Cop Logic's photo.
Millions Against Monsanto by OrganicConsumers.org
Monsanto
must be thrilled that a at least one so-called “independent regulatory
agency,” the EPA, found “no convincing evidence” that glyphosate is an
endocrinedisruptor. The only problem is, the EPA used Monsanto-funded studies to come to that conclusion. Learn more: http://orgcns.org/1kK9cqG
10:31pm MST
Getting Used To The Idea Of Herr Trumpf As The Titular Head Of The Republican Party?
He stole their party right out from under them!
I consider watching the debates as part of my job. I do it so you don't
have to. But like I said after that last one... it was such garbage I
turned it off soon after halftime. It wasn't even entertaining, just their
same boring, Hate-Talk Radio points about how Obama and Hillary having
destroyed the universe. And let's bomb someone into oblivion. A real GOP
Hate Fest! Apparently, most normal people agreed. According to Nielsen, the ratings
sucked-- 11 million viewers, the least watched GOP debate so far. And 2
million watched the irrel... more »
Conspiracy Theories
Last night I happened across an article by Brandon Murphy on the CIA
generated label of "Conspiracy Theorist." Brandon's article, published at
Waking Times, draws extensively upon a book published by the very reputable
University of Texas Press by Lance deHaven-Smith, a well-established
political scientist. I ordered the book but will today simply except from
Murphy's article.
Drawing upon deHaven's account (pages 85-100 in his book), Murphy's article
at Waking Times describes CIA Dispatch 1035-960 instructing CIA agents to
contact journalists and opinion leaders concerning cri... more »
Pentagon To Punish U.S. Service Members Involved In The Doctors Without Borders Airstrike In Kunduz, Afghanistan
Afghan staff react inside a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital after
an air strike in the city of Kunduz, Afghanistan in this October 3, 2015
MSF handout photo. REUTERS/Medecins Sans Frontieres/Handout via Reuters
*IBTimes*: *US Military Prepares To Punish For Doctors Without Borders
Airstrike: Report*
The U.S. military is preparing to punish U.S. service members involved in
an airstrike that occurred in October on a Doctors Without Borders hospital
in Kunduz, Afghanistan, that left 42 civilians dead, Foreign Policy
reported Friday. U.S. Army Gen. John Campbell, who commands U... more »
Sean Penn Has Regrets About His 'El Chapo' Meeting
*CBS*: *Sean Penn has "a terrible regret" about "El Chapo" meeting*
Actor Sean Penn is breaking his silence about his trip to Mexico to meet
notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. In an interview for this
Sunday's "60 Minutes," Penn spoke to "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie
Rose Thursday night in Santa Monica to talk about his seven hours with
Guzman.
The cartel leader was re-captured a week ago, and Penn made headlines the
following day when Rolling Stone published his account of visiting the
kingpin in hiding last October.
"There is this myth about the visit that we m... more »
Reports Of An Islamic State Massacre In The Syrian City Of Deir al-Zour
*BBC*: *Syria conflict: Dozens killed as IS attacks Deir al-Zour*
Dozens of people have died in an offensive by so-called Islamic State on
government-held areas of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, local media say.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 85 civilians were killed in
the attack, as well as 50 Syrian soldiers.
Syria's state news agency Sana reported that around 300 civilians had died
in the Baghaliyeh area of the city.
Meanwhile, the UN warned of "sharply deteriorating conditions" in the
besieged areas.
Around 200,000 people were in these areas, the UN Office for ... more »
Accident at Nexen
The blood pressure always goes up a bit when I catch wind of accidents on
site. Just to alleviate anyone's concerns, I don't work at Nexen, although
I've driven by it a few times. I do know a few people who have worked
there though none currently. We work in an inherently dangerous industry,
unfortunately. That's just the nature of the beast. I've worked around a
coker long enough to know it can be one of the most dangerous parts of a
plant.
No doubt, some people will take to social media in order to grind their own
personal political axe. It's apparent that, based on a few co... more »
Emotional harm and negligence
PP v DD, 2016 ONSC 258:
[72] The elements of a negligence claim are: (1) the defendant
owes the plaintiff a duty of care; (2) the defendant's behaviour breached
the standard of care; (3) the plaintiff suffered compensable damages; (4)
the damages were caused in fact by the defendant's breach; and, (5) the
damages are not too remote in law: *Mustapha v. Culligan of Canada Ltd.*, 2008
SCC 27(CanLII) at para. 3. In the absence of any physical injury, damages
for emotional harm are too remote unless the emotional harm constitutes a
recognizable psychiatric illness: *Mustapha v.... more »
Musical Interlude: Enya, “The Sun In The Stream”
Enya, “The Sun In The Stream”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTyHjYMDxg4
Musical Interlude: Deuter, “Black Velvet Flirt”
Deuter, “Black Velvet Flirt”
- https://www.youtube.com/
"A Look to the Heavens"
“While hunting for comets in the skies above 18th century France,
astronomer Charles Messier diligently kept a list of the things he
encountered that were definitely not comets. This is number 27 on his now
famous not-a-comet list. In fact, 21st century astronomers would identify
it as a planetary nebula, but it's not a planet either, even though it may
appear round and planet-like in a small telescope. Messier 27 (M27) is an
excellent example of a gaseous emission nebula created as a sun-like star
runs out of nuclear fuel in its core. The nebula forms as the star's outer
layers are... more »
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “I Worried”
*“I Worried”*
by Mary Oliver
“ I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well, hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia?
Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning, and sang.”
The Daily "Near You?"
Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Thanks for stopping by!
Chet Raymo, “Seeing”
* “Seeing”*
by Chet Raymo
“Elizabeth Bishop has a poem about a sandpiper, a tiny shore bird scurrying
forward and reverse with the lick and ebb of the tide. It was not the
sandpiper I thought of today as I walked the beach, but the sand with which
the Bishop's bird is seemingly obsessed. The last two lines of the poem:
"The millions of grains are black, white, tan, and gray,
mixed with quartz grains, rose and amethyst."
Everyone sees the sandpiper. Who could not? Those fluttering feet. The
delicate engine of its controlled frenzy. But who sees what the sandpiper
sees, the ... more »
"Strange Is Our Situation..."
“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short
visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the
standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we
are here for the sake of others... for the countless unknown souls with
whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I
realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of
people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in
order to give in return as much as I have received.”
- Albert Einstein
Saudi Arabian Reaction To The Lifting Of Sanctions On Iran
*SKY News*: *Saudi Warning Over End Of Iran Sanctions*
*The Saudi Arabian foreign minister says that the release of billions of
dollars of Iran's wealth should "worry everybody".*
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has used a trip to London to robustly
defend his country's more assertive role in the world, despite concerns it
could escalate tensions with Iran.
After meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry, Adel al Jubeir insisted his
country was right to intervene more aggressively in parts of the Middle
East in an interview with Sky News.
"Now that Saudi Arabia has stepped up and ... more »
Israel's Response To The Lifting Of Iranian Sactions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly government conference at
the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, on Sunday, January 10, 2016 (Alex
Kolomoisky/POOL)
*Times Of Israel:* *Netanyahu vows to ‘monitor Iran,’ says it hasn’t
abandoned quest for nukes*
As Iran and world powers announce implementation of nuclear deal and
removal of sanctions, PM vows to warn of any violation.
As the UN, Iran and world powers triumphantly announced the implementation
of the nuclear accord with Tehran and the removal of sanctions from the
Islamic republic on Saturday, the mood in Jerusale... more »
As Details On The U.S. - Iran Prisoner Swap Become Known, Critics See Capitulation
Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a statement in Vienna. Photograph:
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
New Yorker: *Prisoner Swap: Obama’s Secret Second Channel to Iran*
Fourteen months ago, President Obama authorized a top-secret, second
diplomatic channel with Tehran to negotiate freedom for Americans who had
disappeared or been imprisoned in Iran. It was a high-risk diplomatic
gamble. The initiative grew out of nuclear negotiations, launched in the
fall of 2013, between Iran and the world’s six major powers. On the margins
of every session, Wendy Sherman, the top American negotiator, ... more »
Iran Sanctions Have Been Lifted. U.S. - Iran Complete Prisoner Swap
*Reuters:* *Nuclear sanctions lifted as Iran, U.S. agree on prisoner swap*
Iran emerged from years of economic isolation on Saturday when world powers
lifted crippling sanctions against the Islamic Republic in return for
Tehran complying with a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions.
In a dramatic move scheduled to coincide with the scrapping of the
sanctions, Tehran also announced the release of five Americans including
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian as part of a prisoner swap with the
United States.
Together, the lifting of sanctions and the prisoner deal considerably
reduc... more »
Untitled
Pro-China Party Falls As Taiwan Elects First Female President In "Historic"
Landslide Election
Iran Sanctions Lifted As Nuclear Deal Implemented, US Hostages Freed
Lottery Money Not Helping Schools
It’s The Beginning Of The End For Meat Raised With Antibiotics
Welsh village suffers 81 consecutive days of rain
Oregon Fire Chief Resigns After He Says He Secretly Followed Men From
Armory and Uncovered Shocking Truth About Their Identities ...
Human-Animal Chimeras Are Gestating on U.S. Research Farms
The 2 most dangerous numbers in the universe are threatening the end of
physics
100-mil... more »
“Your Most Vital Commitment: Finding Time for You”
*“Your Most Vital Commitment: Finding Time for You”*
by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM
“We can excel easier in our lives when our own spiritual, physical, and
intellectual needs are fulfilled. Within each of there is a well of energy
that must be regularly replenished. When we act as if this well is
bottomless, scheduling a long list of activities that fit like puzzle
pieces into every minute of every day, it becomes depleted and we feel
exhausted, disconnected, and weak. Refilling this well is a matter of
finding time to focus on, nurture, and care for ourselves, or "you time."
Most ... more »
"How It Really Is"
(Insert 8,000 links proving otherwise...)
"The Mysteries Disappear..."
“When we remember that we are all mad,
the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.”
- Mark Twain
Satire: “Fact Checker of Republican Debate Hospitalized for Exhaustion”
*“Fact Checker of Republican Debate Hospitalized for Exhaustion”*
by Andy Borowitz
CHARLESTON (The Borowitz Report)— “A fact checker who has vetted all of the
2016 Republican Presidential debates was hospitalized for exhaustion during
the sixth G.O.P. forum in Charleston on Thursday evening. Martin Slessky, a
former journalist who works for HonestyWatch, a Minnesota-based
fact-checking organization, was resting comfortably after suffering what
his doctors called a “total physical and mental collapse” during Thursday’s
debate.
Harland Dorrinson, the executive director of HonestyWatc... more »
Cruz Blasts Trump as a Fake Conservative
[image: Cruz Trump]
FORT MILL, S.C. -- Ted Cruz, long reluctant to directly criticize Donald
Trump, threw caution to the wind Saturday as he ripped his Republican
presidential opponent as a fake conservative. “Donald's record does not
match what he says as a candidate,”...
Continue reading *“Cruz Blasts Trump as a Fake Conservative”* at
*texastribune.org*.
Seething Banksters Force Their Congressional Stooges To Eat Mini Hot Dogs Instead Of Filet Mignon
You call this party food?
Friday, almost buried in a post about why Tim Canova would be a better
Representative for south Florida than Debbie Wassermann Schultz, there was
some information about the Federal Reserve, Fed policy and Wall Street's
marching orders to the Schumercrats to forbid an audit. There were actually
senators who voted for and even cosponsored this bill in previous
congresses voting NO this week! Only two Democrats stayed true-- and one,
Bernie, isn't technically even a Democrat. The other senator who showed the
consistency on the audit was Tammy Baldwin (WI) who h... more »
President Obama Signs Executive Order for Emergency Water to Flint, Mich., to Bail Out Drinking Water Crisis
[image: Pastor Bobby Jackson hugs Flint, Mich., resident Joanne Diaz as she
picks up cases of free bottled water Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Mission of
Hope on Flint's north side. (Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)]
DETROIT (AP) -- President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration
Saturday for Flint, Michigan, that clears the way for federal aid for the
city, which is undergoing a drinking water crisis. The White House issued a
release calling for the... more »
William Perry - Dangers of Nuclear Threats Today
*"My Journey at the Nuclear Brink" by William Perry (2015).*
*Video Title: William Perry (Clip 2: Dangers of Nuclear Threats Today).
Source: Commonwealth Club. Date Published: January 15, 2016. Description:*
William Perry, Ph.D., U.S. Secretary of Defense 1994-97;Senior Fellow,
Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute and Hoover Institution;
Author, My Journey at the Nuclear Brink
Gloria Duffy, Ph.D., President and CEO, The Commonwealth Club; Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense during the Clinton Administration—Moderator
Part of The Club's Good Lit Series underwritten by th... more »
Syrian Endgame Could Begin in Aleppo- Who Would Block This Pivotal Win?
*Consider the Syrian Endgame in alignment with reports of Pentagon
Considering Turkish Proposal – Ask yourself what group or organization
would want only to deny Syria’s combined allied forces from taking back
Aleppo?* * The answer is NATO*. NATO occupied Turkey will play their role,
but, not the civilian government which is increasingly left out of military
decisions.
*The Top US Military Official Arrives in Turkey. Who Greets Him?... *
*Where I predicted a turn for the worse.*
"As I've suggested: Increasing the destabilization geographically-
worsening it in Turkey. Iraq. Syria... more »
Mohawk Nation News 'It's the Tone'
http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2016/01/16/its-the-tone/
Video: Israeli Soldier Getting Praised For Shooting Palestinians
A horrific video showing Palestinian protesters near Ramallah being
casually targeted by an Israeli soldier has been published by activists. It
shows Israeli soldiers heartily congratulating one another on targeting and
shooting selected Palestinians, protesting their human rights. Mondoweiss
reports: The video includes the voices of Hebrew speakers, purportedly
between an Israeli sniper and his commanding officer. The officer is heard
praising, encouraging, and congratulating the sniper. Ma’an News is
reporting Israeli soldier praised for shooting protesters in video footage:
karee... more »
Jan.16: The social tragedy of a dishonest newspaper.
Irving press headline – 'Federal minister wants options for boosting
Atlantic salmon numbers'. Translation – nothing has happened. And there's
no story.
At the bottom of the page is a real story. The average age of the
province's volunteer fire workers is up by twenty years to 50. Volunteer
fire fighters of over 70 are common. And rural new Brunswick has a lot of
flimsy housing just begging for fires to happen.
Both stories should be important. But we already know that the salmon are
in danger. We've known it for years. And done nothing. And here we have the
story of a federal gove... more »
Icelandic Youth Do Not Believe God Created The World
Icelanders under the age of 25 don’t believe that God had a hand in
creating the world, according to a new poll. The poll carried out on behalf
of Icelandic atheists suggests that Icelanders under the age of 25 don’t
believe in God. It suggests that the vast majority of the under 25’s in
Iceland already know how the world came into being, with the remainder
owning up honestly to the fact that they don’t know much about heavenly
matters. The poll suggests that not a single Icelandic young adult believes
in god, and that over 90 per cent of the under 25’s believe in the big bang
theor... more »
Find Out How Much Obamacare Rates Increased in Your State
[image: Find Out How Much Obamacare Rates Increased in Your State]
Premiums under the Affordable Care Act will rise in nearly every state this
year, spiking health insurance costs for nearly all Americans, according to
a new report. All states, with the exception of Mississippi, saw the cost
of health insurance... more »
Cop Steps Up to Replace Anthem Vocalist Who Was Delayed In Traffic: Does Amazing Rendition of National Anthem
[image: Carlton Smith]
Morgantown was a snowy mess on Jan. 12, to the point where many West
Virginia basketball fans were forced to walk to the Coliseum to see the
team take down No. 1 Kansas. Among those who couldn’t make it was... more »
Former U.S. Attorney: Clinton Could Face Criminal Indictment
[image: Hillary Clinton]
A former U.S. attorney thinks Hillary Clinton could face a criminal
indictment from the FBI within the next 60 days. Joe DiGenova, a Republican
U.S. attorney appointed by President Reagan, said Clinton’s “biggest
problem right now” is the open FBI...
Continue reading *“Former U.S. Attorney: Clinton Could Face Criminal
Indictment”* at *washingtonexaminer.com*.
Clinton Campaign Underestimated Sanders Strengths, Allies Say
[image: Clinton]
Advisers to Hillary Clinton, including former President Bill Clinton,
believe that her campaign made serious miscalculations by forgoing early
attacks on Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and failing to undercut his
archliberal message before it grew into a political movement...
Continue reading *“Clinton Campaign Underestimated Sanders Strengths,
Allies Say”* at *nytimes.com*.
Iran To Buy A Fleet Of Airbus Passenger Planes
Following the ending of international sanctions, Iran is to buy 114
passenger planes from the European aircraft maker Airbus, according to its
transport minister. Yahoo News reports: “We have taken the first step in
agreeing with Airbus to buy 114 planes,” Abbas Akhoondi was quoted as
saying by the Tasnim news agency. Airbus said it was not engaging in
commercial talks with Iran until sanctions had been lifted. Sanctions were
expected to be lifted in the wake of a recent agreement on Iran’s nuclear
activities later on Saturday, as diplomats gathered in Vienna and Iran said
it had fr... more »
3 Kinds of Economic Ignorance
[image: Bernie Sanders]
Nothing gets me going more than overt economic ignorance. I know I'm not
alone. Consider the justified roasting that Bernie Sanders got on social
media for wondering why student loans come with interest rates of 6 or 8 or
10...
Continue reading *“3 Kinds of Economic Ignorance”* at *fee.org*.
At the Labour First Conference
Like *Fight Club*, the first rule of Labour First is to not talk about
Labour First. Or at least it used to be. Pulling up outside the Brandhall
Labour Club in Oldbury this morning, conference goers were treated to
banners festooned with the Labour First logo and reminders everywhere about
its hashtag. If that wasn't enough, these days even Corbyn-critical lefts
like me get invited. Assembled comrades included national secretary Luke
Akehurst and LF parliamentary stalwart John Spellar, a smattering of MPs
and MEPs old and new, about 150 or so attendees, and the recently
back-benche... more »
Who In Their Right Mind Would Take Electoral Advice-- Meant To Bolster Hillary's Sagging Campaign-- From Congenital Loser Steve Israel?
Back to panic inside the party establishments again. According to a *Washington
Post* report Friday evening by Robert Costa and Phillip Rucker, the GOP
establishment is facing the reality that their awful candidates-- Jeb,
Rubio, Christie, Kasich... all that garbage-- are not acceptable to
Republican voters and that they're probably going to be stuck with either
the loathsome Ted Cruz, a very dangerous ideological extremist, or Herr
Trumpf, a political blank slate with some serious psychological problems.
Republican donors, who had long assumed that the outsider candidates would
... more »
International Sanctions Against Iran Have Been Lifted
International sanctions against Iran have been lifted following news from
the UN nuclear watchdog that the Islamic Republic has complied with its
nuclear promises. The BBC reports: The EU foreign policy chief, Federica
Mogherini, announced the lifting of sanctions in accordance with the deal
“as Iran has fulfilled its commitment”. The international nuclear watchdog,
the IAEA, said its inspectors had verified that Iran had taken the required
steps. A deal between Iran and world powers was agreed last July. The
IAEA’s Director General Yukiya Amano said it was “an important day for the ... more »
(The Bonfire of Misallocated Capital?) Obama Reconsidered (By Himself and Others) Alan Rickman's Final Bow (FBI Forces Man to Sell Heroin and Trade Charge for Testimony Against Tsarnaev) Tribute to the Man Who Exposed the Pentagon Papers: Daniel Ellsberg - The Emerging Role of Whistleblowers in Mega-Societies (Slouching Toward Bethlehem)
Bernie Sanders Just 'Berned' Hillary's Campaign Chairman Hard On a totally
silly (ridiculous/asinine/crazy) personal note I just thought I'd mention
that I saw my favorite teenage dream car being acquired and restored on
Mike and Edd's "Wheeler Dealers" today - the Austin Healey Sprite - and
fell in love with that baby blue born-free zoom-zoom get-down-and-boogie
vision all over again. My
Energy 53, Expensive electricity + mandatory renewables, Philippine case
This is section IV of my presentation, *Climate change and the need for
cheaper and stable energy sources *during the EPDP Conference 2016 this
week, January 12-13 at the New World Hotel in Makati.
The paper by Dr. Wali del Mundo of electricity prices in ASEAN countries
was repeatedly used by various presenters, data for 2011. Data by The
Lantau Group (TLG) that covers other Asian cities outside of the ASEAN was
for January 2013, more recent. Both studies tell one thing -- PH
electricity prices are 2nd highest in Asia, next to Tokyo. Subsidies by
other governments (made their elect... more »
Germany Hands Out Leaflets To Protect Women From Horny Refugees
Officials in Europe are handing out leaflets outlining the ethical behavior
required from male refugees towards women, in case they want to suddenly
express their repressed sexual feelings while enjoying freedom, liberty,
democracy and a swim in Germany or other pools in Europe. It comes after
the German town of Bornheim banned refugee men from public swimming pools
after some local women complained of sexual harassment. Information
Liberation reports: “There have been complaints of sexual harassment and
chatting-up going on in this swimming pool … by groups of young men, and
this h... more »
Midday Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”
Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vTSU1lIeJU
Fukushima Et Al Update: "Your Radiation This Week, Jan 9, 2015 to Jan 16, 2016"
*"Your Radiation This Week, Jan 9, 2015 to Jan 16, 2016"*
By Bob Nichols
* "I didn't say it would be easy. I just said it would be the truth."*
- Morpheus
(San Francisco) January 16, 2016 – "Good Day, this is “Your Radiation This
Week.” These are the recorded Radiation Highs that affected some people
this week around the United States. You should compare the Rad numbers
directly with the Rad numbers in with my articles listed on the VT Author’s
Page here. These are the American cities that exceeded 1,000 CPM this week. *Thirty
(30) American cities topped 1,000 CPM this week. There wer... more »
US-NATO Bring Mercenaries to Eastern Ukraine
A grim report from eastern Ukraine where self-defense forces in the Donbass
see the US-NATO war project stepping up offensive operations. The Minsk-2
ceasefire required both sides to pull back their heavy weaponry. The folks
in the Donbass did but Kiev's western backed forces (made up of many Nazi
battalions) kept the shelling going. The OSCE monitors (Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe) are the equivalent of the sad sack
referee in the middle of the ring at professional wrestling - always
looking the wrong way.
In the meantime Kiev is supposed to be writing i... more »
Turkey Tells Germany To Support Its Pro-ISIS Policy In Syria If It Wants To Stop The Refugee Flow
*An excerpt from, "Turkey asks Berlin to step up military involvement in
Syria" by AFP, January 16, 2016:*
*Berlin (AFP)* - Germany must step up its involvement in Syria if it wants
to stem the flow of refugees into Europe, Turkey's deputy prime minister
Mehmet Simsek in remarks to German daily Die Welt on Saturday.
"*If Germany and others want to stop the influx of refugees, they must stop
the bombings by Syrian and Russian forces against the Syrian opposition,"*
Simsek said, speaking days after 10 German tourists were killed in a
suicide attack in Turkey.
German Chancellor Ange... more »
ISIS Kidnapping Civilians to Act as Human Shields in Ramadi
[image: Trapped civilians are loaded in a truck to be taken to safe places
as Iraqi security forces clearing the Soufiya neighborhood of Islamic State
fighters in central Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad,
Iraq, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016.]
RAMADI, Iraq (AP) -- Six times in the past harrowing month, Um Omar and her
family got a knock on the door of whatever home they were occupying in the
extremist-held city of Ramadi: It was an Islamic State militant,... more »
Turkey Urges Germany To Increase Military Involvement In Syria
The Turkish deputy prime minister has called on the German government to
increase its military involvement in Syria. During an interview with German
newspaper Die Welt, Mehmet Simsek claimed that the move could result in
stemming the flow of refugees into Europe. “If Germany and others want to
stop the influx of refugees, they must stop the bombings by Syrian and
Russian forces against the Syrian opposition” Simsek said. During the
interview Simsek also argued that the resignation of Syrian President
Bashar Assad is an essential precondition for the peace in Syria.. Press TV
reports... more »
A Murder of Crows
Here they come, black as death, cheating the daylight hours,
Eclipsing the sun with their sullen wing beat, flapping a storm.
Tar feathered and ominous like a worship of bishops,
as a murder of crows from the pale beyond.
Boy Cuts Off His Own Hand For Blasphemy
A Pakistani boy cut off his own hand as retribution for an accidental
blasphemy. The 15-year-old believed he had committed blasphemy, and in
accordance with religious laws, cut off his own hand and put it on a plate.
His parents and neighbors praised his actions which adhered to strict
Islamic laws and shows a devotees allegiance to the faith more than to
common human sense. Jihad Watch reports: Local police chief Nausher Ahmed
described how an imam told a gathering at a village mosque that those who
love the Prophet Mohammad always say their prayers, then asked who among
the crowd ... more »
British Military Advisers Are Assisting Saudis In Yemen Airstrikes
The Saudi foreign minister and the British Ministry of Defence have
confirmed claims that UK military advisers are present in control rooms and
assisting the Saudi-led coalition stage airstrikes in Yemen. The heavily
criticised airstrikes have killed thousands of civilians. Saudi Foreign
Minister Adel Jubeir said that British officers are present in operational
rooms of Saudi-led coalition and are training the anti-Houthi forces to
conduct air warfare in Yemen, while the MoD insists that the British are
not choosing airstrike targets The Telegraph reports: The Saudi air force,
along... more »
The Story
In Africa
they call
the storyteller
the Griot
Before TV
and handhelds
the people
actually
talked
to one another
they learned from each other
by looking into the soul
not just the screen
The sacred path
connecting
earth and sky
has been
bombed
fracked
droned
surveilled
monetized
and heavily
policed
We are afraid
of nature now
ticks
snakes
spiders
roaches
wolves
all seen
as the enemy
in the war
against
our
mother
Heal
the sacred
hoop...
our only path
to survival
and spiritual
connection
These Syrian Christians are Staying to Fight for Freedom
[image: Caption:Members of the Assyrian Gozarto Protection Forces (GPF),
consisting of Sutoro militia, a pro-government Syriac Christian movement,
and other Assyrian fighters rest and drink tea before heading to reinforce
pro-government forces on the front line in the battle against the Islamic
State (IS) group, in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakeh on July
13, 2015. AFP PHOTO / YOUSSEF KARWASHAN (Photo credit should read YOUSSEF
KARWASHAN/AFP/Getty Images)]
If you think the plight of Christians in Syria is a straightforward matter
of Christians versus ISIS, or Christians ve... more »
Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and New York Values
[image: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) speaks next to
Texas Senator Ted Cruz during the Republican Presidential debate sponsored
by Fox Business and the Republican National Committee at the North
Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center in Charleston, South
Carolina on January 14, 2016.]
As someone born and raised in New York, and as a supporter of Ted Cruz for
president, I took great interest in the exchange between Donald Trump and
Senator Cruz on the subject of "New York values" during last week's... more »
Bitcoin Is a Failed Experiment, Says Major Bitcoin Developer
[image: Bitcoin]
Fissures in the Bitcoin community appear to be turning to chasms, with one
prominent developer abandoning the cryptocurrency for good. Mike Hearn, a
longtime developer who often speaks about Bitcoin to the press and in
presentations, wrote on Medium that...
Continue reading *“Bitcoin Is a Failed Experiment, Says Major Bitcoin
Developer”* at *pcworld.com*.
Brazil Chemical Explosion – Residents Urged To Stay Inside
A chemical explosion at a cargo warehouse located in the Guaruja area near
Santos, spread toxic gas over Brazil’s biggest port on Friday. A series of
fires and explosions broke out after water reacted with the chemicals,
causing a large toxic cloud to spread through the port area. The BBC
reports: The company owners said the containers in Santos were full of acid
and a disinfectant which came into contact with rainwater, causing a
reaction. The area’s mayor said at least 66 people were taken to hospital
with breathing difficulties. Officials said the fire had been controlled
but tha... more »
Editor's Note
Blogging will return later this evening.
The Economy: “The Chart That Explains Everything”; "Treason"
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot
survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for
he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst
those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the
alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor
appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he
wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies
deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works
secret... more »
Woman Professor Tsai Ing-wen Wins Presidency Of Taiwan
Former law professor, Tsai Ing-wen, 59, has become the first female
President of Taiwan. She won 60 per cent of the votes for the Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) defeating the opposition KMT’s Eric Chu who
gathered 30 per cent, with two thirds of the votes counted on Saturday
evening. The DPP has been less enthusiastic about economic integration with
China while the KMT has pursued friendly economic ties with the mainland
over the last eight years in office. India Today reports: China regards
Taiwan, an island of 23 million, as a “breakaway” province, although China
and Taiwan ha... more »
Making A Murderer: God Bless Steven Avery
*God Bless Steven Avery. May his name be cleared in court a second time,
and may he triumph over his accusers a second time.*
*Photo: A scene from the Netflix documentary "Making A Murderer" where two
detectives mind raped a mentally deficient child, and forced a false
confession that led to his immediate arrest and unjust imprisonment.*
*"this country was built on gangs, you knowi think this country still is
run on gangsrepublicans, democrats, the police department, the FBIthe CIA,
those are gangs, you know what i meanthe correctional officers,I had a
correctional officer te... more »
Don't Think The Democratic Party Establishment Is Any Less Odious And Self-Serving Than The GOP Establishment
Did you know that tomorrow is another Democratic presidential debate? If
you didn't, don't worry... you weren't meant to. Or, *do* worry *because*
you weren't meant to. Former Hillary Clinton Campaign co-chair, Debbie
Wasserman Schultz, now head of the DNC, has scheduled a series of debates
with one thing in mind-- exposing the candidates to as few viewers as
possible. Who schedules a debate on a Sunday night in the middle of the NFL
playoffs divisional weekend? DEBBIE! Her candidate-- the establishment and
Wall Street pick-- has universal name recognition and her centrist agenda
... more »
Apparently Serving On Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Is A Version Of Hell
Not pictured: Sailors, Planes, Rust, Hope (Russian military photo)
*We Are The Mighty*: *Russia’s only aircraft carrier is a floating hell for
the crew*
Built in 1985, the Kuznetsov, a 55,000-ton behemoth, is a veteran of a full
four deployments and the Russian Navy’s flagship. It’s powered by diesel
fuel generators. Serving on the ship is akin to punishment for Russian
sailors, who coined the phrase, “If you misbehave, you’ll be sent to the
Kuznetsov.”
Most telling are the deepwater tugboats that deploy with the Kuznetsov
because the Russian Navy knows the carrier’s “defective” e... more »
Supplemental: Hooray for Hollywood straight outta Benghazi!
*SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016New York values, script, film and truth:* On the
front pages of today's Post and Times, it's "hooray for Hollywood!"
Or possibly not! Seeming to possibly work from script, the Times seems to
be wondering why Straight Outta Compton didn't merit a Best Picture
Tinseltown nod.
On the famous paper's front page, Cara Buckley pretends to puzzle it out:
BUCKLEY (1/16/16): Is it the members who vote on the Oscars, the films, the
campaigns behind them or something else?
On Friday, the day after the Oscar nominations were announced, revealing
that *all 20 contend... more »
Iran Emerges From Isolation, Sanctions To Be Lifted
The UN is set to announce the lifting of sanctions on Iran today after
Tehran scaled back its nuclear programme. The International sanctions had
suffocated Iran’s ability to trade with the west, and was put in place to
force anti-western Iran to negotiate on its nuclear programme. The lifting
of the sanctions will be marked as a great achievement for U.S. President
Barrack Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry as well as their European
partners. In Iran it will be celebrated by President Hassan Rouhani, and
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, the face behind the new pro-western Iran. I... more »
Untitled
*LouisianaVoice exclusive: At long last, it can be disclosed that the
reason for all the problems at State Police is….us*
Low Oil Prices Undermining Kurdish War Efforts Against The Islamic State
Oil tankers in Erbil. Credit Khaled Hasan for The New York Times
*Reuters*: *Economic 'tsunami' undermines war against Islamic State in Iraq
- Kurdish deputy PM*
Iraq's Kurdistan region is in danger of being drowned by an economic
"tsunami" as global oil prices plunge, its deputy prime minister said,
warning it could undermine the war effort against Islamic State.
Four months in arrears and deeply in debt, the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG), which depends on oil revenue to survive, has been hit
hard by oil's slump below $30 per barrel this week from over $100 a barrel
two yea... more »
Washington’s Plan To Create Sunnistan In Iraq And Syria
United States and her NATO allies are working with Turkey, Saudi
Arabia,Qatar, Kurdish forces and militant jihadist terrorists in Syria and
Iraq to create a ‘safe zone’ which will become a ‘Sunnistan’ canton for the
Islamic State, according to geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningsen. John
Bolton, the former US Ambassador to the UN, who is a staunch neocon and an
Israeli lobby ‘scholar’ for the American Enterprise Institute, once
said: To Defeat ISIS, Create a Sunni State. RT reports: Now, Washington is
considering the Turkish government’s request to re-launch a US program to
train s... more »
Iran Releases Four US Prisoners
Iran has released four Iranian Americans as part of a prisoner exchange
agreement. The office of the Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi
said: “In line with ratifications of Iran’s Supreme National Security
Council and the Islamic establishment’s general expediencies, four Iranian
prisoners, who hold dual nationality, have been released within the
framework of a prisoner swap” One of the prisoners is believed to be
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who was as convicted of espionage
in Iran last year. The BBC reports: News of the releases came after Iranian
Foreign Minis... more »
China Watch 22, On many rich Chinese leaving their country
China implosion, it will happen because people and nature hate heavy
restrictions and dictatorship. This event will have huge impact on the rest
of the world especially in Asia. Not soon, but a few decades now.
On June 5, 2014, Fortune made this headline, Why China’s rich are leaving and
showed this table.
The top 3 reasons why rich Chinese leave their country, based on the
Hurum-Visa survey are: (1) better options for their children’s education;
(2) distressed about growing pollution problems; and (3) concerned about
food safety in the country.
Other news reports here.
*(1) “Chin... more »
CA Magnet Schools Outperform Charter Schools
All of the available research on the intellectual, moral, and social value
of school integration underscores the bald hypocrisy of the corporate
segregationists who insist that they are interested in raising achievement
and character among poor children.
If the charter school empire builders were simply interested in test
performance (never mind their civil rights cynicism), these businessmen
would be fashioning their schools around diversity.
But, of course, the white venture philanthropists' policies must abide by
the paternalistic social control mechanism that binds any of thei... more »
Pastor Saeed Abedini, Journalist Jason Rezaian and Two Other Prisoners in Iran Freed
[image: Iran Source: US Journalist Jason Rezaian One of Four Prisoners
Freed]
VIENNA (AP) -- The latest developments as Iran and world powers prepare to
implement a landmark deal reached last year to curb Iran’s nuclear
activities in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions (all
times local). 5:30 p.m. U.S. and...
Continue reading *“Pastor Saeed Abedini, Journalist Jason Rezaian and Two
Other Prisoners in Iran Freed”* at *apnewsarchive.com*.
Burkina Faso Hotel Seizure Ends; 4 Jihadis, 23 Others Dead
[image: Security forces gather near the Hotel that was attacked by
suspected militants in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.
Burkina Faso and French forces rescued more people from a luxury hotel in
Burkina Faso’s capital as they worked to take back the blackened building
early Saturday, exchanging heavy gunfire with al-Qaida militants who had
seized it the night before.]
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) -- The overnight seizure of a luxury hotel
in Burkina Faso’s capital by al-Qaida-linked extremists ended Saturday when
Burkina Faso and French security forces killed f... more »
North Korea Calls on U.S., World to Accept It as a Nuclear Power
[image: In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, file photo, people watch a TV news
program showing North Korea's announcement, at the Seoul Railway Station in
Seoul, South Korea.]
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- After ringing in the new year with claims of
its first successful hydrogen bomb test, North Korea is now calling on the
United States and the world community to accept it as a nuclear power,... more »
Obama Unemployment Insurance Proposal Would Place Heavy Requirements on States
[image: In this Dec. 12, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in
the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.]
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Saturday proposed changes to
the U.S. unemployment insurance system that he says would offer more
security to the jobless and encourage experienced workers to rejoin the
workforce, even if it means taking a... more »
Pope to Visit Synagogue in Sign of Friendship Amid Questions
[image: A March 26, 1986 photo from files showing an interior view of the
Great Synagogue of Rome. Pope Francis on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2015 becomes the
third pope to visit Rome's main synagogue in a sign of continued
Catholic-Jewish friendship that was highlighted by a recent Vatican
declaration that it doesn't support official efforts to convert the Jews.]
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Francis on Sunday becomes the third pope to visit
Rome’s main synagogue in a sign of continued Catholic-Jewish friendship
that was highlighted by a recent Vatican declaration that it doesn’t
support official... more »
Cuba: UFOs, Ufonauts and a Compelling Documentary
*Cuba: UFOs, Ufonauts and a Compelling Documentary*
*By Scott Corrales*
The island nation of Cuba is in the public eye once again due to a thawing
in diplomatic relations with the United States following fifty years of
animosity between the island’s Castro regime and nine U.S. presidential
administrations. Embassies have opened in the respective capitals of both
countries and the future looks guardedly promising.
As these developments occur in the political landscape, more information
becomes readily available on the ufological sphere thanks to the efforts of
Cuban researchers li... more »
Kansas Governor to End State Planned Parenthood Funding
[image: In this file photo from , January 21, 2015, President Barack Obama
speaks with Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (C) alongside Topeka Mayor Larry
Wolgast (L) upon arrival on Air Force One at Forbes Field Airport in
Topeka, Kansas.]
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced he intends to terminate state Medicaid
funding for Planned Parenthood. Kansas will be joining seven other states
that have taken action to prevent the nation's largest abortion provider
from receiving taxpayer dollars. "Ensuring the health... more »
Blowback: Begging the Question/Petitio Principii and Circular Reasoning
*Blowback is a logical fallacy. Blowback assumes the conclusion in it's
premise.*
*It is faulty logic.* *I've written about the use of faulty logic
previously and it's promotion as a means of deception.** Refresh or read
for the first time at the link directly below. I've included the final
paragraphs from the previous post!*
* The logical fallacy of “blowback”. Intoxication with the blowback mind
virus *
*"Either way? - We have a problem with those we allow to lead us and it is
not incompetence. It is evil. Pure evil, manifesting itself in the most
horrific anti-human activities... more »
Weekend reads: Science press releases under fire; a new plagiarism excuse; win $1,000
The week at Retraction Watch featured the retraction of an entire issue of
a journal and a renewable energy researcher agree to retract ten papers for
recycling, and saw The Australian put us on its list of “30 Most
Influential” in higher education for 2016. Here’s what was happening
elsewhere: Journals tend to promote “weak science” – aka […]
The post Weekend reads: Science press releases under fire; a new plagiarism
excuse; win $1,000 appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Deporting Nikki Haley Isn't Enough For Coulter-- She Wants President Trumpf To Deport Rubio Too
That Republican shit-show Thursday night was the worst of all in the
infotainment political series passed of as debates. I'll be honest, after
the 20th or 30th rant about how Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton destroyed
America, I just turned it off in disgust and went out for dinner. The six
of them had nothing to offer America voters, just red meat to the pack of
partisan jackels sitting in the audience, applauding whenever anyone said
something about "bombing" or "destroying" or uttered something patently
false from Hate Talk Radio about Obama or Hillary. As Greg Sargent observed... more »
Taiwan Elects A Pro-Independence Candidate For President
*BBC:* *Tsai Ing-wen elected Taiwan's first female president*
Tsai Ing-wen has been elected Taiwan's first female president.
Ms Tsai, 59, leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that wants
independence from China.
In her victory speech, she vowed to preserve the status quo in relations
with China, adding Beijing must respect Taiwan's democracy and both sides
must ensure there are no provocations.
China sees the island as a breakaway province - which it has threatened to
take back by force if necessary.
In her speech, Ms Tsai hailed a "new era" in Taiwan and pledged to
co-op... more »
ISIS: US-Saudi Plague Reaches Indonesia?
ISIS attacks conveniently mesh with Washington's growing frustration with
Jakarta and its expanding ties with China.
*January 16, 2016* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - Coordinated bombings and mass
shootings struck Indonesia's capital of Jakarta on Thursday leaving several
dead and many more wounded. The pattern matched that of attacks carried out
last year in Paris, France, where known terrorists Western intelligence
agencies were tracking, some for years, were somehow allowed to mobilize
large caches of weapons in Belgium and execute their coordinated mass
murder with virtually no effo... more »
Surface Temperature Corroborated By Satellites – Met Office 2013
By Paul Homewood
https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/climate-alarmists-invent-new-excuse-the-satellites-are-lying/
We are assured by the crooks experts that the satellite temperature data
must be wrong, as it keeps giving out the wrong message.
http://www.woodfortrees.org/plot/gistemp/from:2001/plot/gistemp/from:2001/trend/plot/rss/from:2001/plot/rss/from:2001/trend
This is all very strange, because the Met Office’s Peter Stott told us
only two years ago that changes in temperature observed in […]
BREAKING NEWS: Four US Prisoners Freed In Iran
*BBC*: *Four US prisoners freed in Iran*
Iran announces that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and three
Iranian Americans have been freed from prison
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be
published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
*WNU Editor:* This is a breaking news story. It will be updated later this
evening.
Twelve-Week-Old Gas Leak in Los Angeles Poses Blowout Risk, Won’t Be Fixed Before March
[image: In this Jan. 6, 2016, file photo, a truck leaves the Southern
California Gas Co. facility where a natural gas well has been leaking
uncontrollably for weeks in the Porter Ranch section of Los Angeles.]
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A leak from an underground natural gas storage facility
that has sickened Los Angeles residents and sent thousands from their homes
has been out of control for 12 weeks and a possible fix is expected no... more »
Reorienting The Canadian Economy
http://www.stgeorgesonline.com/
Last year was full of bad economic news. Jim Stanford writes:
By any definition, 2015 was a lousy year for Canada's economy: complete
with a technical recession, plunging oil prices, and big stock market
losses. Lurking in the statistics, however, is an unreported but
encouraging good news story. There is growing evidence that the national
economy is starting to pivot away from past over-reliance on the extraction
and export of raw natural resources (and energy in particular). Instead,
Canada's high-technol... more »
Burkina Faso Hotel Seizure Ends With 4 Jihadis And 23 Others Dead
*BBC:* *Foreigners shot dead at Burkina Faso luxury hotel*
At least 23 people of 18 different nationalities are now known to have died
after Islamist militants attacked a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso.
Al-Qaeda militants attacked the Splendid Hotel in the West African state's
capital, Ouagadougou, as well as a cafe and another hotel nearby.
Four of the attackers were killed, two of them reportedly women.
The siege at the Splendid was declared over after a joint operation by
local and French security forces.
The Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) militant group has said it
carr... more »
Tennessee Powerball Winners: Plan to Give to Local Church
[image: Rebecca Hargrove, second from right, president and CEO of the
Tennessee Lottery, presents a ceremonial check to John Robinson, right; his
wife, Lisa, second from left; and their daughter, Tiffany, left; after the
Robinson's winning Powerball ticket was authenticated at the Tennessee
Lottery headquarters Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The small-town Tennessee couple that bought one of
three magic tickets splitting the world-record $1.6 billion Powerball
jackpot says they don’t plan to quit their jobs or buy a new house. Their
daughter, how... more »
Thursday’s GOP Debate and the Iowa Threshing Machine
[image: NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - JANUARY 14: Republican presidential
candidates (L-R) Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz
(R-TX) participate in the Fox Business Network Republican presidential
debate at the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center on
January 14, 2016 in North Charleston, South Carolina. The sixth Republican
debate is held in two parts, one main debate for the top seven candidates,
and another for three other candidates lower in the current polls.]
The sparks flew in Thursday night’s GOP presidential debate, no doubt
because the pressure ... more »
Stock Market Slides Again; Worst Two-Week Start to a Year
[image: Stock trader Gregory Rowe works at the New York Stock Exchange,
Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.]
Never before has Wall Street gotten off to a worse start to a year. The
stock market capped the first two weeks of 2016 with a steep slide Friday
that sent the Dow Jones industrial average down nearly 400 points.... more »
Chicago Police Unions Push for Destruction of Old Complaints
[image: Willie Preston, left, scuffles with a police officer after he and
other protesters tried to keep two women, partly seen at right, from
attending the annual Interfaith Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency McCormick
Place hotel in Chicago, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.]
CHICAGO (AP) -- Unions representing Chicago police officers are fighting
for the destruction of tens of thousands of documents from disciplinary
files dating back several decades, just as activists and community leaders
are demanding more access and transparency from a... more »
Wal-Mart to Shutter 269 Stores, 154 of Them in the U.S.
[image: In this Thursday, June 4, 2015, photo, shoppers walk from the
checkout at a Wal-Mart Supercenter store in Springdale, Ark. Wal-Mart
announced Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, that it is closing 269 stores.]
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wal-Mart is doing some rare pruning. The world’s largest
retailer is closing 269 stores, including 154 in the U.S. that includes all
of its locations under its smallest-format concept store called Wal-Mart
Express. The other big... more »
Criminal Proceedings Against Lord Janner End
An Old Bailey Judge has said that criminal proceedings against the late
Lord Janner, over charges of sex abuse, have now ended because of his
death. The case against the former Labour MP, charged with 22 sexual
offences dating back to the 1960s against nine boys and men, was set to be
heard in a trial of the facts from which Lord Janner would be absent
because of his dementia. Following his death in December, prosecutors
suggested the trial could go ahead posthumously. But on Friday the trial of
the facts, which was due to take place in April, was shelved by
prosecutors. The alleged... more »
Conscientious refusal / pbjection in health care: new article draft online, and an upcoming symposium
A while back, I made a post with a number of critical remarks on the idea
of a legal right of health care professionals to so-called conscientious
refusal/objection. That is the idea that such professionals should enjoy a
guaranteed exemption from the standard labour law rule, that employee's are
obliged to carry out legal instructions of their employer, in cases when
they object to the practice they are instructed to carry out, or its legal
status. I made the post mainly to get some opinions of particular relevance
to current health care policy off my chest, but as it turned out... more »
Motorists ‘face higher petrol costs’ to hit EU green targets
By
Paul Homewood
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/12102804/Motorists-face-higher-petrol-costs-to-hit-EU-green-targets.html
The cost of the climate obsession continues to rise, as the Telegraph
reports: Families could have to pay an extra £40 a year to fill up
their
cars as Britain attempts to hit EU green energy targets, experts have
warned. Ministers have disclosed that they are drawing up […]
Economic News , Data & Views ( January 16, 2016 ) Europe In Focus ( 1. Refugee / Border Security Items - Greece / Germany / EZ & EU . 2. Brexit & EU Negotiation Items Of Note. 3. Poland In Cross-Hairs Of EU. 4. Greece Items Of Note- Economic / Negotiations With Troika AKA Quad / Swiss Account Investigations & Tax Evasion / Domestic Politics . 5. Implementation Day - Oil Companies Stream Toward Tehran. 6. Terror Watch For Europe - ISIS/ Jihadists Generally . 7. Risk / Black Swans . 8. German Politics - Rise of AFD , Falling CDU/ CSU. 9. Spanish Politics . 10. Italian Politics. 11. Odds & Ends. ) Asia / Emerging Nations / Commodities ( 1. ISIS/ Taliban / MENA Impacting Global Security & Economies . 2. Taiwan Elects New President - Tsai Ing - wen . 3. China Items Of the day - AIB Launches Today . 4. Commodity Crunch Continues. 5. Venezuela In Focus . 6. Petrobras Going To Need A Bailout. 7. Subprime Auto Probed By DB. 8. Odds & Ends. )
Europe ........
*The Daily Star* @DailyStarLeb 19s
20 seconds ago
Russia seeks Rosneft stake sale to ease budget woes: minister http://
bit.ly/1J8NAQm
*Kathimerini English* @ekathimerini 29s
30 seconds ago
Greek workers march to Parliament to protest pension reform http://
dlvr.it/DHrNqF
[image: Embedded image permalink]
*Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 2m
2 minutes ago
Bavaria's Seehofer issues ultimatum to Merkel on refugee policy: Close the
borders or we'll sue yr govt ~@*DerSPIEGEL* http://www.
spiegel.de/politik/deutsc
hland/horst-seehofer-stell... more »
Of Punches, Poetry and Punchlines: GOP Debaters Put on a Good Show
[image: Elephant Award - 900]
This week’s GOP debate has me feeling a bit like Dean Martin -- or if you
prefer, Fred and Ethel -- singing, “Nuthin’ could be finer than debates in
Carolina in the evening.” You had comedy, you had drama, you... more »
Sanctions Relief Will Only Aid Iran’s Network of Terror
[image: American and Iranian Money Dollar Rial - 900]
Just as President Obama is about to revoke the economic sanctions on Iran's
years-long illegal nuclear projects, the fundamentalist mullahs once again
showed their true colors. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)
detained 10 of our sailors at gun point... more »
Taxpayers Fund Five-Star Foreign Stays for Federal Workers with Plenty of Money Left Over for Their Wallets
[image: The InterContinental and Crowne Plaza are two five-star hotels
located on the Creek waterfront in Dubai.]
Traveling around the world on the U.S. taxpayers' dime can be quite a
profitable experience for federal employees, thanks to extremely generous
per diem reimbursement rates set by the Department of State. Generous
maximum per diems mean travelers to most countries... more »
Decoding What It Means to Say the Vatican Has a ‘Gay Lobby’
[image: Pope Bible hands - 400]
Since the Vatican is a global institution, understanding it often requires
at least a passing familiarity with a few foreign languages. Italian is a
no-brainer, Latin still helps, and in the Pope Francis era, Spanish gives
you a leg up,...
Continue reading *“Decoding What It Means to Say the Vatican Has a ‘Gay
Lobby’”* at *cruxnow.com*.
A Look At The World's Military Transport Planes Starting With China's
Xina Y-20
*Next Big Future*: *3D printing and advanced computer modeling was used to
develop China Y-20 military transport aircraft*
The Xian Y-20 is China's new large military transport aircraft. The Y-20 is
the first cargo aircraft to use 3-D printing technology to speed up its
development and to lower its manufacturing cost. Model-based definition
(MBD) is also used, and it's the 3rd aircraft to utilize MBD technology in
the world, after Boeing 787 (2005) and Airbus A380 (2007). The
implementation of MBD greatly shortened the time required, for example,
without MBD, installatio... more »
The Debate On Modernizing America's Nuclear Weapons Continues
The advanced B61-12 missile (pictured) has combined four existing versions
of the B61 bomb into one
*Daily Mail:* *Obama under fire over smaller, precision-guided atomic bombs
costing $1TRILLION over 30 years 'that make warfare inevitable'*
* U.S. military tested out one of its new weapons, the B61 Model 12, last
year
* Maneuverable atom bomb can hit target within accuracy of just five metres
* Former staff say smaller, more precise bombs make them tempting to use
* Others believe new weapons programme is 'unaffordable and unneeded'
President Barack Obama has come under fire for the... more »
A Summary On The Pentagon's New Strategy To Defeat The Islamic State
*Andrew Tilghman, Defense News/Military Times:* *This is the Pentagon's new
strategy to defeat ISIS*
It involves a lot of old-school war fighting and could require more
Americans on the ground to support unproven allies. IRBIL, Iraq — The U.S.
military headquarters here is outfitted with maps showing a "forward line
of troops" — a FLOT, in military-speak — that divides northern Iraq's
Kurdish region from territory held by the Islamic State group. The line is
precisely drawn, following the contours of specific roads and berms. A mere
40 miles west, the terrain is pocked with trenc... more »
Is President Obama Entrusting His National Security Legacy To Special Ops?
*Kimberly Dozier, Daily Beast*: *Obama Turns to Special Ops to Salvage His
Legacy*
Time and again, Barack Obama has turned to a small cadre of elite troops in
the most important moments of his presidency. Can they do it one more time?
Elite U.S. commandos are now in position in Iraq, northern Syria and
beyond, ready to raid against the so-called Islamic State just as the White
House has nominated a top special operations general to take charge of the
ISIS fight.
Gen. Joseph Votel, who now heads American special operations forces, will
take over U.S. Central Command, replacing Gen. ... more »
Saudi King Prepares To Abdicate Throne To Son
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is planning to renounce power in
favor of his son according to reports. The report by the Institute for Gulf
Affairs quoted multiple sources as saying that the ailing 80-year-old
monarch has been seeking to transfer power to his son Mohammed, the deputy
crown prince and defense minister. His son, who is currently the second in
line to the throne is widely believed to be the real ruler. Press TV
reports: The sources did not give a specific date for the abdication but
said the issue will be concluded within a matter of weeks. According to
source... more »
Untitled
*Wheaton College Moves to Terminate Universalist Professor*
Last month, Wheaton College, an evangelical institution located just
outside Chicago, suspended one of its professors, Larycia Hawkins, for a
remark on Facebook claiming Christians and Muslims “worship the same God.”
In a Dec. 16 statement, the school wrote that Dr. Hawkins' “views … appear
to be in conflict with the College’s Statement of Faith.”
Shortly thereafter, on Jan. 5, the administration announced formal
proceedings to end her employment with the school. The decision caused
predictable backlash. Writing in Natio... more »
Marine Helicopters Crash Off Oahu, Search Underway
[image: Military officials and Honolulu Police Department officers talk at
a beach park where search and rescue officials are meeting in Haleiwa,
Hawaii, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, after two U.S. Marine helicopters carrying
12 crew members collided off the Hawaiian island of Oahu during a nighttime
training mission. Rescuers were searching a debris field in choppy waters
Friday, military officials said.]
HALEIWA, Hawaii (AP) -- Rescuers continued to search choppy waters where
debris was sighted after two Marine Corps helicopters carrying six crew
members each crashed off the Hawaiian isl... more »
Untitled
*Are high CO2 levels preventing a new ice age?*
*That is what the article abstracted below finds from their modelling. You
can read here the amusing gyrations the authors and other Warmists go
through in order to claim that we should still worry about global warming.
But it follows that if we DID cut CO2 levels drastically that would bring
on an ice age. How does the precautionary principle handle that?What their
modelling told them was that we just missed the beginning of a new ice age
a couple of hundred years ago -- which is plausible. The current
intergalc... more »
How Does Reiki Bring Wisdom and Life-force Into the Body?
*Dr. Rita Louise* - Learn what Reiki is, how it works and who can do it.
The post How Does Reiki Bring Wisdom and Life-force Into the Body? appeared
first on Waking Times.
"The Madaya Crisis": Media LIES & Propaganda
And so it continues....
I'm not surprised. I mean.... we know that the media is lying to us
continuously. And yet what does shock me, is the constant perpetuation of
these lies as "truth" and "fact" by so many people. How is it that people
are STILL falling for these outright lies? How is it that people are still
spreading these "memes" without even questioning their authenticity?
.... I'm seriously gob smacked by this.
*Backtrack:* Suddenly, appearing out of seemingly no where, the western
Media is reporting on the "critical" situation in the Syrian town of
Madaya. Thousand... more »
From Free Fall to Soft Landing in God’s Safety Net
[image: SEATTLE - DECEMBER 14: A Washington State Ferry bound for Seattle
passes Mt. Rainier in Washington's Puget Sound December 14, 2005 in
Seattle, Washington.]
AMANDA WITT -- Twelve years ago we moved from Lubbock, Texas -- where all
my family lived -- to Seattle, Washington. It was a big and disorienting
move, especially for the kids, and I immediately set about trying to get... more »
Energy 52, Renewables to "save the planet", Germany and UK cases
This is section III of my presentation, *Climate change and the need for
cheaper and stable energy sources *during the Energy Policy Development
Program (EPDP) Conference 2016 this week, January 12-13 at the New World
Hotel in Makati.
The cost of renewables rising for households despite their supply
instability and very low capacity factor.
At this time of human progress, they are talking about possible blackouts
in Germany or other parts of Europe? No thanks to intermittent power
sources.
Also in UK, they are talking about energy rationing? At this time of human
progress?
Reve... more »
Nuclear Facilities In 20 Countries Are Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks
*New York Times:* *Nuclear Facilities in 20 Countries May Be Easy Targets
for Cyberattacks*
WASHINGTON — Twenty nations with significant atomic stockpiles or nuclear
power plants have no government regulations requiring minimal protection of
those facilities against cyberattacks, according to a study by the Nuclear
Threat Initiative.
The findings build on growing concerns that a cyberattack could be the
easiest and most effective way to take over a nuclear power plant and
sabotage it, or to disable defenses that are used to protect nuclear
material from theft. The countries on th... more »
Exceptional Botanical Kills 98% of Cancer Cells in Under 24 Hours
This appears to be a wonderful protocol that uses iron as the natural
pathfinder allowing hte active ingredient to be hyper effective.
I also appears that this can be made part of a herbal protocol as well.
One more arrow to add to the quiver.
*. *
*Exceptional Botanical Kills 98% of Cancer Cells in Under 24 Hours*
*2nd January 2016*
*By Carolanne Wright*
*Contributing Writer for Wake Up World*
* http://wakeup-world.com/2016/01/02/exceptional-botanical-kills-98-percent-of-cancer-cells-in-under-24-hours/*
*The same herb frequently eaten as salad in Asia has been shown to destr... more »
Meltdowns, Crises, and Islamic State: A Terrible Year in the Middle East
So far it is all about Syria. Yet political stability is really non
existent except perhaps in Turkey were we hope that the political
exploitation of Islam will soon end once again. No true good can come of
it, yet the present government did choose to progressively set aside a
century of progress. It is not irreversable but it must change soon.
The injection of Russian interests will allow Assad to win back the whole
country. ISIS will be literally exterminated and expect no mercy from
Assad. When it is over, all the refugees will be sent home as quickly as
possible as no on... more »
Military Photo of the Day: January 16, 2015
[image: Marines rest at Guadalcanal - 900]
Marines of the 164th infantry rest in the field on Guadalcanal – Zimmerman,
John L. (1949) - Wikimedia Commons
Coalition Airstrike Destroys Islamic State Bank In Mosul (Video)
*WNU Editor:* The story is here .... *U.S. Airstrike Destroys Millions Of
Islamic State Cash In Mosul.*
Bama’s Stone Bola Balls
* It turns out that those large stone balls in Costa Rico are all part of a
cultural complex that ran from the Argentine through Peru*, Central America
and up into the American South East. It remained extant until at least the
seventeenth century.
The huge perfect balls were a prestige item for the Big Man. Yet all the
men surely used the bola ball as the weapon of convenience. Thrown
properly it surely had a long range as a good chunk of its rotational speed
would propel it nicely forward. The lines attached allowed it to entangle
prey. It could easily take out a jack ra... more »
What is it like to do business with Donald Trump?
This shows a guy quite able to operate a harmonious build. At the same
time he will run performance art when it is necessary. It is occasionally
necessary but not as a first choice. This is how this type of business
must be done and the process is common.
The reason he built a huge fortune is that he minimized conflict and
maximized value. This can never be done pursuing lawsuits. There is no
evidence of that although he always tries to settle from strength as he
should. It is faster and you are in charge of fairness..
My sense is that he has few detractors in business a... more »
For Donald Trump, Lessons From a Brother’s Suffering
It is now election year and it is time to look closely at the biography of
the dominant candidate. This piece on the fate of his older brother
speaks volumes. It also reflects deep wells of personal discipline which
brooks well. There was a reason he took alcohol and cigarettes off his to
do list. And it really takes a tale like this to do it.
Otherwise Donald did go through a military style high school experience.
This provides all the benefits of the military experience and deftly skips
the obvious negatives. I managed to do much the same for much the same
reason and pe... more »
In the Beginning
Here we go again. Cosmology continues to confound and that is because we
really have never resolved the correct initial conditions which must be
fundamental. It will always be a guess, except my cloud cosmology is
driven by a plausibly unique initial action that both initiates space and
counting for a time measure. I suspect that it may be possible to prove my
model to be both rigorously necessary and also sufficient, but i am
certainly going to leave that problem to later generations.
Cloud Cosmology does expand exponentially but that means that scale is
increasing by the... more »
The 8 Minute Surgery That Will Give You Superhuman Vision. Forever.
Essentially in two years we will be able to replace our lens with an
optimal lens that provides excellent vision for the rest of your life. The
implanting could also not be simpler. An injection into the eye, likely
into the current lens structure. Recovery will be almost immediate. Thus
one could go in and do both eyes on the same day.
I suspect that enthusiasm for this procedure will be customer driven which
is unusual for a clinical procedure.
Combine that with a mouth rebuild which is also about two years out and we
can expect to have perfect teeth and ... more »
Can you explain the Martin Luther King Day to me?
On Monday, because it will be the third Monday of 2016, the U.S. will
celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr day. He was born in 1929, was
assassinated in 1968, fought for the black interests, and received the 1964
Nobel Peace Prize – which various characters win these days.
I think he must have been an OK man – well, like a nontrivial number of
Baptist ministers. But I am simply not getting how "his day" could be
picked and survive as a holiday on par with Christmas or the Independence
Day. Such recent politically active characters are typically very
polarizing. In Czechia, there is q... more »
British And American Military Officials Are Present In Saudi Command And Control Centres For Saudi Air-Strikes On Yemen,
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends a joint news conference with
his British counterpart Philip Hammond (not seen) in Riyadh October 28,
2015. REUTERS/FAISAL AL NASSER
*The Guardian:* *British and US military 'in command room' for Saudi
strikes on Yemen*
*Saudi Arabian foreign minister also reveals UK and American officials have
access to lists of targets, but do not choose them.*
British and American military officials are in the command and control
centre for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen, and have access to lists of targets,
although they do not play any role in choosing ... more »
Tweet For Today
Rescuers search choppy Hawaii waters where debris from 2 helicopters that
collided were seen https://t.co/QdqVNfRTxs pic.twitter.com/qXHxxDUakV
— AP West Region (@APWestRegion) January 15, 2016
Did Russian Combat Robots Kill 70 Rebels In Syria?
*Belling Cat*: *Were Russian Combat Robots Used in Syria?*
According to Sputnik and multiple Russian-language blogs, the Syrian Arab
Army (SAA) recently deployed ten Russian combat robots in a battle in the
Latakia province, leading to “about 70” dead rebel fighters and no dead SAA
soldiers in fighting. Per the reports, these ten robots included six
“Platform-M” systems and four “Argo” robots, which were controlled from a
Russian command post. This news — if true — would warrant significant
coverage, as it would mark the first successful use of combat robots in
actual warfare, bri... more »
Picture Of The Day
A Marine heads for his tent below Mt. Fuji during Exercise Fuji Samurai on
Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan, Jan. 7, 2016.
Exercise Fuji Samurai is held in January and includes numerous fire and
maneuver drills and other combat-based training events. U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Cpl. Janessa Pon
Economic Emergency Declared In Venezuela
Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro gestures before his state of the
nation address to the National Assembly in Caracas on Friday when declared
a national economic emergency. Photograph: Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters
*Wall Street Journal:* *Venezuelan President Maduro Declares Economic
Emergency*
*Maduro attempts to tackle a deepening crisis and undermine the
opposition’s new majority in the country’s congress.*
CARACAS, Venezuela—President Nicolás Maduro’s government declared a 60-day
nationwide economic emergency Friday as his embattled administration tries
to tackle a deepenin... more »
Oh Yes, There Are Trumpf Fans Even In Certain Parts Of California-- Hagar Country
Indio, a small city of 85,000 in Riverside County's Coachella Valley, is
127 miles from L.A. and 98 miles from Mexicali. Somewhat over two-thirds of
the population is Hispanic. Riverside County, along with San Bernardino
County, part of the "Inland Empire," is a big meth-manufacturing and
distribution center. We can smell it when you drive around some towns. I
saw a lot of people missing a lot of teeth last time I was out there.
A friend of mine has a home in Palm Desert and she was out there a couple
months ago and, for a hoot, went to see Sammy Hagar-- the Red Rocker-- when
he p... more »
Musical Interlude: Moodflow, “Orbitals”
Moodflow, “Orbitals”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SZtojO-yDg
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Have you ever seen the Southern Cross? This famous constellation is best
seen from Earth's Southern Hemisphere. Captured from Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, the four bright stars that mark the Southern Cross are visible just
above the horizon in the featured image.
*Click image for larger size.*
On the left of this constellation, also known as The Crux, is the orange
star Gamma Crucis. The band of stars, dust, and gas rising through the
middle of the image mosaic is part our Milky Way Galaxy. Just to the right
of the Southern Cross is the dark Coal Sack Nebula, and the bright nebula
at th... more »
Chet Raymo, “The Wild Silence And The Wild Dark”
*“The Wild Silence And The Wild Dark”*
by Chet Raymo
"It is probably obvious by now that I have been reading Yeats. So let me
share one more poem, "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven":
“Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
There is a wonderfully sexy scene in “Frankie Starlight” where Anne
Parillau... more »
Obama Official Lands At Russian Military Base, Warns Of World War 3
Russia have reported that US Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, made an unexpected visit to a Russian
Military airbase recently, demanding to urgently speak to President Putin
about the coming “world war 3″. Nuland had just left Vilnius International
Airport in Lithuania aboard her US military aircraft after her meeting with
that nations Foreign Minister, Lazar Comanescu, when this unplanned
incident occurred. Putin declined to meet with the Assistant Secretary of
State, but did send top aide Vladislav Surkov to meet with her.
Whatdoesi... more »
Albert Pike Letter Reveals Illuminati Plan For World War 3
Famous Freemason Albert Pike wrote a letter to Giuseppe Mazzini in 1871
that purports to outline the illuminati plan for World War 3. The letter
to Mazzini was on display in the British Museum Library in London until
1977, before being inexplicably removed from public view.
Bibliotecapleyades.net reports: Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian
revolutionary leader of the mid 1800s as well as the Director of the
Illuminati. Albert Pike (historical Masonic figure) is a 33rd degree,
Freemason Occultist Grand Master and creator of the Southern Jurisdiction
of the Masonic Scottish Rite Order. ... more »
Hollywood Actress Admits To Having Sex With A Ghost
Hollywood actress Natasha Blasick (star of ‘Paranormal Activity’) has
recently claimed to have enjoyed having sex with a ghost. Natasha Blasick
told British TV program This Morning that the experience was “really really
pleasurable”. Natasha Blasick told This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and
Christine Bleakley the spectral attack had a “calming” effect on her when
it was suggested the encounter would have left her screaming the house
down. Ukrainian actress Natasha added: “I guess I’m the kind of girl that
enjoys this sort of thing.” Detailing the first — of two — sexual
encount... more »
Weird Sky Sounds Are Back, ‘Sky Trumpets’ Heard Across Europe
The beginning of 2016 has marked a return of the strange sounds in the sky
– also known as ‘sky trumpets’ – that were heard throughout 2015. Citizens
in the Netherlands have submitted multiple reports of hearing strange
sounds in the sky, amid reports and videos flooding in from many other
people across Europe. Conspiracyclub.co reports: Martijn Mastenbroek from
Pijnacker, a town in the Dutch province of South Holland, was at home on
the evening of January 10th when he suddenly heard a peculiar sound. “It
sounded like trumpets,” he recalls. “It lasted about five seconds. No, it
wasn... more »
Secret Spy Equipment Found On People’s Phones Across London
A team of journalists have discovered a large-scale network of
sophisticated surveillance equipment that spies on people’s phones across
London, amid a growing black market for the same technology worldwide.
Vice News found multiple instances of catchers – also known as stingrays or
cell-site simulators – across London including the UK parliament, a
peaceful anti-austerity protest, and at the Ecuadorian embassy (where
Julian Assange is being held). Vice News reports: A former senior
surveillance insider also confirmed to VICE News that they have been used
by UK police. The portable... more »
Wall Street Says Recession Worse Than 2008 Coming
Wall Street experts have said that a big recession, far worse than the 2008
financial crisis, is due to hit this year. With the S&P 500 beginning 2016
with its worst performance ever, experts say 2016 holds chaos in currency,
bond and equity markets on a global scale. Cnbc.com reports: This has
prompted Wall Street apologists to come out in full force and try to
explain why the chaos in global currencies and equities will not be a
repeat of 2008. Nor do they want investors to believe this environment is
commensurate with the dot-com bubble bursting. They claim the current
turmoil i... more »
New ‘Eternal Youth’ Hormone Discovered By Scientists
Scientists say they have the “holy grail” of research in their hands after
discovering a new eternal youth hormone that extends lifespan by 40 per
cent. The scientists at the Yale School of Medicine say the new hormone,
known as FGF21, is produced by the thymus gland and it primary purpose is
to protect the immune system against ageing. Dailymail.co.uk reports:
Researchers said the study could have implications in the future for
improving immune function in the elderly, for obesity, and for diseases
such as cancer and type 2 diabetes. When it is functioning normally, the
thymus pro... more »
The Impact On Russia From Falling Oil Prices
*VOA*: *Russia Faces Pain Over Falling Oil Prices, Sanctions*
Russia’s economy is struggling at the beginning of 2016. Low oil prices and
Western sanctions against Russia continue to affect the country’s economy.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev thinks the economy is looking better than
one year ago. But he told a conference this week that Russia must prepare
for the worst-case scenario. In such a case, conditions would worsen, not
improve.
Medvedev spoke in Moscow at the yearly Gaidar Forum on economics. He noted
that 2015 was probably the most difficult year for Russia economical... more »
What Role for Non-State Actors in the New Climate Governance?
This is a guest post from Jennifer Hadden, an Assistant Professor at the
University of Maryland’s Department of Government and Politics. I had the
pleasure of editing a reviews exchange on her new book, Networks in
Contention. The exchange just came out in the latest issue of International
Politics Reviews and features reviews from me (Josh), Thomas Hale, and
Johannes […]
Washington Using North Korea To Justify War With China
According to Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against
Weapons and Nuclear Power organisation, the Cold War is raging again, and
this time both China and Russia are being coerced into a military conflict
with the West via North Korea. “Really, the Cold War is raging again,”
Gagnon told a Russian radio program, “The US is absolutely encircling
Russia and China today.” Part of the Pentagon’s strategy includes utilising
a new arsenal of “smart” nuclear weapons, complete with adjustable yields,
alongside missile defense systems aboard navy warships. Washington are also
dev... more »
With Oil Prices Crashing Will This Slow Down A Middle East Arms Race?
Can the oil price go down further? Here's the case for and against.
https://t.co/4E1bCDtxw0 pic.twitter.com/HSUEnTdI87
— Financial Times (@FT) January 12, 2016
*Christopher Harress, IBTimes*: *Amid Falling Oil Price, Middle East Arms
Race Led By Saudi Arabia Expected To Slow Down*
As Middle East nations look to build up their weaponry amid regional civil
wars, that arms race is now at risk of grinding to a halt. The price of oil
kept sliding Tuesday, past the point where the oil-based economies in the
region are able to balance their budgets.
In particular, Saudi Arabia, Iran and... more »
The Impact Of Declining Oil Prices On Saudi Arabia
*Reuters:* *Exclusive: Saudi Arabia plans new sovereign wealth fund -
sources*
Saudi Arabia plans to create a new sovereign fund to manage part of its oil
wealth and diversify its investments, and has asked investment banks and
consultancies to submit proposals for the project, according to people
familiar with the matter.
Plunging oil prices have strained Saudi Arabia's finances. The kingdom's
state budget deficit is at a record high and net foreign assets dived more
than $100 billion in 15 months.
The new fund could change the way tens of billions of dollars are invested
and a... more »
What Would You Rather Do on Your Birthday?
I had a pretty low key one planned. Maybe sell a few books, if I was
lucky, then go to a local pub to watch the Patriots play their first post
season game. And I still intend on doing that. But now I've something more
important to do because a family is about to be hit with a calamity that
few of us who haven't suffered through one like this can fully imagine.
I just received a letter crossposted to both my email clients from a
dear friend of mine in Washington state who's now hopping on a jet to North
Carolina. Since she knows this gentleman and the family better than I do... more »
Journalist Reveals Tactics Brainwashing Industry Uses to Manipulate the Public
*Vic Bishop* - Our reality is carefully constructed by powerful corporate,
political & special interest groups.
The post Journalist Reveals Tactics Brainwashing Industry Uses to
Manipulate the Public appeared first on Waking Times.
Untitled
*From* *Jenna Orkin*
This Is The Cartoon Germany Hands Out To Sexually Frustrated Refugees
How Switzerland Hopes To Prevent Refugee Sex Attacks: With This Cartoon
German Town Bans Refugees From Pools
Chipotle To Close All Stores Next Month For Meeting On How Not To Poison
People
Norway Pushes Panic Button: "We're In A Crisis Now, We Can't Deny That"
More Smoking Guns - Will Hillary's Next Stop Be The White House Or The Big
House?
US Freight Volumes Fall For First Time In 3 Years As Baltic Dry Crashes
Under 400
WalMart To Fire 16,000 As It Closes 269 Stores Globally
World's Largest Min... more »
New article published: The counseling, self-care, adherence approach to person-centered care and shared decision making: Moral psychology, executive autonomy, and ethics in multi-dimensional care decisions
A few days ago, an article by myself and three colleagues from philosophy,
psychological safety research and pediatrics that's been accepted for a
long time finally came online at the journal *Health Communication*'s
website. The article explores how standard accounts of how models for
increased interaction and collaboration between patients and health care
professionals – often termed patient or person centred care, and shared
decision-making – fit badly to a broad group of patients; namely those
whose care are mostly self-administered, who suffer vulnerable decision
capacities... more »
With Sanctions Ending Iran Prepares To Flood Global Markets With Oil
*IBTimes*: *Iran Readies Oil Tankers To India As UN Prepares To Lift
Sanctions*
Iran is prepared to start shipping crude oil to old business partners in
Europe and India with the United Nation’s nuclear watchdog expected to give
a clean chit to Tehran’s nuclear program within a week, according to
reports. Iran has pledged to begin pumping up to half a million barrels of
extra crude per day post-sanctions amid worries that such a move could
worsen the ongoing global oil glut that has already sent prices sinking to
their lowest level in 12 years.
The country has 22 Very Large Crude... more »
Iran Is Just A Few Weeks Away From Sanctions Being Lifted
*Reuters*: *Report paving way for Iran sanctions relief likely Saturday*
An IAEA report verifying that Iran has kept its promises under a nuclear
deal it reached with world powers last year is likely to be issued on
Saturday, paving the way for sanctions on Tehran to be lifted, a diplomatic
source said on Friday.
Iranian and other officials had previously said they expected the report to
come out on Friday.
"Almost all details are ironed out," said another diplomatic source, based
in the Austrian capital.
Vienna is home to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear ... more »
Pelosi: I Don’t Support Abortion-on-Demand, But I Won’t Say What Pro-Life Laws Should Exist
[image: WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 11: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA) speaks to the media during her weekly news conference at the US
Capitol, December 11, 2015 in Washington, DC. Pelosi spoke about pending
legislation before the House. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)]
Longtime abortion supporter House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is
drawing fire from erstwhile allies for her statement on Tuesday that “I
don’t believe in abortion-on-demand.” However, her office did not return
multiple requests for comment from The Stream asking... more »
The Dutch Government Is Crazy, This Beautiful Man Is A Hero
*An excerpt from, "Dutch man suspected of killing Isis fighter could face
murder charge" The Guardian, January 15, 2016:*
Dutch police have arrested a former soldier suspected of killing Islamic
State (Isis) jihadists while fighting alongside Kurdish forces in Syria
last year, the prosecutor’s office said.
The 47-year-old man, who was not identified, was arrested on Wednesday in
the eastern Dutch city of Arnhem and appeared in a Rotterdam court on
Friday, where he was provisionally released.
“The man is a former soldier whose case was extensively reported on last
year in the medi... more »
The Never Ending Quest For A Politicians With Authenticity
Patrick Healy's headline in a *NY Times* story from Iowa earlier this week, Hillary
Clinton Races to Close Enthusiasm Gap With Bernie Sanders in Iowa. has to
make you wonder how someone with 100% name recognition could be struggling
in a state against some old guy from Vermont by way of Brooklyn who almost
no one in Iowa had ever heard of until recently. "Iowa Democrats," he
wrote, "are displaying far less passion for Hillary Clinton than for
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont three weeks before the presidential
caucuses, creating anxiety inside the Clinton campaign as she scramble... more »
Al Qaeda Launches A Terror Attack On A Major Hotel In Burkina Faso
*Daily Mail*: *BREAKING NEWS: Terror in Burkina Faso: 'Hostages held' after
two car bombs explode outside upmarket tourist hotel as masked jihadi
gunmen battle security forces in the street*
* At least 20 people have died in the attack on the capital in West Africa
* Eyewitnesses say two car bombs exploded at 7.30pm local time
* Masked gunmen then stormed the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou
* Local media reported at hostages have been taken and several people have
died
* Business district hotel is used by UN staff and westerners
* Security forces reportedly exchanged fire with the men ... more »
"This Is Your Life..."
“This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. Every breath is a
choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be. Every time you don't
throw yourself down the stairs, that's a choice. Every time you don't crash
your car, you re-enlist. If death meant just leaving the stage long enough
to change costume and come back as a new character, would you slow down? Or
speed up?"
- Chuck Palahniuk
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