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11:30pm MDT
11:30pm MDT
The Afghan City Of Kunduz Is Under Taliban Attack
*Reuters:* *Taliban fighters enter northern Afghan city of Kunduz* Taliban fighters mounted a coordinated assault on the northern city of Kunduz overnight, attacking from four directions and entering the city itself, a senior city police official said. Sheer Ali Kamal, commander of the 808 Tandar police zone in Kunduz said the attack began at around midnight (1930 GMT Sunday) and fighting was still going on in and around the city. "We are putting all our efforts together to push them back," he said. Kunduz, which fell briefly to the Taliban a year ago, has seen repeated bouts of h... more »
"A Haunting, Inescapable Riddle...:
*I.* "At my father's club, sitting before the fire, we had spoken of 'moments made eternity', meaning what are called timeless moments, moments precisely without the pressure of time -moments that might be called, indeed, timeful moments. And we had clearly understood that the pressure of time was our nearly inescapable awareness of an approaching terminus- the bell about to ring, the holiday about to end, the going down from Oxford foreseen... Life itself is pressured by death, the final terminus. Socrates refused to delay his own death for a few more hours: perhaps he knew that t... more »
Musical Interlude: Vangelis, “Starstuff”
Vangelis, “Starstuff” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjNgwF8QLTw
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Almost every object in the above photograph is a galaxy. The Coma Cluster of Galaxies pictured above is one of the densest clusters known - it contains thousands of galaxies. Each of these galaxies houses billions of stars - just as our own Milky Way Galaxy does. Although nearby when compared to most other clusters, light from the Coma Cluster still takes hundreds of millions of years to reach us. *Click image for larger size.* In fact, the Coma Cluster is so big it takes light millions of years just to go from one side to the other! Most galaxies in Coma and other clusters are ell... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "Do You Remember?"
*"Do You Remember?"* "Do you remember still the falling stars that like swift horses through the heavens raced and suddenly leaped across the hurdles of our wishes - do you recall? And we did make so many! For there were countless numbers of stars: each time we looked above we were astounded by the swiftness of their daring play, while in our hearts we felt safe and secure watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate, knowing somehow we had survived their fall." - Rainer Maria Rilke
“Some Things You Need To Know”
*“Some Things You Need To Know”* by Marc “I know you’re reading this. And I want you to know I’m writing this for you. Others will be confused. They will think I’m writing this for them. But I’m not. This one’s for you. I want you to know that life is not easy. Every day is an unpredictable challenge. Some days it can be difficult to simply get out of bed in the morning. To face reality and put on that smile. But I want you to know, your smile has kept me going on more days than I can count. Never forget that, even through the toughest times, you are incredible. You really are. So... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Tangerang, Jawa Barat, Indonesia. Thanks for stopping by.
“A Thief In The Night of America”
*“A Thief In The Night of America”* by Michael Kindt “Let’s say you’re trying to fix your screen door. Last night, let’s say, it was terribly windy and the door came open and flapped back and forth uselessly, much like a politician’s tongue. Perhaps you were away visiting family or something and weren’t home to halt the destruction. So the screen door is all loose and a little bent and will no longer shut. It’s hanging there, screaming WHITE TRASH to the neighborhood. So you go to work on it with a Phillips screwdriver, trying to tighten the hinges, but it’s very difficult. You ca... more »
Picture Of The Day
*Honoring Pilots* Air Force officers lift a piano into a burning pit at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Sept. 23, 2016. The military burns pianos every year in memory of the pilots from World War II's Battle of Britain who never came home. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes
German Politicians Are Accusing The US Of Waging ‘Economic War’ Over Deutsche Bank
A Deutsche Bank logo adorns a wall at the company's headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany June 9, 2015. REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski/File Photo *CNBC/Financial Times*: *US accused of waging ‘economic war’ over Deutsche* German politicians have accused the U.S. of waging economic war against Germany as concern continues to rise among the country’s political and corporate elite over the future of Deutsche Bank, its biggest lender. Some of Germany’s top industrial chiefs have also rallied to the bank’s side following the market storm that last week threatened to engulf Deutsche, stressing its ... more »
What Does German Heritage Mean To You?
Trump says he's not a racist; he says he's the least racist man in the entire universe. He did tell a crowd at one of his hate rallies in Indiana though, that he believes all Americans of Kenyan descent should be deported back to Kenya, including President Obama. He said, for example, that "Africans are lazy fools, only good at eating, lovemaking and thuggery... In my opinion most of these African countries ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance." He doesn't feel the same way about Germans, the country hi... more »
Examining Cthulhu Mythos Tales Through a Pulp Lens
As I embark on a Pulp Cthulhu game, albeit one set in the late Victorian era, I've been thinking about what really differs between a pulp-oriented game vs. a purist one. The answer is surprisingly flexible. There is a style of play that embraces the belief that all the characters are, quite simply, doomed. They are in a race between dying, going insane, or living long enough to see the end of the world. And Lovecraft certainly wrote a number of stories in that way - "Dagon" comes to mind quite readily. On the other hand, in many ways "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" has a strong touch... more »
Pentagon Paid A British PR Firm $540mn To Make Fake Al Qaeda Videos During The Iraq War
*Crofton Black & Abigail Fielding-Smith of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism/Daily Beast: **Pentagon Paid for Fake ‘Al Qaeda’ Videos* A controversial foreign PR firm known for representing unsavory characters was paid millions by the Pentagon to create fake terrorist videos. The Pentagon gave a controversial UK PR firm over half a billion dollars to run a top secret propaganda program in Iraq, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism can reveal. Bell Pottinger’s output included short TV segments made in the style of Arabic news networks and fake insurgent videos which could be ... more »
Philippine President: China, Russia Supportive When He Complained About The U.S.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte leaves the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva *Reuters*: *Philippines' Duterte says China, Russia supportive when he complained of U.S.* Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Sunday he had received support from Russia and China when he complained to them about the United States, in another broadside that could test his increasingly fragile alliance with Washington. Duterte said that during a meeting on the sidelines of a leaders' summit in Laos last month, Russian Prime Minist... more »
Hungarians Vote 98% Against EU Migrant Quotas, But Low Turnout Invalidates The Result
*Reuters*: *Big majority of Hungarians rejected migrant quotas but vote invalid* Almost all Hungarians who voted in Sunday's referendum rejected the European Union's migrant quotas but turnout was too low to make the poll valid, frustrating Prime Minister Viktor Orban's hopes of a clear victory with which to challenge Brussels. Hungary's maverick right-wing leader, whose hardline policy on migration has been criticized by human rights groups but is popular at home, nevertheless said EU policymakers should heed the "outstanding" referendum outcome. Orban said more Hungarians had ... more »
Voters In Colombian Reject Peace Deal With FARC Rebels
People wait in line to enter an electoral voting center during a referendum on a peace deal between the government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, in Bogota, Colombia, October 2, 2016. REUTERS/Felipe Caicedo *Wall Street Journal:* *Colombian Voters Reject Peace Deal With Rebels* *Narrow dismissal of accord with FARC is a blow to President Santos, thrusting nation into uncertainty* BOGOTÁ, Colombia—Voters rejected a peace accord between President Juan Manuel Santos and a Marxist rebel group that would have ended 52 years of conflict, a startling outcome th... more »
Curled Paper Pumpkins and Tissue Box Monsters
This last weekend, I owed my daughter a mommy/daughter date. The problem? We had a jammed packed schedule and no time to actually make it happen. I asked if she would love to spend an hour with me at home crafting and snacking and she happily agreed. We made two different easy and fun crafts including Rolled Paper Pumpkins and Monster Tissue Boxes. We had a blast giggling, laughing, painting and snacking of Goldfish crackers. It was easily one of the best mommy/daughter dates ever and it required very little prep or supplies! Our first craft was these rolled paper pumpkins. We... more »
Quote of the Day: On broad expertise
*“Expertise in one field does not carry over into other fields. But experts often think so. The narrower their field of knowledge the more likely they are to think so."* ~ Robert Heinlein [Hat tip Phil Oliver] . Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with attribution.
Brazil's Leftist Parties Hammered In Local Elections
A man uses a biometric reader during municipal elections in Sao Luis, Brazil, October 2, 2016. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino *DW*: *Brazil's leftist Workers' Party loses control of Sao Paulo in municipal elections* Brazil's leftist Workers' Party has lost badly in Sao Paulo, the country's biggest city, in a vote seen as a preview of the 2018 presidential election. The country is beset by its worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Brazil's Workers' Party lost control of Sao Paulo city hall in municipal elections on Sunday in a major setback. With more than 90 percent of the votes tallie... more »
Venezuela's Political/Social/Economic Crisis Continues
*CNN:* *China is cutting off cash to Venezuela* Venezuela can't pluck leaves off China's money tree anymore. After pouring billions into Venezuela over the last decade, China is cutting off new loans to the Latin American nation. It's a major reversal of relations between the two nations, experts say. It also comes at the worst time for Venezuela, which is spiraling into an economic and humanitarian crisis. "China is not especially interested in loaning more money to Venezuela," says Margaret Myers, a director at Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington research group that tracks lo... more »
Chet Raymo, “Under the Surface”
*“Under the Surface”* by Chet Raymo “Somewhere, in something I have written, I recall quoting with approval this passage from Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire: “For my own part I am pleased enough with surfaces- in fact they alone seem to me to be of much importance. Such things for example as the grasp of a child's hand in your own, the flavor of an apple, the embrace of a friend or lover, the silk of a girl's thigh, the sunlight on rock and leaves, the feel of music, the bark of a tree, the abrasion of granite and sand, the plunge of clear water into a pool, the face of the wind- ... more »
Forward Taiwan: Latest NDC Proposals on Liberalization of Laws related to Foreigners
*Threading our way through the mass of downed trees and debris on a forest road near Sanyi.* This was posted to Forward Taiwan's Facebook page. Very important stuff here.... because it is long I have posted it below the READ MORE line. *++++++++++++++++++* National Development Council’s Plan to Create an Environment for Retention of Talent in Taiwan FORWARD TAIWAN 。 向前台灣·MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 Introduction This note translates the various proposals made by the National Development Council to the Executive Yuan on September 1 2016. It is divided into an introduction followed by t... more »
Trumpy-The-Clown, Agent Of Change? Nope, Though Much Of The Establishment Doesn't Especially Like Him
I want to go back to today's early morning post-- the one about coming to grips with an unpleasant truth, namely that the candidate of the status quo is, in the current presidential race, significantly less horrible than the candidate who has embraced some kind of change. Trump is trying to pass himself off as an agent of change, wholesale. New Yorkers aren't buying it; New Yorkers know a con man when they see one. But, aside from the self-loathing deplorables who are so miserable in life that they just want the world to end, Trump's fan-base is largely made up of folks in the hin... more »
(Missing HST More Every Day) Trump Vs. Clinton: Conflicts of Interest in the Kingdom of Despair During America's Purposely Unwinnable Wars? (You'll Never Fix the Economy Without Fixing U.S. Health Care System)
Fear and Dislike at the Polls "We had the presidential debate of the century this week… Marxist hacks in the mainstream media declared Clinton the winner. The alt-right media called it for Trump. I scored it a tie, with the country as the ultimate loser. . . Yeah, I know. I already was thinking of HST every *!!!***!! day. . . . there are plenty of good people on the Left – Adolph Reed, Noam
Space Week Event at BIW
Yesterday about 35 of us gathered in Bath, Maine for our Keep Space for Peace Week event in solidarity with others around the world. At Bath Iron Works (BIW) the Navy Aegis destroyer is built that is outfitted with so-called 'missile defense' systems which are key elements in Pentagon first-strike attack planning. The interceptor missiles on-board these ships are the 'shield' that would be used to knock out Russian or Chinese retaliatory strikes after a US first-strike. In 2008 the Navy used an Aegis destroyer's interceptor missile to knock a failed US satellite out of the sky de... more »
Higher taxes and bigger government (still) don't foster economic growth
*[image: Mitchell1]* *Every politician avoids paying taxes themselves, when they can, but nearly without exception all can be heard arguing the fallacy that taxes foster economic prosperity. They don’t. They never did. Daniel Mitchell exposes the popular fallacy in this guest post.* I must be perversely masochistic because I have the strange habit of reading reports issued by international bureaucracies such as the International Monetary Fund,World Bank, United Nations, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. But one tiny silver lining to this dark cloud is ... more »
"The World is on the Edge of a Deflationary Black Hole"
*"The World is on the Edge of a Deflationary Black Hole"* by Egon von Greyerz "The world economy is now at its most dangerous point in history. In virtually every major country or region, there are problems of a magnitude which individually could trigger a collapse of the financial system. Because of the interconnectivity of the system, when the first domino starts falling, there is zero possibility to stop all the other unstable dominoes from crashing one after the other in quick succession. The world is now staring down a deflationary black hole that is on the verge of sucking in... more »
Allegedly: US offers Turkey support to set up safe-zone in exchange for halting clashes with YPG
The offer was* alleged *to have been made at the UN this past September 20th. Yet, it takes 12 days for this story to break,* just in time for this weeks media cycle.* *I flat out do not believe this news/claim as it has been presented.* And, am of the mind *this nonsensical* story is/will be used to present Turkey as uncooperative & belligerent. While, undoubtedly, be employed to further expand the negative aspect/cult of personality narrative that has been created against Turkey’s President. *Notice that this news comes hot on the heels of reports of a second coup/colour revo... more »
Book Watch: "The Pleasures of Reading Stephen King" have a lot to do with the kind of writing he's set out to do
*As much as any writer who's ever written, Stephen King knows how to grab and hold readers' attention and keep them coming back for more -- and he keeps on giving them their money's worth.* *by Ken* On Friday I began looking at "George Plimpton, Stephen King, and how it can help us readers to know what category of writing we're reading," with the caveat: "I'm not going to tell you "how it can help us readers to know what category of writing we're reading." Rather I'm advancing -- or, more accurately, baldly asserting -- that it can help us readers to know what category of writing ... more »
Pentagon Paid UK PR Firm $540mn To Create Fake Terrorist Videos
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has revealed how the Pentagon paid a British PR firm over half a billion dollars to run a top secret propaganda programme in Iraq PR firm Bell Pottinger, known for its controversial clients including the Saudi government and Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet’s foundation, worked with the US military to create fake terrorist videos in Iraq in a secretive operation. As the Iraqi insurgency raged at the height of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, fake Al Qaeda propaganda videos were being manufactured inside a highly-secured building at a U.S. military ... more »
Theresa May: Brexit Means Wrexit
If politics is war by less violent, constitutional means, it follows that truth fares no better in the peaceful competition between interests. This is especially the case when politics is staking out new territory. If one can define what a problem or challenge is, your solutions, such as they are, have a certain credibility from the off while everyone else plays catch up. Consider the deficit determinism Dave's administration served up for for six years, and scored him a general election result too. The truth didn't matter. By linking the crisis in the public finances with alleged ... more »
Further opinions
The BBC's Norman Smith tweets: Guido Fawkes responds:
Russian "Emergency Ministry" Announces Massive Drill Today!
Further to my Transpicuous News Update earlier today, ..... With everything else I talked about this morning, now, just hours ago, the Russian Emergency Ministry has just announced a MASSIVE drill to be played out Oct 4-7th 2016. With just 2 days warning, Russia is mobilising 40 million people, more than 200.000 rescue and recovery specialists units, and more than 50.000 pieces of equipment.... .... for a "Drill"? With just 2 days notice? ........... Ummmmmm, have I mentioned that I don't believe in coincidences? d [image: Emergencies Ministry to organize all-Russian civil d... more »
The New York Times and Washington Post just proved that I can still be shocked by despicable behavior...
*and the libtards call us deplorable?* The New York Times took the bait and printed personal tax returns of Donald, and his then wife Marla, in their shabby little newspaper. *Message to New York Times:* You're as dumb as stumps. No one cares about 20 year old tax returns. Lame Cherry: [...]What is being missed in this, is Donald Trump personally guaranteed, with his own money, almost a billion dollars in over 3 billion in debt caused by the Clinton economy. No one in business does this, as it makes paupers out of the rich, but Mr. Trump stands behind his business and that mean... more »
Smiley face (or part-face)
A classic Radio 4 *Sunday *feature this morning: We heard from Muslim headscarf-wearing Rayouf explaining "why this matters to her", then BBC presenter William Crawley talked to Vyv Evans, professor of linguistics at Bangor University, about emojis and religion. William worried about the "danger" that someone might combine such an emoji with the head of a dog.... ...presumably this sort of thing... .... "which would be offensive to many people" .... .... but wondered if "an emoji hijab on a smartphone" might "actually change how some people see hijabs in the real world". Prof. E... more »
"White Helmet" "Save Aleppo" Protest Proves How Easy it is to Dress Up Actors as "War Victims"
*October 3, 2016* (Tony Cartalucci - LD) - Recent protests held across North America and Europe staged by supporters of armed militants in Syria have staged scenes in Western streets eerily similar to those featured in the photos and videos of the US-European funded "Syrian Civil Defence" also known as the "White Helmets." *Image: This is not Aleppo, Syria, but rather the streets of Europe where a recent "save Aleppo" protest was staged. Actors posing in fake dust and blood proved just how easy it is for anyone to create "war victims" anytime, anywhere. * Saudi state media, Al Arab... more »
German Mayor Clubbed Unconscious For Supporting Refugees
The mayor of a small town in northern Germany has been beaten unconscious by unknown assailants after announcing plans to house a family of asylum seekers. The 61-year-old German mayor is recovering in hospital. Xenophobic attacks are on the rise and people are joining far-right Neo-Nazi groups in protest to Angela Merkel’s open door policy on refugees entering Germany. An influx of over one million migrants from North Africa and the Middle East into Germany has brought with it a wave of crime and rising nationalism. Zero Hedge reports: The most recent example of backlash over the... more »
Sumerians In Iraq Invented Space Travel Says Iraq’s Transport Minister
An Iraqi minister claimed that the ancient Sumerians travelled to Pluto in spaceships thousands of years ago. Iraq’s Transport Minister Kazem Finjan, told reporters, that the ancient civilization built world’s first airport in Iraq in 5000 BC. Iraq Transport Minister: Sumerians built world’s first airports & flew spaceships from southern Iraq to discover other planets (5000yrs ago) pic.twitter.com/WOhbyS7NGU — Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) September 29, 2016 The Sumerians represent the oldest known civilization in Iraq that reached its peak in 2,700-2,400 BC . It is believed ... more »
thank you, vin scully!
The Red Sox are cruising into the postseason, something I didn't think I'd see during the dog days of summer. Our beloved Big Papi is saying goodbye with a chart-topping season, fans all over the country enjoying a glut of Ortizmania. But truly, the most momentous baseball story this season is the farewell of Dodgers announcer Vin Scully. The man has been calling Dodgers' games -- solo -- for *67 seasons*. And throughout, he's been setting a standard for excellence that no one else approaches. The Dodgers are my nominal "other team," but my love and appreciation of Scully has littl... more »
Kipling's Indian Adventure
One of the problems of being a blogger on a subject like this is that it fill up too much of what little spare time you have and, as a result, you miss BBC programmes you might have actually enjoyed. One of the advantages of being a blogger on a subject like this, however, is that you keep an eye on certain sites and Twitter feeds and, thus, find out about BBC programmes that you missed and *wouldn't* enjoy....and, more rarely, a BBC programme you missed and *would *enjoy. This profoundly important philosophical insight (almost worthy of Bertrand Russell Brand) arose after I saw ... more »
The Guardian’s “100 Months To Save The World”
By Paul Homewood https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/aug/01/climatechange.carbonemissions Eight years ago, the Guardian launched its “100 months to save the world” campaign, a series of monthly posts by Andrew Simms. The basic message of that first article was that we were all doomed unless we transformed our economy to look something like Cuba’s. It is worth emphasising […]
Facebook, Twitter, Western Media Attempt to Reassert Monopoly Over "Truth"
A network whose members have literally ended the lives of millions with their lies, propose to police the web and verify the truth. *October 3, 2016* (Ulson Gunnar - NEO) - In a surreal and stunning example of 21st century propaganda and censorship, Google has cobbled together a coalition it is calling "First Draft" to tackle what it calls *"misinformation online." * First Draft's "founding partners" include News Corporation's (parent company of Fox News) Storyful and NATO think tank Atlantic Council's "Bellingcat" blog, headed by formally unemployed social worker Eliot Higgins ... more »
Why Do Conservative Incumbents Always Fear Debates? Take Wisconsin...
The results of last Monday's debate between Trump and Clinton show something different than just why conservatives don't like debates. Those results-- demonstrated again just a couple of hours ago in an ABC News/*Washington Post* poll released this morning-- show why an ill-prepared, adderall-fueled sociopath spouting conservative talking points he could remember, should probably skip debates... or any public appearance in front of people with 3-digit IQs. The big takeaway from the ABC poll is that, post-debate, 64% of Americans now express an unfavorable opinion of Trump, up 5 po... more »
A BBC expert
"A prophet of intolerance", according to the BBC's Nick Thorpe In between the previous two items on referendums on *The World This Weekend* came a report on today's Hungarian referendum by the BBC's Central Europe correspondent (and blog favourite) Nick Thorpe. Loyal followers of *ITBB *will know that Nick isn't afraid to express a strong opinion in the course of his BBC reporting (notwithstanding BBC impartiality guidelines). He's been quite vocal about Brexit recently (and clearly isn't keen), but has been even more opinionated about the migrant crisis, especially as regards w... more »
Untitled
*North Rampart streetcars finally a go: Riders to board new line on Sunday ~Jessica Williams, N.O. Advocate * *Volunteers gather to rebuild homes across NOLA~WWLTV* *Piedmont Wind Symphony getting a jump on Mardi Gras ~Lynn Felder, Winston-Salem Journal* *“New Orleans was the most musically vibrant city in the country at that time. You could go see a different opera seven days a week, even on Sunday,” ~Mathew Troy, music director.* *Music Box Village, NOLA's most unique music venue opens ~Doug MacCash*
Israel Seals Off Palestinian Territories Ahead Of Jewish New Year
Citing safety concerns ahead of he Jewish new year, Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip borders. Amid preparations for the new year celebrations, Israel also approved plans for the construction of another 98 homes for settlers in the occupied West Bank RT reports: The border closure took effect on Sunday at 12:01am. Only in the cases of medical and “humanitarian” emergencies will people be allowed to cross the borders, with the prior approval of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The Rosh Hashanah ho... more »
Another expert
The same edition of *The World This Weekend*, incidentally, discussed the present Colombian referendum to ratify the peace treaty between the Colombian government and the communist FARC rebels. This segment took the form of a talk by a professor of Latin American studies at Newcastle University, Nick Morgan. Prof. Morgan said of referendums, "Appeals to emotion rather than to rational argument are typical of campaigns of this sort", thus echoing, in advance, the programme's closing discussion. His take on Colombian affairs sounded anti-American, anti-Uribe (the previous right-w... more »
The Making of U.S. War Base on Diego Garcia
As Keep Space for Peace Week begins a conference is being held on Mauritius by the people removed from Diego Garcia by the Americans in order to take over the atoll for a US war base. This is just one story amongst many showing how the US has destroyed the lives of people around the world in order to build the Pentagon imperial war machine. Here are the conference details: *Port Louis, Mauritius (Oct 1-2)* LALIT 2nd Action Conference called “Diego Garcia: 50 Years’ Occupation & Banishment, 50 Year’s Struggle”. Topics include: The secret history of the U.S. Military Base on Diego... more »
Sphere Alliance Message #207 The Van Allen Belts and the South American Anomaly
I saw this article at Spaceweather.com, found it very interesting how it centers on the Patagonia region of South America, which is a region known to be the one where the former Nazi paperclip scientists and fugitives from World War II are known to be. So it sparked a question as to what this exactly is... From http://spaceweather.com NEW MAPS OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC ANOMALY: Researchers have long known that one of the van Allen Radiation Belts dips down toward Earth over South America, creating a zone of high radiation called "The South Atlantic Anomaly" (SAA). Since its discove... more »
Terror War on Truth
*Independent Journalist Vanessa Beeley* *on Why Everything the Western Media says* *about Syria is a lie* The above video is a "must watch" *interview with journalist photographer Vanessa Beeley*. Daughter of a British diplomat to the Middle East, Vanessa has been following Middle Eastern issues for a long time and recently travelled to Syria and investigated what is going on in Aleppo and who are the so-called "White Helmets". She describes how 600,000 Syrians who formerly lived in East Aleppo fled to West Aleppo after the terrorists took over East Aleppo and the rest of the civi...more »
Experts
Today's *The World This Weekend *had a closing segment on referendums. The final interview was with "an expert on referendums" (as Mark Mardell introduced him), Dr Matt Qvortrup of Coventry University. The good professor didn't sound overly keen on them, only praising the non "populist" exceptions-to-the-rule, such as the referendums in California where voters vote *for *tax rises (which Dr Qvortrup called a "good effect"), thus proving themselves "wise". The serious BBC bias point is that Mark Mardell seemed to be pursuing an angle here: *Mark Mardell*: And the danger for poli... more »
Mohawk Nation News 'Onondaga 15 Counting Coup'
“ONONDAGA 15” COUNTING COUP Posted on October 2, 2016 Please post & distribute. MNN. Oct. 2, 2016. In the Syracuse Federal Court the “onondaga15” threw in the towel on the “its-no-use” trial. They closed the case before DA Mulvey started his defense of the NYS “I-81 INDIAN Detail”. Judge Frederick Scullin wouldn’t allow most of the evidence against them into the case. The plaintiffs
Clinton Mocks Sanders Supporters In Leaked Recording
According to a leaked audio, Hillary Clinton describes supporters of her once-rival and now-ally, Bernie Sanders, as “children of the Great Recession,” who are “living in their parents’ basement” The remarks were made during a private meeting with fundraisers, an audio from which was leaked following an email hack. RT reports: “There’s just a deep desire to believe that we can have free college, free healthcare, that what we’ve done hasn’t gone far enough, and that we just need to, you know, go as far as, you know, Scandinavia, whatever that means, and half the people don’t know w... more »
Musings On Iraq In The News
I was quoted in Lawfare’s Middle East Ticker on the dismissal of Iraq’s Finance Minister Zebari.
Editor's Note
I have a gazillion chores to do today. Blogging will return tonight.
An audition for Apocalypse, The Musical
Thanks for the memory Of butterfly and bird Whose songs we barely heard Our propensity for multiplicity Our egos so absurd How selfish it was Thanks for the memory Of nature that we spoiled How determinedly we toiled For acid seas And dying trees Stewardship we foiled How greedy it was We thought we were the crown of creation Or at least the pinnacle of evolution We wonder if we’ve destroyed it That’s extinction I guess There’s no redress Thanks for the memory Of atmospheric pollution Of climatic dissolution And delicious megafauna Who knew of any limitation? Thanks Earth, so much Th... more »
Tory Cynicism and the Work Capability Assessment
When I used to write letters to ministers for a living, it struck me that Damian Green was relatively decent. Well, if you ignore the appalling voting record, the missives we got back from the civil servant who scribbled his letters in immigration suggested he was a reasonable bloke, albeit one hemmed in by the politics he chose to associate himself with. This was entirely of a different character to his predecessor at the Department for Work and Pensions. Iain Duncan Smith's letters cadenced his cruelty with evangelism and zealotry. Now Damian Green has taken over from the execrab... more »
Surprise potential false flag data flow while working with Loie Viewed on September 30, 2016
Not an actual photo, nor the exact location or position, for illustrative purposes only. *Terran note: **The following was an unexpected diversion from the flow of information from Source. I was attempting to go review some data on a Galactic/Earth reunion party but got shifted to another subject while working with the heart data flow. * *I've only had this a few times, one of which was real time in Siberia at a hidden SSP base. This one concerned SSP built metallic "cigar ship" UFOs. A couple of months ago I spotted one flying over Texas, Stan X told me all such ships were SS... more »
Untitled
*From Jenna Orkin* A sheriff's department put reporters through police shooting scenarios to show them 'the difficulty of a split-second decision'Report: Walmart Workers Cost Taxpayers $6.2 Billion In Public Assistance10 survival myths that might get you killedThe US just added the first set of bees to the endangered species listGary Johnson's running mate said no one is 'more qualified than Hillary Clinton to be president'One pill can cost $1,000. These are the 10 most expensive drugs in the USThe USA Imports Record Amounts of Gold from SwitzerlandSecret Swiss Military Bunkers Bei... more »
Orwellian Double Speak from UK's Theresa May on Brexit repeal of EU laws
*When is a repeal not a repeal and the "unwind" unwinds nothing? When Theresa May says it!* *"The pledge by the prime minister means the UK will leave the EU by spring 2019, before the next general election, with the prime minister also announcing plans for a 'great repeal bill' to incorporate all EU regulations in UK law as soon as Brexit takes effect."* https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/01/theresa-may-to-propose-great-repeal-bill-to-unwind-eu-laws
Sleep Walking Toward WW III
Here is a video about about why and how the madmen in the State Department, Pentagon and Congress are pushing us to the brink of war with Russia and Syria. Can we begin to realize that virtually every bit of news, every word, that comes from the western media is a corporate war machine planted story? They have one intention - to neutralize the public outrage and the peace movement and sell endless war. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and Syria - it is all the same story! People must stop buying the endless lies..... Bruce
GAIA PORTAL: Tenders enter the unscripted pages
* Tenders enter the unscripted pages* by ÉirePort Tenders enter the unscripted pages. Lenterics come to show at all events. Stellar principles are followed. Absolutes are monitored and elected. Fellowships return. ÉirePort | October 2, 2016 at 11:11 | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p2sFUY-Ah
Colombians Vote Today On Peace Agreement With FARC Rebels
*Washington Post:* *Colombians vote on historic peace agreement with FARC rebels* BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s day of reckoning has arrived. Voters in this nation of 50 million go to the polls Sunday to approve or reject the government’s peace accord with leftist FARC guerrillas and bring an end the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere. With polls scheduled to close at 5 p.m. Eastern time, results are expected by early Sunday evening. Colombians face a stark yes-or-no choice. A win for the peace deal would set in motion the demobilization and disarmament of nearly 5,800... more »
Northerntruthseeker Rant For Sunday, October 2nd, 2016
[image: rant-jpeg-b] Sunday... First Sunday of this October... And time once again for my weekly rant... First, I have received some emails and comments over the last few days asking why I have concentrated so much of my recent articles on the "civil war" in Syria... Honestly, are these people kidding me? This fight for Syria is absolutely paramount right now, and what we are seeing happening in Syria right now could be the lead in to a new world war..... Yes, the Syrian war to free itself from the evil US/Israel/NATO criminal cabal has indeed taken a turn for the worse for the ... more »
"Hope In a Time of Hopelessness"
*"Hope In a Time of Hopelessness"* by Washingtons Blog "Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are." - Augustine of Hippo "Several long-time activists have told me recently they are overwhelmed, worried, and think that we may be losing the struggle. One very smart friend asked me if there is any basis for hope. Hope is an act of will, not a passive mood. Admittedly, things are easier when circumstances bring hope to us, and we can just receive the hopeful and inspirin... more »
Video Of Syrian Rebels Taunting U.S. Troops Was A Publicity Stunt
*Michael Weiss, Daily Beast*: *Syrian Rebels Taunt U.S. Troops* Did Turkish-backed jihadis threaten to kill U.S. soldiers in Syria? Or was it a carefully crafted publicity stunt? “Dogs!” the bearded fighters shouted. “American agents!” “No to the Christian coalition!” “Down with America and all the countries that side with America!” “Pigs!” These were just some of the choice epithets hurled at U.S.-backed Syrian forces—and U.S. advisors among them—as their convoy passed through the border town of al-Rai in Aleppo province earlier this month. *Read more* .... *Previous Post:* *... more »
White House Reviewing Options On Syria
President Barack Obama is photographed through the window as he speaks in the Oval Office during a conference call at the White House in Washington, June 2, 2014. *VOA*: *White House Options Grim as Syria Spirals Downward* WHITE HOUSE — Exactly one year after Russia began its air campaign to help Bashar al-Assad’s government crush opposition rebels, Syria continues a hellish descent into chaos, carnage and devastation. The White House still has no effective plan to stop it and there are no good options either, experts said. Moscow marked the anniversary on Friday by signaling it w... more »
Syrian Army Prepares For A Final Assault On Rebel-Held Aleppo
*Reuters:* *Syria presses Aleppo advance, as U.N. says hospitals near collapse* Syrian government and allied forces advanced north of Aleppo, pressing their week-long offensive to take the insurgent-held part of the city after dozens of overnight air strikes hit the besieged eastern sector, state media and a monitor said on Sunday. The Syrian military, supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air power, began their offensive to take control of the whole of the divided city of Aleppo after a week-long ceasefire broke down last month. An initial air campaign by Syrian governme... more »
7 Healing Uses For Lavender Essential Oil by Margie King
7 Healing Uses For Lavender Essential Oil by Margie King Green Med Info. 15 September 2015 *Lavender has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2,500 years. Today lavender is the most popular essential oil in the world. Here are just 7 proven uses for this amazing oil. * Lavender (*Lavandula angustifolia*) has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2,500 years especially in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ancient Persians, Greeks, and Romans added lavender flowers to their bathwater. The name itself comes from the Latin “*lavare*” meaning to wash. The Egyptians used lavend... more »
Sunday Morning Live on antisemitism
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, *Sunday Morning Live *this morning discussed antisemitism. The guests were Edwina Currie, Lord Digby Jones, interfaith advisor and imam Qari Asam, and Dr Deesha Chadha from the Faiths Forum for London. Lord Jones was particularly powerful on the obscenity of the situation we now find ourselves in over antisemitism and warned that if we don't stamp it out now we'll be back in 1939 before we know it. He called on Jeremy Corbyn to move from words to actions and get serious on rooting out antisemitism from the Labour Party, and to stop encouraging antisemit... more »
Economic News , Data & Views......October 2 , 2016...... Quick hits For Sunday......1) European Bank Woes In Focus . 2) Spain's Political Scene Shifts As Sanchez Shockingly Resigns - Way Paved For Center- Right PP Gov't. 3) Greece Items Of Note. 4) UK In Focus - Article 50 Likely To Be Triggered By March 2017. 5) Turkey In Focus - Now Or Never For Turkey EU Accession And/Or Visa Free Travel , Syria Situation & PKK Concerns , Erdogan Purge Items. 6) Hungary Refugee Referendum - October 2 , 2016 - Background , Related Items & Results Once Available. 7) Odds & Ends.
European Banks..... *fred walton* @fredwalton216 now fred walton Retweeted Landon Thomas Jr. Risk gauge from NYU's Stern School Of Business - SYSTEMIC RISK ANALYSIS OF WORLD FINANCIALS ( US$1,197,485 million.) fred walton added, *Landon Thomas Jr.* @Landonthomasjr According to this risk gauge from NYU biz school. Deutsche needs $100 billion (!) to survive a market crisis. https:// vlab.stern.nyu.edu/analysis/RISK.WORLDFIN-MR.GMES#risk-graph … *CNBC NowVerified account* @CNBCnow 19m 19 minutes ago Talks between *Deutsche Bank*, DOJ continue but details in flux; no ... more »
Saudis Could Reveal Names Of Main 9/11 Players
The US is worried that the Saudis will reveal the names of the main players behind the September 11, 2001 attacks According to former CIA contractor, Steven Kelly, it looks as if the Saudis are going to name some of the “major players” behind the 9/11 attacks, claiming that Saudi Arabia was only “a minor player in the charade” “Saudi Arabia would certainly use their resources to show that they were actually, if anything, just a minor player in the charade,” Steven Kelley told Press TV on Saturday, adding that”Israel, the Zionist Mossad, the CIA, the NSA, the [former US president G... more »
Much, Much Greater Of Two Evils... Much
I spent much of my fifteenth year on earth stealing. I had a plan. Every day after school, I would go to the Woolworth's five and dime and steal something-- a packet of turnip seeds, a dish, a dish towel, a gardening implement, bug repellent... I carefully packed the loot in big boxes a shipped the boxes to myself care of Poste Restante in Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga. When I was 16 I waited for the school year to be finished-- that's the other side of me-- and I said goodbye to my parents and sisters and friends and headed out... for Tonga... forever. I had never been on a pl... more »
Untitled
*Educators accused of sexual misconduct often find new posts* Vermont Academy fired an assistant dean in 2007 for allegedly propositioning a 16-year-old female student in lewd text messages. Yet the boarding school still produced three recommendations for its former employee, and he landed a job months later at Wesleyan University in Connecticut — overseeing student sexual misconduct hearings. Brooks School in North Andover kicked a former admissions officer out of her campus residence in 1993 after she was accused of sexual misconduct with a male student. Even after her banishmen... more »
Untitled
*Greenie study comes to some awkward conclusions* *Some amusing stuff here. Ozone depletion is doing something new and nasty? What about the 1989 Montreal Protocol and the ozone hole? Hasn't the ozone hole mostly healed up by now? Instead of depleting, shouldn't the ozone be increasing? Is this report undermining the ozone hole story? It would appear that it is. And in one way, that's reasonable. The ozone hole waxes and wanes as it always has and its greatest extent was in fact in September last year. So the Montreal convention of which Greenies are so proud has i... more »
"Hard Brexit"
If you recall, last week's *The Andrew Marr Show *saw its host wrongly characterising "hard Brexit" as "whether we try and get out very quickly and don't be part of the Single Market, *have a complete block on immigration*". Martine Croxall on one of last night's BBC News Channel paper reviews mischaracterised it in a related way (at 7:25), describing it as "*shutting the borders* *and having no access*". In this case, however, Toby Young was one of her guests and pointed out that *no one*'s saying that we should 'shut the borders' and have '*no* access' to the Single Market.
Booker Exposes Wadhams’ Crackpot Theories
Booker in the Telegraph today: I know it is only two weeks since I last reported on Arctic ice, but the latest news from that front is even more remarkable. My theme then was those sad climate activists who regularly venture into the polar regions because they have been fooled into thinking […]
A Wadhams
By Paul Homewood A new term has entered the lexicon of measurements, the Wadhams. One Wadhams equals 1 million sq km, although at times it can also equal zero or 4.1 million sq km. (It is believed this may have something to do with the space and time continuum). Some have suggested […]
Transpicuous News: Yuan now a Global Reserve Currency, and everything else they didn't' report on this weekend!
While the media is whining about Brangelina and the Trump&Hillary circus act, there has been a LOT going on this weekend that they are being decidedly quiet about. End of the Shemitah Jubilee, Judaic New Year, Islamic New Year, Chinese National Golden Week Holiday..... Announcements by the IMF. Announcements by UK "Prime Minister" May, Announcements from the Turkish Government. Major meeting of the Jesuit order. "Apocalypse" in Syria.....and tomorrow sees a host of banking holidays. Oh Yes! A LOT of very interesting things are happening right now.... d Edited 10/2/2016 21... more »
Iran Unveils Attack Drone Based On Captured US RQ-170 Design
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a weaponized version of captured US spy drone. The ‘Thunderbolt’ drone is based on the design of the US RQ-170 Sentinel spy drone that Iran shot down and captured in 2011. RT.com reports: The drone has high endurance and can carry a payload of four smart guided bombs, Press TV reports. The aircraft is dubbed Saeqeh (Tunderbolt) and was made public on Saturday by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as part of an exhibition of advanced military hardware. The design of the new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is based o...more »
Media Blackout: Muslim Woman Set On Fire In New York City
A Muslim woman window shopping on New York City’s Fifth Avenue was set on fire by a stranger, in an unprovoked attack that the media refuses to cover. A stranger set her traditional Islamic gown, the veil, on fire and absconded from the scene. The police are looking for a male suspect. Islamophobia is spreading in the US and the media is putting the lid on it. AnonHQ reports: The media thought their silence could cover-up the incident. But it could not. We would report it. And we are reporting it now. Islamophobia is spreading in Western countries, especially in the United States.... more »
A Farce of a Electoral “Consultation”?
Last week I posted the details of out local Mp's (Larry Miller) upcoming Telephone Town Hall re Electoral Reform not to promote him but to promote discussion about this important initiative. Well said teleconference is now history and the reports are in and they are not good. I had said in my previous post that I had little faith in Mr Miller accurately forwarding the broad range of opinion that could well ensue and that the number of folks actually getting to express their view would be limited. Apparently that will not be a problem in that allegedly those that wished to express a v... more »
Brexit means Brexit. What does Brexit mean? BREXIT!!!
Andrew Marr got himself a scoop this morning (though he didn't seem to immediately realise it) with Theresa May announcing on his show that Article 50 will be triggered before the end of next March. Mrs May herself put in an assured performance. She even made a point that hasn't been made often enough (and *never *made, as far as I can recall, by BBC presenters on programmes like *Newsnight*) - and it's a point that's highly relevant whenever embittered Remain voters complain (sometimes sarcastically) about parliamentary sovereignty being overruled by a plebiscite, thereby sugges... more »
Tom Hanks Accredits the Memes - Philadelphia (1994)
*Philadelphia is the (vaguely True) story of a gay man who got wrongfully dismissed and fired from his law firm (he says) because he had AIDS - who didn't have AIDS when they fired him.* *He had Karposi Sarcoma. Which is not AIDS. It's a skin cancer * For America's most trusted leading man Tom Hanks' seminal first Oscar-winning performance as a corporate lawyer, struggling to win back his peer group respect and dignity and triumph in a wrongful dismissal suit brought against his old firm's senior partners before succumbing to terminal AIDS, Hanks' iconic and breakthrough perfor... more »
The Voice Of The Downtrodden
Someone recently sent the *New York Times* a brown envelope which contained photocopies of three pages from Donald Trump's 1995 tax returns. Not much, given Trump's voluminous tax records. But 1995 was a disastrous year for Trump. He declared a $916 million loss for that year. The *Times *reports: The 1995 tax records, never before disclosed, reveal the extraordinary tax benefits that Mr. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, derived from the financial wreckage he left behind in the early 1990s through mismanagement of three Atlantic City casinos, his ill-fated foray into the... more »
On Syria
Here's a thought-provoking piece by Peter Hitchens in today's *Mail on Sunday*. Is he right?: If a small army of Islamist terror fanatics makes its base in a crowded city, and will not let women and children leave, it is very hard to know what to do. For instance, the Iraqi army was faced with this problem in 2014 when it sought to recapture the city of Fallujah from Jihadists. Nouri al-Maliki, then President of Iraq and so the West’s ally, used barrel bombs to fight ISIS terrorists in Fallujah. Pro-ISIS propaganda made much of the civilian deaths, but I don’t recall the USA, or t... more »
An opinion
On the subject of Jon Holmes getting the push:
On the show today...
On the day when *The Andrew Marr Show *is repeatedly discussing Brexit (including the 'Great Repeal Bill'), it's a bit puzzling to find that* all* the political voices on the programme - Matthew Parris, Anushka Asthana, (Sir) Craig Oliver and Theresa May - were Remain supporters. (Unless, of course, you're one of those people who thinks Mrs May was actually a secret Leave supporter all along).
Flooded Czech cave found to be the deepest one in the world
Czechia is a beautiful land, our anthem correctly points out, and there's a lot of cute architecture built on it. At the same moment, many people feel that the nature is an ultimate prototype of the "average place in the world". It's located in central Europe and the moderate climate zone. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the height of our highest peak has collapsed from 2855 to 1603 meters. We don't have the sea so the lowest-lying area isn't extreme, either. Hřensko (on the Elbe River) near the border with East Germany is the country's lowest-lying village, 115 meters abov... more »
Even harder to make up...
My goodness, *The Now Show *has finally delivered a funny *Hate Mail *punchline, after so many years of trying! Jon Holmes, the *Now Show *comedian sacked by the BBC for 'not being diverse enough' (i.e. too white, male and middle-class), has written an article moaning about it in, of all places, *The Mail on Sunday*. He asks, "Should I, as a white man (through no fault of my own), be fired from my job because I am a white man?"
“Afghanistan; It’s the Heroin, Stupid”
"Back home I busted people for drugs as a cop. Now I'm in Afghanistan guarding poppy fields." *“Afghanistan; It’s the Heroin, Stupid”* by Pepe Escobar “Here we go again. In yet another Pentagon precision strike, a residential building in Achin district of Nangarhar province was hit as a crowd welcomed home a tribal leader returning from the Hajj. At least 13 civilians were turned into “collateral damage”. The Pentagon of course does not “discuss the details of counter-terror operations”, but it’s currently "reviewing all materials related to this strike". Nothing obviously will com... more »
John Simpson: "We let our viewers and listeners down"
*Here's a post from early this morning, 'bumped up' to the top of the blog as it's a particularly striking example of BBC thinking:* And here's yet another senior BBC figure calling for the BBC to behave differently during electoral campaigns such as the EU referendum vote... The BBC's world editor John Simpson, speaking at the One Young World summit, told the Huffington Post: The BBC is obliged legally to be balanced between different political ideas and different political viewpoints. That enabled all sorts of people, on both sides, to lie their heads off about what would happen... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind IX: Lullaby”
Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind IX: Lullaby” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y23JgRyhZGU
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Stars are forming in Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) 1251. About 1,000 light-years away, the dusty molecular cloud is part of a complex of dark nebulae mapped toward the Cepheus flare region, drifting above the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. *Click image for larger size.* Across the spectrum, astronomical explorations of the obscuring interstellar clouds reveal energetic shocks and outflows associated with newborn stars, including the telltale reddish glow from scattered Herbig-Haro objects seen in this sharp image. Distant background galaxies also lurk on the scene, visually buried behind... more »
Chet Raymo, “The Thing With Feathers”
*“The Thing With Feathers”* by Chet Raymo “Hieronymus Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights" triptych has been the subject of musings here before, particularly between January 7 and 12, 2008 (see archive). The panels are so rich in imaginative detail that everyone can find some image that resonates with their personal life. The painting plumbs the human psyche, rummages among primeval archetypes, stirs up the murky depths of desolation and consolation. One could spend a lifetime grazing its lurid landscape. *Click image for larger size.* And here, tucked into a corner of the orgiasti... more »
How Badly Did Trump's Adderall-Fueled Debate Performance Hurt Him? And Will His Tax Shenanigans Matter?
Just over a month ago, I wrote about an Israeli-born friend of mine who is supporting Trump. Not only was he supporting Trump, he told me that the Jewish community he was involved in was entirely supporting Trump. He's a smart guy but he doesn't pay obsessively close attention to the presidential race the way we do here at *DWT*and, besides, he and his wife just had their second baby last week so, like most Americans, they've had their minds on more important things than following the intricacies of the presidential campaign. He came over yesterday and told me he had watched the d... more »
Four Directions All Nations March Denver 2016
American Indian Movement of Colorado and Transform Columbus Day Alliance Call on Denver Communities to Mobilize for Indigenous Liberation and Solidarity with Standing Rock AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF COLORADO and TRANSFORM COLUMBUS DAY ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE THE FOUR DIRECTIONS ALL
Free Download: "Mystical Poems of Rumi"
*"*You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings, Learn to use them, and fly." "What in your life is calling you, When all the noise is silenced, The meetings adjourned... The lists laid aside, And the Wild Iris blooms By itself in the dark forest... What still pulls on your soul?" - Rumi (1207 - 1273) ◆ "Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi was a 13th century Afghan poet and philosopher who heavily influenced both eastern a... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Mount Shasta, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"Ripples..."
"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F . Kennedy
"The Test..."
"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise." - F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Courage"
"Courage" by George Washington "It all comes down to courage... If you have courage, then you're willing to face that really stinky mess in the garage and clean it up. You have faith you can clean it up, because you've cleaned up other really stinky messes, or seen other people do it. In other words, you have faith because you have experience of succeeding in the past. Fat and Happy: We Americans have led a very pampered life for the past couple of decades. Sure, there has been inequality and exploitation, and some have had it a lot worse than others. But, other than stopping extre... more »
Schumer And The DC Dems Forced Strickland Down Ohio Democrats' Throats And Have Now Abandoned The State Entirely
Ohio has been the ultimate swing state. The state went narrowly for Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, narrowly for George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 and narrowly for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. Statewide, Democrats usually have a good shot to win-- unless they recruit, as they did this cycle, incompetent and unelectable candidates (see sad-sack establishment loser Ted Strickland). The biggest problem the state's Democratic establishment has-- aside from it's own miserable leadership-- is the endemic Republican gerrymandering that has made both houses of the state legislature and the... more »
The Fault In Our Political Deathstars
Had enough of the pornographic soap opera masquerading as the presidential election yet? Replace the fat-shamed Miss Universe saga with the real Universe. Instead of wallowing in Donald Trump's mean-spirited stupidity, soar to the tragic glorious heights of two star-crossed lovers. Ditch the soap opera and revel in some space opera. Maybe you missed this with all the dredging-up of the sex scandals of some pretty loathsome characters: A spacecraft named Rosetta finally consummated her long-distance relationship with her comet paramour. As so eloquently described by the *New Yor... more »
Leaked Kerry Audio Proves U.S. Planned Toppling Assad From Outset
Leaked audio of comments made by US Secretary of State John Kerry reveals that the White House planned to overthrow President Assad long before the conflict began in Syria. Dr. Jamal Wakeem, professor of history and international relations at Lebanese University in Beirut, says that the New York Times leak of the taped conversation between Kerry and two dozen Syrian civilians reveals the extend of Kerry’s anger at being unable to topple President Bashar Assad by military means. Rt.com reports: “I’ve argued for use of force. I stood up. I’m the guy who stood up and announced we’re... more »
FBI Seek Assistance From Anonymous Hacktivists
The FBI are seeking the help of hacktivist group Anonymous to help them track down those responsible for compromising the Centcom Twitter account. Both the Centom Twitter and YouTube channel were hacked by ISIS terrorists threatening US soldiers. Anonhq.com reports: Centcom is a “Theater-Level” unified combatant command that revolves around the United States Department of Defense. Centcom was set in motion in 1983, after the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force, otherwise known as RDJTF, was overhauled. The Centrom statement read “CENTCOM’s operational military networks were not com... more »
BWorld 81, No FIT for geothermal and other renewables, please
* This is my article in BusinessWorld last September 01, 2016 Expensive electricity via government price guarantee for 20 years is wrong. Business is about risks and returns, capitalism is about corporate expansion and bankruptcy, so there is no such thing as guaranteed price nor assured profit for many years in a competitive economy. Only politics and cronyism will try to negate the nature of competition and business reward and punishment. Last Aug. 17, 2016, it was reported here in BusinessWorld that Geothermal technologies sought to be included in FiT program. “The National Geo... more »
BWorld 81, Property rights are human rights
* This is my article in BusinessWorld last August 25, 2016. Private property and its protection is among the cornerstones of a free society. It bestows upon the individuals, households and enterprises exclusive rights what to do with their private property like a car or a piece of land -- use it, sell it, rent it out, or donate it. When private property rights are unprotected, society can quickly degenerate into chaos and disorder. Gangs and bullies can confiscate other people’s houses, cars, or shops, and the enterprising people will flee and escape such society and only the lazy,... more »
Who's Going To Sell You Out-- And Who Won't?
Yesterday, one of the "moderate" Democratic websites was pushing their readers to contribute money to conservative candidates by pretending those candidates are "progressives," a term which that particular website has been complicit in helping to make almost meaningless. They want grassroots progressives to help fund establishment Dems from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party-- garbage candidates like Patrick Murphy (New Dem-FL), Evan Bayh (Lobbyist-IN), and Ann Kirkpatrick (New Dem-AZ). (At least even *they* realized trying to sell Chuck Schumer's catastrophic Iowa girlfr... more »
Hillary Clinton Announces ‘National Service Reserve’ For Millennials
Hillary Clinton wants to enlist young Americans into her new national service program. She announced on Friday that she wants to enlist 5 million new volunteers into a “National Service Reserve” aimed at 18- to 30-year-olds. The proposal is part of her push to attempt to win over millennial voters RT reports: The Democratic presidential candidate announced the “National Service Reserve” plan on her campaign website on Friday. Clinton aims at recruiting five million Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 to help local, state and federal governments cope with a range of problems, “... more »
India To Deploy Nuclear Fighter Jets To China, Pakistan
China has warned that India are planning to deploy 36 nuclear fighter jets to the border regions of China and Pakistan, as tensions over the Kashmir crisis reach boiling point. The nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets will be acquired from France and will deployed in the disputed areas between Pakistan and China in an effort to assert authority in the region. The Times of India reports: A recent report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said India is the largest arms importer in the world, the newspaper said. Increased arms imports into the Asian region are... more »
The New World Order Just Seized Control Of The World Wide Web
Control of the World Wide Web was handed over to a New World Order controlled organisation last night, making it answerable to “international authorities” such as the U.N. On Friday night, the U.S. government handed over the reigns of the internet to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – a multi-stakeholder body that includes countries like China and Russia, and represents companies such as Facebook and Google. Last minute attempts to prevent the hand-over was blocked on Friday, after a Texas judge denied a request by Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texa... more »
Southern California Issue Major Earthquake Warning
A major earthquake warning has been issued to southern California after a succession of over 300 earthquakes above magnitude 4.0 were reported along the San Andrea’s fault line. An Earthquake Advisory warning says a major quake is likely to occur anytime between now and Tuesday 4 October. Residents and officials in Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern and Imperial counties have been told to take all necessary precautions for a major earthquake to strike. CBS reports: More than 140 seismic events have been recorded near Bombay Beach beginning Mo... more »
UN ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Escalating Pakistan-India Conflict
The UN has expressed “deep concern” over the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India due to the Kashmir crisis. A spokesperson for Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, said that he is, “deeply concerned over the significant increase in tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the recent developments, in particular, the reported cease-fire violations along the Line of Control“. The statement comes after fresh fire was exchanged between India and Pakistan on Saturday, with the Pakistani military insisting that their troops are responding to unprovo... more »
Annual Variability In Central England Temperature
By Paul Homewood According to climate “experts”, we need to limit global warming to 1.5C, measured from pre industrial times. We are told that we are already up to about 1.0C. But suppose we were to see another degree of warming, spread over the next century. Would we even notice it? I have […]
Fukushima Daiichi October 2, 2016 (TEPCO Time Stamp) and Radiation Levels
According to Netc. data, radiation readings in the US and Japan over the last few days have been lower than they were a week ago (see discussion here), which is good but lends support to one commentator's argument that removing the panels from unit 1 brought radiation levels up in the jet stream. I did match up the elevated radiation levels in the US using Netc.com's system with the location of the jet stream on 2 days when levels were high and found a good match between the most elevated levels and the path of the jet stream through the US. Of course, we don't know for certain tha... more »
The Syrian War To Free Itself From The Evil US/Israel/NATO Criminal Cabal: Great New Video From Syria Girl - WW3? How The Ceasefire In Syria Broke Down
I am continuing my reports on the real situation in Syria... Yes, there is so much else still happening elsewhere in the world right now, but the reality of the situation in Syria and its implications for the entire world are absolutely paramount over everything else right now... For right now, the maniacs in the US Government are absolutely gearing up for World War 3 with the Russian Federation over their failed war in Syria to have that nation destroyed..... Right now, I do want to present the following very important video that comes from Syria Girl Partisan, and is entitled: "WW... more »
Fukushima Update: "Fukushima Equals 13,099.95 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow"
*Publishing Note: *Due to Bob Nichol's other commitments the city-specific radiation reporting will now be published every 2 weeks until further notice. I will update the weekly Hiroshima bomb equivalents information. This repost is to keep you as aware and informed as possible. The radiation's not going anywhere, folks, but we are... - CP *"**Your Radiation This Week: **Sept. 10 to Sept. 24, 2016"* By Bob Nichols *"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”* - Shiva (San Francisco) September 24, 2016 – "Good Day, this is “Your Radiation This Week.” The city-specific radiatio... more »
The Syrian War To Free Itself From The Evil US/Israel/NATO Criminal Cabal: The "White Helmets" Exposed - United Kingdom Intel Created, US Funded, Al-Qaeda Helpers In Syria
It is now October, and the world is teetering on the brink of an all out world war thanks primarily to the ignorance, stupidity, and outright EVIL of the criminal US Government.... These monsters are willing to push a world war with the Russian Federation due to their FAILED war to have the innocent nation of Syria destroyed, and sadly the American public is now too gullible, brainwashed, and have had their brains destroyed, to actually do anything to stop this slide towards armageddon... I and others that know the truth about the reality of Syria are persevering... We know that the... more »
Mexico’s Colima Volcano Starts Violent Eruption
Residents in the state of Colima, Mexico have been forced to evacuate their homes as one of the most active volcanoes in Central America started to violently erupt on Friday spewing a large plume of ash and thick black smoke into the sky. The Colima volcano known as the volcano of fire has been erupting slowly since early September. RT reports: More than 300 people were ordered on Friday to evacuate from two villages in the foothills of Volcan de Fuego, the 3,839-meter mountain which towers over the states of Jalisco and Colima. #IMPORTANTE Perímetro de exclusión del #VolcánElColi... more »
The Brexit Fight Is Now Getting Dirty. They Are Fighting Over The Wine Cellar
*Financial Times:* *Brexit divorce lawyers eye up EU’s wine list* UK to lay claim to array of Brussels cellars, art and property as part of split. Britain is planning to claim a share of the EU’s 42,000-bottle cellar of wine, cognac and other spirits, its art collection and its €8.7bn property portfolio as the government gears up to haggle over Brexit with Brussels. As in any divorce, untangling EU-UK financial affairs is expected to be one of the most difficult part of the negotiations. Any exit deal must settle complex liabilities including the UK share of guarantees on €60bn of... more »
Liars in our news media
The story is on B6, the Canada &World section of irving press. It comes from The Associated Press, one of the biggest news agencies in the world, and one that appears routinely in almost all of the western press. "Russian airstrikes killed 9,300 in past year." First, have you ever seen a story about how many people have been killed by American, British, or even Canadian airstrikes? How many have the Saudis and Americans killed in Yemen? How many has the U.S. killed with drones all over the world and with bombing in Syria? No. Of course we don't see those. We are also told that te... more »
Basement Dwellers
Remember when Mitt Romney had his 47% moment over four years ago? Remember the outcry that arose from that and why? Let me take you on a little trip down Memory Lane to explain why. This is what Romney said (emphasis mine): There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, *who are dependent upon government*, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to *health care*, to food, to housing, to you-name-it... more »
"Moral equivalence" at the Post!
*SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2016The journalists can't help it:* When it comes to promoting "moral equivalence," the journalists just can't help it. Just consider the headlines which sit atop a featured piece in this morning's Washington Post. We refer to David Weigel's lengthy piece about the opening of the new season of the famously tedious TV program, Saturday Night Live. Weigel's lengthy piece dominates the front page of the paper's Style section, the only section anybody ever actually reads. It sits beneath a large double headline. Rather plainly, those headlines promote a "moral ... more »
Leaked Audio Reveals What John Kerry Thinks Of U.S. Foreign Policy In Regards To Syria
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media during a news conference at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, December 18, 2015. REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ *New York Times*:* Audio Reveals What John Kerry Told Syrians Behind Closed Doors* BEIRUT, Lebanon — Secretary of State John Kerry was clearly exasperated, not least at his own government. Over and over again, he complained to a small group of Syrian civilians that his diplomacy had not been backed by a serious threat of military force, according to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by The New ...more »
The Socorro Symbols - Redux
A couple of weeks ago I interviewed Ben Moss and Tony Angiola on the radio version of this blog. At the time they said a couple of things that I attempted to follow up on while we were on the air but didn’t get good answers. In the weeks that followed, I again tried to get more information and now have some of that. Ben Moss sent me a DVD copy of their presentation at the recent MUFON Symposium in Orlando, Florida, which provided some of the answers, and he has been sending me additional information through email. Here’s what I have learned. First, they had mentioned a picture take... more »
Through Chinese Eyes
Cant say I am down with the Chinese worldview. Dont want to live in a Chinese dominated world. We have no one to blame but Adam Smith. And the 2020 Oscar for best picture goes to " The liberation of Castration"
Saturday Interview: Jacqui Berry
*Jacqui Berry is a nurse, Unison, and Socialist Party activist from Medway. Jacqui's vlog, Austerity Blows went viral after her message to Jeremy Hunt was featured by Cosmopolitan magazine. When not vlogging, campaigning, or working Jacqui can be found tweeting her thoughts and opinions here.* *After the leadership contest, what do you think is next for Jeremy and his support? Can he reach the parts other political leaders cannot?* So I’m not a full member of the Labour Party, but I am an affiliated supporter via my union. I am delighted for Corbyn, his team and for all of us who h... more »
Surveillance and detention not serve and protect
Toronto is one of the safest high density cities in the world. The cop cars used to be highly visible yellow, then white and now batman. Symbols are important, and this sends the wrong message from the top down. I advise counselling for the management that made this horrible decision.
Photos: Big Bend Texas March against Pipeline Obama Permitted for DAPL Owners
Photos courtesy of Nicol Ragland, @wolf_birds production and www.transpecosdoc.com By Big Bend Conservation Alliance Censored News Yesterday members of the American Indian Movement of Central Texas, local descendants of indigenous tribes, and citizens long involved in the Trans-Pecos Pipeline struggle marched against the Trans-Pecos Pipeline and the Dakota
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