11:31 pm MST
Commentaries And Analysis On What The U.S. Should Do In Syria
*Nick Paton Walsh, Ghazi Balkiz and Scott McWhinnie, CNN*: *Where does this end? Dangers if US leaves Syria -- or stays* With US special operations forces in Northern Syria (CNN)It was not the freshness of the meat or piquancy of the sauce that made the chicken kebab remarkable, but that it was being eaten by a US special operations forces commander on a dusty street in Raqqa, once the self-declared capital of ISIS. Maj. Gen. Jamie Jarrard, who runs special operations in Iraq and Syria, bought 20 or so of the kebabs next to the remains of a rusty, tireless water tanker the coal... more »
Musings On Iraq In The News
I was quoted in "The importance of unifying the Peshmerga" by Paul Iddon in Rudaw. Also cited in "Iraq elections: A very divided political landscape" by Ibrahim al-Marashi for Middle East Eye.
Pentagon Finally Realized Tanks It Sold To Iraq Ended Up With Pro-Iran Hashd Groups (Revised)
The Pentagon’s Inspector General (IG) recently reportedthat some of the U.S. M1 Abrams tanks sold to Iraq were used by pro-Iranian Hashd al-Shaabi factions. The IG found that 9 tanks ended up with the Hashd, and some were deployed to Syria. A few of the tanks fellinto the hands of the Hashd during the 2014 fall of Mosul and during the Battle of Tikrit. The IG didn’t say where the rest came from, but it can be assumed the Iraqi government was the other source. The Kurds claimed that the Abrams were used against them as well when the federal government moved into the disputed terri... more »
Newsnight, Hair, a giant baby and a bit more
This is a series of observations I would have posted earlier if I’d had time. Some of it might be past its use-by date, but what the hell. ++++++++ What a dilemma, whether to watch Newsnight with Kirsty Wark (afraid of missing something after last week’s spat with Tommy Robinson) or succumb to a nagging desire to watch Question Time. (afraid of missing something) You have to keep an eye on these things. Switching back and forth between them, I stumbled upon a bizarre exchange between Ann Coulter and Laurie Penny, in some ways chalk and cheese, and in other ways *cheese* and cheese... more »
Turkey's Military Offensive In Syria Runs Into Problems
*Stars and Stripes/Washington Post*: *Turkey's offensive in Syria runs into problems: mountains and mud* ANTAKYA, Turkey — A Turkish offensive against Kurdish fighters has bogged down in the mountains and mud of northern Syria as troops encounter an adversary well accustomed to the terrain. The Turkish military lost its advantage in the skies over the border area for much of this week after Russian forces restricted access to the airspace, according to a Western diplomat and Syrian rebels backed by the Turks. Without air cover, the lightly armed Syrian rebels, who are doing most ... more »
This Day In Iraqi History – Feb 11
1932 Executive Committee of the Shias in Iraq issued Manifesto saying monarchy discriminated against Shiites 1932 Executive Committee of the Shias called on England to remove monarchy and empower Shiites 1958 Jordan began talks with Iraq for a federation in response to Egypt and Syria’s United Arab Republic 1979 Ayatollah Baqir al-Sadr declared 3 day holiday for Najaf hawza after Iranian Revolution 1981 Iraq offered Iran a ceasefire at Non-Aligned Movement conference Iran rejected offer 1986 Iranians captured Fao Peninsula in Basra Iran-Iraq War... more »
Climate Hail Mary by Inept Cities
Some cities in desperate financial straits due to their own mismanagement are hoping to bail out by suing oil companies. Several are in California where the current governor blames droughts, fires and mudslides on climate change. So Governor Brown is a role model for all politicians how to scapegoat nature instead of taking responsibility for […]
United Nations: Urgent Action Needed As Violence Soars In War-Torn Syria
A man holds a child after an airstrike in the besieged town of Douma in eastern Ghouta in Damascus, Syria. Nearly 200 people have died in four days of intense bombardment in the area, whose 400,000 residents have been besieged since 2013. Bassam Khabieh/Reuters *CNN: **UN human rights chief condemns bloody week in Syria* Waves of deadly airstrikes against rebel-held areas in Syria have made this week "one of the bloodiest periods of the entire conflict," the UN human rights chief said Saturday. Opposition-controlled areas in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib and Eastern Ghout... more »
“Walking Fish” Discovery Scraps Evolutionary Theory of Human Locomotion
Forget what you learned in high school biology. Walking is a lot more complicated than putting one foot in front of the other. For that to happen, motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord must instantaneously coordinate the muscles … Continue reading →
Apalutamide Slows Metastasis in Prostate Cancer
Two-year delay in metastatic progression with apalutamide Action Points Note that this study was published as an abstract and will be presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed … Continue reading →
Weird Clutch of Eggs Found in One of the Most Inhospitable Places on Earth
The animals that laid them used hydrothermal vents as incubators. Strange conditions in the murkiest depths of the ocean have led to the evolution of weird-looking animals that sometimes look like dicks but are, impressively, able to thrive in uniquely … Continue reading →
That Viral Hand Dryer Petri Dish Isn’t as Scary as it Looks
Not all bacteria make you sick, even when they’re from the bathroom. Do you get grossed out by public restrooms? If you’ve seen Nichole Ward’s viral hand dryer experiment online, you may be even more disgusted than than usual, but … Continue reading →
Let Go of Negative Emotions: Guided Meditation
When you let go of negative emotions, you communicate to yourself and the whole world that you are serious about creating a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life and that you no longer want to settle for less than you are worth. And … Continue reading →
How to Lose Fat and Gain Muscle at the Same Time
Yes, it’s possible. There are a lot of reasons to work out, including improving health, burning fat, gaining muscle, and just simply feeling better. Many of us have multiple goals at once, and luckily, a lot of these logically go … Continue reading →
Here’s Exactly What Happens Inside Your Body When You Crack Your Back
Besides, you know, it feeling amazing There’s something about cracking your back that’s so unbelievably satisfying. Whether it accidentally cracks when you stand up or you whip out your best contortionist moves to make it happen, that little pop just … Continue reading →
How To Clean Your Arteries With One Simple Fruit
The future of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment will not be found in your medicine cabinet, rather in your kitchen cupboard or in your back yard growing on a tree. Pomegranate Found To Prevent Coronary Artery Disease Progression A study … Continue reading →
7 Simple Ways to Unclog Your Arteries Naturally
We all want to live a long life, but did you know eating these simple foods has been proven scientifically to prevent and in some cases reverse the #1 cause of death in the modern world? Statistically, atherosclerosis (the progressive … Continue reading →
PCI Strategies in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiogenic Shock.
Abstract Background In patients who have acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock, early revascularization of the culprit artery by means of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves outcomes. However, the majority of patients with cardiogenic shock have multivessel disease, and whether … Continue reading →
Students Revolt, School Goes on Lockdown, As Video Shows Cop Body Slam Teen
[image: school] Video of a school cop slamming a high school teen to the ground was so shocking that the students became unruly and police put the school on lockdown. The post Students Revolt, School Goes on Lockdown, As Video Shows Cop Body Slam Teen appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Convictions Thrown Out After Police Caught Paying Labs for Positive DUI Test Results
[image: forensics] A judge has ruled that the practice of state forensics labs receiving financial compensation for positive tests that lead to DUI convictions is unconstitutional. The post Convictions Thrown Out After Police Caught Paying Labs for Positive DUI Test Results appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Trillions of Dollars Wasted on a False Alarm and Fraud
One of the poster children of global warming is the island nation of Tuvalu, an island selected because it was claimed that it would be the first nation to disappear from the map. A new Atlantis? Maybe. But not all scientists agree that Tuvalu’s future is underwater. Some critics have branded island leaders as opportunists … Continue reading "Trillions of Dollars Wasted on a False Alarm and Fraud"
Imagine That, Temperature Matches Water Vapor NOT CO2
CO2 evenly blankets the globe in a 400 ppm blanket. In scientific language, the ΔCO2 between hemisphere, altitude up to 70km and over short time periods is 0. Differential equations don’t work with CO2 over the short run because it doesn’t change on a material basis. It is a blanket, it is a CONSTANT. You … Continue reading "Imagine That, Temperature Matches Water Vapor NOT CO2"
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS BETA-TESTING DACA DEPORTATIONS, AND THE TESTS ARE A HUGE SUCCESS
Today's Nicholas Kristof column in *The New York Times* is about Syed Jamal, a chemistry professor in Lawrence, Kansas, who's in the process of being deported after living in America for three decades. In Lawrence, Kan., the other day, immigration agents handcuffed a beloved chemistry professor as he was leaving his home to drive his daughter to school. Then they warned his crying wife and children, ages 7 to 14, that they could be arrested if they tried to hug him goodbye, and drove off with him — leaving a shattered family behind. ... Syed A. Jamal, 55, had been in America for 30 ... more »
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Robert Jago comments on an all-white jury's acquittal of Gerald Stanley for the shooting death of Colten Boushie. Shree Paradkar notes that the issue of non-representative juries is far from a new one. Scott Gilmore recognizes that Boushie's death and its aftermath are just one more story in a far-too-long history of denying fairness and equality to Indigenous peoples, while Doug Cuthand also notes the social factors behind the tragedy. And Kyle Edwards writes that Stanley's verdict will only stoke distrust of the criminal justice system and ... more »
Meghan McCain asked if her father's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate led to Donald Trump.
(Interesting part shows up at the 1:50 mark.) Courtesy of Mediaite: *“One thing your dad got criticized for is picking Sarah Palin,” Jones said. “Maybe he was ahead of his time.” * *“Isn’t this the party of Sarah Palin?” Jones asked. “How well do you think Sarah Palin would do in the modern Republican party?” * *“I still think President Trump is lightning in a bottle,” McCain responded. “I don’t think he’s going to be emulated very easily. * *“I think it’s a very specific man and a very specific moment,” she added. * *“The question of Sarah Palin — because I’ve heard it argued to... more »
Did Elon Musk Call Donald Trump a ‘Dumbass’?
Contrary to a fabricated tweet, the SpaceX CEO responded graciously to Trump's congratulations on the "American ingenuity" of the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Ex-Trump Campaign Official Charged with Human Trafficking
The former judge had been appointed to chair Trump’s electoral campaign in Kentucky’s Campbell County and was also involved in choosing local delegates for the 2016 Republican National Convention.
News Updates On Yesterday's Israel - Syrian Clash
*Haaretz*: *Israeli Air Force General: Syria Strike Is the Most Substantial Since 1982* *Brig. Gen. Tomer Bar says the Iranian drone was an advanced, low-signature model Israel has never before captured * Brig. Gen. Tomer Bar, second in command of Israel's Air Force, said Saturday that the Israeli strike in Syria Saturday morning – after an Israeli F-16 was shot down – was "the biggest and most significant attack the air force has conducted against Syrian air defenses" since the 1982 Lebanon War. The Israeli military said it has struck 12 targets in Syria, which included four Sy... more »
Musical Interlude: Afshin, “Prayer of Change”
Afshin, “Prayer of Change” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75SGQ65QhaU
Mexico: Hundreds Witness UFO Sighting in Tlalpan (2017)
*Source: Chilango Times (https://chilangotimes.com/)Date: 12.16.17* *Mexico: Hundreds Witness UFO Sighting in Tlalpan * Dozens of people claimed having seen several unidentified flying objects on Friday afternoon from the borough of Tlalpan, in the vicinity of Mexico City's Portales Metro Station. According to a report in the El Gráfico newspaper, a significant number of people stood outside the Metro station looking at the sky, where five silver spheres could be seen gliding among the clouds. Many of those who witnessed the phenomenon recorded it on their cellphones. It is hard... more »
How Trump's Way Of Looking At Short Term Metrics Is Destroying American Innovation
In 2014 Oklahoma reelected conservative Republican Mary Fallin over conservative Democrat Joe Dorman 460,298 (55.8%) to 338,239 (41%). Although there have been some shocking recent special election wins by Democrats in Oklahoma, the state Senate has 39 Republicans and just 8 Democrats and the state House has 73 Republicans and 28 Democrats. The Oklahoma congressional delegation consists of 5 Republican congressmen and 2 Republican senators... and no Democrats. The state Agriculture Commissioner is a non-partisan job but every other executive brand job-- from Auditor, Attorney Gene...more »
Doing Nothing Is Not An Option
Over the weekend, Canadians gathered in several cities to protest the Colten Boushie decision. Tim Harper writes: I cannot possibly suggest the jurors in this case were racist. I don’t know any of them and I wasn’t in the courtroom. But I do know they live in a white world, as do I, and we would all be incapable of knowledge of an Indigenous upbringing in this country, something that carries with it fears, despair, lack of opportunities and outright racism. This happened because Canada’s justice system is broken. At a time when we are trying to reach some kind of reconciliation ... more »
Blank panthers everywhere
Certain types of film really catch the BBC's imagination. They are quite rare though. There's maybe only one or two of them a year. But once the BBC *has* latched on to one of these films they never seem to shut up about it. Are we seeing the first such film of 2018 in *Black Panther*? Mark Mardell's *The World This Weekend* had a big feature on it and Mark himself has called it "a turning point". Someone at Biased-BBC called it "a not to be criticised movie " on the strength of a enthusiastic BBC News website article about it written by a non-BBC graphic illustrator headlined ... more »
“Recognizing Your Value: A Matter of Significance”
*“Recognizing Your Value: A Matter of Significance”* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM “Change your thinking to knowing that your life matters, and that you are important. It can be easy sometimes to buy into the illusion of our own insignificance. We may see large corporations or institutions, celebrities or successful people in our community, and compare ourselves to them, thinking that their fame or material power affirm how little our own lives amount to. But nothing could be further from the truth. Every single one of us matters tremendously. Our very existence affects countless p... more »
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Israeli police recommend indicting Netanyahu for corruption: report Key iPhone Source Code Gets Posted Online in 'Biggest Leak in History' Now Mattis Admits There Was No Evidence Assad Used Poison Gas on His People Iraq war redux U.S. Secretly Negotiated With Russians to Buy Stolen NSA Documents — and the Russians Offered Trump-Related Material, Too James Risen Artificial Intelligence Is Going to Supercharge Surveillance Trump Says It Will Be Hard To Unify Country Without A ‘Major Event’ Cellphone Radiation Linked To Tumors In Male Rats, Government Study Says Mad... more »
"It Is Indeed True..."
"We have not overcome our condition, and yet we know it better. We know that we live in contradiction, but we also know that we must refuse this contradiction and do what is needed to reduce it. Our task as humans is to find the few principles that will calm the infinite anguish of free souls. We must mend what has been torn apart, make justice imaginable again in a world so obviously unjust, give happiness a meaning once more to peoples poisoned by the misery of the century. Naturally, it is a superhuman task. But superhuman is the term for tasks we take a long time to accomplish, ... more »
China Claims That It Has Tested a Mid-Course Missile Defense System
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* But just how good is it? This week, China's Ministry of Defense posted a terse statement announcing a test. “China carried out a land-based mid-course missile interception test within its territory on Feb. 5, 2018 and achieved the desired test objective,” the statement said. It concluded by saying,“The test is defensive in nature and not targeted against any country.” No other details were included in the statement, including what system was used in the test, leaving analysts to speculate. Many believe China was testing its SC-19 missile. The SC-... more »
America's Missile Defense Systems: The Ultimate Paper Tiger?
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, North America* Or at least a mixed bag or successes and failures? On the morning of January 31, 2018, an Aegis Ashore missile battery based in Kauai, Hawaii cued onto an approaching intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). The installation launched an SM-3 Block IIA missile to intercept the IRBM at speeds over fifteen times the speed of sound. The Standard Missile 3 Block IIA was devised to allow U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers to shoot down short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles at ranges of up to 1,350 miles while they are soaring a... more »
Here's Why the Government Can’t Stop Elon Musk’s Flamethrower
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, North America* It's a legal rats nest. Ever since billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk unveiled his slick new commercial flamethrower for the low, low price of $500, Americans have been scrambling to stake their claim to the incendiary gadget. By Feb. 1, Musk’s Boring Company announced it had sold a whopping 20,000 flamethrowers. “When the zombie apocalypse happens, you’ll be glad you bought a flamethrower,” Musk joked on Twitter. “Works against hordes of the undead or your money back!” Whether or not the Boring Company flamethrower actua... more »
The Russian New Warfare Doctrine Has the Army Worried Enough to Make a Manual About It
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* Welcome to Russian Next Generation Warfare. The U.S. Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group was formed in 2006 to identify gaps in U.S. military doctrine, equipment and field tactics, and to study how potential adversaries are developing tactics to exploit them. In 2017 the group released the sixty-one-page *Russian New Generation Warfare Handbook*, which you can read here, based on observation of Russian tactics in Ukraine and to a lesser extent Syria, as well as published doctrine and public statements. It paints an intimidating picture of a mili... more »
The Shocking Story of How Mussolini Died
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* How one of the most vile dictators of the twentieth century met his end. At 3 am on Sunday, April 29, 1945, a yellow furniture truck stopped at the Piazzale Loreto, a vast, open traffic roundabout where five roads intersected in the northern Italian city of Milan. This industrial center had been held for only four days by Communist partisans, but from 1919 on it had been the spiritual headquarters of the Fascist Party founded there by former journalist and World War I Army mountain corps veteran Benito Mussolini. In a very real sense,... more »
Here Is How Patton Conquered One of Europe's Deadliest Nazi Fortresses
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* In the autumn of 1944, Third Army’s eastward dash ran into well-entrenched Germans and miserable weather at Europe’s strongest fortress. Lieutenant General George Patton’s Third Army had come a long way since it was activated on August 1 in Normandy. Following the breakout from Normandy in late July, Patton’s army had swept 400 miles in one month’s time all across central France to the Lorraine region, where it was met by General der Panzertruppen Otto Knobelsdorff’s First Army, which was determined to defend the Moselle line. Neverthe... more »
NATO and the Classic Problem of Measuring Inputs vs. Outcomes
I tend to complain a lot about the NATO 2% expectation–that members are supposed to spend 2% of their GDP on defense stuff, which probably makes more more Canadian than anything else I do (I don’t skate or watch hockey much). This is aspirational and countries are supposed to reach it by 2024. I have […]
Iran presented new missiles during Islamic Revolution celebrations – reports
Iran has presented a new ballistic missile, the Qadr, during nationwide rallies dedicated to the 39th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the Fars news agency reported. A new generation of Fajr missiles, Toufan 2-M short-range anti-armor missiles and a submarine named Fateh were presented during the celebrations, the Fars news agency reported. The Qadr liquid-fuel […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Rebel commander and 2 bodyguards blown up by bomb attack in southwest Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:25 P.M.) – A rebel commander and two of his bodyguards have been killed by an assassination bomb attack in southwest Syria. The party responsible for the attack is unknown. On Sunday, a vehicle with five Syrian militants (one of them a commander) aboard was struck by a roadside bomb whilst traveling along […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Pro-gov’t ISIS Hunters release official statement after US airstrikes in Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:05 P.M.) – The pro-government ISIS Hunters released an official statement on Sunday condemning the US Coalition’s airstrikes that killed several members of the Syrian Armed Forces on February 7th. The ISIS Hunters specifically condemned both the US Coalition and the Kurdish forces that are currently in control of the majority of the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
‘Era of hit and run is over’: Iranian official on Israeli strikes in Syria
The Iranian security chief has commented on the Israeli airstrikes in Syria on February 10, which triggered retaliatory fire from Syrian air defense. “The Syrian nation proved this time that it will respond to any act of aggression, as the era of hit and run is over,” Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking video: Israeli F-16 shot down by Syrian air defenses falls to earth in flaming wreck
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:37 P.M.) – CCTV video footage has captured the final seconds of an Israeli fighter jet that was struck by Syrian air defenses plummeting to the ground in a flaming wreck. On Saturday, the Syrian Air Defence Force detected and engaged an Israeli F-16I multi-role fighter whilst it was on a mission to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Kurdish forces bombed by US coalition airpower in east Syria amid big battle with ISIS – reports
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:16 P.M.) – US coalition partner forces on the ground have been bombed by their air support amid a big battle with Islamic State militants in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border according to reports from the ISIS-linked media. The ISIS-affiliated Amaq media center reported on Sunday that Syrian Kurdish forces (colloquially generalized […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Turkey-led forces advance on one of Afrin’s largest towns following latest gains against Kurdish fighters
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:52 P.M.) – Following a new day of gains, the Turkish Army and allied Free Syrian Army militias are now advancing on one of the largest towns in Syria’s Afrin region. It is unclear weather or not Kurdish forces will attempt to defend the stronghold. On Sunday morning, Turkey-led forces resumed their assault […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Pictures: Syrian Army lays claim to huge ISIS tank, US-built guided missile, artillery stockpile in northeast Hama
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:15 P.M.) – Following its defeat of Islamic State forces in northeast Hama province several days ago, the Syrian Army has discovered and laid claimed to a huge stockpile of heavy weapons that until very recently belonged to the terrorist group. On Sunday, Syrian troops clearing abandoned ISIS areas in northeast Hama discovered […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Plane with 71 on board goes missing after taking off from Moscow
An Antonov An-148 operated by Saratov Airlines and carrying 65 passengers and six crew went missing shortly after take-off from Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, an emergency services source told Russian media. “The airplane reportedly crashed outside Argunovo village [in the Moscow region],” the source told Interfax news agency. “The crew and passengers had no chance.” The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
IRGC commander threatens to ‘create hell’ for Israel after downing of F-16
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:40 P.M.) – The Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, warned Israel on Saturday of the hell that Iran could create for them if they continue to issue threats. Salami stated that all of the U.S.’ airbases in the region are within range of Iran’s missiles, should the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Over 500 Turkish-trained FSA fighters join Afrin offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – Over 500 Turkish-trained members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have recently joined Operation Olive Branch in the Afrin region of Aleppo, pro-opposition activists stated on Sunday. According to the pro-opposition activists, the 500 fighters belonged to the Al-Hamza Regiment, which is also part of the Free Syrian Army’s Sultan […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iraqi Army gets back M1 Abrams battle tanks following defeat of ISIS empire
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The Iraqi Army has received back a number of M1 Abrams main battle tanks that it in handed-over to pro-government paramilitary groups following their formation in 2014. US coalition sources confirm that at some point after the formation of the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) umbrella militia in early 2014, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Hamas congratulates the Syrian military on the downing of Israel’s F-16
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:55 P.M.) – Palestine’s Hamas Movement hailed the Syrian military on Saturday for downing an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over the northern countryside of Galilee. “We commend the Syrian response to the Israeli aggression,” Ismail Radwan said in an exclusive interview with Arabic-language Quds Press International News Agency. “We affirm that Palestine stands […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Extremely graphic videos: Untold numbers of torn-up ISIS terrorist bodies litter northeast Hama after wipe-out battle with Syrian Army
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:55 P.M.) – More video evidence (two videos shown below) has begun to surface that shows the extent to which ISIS forces suffered losses during a desperate but ultimately successful break-out offensive against the Syrian Army on Friday. On Friday, Islamic State militants besieged by Syrian pro-government forces in northeast Hama province launched […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
In a Blow to Drug Warriors: San Francisco To Open Country’s First Heroin Injection Site
[image: heroin] Focusing on harm reduction instead of punishment and prison profits, San Francisco is seeking to fight heroin addiction with science instead of an iron fist. The post In a Blow to Drug Warriors: San Francisco To Open Country’s First Heroin Injection Site appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Winds Of Social Change In Saudi Arabia?
*BBC:* *Saudi women should not have to wear abaya robes, top cleric says* Saudi women should not have to wear the abaya, a long loose-fitting robe used to cover their bodies in public, a top religious cleric has said. Sheikh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said women should dress modestly, but this did not have to mean wearing the abaya. Saudi women are currently required to wear the garment by law. The cleric's intervention comes amid moves to modernise Saudi society and relax restriction on women. "More than 90% of pious Muslim women in the Musli... more »
Iran Marks The 39th Anniversary Of The Islamic Revolution
*Tehran Times:** Huge turnout in marches marking Islamic Revolution anniversary * The people from all walks of life took part in the rallies in more than 1000 cities and towns across the country. The Bahman 22 in the Iranian calendar year, which mostly fall on Feb. 11, is synonymous with the Islamic Revolution. On this date in 1979, after a long struggle, Iranians succeeded to overthrow the dictatorial regime of Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi, the last monarch of Iran, and establish a democratic government instead. The massive marches in this year’s rallies were highly significant espec... more »
Should The Joint Korean Hockey Team Be Nominated For The Nobel Peace Prize?
Feb 10, 2018; Gangneung, South Korea; South Korea president Jae-in Moon; IOC president Thomas Bach; North Korea nominal head of state Kim Long Nam; and Kimm Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose for a picture with the women's hockey team from Korea after women's ice hockey Group B play against Switzerland in the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Kwandong Hockey Centre. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports *Reuters*: *Exclusive: U.S. IOC member suggests joint Korean team for Nobel Peace Prize* PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (Reuters) - A senior Ameri... more »
Unauthorized Disclosure—Episode 4: US Government Strikes In Syria, Trump Yearns For Gaudy Military Parade
Hosts Rania Khalek and Kevin Gosztola address a Daily Beast piece claiming to “expose” Redfish, a Russian-backed grassroots media project where Khalek briefly worked. Khalek talks about the sheer disingenuousness of this attack. Later in the show, Khalek and Gosztola discuss recent airstrikes by the United States against pro-government forces The post Unauthorized Disclosure—Episode 4: US Government Strikes In Syria, Trump Yearns For Gaudy Military Parade appeared first on Shadowproof.
After Taking The Spotlight At The Olympics, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un’s Sister Departs South Korea
*The Guardian:* *'Humble' Kim Yo-jong has charmed the media, but the glow is unlikely to last* With her ‘deadly side-eye’ and ‘nimble’ ways, the sister of North Korean leader has been the centre of attention since she arrived at the Winter Games Amid a sea of television cameras and journalists, Kim Yo-jong worked her way through the crowd surrounded by a horde of bodyguards. As she made her way through the room she was silent and always smiling. The younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been the centre of attention since she landed in South Korea for an historic t... more »
Yesterday Donald Trump called for due process when dealing with allegations of abuse or sexual misconduct. Senator Gillibrand says "Hold my beer."
Peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation. Some are true and some are false. Some are old and some are new. There is no recovery for someone falsely accused - life and career are gone. Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2018 Trump tweeted this out yesterday in response to yet another White House staff member resigning in the wake of allegations of spousal abuse. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand decided that he had a point. The President has shown through words and actions that he doesn’t value wo... more »
Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Organisers Confirm That The Games Fell Victim To A Cyber Attack During The Opening Ceremonies
*ABC News Online:* *Winter Olympics: Games organisers confirm opening ceremony cyber attack* Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organisers have confirmed that the Games fell victim to a cyber attack during Friday's opening ceremony, but they refused to reveal the source. The Games' systems, including the internet and television services, were affected by the hack two days ago but organisers said it had not compromised any critical part of their operations. "Maintaining secure operations is our purpose," International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman Mark Adams said. "We are not going t...more »
Paradigm Shift: City Now Forcing Bad Cops to Pay Victims Out of Their OWN POCKETS—Not Taxpayers
[image: pay] In cases where cops are proven to have acted with malice, the taxpayers will no longer be held liable. Instead, the criminal cops will have their wages garnished until they pay it all back. The post Paradigm Shift: City Now Forcing Bad Cops to Pay Victims Out of Their OWN POCKETS—Not Taxpayers appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
High-Level Judge & Fmr Trump Campaign Chair Pleads Guilty to 21 Counts of Child Trafficking
[image: judge] Judge Tim Nolan of Kentucky just pleaded guilty to horrifying crimes against nearly two dozen children many of which he threatened with jail if they chose not to submit. The post High-Level Judge & Fmr Trump Campaign Chair Pleads Guilty to 21 Counts of Child Trafficking appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Grim up north
It seems like a ritual now. If Mark Mardell is presenting *The World This Weekend *and the main topic is Brexit, then the programme's introduction will inevitably frame the issue negatively. This week's framing went like this: Welcome to *The World This Weekend.* This is Mark Mardell. Finally! Downing Street promises the Prime Minister will soon set out a roadmap for Brexit but a series of reports suggest the end destination will be grim for the North-East. What do people there make of it? *Talking head 1*: It is extremely concerning. My biggest fear is having enough of a workf... more »
Spain: The Puente San Miguel Humanoid (1978)
*Source: I.P.U Santander and Mundo DesconocidoDate: Mundo Desconocido Issue 19 (January 1978)* *Spain: The Puente San Miguel Humanoid* *An extraterrestrial wandered through a Santander town at night.* *Several local residents witnessed the strange visit by a humanoid to the town of Puente San Miguel in Santander, not long ago the locale for repeated UFO sightings. Upon learning of this, our colleagues German Gonzalez and Jose Ignacio Amurrio headed immediately to this community for an exhaustive investigation that we summarize as follows.* On Thursday, December 1, at 5:40 a.m., M... more »
Cicero’s Influence on Immanuel Kant’s Principle of Morality
The German philosopher Christian Garve published his book *Philosophical Remarks and Essays on Cicero’s Books on Duties* in 1783. In the same year, Immanuel Kant began working on his *Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals* . The *Groundwork* does not have any explicit references to Cicero, but Kant’s friend J. G. Hamman has said that the *Groundwork* is a conscious response to Garve’s interpretation of Cicero’s *On Duties*. In his article, published in *Mind* in 1939, Klaus Reich tries to show that Kant’s argument in *Groundwork* closely follows Cicero’s argument in *On Duties*. ... more »
NBC Under Fire For Commentator's Remarks On How South Koreans View Japan
Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics – Opening ceremony – Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium - Pyeongchang, South Korea – February 9, 2018 - South Korea's and Olympic flags flutter during the opening ceremony. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon *Korea Times:** NBC analyst under fire in Korea over ignorant comment* An NBC Sports analyst has come under criticism here after making an ignorant comment about Korea, the host country of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. During the live broadcast of Friday's opening ceremony, Joshua Cooper Ramo, a commentator for the U.S. broadcaster's coverage of the Olympics, sai... more »
The Trumpington Cross
It's always a pleasure to here an academic who's also an excellent communicator, and Dr. Sam Lucy of Cambridge University proved herself to be that kind of estimable academic on this morning's *Sunday*. She was very clear and informative. She was talking about the Trumpington Cross (which has nothing whatsoever to do with Baroness Trumpington famous two-fingered salute to Tom King). I thought I'd transcribe it for your delectation: *Edward Stourton*: The Trumpington Cross is a stunning piece of jewellery made in garnet-studded gold. It also offers a window onto the earliest days... more »
China finally switching to Russian gas
Article in Global Times complains of irregular deliveries of gas from Central Asia; hinting at preference for Russian gas More The post China finally switching to Russian gas appeared first on The Duran.
A Newborn with Thrombocytopenia, Cataracts, and Hepatosplenomegaly
How common is the use of the rubella vaccine worldwide? The acronym TORCH (toxoplasmosis, other [syphilis, varicella, parvovirus B19 infection, HIV infection], rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, and herpes simplex virus infection) is often used to identify possible congenital infections. Clinical Pearls … Continue reading →
Post-Transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disorders
What role does Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) play in the pathogenesis of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders? Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are defined as lymphomas that occur after transplantation. Although lymphoproliferative disorders were initially reported to be a rare complication of transplantation, observations … Continue reading →
The Art of Leading with the Right Balance as a Senior Resident
The job of a resident requires a delicate balancing act: between caring for patients while also fulfilling an important medical education role between being a leader and a follower and a teacher and a learner within the medical education hierarchy … Continue reading →
How Humans Sank New Orleans
Engineering put the Crescent City below sea level. Now, its future is at risk. Below sea level. It’s a universally known topographical factoid about the otherwise flat city of New Orleans, and one that got invoked ad nauseam during worldwide … Continue reading →
When You’re a ‘Digital Nomad,’ the World Is Your Office
A global network of live-work spaces is springing up to serve this new breed of millennial wanderer. On the far eastern edge of Miami’s Little Havana, beyond a tall black gate, sit four century-old wooden buildings made of strong Dade … Continue reading →
The Revolutionary Power of Black Panther
Marvel’s new movie marks a major milestone The first movie I remember seeing in a theater had a black hero. Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams, didn’t have any superpowers, but he ran his own city. That movie, the … Continue reading →
Eating Leafy Greens Each Day Tied to Sharper Memory, Slower Decline
To age well, we must eat well. There has been a lot of evidence that heart-healthy diets help protect the brain. The latest good news: A study recently published in Neurology finds that healthy seniors who had daily helpings of … Continue reading →
How Do We Know That the Earth is Round?
In Brief We know that Earth is round, but how? Because of the pictures from space? Well, not quite. We knew that Earth was round long before we ever went to space. Recently, a lot of celebrities (and other random … Continue reading →
Silicon Valley’s Tax-Avoiding, Job-Killing, Soul-Sucking Machine
Four companies dominate our daily lives unlike any other in human history: Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. We love our nifty phones and just-a-click-away services, but these behemoths enjoy unfettered economic domination and hoard riches on a scale not seen … Continue reading →
Afraid of Falling? For Older Adults, the Dutch Have a Cure
A course teaching older people how to fall, and not to fall, in Leusden, the Netherlands. The shouts of schoolchildren playing outside echoed through the gymnasium where an obstacle course was being set up. There was the “Belgian sidewalk,” a … Continue reading →
Is Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School a dropout factory?
*Here is John Harris Loflin’s latest research. Please read John’s piece and visit his website. Doug Martin* *Dear reader,Although this report is about the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, it serves as a call for transparency regarding graduation rate figures for all Indiana public schools. It is the hope the analysis will spark diligence on the part of the public to hold school boards and charter boards accountable.We must especially find ways to make clear what goes on in schools especially before/after “count day” when each public school in the state totals up al... more »
What's the Deal?
With the media awash in stories claiming that this week’s budget deal is a dramatic turning point in fiscal policy, setting out what it does and does not do seems worthwhile. From a fiscal point of view, the Democrats achieved a surprisingly large increase in non-defense discretionary spending, albeit starting from a very negative base. For the current fiscal year and the one that starts this coming fall, the agreement would erase one of the two major rounds of reductions in defense and non-defense spending that Republicans extracted in the Budget Control Act of 2011. ... more »
Democracy Scale.
*The Economist Intelligence Unit released on Wednesday its 2017 Democracy Index, which ranks 167 countries on a 0 to 10 scale. Only countries with scores above 8 are categorised as "full" democracies.The US was **downgraded from a "full democracy" to a "flawed democracy"* *in the same study last year, which cited the "low esteem in which US voters hold their government, elected representatives, and political parties."The study has five criteria: Whether elections are free and fair ("electoral process and pluralism"), governments have checks and balances ("functioning of government... more »
Majority of Americans have confidence in the Robert Mueller investigation. Far less have confidence in Trump.
Courtesy of The Hill: *A majority of Americans say special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia is fair and should continue without interference, a Marist College poll reports. * *The poll, released Friday, finds that just more than half of those surveyed, 53 percent, say that the special counsel probe is a "fair" investigation into Trump's campaign, while 28 percent say it is "unfair." This marks an increase from 48 percent who said the investigation was "fair" in the same poll last month. * *In addition, respondent... more »
Thick ice ‘catastrophic’ for Magdalen Islands grey seal hunters
By Paul Homewood More from the “Arctic Ice Is All Melting Dept”: Sealers on the Magdalen Islands usually haul in 2,000 grey seals in the short winter hunting season. This year, they did not bring back a single seal, after two failed expeditions out on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Crews that […]
Booker & Polar Bears
By Paul Homewood Booker follows up the latest polar bear scare story: The global warming-obsessed BBC has yet again been wonderfully caught out on one of its favourite memes: those supposedly vanishing polar bears due to that supposedly disappearing Arctic ice. They recently went to town with a film from a bunch of […]
Sunday morning music
We've heard the music of Silly Wizard several times in these pages. I was reminded of it again by an inquiry about the late Andy M. Stewart, lead singer for the band, who sadly died in 2015. Since there have been few Celtic music groups as successful as Silly Wizard, or composers and singers as talented as Andy Stewart, I couldn't think of a single reason not to play some of their songs again. We'll start with one of Andy's own compositions, "The Queen of Argyll". Here's a more meditative, slow-moving, melancholy song; "The Valley of Strathmore". Now for something upbea... more »
I Don't Know If Troy King Is Still A Closet Case, But He's Running For Alabama Attorney General Again
Republican Troy King is running for Alabama Attorney General again. Why would any *DWT*, outside of Alabamians, care? There's an interesting story there-- although none of the media outlets covering his announcement has mentioned it. King was appointed Alabama Attorney General by Bob Riley in 2004 when Bill Pryor resigned to accept a a federal judgeship and was then elected to the post in 2006. In 2008 King's wife caught him in bed with a young man and kicked him out of the house. Two years later Luther Strange primaried him and beat him convincingly, 284,613 (60.13%) to 188,724 (... more »
Untitled
*Puerto Rico’s Bold School Choice Plan Mirrors New Orleans’* In the months following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September, Puerto Rico has struggled to find its footing and rebuild. Unfortunately, dysfunction was already rampant in the debt-ridden territory before the storm. Now things are worse, but perhaps there is an opportunity to finally make some badly-needed changes. Bailouts and federal meddling are unlikely to turn things around. It’s clear that deeper local changes are needed to get the territory on a more sustainable long-term path. Americans need an alter... more »
Untitled
*America's fight with internal enemies* The 1787 Constitution launched the concept of federalism: the idea that a national government should legislate and rule only on national issues, but otherwise should leave individual states to innovate and test their own governing principles, for better or worse. They might devise brilliant solutions that are copied by all, or provide glaring examples of what not to do elsewhere. Fast forward to the 21st century. Lord, what were you thinking this time around, as the Founders’ vision was sorely tested on so many fronts, and the US political ... more »
Mexico: UFOs Over León (1987)
*Source: Noticias Vespertinas (Mexico)Date: 03.13. 2017* *Mexico: UFOs Over León* The city of León, aside from being considered the capital city of the footwear industry, has also distinguished itself for multiple UFO sightings. The date of 10 April 1987, however, is engraved into the minds of the people of León, when hundreds or thousands were witnesses to strange lights and shapes the combed the sky before stopping their meanderings at Mesa de Ibarrilla. This was a far-reaching phenomenon that summoned researchers from all parts of the country and even from abroad, who sought ... more »
"That was very good"gate
Penny Mordaunt - a very good interviewee "That was very good". So whispered Andrew Marr to Penny Mordaunt as the preview of Nicky Campbell's show began rolling. Regular viewers will know that he often says things like that to his guests, especially his final guests and sometimes we viewers get to overhear what he's saying. As Iain Martin has written, if a presenter tells an interviewee "that was good" it doesn't mean "I agree." It means that was punchy, interesting, on point, newsworthy. Unfortunately, the world of Twitter being the highly politicised thing it is, such behavio... more »
500-Year Cycle Signals in Solar Activity
Lihua Ma, Zhiqiang Yin, Yanben Han. Quasi 500-Year Cycle Signals in Solar Activity, Earth Science Research; Vol. 7, No. 1; 2018 Direct observations of solar activity are available for the past four century, so some proxies reflecting solar activity such … Continue reading →
Reckless rebel offensive against Syrian Army allows ISIS to escape from Hama to southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 P.M.) – A reckless and ill-sighted militant offensive carried out against the Syrian Arab Army on Wednesday (February 7) can be identified as the primary cause for the successful break-out of Islamic State militants who were otherwise trapped by pro-government forces in northeast Hama towards southeast Idlib. On Wednesday, a coalition of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army seizes large cache of weapons left behind by ISIS in northeast Hama (photos)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) confiscated a large cache of weapons that were left behind by the Islamic State (ISIS) before they abandoned their pocket in the northeastern countryside of the Hama Governorate. According to a military report from northeast Hama, The Syrian Army seized hundreds of assault rifles, sniper […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Rebels gave Israel intel about Syrian military targets to strike: report
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:15 P.M.) – Rebel groups helped provide the locations of the Syrian military targets that were struck by the Israeli forces on Saturday, the Times of Israel reported, citing Israeli military sources “A Syrian opposition commander supplied The Times of Israel with the rebels’ own list of 12 sites targeted in the IAF […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Mattis admits “No Evidence” Assad did gas attack
Just enough time has passed for an admission of this type to pass unnoticed and absolutely no one has to apologize nor be held accountable, but we thought we’d bring you, comedian, Jimmy Dores take on Secretary of Defence James Mattis statement in Newsweek that the US has “no evidence” that the Syrian government used the banned […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Islamist rebels attempt to advance in northern Hama amid ceasefire talks with Syrian Army
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 A.M.) – The Islamist rebels launched a surprise attack inside the northern part of the Hama Governorate, Saturday, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions at the Zaleen Checkpoint and its surrounding area. Led by Jaysh Al-‘Izza, the Islamist rebels attempted to infiltrate the Syrian Army’s positions at the Zaleen Checkpoint in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Israeli op against Syrian air defense ‘most significant’ since 1982 – General
The military operation of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Saturday was “the most significant” action against the air defense of neighboring Syria for the past 36 years, and it was fully successful, IAF Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Tomer Bar said. According to Bar, the last time Israeli pilots delivered such powerful strikes on […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish-backed rebels in Afrin link up with allies in Idlib – map
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 A.M.) – The Turkish-backed rebels scored a new advance in the northern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate on Saturday, seizing several areas inside the strategic Afrin region. Led by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the Turkish-backed rebels began the day by capturing the town of Deir Balout and its corresponding hilltops after […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS launches big assault in southeast Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:10 A.M.) – The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) launched a big assault in the southeastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate on Saturday, targeting several towns under the control of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham. ISIS began the assault on Saturday by storming the town of Um Khalakhil in southeastern Idlib; this would result in a […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
A sad story but...
From this morning's *The Andrew Marr Show*... Ayesha, Julia and Andrew *Andrew Marr*: One of things that happens when you have a big story like this, is everybody starts to go in different directions searching for different aspects of sex problems, in this case in the charity sector. You've got the front page of the *Mail on Sunday*. A sad story but... *Julia Hartley-Brewer*: Yes, and I think it is important...yes, allegations against Brendan Cox, the widower of Jo Cox, of course. He denies these allegations. I have no information whether these allegations are true or not. We do ... more »
BWorld 184, ERC paralysis and implications for consumers
* This is my article in BusinessWorld last February 01, 2018. Despite a significant increase in the Philippines’ power generation capacity in recent years, the country’s installed capacity and electricity production remains small compared to the ASEAN-6 and North East Asian neighbors. For instance, its installed capacity of 21.2 gigawatt (GW) in 2016 was what Vietnam has about 10 years before. Vietnam now has twice the Philippines’ installed capacity (see table). A reliable and stable supply of energy results in economic development. More power plants mean more electricity genera... more »
Trump campaign chair in Kentucky pleads guilty to sex trafficking. Remember what I said yesterday?
JUST IN: Trump campaign chair in KY pleads guilty to sex trafficking of minors: 21 counts against 19 victims, to get 20 yrs in prison, “felony trafficking of a minor, felony inducing a minor to engage in sex, and a third count of giving alcohol to a minor”https://t.co/jlM9QpCzMS pic.twitter.com/1scCWud33F — The Baxter Bean (@TheBaxterBean) February 9, 2018 Courtesy of Kentucky.gov: *Today, Attorney General Andy Beshear announced that former Campbell County District Judge Timothy Nolan has pleaded guilty to numerous felony charges, including human trafficking of adults, promotin... more »
When the Siblings Speak
By Cathy Jameson Ronan’s siblings tolerate quite a bit from their brother, but they rarely ever complain about it. They could – the noise he makes when he gets overly excited is ear piercing, the attention he needs is constant,...
Tax Cut 31, Talk at Deloitte TRAIN forum, January 2018
Last month, I gave a talk about the new tax-tax-tax law of the Philippines called TRAIN, signed in December 2017. Audience were accountants, auditors, managers of medium to large corporations plus officials and staff of Deloitte. I said that I entitled my paper as such because I believe that the TRAIN law is a lousy and ugly law. The audience (100+) smiled, others wondered. My concluding notes: * PIT cut rate should be a social goal and a public service in itself. Earning P500,000 (little less than $10,000) or higher per year and be slapped with 32% income tax is confiscatory, im... more »
Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIuCwnnDq8k
"Sometimes..."
“Sometimes we love with nothing more than hope. Sometimes we cry with everything except tears. In the end that’s all we have - to hold on tight until dawn.” - Gregory David Roberts, "Shantaram"
The Light of the World
If a person is locked up in hell, he is locked up there voluntarily, like someone committing suicide in a burning house, or like an elderly, alcoholic bachelor living amidst the bedlam of empty bottles, cobwebs, and cigarette butts. The post The Light of the World appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
"So Sadly True..."
And you can't tell them, warn them... they don't want to hear it. "When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic." - Dresden James
Paging Katya Adler...
Katya Adler Maybe Andrew Marr needs to send a memo to Katya Adler... *Andrew Marr*: The *Sunday Telegraph* there has got a story from the other side of the Brexit debate - Barnier's aggression. He's been very, very aggressive this week, in many people's view, is risking a UK walkout with the beginnings of a fracturing of opinion on the European side of negotiations. You don't often hear about that, so that's interesting. ******* *Andrew Marr*: Do you accept, however, that in a sense we pore over every split, every problem on the British government side, every inconsistency? On th... more »
“It's Looking A Lot Like 2008 Now... Is This It?”; A Comment
*“It's Looking A Lot Like 2008 Now... Is This It?”* by Chris Martenson "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history." - George Bernard Shaw "Economic and market conditions are eerily like they were in late 2007/early 2008. Remember back then? Everything was going great. Home prices were soaring. Jobs were plentiful. The great cultural marketing machine was busy proclaiming that a new era of permanent prosperity had dawned, thanks to the steady leadership of Alan Greenspan and later Ben Bernanke. And only a small cadre of cranks, like me, was singing a different tune; w... more »
Spiritual Masters As Defined by Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov
*Spiritual Masters.* - Know what to expect from them. *"The spiritual life is a discipline which requires a great deal of time and effort. Therefore, if someone comes along and begins by promising that you will obtain clairvoyance and psychic powers very quickly and easily, be careful. And mistrust them all the more if they ask for money in exchange for such rapid results. For the truth is that money is of no use whatsoever when it comes to spiritual progress.Your daily efforts to learn self-control, to be considerate of others, and to unite with God through prayer and meditation... more »
Russia Urges Israel to Avoid Any Escalation
PressTV Published on Feb 10, 2018 The United States has expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of violence between Damascus and Tel Aviv. The U-S State Department said it strongly supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Tel Aviv would do whatever necessary to defend itself against aggression. […]
Most Serious Incident Between Israel and Syria & Iran in Years: Comments on Downing of Israeli Jet
RT Published on Feb 10, 2018 An Israeli F-16 fighter jet crashed after Syria responded with anti-aircraft fire to an Israeli operation in its territory. end
Study Finds More Than 24,000 Chemicals In Bottled Water: Which Ones Are Harming You?
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2017/03/28/study-finds-more-than-24000-chemicals-in-bottled-water-which-ones-are-harming-you/ Advertisements
Why Brazil Loves Breastfeeding.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/12/brazil-breastfeed/420219/?utm_source=atlfb
CHARITIES RUN BY THE SPIES?
Some charities are being run by *Mossad* and its friends, and, are involved in organising child abuse rings? "More than 120 workers for Britain's leading charities were accused of sexual abuse in the past year (2017) alone, fuelling fears that child abusers are targeting overseas aid organisations. "As new figures emerged revealing the extent of the crisis, Priti Patel, the former international development secretary, warned *'predatory paedophiles' had been allowed to exploit the aid sector."* Charities reel as 120 workers accused of sexual abuse in last year alone *Mark Goldrin... more »
Russian President Putin Predicts The West Will Soon Tire Of Sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin (RT photo / Semyon Khorunzhy) *OilPrice.com/RFE:* *Putin Predicts West Will 'Tire' Of Sanctions Soon* Putin spoke at a closed-door meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, a prominent grouping of company chiefs and tycoons, on February 9. "I think that those who are doing this will themselves tire of it soon, and...I hope that we will embark on the path of normal relations," Russian news agencies quoted him as saying about the sanctions imposed by the West. Putin's comments come weeks ahead of a March 18 presidential electio... more »
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*-by Noah* I especially like Kelly's monkey medals, very apt. Yes, Gen. John Kelly, Señor Trumpanzee's Chief of Staff would have fit in quite well at Rick's American Cafe in Casablanca. Of course in that alternate universe, the Nazi's would be running it under his direction. Kinda like the White House is today. As it is, Gen. Kelly is a bigly stain on the reputation of the United State Marine Corps. He should be busted down to Private in charge of toilet cleaning with a toothbrush, preferably his own.
Jeremy Bowen on his critics, on being a BBC editor and on his Tamimi report
Here are transcripts of a couple of extracts from a discussion between the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen and a former BBC reporter turned media trainer and leadership coach Mike Sergeant. Through them we learn that he doesn't like criticism, that his job title gives him more latitude to lead the audience 'towards understanding', and that he used his Tamimi report to put across some points he felt the audience needed to hear. *I* *Jeremy Bowen*: And your other part of the question was "Sometimes people don't like what they hear." That happens a lot. *Mike Sergeant*: Parti... more »
Two killed as Turkish helicopter crashes during Afrin offensive (video)
Footage shot by fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured the moment a Turkish military helicopter was allegedly downed in Raju, northwest Afrin on Saturday, leaving at least two soldiers dead. The incident took place during Ankara’s Afrin operation as the helicopters were flying an offensive on Syrian Kurdish militia in the area. In […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US blames Iran for Israeli-Syrian conflict
The United States considers the latest incident on the Israeli-Syrian border to be Iran’s “calculated escalation” of tension, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Saturday. “The United States is deeply concerned about today’s escalation of violence over Israel’s border and strongly supports Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself. Iran’s calculated escalation of threat […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISRAEL ATTACKING SYRIA
*Partisangirl 🇸🇾*Verified account @Partisangirl FollowFollow @Partisangirl More Israel has been attacking #Syria with their air force for years. Just last week they struck Damascus. They gave us bull about a drone violating their airspace. The Golan is Syrian airspace not #israel's. 2:17 am - 10 Feb 2018 - *269* Retweets - *482* Likes - [image: Settler Colonialist][image: Shadowcat mirage][image: Saleh Elkmeshi][image: SK][image: Kathleen lawson][image: Ləman Şixaliyeva][image: gregfullmoon][image: mindweaponsinragnaro][image: mmrenegade] 29 replies .269 retweets482... more »
Two Days Of Pakistan - Afghanistan Talks End In Failure
Pakistani Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua (L) and Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai lead their respective delegations in two-day bilateral talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 09, 2018. (Courtesy - Pakistan Foreign Ministry) *VOA: **No Progress Reported in Pakistan-Afghanistan Talks * ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s two-day dialogue with neighboring Pakistan ended Saturday without progress on issues dividing the two countries and fueling bilateral tensions, officials said. Islamabad hosted the meeting of what is named the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and ... more »
The Irony of “Selfies” Surgery: Cell Phone Radiation Exposure and “Rapid Aging Syndrome”
By B.N. Frank What a drag it is getting old… It’s hard enough losing our youthful idealism and vitality. Looking old can be the kiss... more »
US Senator Wyden Requests Financial Records Related to Dmitry Rybolovlev and Purchase of Trump Palm Beach Property
US Senator “Wyden Requests Financial Records Related to Dmitry Rybolovlev and Purchase of Trump Palm Beach Property FEBRUARY 09,2018 Washington, … Continue reading →
US Special Counsel Mueller Probing Trump Finances – Examined Florida Mansion Sale To Russian Oligarch, Miss Universe Pageant Moscow, And More
The article, further below, is from last August but still relevant. US Senator Wyden just requested information from the US … Continue reading →
Tweets For Today
Iran sends drone into Israeli airspace one day before 1979 revolution anniversary - https://t.co/LcAmRAwp0G pic.twitter.com/fhk4uKT5xS — Long War Journal (@LongWarJournal) February 11, 2018 230 civilians killed in Syrian, Russian airstrikes in past week: U.N. https://t.co/HnWtbSV1Qr pic.twitter.com/w7RGM8mjmn — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 10, 2018 South Koreans angry at North Korea's perceived "hijacking" of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have sarcastically dubbed it the "Pyongyang Games", but it seems many really are struggling to differentiate between the two places h... more »
North Korean 'Army of Beauties' At Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018
*WNU Editor:* They are not quiet.
Picture Of The Day
*WNU Editor: *Strange way to have a handshake. Picture from *North Korea leader Kim Jong Un invites South Korean president to summit *(DW).
Musical Interlude: Georg Deuter, “Morning Light Silhouettes”
Georg Deuter, “Morning Light Silhouettes” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEXIjHI9FNA
The Poet: Carl Sandburg, "Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind"
*"Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind"* "The past is a bucket of ashes." *1* "The woman named Tomorrow sits with a hairpin in her teeth and takes her time and does her hair the way she wants it and fastens at last the last braid and coil and puts the hairpin where it belongs and turns and drawls: Well, what of it? My grandmother, Yesterday, is gone. What of it? Let the dead be dead. *2* The doors were cedar and the panels strips of gold and the girls were golden girls and the panels read and the girls chanted: We are the greatest city, the greatest na...more »
The Curious Case of the Missing Front Page
Neil Henderson, the BBC's Newsdesk and Planning editor, who often tweets 'tomorrows papers today' for the BBC, has been accused of failing to report a particular front page: It's certainly true that Neil's tweets - 19 of them - feature every other front page (plus many a back page) and that only the *Mail on Sunday*'s front page about Brendan Cox is missing. For some reason. Both editions of *The Papers *on the BBC News Channel last night also studiously avoided discussing this front page. They did, however, briefly show the *MoS*'s front page - albeit with a heavy 'health warning... more »
"That Tiny Light..."
"Hope is that tiny light that the gods have given us so that we can find our way through our darkest hours. And while we might stub our toes and bruise our knees, if we keep moving forward, even when our progress is slow and painful, we will overcome and be made better by our journey. No misery or bad situation is ever infinite or final until we make a conscious decision for it to be so." - Sherrilyn Kenyon
"What Destiny Is..."
"Its five in the morning, I can see the first rays of sun trying to penetrate through this grey sky, trying to change its color to dark blue, and declare the dawn, but it's strange, dawn and dusk both have the same color, both have that same murky feel about them, but how different is their nature. One exemplifies the end, while the other symbolizes a new beginning... but is that end the end of hopes or end of sorrows, or is that beginning the beginning of a new life or new difficulties which lie ahead? We can't ever figure it out... it's all written and that's what destiny is. Ever... more »
Some Of The U.S. Navy's Smallest Boats Are Getting Massive Weapons Upgrades
*Warrior Maven*: *New Weapons for Navy PC Boats Counter Enemy Small Boat & Drone Attacks* Navy PC boats are now equipped with laser-guided Griffin missiles able to hit enemy targets out to 4 kilometers. The Navy is completing a host of sweeping modernization upgrades to its fleet of 14 Patrol Coastal (PC) boats by integrating new laser-guided weapons, communications technology, drone sensors and navigation systems to enable the ships to respond to newly emerging littoral and coastal area enemy attack possibilities. "This modernization consists of numerous upgrades that support ...more »
Ehang Air Taxi Takes Flight With Passengers For The First Time
https://futurism.com/videos/ehang-air-taxi-passengers/ Advertisements
You're Not A Progressive Just Because You Mouth The Word "Progressive"
*New Dem is the opposite of progressive* The word "progressive" has become fashionable and now anti-progressive politicians are using it. Joe Crowley, Wall Street's conduit to the House Democrats and the reactionary former head of the New Dems is hoping to follow Pelosi/Hoyer as the head of the House Dems. He's a truly disgusting, glad-handing corrupt crud. But last week he dragged one of the most progressive members of Congress, Ro Khanna (D-CA) all over his district to give him progressive cred. Crowley's office sent out a press release on February 5: As an admirer of Khanna, it t... more »
CIA Denying Reports That U.S. Intelligence Officers Were Bilked $100,000 In A Deal To Retrieve Stolen NSA Cyberweapons And Dirt On President Trump
According to the @nytimes, a Russian sold phony secrets on “Trump” to the U.S. Asking price was $10 million, brought down to $1 million to be paid over time. I hope people are now seeing & understanding what is going on here. It is all now starting to come out - DRAIN THE SWAMP! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2018 *Daily Mail: 'This is fictional and patently false': CIA denies it paid $100k to Russian spy who claimed he had stolen NSA cyberweapons and dirt on Trump - as President says article shows the need to 'drain the swamp'* * Report claimed US intelligence ... more »
Tweets For Today
Iran sends drone into Israeli airspace one day before 1979 revolution anniversary - https://t.co/LcAmRAwp0G pic.twitter.com/fhk4uKT5xS — Long War Journal (@LongWarJournal) February 11, 2018 230 civilians killed in Syrian, Russian airstrikes in past week: U.N. https://t.co/HnWtbSV1Qr pic.twitter.com/w7RGM8mjmn — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 10, 2018 South Koreans angry at North Korea's perceived "hijacking" of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics have sarcastically dubbed it the "Pyongyang Games", but it seems many really are struggling to differentiate between the two places h... more »
The Coast Guard's Only Heavy Icebreaker Is Breaking Down (In The Antarctic)
*Business Insider*: *The Coast Guard's only heavy icebreaker has been fighting engine failure and flooding in the frigid Antarctic* * The Polar Star travels south every year to break open a resupply channel to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. * The aging Polar Star encountered several problems during the journey this year. * The crew resolved the issues, but the harsh conditions take a heavy toll on the 41-year-old icebreaker. The US Coast Guard's only operational heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star, recently completed a mission to cut a resupply channel through Antarctic ice in the Ro... more »
Russia calls for restraint after received reports on Israeli strikes in Syria
In connection with the information about the Israeli air strikes on targets in Syria, including on those at the border of de-escalation zone in south-west, the Russian Foreign Ministry calls on all involved parties to express restraint and not to allow escalation in the region. “We are calling on all the involved parties to express […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Ahrar Al-Sham foils ISIS offensive in west Daraa (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:15 A.M.) – The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) launched a new offensive in the western countryside of Dara’a this weekend, targeting the rebel-held town of Heit. ISIS began their assault by storming the town of Heit from two different axis in a bid to overwhelm the rebel forces of Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham. However, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
President Trump Proposes The Biggest Civil Service Changes In 40 Years
*USA Today:* *'Hire the best and fire the worst': Trump proposes biggest civil service change in 40 years* WASHINGTON — President Trump will seek to "hire the best and fire the worst" federal government employees under the most ambitious proposal to overhaul the civil service in 40 years, officials said. The measures will be outlined in the budget plan that Trump will send to Congress Monday, said four Office of Management and Budget officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the budget hasn't been released. Trump foreshadowed the proposal in a line in his State of the... more »
Poll: 55% Believe The Obama White House Spied On The Trump Campaign
*Investors Business Daily*: *Most Think Obama White House Spied On Trump Campaign, Want Special Counsel: IBD/TIPP Poll * Spying On Trump: Americans overwhelmingly believe the Obama administration "improperly surveilled" Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and a majority say they would like to see a special prosecutor appointed to look into possible misconduct by the FBI and Department of Justice in spying on Trump, the latest IBD/TIPP poll shows. One fact emerges from the poll of 900 people conducted from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2: The public doesn't necessarily buy into the Democratic... more »
Germany's Social Democrats Meet Their Day of Reckoning
*E. Wayne Merry* *Politics, Europe* [image: Christian Democratic Union CDU party leader and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a news conference at the CDU party headquarters, the day after the general election (Bundestagswahl) in Berlin] Germany is losing its political predictability and reliability. Government formation in Germany is approaching a crunch point. The main center-right (CDU/CSU) and center-left (SPD) parties have reached an agreement on a new grand-coalition government, similar to that which preceded inconclusive national elections last September. The cru... more »
A New Era of Terror Money?
*Carlos Roa* *Economics, North America* [image: Bitcoin (virtual currency) coins placed on Dollar banknotes, next to computer keyboard, are seen in this illustration picture] Cryptocurrencies offer a viable alternative to the existing international financial system for terrorists and others engaged in illicit activities. Bitcoin, along with other cryptocurrencies, has attracted considerable scrutiny in the past few months due to a consider run up in prices. While the press devotes a great deal of attention towards the crypto nouveau riche or the usual proclamations that the entir... more »
Why America Is Completely Obsessed with Snipers
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, * The cult of the American sniper built around Kyle helps reveal a darker side of martial pride in the post-9/11 world. To the average civilian, the story of Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle is one of a warrior destined for greatness. The self-described “American sniper” racked up 160 confirmed kills over his decade-long career, earning a reputation as a superhuman marksman who displayed “unparalleled bravely and skill” during the critical Battle of Fallujah, according to his Navy evaluation report from March 2004 to March 2005.... more »
The B-32 Waged America’s Last Air Battle in World War II (After the War Ended)
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Asia* In fact, Dominator crews fought the last U.S. air battle of World War II—tragically, after the war was over. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber achieved fame—and infamy—for its role in the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Developing the huge bombers, which could lug heavy bomb loads over long distances at high altitudes and speeds, amounted to the most expensive weapons program undertaken by the United States during World War II—more expensive even the Manhattan Project. However, the Superfortress actual... more »
China Is Selling a New Tank. Could It Beat the M1 Abrams in a Fight?
*Charlie Gao* *Security, Asia* Or Russia's best? While China’s primary tank is the ZTZ-99, its military industry (in the Western tradition) has also developed completely original designs for export. One of the designs that’s achieved considerable success is the VT-4, which has been recently adopted in significant numbers by the Royal Thai Army. The VT-4 is China’s premier export tank, built on technology and designs behind the earlier Al-Khalid tank that was built with cooperation from Pakistan and Ukraine. But how does the VT-4’s technology stack up against Russia’s T-90S, Ame... more »
Here Is China's Plan to Crush America in a War (And It's Not What You Think)
*Michael Peck* *Security, Asia* Sun Tzu would approve. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting,” wrote the legendary Chinese strategist Sun Tzu 2,500 years ago. Now China’s military appears to be adopting a strategy that Sun Tzu might have approved of. The “systems destruction warfare” approach can be described as seeking victory by incapacitating, rather than annihilating, an opponent. Rather than emphasizing firepower and decisive battles between mass armies, China will attempt to paralyze an opponent’s ability to wage war through precise attacks acros... more »
These Marine Aces Were Some of the Best Fighter Pilots of World War II
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* Led by Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss, VMF-115 compiled an outstanding combat record. “As a returning flight of Marine SBDs, dive bombers, were setting down on the airstrip, one of the planes lost a bomb which had failed to release during the mission. The bomb skidded down the runway and came to a stop in the middle of the field. No one knew if the bomb was armed. Everyone was ducking for cover. Where it lay it was preventing other planes from landing. So, Al Tierny, from St. Paul, Minnesota, and I volunteered to go out and get the bo... more »
Musical Interlude: The Moody Blues, “Question”
The Moody Blues, “Question” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2lIbp1XYpM
Musical Interlude: Kevin Kern, “Another Realm”
Kevin Kern, “Another Realm” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2JtNQublQ
"A Look to the Heavens"
"What's happening in the Statue of Liberty nebula? Bright stars and interesting molecules are forming and being liberated. The complex nebula resides in the star forming region called RCW 57. This image showcases dense knots of dark interstellar dust, bright stars that have formed in the past few million years, fields of glowing hydrogen gas ionized by these stars, and great loops of gas expelled by dying stars. *Click image for larger size.* A detailed study of NGC 3576, also known as NGC 3582 and NGC 3584, uncovered at least 33 massive stars in the end stages of formation, and the ... more »
Chet Raymo, "Pigeons"
*"Pigeons"* by Chet Raymo "That old curmudgeon H. L. Mencken wrote: "The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind." Admitting that no one - including this writer - is immune to self-delusion, still it is hard for anyone who respects empirical evidence to argue with Mencken. Half of Americans believe in ghosts. Almost seventy percent believe in angels. More people believe in astrology than express interest in astronomy. Almost anything paranormal - ESP, UFOs, channeling, etc. - is deemed more interesting t... more »
“The Nature of Courage”
*“The Nature of Courage”* by ClassicLit “Tolkien had experienced war and violence first hand in World War I. Like many of the writers from his era, his world could never be the same, after seeing his best friends die, and his land in ruin. Shippey writes, “The life experiences of many men and women in the twentieth century have left them with an unshakable conviction of something wrong, something irreducibly evil in the nature of humanity, but without any very satisfactory explanation for it.” Defeat seems inevitable. The forces of evil are strong. And, the quest isn’t really a qu... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Dublin, New Hampshire, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "All Will Come Again"
*"All Will Come Again"* "All will come again into its strength: the fields undivided, the waters undammed, the trees towering and the walls built low. And in the valleys, people as strong and varied as the land. And no churches where God is imprisoned and lamented like a trapped and wounded animal. The houses welcoming all who knock and a sense of boundless offering in all relations, and in you and me. No yearning for an afterlife, no looking beyond, no belittling of death, but only longing for what belongs to us and serving earth, lest we remain unused." - Rainer Maria Rilke
Shoud We Care On What Happens To Carter Page?
Carter Page, one-time adviser of Donald Trump, addresses the audience during a presentation in Moscow, Russia, in December. Photo by Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters *Eli Lake, Bloomberg:* *We Should Care About What Happened to Carter Page* *The former Trump aide's reputation has been ruined -- not by a conviction, not by any charges, but by a warrant that was supposed to be secret. * A lot of Americans watching the volleys of memos and the Trump-Russia probe must be asking: Who the heck is Carter Page? You see the former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser in news footage -- smiling w... more »
Could A Mini-Sub Sink A U.S. Aircraft Carrier?
*Harold Hutchison, We Are The Mighty*:* How stupid-looking minisubs could sink a US aircraft carrier* While there has been a pause in tensions with North Korea — to the point where the dictatorship, led by Kim Jong Un, is taking part in next month’s Winter Olympics — that regime has always been tricky. Remember, we’re talking about a rogue nation that sank the South Korean corvette Cheonan with a minisub out of nowhere on March 26, 2010, killing 46 of her crew. Now, you might think that an American carrier isn’t at the same risk as a South Korean corvette. After all, a North Korea... more »
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