a slang Yiddish word for the male genitalia to attack his main Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton as well as President Barack Obama. In a speech at a rally in Michigan the Republican presidential frontrunner discussed among other things Mrs Clinton’s toilet habits during the last Democratic Presidential debate and the effect it had on his mind. Trump normally advances in polls after offending minorities. The latest offensive weapon of words used by the Donald should allow media pundits to at least call him anti-Semitic if not anti-female, although wo... more »
Regent Street Evacuated Due To ‘Suspicious’ Taxi
Police evacuated thousands of Christmas shoppers from London’s busy Regent Street amid reports of a suspicious, abandoned taxi at lunch time today. There were reports of a suspicious vehicle in the alert near Hamley’s toy shop Police closing off Regent Street due to suspicious vehicle pic.twitter.com/ilc3HKRSyf — Gareth Bebb (@GarethBebb) December 22, 2015 However, it emerged that the driver had parked his vehicle outside the popular store so that he could go shopping with his family The Mail Online reports: One witness, who watched the scene unfold from a building above, describe... more »
British Troops Deploy to Afghan Province Amid Taliban Battle
[image: British Forces heading to Afghanistan - 900] KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- When Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani took office, he ushered in a period of hope for the country’s traumatized and war-weary people that decades of violence would soon end. But just one year later, British troops are deploying... more »
Gene Drives: Frankensteinian or Salvation "Innovative" Technology?
Are gene drives a salvation against pests or do they pose catastrophic risks for the eco-system and human health and welfare? You decide. The New York Times promotes the technology, albeit offering some reservations buried deep in their mostly celebratory article: Nicholas Wade, Gene Drives Offer New Hope Against Diseases and Crop Pests, The New York Times, December 21, 2015, accessed December 22, 2015 Biologists in the United States and Europe are developing a revolutionary genetic technique that promises to provide an unprecedented degree of control over insect-borne diseases and... more »
Untitled
*New storm-surge maps from National Weather Service ~Bob Marshall, The Lens*
Pigou Club News
Back in September I wrote a column about the effort in Washington state to enact a carbon tax. Interested readers can learn how things are going there by reading this post by my friend Yoram Bauman.
The Economy: "The “Deep State” Puppet Master: Behind the Fed’s Ultra-Low Rates"
*"The “Deep State” Puppet Master:* * Behind the Fed’s Ultra-Low Rates"* by Bill Bonner POITOU, France – "We have come back to where the adventure began 20 years ago. Last night, we drove to the little train station at Montmorillon in western France. It was dark. We stood alone on the platform. Finally, a sleek new train arrived. A handful of passengers alighted, including a daughter and a son recently arrived from California. Still to come – two more sons, one girlfriend, another friend, a niece and her friend. “It’s good to be back here,” said one of the children (now 29) walking ... more »
Christmas Week 2016 Democratic Debate Gets Lowest Ratings of any Debate This Year
*by Gaius Publius* This is just a news piece, so you know how bad it was. At DNC headquarters, they're marking this "mission accomplished." Adam Edelman at the NY Daily News reports (my emphasis): *Saturday night 2016 Democratic debate gets lowest ratings of any debate this year* It was live on Saturday night but dead in the TV ratings. The third 2016 Democratic debate got the lowest TV ratings of any debate this cycle, preliminary figures released Sunday showed. About *6.71 million viewers* tuned into the prime-time debate between Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’M... more »
Now… Let Us All Savage Mike Duffy
*Now… Let Us All Savage Mike Duffy* *Written by Robin Mathews* A long, long road of sleaze, near criminal, and criminal attacks on Canadian democracy … and much more of ugly behaviour … marked the Stephen Harper Conservative years from 2006 to 2015. Almost numberless were the violations of the trust that Canadians place in their national government. A part of the aftermath of that orgy of sleaze is the attempt by what I call the neo-fascist Big Media, now, to paper over – even to praise – the behaviour of those years. The (literal) “*papering over*” of the Harper years is in... more »
Greek Parliament Votes To Recognize Palestine As An Independent State
The Greek parliament has unanimously voted to recognize Palestine as an independent state. The vote came during an official visit by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. – but also amid stronger Greek-Israeli ties The Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras said on Monday that the vote to recognize Palestinian statehood would only serve to cement formal recognition at a later “appropriate” date. The Independent reports: The government of Alexis Tsipras had previously been urged by the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee to make the move, removing references to “the P...more »
Peru Creates ‘Yellowstone of the Amazon’ for Uncontacted Tribes & Endangered Wildlife
*Rhett A. Butler* - Peru sets up 3.3M acre reserve home to un-contacted tribes, endangered wildlife. The post Peru Creates ‘Yellowstone of the Amazon’ for Uncontacted Tribes & Endangered Wildlife appeared first on Waking Times.
Hillary Backer Threatens to Blow Up Mosque, Media Blame Trump
[image: William Celli mosque -00] The mainstream media are reporting that a Bay Area plumber who allegedly planned to bomb a California mosque was a Donald Trump supporter-though he explicitly supported Hillary Clinton. On Sunday, police arrested 55-year-old William Celli "on suspicion of possessing an explosive device... Continue reading *“Hillary Backer Threatens to Blow Up Mosque, Media Blame Trump”* at *breitbart.com*.
Can We Be Good for Goodness Sake This Christmas?
[image: Santa Atheists - 00] Centuries from now, anthropologists sifting through cultural artefacts might conclude that Christmas was a time of year when people of different faiths came together to worship Santa. After all, everyone loves the patron saint of pester power, excessive consumerism and Coca-Cola. And, when we set cynicism aside... Continue reading *“Can We Be Good for Goodness Sake This Christmas?”* at *saintsandsceptics.org*.
Facebook Allows Stealth Censorship Already. Is It About to Take the Next Step?
[image: Facebook] But on whose behalf does the social media giant censor? Recently, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's whizkid CEO, was informed by German chancellor Angela Merkel that she wanted something done about anti-migrant posts, and Zuckerberg agreed. Well, we all want to fight... more »
The Poet: Charles Simic, “The White Room”
*“The White Room”* by Charles Simic “The obvious is difficult To prove. Many prefer The hidden. I did, too. I listened to the trees. They had a secret Which they were about to Make known to me- And then didn't. Summer came. Each tree On my street had its own Scheherazade. My nights Were a part of their wild Storytelling. We were Entering dark houses, Always more dark houses, Hushed and abandoned. There was someone with eyes closed On the upper floors. The fear of it, and the wonder, Kept me sleepless. The truth is bald and cold, Said the woman Who always wore white. She didn't leave he...more »
Editor's Note
Have a lot of Christmas shopping and preparation to do today. Blogging will return later today. Military and Intelligence News Briefs and World News Briefs will be posted at 17:00 EST and 18:00 EST respectively.
THE CASE OF POTENTIAL PRESIDENT TRUMP: Let's remember to use our words!
*TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015Part 2—Our tribe doesn't seem to have many:* Candidate Trump engaged in some appalling behavior last night. We'll discuss that behavior in this afternoon's post. It's hard for us to avoid the thought that Trump has been displaying some of the less attractive forms of what we call mental illness. In reports which appear this morning, the Washington Post and Politico are struggling with the appropriate way to report last night's behavior. Again and again, Trump behaves in ways which strike us as "disturbed." But this morning, we aren't attempting to evalua... more »
Iraq’s New Humanitarian Crisis, Interview UNHCR’s Rep To Iraq Bruno Geddo
The on going war with the Islamic State has created another humanitarian disaster in Iraq. There are over 3 million displaced with more leaving their homes as fighting shifts to different parts of the country. The Iraqi government has been hard pressed to meet the needs of these people, and the international community has failed to meet several calls for donations by the United Nations. Even in areas that have been cleared of insurgents there are disputes over who should be allowed back. To help explain this situation is Bruno Geddo who is the United Nations High Commission for Re... more »
"Reality..."
“Reality is what we take to be true. What we take to be true is what we believe. What we believe is based upon our perceptions. What we perceive depends upon what we look for. What we look for depends upon what we think. What we think depends upon what we perceive. What we perceive determines what we believe. What we believe determines what we take to be true. What we take to be true is our reality. There comes a time when the pain of continuing exceeds the pain of stopping. At that moment, a threshold is crossed. What seemed unthinkable becomes thinkable. Slowly, the realization ...more »
Driver Dodges Incoming TOW Anti-Tank Missile
A pick-up driver remains cool under TOW anti-tank missile attack. Sputnik reports: The driver of this white pick-up truck showed impressive calmness when he managed to dodge a TOW missile headed to his vehicle. The driver waited until the very last second before moving his car so the missile hit the nearby building. LiveLeak Channel YouTube video: Nice video of a possible hizbollah fighter (yellow flag to the right side of the car) dodging a TOW right toward his pick up truck. Must see video, that was freaking close, amazing.
Military Photo of the Day: December 22, 2015
[image: Army Parachute Jump-900] U.S. Army soldiers conduct a military free-fall airborne operation from a C-27 Spartan at Camp Mackall, N.C., on Dec. 10, 2015. Wow! Thanks to Staff Sgt. Alex Manne for capturing this breathtaking image.
Benedict Option vs. Wesleyan Option
[image: Fra Angelico and John Wesley - 400] The Benedict Option despairs of redeeming postmodern Western Civilization and counsels a Christian retreat into separatist communities to rebuild Christian culture through faithful discipleship. The model obviously is St. Benedict, who founded a vibrant monastic movement in the ashes of... Continue reading *“Benedict Option vs. Wesleyan Option”* at *canonandculture.com*.
“On Conspiracy Theories”
*“On Conspiracy Theories”* by Hardscrabble Farmer "In many nations, rational people end up believing crazy things, including (false) conspiracy theories. Those crazy thoughts can lead to violence, including terrorism. Many terrorist acts have been fueled by false conspiracy theories, and there is a good argument that some such acts would not have occurred in the absence of such theories. The key point—and, in a way, the most puzzling and disturbing one—is that the crazy thoughts are often held by people who are not crazy at all.” - Cass Sunstein, White House Office of Information an... more »
“The New World Disorder - How Empires Die”
*“The New World Disorder - How Empires Die”* by Jeff Thomas "The state-owned Bank of China has been ordered by an American court to hand over customer information to the US. The bank has refused to comply, as to do so would violate China’s privacy law. The US court has subsequently ordered the Bank of China to pay a fine of $50,000 per day. Any guess as to how this is likely to turn out? China is a sovereign nation, halfway around the globe from the US, yet the US seems to feel that it’s somehow entitled to set the rules for China (as well as the other nations in the world). When C... more »
Why Has Canada NOT Withdrawn Its F18 Planes From Iraq? - Recent "Accidental" Bombing Of Iraqi Forces Was Done By Canadian Planes!
With the election of Justin Trudeau and the Liberals here in Canada to take control of this once free nation, the incoming Liberal regime has stated clearly that one of their first orders of business was to withdraw Canada's commitment to the fraudulent "war on terror" and bring Canada's 6 F18 fighter aircraft home... It has now been over 2 months since the Liberals have achieved power in Canada, and I and others are still waiting for that commitment... Basically the longer Canada continues to have these fighters in Iraq, the more likelihood that they would cause trouble... And it d... more »
Authors retract meningitis paper over permission — but data are in a public database
A study characterizing subtypes of the bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis is being retracted after the authors didn’t have permission to publish the data, even though the data itself remain available in a public database. The paper, in PLOS ONE, relied on a laboratory collection of patient samples. In October, the authors retracted it because […] The post Authors retract meningitis paper over permission — but data are in a public database appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Suspect in Vegas Crash Said She Was Stressed Living in Car
[image: Las Vegas car accident__1450698639_108.225.71.5] LAS VEGAS (AP) -- It wasn’t long ago that the woman arrested in the deadly Las Vegas Strip sidewalk crash seemed to be doing well for herself. After a rough childhood that included a period of homelessness in high school,... more »
Paraguay: 16th Century UFO Sightings by Jesuit Missionaries
*Source: IIEE ChileDate: N/A* *Paraguay: 16th Century UFO Sightings by Jesuit Missionaries* *By the IIEE Editorial Board* The Jesuit order assayed a revolutionary Christian socialism among the Guaraní peoples of Paraguay that challenged the avarice of Spanish colonists and the Portuguese *bandeirantes* (fortune hunters). This atypical social organization was known as the “reducción” model and took place in the early Sixteenth century (approximately 1607). The religious order reached the area and encountered the *encomienda* (mandate) system practiced by the Franciscans, who were ... more »
The Evolution of Bush’s Candidacy: From ‘Tortoise’ to Would-Be Trump Slayer
[image: Outbound, WSJ.] ALTON, N.H.--Republican Jeb Bush started off his presidential campaign describing himself as a "joyful tortoise." As voters leaned toward political outsiders, he dubbed himself a "disrupter." Then he emphasized competence and went on the "Jeb Can Fix It" tour. Mr.... Continue reading *“The Evolution of Bush’s Candidacy: From ‘Tortoise’ to Would-Be Trump Slayer”* at *google.com*.
ISIS’ Ghost Fighters
[image: ISIS - 400] We are shocked -- shocked! -- to read that there's corruption in ISIS. You mean a lot of these murdering thugs are also hypocritical thieves? From the Financial Times: A year ago Iraq denounced deep corruption within its army, alleging 50,000 "ghost" soldiers... Continue reading *“ISIS’ Ghost Fighters”* at *the-american-interest.com*.
ASD Advisory Councils in Memphis Calls ASD Process a "Scam"
Last week Shelby County Schools called for a halt to Achievement School District takeovers in and around Memphis. This week it seems the ASD hostile school takeover scheme has hit another snag, when a group set up by ASD to rubber stamp its plans called the process a "scam." From the Commercial Appeal: The group of people the state-run Achievement School District picked to add transparency to the school takeover process turned against the ASD on Monday, claiming the matching process was "a scam" meant to give the illusion of community input. The group held a news conference in fro...more »
Guns vs. Cars (and Drugs)
[image: guns] About 20 years ago, public-health researcher Garen J. Wintemute predicted that The Crossover was nigh: Soon, more Americans would be killed with guns than with motor vehicles. He’d previously estimated that this would happen by 2004, and possibly as early as... Continue reading *“Guns vs. Cars (and Drugs)”* at *realclearpolicy.com*.
This Liberal City Is the First to Unionize Uber
[image: Uber] Last week, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to extend collective bargaining powers to drivers for services like Uber and Lyft. It is the latest action by union groups and their political allies to stave off disaster for big labor,... more »
Will Syrian-Christian Asylum Seekers Celebrate Christmas in a US Prison?
[image: RefugeeTexas] LAREDO, Texas -- Will Christians fleeing Syria have to spend Christmas in U.S. detention cells? In mid-November, three Syrian families presented themselves at the Laredo border crossing in Texas to request asylum. Amid a roiling debate over accepting Syrian refugees... Continue reading *“Will Syrian-Christian Asylum Seekers Celebrate Christmas in a US Prison?”* at *ncregister.com*.
Planned Parenthood Says Hiding HIV from Sex Partners Is a ‘Right’
[image: Charlie Sheen] In a recent interview with Matt Lauer, actor Charlie Sheen disclosed that he is HIV-positive and has been aware of his HIV status for approximately four years. Since Sheen has a well-known sexual legacy and claims to have had sex... Continue reading *“Planned Parenthood Says Hiding HIV from Sex Partners Is a ‘Right’”* at *thefederalist.com*.
EU -Russia Deal On Ukraine Collapses
*Politico*: *EU bid to appease Russia over Ukraine deal collapses* The Kremlin threatens sanctions against Ukraine for tightening ties with the EU. A last-minute attempt to prevent Russia from slapping economic sanctions on Ukraine failed Monday, as EU-led negotiations between the parties broke down. The sticking point is the launch of a delayed EU free trade agreement with Ukraine that will enter into force on January 1. The EU had been talking for 18 months over Russia’s concerns the deal would harm its economy, but those discussions deadlocked with officials accusing each othe... more »
Is The U.S. Military Secretly Providing Intel To The Syrian Regime On Extremists?
*RT*: *US military provided Assad with intel on extremists via Russia, Israel & Germany - report* *The Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff has been indirectly providing Syrian military with intelligence on Islamic extremists fearing the Obama administration’s agenda to oust Bashar Assad will engender total chaos in Syria.* A new investigation in the London Review of Books by renowned American journalist Seymour M. Hersh exposes the divide between the US top brass and the politicians in the White House when it comes to dealing with Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq. It seems the ... more »
Iraqi Army Have Stormed Into The Centre of Islamic State-Held City Of Ramadi
*ABC News (Australia):* *Iraqi troops storm centre of Ramadi in bid to oust Islamic State militants* Iraq's armed forces have stormed the centre of the city of Ramadi in a fresh bid to oust Islamic State (IS) militants who seized the key city in May. The major offensive to recapture the city, whose fall to IS was a major defeat for Iraq's weak central Government, started at dawn and was backed by US-led coalition air strikes. "We went into the centre of Ramadi from several fronts and we began purging residential areas," said Sabah al-Noman, spokesman of the Iraqi counter-terrori... more »
Dawlish Rail Study Ignores The Facts
By Paul Homewood http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/Dawlish-rail-line-cut-year-rising-sea-levels/story-28401104-detail/story.html The Dawlish line, linking Exeter to Plymouth and Cornwall, could be disrupted for more than 10 per cent of each year by 2040 and almost a third by 2100 because of rising sea levels, a new study suggests. The cost of maintaining tracks and sea defences could also soar […]
Iraq Chooses Beauty Queen From Kirkuk Amidst Bloodshed
A 20-year-old girl from northern Iraq has won the first official Miss Iraq Pageant held since 1972. 20-year-old economics student Shaima Qassem Abdulrahman shook off threats of death and criticism from hard-liners to be crowned Miss Iraq 2015. The first national pageant in four decades had to be moved from Basra to Baghdad after threats from conservative Muslims. RT reports: Eight contenders competed for the crown and a chance to represent Iraq in the Miss Universe contest. Organizers tried to stick to criteria of the international event, but made concessions to cultural sensitivitie... more »
Author added to paper after investigation at University of Helsinki
An author has been added to a biochemistry paper following an investigation by the University of Helsinki. Karen Sabatini, currently a biochemist at the University of San Diego, was erroneously left off the author list of a paper published in 2010 in Soft Matter. She apparently left Helsinki in 2010. The circumstances may be unclear, but one thing we […] The post Author added to paper after investigation at University of Helsinki appeared first on Retraction Watch.
‘Sad Irony’ in Obama’s Criticism of Bush’s Iraq War Comes to Light
[image: Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks with President Barack Obama as they meet with the National Security Council about the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant at the Pentagon Dec. 14, 2015.] President Barack Obama's criticism of former President George W. Bush for allegedly manipulating intelligence leading up to the Iraq War is taking on a new light as a growing number of reports indicate his own administration is manipulating intelligence on... more »
Islamic State In Libya Launches Its New ‘Islamic Police Force’
*Daily Mail:* *ISIS mock the West by unveiling its new ‘Islamic police force’ in Libya as the terror group claims to be the only ones capable of stabilising the country* * ISIS in Libya release new video showing off their 'Islamic Police' * The jihadi police force shown patrolling through the streets of Sirte * Their vehicles include blue flashing lights as they stop people at regular checkpoints ISIS have released a new propaganda video from Libya, showing off their Islamic police force patrolling around the city of Sirte. Footage shows a unit of ISIS police, dressed in matching... more »
Israel's David Sling Missile Defense Passes Final Test. To Be Deployed In 2016
*Times of Israel*:* David’s Sling missile defense system ready for use, defense officials say* *Air Force to subject medium range interceptors, jointly developed with US, to real-world tests after delivery in 2016.* Israeli and US officials declared a new medium-range missile interceptor fully operational Monday, ending years of development and testing for the key component of Israel’s defense array. The announcement by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the US Missile Defense Agency precedes delivery of an operational David’s Sling system to the Israeli Air Force in 201... more »
Did Israel Use A New Rocket That Evaded Russian Defenses To Hit A Terrorist target In Syria?
*Algemeiner:* Russia Could Not Have Prevented Kuntar Assassination in Syria, Says Israeli National Security Analyst (INTERVIEW) The assassination of arch-terrorist and Hezbollah official Samir Kuntar early Sunday morning in Syria was not the settling of an old score, but rather a preventive measure against current activity, as well as a message to Russia, Mideast and Russia expert Zvi Magen told The Algemeiner on Sunday evening. Magen, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, was referring to a Hezbollah announcement early Sunday that “Zionist enemy... more »
The Two Headed Fascist Monster That Has Taken Root Inside The Republican Party
Mainstream conservatives who know him best have long warned that Ted Cruz is more dangerous to American democracy than the buffoonish Herr Trumpf. In an interview with NPR's Steve Inskeep over the weekend, President Obama started answering a politics question by contrasting the Democratic candidates in general with the Republican candidates in general but, like most Americans, was soon focussing on the dangers to American social cohesion posed specifically by Herr Trumpf's fact-free campaign. "I'm confident," he said, "that a Democrat will win the White House, and I think when you... more »
Christmas Enables Us to “See” Our Salvation
[image: nativity_glass] The question often comes up: “But what then is Christmas?” In a multicultural, hypersensitive, relativistic society, the question itself is obnoxious to many people. There is no “joy to the world” for them. Not only do they not want to... Continue reading *“Christmas Enables Us to “See” Our Salvation”* at *catholicpulse.com*.
One Success of “No Child Left Behind”
[image: No Child Left Behind] In December 2003, parents in Beverly, Massachusetts, got a rude shock. A small, affluent city about half an hour north of Boston, Beverly was widely regarded as having one of the strongest urban school districts in the region. But a... Continue reading *“One Success of “No Child Left Behind””* at *fivethirtyeight.com*.
Hillary’s “Refreshing” Jalapeño Diet
[image: Hillary Clinton] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Gone are the Bojangles fried chicken and biscuits. When supporters offer Tex-Mex, she takes a salad. And forget about cake (most of the time). As Hillary Clinton knows from previous presidential campaigns, politicking means picking your food... Continue reading *“Hillary’s “Refreshing” Jalapeño Diet”* at *bigstory.ap.org*.
If its on the tv or in the newspaper its no longer that important
The masters of the universe thought we would always believe media over facts. Short reality distortion fields.
Daily Telegraph Fined £30,000 For Email Urging Readers To Vote Tory
The Daily Telegraph newspaper has been fines £30,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after it sent hundreds of thousands of emails on the day of the general election urging readers to vote Conservative. The editor’s message asking hundreds of thousands of readers to oppose the most ‘leftwing Labour leader for a generation’ crossed a line, says watchdog. RT reports: Hours before Brits went to the polls, the right-wing newspaper’s editor Chris Evans sent an email to thousands of subscribers that read: “The Daily Telegraph urges its readers to vote Conservative.” “Do we ... more »
If its on the tv or in the newspaper its no longer that important
The masters of the universe thought we would always believe media over facts. Short reality distortion fields.
The Profile Of Who Is An Islamic State Jihadist Is Now Changing
*Washington Post:* *The Islamic State creates a new type of jihadist: Part terrorist, part gangster* BRUSSELS — The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have brought into sharper focus the rise of a new breed of jihadists, one that blurs the line between organized crime and Islamist extremism, using skills honed in lawbreaking in the service of violent radicalism. The Islamic State is constructing an army of loyalists from Europe that includes an increasing number of street toughs and ex-cons as the nature of radicalization evolves in the era of its self-proclaimed caliphate. Rather ... more »
The Iranian Retreat From Syria
Iranian men carry portraits of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani during his funeral in Tehran on October 11, 2015. General Hamedani was killed by Islamic State group jihadists "during an advisory mission" in the northern region of Aleppo, according to a Guards statement. (AFP/ATTA KENARE) *Times of Israel:* *Israel: Iran has withdrawn most of its Revolutionary Guards from Syria* Dozens of Iranian fighters said killed; Hezbollah, which has lost up to 1,500 men, reportedly fears anti-Assad rebels could now prevail Iran has withdrawn most of the Revolutio... more »
Update: Those Other Terrorists
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for a criminal investigation into October's deadly US bombing attack of a charity hospital, where the death toll has now reached at least 42. The destruction of the Médecins Sans Frontières facility in Kunduz, Afghanistan was so complete that an accurate death count has been impossible. Some victims were literally incinerated in their beds, while others remain buried beneath the rubble. Moreover, within a few days of the sustained bombing by an AC-130 gunship, American tanks had returned to the scene in order to level what had not already been cr...more »
Republican Candidates Vie for Game-Changing Endorsements
[image: mccainhaleyromney] Less than 50 days before the New Hampshire primary, several Republican presidential candidates are looking for big endorsements that might make a difference in one of the most exciting presidential races in history. Big names including 2012 GOP nominee Mitt... Continue reading *“Republican Candidates Vie for Game-Changing Endorsements”* at *thehill.com*.
Breakthrough! SpaceX Successfully Lands Rocket after Launch of Satellites into Orbit
[image: SpaceX rocket launch] People living along the central Atlantic coast of Florida have for decades enjoyed the spectacle of rockets headed for space. On Monday night, they were treated to a new sight that may become common: a rocket coming back down to... Continue reading *“Breakthrough! SpaceX Successfully Lands Rocket after Launch of Satellites into Orbit”* at *nytimes.com*.
Rick Santorum: The ‘Next in Line’ That Never Was
[image: Rick Santorum] Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- Rick Santorum is rolling his eyes. It's the first week of December, and we've settled into the corner of an empty cafeteria in the bowels of the U.S. Cellular Arena here, where on an unseasonably warm... Continue reading *“Rick Santorum: The ‘Next in Line’ That Never Was”* at *nationalreview.com*.
After Months Behind Bars, Chinese Lawyer Gets Suspended Sentence in Online Speech Case
[image: Pu Zhiqiang] BEIJING (AP) -- After months behind bars, one of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers left a detention center Tuesday after receiving a suspended prison sentence in a case involving online comments critical of the ruling Communist Party. The court... more »
GAIA PORTAL: Dramas unfold as dreamers are rewarded
*Dramas unfold as dreamers are rewarded* by ÉirePort Dramas unfold as dreamers are rewarded. Flamboyants are moderated in priorities aligned with the New Light. Predilections set aside. Hue-manity can rest no more. Steps are taken to correct the imbalance. *Gaia of Peace arises.* ÉirePort | December 22, 2015 at 07:07 | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p2sFUY-wF
Europe & Turkey Close Airspace To Russian Warplanes Fighting ISIS
Russia’s Deputy Commander Maj. Gen. Anatoly Konovalov said that Russian pilots have been forced to reroute after Europe and Turkey closed airspace for Russian long-range aviation planes carrying out airstrikes on ISIS positions in Syria. Sputnik news reports: According to Konovalov, Russian pilots had to leave for Syria from Russia’s northernmost Olenegorsk military airport in order to bypass Europe and then cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Syria. “There were certain issues that excluded the possibility of performing the tasks by other means. Europe would not allow us, Turkey woul... more »
Alvin Weinberg Speaks to Our Time
*December 2015 Update: Becky has called my attention to the continued relevance of this post. It is foundational to the project I undertook when I started the Nuclear Green Blog. * In addition I have renamed the essay. 2009 Update Note: This post was one of the first I wrote for Nuclear Green in December 2007. Because it deals with the early history of studies of carbon mitigation and Alvin Weinberg's far sighted views on post-carbon energy forms are still relevant to recent discussions on energy, I felt reposting a slightly revised version of my original post was in order. I hav... more »
Taliban Says Refugees are Using Fake Death Threat Letters to Get into Western Countries
[image: Afghan refugees working in Iran.] The Taliban in Afghanistan claims that refugees are using fake death threat letters to gain entry to Western countries, according to an official statement. Speaking under the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban's de-facto state in Afghanistan, the Taliban warns Western... more »
Cruz vs. Rubio
[image: Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio] Freud wasn't talking about party primaries when he coined the phrase "the narcissism of small differences," but he might as well have been. The similarities between Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are demographic, biographical and ideological. Both are young... Continue reading *“Cruz vs. Rubio”* at *nationalreview.com*.
Untitled
*Blatant racism: Despite the 14th Amendment, many universities openly admit to judging people by the color of their skin* *The excuse that they need "diversity" is very thin indeed. The most important sort of diversity for a university is surely intellectual diversity -- yet they have virtually none of that. They are Leftist monocultures where all conservative thought is thoroughly kept out. Clearly, they don't in fact care a fig for diversity. They are just carrying on the old Leftist obsession with race* *A 19th century political poster* Boston-area universities are closely... more »
Trump Calls Clinton a ‘Liar’ over Video Claim
[image: Donald Trump] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Hillary Clinton says Republican Donald Trump has become recruiting fodder for Islamic extremists, and Trump calls her a liar, in what could be a preview of the 2016 general election campaign for president. Trump said Monday... more »
Ben Carson’s Autobiographical Books: Huge in Kenya
[image: Ben Carson] NAIROBI--Every morning, Peter Johnstone arrives an hour early at the Text Book Centre bookstore where he works here in Kenya, to read Ben Carson’s autobiographical books. Sometimes when it's slow, Johnstone will covertly read Carson’s books while standing to fool... Continue reading *“Ben Carson’s Autobiographical Books: Huge in Kenya”* at *politico.com*.
The Pentagon Ponders Opening A Cyber Front Against ISIS
Media outlets are reporting that the Pentagon is about to open a digital front against Islamic State terrorists, something that the State Department has so far failed to do successfully. RT reports: Pentagon officials have been asked to show some options to the White House, US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Los Angeles Times over the weekend. The US Cyber Command in Fort Meade, Maryland could use malware to disrupt Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) propaganda and recruitment efforts online, the officials added. The State Department’s Center for Strategic ... more »
Economic News & Views ( December 22 , 2015 ) - Europe In Focus ( Decanting the Uncertainty After Spain's Inconclusive Election , Italian Bank Bail-In Victims Protest , Russia / Ukraine Items Of Note , Refugee Crisis Items Of Note , Germany Import Prices For Nov - .02 % vs -0.2 % E / Y/Y -3.5 % V -3.7% E , Greece To Sell 10 BN In Bad Bank Assets - additional Greece Items Of Note , Eye-Opening Kolomoisky Interview - No Love Lost For Poroshenko Or Tymoshenko ) ..... Asia / Emerging Nations In Focus ( News Of Note From Turkey , Saudi Arabia , China , Brazil , Emerging Markets In General Items )
Evening Wrap..... *Haidi Lun 伦海迪* @HaidiLun 3m 3 minutes ago Guotai Junan surges 7.7% in HK, lost-and-found CEO Yim Fung resumes duties today after assisting Chinese authorities [image: Embedded image permalink] *Chris Stephen* @reportingLibya 2h 2 hours ago #Libya Tripoli-based NOC says may take legal action against int. recognised government (Tobruk) NOC over oil sales http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a /142219/Libya_NOC_Says_May_Take_Action_on_Unapproved_Oil_Sales … *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 4h 4 hours ago Rajoy and Sánchez to meet on Wedne... more »
Untitled
*Will global warming kill off our pine trees?* *The modelling crap below claims it will but is most implausible. Pine trees are very widely distributed -- from the near-Arctic to the tropics. As I look down at the floor of the room where I am writing this, I see polished floorboards made of slash-pine, once super-abundant but now mostly cut out, in sub-tropical Queensland where I live. That such a versatile and hardly genus could be disturbed by a few degrees of climate change is absurd. The distribution of species might alter a little but that's it. They ha... more »
Are these Israel's bravest soldiers? Meet the Sunni Muslim Arabs who fight on the front line in an 'unbreakable blood pact' per Daily Mail Online
' 'I am proud to be a Bedouin fighter,' he says. 'And I am also proud to fight in the Israeli army. I am proud of being Bedouin, Arab, Muslim and Israeli.'' More here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3362369/Are-Israel-s-bravest-soldiers-Meet-Sunni-Muslim-Arabs-fight-line-unbreakable-blood-pact.html
US wild bee numbers decline as land is converted for biofuel
By Paul Homewood h/t Mark Hodgson http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35153196 Matt McGrath might be headed for the BBC’s Correction Centre! Wild bees in the US have declined in many farming areas according to the first national effort to map their numbers. The study suggests that between 2008 and 2013, the numbers of wild bees […]
On the China Policy Institute blog...
*Taipei.* Two things you should read today. First the awesome Courtney Donovan Smith and myself are on the CPI blog to provoke you with 7 Predictions for Tsai's first term. Also read this excellent Commonwealth piece on the human cost of Taiwan's labor migration to China -- its deeply saddening (the translators they use are top-notch. Kudos to them). _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
The Joy of Giving In a Mixed-Up World
[image: Christmas Gifts under Tree - 900] DUDLEY HALL -- I have a confession to make: I really like all the hoopla that’s associated with Christmas. I know I should be offended by all the commercialism, materialism, secularism and waste, but I love watching people running around buying... more »
Hunter Confronts a Giant Sloth
Oh boy. This is from a new witness and what startles is the behavior of the creature. It was clearly closing to kill. This means most that it had done this before and had no particular fears. Reports so far have been from missed attacks or simply the wrong place for such an attack. This is a real first. More important in terms of survivability is that is that he had the right weapon. Almost certainly most victims even if armed would still be at a severe disadvantage. This creature is huge and can take punishment. As well its metabolism is likely forty percent lower than ... more »
Women in Combat Military Effectiveness Deadly Pentagon
The numbers say that the top quarter can match the lowest quarter and participate and so they should. A rarity will make it into a higher standard. But so what? soldiers die first from their mistakes and simple bad luck and last from been over matched mano a mano. That said, all this is easily explained by the simple by simple muscle mass differences and not by skill and instincts. So let us leave it at that and allow women to be combatants. However, i would insist that we form all female combat teams as well and quite the mixing game. Combat ensures closeness and sexual... more »
Female Army Rangers
I do not oppose the idea of women in all potential levels of combat. I also do not oppose far more men been trained up to the appropriate levels. The army has been allowed to be much too choosy. After all both men and women fail out of training courses because they are not up to the requirements.However these same failures are all excellent candidates for a progressive physical training that allows them to retake the same course and to pass it. In fact the problem with all military training is that we need a high level of fitness even on entry and this needs to be corrected. ... more »
First Legal Ayahuasca Retreat to Open in the U.S.
This is a good start. Let five years go by and we will see how well it is tolerated. It is actually very good news as this whole thing needs to be pioneered. More to the point though, law enforcement has just backed of marijuana. For that reason, they may not wish to get sucked into another similar problem with the same inevitable result. I expect it to catch on easily and i expect a brisk expansion as more shamans become experienced. It is just too clinically beneficial to be ignored. I suspect that the Drug War is truly over except for the housekeeping. Too many benefits to... more »
ISIS Are Funded By CIA To Advance Zionist Agenda, Says Scholar
ISIS are a US funded mercenary organisation trained and funded by the CIA in order to overthrow the Syrian government and advance a Zionist agenda, according to American scholar Dr. Kevin Barrett. Mr Barrett says that the U.S. government and its allies “armed, trained and organized” ISIS in order to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as part of a bigger plan to obliterate all independent governments in the Middle East. Presstv.ir reports: Barrett, who’s also an editor at Veterans Today, said US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is part of that Zionist agenda prom... more »
Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows”
Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lin-a2lTelg *"Everybody Knows"* "Everybody knows that the dice are loaded, Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed. Everybody knows that the war is over, Everybody knows the good guys lost. Everybody knows the fight was fixed , The poor stay poor, the rich get rich. That's how it goes, Everybody knows... Everybody knows that the boat is leaking, Everybody knows that the captain lied. Everybody got this broken feeling, Like their father or their dog just died. Everybody talking to their pockets, Everybody wa... more »
Putin: ISIS Was Made In The USA, And We’re Going To Destroy Them
President Putin has delivered a scathing attack on the American government, accusing U.S. intelligence and government officials of creating and perpetuating ISIS. When asked by a reporter on Monday about how Russia views America’s role in combating terrorism in the Middle East, Putin responded by saying: “Most of the terrorism we see in the Middle East is because of U.S. foreign policy. But worse than that, al-Qaeda and ISIS are actually a U.S. invention, and the latter of the two Russia is currently dealing with in Syria”. His remarks come just weeks after Presidential candidate Ri... more »
Paris Climate Conference Agrees on Sustainable Fantasy
BY TOM HARRIS ICSC Executive Director Tom Harris has written a piece published in PJ Media with above title. Christiana Figueres, Ban Ki-moon, Laurent Fabius, President François Hollande. The Delegates put on a great act celebrating the agreement, and that was reported by the MSM, eg - Guardian: Paris climate change agreement: the world's greatest diplomatic success - Daily Mail: Tears of joy as historic deal passed: - UN News Centre: UN chief hails new climate change agreement as ‘monumental triumph’ Tom Harris likens their delusion (was it delusions, or was it ... more »
Why The U.S. Train-And-Equip Program Failed In Syria
*McClatchy News*: *What really happened to the U.S. train-and-equip program in Syria?* * Participants’ descriptions suggest trainees and trainers never agreed on mission * Inserted back into Syria, trainees’ first act was to take two weeks off * There were arguments and walkouts over goals, escorts, food supplies, expenses When the first group of Syrians from a U.S.-trained force intended to combat the Islamic State crossed into their country from Turkey in mid-July, they arrived in uniform carrying M16 rifles, mortars and flak vests. But they had no expense money, little food and... more »
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Jumps the Shark, Comparing Trump to Hitler
[image: Donald Trump drawing as Hitler] Last week, Fareed Zakaria, the host of CNN's program GPS, wanted to trash Donald Trump for his proposal to put a hold on Muslim immigration out of concern over terrorist threats. Instead of making constitutional, policy, or even moral arguments... more »
Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ Is Very Important
[image: Merry Christmas, Winter] The nearly universal change from wishing fellow Americans “Merry Christmas” to wishing them “Happy Holidays” is a very significant development in American life. Proponents of “Happy Holidays” argue that it’s no big deal at all, and that proponents of “Merry... more »
Picture Of The Day
*Wyoming Weather * A snow plow removes snow in front of a Wyoming Air National Guard C-130H Hercules aircraft in Cheyenne, Wyo., Dec. 16, 2015. The National Weather Service reported more than inches of snow at Cheyenne Regional Airport Dec. 15, which broke the old record of 3.3 inches set in 1892. The aircraft is assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing. Wyoming National Guard photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Delano
A "Concerted" Effort
It's not quite the new year yet but I'm committed to making an effort to expand my horizons and take in some more live music. It's been over six years since I've actually attended a symphony of any sort and while I tend to listen to smaller ensembles rather than full-fledged orchestral works, I decided to take the plunge and not let a concert season pass by without seeing anything, especially when we have two fine orchestras in the form of the Edmonton Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic. Once I got digging around looking at concert schedules I was amazed at just how many great ... more »
World Leaders Comment On 2015
AP /Susan Walsh *Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post*: *The turbulent story of 2015, as told by 15 world leaders* *Here's a guide to a year of conflict and discord, through the words of some of the world's leaders.* *Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras:* "We have a great opportunity for a new beginning." The leftist Greek politician's Syriza party won landmark elections in January. Tsipras preached a new way forward for Greece after years of crippling austerity and compounding debt. But a failure to reach an accord with European Union authorities in Brussels has led to a return to th... more »
Republicans Surrender to the ‘Dark Side’
[image: Washington D.C., Capitol Hill, Congress, Storm Clouds] Since nearly everyone else seems to be employing Star Wars metaphors these days, permit me to use some of my own. To conservatives, the Republican congressional majority was supposed to be the good side of “The Force,” as opposed to what... more »
Herr Trumpf Vulgar? Oh Dear, Imagine The GOP Coming Apart At The Seams Over Vulgarity!
*In what world is Herr Trumpf vulgar but Ted Cruz is not?* I don't know which Republican presidential hopeful is the most homophobic, although it certainly isn't Herr Trumpf. Cruz is a notorious homophobe and his second biggest donors, the Wilks brothers ($15,000,000), are almost exclusively motivated in their political giving with their bizarre and unbalanced obsession with homosexuality. Cruz, though, is also supported by self-loathing Fire Island predators, Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass. Then there's Marco Rubio-- with a family in Miami another stashed away in New York City and ... more »
Afghan Soldiers Are Angry That Taliban Fighters Are Being Treated In The Same Hospital Alonide Them
Medical staff treat wounded Afghan National Army soldiers at Sardar Mohammed Daoud Khan Military Hospital in Kabul ©Wakil Kohsar (AFP) *Daily Mail/AFP*: *Taliban treated alongside angry soldiers in Afghan hospital* The injured Taliban fighter stands shackled, with his face covered by a ski mask and wearing a helmet to block out noise so that, for security reasons, he cannot tell where he is. The insurgent was wounded while battling the Afghan army and is now flanked by soldiers throughout his medical treatment at the nation's largest military hospital. He is cared for alongside t... more »
The #ChristmasMyths #5: So, What’s With All That Frankincense?
*Part of a continuing series looking at the pagan origins of the Christmas Myths,* one day at a time. Today, the story about all those gifts…* *The Nativity story you hear today is a regular old mash-up. So the Magi arrive at the house (if you’re reading Matthew’s story of the Nativity) – or the shepherds arrive at the stable (if it’s Luke’s story of the Nativity you’re following) – or no one arrives anywhere at all (if you’re reading Mark or John’s story of the Nativity, because they don’t think any of this stuff is important enough to write down, which is weird) . . . so the... more »
What’s Eating America?
[image: Executive Business Man American Flag Cape - 900] “We have people across this country who are scared to death,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared loudly at this week’s Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas. Virtually the entire debate was based upon this premise. Which is understandable. Since... more »
Rand Paul: Nobody Read the $1.1 Trillion Omnibus Bill
[image: Rand Paul] Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Sunday said he voted against the $1.1 trillion government spending bill that passed Congress last week because nobody had a chance to read the behemoth legislation. "It was over a trillion dollars, it was all... Continue reading *“Rand Paul: Nobody Read the $1.1 Trillion Omnibus Bill”* at *thehill.com*.
Sarah Palin Turns the Tables With Tina Fey Impression
[image: Sarah Palin - 400] Tina Fey forever left her stamp on the 2008 presidential race with her skewering impression of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, but now the former Alaska governor is trying to have the last laugh. In a parody trailer for... Continue reading *“Sarah Palin Turns the Tables With Tina Fey Impression”* at *msnbc.com*.
Is Nuclear War Becoming More Likely?
A surface-to-surface Agni V missile is launched from the Wheeler Island off the eastern Indian state of Odisha April 19, 2012. REUTERS/Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation/Handout *Peter Apps. Reuters:* *Is the risk of nuclear war rising?* On Sunday, November 28, Californians watched with bemusement and in some cases alarm as a bright light moved across the sky. It wasn’t a UFO. It was a U.S. Navy Trident ballistic missile. It was, of course, just a test — the first of two in three days. They coincided with tough talk from U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, wh... more »
Obama Administration Enacts Protections for Lions
[image: Male lions at Kavita Lion Lodge, Namibia] WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. will protect lions in Africa under the Endangered Species Act, the Obama administration announced Monday, a move that would make it harder for American big-game hunters to bring a lion head or hide into the... more »
The U.S. Has 662 Military Bases Around The World And It Wants More
(Click on Image to Enlarge) Located: The U.S. has military bases around the world, as depicted in this graphic. Daily Mail *Rachelle Marshall, Foreign Policy In Focus*: *Ashton Carter’s Plan to Expand U.S. Military Presence Across the Globe Even Further* As if the current 662 U.S.military bases around the world from which air strikes can be launched aren’t enough. How many Americans are aware that the U.S. is currently engaged in five wars — in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen, and that our forces are involved in lesser conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast ... more »
The 2016 U.S. Presidential Race: A Cheat Sheet
[image: Lindsey Graham - 400] Make sure you're sitting down before you read this, but: Lindsey Graham is not going to be president. The South Carolina senator announced during an interview with CNN Monday morning that he will drop out of the race, eschewing the... Continue reading *“The 2016 U.S. Presidential Race: A Cheat Sheet”* at *theatlantic.com*.
A Visit from St. Nicholas
[image: St. Nicholas with kneeling children] In 325, Emperor Constantine summoned church leaders from across the empire to the city of Nicaea for a council that would attempt to resolve theological questions that were dividing the church and thus threatening the peace of the empire. While... more »
Cartoon: ‘Voluntary Agreement’
[image: voluntary agreement]
How Texas Became America’s No. 1 Speed-Trap State
[image: traffic - 900] Texas is infested with more speed traps than any other state, according to a new study by the National Motorists Association. The NMA compiled five years' worth of data from a website it maintains, The National Speed Trap Exchange, and... more »
Is Donald Trump Actually Pro-Choice?
[image: Trump] In 1999, Donald Trump identified as "very pro-choice" and stated that he would not ban even partial-birth abortions. He now identifies as pro-life. However, when pressed to clarify his views, Trump articulated a position indistinguishable from current abortion law as... Continue reading *“Is Donald Trump Actually Pro-Choice?”* at *liveactionnews.org*.
Meet the Female Squad of Fundraisers Raking in Cash for ISIS
[image: Karachi - 900] A ring of female Islamic State supporters has been caught raising money for ISIS in Pakistan's coastal city of Karachi. The operation is fairly simple: local women collect the money under the guise of charity which they then hand over to... more »
Why This Pro-Choice Feminist Is Now a Pro-Life Activist
[image: pro-choice feminist] While I cannot speak for every woman who's done an about-face on the issue of abortion, I think my experience can be helpful in understanding how it can be that so many women who were once solidly in favor of... Continue reading *“Why This Pro-Choice Feminist Is Now a Pro-Life Activist”* at *lifenews.com*.
Satanists Lose 2nd Nativity Scene Battle in Indiana Court
[image: Indiana court] A nativity display at an Indiana county courthouse has survived a second lawsuit brought against it by secularist groups after a settlement was reached. Lawyers representing Franklin County settled earlier this month with the state chapter of the American Civil... Continue reading *“Satanists Lose 2nd Nativity Scene Battle in Indiana Court”* at *christianpost.com*.
Ben Carson Rips Republicans for Funding Planned Parenthood, Supporting Refugees in Spending Bill
[image: spending bill] GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson has ripped Republican leadership for agreeing to a new $1.1 trillion spending bill, claiming that America’s grandchildren will look at it as the week “America failed.” “You need no further proof than what the GOP... Continue reading *“Ben Carson Rips Republicans for Funding Planned Parenthood, Supporting Refugees in Spending Bill”* at *christianpost.com*.
Republicans And Their Confederate Flag: Republican World 2015 In Review-- Chapter Four
*The Confederacy of Racists-by Noah* There’s been a lot said in the media about the Confederate flag this year. The topic boiled to the surface as soon as Dylann Roof went into Charleston, South Carolina’s historic Emanuel A.M.E. church and sat down to pray with the parishioners before killing 9 of them and wounding others on June 17th. A picture of Roof, a white supremacist, waving his confederate flag, was worth millions of words. Republican Party National Chairman Reince Preibus has a problem and he knows it. In the case of the Charleston massacre, he was smart enough to kno... more »
Conservative Democrats Use Politics To Make Sure Their Policy Goals Aren't Threatened By Progressives
Once Rahm Emanuel got the power to fire Howard Dean as DNC chair-- the first catastrophic decision of the Obama presidency-- replacing him with 2 consecutive talentless sieves-- first Tim Kaine and then, much worse, Debbie Wasserman Schultz-- and scrapping Dean's 50-state strategy, it was apparent the Republican Party would have a free-hand in scores of districts where they could be challenged over the long term and that Washington would no longer back sensible strategies for winning back congressional seats or state legislatures. It was an identical realignment from one I saw tak... more »
U.S. Military Shocked By Today's Suicide Attack That Claimed 6 American Soldiers In Afghanistan
*Nancy Youssef, Daily Beast:* *Worst Attack in 18 Months Shocks U.S. Military* The Taliban weren't supposed to able to get to American forces like this. But somehow, a suicide bomber, riding a motorcycle, just took out a half-dozen U.S. troops. Six U.S. troops were killed while on patrol in Afghanistan. It marked the deadliest day for American forces in nearly 18 months, and signaled that a resurgent Taliban was on the move in what was supposed to be the waning year of the war. Another three Afghan troops who were on patrol with their American counterparts were injured. The Tal... more »
The Democrats’ Theme for 2016 is Totalitarianism
[image: totalitarianism] At the beginning of December, Rolling Stone writer Jeff Goodell asked Secretary of State John Kerry whether Charles and David Koch, two libertarian political activists, should be considered -- his remarkable words -- "an enemy of the state." He posed the... Continue reading *“The Democrats’ Theme for 2016 is Totalitarianism”* at *nationalreview.com*.
Ethnicity and Question Time
David Lammy early this month made waves in the *Question Time* obsessives' community by pointing out how limited the panel composition is. He wrote: Within the meagre 9.2% of Question Time slots filled by a BAME panellist, there is a staggering lack of diversity. Black women have appeared just 16 times in five years, and 12 of those appearances have been made by Diane Abbott. Another two appearances were by South African black female politicians during the Question Time South Africa special in 2013. Bonnie Greer has appeared twice. There are about 1 million black women in Britain. ... more »
Obama Sells America To Saudi Arabia, Enslaving U.S. Citizens
Russia has warned that a secret U.S. law has just been signed by President Obama that has essentially enslaved the American people to Saudi Arabia forever. A $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill was passed by the US Congress last week without anybody actually reading it. As Senator Rand Paul pointed out, “It was over a trillion dollars, it was all lumped together, 2,242 pages, nobody read it”. The bill repeals the 1980 Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) that requires all foreign persons to pay tax on dispositions on U.S. real estate. This bill used to protect U.S. ... more »
Kate Braun : Here’s how to have a cool Yule!
At Winter Solstice we will be looking forward to much new energy pouring into us. By Kate Braun | The Rag Blog | December 20, 2015 Monday, December 21, 2015 is Yule, which you may also call Winter Solstice or … finish reading Kate Braun : Here’s how to have a cool Yule!
Green Energy Policy Mistakes
Sure the goverment of Ontario has made a bundle. But the bottom line is that the cost of energy is not going up due to green. Its going up due to sweetheart deals with the Nuclear CLub. In a perfect world when the Harris disaster left town we would have signed a massive deal with Quebec, but that would not have been politically correct. A global signal the Nukes were dead. But like the Monty Python Parrot they are. Nuclear energy is a fine triumph of engineering but not a bauhaus house for power. Green Energy is the only way we can live on this planet, so put a cost to that you NA... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 21, 2015
*Kevin Sullivan, Real Clear World*: *Five Mideast Stories to Watch in 2016* It would be difficult to overstate just how deadly and destabilizing a year it was in the Middle East. From the civil wars raging in Syria and Yemen, to the ongoing military campaign against the Islamic State group and its self-styled caliphate across Iraq and Syria, 2015 undoubtedly marked a year of violence, displacement, and heartbreak for much of the region. We try to avoid making predictions here at the Mideast Memo, preferring instead to leave that to the analysts and experts who study and report on t... more »
Turkish President Erdogan Vows To ‘Cleanse Kurds’, Hundreds Killed
Protests have erupted in Turkey on Monday as President Erdogan continues his military offensive against Kurdish people, promising to “cleanse” Turkey of Kurds. The death toll stands at 110 Kurds killed in the last six days, and electricity in many neighborhood’s in Silopi has been cut, as well as food and drinking water running scarce. Irishtimes.com reports: The war against the Kurdish PKK has brought a growing amount of Turkish military force against towns in the southeast, with some of the towns under full curfew, cut off from electricity, and with locals reporting less and less... more »
Iceland Hand Out More Prison Sentences To Bankers As Economy Booms
Another banker in Iceland has been sentenced to prison, as Iceland continue to hold to account those responsible for the financial crash of 2008, and not punish its citizens. The former head of Glitnir bank, Lárus Welding (left, above), was sentenced to five years for breach of trust in the Stim case. Icelandmonitor.mbl.is reports: The verdict was announced at the Reykjavik District Court this morning. Head of Capital Markets at Glitnir, Jóhannes Baldursson, was sentenced to 2 years in prison in the same case, also for breach of trust, and former director of the Saga Capital bank, ... more »
The Occult Origins Of Christmas
The vast majority of people have no idea of the true origins and meaning behind Christmas and that its roots actually pre-date Christianity. Christmas has its roots in the ancient traditions of magic mushrooms, Saturn worship and sun worship and has very little to do with Jesus Christ. Wakingtimes.com reports: Today’s Christmas is truly a hodgepodge of ancient rituals and celebrations, with roots as far back as 4000 years to the Mesopotamians. This is not surprising, for Christianity itself is a borrowed religion, built on top of previous Coptic (Egyptian), Mesopotamian and Babylon... more »
The CIA’s Planned Fake 1952 ‘Muslim Invasion’ Of Russia Uncovered
A recently declassified top secret CIA report from 1952 reveals that America planned on creating a fake muslim invasion of Russia in order to prompt the creation of a jihadist army in Afghanistan. This would later become what we know today to be the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS. The CIA worked on a program designed to foment nationalism among the Uzbek tribes in Afghanistan, hoping that it would spill across the border into the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Blacklistednews.com reports: This revelation means that the current attempt by such anti-Russian U.S. official and quasi-offi... more »
Russian Warplanes Escort President Assad To Tehran
Russia have agreed to escort Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Iran amid an upcoming visit to Tehran. Four Russian fighter jets will accompany Assad’s plane, and U.S. military aircraft have been ordered to stand down as Russia have warned that they will fire at any incoming aircraft that get in their way. Farsnews.com reports: “Four strategic Russian fighter jets will accompany the plane carrying the Syrian president during the visit to and from Iran,” the Lebanese al-Diyar daily reported on Sunday. The newspaper also added that the Syrian president is due to travel to Tehran via... more »
Spain Is About To Go The Way Of Greece And Crash, Say Investors
Spain looks like it is set to go the same way as Greece in 2016 following the Spanish governments failure to secure a majority vote over the weekend. Investors say they fear a major eurozone rupture in 2016 which will echo the Greek debt crisis that caused markets to crash earlier in 2015. Express.co.uk reports: Spain’s far-left anti-austerity party Podemos – similar to Greece’s Syriza party – enjoyed unprecedented support, showed election results. Prime minister Mariano Rajoy’ People’s Party must now form a tricky coalition government, although it is unlikely to be with Podemos, w... more »
The Reason for the Season: Capitalism?
*In this guest post, B.K. Marcus tells some of the little-known tale of how capitalism created the modern Christmas, and the market innovation of Peace on Earth.* Rowdy men in colourful rags gather outside the city’s nicer homes, demanding to be let in. Some have disguised themselves with mock-fancy outfits that ridicule their less-than-willing hosts, while others have blackened their faces or dressed up as animals. If you try to keep them out, they will shatter your windows, break down your door, and help themselves to food and drink. If instead you grant the rabble access, your... more »
The Nelson Report replies to Rupert Hammond-Chambers + Remarks on Tsai-Japan relationship
*Riding in Pingtung.* The Nelson Report replies to Rupert Hammond-Chambers (original post here). This debate is going to take on new life with the new administrations in both the US and Taiwan, and the rapidly changing strategic picture in East and SE Asia. *++++++++++++++* THE TAIWAN ARMS DISCUSSION... Friday's Report contained a long note from Loyal Reader Rupert Hammond-Chambers, chief of the US-Taiwan Business Council here, which we were happy to run as "equal time" to our own comments earlier in the week. Because he made so many important points, we discussed it with informe... more »
UK Pre-Crime Has Arrived In The Form Of New ‘Smart CCTV’ Systems
The UK currently have 6 million CCTV cameras installed across the country, amounting to about one for every ten people who live in Britain, making it one of the most surveilled countries in the world. A new system is being proposed which will allow real-time face recognition to be integrated with existing CCTV cameras which will be linked to a central database populated with ‘undesirables’. If the system matches a person in this database, they are immediately flagged for a potential pre-crime violation. Arstechnica.com reports: Facewatch has been updated so that it can be integrate... more »
Quote of the Day: Peter O'Toole's promise to himself
*"I will not be a common man. I will stir the smooth* *sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish* *to hazard my soul to opportunity.”* ~ Peter O’Toole, writing in his notebook at 18, quoted in the New York Times’s obituary for the great man: ‘Peter O’Toole, Whose Acclaim Began With ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ Dies at 81’ [Hat tip Stephen Hicks. Pic by mubi.com] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
World News Briefs -- December 21, 2015
*Daily Mail:* *'I have bodies lying around me, we've been surrounded for two days': Afghan police chief begs for help fighting the Taliban amid fears Helmand province could soon fall* * Commander and his men are trapped inside police HQ by Taliban fighters * He said: 'If we don't get support in an hour, our fighters will be captured' * Deputy governor took to Facebook to warn Helmand province could fall * The official said 'unless the government acts now we will lose the province' An Afghan police chief has made a desperate plea for help fighting the Taliban, saying he is trapped... more »
This Cartoon Wins the Internet Today
Yep, you have to get up *pret*-ty early to get one past these highly-informed voters... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 appears to be unraveling in this cosmic scene, played out some 70 million light-years away just below bright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans. Its beautiful spiral arms are distorted into sweeping tidal tails as NGC 3169 (top) and neighboring NGC 3166 interact gravitationally, a common fate even for bright galaxies in the local universe. In fact, drawn out stellar arcs and plumes, indications of gravitational interactions, seem rampant in the deep and colorful galaxy group photo. *Click image for larger size.* The picture spans 20 arc minut... more »
Envelopes for sending in reports of Vote Buying.
Local court sent these envelopes around to report vote buying. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
Absence Of Trump: Wrong Miss Universe Accidentally Crowned At Pageant
In the absence of Donald Trump a confused host at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant accidentally crowned Miss Colombia instead of Miss Philippines at the end of the competition in Las Vegas. Host Steve Harvey, could not see straight and blamed the cue card for calling the names of the winner and the runner up of the 2015 Miss Universe competition in the wrong order. Republican Presidential candidate and businessman Donald Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization until a few months ago and was forced to relinquish his pageants after his numerous political gaffes. Miss Philippines wait...more »
The Poet: Mary Oliver, "Wild Geese"
*"Wild Geese"* "You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagi... more »
"The Sociopath Next Door"
*"The Sociopath Next Door"* by Martha Stout "Imagine - if you can - not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken. And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools. Now add to this strange fantasy the... more »
Midday Musical Interlude Reprise: Juzzie Smith, “Bluesberry Jam”
Awesome one man blues band Juzzie Smith, “Bluesberry Jam” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vikmUQZpGQ
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 21, 2015
*CNN*: *Inside Kremlin's creeping military campaign in Syria* Hmeymim airbase, Latakia, Syria (CNN)Russians are renowned for their endless patience -- and I sometimes feel they like to test us foreigners whenever they can. Certainly our journey into Syria with the Russian defense ministry was testing: Seven hours on a bus to a military airport outside Moscow, three hours going through security, then six hours on a Soviet-era Tupolev passenger jet to Syria. It was 4 a.m. when we finally touched down, bleary-eyed, at the Hmeymin Air Base in Latakia on northwest Syria's Mediterranea... more »
Russian Media: Canadian Pilot Responsible For Last Week's Air-Strike That Killed 9 Iraqi Soldiers
A Canadian Armed Forces CF-18 Fighter jet from 409 Squadron taxis after landing in Kuwait on Oct. 30. (Handout/DND-MND/Canadian Press) *Sputnik*: *Canadian Pilot Conducted Airstrike That Killed 9 Iraqi Soldiers* A Canadian pilot has been named responsible for the accidental deaths of nine Iraqi soldiers near the city of Fallujah, a military source told Iraqi television channel Al-Sumar. Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi on Friday confirmed the death of nine Iraqi soldiers after an unintentional air strike during an offensive on rebel positions near the city of Fallujah in Anb... more »
Islamic State Is Now In The Philippines
YouTube *Long War Journal:* *Islamic State supporters show training camp in the Philippines* Fighters alleging to be the “Soldiers of the Caliphate in the Philippines” have released a short video showing a training camp somewhere in the Southeast Asian country. It is unclear which group the fighters belong to, but several Philippines-based jihadist groups have pledged allegiance or support to the Islamic State. The video begins with a masked figure speaking to the camera about making “hajj [pilgrimage] to the Caliphate” before switching to showing the rudimentary training camp. F... more »
So Much For The U.S. Navy's 'Ship of The future'
U.S. Navy *David Axe, Daily Beast*: *Navy’s Ships of the Future, Sunk* The Littoral Combat Ship was supposed to represent the future of small, fast, and flexible warships. Instead it was beset by significant flaws and questions of reliability. After years of work costing billions of dollars, the U.S. Navy is scaling back its controversial effort to build a fleet of small, speedy, flexible warships for near-shore patrols—a fleet plagued by design flaws, mismanagement and technical malfunctions. But the Navy’s not cutting the fleet by choice—and not everyone is happy with the chang... more »
A thousand words on renewable energy
Abundant energy keeps us warm, keeps us cool, and gives leverage to puny human effort. It quite literally keeps us alive, and thriving. And you've heard it said by all the usual suspects that so-called " renewables" are already taking over. Except, well, if a picture were to tell a thousand words . . . [Hat tip Steve Milloy] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Byron York: The Facts on Rubio, Cruz, and Immigration
[image: border security - 400] The Gang of Eight comprehensive immigration reform bill passed the Senate after a series of votes in June 2013. Democrats, who controlled the Senate at the time, unanimously supported the bill, while most Republicans opposed it. The four Republicans on... Continue reading *“Byron York: The Facts on Rubio, Cruz, and Immigration”* at *washingtonexaminer.com*.
The Daily "Near You?"
Abernathy, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
“Bloody Rags And Cruel Delight”
*“Bloody Rags And Cruel Delight”* by Chet Raymo “Many years ago, for my birthday, my wife gave me the splendid two-volume boxed edition of “The Original Water-color Paintings” by John James Audubon for “The Birds of America,” published by American Heritage in 1966. Back then, when we were living pretty much from hand to mouth, it was an extravagant gift. Then, in 1993, I had the opportunity to see the original paintings at an exhibit in Washington's National Gallery of Art. It was Audubon's genius that he was able to combine lively storytelling with accurate scientific description.... more »
"Choices..."
“The human life is made up of choices. Yes or no. In or out. Up or down. And then there are the choices that matter. Love or hate. To be a hero or to be a coward. To fight or to give in. To live. Or die. Live or die. That's the important choice. And it's not always in our hands.” - “Derek”, “Grey’s Anatomy”
“The Ripple Effect: A Virtuous Cycle”
*“The Ripple Effect: A Virtuous Cycle”* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM “The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make affect the whole. In a world of seven billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word pass... more »
Israeli Whistle-blowing NGO Accused Of Slander For Exposing IDF Abuses
A group of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veterans who are trying to expose the truth about IDF actions in the occupied territories, have been accused of posing a threat to Israel by the country’s top politicians. Politicians accuse the group called ‘Breaking The Silence’ of slander and defamation not only of the Israeli Defense forces, but the State of Israel itself. The group say that their mission is essential to stopping violence in the region by helping to end the military occupation of the Palestinian territories and that they are trying to bring awareness to issues that are not ... more »
Kim Jong-un Says Hitler Was A British Spy Who Escaped Germany
Kim Jong-un has made explosive claims to the Korean Central News Agency on Sunday that he believes that Britain and America allowed Adolph Hitler to escape Germany after World War II alive, due to the fact that he was actually a British spy. The North Korean leader said on Sunday that the purpose of Hitler’s brutal Nazi regime in Germany was to allow for the creation of the United Nations (UN) and to give legitimacy to Israel after the horrific Nazi crimes against humanity were disclosed after the war had ended. READ: FBI Hitler Didn’t Die, Fled To Argentina – Stunning Admission He ... more »
The Winter Solstice – A Time to Shift Perspective and Choose Love
*Elva Thompson* - The Winter Solstice is approaching; a time of dark sleep and mystery. The post The Winter Solstice – A Time to Shift Perspective and Choose Love appeared first on Waking Times.
Kenyan Muslims Shield Christians in Mandera Bus Attack
[image: Kenyan Muslims] A group of Kenyan Muslims travelling on a bus ambushed by Islamist gunmen protected Christian passengers by refusing to be split into groups, according to eyewitnesses. They told the militants “to kill them together or leave them alone”, a local... Continue reading *“Kenyan Muslims Shield Christians in Mandera Bus Attack”* at *bbc.com*.
Fed: State Minimum Wage Hikes May Have Killed 200,000 Jobs
[image: minimum wage - 400] Recently enacted state minimum wage laws may have cost the economy 100,000 to 200,000 new jobs, according to an analysis published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco on Monday. In the analysis posted to the San Francisco Fed’s... Continue reading *“Fed: State Minimum Wage Hikes May Have Killed 200,000 Jobs”* at *washingtonexaminer.com*.
Iranian Official: US Plans To Disintegrate Iraq, Syria Into 8 New States
According to a senior Iranian official, Washington plans to disintegrate Iraq and Syria into eight, new smaller countries in order to make them weaker. Iran’s top adviser for international affairs, Ali Akbar Velayatisaid said this would guarantee Israel’s security: “The US is after implementing its plot to create a Greater Middle-East whose aim is disintegrating Iraq into three countries and dividing Syria into five states in a bid to downsize countries to provide security to the Zionist regime“ Fars News Agency reports: He also referred to the regional developments, and said, “What... more »
"How It Really Should Be"
And can only wish it was...
"An Exquisite Balance..."
"It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas. If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you. On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones. The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held ... more »
"What Was Fake On The Internet This Week: Why This Is The Final Column"
*"What Was Fake On The Internet This Week: * *Why This Is The Final Column"* By Caitlin Dewey "There is nothing — NOTHING — too crazy for the Internet hoax beat. Pregnancy by flu shot? Six days of total darkness? In the past 82 weeks, I’m prettyyyy sure I’ve seen just about everything. We launched “What was Fake” in May 2014 in response to what seemed, at the time, like an epidemic of urban legends and Internet pranks: light-hearted, silly things, for the most part, like new flavors of Oreos and babies with absurd names. Since then, those sorts of rumors and pranks haven’t slowed do... more »
The Economy: Greg Hunter, “2016 Will Be One Disaster After Another"
*“2016 Will Be One Disaster After Another- Egon von Greyerz”* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com “Financial expert Egon von Greyerz says the recent Fed rate hike will not help the financial markets. Greyerz predicts, “I think we will have one disaster after another, first in the junk bond market, then in emerging markets and, after that, the subprime markets. Subprime car loans and student loans I see as another massive problem area. It is going to be one thing after another that will unravel. Since 2008, when the world almost went under, we have printed or increased credit by 50% or ... more »
One Killed, Dozens Injured After Car Rams Into Pedestrians On Vegas Strip
One person is dead and 37 others are reported injured after a female driver drove her vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians on Las Vegas Boulevard, near the Miss Universe Pageant. Daily Record reports: Police spokesman Lieutenant Peter Boffelli said the car was travelling north on Las Vegas Boulevard, near Bellagio Way, when it went on to the pavement in front of the Paris Hotel & Casino and struck pedestrians. Eyewitnesses said the car mounted the pavement several times. Las Vegas authorities said between 26 to 36 people were injured and said six who were in critical condition had be... more »
Supplemental: Chuck Todd pretends to interview Trump!
*MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2015Those precious bodily fluids:* Try not to be shocked, but Candidate Trump was Chuck Todd's first guest on yesterday's Meet the Press. Candidate Trump appeared by phone, the highly unusual format the candidate seems to prefer. In the past, candidates haven't been afforded this luxury, which makes it easier for volk like Trump to filibuster folk like Todd. Why was Candidate Trump invited onto the program? Presumably, to boost the ratings for Meet the Press. We say that because it was abundantly clear that Todd had little or nothing to ask his famous guest. ... more »
8 Extraordinary Things Happening in the World Today
*Gustavo Tanaka* - Most of us haven’t quite realized there are something extraordinary things happening. The post 8 Extraordinary Things Happening in the World Today appeared first on Waking Times.
U.S. Support of Gay Rights in Africa May Have Done More Harm Than Good
*Let's mark this one up to be just one more success that we have Identity Politics to thank for...* *"Gay Rights are Human Rights, and Human Rights are Gay Rights."* *[If this were actually true, then just enforce and demand Human Rights. You don't do that.]* *"It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave." * Hillary Clinton *"I don't like her tone, at all.* *I'm amazed she's not looking to her own country and lecturing them first,... more »
MY LIVING WILL AND LIVING NARRATIVE
*Allen L Roland with still much to do at 82 years old.* *As I draw closer to 82 years old, I realize I'm living on borrowed time and since I've already published my Living Will ~ I think I'm ready to publish my living Narrative complete with my many triumphs and failures but still in the same spirit of good humor and gratitude. I wouldn't have missed this lifetime for anything ~ for I most definitely surrendered to love and found my part in a loving plan: Allen L Roland, PhD* *“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies a...more »
Muslim Writer: A Medieval Antidote to ISIS
[image: irja] ISTANBUL -- THE recent massacres in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., demonstrated, once again, the so-called Islamic State's ability to win over disaffected Muslims. Using a mixture of textual literalism and self-righteous certainty, the extremist group is able to persuade... Continue reading *“Muslim Writer: A Medieval Antidote to ISIS”* at *nytimes.com*.
Azerbaijan's Currency And Financial Markets Collapsed Today
*Radio Free Europe:* *Azerbaijanis Reel As Currency Tanks* A massive tumble in Azerbaijan's currency has shuttered shops and sent people scrambling to convert their manats into foreign currency or durable goods. "This is such a miserable situation for the whole nation," a Baku man told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service. "Everyone wants to buy dollars and only a few [banks and exchange officies will] sell.... There are almost no dollars left at exchange points." The Azerbaijani Central Bank's decision to float the country's currency on December 21 led to the loss of some 48 percent of ... more »
Putin: 'Russians Don't Want A Return To The USSR .... But No One Believes Us'
Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview with Rossiya 1 TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov © Aleksey Nikolskyi / Sputnik *AFP*:* Putin: 'We don't want the USSR back but no one believes us'* Moscow (AFP) - Russia is not trying to bring back the USSR, President Vladimir Putin said in a documentary aired Sunday, but the problem is that "nobody wants to believe it". Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, which saw pro-Russian leader Viktor Yanukovych ousted by pro-European demonstrators, Moscow has accused the West of using "the politics of containment" in a Cold War throwback... more »
Putin: West Has No right To Force Their Values On Other Nations
Vladimir Putin has criticized Western powers for trying to impose their values and version of “democracy” on the rest of the world. In a documentary aired on Russian state television on Sunday, the Russian president said that the leaders of certain Western countries had no right to force their ways on African and Middle Eastern nations. Press TV reports: “You can’t just impose your version of democracy, of good and evil, onto people of other cultures, with other religions and traditions in this mechanic, automatic way,” the Russian leader said in the documentary, titled World Order... more »
Record Cereal Harvests In 2014
By Paul Homewood Warmest year or not, it appears that 2015 has been another bumper one for harvests. http://faostat3.fao.org/compare/E In particular, cereal production in Africa has jumped by 12%. http://faostat3.fao.org/compare/E There are of course many factors behind the steady rise in harvests. What we can say, […]
Inflammatory Disease Epidemic: The Convergence Point of EMF, GMOs, and Vaccines
*Dr. Matthew Buckley* - The only way to avoid the worsening of the catastrophe of chronic illness is through education and action. The post Inflammatory Disease Epidemic: The Convergence Point of EMF, GMOs, and Vaccines appeared first on Waking Times.
Wave of Migrant Children Has Texas Towns Scrambling to Set Up Housing
[image: migrant children] As a wave of Central American children are crossing the US border alone fleeing violence and poverty in their countries, new facilities to house these children are popping up with just a few days' notice in southern border towns. In... Continue reading *“Wave of Migrant Children Has Texas Towns Scrambling to Set Up Housing”* at *theguardian.com*.
CawRant Events #16
*CawRANT Events #16* This is *my last CawRANT of the year 2015. *It will be an overview of *some* of the topics I've commented frequently on during the previous 11 months. I will also try to determine what, if any, progress humanity has made towards peace and harmony in all its forms on this planet. [*NOTE*: in 300 words or less...lol] *The Middle East* The topic that has probably occupied more RANT space than any other is the Middle East and all the shenanigans going on there by the West--in its desperate effort to maintain global hegemony for its handler...the Ziofascist enti... more »
Playing The Race Card
*NPR*: *WATCH: Obama Says Trump 'Exploiting' Anger, Fear Among 'Blue-Collar Men'* Donald Trump has gained traction in the Republican primary, according to President Obama, because the boisterous billionaire has found a way to play off American anxieties, especially among "blue-collar men." The president told NPR's Steve Inskeep in an interview late last week that economic and demographic changes in the country, including his own "unique demographic," have left a void that Trump is "exploiting." *Update:* Obama Accuses Trump of Exploiting Working-Class Fears (NYT). *WNU Editor:* S... more »
Foreign Policy Magazine: India Has A Secret Thermonuclear Weapons Program
An Indian Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile on a road-mobile launcher, displayed at the Republic Day Parade on New Delhi's Rajpath, January 26, 2004. Wikipedia *RYOT:** India’s New Secret Nuclear Facility Risks Military Build-Up in Asia* A *recent report in Foreign Policy magazine* claims that India is building a massive new nuclear research facility. The facility would also help produce fuel for the country’s nuclear submarines and reactors. More troubling, the report claims that India will use the space to create an extra stockpile of enriched uranium fuel for use in ... more »
Report: Russian Fighter Jets May Escort Syrian President Assad's Plane During His Trip To Iran
Russian warplanes began bombarding opposition targets in Syria on September 30 [Reuters] *Al Jazeera:* *Russian jets could escort Assad on Iran trip: reports* Paper says Moscow proposed sending jets to protect Syrian president and warned coalition against "getting close". Russia has proposed sending four fighter jets to escort the plane carrying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad when he makes a visit to the Iranian capital, regional media outlets have reported. Al-Diyar, a Lebanese newspaper close to the regime of Assad, said on Monday that Moscow had alerted the US-led coalition n... more »
FDA to Start Accepting More Blood Donations From Gay Men
[image: Blood donation, Blood donors, Plasma donation, Hospital, Nurse, Drug test] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal health officials are lifting the nation’s 32-year-old lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, but major restrictions will continue to limit who can donate. The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday it will replace... more »
Iraq’s Parliament Passes 2016 Budget Few Believe In
Iraq’s parliament just passed the 2016 budget. It was based upon export figures and petroleum prices that few think are achievable. There were also questions on how many lawmakers actually voted on it as well. All together it was a procedural move to get the bill passed even though no one believes the budget will work out how it was written. On December 16, 2015 Iraq’s legislature votedon the 2016 draft budget. It was for $89.75 billionwith $67.9 billion for operational costs like salaries and pensions, and $21.8 billion for investments. Most of that money will come from oil expor... more »
I love the smell of grassroots in the morning
There's a new *grassroots effort* to defend democracy with a CPC MP-sponsored petition campaign to back it up. "Defend Democracy is a grassroots effort to put pressure on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to commit to holding a national referendum on the issue of electoral reform prior to enacting any changes. We believe firmly that no one government has the moral authority to fundamentally alter the nature of our democratic system without direct approval from Canadians." Defend Democracy was created by Harrison Ruess and Stephen Taylor. House of Commons petition E-48 was launched by Michae... more »
ISIS Stopping Civilians From Leaving Ramadi Ahead Of Iraqi Attack
The Iraqi Defense Ministry said on Monday that ISIS are preventing civilians from fleeing Ramadi as a major Iraqi military offensive to liberate the city approaches. They are planning to to use the residents as human shields. Iraqi military are preparing to conduct a major operation in the ISIS controlled city and had dropped leaflets to the residents telling them to evacuate within 72 hours. RT reports: State TV have reported that the attack will start in the coming hours. “There is intelligence information from inside the city that they [Islamic State] are preventing families fro... more »
Christmas and Western Civilization
[image: Baby Jesus, Nativity, Christianity, Manger, Shepherds, Christmas] The holiday season has many traditions, some ancient, some modern. Among the most recent is a paradoxical one: complaints, yearly renewed, about the public recognition of Christmas as a religious celebration. As these observances get underway (see here and here), we might do... Continue reading *“Christmas and Western Civilization”* at *thepublicdiscourse.com*.
Argentina: Patagonian Oil Workers Claim Seeing a UFO
*Source: Diario Nuevo Día (newspaper)http://www.eldiarionuevodia.com.ar/regional/info-general/2015/12/18/trabajadores-petroleros-aseguran-vieron-ovni-18640.htmlDate: 12.21.2015* *Argentina: Patagonian Oil Workers Claim Seeing a UFO* In this incident, an oil worker took several photographs of the landscape at the El Tordillo field. His initial aim was to take a photograph of the afternoon, but he came across a circular green light. While it could easily be a flaw of the digital camera, his co-workers claim that they took other photos of the landscape and no green circle was visib... more »
Year In Review
For those who have already seen the unintentional trailer, there’s a whole lot more to come! And for those who have not, you’ll have to wait for Friday.
Israel And Lebanon Exchange Cross-Border Rocket & Artillery Fire
There has been cross border fire between Lebanese militants and the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) following the news that Hezbollah commander Samir Quntar was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus. Three rockets fired from Lebanon struck northern Israel, causing no damage or injuries, hours after the militant leader was reported killed on Sunday. Israel then fired artillery into southern Lebanon. Prior to the latest events the Israel-Lebanon border had been relatively quiet ever since the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. RT reports: The IDF “responded with targeted artil... more »
Science retracts physics paper after magnetic field wasn’t what it seemed
Science has retracted an August paper on an interesting electric current researchers observed in a kind of material called a topological insulator. Well, a current the researchers — based at Stanford and MIT — thought they had observed. A magnetic field with particular attributes reported in the paper seemed to provide evidence of the current. But the researchers soon discovered that […] The post Science retracts physics paper after magnetic field wasn’t what it seemed appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Corporate Bankster Pirates=Fascism
I highly recommend watching this German TV channel ZDF video. They speak the truth about US-NATO endless wars for oil. In the hot seat is pitiful US Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the Commanding General, of United States Army Europe. He hails from Quincy, Florida which speaks for itself. In my view the US is totally exposed for its greedy-sick-hypocrisy and the audience applause helps reveal that the people, all over the world, see the truth that the US is a 'global force for evil' and corporate interests. The only people falling for the Pentagon's propaganda any more are the majority... more »
Overwhelmed...
*by the news today.* I'll just leave you with this opinion of Trump by 89 year old Jerry Lewis during a recent interview with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN. Irondale, AL (EWTN) – The reviews are in! "Inspirational!" "Best interview ever!" Viewers loved Raymond Arroyo's interview on EWTN's “The World Over” with Jerry Lewis. If you missed it or want to see it again, tune in to EWTN for encores at 7 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 20 and 10 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 21. (Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.)
Waiting For God?
*Julian Rose* - Many individuals appear to be waiting for some one, or thing, to intervene and make things OK. The
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