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Immigration Lies and Hypocrisy
[image: immigration-lies-and-hypocrisy] We should not fall prey to people who criticize our efforts to combat illegal immigration and who pompously say, "We're a nation of immigrants!"
Can The Pentagon Handle A War Against China And Russia At The Same Time?
On display during a People's Liberation Army Air Force parade are Shenyang J-16s, foreground, and J-11Bs, background. (China's Ministry of National Defense) *Defense News:* *The Pentagon is planning for war with China and Russia — can it handle both?* WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is in the opening stages of “redesigning the force” around the challenges of Russia and China, the department’s No. 2 uniformed official said Tuesday — while warning that America may not be able to afford preparing for two unique problem sets. The recent National Defense Strategy identified great power compe...more »
Picture Of The Day
A horseback parade celebrating the Law Enforcement Day in Moscow. © Sputnik/ Mikhail Voskresenskiy *WNU Editor: *The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Girl Power: Female Cops From Across the World* (Sputnik).
"How Stress Makes You Sick, and Easier to Control"
*"How Stress Makes You Sick, and Easier to Control"* by The Daily Bell "Stress will kill you. Most people know this intuitively. Stress weakens your immune system. Stress allows your body to be more easily controlled by pathogens. A recent study compared two sets of mice. One set had a certain stress receptor cell, and one set did not. Normal mice exposed to stress had a higher rate of disease than mice exposed to stress who lacked the stress receptor cell. This held true for both psychological and physiological stress. Mental and physical stress caused the same harmful reaction in... more »
Russian Ambassador: North Korea Would See A Blanket Ban Of Oil Supplies As A Declaration Of War
In this photo taken on July 21, 2017, a petrol station worker walks past a fuel truck in Pyongyang. Sanctions are reducing the amount of oil North Korea can import. (AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones) *RT:* *N. Korea would see blanket ban of oil supplies as declaration of war – Russian envoy* Imposing a total ban on oil exports to North Korea would mean a full blockade and will be considered as a declaration of war by Pyongyang, Russia's ambassador to North Korea has cautioned. The UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously approved a new round of sanctions on the North in December last year, slas... more »
2018 Opposition Research Against Nothing-Burger DCCC Recruits Is Going To Be Even Worse Than Usual
*Hans-- a congenital liar* One of the problems with the DCCC pretending not to be a bunch of scummy politicians and recruiting "clean" non-politicians is that politicians who have been coming up in the ranks are usually well-vetted by the voters. The garbage candidates the DCCC digs up from under rocks invariably have a little something horrible they've been hiding-- perfect for GOP opposition research firms to find. The *NationalJournal* gave some juicy Orange County examples-- without even getting into the silliest DCCC recruits of all, Gil Cisneros and Sarah the Quaalcomm heiress... more »
Chinese researchers claim they discovered a 500 year solar cycle that may affect climate
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: This new paper has done some interesting analysis, similar to what we’ve seen done here on WUWT by Willis Eschenbach. It will be interesting to see what he and our resident solar physicist, Dr. Leif Svalgaard have to say about it. QUASI 500-YEAR CYCLE SIGNALS IN SOLAR ACTIVITY…
Amid a warming planet, snow falls in Southern Morocco – first time in 50 years
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: After several decades of extremely dry weather, residents in southern regions of Morocco finally woke up this morning to an unusual snowfall that currently impacted Ouarzazate, Taroudant and even Zagora, which has not experienced snowfall for fifty years. Several photos and videos have been posted on social media…
Musical Interlude: James Taylor, "You Can Close Your Eyes"
James Taylor, "You Can Close Your Eyes" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp0zRCdAyEM
Kurdish forces win their first real victory against ISIS in eastern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:55 A.M.) – Following what now appears to now be their forth of final seizure of the town of Gharanij from Islamic State terrorists, US-backed forces (of which Kurdish units form a leading part) have achieved their first real in eastern Syria. Gharanij was a genuine ISIS stronghold. The terrorist group had invested […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS sent running from 2 towns in northeast Hama as Syrian Army offensive gains traction
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:05 A.M.) – Amid a renewed government offensive that is now starting to gain traction, forces of the Syrian Arab Army and allied paramilitaries have wrested control of two towns from Islamic State in the northeastern countryside of Hama province. According to military-affiliated sources, on Wednesday, Syrian pro-government forces struck north from their […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Top-Secret Australian Government Files Were Left In Cabinets And Sold At A Secondhand Shop
These are the dodgy filing cabinets which held some of Australia's most sensitive secrets *NPR:* *Australian Government's Secret 'Cabinet Files' Were Found In ... An Old Cabinet* Australia's government is holding "an urgent investigation" into how hundreds of classified documents about the interior workings of several recent administrations found their way to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. The ABC says the thousands of pages of documents had been left in two filing cabinets, which the government then sold off at a secondhand shop. The cabinets were bought cheap, the network say... more »
The Empress of Botox Announces Nunes A Stooge!
At times, Nancy Pelosi may sound insane, she may even look insane, but don't let that fool you, she really is insane. She has corruption in the coop, hate on the hoof, taqiyya on the tongue and bats in the belfry — that’s her political strategy. Don't cross crazy! Monday Pelosi called House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes a “*stooge for the White House*” because of the soon to be released classified memo that reportedly alleges possible high crimes and civil rights violations by people in our government that know better. Pelosi had this to say during a Washington Post L... more »
Raptures
I have friends, or more truthfully acquaintances, who are members of one of the Christian evangelical sects who live from messianic arrival to the next messianic arrival, all the time praying that next time it will happen and they will … Continue reading →
Growing Tensions Between Israel And Lebanon Over Offshore Energy
*Reuters:* *Israel, Lebanon clash over offshore energy, raising tensions* BEIRUT/TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel described as “very provocative” on Wednesday a Lebanese offshore oil and gas exploration tender in disputed territory on the countries’ maritime border, and said it was a mistake for international firms to participate. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, whose country considers Israel an enemy state, said the comments were one of several “threatening messages” from Israel in recent days. Lebanese political and military movement Hezbollah vowed to defend the country’s ... more »
U.S. Adds Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh To Terror Blacklist
*BBC: **Ismail Haniya: US designates Hamas leader as terrorist* The United States has designated the political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as a terrorist and imposed sanctions on him. The state department said Ismail Haniya had "close links with Hamas' military wing" and been a "proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians". Hamas, which dominates the Gaza Strip, is already designated a terrorist group by the US, Israel, the EU and UK. It denounced as "worthless" the blacklisting of Mr Haniya. A statement from the group said the decision would "n... more »
Did a Train Carrying GOP Congressmen Crash Due to a ‘Deep State’ Plot?
No evidence validates claims of foul play in a train crash involving Republican members of Congress.
Alan Hart with Jewish Historian Ilan Pappe: History of Palestine — Genocide & Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinian by Zionist Israel !
“In 2001, Dr. Ariella Oppenheim, of Hebrew University, a biologist, published the first extensive study of DNA and the origin of the Jews. Her research found that virtually all the Jews came from Khazar blood. Not only that but Oppenheim discovered that the Palestinians—the very people whom the Jews had been persecuting and ejecting from […]
Mueller Desperation Drives MSM To Double Down On Fake News
The Alex Jones Channel Published on Jan 29, 2018 As Special Counsel Robert Mueller continues to destroy himself and the credibility of his subordinates, the MSM desperately deflects the criticism onto President Trump. Alex Jones lays it all out. end
MSNBC Host Joy Reid Triggered By Trump Using Word Family
The Alex Jones Channel Published on Jan 31, 2018 Apparently Donald Trump using the word “family” was too much for MSNBC host Joy Reid and she took to Twitter to let the world know how evil it is. end
Absolute Heathenism! Secret Look Inside the Elite’s Secret Bohemian Grove w/ Jake Morphonios
Sarah Westall Published on Jan 31, 2018 Jake Morphonios, investigative journalist and owner of the Blackstone Intelligence Network, answers additional questions for my Patreons about the Bohemian Grove. His investigative work inside and around the Bohemian Grove gives a glimpse of what the Elite’s secretive cultish hangout is really like. end
Release the Memo & ‘Federal Court Judges Will Explode’ – Lionel
RT America Published on Jan 31, 2018 The FBI objected to the release of the Nunes memo, reportedly detailing FISA abuses under the Obama administration. But in a hot mic moment on Tuesday night, Trump said “don’t worry – 100 percent,” when asked whether he planned to release it. Legal and media analyst Lionel of Lionel […]
Sanctions on Russia ‘Designed to Make Sure Relations Cannot Improve’ – Former Diplomat
RT America Published on Jan 31, 2018 The US Treasury Department has released a declassified list of Russian politicians and business leaders threatened by US sanctions. The list includes the names of some 200 top officials, but not President Vladimir Putin. Former US diplomat Jim Jatras shares his insights with “News with Ed.” end
Maria Bartiromo Reveals Stunning Information that FBI May Have Plotted to “Destroy Evidence” of “Secret Society” to Bring Down Trump
Maria Bartiromo Reveals Stunning Information that FBI May Have Plotted to “Destroy Evidence” of “Secret Society” to Bring Down Trump by ALEX CHRISTOFOROU, http://theduran.com/ Indictments may be coming for Hillary, Strzok, and Page… House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte was on Fox News this weekend with ‘Sunday Morning Futures’ host Maria Bartiromo to discuss the latest batch of […]
Rob Kirby: Globalists Want a One World Government, One World Currency, One World Religion And a World Population of 500 Million
“What the globalist entity is all about is One World Government, One World Currency and actually One World Religion … These are well documented and defined goals of the globalist clique … Globalist cabal … these are the Kissingers, Zbigniew Brzezinski, George Soros, … Rothschilds, Rockefellers, … the old old money and a lot of […]
Crypto-based Totalitarian Regime? | James Corbett
SilverDoctors Published on Jan 31, 2018 First, James Corbett demystifies the confusion between Bitcoin and blockchain. These terms are not interchangeable, and much of the confusion has led to a irrational hype. However, Corbett sees the blockchain in combination with a cryptocurrency could change the financial system as we know it. It could almost completely disintermediate […]
Silver Could Jump $10 per Day | John Rubino
SilverDoctors Published on Jan 30, 2018 “It would be easy to picture silver going up by huge jumps – $10 in a day – for five or six straight days….That’s completely feasible,” says John Rubino of Dollar Collapse. After hitting the key resistance level of $1360, gold became overbought, and corrected back down, Rubino says. – […]
The “Dirty Game” To Fuel Ethnic Proxy War Across The Greater Middle East
The “Dirty Game” To Fuel Ethnic Proxy War Across The Greater Middle East by Authored by James M. Dorsey via Al-Masdar News, via https://www.zerohedge.com/ Turkish allegations of Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian support for the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) threatens to turn Turkey’s military offensive against Syrian Kurds aligned with the PKK into a regional imbroglio. The threat is magnified by Iranian assertions that low-intensity warfare is heating up in areas […]
Bill Holter: DC So Dirty They Tried a Coup Attempt. Tsunami of Truth Coming in 2018
Bill Holter: DC So Dirty They Tried a Coup Attempt. Tsunami of Truth Coming in 2018 by Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com Financial writer Bill Holter thinks revelations from the so-called Washington D.C. swamp are going to intensify in 2018. Holter explains, “I would call what’s coming a tsunami of truth. . . . I think it’s going to affect […]
Debunked: Earth’s Magnetic Poles To Swap And Make Parts Of Earth Uninhabitable - NOT
This has been running in numerous sensationalist press stories and other outlets with less careful journalists. It’s all based on a story in Undark by a journalist promoting their new book. And it is full of nonsense, utter codswallop. Here is the original story: - The Magnetic Field Is Shifting. The Poles May Flip. This Could Get Bad. (Undark) This is written by a journalist who has written a good historical book - got a review in Nature, see below. But the science in this article is appalling. The author just isn’t a scientist and has misunderstood some of her material s... more »
Bruce Melton : Feedbacks kick in: 2017 is second warmest without El Niño influence
‘Recent observations strongly suggest that climate change may soon push some systems past tipping points, with global implications.’ By Bruce Melton | The Rag Blog | February 1, 2018 Global temperature 2017 NOAA, the UK Met, and World Meteorological … finish reading Bruce Melton : Feedbacks kick in: 2017 is second warmest without El Niño influence
The Bench
*Who is your favorite prog?* *Sen. (Crying) Chuck Schumer D-NY* - Would like to be president, but in the past has lacked the capacity to excite anyone about anything. *former Vice Pres. (Groping) Joe Biden* - Feels that it's his time to be president. Has no plan or platform other than to tell people that he's not President Trump. *Rep. Nancy (Nasty) Pelosi D-CA* - She's rich, and she's connected, but sadly the march of years and the cruel hand of father time has not been kind to her. On the stump her painful senility would become manifest, not that it matters to the hard core lef... more »
X22 Report, “Everything Is In Motion, The Agenda Has Been Set”
X22 Report, “Everything Is In Motion, The Agenda Has Been Set” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KUvGfIO0Ks *Related followup report:* X22 Report, “Deep State Strikes Back And Sends A Clear Message, What's Next” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOsbpf_FKJk
"The Gods Send Trump a Message"
*"The Gods Send Trump a Message"* by Brian Maher "The gods’ sense of humor is vastly under-appreciated... For the past year President Trump has shimmied and crooned about the roaring stock market. He has made America Great Again… and the stock market has made America Rich Again. Sample quote, dated Jan. 5, 2018: "Dow goes from 18,589 on November 9, 2016, to 25,075 today, for a new all-time Record. Jumped 1000 points in last 5 weeks, Record fastest 1000 point move in history. This is all about the Make America Great Again agenda." But Mr. Trump fails to appreciate the capricious na... more »
Photographers in Focus: Patricia Ware
Our photographer of note this time around is Patricia Ware from Manhattan Beach, CA. Patricia captures striking bird life images in and around Southern California. In her interview that follows, she shares some great tips on using her photographic equipment to the highest degree and reminds us that even after arising early to find these […]
State of the Union Address Omitted Key Concerns in Education, Experts Note
President Donald J. Trump delivered his first State of the Union address since taking office, calling the current era “our new American moment.” But he missed an opportunity for substantive conversation on the growing concerns around education in the country, some in higher education observed.
Did Ship-Killer Missiles Make Navy Aircraft Carriers as Obsolete as Battleships?
*Michael Peck* *Security, * You decide. *The RUSI study suggests that Britain—and implicitly the United States—adopt a four-pronged approach it calls Tolerate, Treat, Transform and Terminate. The first three refer to maintaining the capability of current weapons, upgrading current weapons to meet future threats and developing entirely new technologies. However, the last option—what RUSI calls Terminate—is the most explosive. It essentially means getting rid of weapons that can no longer perform effectively in combat, yet can’t or are too expensive to upgrade. “The judgement her... more »
How the F-15 Eagle Almost Joined the Navy
*Michael Peck* *Security, * Fortunately, in the end, the Air Force and the Navy got the fighters they wanted. Just not the same fighters. *Was the Sea Eagle a viable concept? The problem is the one that we are seeing with today's F-35: an aircraft that must serve more than one master inevitably sacrifices performance in some area (in fact, the F-14 was born after the Pentagon's abortive attempt to make the ill-fated F-111 a joint Air Force and navy fighter). To turn the F-15 into a carrier-based interceptor like the F-14 would have required so many design changes that the hybrid... more »
China Can Still Feel Good About Taiwan—but Not for Much Longer
*Derek Grossman* *Security, Asia* Beijing’s fears may come to pass. Upon the second anniversary of the election of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, it is worth taking stock of whether the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) initial fears of Tsai’s political intentions have panned out. As I observed at roughly the one-year mark, Chinese leaders have ample reason to feel good about Taiwan, namely because Tsai had been focusing her energy on stabilizing cross-Strait relations based on the status quo rather than moving toward independence. This trend has only continued, undermining Bei... more »
Australia Aims to Become a World-Class Arms Exporter (Should China Worry?)
*Asia Times* *Security, Asia* Critics say Canberra would inevitably empower repressive regimes if it does. Australia has no plans to tighten scrutiny of its arms trade under a controversial new export drive announced on January 29. While the government aims to ramp up foreign sales, rights groups fear that more Australian weapons will end up in the hands of repressive regimes, especially in Asia and the Middle East. The federal government said on Monday it will set aside funding of A$3.8 billion (US$3 billion) to lift Australia into the world’s top 10 weaponry exporting nations... more »
Why the Army Isn't Prepared for the Next Great War
*Douglas Macgregor* *Security, * [image: U.S. Department of Defense photo] After years of service inside the U.S. military’s cutthroat bureaucracy, senior officers can recite the lessons of the past, but very few can grasp their future implications. Next week the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland will hold a hearing on Army modernization. Just twelve months ago, in a similar hearing, the U.S. Army was, according to its own senior leaders, in dismal shape. The question for the senators, who oversee Army readiness to deploy and fight, is whether anything has really chan... more »
The Senate is Hurting Diplomacy
*Christian Whiton* *Politics, North America* If the Senate really wants the administration to engage in diplomacy, then it should try harder itself to engage in majority-rules democracy. Since Donald Trump was elected president, critical senators have complained that he is curtailing U.S. leadership in the world. In reality, the Senate has been one of the most formidable obstacles to stronger diplomacy by leaving important and highly qualified ambassador nominees unconfirmed. Examples include crucial posts in Asia and Europe. Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Foreign Re... more »
Latest U.S. Navy Ballistic Missile Intercept Test Has Failed
FILE PHOTO © US. Missile Defense Agency / Reuters *Defense News:* *Another US Navy ballistic missile intercept reportedly fails in Hawaii* WASHINGTON — A test shoot of the SM-3 Block IIA fired from an Aegis Ashore test site in Hawaii failed Wednesday, CNN has reported. The missile is designed to intercept ballistic missiles. If confirmed, it would mark the second unsuccessful test of the Raytheon missile in the past year. It also deals a setback to U.S. missile defense efforts as North Korea makes seemingly daily progress on it goal of striking the U.S. mainland with nuclear-arme... more »
The US Empire Has up to 1,000 Military Bases in 80 Countries
[image: undefined] On the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Baltimore University hosted more than 200 activists in the peace, environment, and social justice movements to launch a new initiative known as the Coalition Against US Foreign Military Bases, the Nation reported. In a series of panels that lasted over two days, the conference attendees highlighted the horrors of American foreign policy despite the fact Martin Luther King warned against these horrors over 50 years ago, a fitting reminder to heed the warnings of Dr. King. According to the panel, the U.S. has over 800 f... more »
Maps of Language use in Taiwanese families
Famed Taiwanese linguist Ang Ui-jin (Wiki) posted these maps to his Facebook. These are based on 2010 household survey data. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
Musical Interlude: Chuck Wild, Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)”
Chuck Wild, Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogldA2Gxl3g
"A Look to the Heavens"
“The spiral arms of bright galaxy M106 sprawl through this remarkable multiframe portrait, composed of data from ground- and space-based telescopes. Also known as NGC 4258, M106 can be found toward the northern constellation Canes Venatici. The well-measured distance to M106 is 23.5 million light-years, making this cosmic scene about 80,000 light-years across. *Click image for larger size.* Typical in grand spiral galaxies, dark dust lanes, youthful blue star clusters, and pinkish star forming regions trace spiral arms that converge on the bright nucleus of older yellowish stars. Bu... more »
"Night..."
“Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Poet: Langston Hughes, "Mother To Son"
*"Mother To Son"* "Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So, boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps. 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now— For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair." - Langston Hughes
Chet Raymo, “The Burden Of Thinking”
*“The Burden Of Thinking”* by Chet Raymo “Let me speak for gray. Not black or white. Good or evil. Truth or falsity. Yes or no. Let me speak for maybe. Sort of. More or less. I think so. I am reluctant to speak for gray for fear of being considered wishy-washy. Indecisive. Unprincipled. But lately it seems as if we are surrounded on every side by zealots, and it's not a pretty sight. We are surrounded by people who are so certain of their Truth that they are willing to strap bombs to their chests and walk into crowded pizza parlors. Or fly airplanes into towers. Or bomb abortion cl... more »
Trey "Benghazi" Gowdy calls it quits. Update!
Courtesy of NBC News: *Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who has been at the forefront of investigations into both Hillary Clinton and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election, said Wednesday he would not run for re-election, adding his name to a growing list of Republican lawmakers stepping aside. * *In a lengthy statement, Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, said he would be leaving politics for good to return to a career in the justice system. * *"There is a time to come and a time to go. This is the right time, for me, to leave politics and return to the justice system," wrot... more »
Trump Refuses To Implement The Sanctions Congress Passed On His Pal Vlad
There have been whispers out of the White House that Trumpanzee wants to get rid of the oil guy he appointed Secretary of State and put Mike Pompeo, the CIA chief, in his place. He may have changed his mind yesterday if someone told him about Pompeo's BBC interview in which he warned that Russia will likely target the midterm elections and that he has "every expectation" that Russia will attempt to disrupt the U.S. midterms. "The Russians," said Pompeo, "have been at this a long time, and I fully expect they’ll continue to be at it." Congress thought the same thing, which is why t... more »
The Truth About State Funded Education
The education system is designed to ensure the next generation, our children, receive the knowledge and skills required to live their lives to their full potential, right? Wrong. In fact the education system here in the West is not designed to benefit the individuals which receive it at all, it is to create a herd … The post The Truth About State Funded Education appeared first on OYE Alternative News.
Taiwan Gazette opens for business
[image: DSC_0219] The Taiwan Gazette opened this week. It will be providing translations of long-form Chinese language articles into English, as well as doing interviews. Looks very promising, put it on your aggregator's list! _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
Does MIT Offer Students a ‘Pirate Certificate’?
The prestigious university counts among its alumni Nobel laureates, leaders of science and industry, and a fleet of certified swashbucklers.
Did Immigrants Dominate the U.S. Nobel Prize Tally in 2016 and 2017?
Foreign-born, U.S.-based scientists and economists won a remarkable number of Nobel prizes in the last two years, but they didn't get them all.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 31, 2018
Afghan men carry the coffin of one of the victims of a car bomb attack at in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2018. (Omar Sobhani/Reuters ) *Anna Maria Tremonti, CBC*: *'Chaos benefits the Taliban': Why the war in Afghanistan is getting worse* Afghanistan has declared a national day of prayer after a string of attacks in Kabul left 130 people dead over the course of 10 days. It's an escalation of tensions in a country that has already seen 17 years of conflict. "It's very tense," journalist Jennifer Glasse told The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti from Kabul. "People are very nervous. ... more »
Victorian artists are too racy for 2018
This Victorian fantasy above is too racy for 2018. John William Waterhouse's 1896 painting of Hylas and the Nymphs, of a young man being lured to his doom by spectral young swimmers, has been removed "temporarily" from the Manchester Galery to create "a conversation." *Clare Gannaway, the gallery’s curator of contemporary art, said the aim of the removal was to provoke debate, not to censor... “It wasn’t about denying the existence of particular artworks.”said the debates around Time’sUp and #MeToo had fed into the decision...The removal itself is an artistic act.* The Victoria... more »
As publication of GOP memo looms panic grips Washington
Democrats, Justice Department, FBI and media engage in furious campaign to block publication of GOP memorandum More The post As publication of GOP memo looms panic grips Washington appeared first on The Duran.
Realpolitik2 At Sochi
*Following up on : Realpolitik at Sochi* **Talks in Sochi successful: Syrian delegate* The congress in Sochi was successful from all points of view. This conference brought about the dialogue that we needed so much,' Safwan al-Qudsi told reporters on Wednesday. *'We have taken the right direction and positive changes can already be seen.'* 'We believe that other forums should follow, but it is too early to speak about dates right now,' said al-Qudsi who is a delegate from Ba'th Party. Some differences arose during the discussions in Sochi, which are considered as normal, he said. The... more »
Latest battlefield update from northern Syria – map
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:15 A.M.) – Day ten of Operation Olive Branch got off to good start for the Turkish-backed rebels, as their forces were able to capture two towns from the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG). According to pro-opposition media, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was able to capture the towns of Bak Obasi and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
UAE-backed forces capture new town from former Saudi allies in southern Yemen
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:40 P.M.) – The UAE-backed Southern Resistance forces continued their operations against the Saudi-backed regime of ‘Abd Rubbah Mansour Hadi, Wednesday, targeting another town under the control of the latter’s loyalists in southern Yemen. According to Yemeni activists, the Southern Resistance forces managed to capture the town of ‘Ataq in the Shabwa Governorate […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Hezbollah threatens to respond to any attempt by Israel to take control of Block 9
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:25 P.M.) – Hezbollah’s media relations released a statement on Wednesday that condemned the Israeli Defense Minister’s claims that the Block 9 oil and gas belonged to Israel. “The remarks of the Minister of War in the government of the Zionist enemy, Avigdor Lieberman, is a new expression of the continuing Israeli ambitions […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army resumes offensive in southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their offensive in the southeastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate, tonight, after securing the northern flank of the Abu Dhuhour Military Airport. Backed by Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces attacked the towns of Al-Wasitah Al-Gharbiyah and Wasitah Al-Sharqiyah in the northern […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army strives to take hold of strategic Aleppo railway
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:55 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched the next phase of their southern Aleppo offensive on Wednesday, targeting the dozen or so towns left under the control of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham near the eastern railway. Led by the 124th Brigade of the Republican Guard, the Syrian Army began Wednesday’s offensive by […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
EU picks up Trump’s tab, gives Palestinians $52 million in aid
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 P.M.) – EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini announced a €42.5 million ($52.8 million) financial donation for the Palestinian state, speaking from Brussels on Wednesday. “We have just adopted a new package of 42.5 million euros including activities in East Jerusalem and support to the building of a democratic and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey’s gamble in Afrin has paved the way for the Syrian Army’s advance in Idlib and Aleppo
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 P.M.) – Ten days ago, the Turkish-backed rebels launched a massive offensive in northern Aleppo that was dubbed “Operation Olive Branch” by the regime in Ankara. Over the course of these ten days, the Turkish-backed rebels have been unable to make much of a dent in the Afrin region, despite the air […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
JOHN KELLY TAKES TIME OUT OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE TO PUNCH DOWN
With all the other news right now, you probably missed this: White House chief of staff John Kelly, in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News Radio, said the California teacher who has made headlines for bashing the military in a profane classroom rant should “go to hell” .... “Well, I think the guy ought to go to hell,” Kelly, a retired Marine general, told host Brian Kilmeade on Wednesday in a post-State of the Union interview. “I just hope he enjoys the liberties and the lifestyle that we have fought for.” Yes, the president had just delivered his State of the Union address, whic... more »
Super blue blood Moon from Egypt [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo: [image: Super blue blood Moon from Egypt] This is how the moon looked tonight in Cairo. It was not like other countries but it was bright and big
Super blue blood Moon from Egypt [Flickr]
Kodak Agfa posted a photo: [image: Super blue blood Moon from Egypt] This is how the moon looked tonight in Cairo. It was not like other countries but it was bright and big
The GOP is Literally a Train Wreck
If you want an iconic photo from Donald Trump's first and last State of the Union Address, then look at this lead image. It seems when the GOP feels the need to pretend to champion the little guy, they just pull some Joe Blow out of Ohio. In 2008, it was Joe the Plumber. This time, Donald Trump felt the need to diversify. So, instead of a white, bald-headed, right wing racist and fraud, they plucked out of obscurity Corey Adams, a black welder from Dayton. Because Adams is supposed to be proof that Donald Trump really does love people descended from shithole countries. In ... more »
The Damaging Decline of HPSCI
*Paul R. Pillar* *Intelligence Congress, United States* The most frequent and regular interaction that I, as a then-serving intelligence officer, had with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI—referred to orally as “hip-see”) was in the 1980s. Part of my duties involved preparation of weekly classified briefings, presented to the committee by a senior CIA official, on current developments in world hot spots. The briefings aided the committee’s discharge of its responsibilities not only as an overseer of intelligence but as a consumer of it, and as an inter... more »
Oh, the professorial outrage at being objectively measured!
I'm cynically amused by the protests coming from professors at the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas at Austin this week became one of the most prestigious research institutions to join a faculty rebellion against Academic Analytics, a data company that promises to identify low-performing professors. UT-Austin’s Faculty Council voted on Monday to approve a resolution recommending that the university make no use of Academic Analytics, especially concerning promotions, tenure, salaries, curriculum, and other faculty issues. As with previous faculty protests of ... more »
Idaho Moves Bill Nullifying NDAA Indefinite Detention
[image: idaho-moves-bill-nullifying-ndaa-indefinite-detention] Lawmakers in Idaho voted unanimously Wednesday morning to move forward the Restoring Constitutional Governance Act, which would prohibit the indefinite detainment of Americans by the federal government or anyone else in that state. If passed into law, the bill would nullify unconstitutional provisions of the infamous 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which purported to authorize the capture and imprisonment of citizens by the military without any semblance of due process. While some local governments in Ida... more »
FBI Officials Lend Credibility to FISA Memo Ahead of Public Release
[image: fbi-officials-lend-credibility-to-fisa-memo-ahead-of-public-release] As the timetable continues to move toward the public release of the four-page memo detailing FISA abuses at both the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ), Democrats continue to treat the document with a mixture of disdain and incredulity. But according to recent reports, two senior FBI officials who have reviewed the document have said it does not contain “any factual inaccuracies.”
The Grammys, Hillary, and the State of the Disunion
[image: the-slammys-hillary-and-the-state-of-the-disunion] The highly political Grammys all-time low ratings are why presidents don’t sing the State of the Union address: It makes your endeavor an example of rising to the level of your own incompetence. This straying-from-the-script phenomenon was well epitomized by Hillary Clinton’s pre-taped appearance at the music awards, where she joined others in reading excerpts from *Fire and Fury*, the Trump tell-all book that’s so much of a tell-all it even tells lies.
Magnetic Pole Swapping and Cooling
Originally posted on Science Matters: The Earth’s North magnetic pole has been wandering at 10-year intervals from 1970 to 2020, as seen in this animation from the National Centers for Environmental Information. This post discusses solar and geologic magnetic pole swapping (not with each other of course) and the implications for humans. First the earth…
Emerging Scholar Profile: Mercado-Lopez Embraces Motherhood Through Women’s Studies
Growing up in a small town in Texas, Dr. Larissa Mercado-López and her family had to drive to the next town to go to a public library. The distance did not keep her from seeking out the fictional worlds that reflected her own. “Even early on, I had this desire to see myself in literature, […]
3 Women Among 4 New Hires at U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education has announced the hiring of four individuals, including three women, to fill key positions in the Trump administration. Dr. Andrea Ramirez, who most recently served as the executive director of the Faith and Education Coalition for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, has been tapped to serve as acting director […]
World News Briefs -- January 31, 2018 (Evening Edition)
*Reuters*: *France's Macron warns Turkey over Syrian operation* PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron warned Turkey that its operation against Kurdish militias in northern Syria should not become an excuse to invade the country and said he wanted Ankara to coordinate its action with its allies. Turkey last week launched an air and ground offensive in northwest Syria, targeting the Kurdish YPG militia in the Afrin region. That has opened a new front in the seven-year-old civil war and strained ties with Turkey’s NATO allies. “If it turns out that this operation takes... more »
12 Ways to Naturally Raise Your Vibration
Have you ever been around or noticed someone that made you feel good? They weren’t intentionally trying to, there was just something about their energy that allowed you to relax and enjoy yourself more. Most likely, this person had a … Continue reading →
San Jose City Council votes to remove controversial Christopher Columbus statue
San Jose leaders Tuesday voted to remove a controversial Christopher Columbus statue standing in the City Hall lobby. “I think everyone’s been twisting themselves into pretzels to avoid hurting people,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo after more than 60 community members addressed the council, some calling for the statue’s removal and others saying it should stay put. “Let’s stop twisting ourselves. Let’s see if we can at last put this behind us and focus on what’s positive, and there’s a lot positive in our community to honor.” The Italian American community will have six weeks to find a l... more »
Bonus Quote of the Day: On prohibition
*"We have to ask ourselves as lawmakers, has the prohibition on cannabis been effective? ... We know from the number of people who are doing it -- from police, including former police officers in this chamber -- that it is a highly ineffective prohibition because so many people are doing it. The objective is to stop people smoking cannabis; the effectiveness is almost zero. The people that want to do it are doing it....."The unintended consequences are that people put themselves in danger dealing with criminal elements whose criminal sphere they fund by acquiring elicit cannabis,... more »
Israel’s creeping further into Syria- Stealthily Taking Golan
*I'd saved this big expose from "The Intercept" last week. * *Flush with Omidyar's Ebay money one would think this alternative media shored up by so called "adversarial journalists" would have been able to get a jump on my one person penny ante blog. But, no. * *Much of the same information in the intercept article was covered in a pretty well read post done here in July 2016. *Israel: Annexing More of Syria's Golan Territory For a "Safe Zone"- History Repeats * *Followed up with additional information in later posts like this one in 2016 also: While the Cat's Away? Israel Plots Larg... more »
The FBI is now assessing a second Russia dossier.
Courtesy of The Guardian: *The FBI inquiry into alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 US presidential election has been given a second memo that independently set out some of the same allegations made in a dossier by Christopher Steele, the British former spy.* *The second memo was written by Cody Shearer, a controversial political activist and former journalist who was close to the Clinton White House in the 1990s. * *Unlike Steele, Shearer does not have a background in espionage, and his memo was initially viewed with scepticism, not least because he had shared it with select... more »
"Panic Grips U.S. Financial Markets As The Dow Falls 362 Points – Worst Drop In More Than A Year"
*"Panic Grips U.S. Financial Markets As The Dow Falls 362 Points – * *Worst Drop In More Than A Year"* By Michael Snyder "It isn’t going to be a surprise when U.S. stock prices fall 50, 60 or 70 percent from where they are today. The only real surprise is that it took this long for it to happen. Even after falling 362 points on Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average is still ridiculously high. In fact, the only two times in our entire history when stocks have been this overvalued were right before the stock market crash of 1929 and right before the dotcom bubble burst. Not even ... more »
A Look At Afghanistan's Special Forces
*VICE News:* *The Afghan commandos trying to beat back the Taliban* Today in Kabul, five gunmen attacked a military academy, killing 11 soldiers and injuring 15. It was the fourth major terrorist attack in Afghanistan in just the last 10 days. On Saturday, more than 100 people died when an ambulance packed with explosives detonated on a crowded street in the capital. Both the Taliban and ISIS are ramping up the pace of their attacks — and the Afghan National Army isn’t effective enough to do anything about it. So President Ashraf Ghani is betting on a different strategy: drastical... more »
BREAKING: Cable contributors scarf contributions!
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018We cut and paste, you decide:* CNN and MSNBC spill over with "contributors" from the major print press. Two examples: The New York Times' Maggie Haberman is a contributor at CNN. Her frequent writing partner, Michael Schmidt, helps out at MSNBC. Yesterday, in that same New York Times, Michael Grynbaum wrote an analysis piece about the role of journalists in this age of Trump. It included the brief passage we've highlighted concerning issues of pay: GRYNBAUM (1/30/18): Since Mr. Trump took office a year ago, the political press has endured a sustained ... more »
The Daily "Near You?""
Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by!
Green Myth Exposed: China’s CO2 Emissions Jumped By 4% Last Year
By Paul Homewood I reported back in November how provisional figures suggested that coal consumption was on the rise again in China, along with emissions of CO2. Now, according to the NYT, official figures are confirming this: DAVOS — Chinese President Xi Jinping galvanised supporters of the climate-change fight last year […]
Did Justin Timberlake Say ‘Mandatory Vaccination Schedules Are Un-American’?
Some people actually believe in the medical misinformation they peddle; others shamelessly risk the public health by publishing erroneous medical info just for clicks and kicks.
Clinton Regrets Not Firing Adviser Accused of Harassment
Hillary Clinton expressed regret over allowing a senior campaign adviser to keep his job after another worker reported alleged harassment.
Did United Airlines Deny a Passenger’s Request to Fly with Emotional Support Peacock?
The answer to the age-old question "Can peacocks fly?" is yes — but not on United Airlines.
No Self is an Island
*Kingsley L. Dennis* - Whether we like to admit it or not, we need other people. The post No Self is an Island appeared first on Waking Times.
Conservatives Wanted Illegals Invited to State of the Union Arrested
[image: conservatives-wanted-illegals-invited-to-state-of-the-union-arrested] Representative Paul Gosar said illegal alien “Dreamers” at the State of the Union speech should be arrested, and commentator Ann Coulter would have included those congressmen who invited them.
Hot Mic Moment: Trump Promises "100 Percent" to #ReleaseTheMemo
[image: hot-mic-moment-trump-promises-100-percent-to-releasethememo] While many were disappointed that President Trump did not address the controversial four-page memo during his State of the Union speech, he did address it on his way out of the speech. In a “hot mic” moment, the president was heard telling Representative Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) that he will “100 percent” release the memo to the public.
BREAKING: Donald J. Trump shows gains in new poll!
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018Some lessons concerning predictions:* According to Ed Kilgore, Donald J. Trump has made some gains in one new poll. Kilgore's post, for New York magazine, starts exactly like this: KILGORE (1/31/18): *It’s just one poll from one polling outlet* (albeit one given an A+ rating for accuracy and sound methodology by FiveThirtyEight). But for Democrats already concerned about the love shown the president in snap polls following last night’s State of the Union Address, *the first 2018 national survey from Monmouth University lands like a punch in the mouth... more »
Afghan Interior Minister And Intelligence In Pakistan Holding Talks On The Growing Violence In Afghanistan
*VOA:* *Afghan Spy Chief, Interior Minister Make Surprise Pakistan Visit* ISLAMABAD — Top Afghan security officials have made a surprise visit to Pakistan, to discuss mutual cooperation with civilian and military leaders following a series of deadly Taliban and other militant attacks in Afghanistan. The visit Wednesday took place hours after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan urged Afghan leaders to engage in bilateral discussions with Pakistani counterparts. Increased militant violence in Afghanistan has fueled Kabul’s tensions with Islamabad amid accusations insurgent... more »
Family Sues After Cops Killed Their Dog, Forced the Dad to Cut Off Its Head On Video
[image: dog] A family has filed a lawsuit after Georgia cops came onto their property, killed their beloved dog and forced the father to cut off its head. The post Family Sues After Cops Killed Their Dog, Forced the Dad to Cut Off Its Head On Video appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Morbidly Obese And Hypocritical John Sensenbrenner (R-WI) On The SOTU: "It Is Not A Venue To Score Cheap Political Points."
When I saw John Wagner's piece, "Names of campaign donors to be flashed during live stream of Trump's State of the Union speech," in the *Washington Post *Tuesday morning before dawn, I *literally* thought it was a parody. Señor Trumpanzee "is seeking to parlay his first State of the Union address on Tuesday into cash for his reelection campaign," wrote Wagner, "by offering supporters a chance to see their name flashed on the screen during a broadcast of the speech. In a fundraising solicitation on Monday, Trump offered those willing to pay at least $35 the opportunity to see their... more »
Magnetic Pole Swapping and Cooling
This post discusses solar and geologic magnetic pole swapping (not with each other of course) and the implications for humans. First the earth and later on the sun. What On Earth? Newsweek chose to report yesterday on earth’s meandering north pole as shown in the cool graphic above. That article (here) aims at sensational possible […]
"The Memo" is Voted out of Committee; McCabe Fired—First Steps to End the Coup?
Monday night, January 29th, the House Select Committee on Intelligence voted to declassify a four page Memo authored by its staff and called the “Nunes” memo (after Committee Chairman Devin Nunes) by the news media. The Memo will now go to President Trump, who has five days, under the Congressional declassification procedure used, to object to the memo’s contents on national security grounds. Based on leaks to the press so far, the four page memo includes the fact that a very dirty British intelligence product authored by MI6’s Christopher Steele was used to initiate FISA surveill... more »
Yellow Hawk, Cheyenne Chief: Was ‘Hostiles’ Character Real?
Played by the Cherokee actor Wes Studi, Yellow Hawk, family-focused and deeply spiritual, forges a slow bond of mutual respect with Bale’s character Joseph Blocker. Yellow Hawk helps Blocker perceive the humanity in his once mortal foe. It is undeniable, and, throughout the course of the movie, the men will fight alongside each other. It’s a moving portrayal by both men, and it has a lot of moviegoers wondering: Was Chief Yellow Hawk real? *There was an Indian Chief named Yellow Hawk in real life, but he was a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux people, not the Northern Cheyenne of... more »
California Senate Approves Medication Abortion on Campuses
California would be the first state to require public universities to offer medication abortion under legislation approved in the state Senate Monday, a bill that if signed into law would mark a vast expansion of a service that’s rare on college campuses. None of the 34 University of California or California State University campuses currently […]
Accused of Smearing Body Fluids on Roommate’s Stuff, Coed Seeks Probation
HARTFORD, Conn. — A White former Connecticut university student accused of smearing body fluids on her Black roommate’s belongings asked a judge Tuesday to allow her into a probation program that could erase criminal charges from her record. Brianna Brochu, 18, a former University of Hartford student from Harwinton, applied for accelerated rehabilitation during an […]
Hard-nosed Ex-Governor Named Michigan State Interim President
LANSING, Mi. – Michigan State University turned to a hard-nosed former governor and alumnus on Wednesday to right the ship following scathing criticism over former doctor Larry Nassar’s ability to molest young female athletes for decades under the guise of medical treatment. The board of trustees unanimously voted during a public meeting to name former […]
Lamar W. Hankins : 1968: A personal retrospective 50 years later
It both challenged and strengthened my desire to make this a better world, and it caused me to wonder if a better world was even possible. By Lamar W. Hankins | The Rag Blog | January 31, 2018 There was … finish reading Lamar W. Hankins : 1968: A personal retrospective 50 years later
Did Democrats Check Their Phones During Trump’s State of the Union Address?
A meme showing lawmakers checking their phones during the State of the Union is real — but this is not unprecedented, uncommon, or confined to one political party.
Pentagon Back-Tracks On Banning The Release Of Afghanistan War Data
*Task & Purpose: **The Pentagon Doesn’t Want You To Know Just How Well The Taliban Are Doing * The federal watchdog responsible for tracking how American tax dollars are being spent in Afghanistan claimed in a new report that the Department of Defense is deliberately attempting to obscure the extent to which the Taliban and other insurgent groups in the country are flourishing even amid the intensifying U.S.-led military campaign to batter them into submission. In its January 2018 quarterly report to Congress, the Office of the Special Inspector General Investigator for Afghanista... more »
Taliban Threaten 70% of Afghanistan With A Minimum Of 60,000 Fighters
(Click on Image to Enlarge) *Threat Matrix*: *US officials estimate Taliban strength at a minimum of 60,000 fighters* NBC News reports that US and Afghan officials estimate the Taliban’s strength in Afghanistan to be a minimum of 60,000 fighters. This updated figure is significant, because as the report notes, for years the only previous estimate was approximately 20,000: * In 2014, US officials told NBC News that the number of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan was about 20,000. Four years later, one US defense official said the current Taliban strength is at least 60,000. Another... more »
US College Students Hate Trump's SOTU Address... But Don't Realize It Hasn't Happened Yet
https://youtu.be/p0ByWdt5iFQ Words fail me
17th Birthday of Palestinian Activist is being spent in Israeli cell
*Today, January 31, 2018, is Ahed Tamimi's 17th Birthday.* *She's spending it in an Israeli Jail.* *Pro-Palestinian activists at this blogsite: https://secure.avaaz.org/ca have started an online petition to "Free Ahed". So far, the petition has garnered more than 1,500,000 signatures. If you go to the petition web page you'll see that Ahed has supporters from ALL over the world. This is truly one of those very rare occasions were humanity is virtually unanimously outraged at the inhumane treatment that this child and her family have endured all their lives. I encourage readers ... more »
Syrian Army captures 65km2 of territory in east Idlib – map
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:25 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had a productive in the Idlib Governorate, seizing more than 15 towns in a matter of 12 hours. Led by their elite Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army began the day by storming the northern outskirts of the Abu Dhuhour Airport. Not long after launching […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish drone destroys massive portrait of PKK party founder in Afrin
A Turkish Air Force drone has destroyed a portrait of Kurdistan Workers’ Party founder Abdullah Ocalan in the northern Syrian region of Afrin, Sputnik Turkey has reported, citing local media. The attack, carried out in the area of the southern slopes of the mountain of Darmyk, resulted in the destruction of the monument, built on […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Israeli DM claims eastern Mediterranean gas field belongs to them, not Lebanon
The eastern Mediterranean gas field that has been put up for tender by Lebanon, and is expected to be developed by an international consortium of energy companies, belongs to Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday. “They [Lebanon] are announcing a tender on the gas field, including Block 9, which is ours by any […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Hamas leader added to US terror list
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:10 P.M.) – The head of the Hamas Movement, Ismael Haniyah, has been added to the U.S.’ terror list, the State Department reported today. “Haniyah has close links with Hamas’ military wing and has been a proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians,” the State Department said in a statement. “He has reportedly […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army launches Idlib, Aleppo offensives in response to Turkey’s latest incursion
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched two major offensives in northern Syria, today, after taking a two week long hiatus to rest their forces. Both of the Syrian Arab Army’s offensives were launched in two important areas of the Aleppo and Idlib governorates that were previously surveyed by the Turkish […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish solder reportedly killed in clashes with PKK forces in eastern Turkey
A Turkish soldier was killed and another one was wounded on Wednesday during clashes between the Turkish army and the militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Agrı, local media reported. According to the Hurriyet Daily News outlet, the soldiers were part of a military operation “to neutralize the militants […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Video: Turkish-backed rebels shell Afrin civilian shelter
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (06:30 PM) – Video footage has been published by the YPG press office, showing the aftermath of a Turkish-backed rebel bombing of a civilian shelter in Afrin city on Tuesday. In the video, casualties of artillery and missile shelling by the rebels of the Turkish-backed so-called Euphrates Shield forces on the Ashrafiyyah district […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
‘US, Turkish forces invading northern Syria are replacing their terrorists’ – Syrian diplomat
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:20 P.M.) – The presidential and media adviser, Bouthaina Al-Sha’aban, stated on Wednesday that the Turkish and U.S. forces in northern Syria are “replacing their terrorists.” “When the resistance alliance began to win the battle against terrorism on Syrian soil, countries that support terrorism began to mobilize their forces, whether the Turkish or […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Lebanon vows to protect territorial waters from Israel
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:10 P.M.) – Lebanon is standing its ground against Israel after the latter recently indicated its interest in oil and gas exploration in Lebanese territorial waters. “Lebanon will use all available methods to fend off the Israeli aggression that was announced today,” Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil said on Wednesday. Furthermore, Lebanese President […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey will not hand over Afrin to Assad – Erdogan’s adviser
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:55 P.M.) – The senior diplomatic adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan went on record recently to declare that Turkey will not hand over the Afrin region to the Syrian government of Bashar Al-Assad. “So those who think Assad should regain control over Afrin and all the border areas across Turkey should […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Turkish-backed rebels capture anti-aircraft missile from Kurdish forces (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:40 P.M.) – The Turkish-backed Liwaa Samerkand group claims their forces seized an anti-aircraft missile (MANPAD) from the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the Afrin region of Aleppo. According to the video, the Liwaa Samerkand fighters claim they seized the anti-aircraft missile from the ‘PKK’ in the town of Hamame. Both the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Over 200 airstrikes launched above Idlib province in last 48 hours
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – The Syrian and Russian air forces are going all in this week, as they hammer the Idlib and Hama governorates in order to pave the way for the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) new advances. According to a military report from this area, the Syrian and Russian air forces have conducted […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Devin Nunes will not say if he worked with the White House on his "secret memo." I think we know what that means.
Courtesy of the Daily Beast: *The Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee refused to answer when a colleague asked him if he had coordinated his incendiary surveillance memo with the White House, The Daily Beast has learned. * *During Monday’s contentious closed-door committee meeting, Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat, asked Nunes point-blank if his staffers had been talking with the White House as they compiled a four-page memo alleging FBI and Justice Department abuses over surveillance of President Trump’s allies in the Russia probe. * *According to sources famil... more »
Adorable rescue possum buddies enjoy noisily munching on berries
This is the moment three possums make an incredibly adorable sound while chewing on some berries in a laundry basket. According to the page, the possums were rescued on April 19, 2016 and are not pets, rather 'educational animals'. Possums spend the first four months of their lives in their mother's pouch. By the time they are six months old, the young possums live outside the pouch. They are nocturnal and at least partly arboreal. Some of the smaller species are gliders. They have sharp claws and a keen sense of smell. They eat the leaves of trees, insects, berries and bird's eg... more »
Is Capita going the same way as Carillion?
Less than a month after the collapse of Carillion, another FTSE-250 company appears to be on the brink of a similar fate. Shares in the outsourcing company Capita plunged 40% this morning. The firm, like Carillion, has substantial government contracts, and saw its share price slashed after it issued a profit warning, announced plans for a rights issue and – […] The post Is Capita going the same way as Carillion? appeared first on UnHerd .
Trump May Try To Keep Guantánamo Open, But Legal Challenge Could Derail Lawless Agenda
During the State Of The Union, President Trump announced an executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay open and transport additional detainees there. The post Trump May Try To Keep Guantánamo Open, But Legal Challenge Could Derail Lawless Agenda appeared first on Shadowproof.
Americans Expect Booming Economy to Continue, Says Conference Board
[image: americans-expect-booming-economy-to-continue-says-conference-board] The Conference Board’s January survey of consumer confidence came in at 125.4, beating December’s number and outperforming predictions of economic forecasters.
5 Things You Realize When You Wake Up and Question Reality
*Dylan Charles* - Ever get the feeling that reality isn't really what we think it is? The post 5 Things You Realize When You Wake Up and Question Reality appeared first on Waking Times.
KARMA? Cops Steal Pot Edibles From Dispensary, Hallucinate So Bad They Got Stuck in a Tree
[image: edibles] Two police officers who reportedly obtained marijuana edibles during a dispensary raid, tried them out while they were on the job, and called for help when they began hallucinating. The post KARMA? Cops Steal Pot Edibles From Dispensary, Hallucinate So Bad They Got Stuck in a Tree appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
QotD: On "how great states may be made feeble and wretched"
*"Macaulay advised those who wished ‘to be well-acquainted with the morbid anatomy of governments’ to study the history of Spain in the seventeenth century;1 some modern historians would advise those who wish ‘to know how great states may be made feeble and wretched’ to study the history of modern [twentieth-century] Britain."* ~ John Charmley, from his 1999 book 'Chamberlain and the Lost Peace' . . Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.
TPPF on the SOTU: President's New American Moment Inspires Prosperity, Hope
Content Multimedia - 11 hours ago
By Kevin Roberts, Chuck DeVore, Marc Levin, Robert Henneke I applaud [President Trump] for stirring our American spirit to noble aims, for infusing optimism into our discourse, and for animating our uniquely American ‘can-do’ attitude. That zeal has been sorely lacking in our national discourse, so it’s refreshing to see it re-awakened.
Making America Great...Or Poorer? Dissecting The State Of The Union Speech
President Trump called for much more military spending in last night's State of the Union speech. He also called to keep Guantanamo open and to even add new prisoners. More money for nuclear weapons "modernization." And he wants $1.5 trillion to spend on infrastructure projects. He takes credit for a booming economy, but will he take blame when the Fed's bubbles begin to burst? Today's Liberty Report looks at the policy behind last night's "feel good" speech...
The People v. Trump: Is There a Case for the 25th Amendment?
[image: undefined] The media is of one mind: Donald Trump is mentally incompetent and must be removed from office before he blows us all to hell. It says so on Vox, New York Review of Books, CNN, The Intercept, CNBC, The Nation, Bill Moyers, Salon, and theNYT. A new book, *The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President*, concludes “Trump’s mental state presents a clear and present danger to our nation and individual well-being.” The solution is in the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. The 25A creates a mechanism aside impeachment... more »
Key Constitutional Issues Included in State of the Union Address
“Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution requires that the president share his thoughts on the current state of the Union, though it can either be delivered personally or sent as a written document. Discharging his constitutional duty in a … Continue reading →
Are Charters Under Attack? Facts Show Otherwise
from the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools January 30, 2018 Charter CEOs and supporters held a rally at City Hall on Tuesday January 30 to ask for a “seat at the table” when the new school board replaces the School Reform Commission. Several City Councilpersons attended the event, held in the Mayor’s Reception Room. APPS members have said consistently that district budget problems stem not just from a lack of funding, but from the spending priorities of the SRC which keeps resources out of classrooms. Consulting fees, faux graduate school, training by outsourcing by unquali... more »
THE RIGHT-WING MEDIA REALLY DOESN'T CARE WHAT TRUMP SAID LAST NIGHT
President Trump spoke for eighty minutes last night ... and nobody in the right-wing media appears to have any interest whatsoever in any policy position he articulated during his speech. The only concern on the right is whether liberals were angry or upset. The train crash involving Republican members of Congress has now become the lead story at Fox News Insider, but below that, here are the headlines: Opinions on the immigration proposal? On a possible infrastructure plan? On the economic boasting? Nobody at Fox cares, apparently. It's all about how awful Democrats are. Same th... more »
Building a shared future in a fractured world starts with education and health
It’s that week again. When the world’s corporate and political leaders gather in Davos for the World Economic Forum. This year, the theme “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World,” captures a vital and challenging task. We only have one … Continue reading →
High levels of antibiotic resistance found worldwide, new data shows
WHO’s first release of surveillance data on antibiotic resistance reveals high levels of resistance to a number of serious bacterial infections in both high- and low-income countries. WHO’s new Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) reveals widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance … Continue reading →
Mosquitoes Are Much Better at Learning Than We Ever Suspected
They can actually be trained. A graphic from Bill Gates’ blog clearly illustrates that the mosquito causes more deaths per year than any other animal on the planet. This killer insect has a nasty reputation for spreading the disease … Continue reading →
Scientists Are Figuring Out How to Get Astronauts to Eat Their Own Poop
Space exploration is hungry work. Taking food up to space is costly, and growing food in orbit is difficult and time-consuming, which is why scientists are looking at the possibility of converting astronaut poop back into something edible. The thought … Continue reading →
This Superconducting Switch Could Be The Missing Piece For a Human-Like AI Brain
Computers that think like us. A new superconducting switch could soon enable computers to make decisions very similarly to the way we do, essentially turning them into artificial brains. One day, this new technology could underpin advanced artificial intelligence … Continue reading →
Here’s When You Should See a Doctor About Your Headaches
Headaches are a common ailment – so common, perhaps, that many of us just accept them as part of life. “When I do routine physicals, I’ll ask about headaches,” says Michael Munger, a primary-care physician in Overland Park, Kan. He … Continue reading →
AI May Have Finally Decoded The Bizarre, Mysterious ‘Voynich Manuscript’
A code that hasn’t been cracked for 600 years. For centuries, it’s been the book no human can understand, but we may finally now be able to read it – thanks to machines invented a half-millennia after it was written. … Continue reading →
‘A Time Clock to a Tissue Clock’ for Acute Stroke Care
Stroke docs struggle with message after DAWN, DEFUSE 3, new guidelinesAction Points Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a … Continue reading →
‘This Is Us’ Has Us Wondering: Can Your Slow Cooker Actually Kill You?
“Crock-Pot shares in your devastation.” The past few days have been rough for fans of This Is Us, as well as those of us who enjoy delectable home-cooked meals with minimal effort. Viewers were recently horrified to finally discover the precise origins … Continue reading →
8 Health Conditions That Disproportionately Affect Black Women
And what you can do to prevent some of them Although being black in this world certainly comes with its struggles, I wouldn’t trade that integral part of my identity for anything. Black-girl magic is real. But it’s a sad fact that … Continue reading →
Owner Receives Letter Granting Dog Unemployment Benefits
" ... it is rare for 'man's best friend' to contribute financially to the household, and that will continue in this instance."
Train Carrying Republican Lawmakers Collides With Garbage Truck
Injuries and at least one fatality are reported, but no passengers on the West Virginia-bound train were severely hurt.
Citizen Science: Amateur Astronomer Finds Satellite NASA Lost For At Least 12 Years
The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) project was launched in 2000 to create the first comprehensive images of atmospheric plasma in our magnetosphere, a kind of cosmic demilitarized zone with plasmas of both solar and terrestrial origin. It was still functioning in 2002 when it completed its initial go but then failed to make contact again on a routine pass by the Earth in 2005. And NASA lost track of it. Like all NASA missions, they can never say failure so even though it only did one thing they declared it worth the $150 million. read more
Gary Hirshberg And Stonyfield Learn That Casual Sexism Is No Longer Okay
Stonyfield Farm, an organic corporation started by Samuel Kaymen in 1983, really rocketed to prominence when its then president, Gary Hirshberg, discovered a way to increase his market share with not much marketing cost at all: where most companies marketed by saying all the benefits and improvements they have, Hirshberg began marketing what it did *not* have. And that missing thing was science. read more
Amtrak Train Carrying GOP Congress Lawmakers Hits Truck, One Killed
*NBC:* *Train carrying GOP Congress members hits garbage truck, one dead* A chartered train carrying Republican lawmakers to a retreat collided with a trash truck Wednesday morning and left at least one person dead. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders there was one confirmed fatality and one person seriously injured. "There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff," she said in a statement. The victim's identity was not immediately released. *Read more* .... *More News On An Amtrak Train Carrying GOP Congress Lawmakers Hitting A Truck Outs... more »
Doofus Of The Day #994
Today's award goes to the authors of a ridiculous article about yoga. A professor of religious studies at Michigan State University recently argued that white people who practice yoga are guilty of enjoying a “system of power, privilege, and oppression.” To truly honor yoga, writes Michigan State University professor Shreena Gandhi, white Americans should understand its history, acknowledge the cultural appropriation they engage in, and possibly reduce the cost of yoga classes for poor people, a group that often includes people of color and “recent immigrants, such as Indian women ... more »
Former BIW tax director on General Dynamics $60 mil subsidy
Must watch this..... Retired CPA and former Corporation Tax Director of Bath Iron Works on General Dynamics $60 million corporate subsidy request. He takes the whole corporate welfare request apart.
He's Barely Seen the Spotlight and Has Already Become a Meme
Democrats, the Kennedy dynasty is over. Stop propping up the rotting corpse.
President Trump Tells Lawmaker That He Will Be Releasing The FBI/Justice Department Memo
*FOX News:** Trump overheard saying he is '100 percent' behind releasing surveillance memo* President Donald Trump was overheard telling a GOP lawmaker Tuesday night that he’s “100 percent” behind releasing a classified Republican intelligence memo detailing alleged surveillance abuses. "Don't worry," the president reportedly told U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., on the House floor after delivering his first State of the Union address. “One hundred percent." Duncan asked Trump to “release the memo,” a controversial document drafted by U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of ... more »
President Trump Signs Executive Order To Keep Guantanamo Prison Open
*Politico:* *Trump orders Guantanamo prison to remain open* President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the controversial U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to remain open. Trump announced the executive order, initially reported by POLITICO, during his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress. It directs the prison stay open and allows the possibility Trump could send new enemy combatants there. "I just signed, prior to walking in, an order directing [Defense] Secretary [Jim] Mattis ... to re-examine our military detention policy and to keep op... more »
“Steel in America’s Spine”: The State of the Union, Security, Discourse
Umberto Ecco, writing about an “Ur-Fascism” in the New York Review of Books in 1995, quoted Eugène Ionesco, who said “only words count; the rest is mere chattering.” Donald Trump was certainly not at a loss for words in Tuesday night’s State of the Union speech. He gave us plenty of words. Beautiful words. The […]
Macchiarini, 3 co-authors found guilty of misconduct in 2015 paper
The Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has declared that once-lauded surgeon Paolo Macchiarini and three co-authors committed misconduct in a 2015 paper. The decision by KI’s vice chancellor will be followed by a request to retract the paper, published by the journal Respiration. In the paper, the researchers described the case of a man with an […] The post Macchiarini, 3 co-authors found guilty of misconduct in 2015 paper appeared first on Retraction Watch.
The Death of Sunspot Cycle 24, Huge Snow and Record Cold
From Euan Mearns’ Energy Matters: http://euanmearns.com/the-death-of-sunspot-cycle-24-huge-snow-and-record-cold/ Posted on January 31, 2018 by Euan Mearns My friend Alex is in Chamonix in the shadow of Mont Blanc in the French Alps. He sent some very snowy pics and mentioned that it was fair dinging down. The most snow since 2010. Knowing that sunspot cycle 24 was […]
Lawmakers blindsided by fact that Donald Trump refuses to enact sanctions against Russians.
Courtesy of the Daily Beast: *Lawmakers were blindsided and outraged on Monday after the Trump administration said it would neither announce nor implement new sanctions against Russia. * *After briefing senators in a classified setting, the State Department announced that the sanctions regime currently in place was acting as a “deterrent” against Russian aggression and that, therefore, new measures will “not need to be imposed” as required under the law. * *The announcement caught lawmakers off guard, including those who co-authored the bipartisan Countering America’s Adversarie... more »
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