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Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

24 May - Blogs I'm Following 1 of 2

igoogle portal 
old portal 1 of 2 
2 of 2


11:42 pm MDT


Bloomsburg University to Guide Foster Care Youth Toward College

cmaadmin at Diverse - 20 minutes ago
This summer, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania will roll out a program designed to encourage more students from the foster care system to attend college.

Higher Ed Policy Experts Placing Premium on Student Privacy

cmaadmin at Diverse - 20 minutes ago
As experts examined ways to help students and families make higher education decisions at a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill, they were reminded that student privacy should always be priority.

Congress, Save Public Service Loan Forgiveness

cmaadmin at Diverse - 20 minutes ago
Many services are facing deep cuts and/or being defunded altogether in the proposed education budget. However, I want to address one specific proposed cut: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

Federal Student Aid Boss Runcie Resigns

cmaadmin at Diverse - 20 minutes ago
James Runcie, who led the Office of Federal Student Aid for the past seven years as chief operating officer, abruptly resigned from his position on Tuesday night.

Report: China Has Begin Building Its Fourth Aircraft Carrier

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 38 minutes ago
China’s unfinished aircraft carrier under construction in Dalian in Liaoning province. Photo: Kyodo *UPI: **Report: China building fourth aircraft carrier at Dalian shipyard* May 23 (UPI) -- China is building its fourth aircraft carrier and is expected to deploy the vessel in six years. The latest development may be a sign the world's second-largest economy seeks to expand its navy while militarizing disputed islands in the South China Sea. Taiwanese newspaper China Times reported Tuesday construction of a fourth aircraft carrier, also China's third homemade carrier, is underway a... more »

The Retirement Date For The U-2 And A-10 Has Been Postponed Indefinitely

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 38 minutes ago
An Air Force U-2 flies a training mission. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Rose Reynolds) *DoD Buzz*:* Air Force Kills Retirement Date for U-2 Spy Plane* The Air Force has dropped plans to begin retiring the U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane around 2019, officials said Tuesday. That was the date listed in previous spending plans drafted by the service. But the Pentagon’s budget request for fiscal 2018, beginning Oct. 1, doesn’t include any retirement date for the Cold War-era workhorse. “There is not a retirement date for the U-2 in this budget,” Maj. Gen. James Martin, the Air Force... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
*Flare Fanfare* An F-15E Strike Eagle releases flares as part of a combined arms demonstration during the Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 21, 2017. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brittain Crolley

Trump Ready To Get His Revenge Against Iowans

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 hour ago
On February 1, 2016, the day of the Iowa caucuses, Trump was still just a joke. He was sputtering that Iowa Republicans had brain damage from too much fertilizer after polls started showing him losing to Ben Carson and Ted Cruz. On the day of the caucuses Cruz won-- with 51,666 (27.6%). Trump came in second with 45,429 votes (24.3%), much closer to Rubio's 43,228 (23.1%) than to Cruz. Trump, who did beat Carson-- currently his Secretary of Housing-- was still basically a stand-up comic back then: Though Obama won Iowa both times he ran-- 54-44% against McCain and 52-46% against ... more »

Trump's First NATO Summit: Don't Expect Much

Dov S. Zakheim at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Dov S. Zakheim* *Security, Europe* [image: Ceremonial rounds fired from M1A2 Abrams Tanks at the Adazi Training Area, Latvia. Flickr/U.S. Army Europe] National defense may be Trump’s priority, but it is one that few Europeans share, and that even fewer are willing to pay for. When Donald Trump arrives at the NATO summit, it will have been hard on the heels of the release of his new budget for fiscal year 2018, which calls for a significant increase in defense spending, at the expense of many domestic programs. Although the FY 2018 proposed defense program falls far short of wha... more »

How America Could End Up in an Unexpected War with China

Doug Bandow at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Doug Bandow* *Security, Asia* The Chinese are prepared to yield before superior force, but are not prepared to concede that America always will possess that edge. Three decades ago the People’s Republic of China was an economic backwater. Today the PRC sports the world’s second-largest economy. Shanghai most dramatically illustrates the country’s transformation. The city is filled with stylish office buildings, five-star hotels, luxury stores and foreign visitors. Reflecting their success, the Chinese are increasingly confident as well. If not yet a great power, the PRC seems d... more »

7 Options For Taming Tyrannical North Korea

Barry Pavel, Robert A. Manning at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Barry Pavel, Robert A. Manning* *Security, Asia* [image: Security forces prepare for a simulated attack as part of Exercise Foal Eagle ’99. DoD photo by Senior Airman Rick Bloom, U.S. Air Force] Pyongyang may think it can threaten—or even win—a limited nuclear war aimed at pushing Washington out of the Korean Peninsula. The relentless barrage of North Korean ballistic-missile tests (twelve already this year), and a matching endless barrage of op-eds proposing solutions, point to a new urgency for resolving the North Korea problem. Yet it is an issue that has eluded the best effo... more »

Rodrigo Duterte Is Key to China's 'Post-American' Vision for Asia

Richard Javad Heydarian at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Richard Javad Heydarian* *Politics, Asia* [image: Rodrigo Duterte delivers his message to the Filipino community in Vietnam. Wikimedia Commons/Public domain] “Dutertenomics” will require huge investment from abroad. Beijing is the perfect patron. “The future of the Philippines is in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and in Asia,” declared Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte during his early May keynote speech at the World Economic Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. For the controversial Philippine president, the world is ineludibly entering a post-American world, paving th... more »

Is the U.S. Navy Dying?

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * Thanks to the U.S. Congress, that is the question. The United States Navy is in a dire situation when it comes to the readiness of its aircraft, ships and submarines. The blame for the situation can be laid directly at the feet of the U.S. Congress, which has failed time and again to pass a budget. Moreover, even when the Congress does manage to come to some sort of consensus, too often funding comes in the form a continuing resolution that does not provide the services with the flexibility to allocate money where it is needed. That’s compounded by ... more »

Georgia Wants Reassurance That America Will Help Deter Russia

Kenneth Yalowitz, William Courtney at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Kenneth Yalowitz, William Courtney* *Security, Eurasia* Georgians worry that Washington is averting its gaze, or might cut a deal with Moscow at their expense. Georgia and America are celebrating twenty-five years of diplomatic relations and remarkable partnership. Georgia is an emerging democracy in a difficult region with mainly authoritarian regimes nearby. This and its location as a continental transport hub give it strategic importance. Georgia faces severe challenges from Russian military occupation and economic weakness, and to surmount them it deserves sustained Western ... more »

America's Most Powerful Aircraft Carrier Ever Is Close to Joining the U.S. Navy

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * But what about the costs? The new U.S. Navy aircraft carrier *Gerald R. Ford* got underway today for her acceptance trails, paving the way for the ship to be formally commissioned into service later this year. Only once the ship is commissioned will the massive carrier have the prefix United States Ship—or USS. “It is worth noting that *Gerald R. Ford* CVN-78 got underway today on acceptance trials and is on track to deliver this month,” acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense (SAC-D) on May 24... more »

America's Military Is In Danger of Decline (And Trump's New Budget Won't Save It)

Frederico Bartels at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Frederico Bartels* *Security, * While this is a $54 billion increase over the spending levels mandated by the 2011 Budget Control Act, it is actually only a timid $16.8 billion (or 3.3 percent) increase over President Barack Obama’s budget plan. President Donald Trump delivered his 2018 budget request to Congress on Tuesday, and as expected, the defense portion is not enough to initiate the military buildup that the president had called for. Aligning closely with the president’s so-called “skinny budget” issued earlier this year, this proposal calls for $603 billion in base defe... more »

2018: The Year the U.S. Military Goes "Iron Man"?

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 1 hour ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Don't laugh, it could happen. *U.S. Special Operations Command Plans to Have Some Initial TALOS Iron Man suit Prototypes by 2018* U.S. Special Operations Command is making progress researching, developing and testing a next-generation Iron Man-like suit designed to increase strength and protection and help keep valuable operators alive when they kick down doors and engage in combat, officials said. The project, formally called Tactical Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, is aimed at providing special operators, such as Navy SEALs and Special Forces, with ... more »

If Israeli lawmakers demote the Arabic language, then what?

Camelia Suleiman, Assistant Professor, Arabic Studies, Linguistics, Michigan State University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 1 hour ago
In May, the Israeli legislative body, known as the Knesset, passed the nation-state bill in its first round, which redefines how Israel is to be a Jewish and democratic state. The bill will serve as something of a constitution, since Israel does not have one. It will also formalize the state’s relationship to its Palestinian-Arab minority. If it becomes law, the bill would establish Hebrew as the national language of Israel, and in effect eliminate Arabic as an official language. Some fear that doing so would also threaten to deny the history of Arabs in the state. Linguistic le... more »

What veterans' poems can teach us about healing on Memorial Day

James Dubinsky, Associate Professor of English, Virginia Tech at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 1 hour ago
A visitor pauses at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. AP Photo/J. David Ake, File Memorial Day, a national holiday to honor the 1.17 million men and women who have died to create and maintain the freedoms outlined in our Constitution, is not the only Memorial Day. The holiday emerged from the Civil War as a celebration almost exclusively for veterans of the Union Army to remember those who had died. Veterans and their families from Confederate states held their own celebrations. Thus, it remains fraught with conflict and ambiguity. In 2017, seven states – Alabama, Florid... more »

High Court Clears way for gay marriage in Taiwan

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 2 hours ago
*Alishan tea farms* Yesterday's verdict of the Constitutional Court (full text) striking down prohibitions on gay marriage was especially moving for me. The verdict was due at 4:00, so I turned on the livestream in my writing class, which is full of very progressive Chinese medicine students. A deep throb of joy ran through us all as the court announced that gay people were full human beings like everyone else. It was a beautiful moment in my life. China Post summed it up simply: The Constitutional Court ruled that the Civil Code provisions that do not allow same-sex marriage are ... more »

BODY-SLAMMING A REPORTER: I BET IT'S OK IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 2 hours ago
I'd love to believe that this will be a game-changer in Democrat Rob Quist's favor, but I have serious doubts: The Republican candidate for Montana’s congressional seat slammed a Guardian reporter to the floor on the eve of the state’s special election, breaking his glasses and shouting, “Get the hell out of here.” Ben Jacobs, a Guardian political reporter, was asking Greg Gianforte, a tech millionaire running for the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, about the Republican healthcare plan when the candidate allegedly “body-slammed” the reporter. “He took me to the ground,” Jacobs said by ... more »

Suriye Ordusu’nun doğu Halep’teki son kazanımları ve bölge için planları (Harita)

ŞAM, SURİYE(0:45) – Çarşamba günü Halep’in doğusunda Suriye Arap Ordusu Maskana Ovası üzerinde 5 kasabayı IŞİD’den özgürleştirdi. Suriye Ordusu’nun elit Kaplan Kuvvetleri’nin son kazanımları yüksek komutanın amacının ordunun elindeki Ayoziyah kasabasına 6 km mesafede IŞİD’in kalesi durumunda bulunan Maskana’yı kuşatmak olduğunu gösteriyor. Hükümet güçleri şehri tamamen kuşatıp doğrudan tek cepheden saldırmak yerine daha önce Deir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

U.S. Navy Conducts A Sea Navigation Operation Within 12 Miles Of A China-Claimed Reef In The South China Sea

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
A satellite image released by the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies shows construction of possible radar tower facilities in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. Reuters *Reuters*: *U.S. warship sails within 12 miles of China-claimed reef* A U.S. Navy warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, the first such challenge to Beijing under U.S. President Donald Trump. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS ... more »

DARPA And Boeing Are Teaming Up to Build a Hypersonic Spaceplane

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
*Daily Mail:* *The X-37b's big brother gets the go ahead: Boeing to build XS-1 'Phantom Express' hypersonic space plane that will allow short notice military satellite launches* * The project, known as XS-1, is expected to debut in 2020, * Will 'provide short-notice, low-cost access to space' * Takes off like a rocket, releases an expendable second-stage rocket and satellite, then turns around and land like an airplane on a runway The mysterious X-37b spaceplane has captured the imagination of many, with some suggesting it is a spy plane and others who think it could be a space b... more »

New York Governor Offers Talks with Hungary on Soros School

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
BUDAPEST, Hungary — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he is ready for talks with Hungary’s government on the status of Central European University, which may be forced to leave Budapest due to recent amendments to the law on higher education. CEU, founded by billionaire George Soros, is also accredited in New York state. […]

Parent Company of DeVry University Changing Its Name

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — The company that owns one of the nation’s largest for-profit college chains is changing its name. DeVry Education Group, which owns DeVry University, announced Wednesday that it will now be called Adtalem Global Education. Company CEO Lisa Wardell said the new name “makes clear our purpose to empower students and our […]

Wilberforce University Announces Layoffs, Pay Cuts to Handle Debt

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
WILBERFORCE, Ohio — One of the country’s oldest historically Black private colleges is laying off workers and imposing steep pay cuts in an ongoing struggle to survive. Wilberforce University cut $750,000 from its payroll last year, but the president of the small Ohio school says that’s not enough to deal with large debts that threaten […]

DeVos to Review Rejected College Prep Grants Applications

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
The U.S. Department of Education will reconsider awarding grants to dozens of programs that help low-income students prepare for college after their initial applications were rejected due to formatting errors such as not being double-spaced. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told a House subcommittee on Wednesday in Washington that her agency will reconsider the 77 rejected […]

AGs to Trump: Withdraw from Paris agreement

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 3 hours ago
West Virginia AG Patrick Morrisey is leading a 10-state coalition in urging the Trump administration to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. They are worried the 200-nation deal would seriously damage the president’s campaign to roll back environmental regulations.

Was the Manchester Terror Attack a ‘False Flag’?

Bethania Palma at Snopes.com - 4 hours ago
A viral conspiracy video has emerged spreading a false rumor that a suicide bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert was a hoax.

Witnesses Say Greg Gianforte Grabbed Guardian Reporter and Slammed Him to the Ground

Bethania Palma at Snopes.com - 4 hours ago
Sheriff's deputies are investigating an incident in which the Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives allegedly knocked Ben Jacobs to the ground.

The Economy: X22 Report, “Warning Signs Are Everywhere Even From The Central Banks”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
X22 Report, “Warning Signs Are Everywhere Even From The Central Banks” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RBGxjLCDKo Please, listen and understand this. We're rapidly running out of time, folks...

Top U.S. General Disputes Reports That Civilian Deaths From U.S. Air Strikes Are Soaring

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
Rodi Said/Reuters *AFP:** No increase in civilian deaths under Trump: US general* A top US Air Force official on Wednesday denied claims that civilian casualties in Iraq and Syria are soaring under President Donald Trump, who has given greater leeway to battlefield commanders. Airwars, a London-based collective of journalists and researchers that tracks civilian deaths in Iraq and Syria, this week said it has seen numbers jump since Trump came into power. The group estimates as many as 366 civilians were killed in Iraq and Syria in April alone. Another Britain-based group, the Sy... more »

Which GOP Garbage Will Be Swept Away In The Great Wave?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
The wave that's forming up now could well be an anti-Trump/anti-Ryan tsunami by 2018. When Republicans say there are 18 months and a lot can change they are sweating under their suit jackets because they know the intensity of voters' reaction against the Republican agenda is intensifying, not dissipating. It won't just be Republicans in the blue districts that the DCCC has botched who get decimated but Republicans in districts who represent districts with R+4 and R+5 PVIs, seats that are normally considered "safe." I was struck by a conversation between Oregon Senator Jeff Merkle... more »

sex in space

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 4 hours ago

Republican congressional candidate in Montana body slams Guardian reporter. Update!

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 4 hours ago
Courtesy of the Guardian: *The Republican candidate for Montana’s congressional seat slammed a Guardian reporter to the floor on the eve of the state’s special election, breaking his glasses and shouting, “Get the hell out of here.” * *Ben Jacobs, a Guardian political reporter, was asking Greg Gianforte, a tech millionaire running for the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, about the Republican healthcare plan when the candidate allegedly “body-slammed” the reporter. * *“He took me to the ground,” Jacobs said by phone from the back of an ambulance. “This is the strangest thing that has ev... more »

Man Falling

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 5 hours ago

U.S. And Russia Are Not Hindering Each Other Over The Skies Of Syria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*Washington Examiner:* *Russia's no-fly zones in Syria aren't a problem, says US air commander* The top U.S. general running the air war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria says Russian-declared no-fly zones are not restricting where the U.S.-led coalition can fly its warplanes as it targets the terror group. "We don't recognize any specific zone in itself that we preclude ourselves from operating in," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command. "Wherever the enemy's at, wherever they present themselves, we're going to get after ... more »

A 23 second clip of a younger Jeremy Corbyn has gone viral in the wake of the Manchester bombing [VIDEO]

James Wright at The Canary - 5 hours ago
An old video clip of Jeremy Corbyn has gone viral in the wake of the 22 May Manchester bombing. Because in just 23 seconds, the current Labour Party leader summed up how many people appear to feel about cyclical war and terror: "This will set off a spiral of conflict that will fuel the wars, […] The post A 23 second clip of a younger Jeremy Corbyn has gone viral in the wake of the Manchester bombing [VIDEO] appeared first on The Canary.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 24, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
A soldier from the Household Cavalry waits to cross a road in Parliament Square with an armed Met Police officer *Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian:* *Troops on the streets create unsettling terrain for our democracy* *We need our election to go ahead undisturbed, lest we give the murderers behind the Manchester atrocity even the scent of victory* The prospect of nearly 1,000 troops emerging from their barracks and on to the streets of Britain will be a shock to the system. Other countries may be used to the sight of soldiers outside palaces and parliaments, at stations or large ve... more »

Tongues Twisted Left: Manipulating Minds by Managing Words

Selwyn Duke at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: tongues-twisted-left-manipulating-minds-by-managing-words] It has long been noted that disagreements can be won by massaging the definition of words. Liberals repeatedly apply this lesson to influence the culture.

Was Manchester Blowback?

Daniel McAdams at - 6 hours ago
Western intervention in Libya opened the country up to radical Islamist gangs which had been suppressed under Gaddafi. Just as Gaddafi warned. Same in Syria, where western destabilization efforts have led to an al-Qaeda and ISIS presence that was not there before the west had decided on "regime change" for the secular Assad. Who benefitted from the rise of these radical groups? People like the Manchester suicide bomber, who travelled to both countries for training and radicalization. Western interventionist foreign policy has contributed to the Manchester bombing, a classic "blowbac... more »

Musical Interlude: Brule and Airo, "Dream Shield"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 6 hours ago
Brule and Airo, "Dream Shield" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQOaYuCKMI

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 6 hours ago
“Almost every object in the below 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 »

"Life Is Never Fair..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 6 hours ago
"Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not." - Oscar Wilde

The Beautiful People

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Gotham City - 6 hours ago
And I don't want ya and I don't need ya Don't bother to resist or I'll beat ya It's not your fault that you're always wrong The weak ones are there to justify the strong The beautiful people, the beautiful people It's all relative to the size of your steeple You can't see the forest for the trees And you can't smell your own shit on your knees There's no time to discriminate Hate every motherfucker that's in your way Hey you, what do ya see? Something beautiful or something free? Hey you, are you trying to be mean? You live with apes man, it's hard to be clean The worms will live in every ... more »

Yemeni forces continue raiding border regions of Saudi Arabia

Naseh Shaker at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 6 hours ago
SANA’A, YEMEN (1:50 A.M.) – The joint forces of Houthis and Yemeni Republican Guard continue their military operations deep inside Saudi Arabia’s regions along Yemen’s border, targeting the positions and barracks of the Saudi army and destroying its vehicles and military equipment. Military sources told Al Masirah Net that Yemeni forces damaged a military command […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Trouble in jihadist paradise: Turkistani emir arrested by fellow jihadists in Latakia

Ivan Castro at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 6 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1:20 A.M.) – Discord between various jihadist groups in Syria still present as recent events proved – this time in northern Latakia countryside. On Wednesday, militants of Failaq Al-Sham islamist group arrested emir of Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP, Uighur jihadist group from China) in Jabal Al-Akrad (Kurdish mountains). Abd Al-Khaleq was reportedly an […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Latest gains of Syrian Army in east Aleppo, future goals (HD map)

Ivan Castro at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 6 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (0:45 A.M.) – As Al-Masdar News reported earlier, Wednesday became quite a fruitful day for Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in eastern Aleppo countryside in terms of territorial gains as government forces were able to advance significantly in Maskanah Plains, consequently liberating 5 villages from the so-called “Islamic State” (IS, formerly ISIL/ISIS). Latest advance […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Suudi rejim güçlerinin Avamiye kenti üzerindeki ablukası sürüyor

Suudi Arabistan’ın doğusunda yer alan Şii kenti Avamiye, iki haftadır Suudi rejim güçlerinin ablukası altında. Avamiye kentinin Musavere bölgesi, Suudi güçlerinin yoğun bombardımanlarına maruz kalırken çok sayıda sivilin bölgeyi terketmek zorunda kaldığı bildiriliyor. Bunun yanı sıra Avamiye kentinin nüfusunu yaklaşık 40 bin kişi oluştururken sivillerin kentten ayrılıp sığınacağı çok az sayıda bölgenin olduğu aktarılıyor. Suudi […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

AFP: NATO, ‘IŞİD karşıtı’ koalisyona katılıyor

AFP haber ajansının diplomatik kaynaklara dayandırdığı haberine göre NATO, Irak ve Suriye’de faaliyet gösteren ABD öncülüğündeki ”IŞİD karşıtı” uluslararası koalisyona katılacak. ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Rex Tillerson, üye devletlerin bir takım çekincelerine rağmen NATO’nun koalisyona katılmasını beklediğini dile getirdi. Tillerson, “NATO üyesi devletler, düzenlenecek zirve için terörizm üzerine bir eylem planı hazırladı. Bu plan, NATO’nun IŞİD karşıtı uluslararası […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

La OTAN se unirá a la Coalición de EEUU anti-ISIS: AFP

La OTAN se unirá a la Coalición liderada por Estados Unidos contra las fuerzas del Estado Islámico (ISIS) en Irak y Siria, informó la Agencia de Noticias de AFP, citando fuentes diplomáticas. Esta medida de la OTAN se produce pocas horas después de que el secretario de Estado estadounidense, Rex Tillerson, declarara que espera que […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Two weeks of Syrian Army’s East Aleppo offensive: complete field report

Ivan Castro at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 6 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:00 P.M.) – On May 9, after over a month of hiatus, Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) elite Tiger Forces division alongside with allied Army and pro-government paramilitary units restarted the large-scale military operation against the so-called “Islamic State” (IS, formerly ISIL/ISIS) in eastern Aleppo countryside. After two weeks of violent clashes with IS […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Moose destroys Canada 150 Celebration Tulip Garden

White Wolf at White Wolf - 6 hours ago
Tulips are a big source of pride in Canada, the country does after all play host to one of the world’s largest tulip festivals each year. Unfortunately for the MUN Botanical Garden in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Canada 150 display has been ruined before it ever bloomed. The garden reports that their tulip display planted last October in celebration of Canada 150 has been ruined by an unusual culprit. In a Facebook post from last week, staff write that “The Garden Cafe at MUN Botanical Garden in St John’s NL is a popular lunch spot, however, the native moose who visited the Garden... more »

World News Briefs -- May 24, 2017 (Evening Edition)

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
*Reuters*: *Arrests in Manchester, Tripoli as police hunt suicide bomber's network* Police made arrests in Manchester and Tripoli on Wednesday as the investigation into a suicide bomber who killed 22 people at a concert venue packed with children focused on tracking down a network of accomplices who authorities fear could strike again. Manchester police made four new arrests and searched an address in the city center. A source said British investigators were hunting for anyone who may have helped build the suicide bomb and who could be ready to kill again. "I think it's very clea... more »

Why was Seth Rich Murdered?

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 6 hours ago
So much seems to hinge on this question of why Seth Rich died. The "conspiracy theory" is that Seth Rich was a young disenchanted staffer with the Democratic National Committee who leaked files to Wikileaks after witnessing unlawful or unethical treatment of Bernie Sanders. The conspiracy holds that he was murdered point-blank on the street for his whistle-blowing. This conspiracy theory challenges the official story that Seth Rich's murder was simply another random murder and that Russia is responsible for hacking the DNC files. Yesterday, the Washington Post ran an article claim... more »

“Trump’s Budget: All Hat, No Cattle”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 7 hours ago
*“Trump’s Budget: All Hat, No Cattle” Introduction* By David Stockman "We were treated to Donald Trump’s $4.1 trillion spending proposal the other day. Let me just announce it now: The Trump budget is DBA (dead before arrival). Not that there aren't many elements that have plenty of merit. First and foremost, by hook or crook (mostly the latter), the Trump plan gets to a balanced budget by year 10 (2027). But this represents what might be generously termed the triumph of hope over experience. It's been so long since the GOP has even uttered the words “balanced budget” that r... more »

Standing Rock Water Protectors Lead Parade in Brussels -- 'Donald Trump has got to go!'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 7 hours ago
Rachel Heaton, Muckleshoot water protector, leads parade today in Brussels, Belgium Standing Rock Water Protectors Lead 'Trump Not Welcome Here' Parade in Brussels, Belgium Today . Today in Brussels, as Water Protectors from Standing Rock camps arrived, they led the parade of 12,000 people marching against U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump is preparing to meet with world leaders

Good news, the FCC will NOT be taking any action against Stephen Colbert for suggesting that Trump's mouth was only good as Putin's c**k holster.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 7 hours ago
Courtesy of Variety: *The FCC will not take any action in response to complaints over a May 1 broadcast of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” in which the host quipped during his opening monologue that “the only thing [Trump’s] mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c— holster.” * *The FCC received thousands of complaints following the broadcast. In response to an inquiry, an FCC spokesman provided a statement on the status of its review. * *“Consistent with standard operating procedure, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has reviewed the complaints and the material that was the... more »

More than 700 Oil Spills in North Dakota Reported in the Same Month Pipeline Opens

Waking Times at Waking Times - 8 hours ago
*Alex Pietrowski* - As Dakota Access Pipeline becomes operational, new report shows excessive oil spills in North Dakota. The post More than 700 Oil Spills in North Dakota Reported in the Same Month Pipeline Opens appeared first on Waking Times.

Costs of the Clenched Fist

Paul R. Pillar at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Paul R. Pillar* *Iran, Middle East* In his first inaugural address, one of President Barack Obama’s messages to America’s adversaries was that “we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” A few years later, the unclenching of Iran’s fist was marked by the election of reformist Hassan Rouhani and the entry of Iran into negotiations with the United States and five other powers, leading to a detailed agreement in which Iran accepted severe limitations on, and intrusive scrutiny of, its nuclear program and closed all possible pathways to possible acquisition of... more »

Donald Trump Is Right: Don't Let the ISIS 'Losers' Win

Christopher A. Preble at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Christopher A. Preble* *Security, Europe* And they won’t stop me from enjoying Ariana Grande’s music. As grieving parents and loved ones mourn the loss of innocent lives in Manchester, England, and pray for the recovery of those grievously wounded, the rest of the world ponders yet again the meaning of it all. In a moment of candor and lucidity, President Donald Trump put the latest incident in perspective: “So many young beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life. I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term. They w... more »

Rand Paul Wants Senate to Vote on Trump’s Saudi Arms Deal

Warren Mass at rss - 8 hours ago
[image: rand-paul-wants-senate-to-vote-on-trump-s-saudi-arms-deal] Senator Rand Paul will introduce a measure to vote on the $110 billion weapons sales agreement President Trump signed with Saudi Arabia during his recent visit there.

More Evidence Points to Murdered DNC Staffer as WikiLeaks' Source

C. Mitchell Shaw at rss - 8 hours ago
[image: more-evidence-points-to-murdered-dnc-staffer-as-wikileaks-source] After the death of DNC staffer Seth Rich last July, many suspected that his death was not the result of a robbery as police claimed, but an execution-style murder as payback for his part in providing the leaked DNC e-mails published by WikiLeaks. As more information continues to come to light, much of it lends credibility to that idea. It is beginning to look as though Seth Rich was “Vince-Fostered” — albeit with the element of a fake robbery instead of a fake suicide.

Univ. of Chicago Students Issue Outrageous, Racially Charged Demands to UC Officials

Raven Clabough at rss - 8 hours ago
[image: univ-of-chicago-students-issue-outrageous-racially-charged-demands-to-uc-officials] University of Chicago students have outlined a list of expensive and outrageous demands for the college that underscores how little they actually care about inclusion, as the list includes requests for the creation of separate racially themed academic departments and housing units and ultimately marginalizes white students.

“Repeal and Replace” the UN: A False Solution

Alex Newman at rss - 8 hours ago
[image: repeal-and-replace-the-un-a-false-solution] Even as the crimes and failures of the UN have become irrefutable, and its former defenders have taken to attacking it, globalists are pushing for its replacement, not its closing.

Brazilian President Michel Temer Under Pressure To Resign

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
*The Guardian*: *Brazil's president struggles to retain power as political crisis deepens* Michel Temer is refusing to resign and has said he will fight accusations of involvement in passive corruption, as protests lead to scuffles with police Thousands of protesters have called for Brazil’s president, Michel Temer,to leave office as he lost yet another key adviser amid a deepening political crisis. Scuffles between police and protesters broke out as the demonstrations neared Congress. Temer is struggling to retain power after the release of a recording that appears to capture ... more »

A threadbare, worthless ideology

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 8 hours ago
I must say I’m disappointed in Andrew Neil. The right-wing blogosphere seems to regard him as the BBC’s only saving grace, but he has a chequered record. He gave Theresa May a thoroughly deserved hard time over the U-turn that she insisted wasn’t a U-turn. Repeatedly claiming that nothing had changed, when it clearly had, didn’t inspire confidence. Insisting black is white is what politicians do, I know, but we deserve better. I was so looking forward to Andrew Neil eviscerating Jeremy Corbyn equally fiercely, but fate intervened. What disappointed me today was his mealy-mouthed ... more »

Police Chief Found Guilty in Massive Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy, Facing 25 Years

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 8 hours ago
[image: heroin]One of the most trusted men in the entire city was found guilty this week of running a massive heroin trafficking ring, he now faces 25 years in prison.

Mainstream Media Just Admitted Magic Mushrooms are Safest Recreational Drug

Claire Bernish at The Free Thought Project - 8 hours ago
[image: mushrooms]A new study is actually being reported in the mainstream media showing that magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug.

Dangerous Cosmic Rays Will Pass Close to Earth ‘Tonight’?

Alex Kasprak at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
This claim has been around for years and makes no scientific sense whatsoever.

Single-Payer Health Care Is Less Expensive—Deal With It

Jon Walker at Shadowproof - 8 hours ago
Practically everyone (except Kevin Drum at Mother Jones) believes single-payer would cut health care costs. It's the heart of the whole debate. The post Single-Payer Health Care Is Less Expensive—Deal With It appeared first on Shadowproof.

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Thanks for stopping by!

"We Are All Tattooed..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
"We are all tattooed in our cradles with the beliefs of our tribe; the record may seem superficial, but it is indelible. You cannot educate a man wholly out of the superstitious fears which were implanted in his imagination, no matter how utterly his reason may reject them." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, "The Poet at the Breakfast Table," 1872

“When Conspiracy Theories Become Facts”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*“When Conspiracy Theories Become Facts”* by Oliver Donaldson "Of course not all conspiracy theories are true. There are so many out there. However, sometimes they turn out to be true. The following is sourced from Jake Anderson’s recent Anti-Media article, “10 More Crazy Conspiracy Theories That Became Conspiracy Facts.” *1. Operation Ajax, the CIA’s Iranian Coup: *A 1953 Iranian coup that ousted the elected Mossadeq and reinstalled the monarchical power of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi ultimately resulted directly in the 1979 Iranian revolution that created an anti-West Islamic rep... more »

Not Worried About CO2

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 8 hours ago
We should all know what Alfred E. Neuman knows, namely: Where does all that CO2 come from? Here is the answer from engineer Ronald Voisin. Excerpts below are from An Engineer’s Take On Major Climate Change Figure 3 outlines the primary sources of natural CO2 release in decreasing order of quantity of carbon emitted: oceanic […]

Police Numbers Since 2010

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 8 hours ago
Police numbers are falling. In England and Wales between March 2015 and March 2016 (the most recent government figures), "frontline" positions shrank from 110,853 to 106,411. Recruitment was down and the number of dismissals and resignations were up, continuing a five-year trend. It has also been widely acknowledged, not least by the Prime Minister herself, that her decision to deploy troops to guard key public buildings today frees up some armed police to do policing. Of course, the optics of looking very serious by calling in the military has absolutely nothing to do with a certai... more »

Was A Terror Network Behind The Manchester Bombing?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
*New York Times*:* Police Investigate ‘Network’ of Salman Abedi, Manchester Bomber* MANCHESTER, England — He was a fan of Manchester United, like many in his soccer-obsessed hometown. He smoked pot. He lost a friend to violence last year. He recently dropped out of college. Last month he went to Libya to visit his parents, who had moved back there after two decades in Britain. A portrait of Salman Abedi, the 22-year-old who carried out Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack since 2005, began to come into focus on Wednesday as the police raced to track down what they called his “netw... more »

Why Are The Imbeciles At The DCCC Boycotting Wisconsin This Cycle?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
There are 16 House Democrats with perfect scores from ProgressivePunch for the current session-- a score of 100. One, Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is a freshman, which means her lifetime crucial vote score is also 100. The other freshmen with eye-popping great scores are Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA). ProgressivePunch is a very imperfect tool but where it fails in precision, it excels in relative direction, especially over long periods of time. My gut tells me that Pramila at 5 months in will still be a super-progressive champion at 5 years in. Meanw... more »

I'll Never Stop Digging

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 8 hours ago
I had enough of all the mounting insanity and Washington bullshit this morning and couldn't stand another minute in front of the computer. I went outside and began weeding the garden and before I knew it I'd spent more than three hours going thru every veggie and flower bed with a vengeance. I transplanted a flowering bush that needed more light and room to spread its feeble branches. I went to the hardware store and got some mulch to add to some bald spots near our doors. I planted some more lettuce and peas in spots that were bare after previous plantings. The work and the di... more »

Was Trump the First U.S. President to Visit the Western Wall?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
President Trump was the first sitting president to visit the Jewish holy site, but other presidents visited before or after they were in office.

Carrier Plant Trump ‘Rescued’ Will Lay Off Hundreds by Christmas

Arturo Garcia at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
The president had promised he would stop the exodus of jobs from Indiana to a facility in Mexico.

Publisher blames bad choice of reviewer for publication of hoax paper on penis as “social construct” 

Emily Willingham at Retraction Watch - 8 hours ago
Less than a week after publishing a much-discussed hoax paper, a scholarly publisher has acknowledged that it had chosen reviewers for the paper whose “expertise did not fully align with this subject matter.” The subject matter: that the penis should not be considered an anatomical organ, but more as a concept – “a gender-performative, highly fluid social […] The post Publisher blames bad choice of reviewer for publication of hoax paper on penis as “social construct” appeared first on Retraction Watch.

Egyptian President Calls Out Trump and Saudi Arabia for Aiding and Abetting Terrorism

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 9 hours ago
*Isaac Davis* - Egyptian President El-Sisi joins the ranks of those leaders willing to point out the truth. The post Egyptian President Calls Out Trump and Saudi Arabia for Aiding and Abetting Terrorism appeared first on Waking Times.

Has President Trump Succeeded In Having NATO Track Its NATO Commitments?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*McClatchy News:* *Trump has done what Obama didn’t: scare NATO into tracking defense spending* BRUSSELS: President Donald Trump sent shock waves across Europe when he railed against the NATO alliance and threatened to hand out bills to those not paying their share of defense expenses. He wasn’t the first to raise concerns, President Barack Obama also frequently lamented NATO members’ failure to spend enough on defense. But it was Trump’s undiplomatic rhetoric that got the issue at the top of the group’s agenda this week where NATO’s members are expected to accept the idea of pub... more »

Woman Found on Clinton Estate Dead, Tortured, and Malnourished?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
A "satirical" web site published a fake story of questionable taste.

Were These Women Found Guilty of Witchcraft in Early 20th Century China?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
A photograph showing three women in a "cangue" is often shared with a fictional backstory about witchcraft.

Brazil sinks deeper into crisis as its unelected President faces corruption charges

Alexander Mercouris at The Duran - 9 hours ago
Deepening political and economic crisis in Brazil exposes the folly of last summer's impeachment of Dilma Rousseff - the country's democratically elected leader - on obviously concocted charges. The post Brazil sinks deeper into crisis as its unelected President faces corruption charges appeared first on The Duran.

Fox News retracts bogus Seth Rich story, while Sean Hannity doubles down and declares he is "not Fox News.com."

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 10 hours ago
You might remember this conspiracy theory put out by Info Wars, the Russians, Sarah Palin, and Fox News suggesting that a young DNC staffer was murdered after sending incriminating materials about Hillary Clinton and the DNC to Wikileaks. The story had earlier been debunked by Snopes, but for some reason the Right Wing resurrected it to distract from the ongoing Trump/Russia investigation. Well yesterday Fox came to their senses and deleted their story and made this comment: *On May 16, a story was posted on the Fox News website on the investigation into the 2016 murder of DNC S... more »

IT'S EASY TO IMAGINE THE POPE'S GIFT BACKFIRING

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 10 hours ago
You probably know about this: Pope Francis joined an international chorus urging Donald Trump to meet U.S. commitments on climate change in talks at the Vatican Wednesday. Francis gave the U.S. president a copy of his 2015 encyclical calling for urgent, drastic cuts in fossil-fuel emissions after a half-hour meeting in his private study. Francis’s choice of gift suggests he is adding his voice to those pressing Trump not to renege on the Paris accord, which is the cornerstone of global efforts to limit climate change..... “Thank you, thank you,” Trump told Francis as they shook han... more »

OPEC to Extend Oil Production Cuts Another Nine Months

Bob Adelmann at rss - 10 hours ago
[image: opec-to-extend-oil-production-cuts-another-nine-months] The OPEC meeting in Vienna, where the cartel plans to extend oil-production cuts to drive up oil prices is just for show. The real action is taking place right under our noses.

At the Washington Post, they're selling the car!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 10 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017Newest product yet:* Yesterday, John Brennan testified to the House Intelligence Committee. In all honesty, he said virtually nothing that was new. Unless you read the front page of this morning's Washington Post, where Greg Miller, or his editor, were busily selling the car. This was Miller's first paragraph. Warning! They're selling you the car! MILLER (5/24/17): The CIA alerted the FBI to a troubling pattern of contacts between Russian officials and associates of the Trump campaign last year, former agency director John Brennan testified on Tuesday, *she... more »

NATO to join Anti-ISIL Coalition: AFP

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:10 P.M.) – NATO will join the U.S. Coalition against the Islamic State (ISIL) forces in Iraq and Syria, the AFP News Agency reported, Wednesday, citing diplomatic sources. This move by NATO comes just hours after U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, stated he expects the organization to join this coalition despite some […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

US Coalition kills 16 people in Syria’s Al-Raqqa

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 P.M.) – As many as 16 people were killed by the U.S. Coalition, Wednesday, after a fighter jet carried out an indiscriminate airstrike over the Al-Raqqa Governorate village of Al-Barouda, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported. Among the 16 people killed by the U.S. airstrike in Al-Barouda was the entire Al-Hajj […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Iraqi military advances in historical part of Mosul: video

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
Iraqi Federal Police continued their advance into self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) controlled areas of the old city of Mosul, Wednesday. Unit 3 of the Iraqi Federal Police under the command of Major Aesar Abulla Aluqaede can be seen firing towards ISIS positions, using BKC guns, AK 47, mortars, RPGs and rockets. The military […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army liberates 5 villages in east Aleppo as they push to Al-Raqqa

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their large-scale offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, Wednesday, targeting the last villages under the Islamic State’s (ISIL) control near the key town of Maskanah. Backed by heavy Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces attacked a group of villages located north […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

(Graphic 18+) Houthis repel major attack in Sana’a province, scores of pro-Saudi troops killed

Ivan Castro at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
SANA’A, YEMEN (8:15 P.M.) – Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement (known as Houthis) declared on Wednesday that its forces had successfully repelled a major assault conducted by Saudi-backed troops on multiple frontlines in Nihm district north of Yemeni capital of Sana’a. The onslaught was ongoing for nearly 2 days and resulted in total defeat of Yemeni […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

May 24: The greatest murderers in world history.

Graeme Decarie at The Decarie Report - 10 hours ago
In yesterday's copy of Brunswick News, there was a standard feature on the Commentary page. It was a column written by a 'scholar' writing for the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies. And exactly what is this institute? It's a propaganda house founded largely by the owners of Brunswick News. But it never tells readers that. And there's worse, much worse, in today's paper. In Manchester, England, 22 people were killed in an attack on a concert audience. One of them, as all the stories tell us, was a little, eight-year old girl. Brunswick News was so upset by this, it devoted almost... more »

The White House Is Split On What To Do In Afghanistan

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
United States Army soldiers from the Second Battalion, 87th Infantry oversaw training of the 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province last year. Credit Adam Ferguson for The New York Times *New York Times:* *Trump Administration Is Split on Adding Troops in Afghanistan* ROME — When President Trump landed in Saudi Arabia last Saturday on his first foreign trip, he brought with him a $110 billion arms deal. When he arrives at the NATO summit in Belgium on Thursday, he will bring mostly questions, many of them about the war in Afghanistan. The Pen... more »

Philippine Forces Try To Fend Off Islamist Militants On Mindanao. Philippine President Duterte May Declare Nationwide Martial Law

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Reuters:* *Thousands flee Philippine city after rebel rampage claimed by Islamic State* Thousands of civilians fled fighting in the Philippines on Wednesday as troops tried to fend off Islamist militants who took over large parts of a city, capturing Christians, seizing and torching buildings and setting free scores of prisoners. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the rampage via its Amaq news agency, and President Rodrigo Duterte defended his decision to declare martial law on Mindanao, the Muslim-majority island where Marawi City is located, to prevent the spread of extr... more »

Did Ariana Grande Offer to Pay for the Funerals of the Manchester Bombing Victims?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
An internet rumor from a dubious source has been repeated by news outlets in the UK and beyond.

Samsung Pays Apple $1 Billion in Nickels?

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
Reports that Samsung paid off a $1.05 billion judgment awarded to Apple in a patent infringement lawsuit entirely in nickels are fake news.

Everything Donald Trump Has Accomplished in Just Four Months?

David Emery at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
We looked into the accuracy of a viral list touting President Trump's accomplishments during his first four months in office.

Unrest In Venezuela -- News Updates May 24, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*Reuters:* *As Venezuela unrest spreads, Maduro presses on with plans to rewrite charter* Faced with mounting unrest, Venezuela's unpopular leftist President Nicolas Maduro vowed on Tuesday to push ahead in July with the formation of a "constituent assembly" to rewrite the constitution before regional elections in December. The South American OPEC member has been racked by strife, with 55 people killed during unrest in the past two months as public anger boiled over due to an economic meltdown that has left many Venezuelans scrabbling to afford three meals a day. In an apparent ... more »

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mattis Personally Intervened To Increase The Purchase Of Munitions

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
Senior Airman Daniel Stehley, of the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions flight, spray paints build codes on inert guided bomb units after helping assemble each weapon at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., on Feb. 27, 2012. Senior Airman Kenny Holston, U.S. Air Force *Defense News:* *Mattis intervened to increase munition buy in FY18 budget request* WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis personally intervened to increase the number of munitions being bought in the Pentagon’s fiscal 2018 budget request, pushing procurement of six specific weapons to the maximum production r... more »

Military-funded prosthetic technologies benefit more than just veterans

Mark Geil, Professor of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University at Science + Technology – The Conversation - 11 hours ago
A high-tech prosthesis for a child draws on decades of research. Mark Geil, CC BY-ND In 1905, an Ohio farmer survived a railroad accident that cost him both of his legs. Two years later, he founded the Ohio Willow Wood company, using the namesake timber to hand-carve prosthetic limbs. The company grew, surviving the Great Depression and a fire that destroyed the plant, and still thrives today in rural Ohio. Few who work there now might remember the curious footnote in the company’s history that occurred during World War II, when the rebuilt factory was diversified to build parts for... more »

Ariana Grande and the Illuminati Beta Kittens of Pop Culture

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 11 hours ago
*Buck Rogers* - Grande's role in pop culture is the same as the other beta kittens. The post Ariana Grande and the Illuminati Beta Kittens of Pop Culture appeared first on Waking Times.

Authors retract much-debated blockchain paper from F1000

Alison McCook at Retraction Watch - 11 hours ago
The authors of a popular — and heavily debated — F1000Research paper proposing a method to prevent scientific misconduct have decided to retract it. The paper was initially criticized for allegedly plagiarizing from a graduate student’s blog — and revised to try to “rectify the overlap.” But according to F1000, it is now being retracted after an additional […] The post Authors retract much-debated blockchain paper from F1000 appeared first on Retraction Watch.

Around The Empire – Episode 21: Impeach Trump, Get President Pence? Hell No.

Dan Wright at Shadowproof - 11 hours ago
Doug Henwood discusses the anti-Trump faction's endgame, the force applied by the unelected permanent government and the prospect of a President Pence. The post Around The Empire – Episode 21: Impeach Trump, Get President Pence? Hell No. appeared first on Shadowproof.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Aviation

LL at Virtual Mirage - 11 hours ago
*Disclaimer: *I am not a fan of the F-35 Lightning II. I could list my gripes with the whole program (late, over budget and not the best choice) in detail, but that's not the purpose of this blog post. Japan openly acquired US made (Japanese assembled) F-35A stealth fighter aircraft. Their acquisition of F-35B (short/vertical take off and landing) stealth fighter aircraft for their "Destroyer Helicopter Carriers" is another matter. I've heard that it's 'classified' but it's one of those open secrets that is only restricted to people in government. Elsewhere, it's talked about. The ... more »

U.S. Senator: President Trump's Rhetoric Could Lead To A Terrorist Attack in U.S.

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*Washington Free Beacon*: *Murphy: Trump Rhetoric Could Lead to Terrorist Attack in U.S.* Sen. Chris Murphy (D., Conn.) is worried that rhetoric from the Trump administration could lead to a major terror attack in the United States. Appearing Tuesday on CNN, Murphy said that the U.S. needs "a commitment to try to stop giving ISIS recruiters recruitment fodder." Host Wolf Blitzer asked Murphy for his response to the terrorist attack in Manchester, England during an Ariana Grande concert. The attack killed 22 people, including eight-year-old Saffie Roussos. Murphy said that response... more »

Britain faces terror offensive as police says Manchester ISIS bomber ‘member of terrorist cell”

Alexander Mercouris at The Duran - 12 hours ago
British authorities confirm Salman Abedi the Manchester suicide bomber was almost certainly not acting alone, and raise alertness level to critical in preparation for further terror attacks. The post Britain faces terror offensive as police says Manchester ISIS bomber ‘member of terrorist cell” appeared first on The Duran.

Total civil war in Libya

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 12 hours ago
The slaughter of 141 people, including civilians may be a point of no return. The post Total civil war in Libya appeared first on The Duran.

Hillary Clinton bears responsibility for the Manchester atrocity

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 12 hours ago
The Clinton authored war on Libya has turned a once secular anti-terrorist Libya into a failed state which is the world's largest terrorist playground. The post Hillary Clinton bears responsibility for the Manchester atrocity appeared first on The Duran.

Hannity announces on air that he will stop covering Seth Rich murder case – for now (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 12 hours ago
Sean Hannity backs off Seth Rich conspiracy theory ‘at this time’. The post Hannity announces on air that he will stop covering Seth Rich murder case – for now (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Don’t worry about opaque algorithms; you already don’t know what anything is doing, or why

Ethical Technology - 12 hours ago
Machine learning algorithms are opaque, difficult to audit, unconstrained by ethics , and there’s always the possibility they’ll do the unthinkable when facing the unexpected. But that’s true of most our society’s code base, and, in a way, they are the most secure part of it, because we haven’t talked ourselves yet into a false sense of security about them.

World News Briefs -- May 24, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Britain on lockdown: Army sends 1,000 soldiers to guard Buckingham Palace, Parliament is closed to the public and Changing of the Guard is cancelled* * Armed troops will guard key locations in London including Buckingham Palace, Scotland Yard says * The Changing of the Guard ceremony has been cancelled in London and Parliament is on lockdown * It comes after Theresa May warned a further terror attack may be 'imminent' following Manchester bombing * Decision, taken at meeting of Government's emergency Cobra committee, will see 984 troops deployed * It is the first ti... more »

Did Russia and China Already Make America's New Aircraft Carrier Obsolete?

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 12 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * Thanks to A2/AD? *Plenty of world-beating weapons quickly become obsolete. The fast battleships of World War II went into reserve less than a decade after their commissioning. The early fighters and bombers of the jet age sometimes had even briefer lifespans. Aircraft carriers, in widely variant forms, have enjoyed a good, long run. They survive because aircraft have short ranges, and fixed airfields have significant military and political vulnerabilities. These two factors seem likely to persist.* *However, just because flat-decked aircraft carryin... more »

The U.S. Military's Greatest Fear: A War Against Russia AND China

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 12 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * Would we win? *The United States can still fight and win two major wars at the same time, or at least come near enough to winning that neither Russia nor China would see much hope in the gamble. The United States can do this because it continues to maintain the world’s most formidable military, and because it stands at the head of an extremely powerful military alliance. Moreover, Russia and China conveniently pose very different military problems, allowing the United States to allocate some of its assets to one, and the rest to the other.* *Howeve... more »

Why the First Gulf War Was Really a Disaster

Robert Farley at The National Interest - 12 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, Middle East* The United States wrapped itself in knots for twelve years, until the George W. Bush administration determined to “solve” the political problem by making it much, much worse. *In the wake of the war, the near total consensus was that the conflict represented a huge triumph of American arms, perhaps serving as a harbinger for a more assertive age of multilateral institutions, not to mention a more confident use of American power. This consensus has largely evaporated. The problems solved by American force of arms don’t remain solved, and th... more »

Good Cops Demoted for Leaking Video of Bad Cop Beating Innocent Woman — This is What’s Wrong

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: video]After a cop beat an innocent woman and covered it up, he was put back on the job as the cops accused of leaking video of his crimes were demoted.

Trump Hotels Beds are Urine resistant extreme editon

Steve at GlobaLove Think Tank - 12 hours ago
have heard that in everytrump hotel the bedis like a urine tampon

Netflix Series Exposes Govt-Connected Child Sex Ring in Baltimore, Police Forced to Respond

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: netflix]A horrifying new Netflix series exposes a dark underworld of a child sex ring in Baltimore, Maryland involving the church, politicians, and police.

The Conservatives are in meltdown after Theresa May is forced to make another embarrassing U-turn

Emily Apple at The Canary - 12 hours ago
The Conservative Party has faced criticism for its uncosted manifesto. But even where costings are provided, doubt remains. Because findings have revealed that the proposal to end free school lunches and replace them with breakfasts is budgeted at just 6.8p per child per meal. And now, the Conservatives have had to perform another major U-turn and […] The post The Conservatives are in meltdown after Theresa May is forced to make another embarrassing U-turn appeared first on The Canary.

The moment Jeremy Corbyn showed Theresa May what real leadership looks like [VIDEO]

Tracy Keeling at The Canary - 12 hours ago
After the Manchester bombing on 22 May, the value of life – and in particular of children’s lives – has become painfully pronounced. The loss of life suffered on that brutal evening will never be forgotten. Earlier in the day, Jeremy Corbyn had spoken about children. He was addressing the value we can add to […] The post The moment Jeremy Corbyn showed Theresa May what real leadership looks like [VIDEO] appeared first on The Canary.

The real reason Theresa May is putting troops on our streets [VIDEO]

Bex Sumner at The Canary - 12 hours ago
Theresa May has announced that the UK’s terror threat level has been raised from ‘severe’ to ‘critical’ after the bombing of a concert in Manchester, and that she plans to put soldiers on Britain’s streets. Up to 5,000 soldiers will now protect key sites, including Buckingham Palace and Downing Street. But the real reason the Prime Minister has had to take such drastic action is […] The post The real reason Theresa May is putting troops on our streets [VIDEO] appeared first on The Canary.

One cruel act of terrorism has been met with thousands of acts of kindness

Sophia Akram at The Canary - 12 hours ago
In response to the suicide bombing on 23 May, thousands of people have rallied together to raise over £1m to help the victims at Manchester Arena. And it’s these individual gestures that can mean all the difference to those who have needlessly suffered. There are no right words for an act of slaughter. Especially when it claims many young lives, […] The post One cruel act of terrorism has been met with thousands of acts of kindness appeared first on The Canary.

The Police Federation Chair calls out Theresa May for failing to ‘learn the lesson’ from terror attacks

James Wright at The Canary - 12 hours ago
The Chair of the Police Federation, Steve White, has called out Theresa May for failing to ‘learn the lesson’ from terrorist attacks. Will we learn the lessons of recent events and realise that policing is the job of the police, resources the job of government? — Steve White (@PFEW_Chair) May 24, 2017 The government’s side […] The post The Police Federation Chair calls out Theresa May for failing to ‘learn the lesson’ from terror attacks appeared first on The Canary.

As Its Abortion Business Crumbles, Planned Parenthood Continues Raking in Federal Tax Dollars

Dave Bohon at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: as-its-abortion-business-crumbles-planned-parenthood-continues-raking-in-federal-tax-dollars] Planned Parenthood has announced the impending closure of nearly a dozen more of its abortion businesses in several states, even as it receives nearly $500 million annually in federal tax dollars.

Should One Man Decide When to Take the Nation to War?

Charles Scaliger at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: should-one-man-decide-when-to-take-the-nation-to-war] We now have presidents waging war at their pleasure, exactly like the monarchs of the British Empire. But this was not the intent of the founders.

Budgets are Moral Documents

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 12 hours ago
A Catholic nun friend of mine said some years ago about the US, "We are a killer nation, we can kill them fast or we can kill them slow." This budget represents perfectly those words. We can kill people around the world fast with our obscene stock of deadly military machines and we can kill our own people slowly by the cruel neglect as social programs are destroyed and life expectancy diminishes. The soul of America is dark. Bruce

Florida Democratic Party Continues To Aim Low, Enabling GOP Dominance

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Looking at the cluelessness, the incompetence (and, yes, the corruption) of the DCCC, we often worry if they will, once again, wreck the chances of Democrats to take back the House. Between Trump's unpopularity and Ryan's draconian anti-working family agenda, it should be hard for Republicans to hold onto their House majority in 2018. But if there's anything that will make it possible for them, it's Pelosi's ever-putrid DCCC. Here in California, where Ted lieu was elected DCCC regional vice chair, recruitment and candidate support are actually working the way they should. No matte... more »

Labile

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 12 hours ago
*al-Sisi's shoe on left, Trump's on Right* This is a post I've been meaning to write for a while...ever since the "*beautiful chocolate cake*"/Syria bombing incident. You remember that..when Trump, in an interview immediately following his bombing of Syria...where numerous Syrian soldiers and civilians were killed...lost his focus, momentarily forgot the name of the victim of his illegal and senseless bombing...and, incredibly, zeroed in on the "beautiful" after dinner chocolate cake his Maralago resort served up for his guest...the Chinese President...along with the "entertainme... more »

Donald Trump meets the Pope.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 12 hours ago
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I would say that this one is worth perhaps twice that many. Have you ever seen a glummer group of people? The only one smiling is the idiot in the early stages of dementia. Here it looks as if the Pope cannot believe he has to actually interact with his moron as if he is the president of the United States. After the meeting Trump had this to say: *"He is something," Trump said of the Pope later in the day, during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. "We had a fantastic meeting. We're liking Italy very, very much and ... more »

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