3:19 am MST
U.S. Navy Says China's Buildup In The South China Sea Will Not Stop It From Conducting Patrols In The Region
*Manila Bulletin:* *US Navy in South China Sea, Western Pacific to keep seas free* The Public Affairs chief of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) yesterday reiterated that their presence in the South China Sea and the Western Pacific is meant to keep the seas free and commerce moving freely in the area. Lt. Commander Tim Hawkins, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs officer, made the remark during an interview on board the aircraft carrier as part of the tour it hosted for both local and foreign journalists yesterday. “The reason why we are operating in the Western Paci... more »
Mojave Steve Lopez: Ward Valley Direct Action Halted Nuclear Genocide, Poisoning of Colorado River
. Fort Mojave tribal member Steve Lopez (seated) leads sunrise ceremony with Spirit Runners to Ward Valley. | Photo: Greenaction. Faced with nuclear genocide, the poisoning of the Colorado River, and the destruction of the homeland of the remaining Desert Tortoises, Native Nations stood in Ceremony on the frontline to halt forced removal from Ward Valley. Article by Brenda Norrell
Elections have Consequences; Some will Last Forever
President Obama, completely asleep at the wheel, once called ISIS/ISIL the JV team. During the Obama administration, ISIS/ISIL grew to become one of the most dangerous and destructive terror groups in world history. The perverse values of this group resulted in them not only killing countless innocent lives, but they destroyed numerous priceless archeological sites dating … Continue reading "Elections have Consequences; Some will Last Forever"
Fracking Ban is Causing Ring of Fire Earthquakes
One of the favorite acts of sophistry performed by the climate alarmists is to attribute the cause of completely natural phenemenon on CO2. CO2 can cause more and less hurricains, more and less tornoados, more and less snow, and the list goes on and on and on. Alarmists are particularly likely to blame earthquakes on … Continue reading "Fracking Ban is Causing Ring of Fire Earthquakes"
These Are Some Of The Planes, Ships, And Missiles That The Pentagon Wants To Buy
2000 lbs GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) are transported to the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). US Navy *Business Insider:* *Trump's defense budget is a wishlist for a massive military buildup — these are the planes, ships, and missiles he wants* President Donald Trump's fiscal budget request for 2019 includes $686 billion for defense spending. While Trump has pushed for a larger military since he was campaigning for president, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said more recently that the "real growth" in the military buildup begins with the now-unveiled fi... more »
Shooting Suspect Was on School Rifle Team That Got NRA Grant
Records show that the Stoneman Douglas JROTC program received $10,827 in non-cash assistance from the NRA's fundraising and charitable arm in 2016.
Folks are now sending checks to lawmakers with no dollar amount filled in, but only the words "Thoughts and Prayers."
Sent to Michigan GOP Rep. Jack Bergman pic.twitter.com/FKFGyDPlrA — Josh Mankiewicz (@JoshMankiewicz) February 17, 2018 Courtesy of Newsweek: *Amid endless calls for “thoughts and prayers” instead of legislative action in response to mass shootings, a woman in Michigan decided to take matters into her own hands. * *After Wednesday's mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Fern Malila mailed a letter and a check in the amount of "thoughts and prayers" to Representative Jack Bergman, a Michigan Republican * *“Dear Rep. Bergman,” she wrote, “since you and your colleagues in Congress se... more »
Man Found Not Guilty for Killing a Police Officer, Claiming He Acted in Self Defense
[image: not guilty] A man who sparked a massive manhunt for killing a police officer in November of 2015 has just been found not guilty after claiming he acted in self-defense. The post Man Found Not Guilty for Killing a Police Officer, Claiming He Acted in Self Defense appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
The UK Banned Guns—Now Stabbings and Violent Crime Are Out of Control
[image: stabbings] While gun control advocates argue that stricter laws could prevent mass shootings, statistics show that countries with those laws in place are battling increasing rates of stabbings and other violent crimes. The post The UK Banned Guns—Now Stabbings and Violent Crime Are Out of Control appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Innovative Engineer Sentenced to Prison for Recycling Old Computers Instead of Trashing Them
[image: computers] A California computer hardware recycler is likely going to serve prison time for attempting to extend the life cycles of old computers. The post Innovative Engineer Sentenced to Prison for Recycling Old Computers Instead of Trashing Them appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Keep the Russiagate Revenue Flying: Update
Part of Donald Trump's timeless, if limited and grotesque, appeal is that he occasionally blunders into the unvarnished truth. So it is with his latest tweeted observation that "Moscow is laughing its ass off" over the indictment by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller of a Russian troll farm and thirteen of its grossly underpaid Russian sock puppets. The American powers that be would actually have us believe that a Russian oligarch who got started in the troll business attacking bad reviews of his rancid hot dogs is waging an all-out attack against our "democracy" by bringing his chees... more »
Are Cyberattacks The Single Greatest Threat To Global Stability?
*CNBC:* *Cyberattacks are the single greatest threat to global stability, German defense minister says* Recent cyberattacks have shown that sensitive and personal data have become the target to destabilize companies and governments worldwide. According to von der Leyen, cyber security is going to be the main focus of this decade. Cyberattacks are the greatest challenge threatening global stability, Germany's defense minister told CNBC Saturday. Recent cyberattacks, namely NotPetya and WannaCry, have shown that sensitive and personal data have become the target to destabilize comp... more »
Video: Elite Tiger Forces send reinforcements to East Ghouta
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (06:15 PM) – Video footage from Syria has surfaced, showing large amounts of reinforcements being sent to the capital of Damascus in order to support the Syrian Arab Army’s operation against rebel militants in East Ghouta. A large military convoy is shown in the video, traveling from Idlib province towards Ghouta. The reinforcements […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
VIDEO: Iraqi forces deploy guided-missile combat drones to eliminate ISIS remnants
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:25 P.M.) – The aviation arm of the Iraqi Army is now deploying Chinese-built, Predator-like advanced combat drones to hunt down the remnants of Islamic State forces across the country. The combat drone, classified by its Chinese manufacturer as the CH-4B, is capable of operating at a height of 5,000 meters from where […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Confirmed: Syrian Army’s full order of battle for east Damascus offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – Confirmed information on the Syrian Arab Army’s complete order of battle for its now-imminent offensive against armed rebel group in the East Ghouta region of Damascus has been attained by sources exclusive to Al-Masdar News. The number of Syrian Army divisions and brigades – most of them veteran formations – […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iranian FM fires back at Netanyahu over drone comment
Iran’s foreign minister said that Israel is using aggression as a policy, responsible for mass reprisals against its neighbor’s, daily incursions into Syria and Lebanon. “Israel uses aggression as a policy against its neighbours,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Munich Security Confefence, accusing Israel of “mass reprisals against its neighbours and daily […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Houthi forces strike Saudi Army positions in the Jizan Region (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Houthi forces targeted the Saudi Army’s positions in the Jizan Region near the northern border of Yemen this week, scoring several direct hits in the process. According to the official media wing of the Houthi forces, their fighters heavily bombarded the Saudi Army’s positions with artillery shells around the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army Tiger Forces unleash massive artillery barrage across east Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:07 P.M.) – Just moments ago, the elite Tiger Forces Division of the Syrian Arab Army commenced the opening stage of its offensive against militant groups in eastern Damascus by launching a huge artillery barrage onto rebel defenses across various district towns. The elite division is employing a vast array of artillery assets […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
BREAKING: Syrian Army to enter Afrin following deal with Kurdish militia
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:05 P.M) – The Syrian government has reached an agreement with Kurdish forces in northwest Syria to officially enter and defend the Afrin region, Kurdish media sources reported. “SDF and the Syrian Army have reached an agreement whereby the government troops will enter Afrin tomorrow”, said Sheikho Bilo, an official from the Syrian […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Prominent Syrian general vows to eradicate militants from Damacsus: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:40 P.M.) – The prominent commander of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) Tiger Forces, Major General Suheil Al-Hassan, delivered a speech on Friday night after arriving in the eastern part of Damascus. Major General Hassan told his soldiers on Friday night that they will eradicate all the militants currently active in the eastern […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Biggest threats to the Syrian Army in upcoming east Damascus offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:45 P.M.) – Despite the sheer strength in firepower and numbers the Syrian Arab Army plans to hit East Ghouta-based militant groups with for its upcoming offensive, there exists a number of very real threats that have in the past brought other powerful government operations across the region to a virtual standstill. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Video footage of Turkish-backed rebels capturing new town in southern Afrin
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:20 P.M.) – The Turkish-backed rebels seized a new town in the southern countryside of the Afrin region, following an intense battle with the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG). Led by Faylaq Al-Sham, the Turkish-backed rebels managed to take control of Al-Muhammadiyah after overrunning the YPG’s defenses at the Jandaris axis. In addition […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Netanyahu holds up Iranian drone shot down over Syria (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:10 P.M.) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held aloft what he claimed was a fragment of an Iranian drone downed over Israel, at the Munich Security Conference, Sunday. “Here’s a piece of that Iranian drone, or what’s left of it after we shot it down,” he said. He added: “I brought it […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey denies using chemical weapons in Afrin
On Saturday, the Syrian SANA news agency reported citing doctors from Afrin that at least six people had been sent to a hospital after the Turkish troops allegedly used chemical weapons. Reports about alleged chemical attack in Syria’s northern district of Afrin, where Ankara is carrying out its Operation Olive Branch against Kurdish militants, are […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army deploys entire artillery division of howitzers, field guns, mortars and Grad rocket launchers for east Damascus battle
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:55 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army has deployed an entire artillery division worth of fire support assets in preparation for a major offensive operation against militant groups in the East Ghouta region of Damascus. Among the vast array and great number of army fire support weapons that have arrived in Damascus (and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
America's Cabinet-- No Trumpists Need Apply
For those who despair about the future of the Democratic Party when they look at the dysfunction and failure in Congress and the geriatric leadership from a calcified self-serving seniority system that elevates the worst elements of politics-- money and corruptibility over ideas and dynamism-- it's worth looking at a branch of People For The American Way, Young Elected Officials. Last month the group of elected officials under the age of 35 introduced "America's Cabinet," a group of young elected officials that will hold the Trump Administration’s cabinet accountable. They were i... more »
War. War Never Changes. Except When It Does
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis says artificial intelligence could change the nature of warfare in a way unseen in human history. (DoD/Kathryn E. Holm) *C4ISRNet*: *AI makes Mattis question ‘fundamental’ beliefs about war* WASHINGTON – Over the years, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has cultivated a reputation for deep thinking about the nature of warfare. And during that time, he has come to a few conclusions about what he calls the “fundamental” nature of combat. “It’s equipment, technology, courage, competence, integration of capabilities, fear, cowardice — all these thing... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 18
1940 PM Said resigned over growing problems with pan-Arabist Golden Square officers 1940 PM Said wanted Gaylani to become PM and he would become Foreign Minister to maintain pro-British policies 1940 Golden Square objected to Gaylani govt because it would include Said and Gen Hashemi Went to Regent calling for their exclusion from new govt 1940 Regent disagreed with Golden Square officers over new govt and made Gen Umari Mosul garrison commander retire as a result 1984 UN negotiated deal for Iran and Iraq to stop attacking civilian a... more »
AL HOFFMAN JR. TRIES TO WASH SOME OF THE BLOOD OFF HIS HANDS
A billionaire GOP donor apparently just noticed that Republican gun policies kill people: A prominent Republican political donor demanded on Saturday that the party pass legislation to restrict access to guns, and vowed not to contribute to any candidates or electioneering groups that did not support a ban on the sale of military-style firearms to civilians. Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fund-raiser for George W. Bush’s campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban... more »
Mark Mardell and his admirers
Mark Mardell must feel blessed. He's just about the only BBC reporter/presenter to be on the receiving end, week in and week out, of complimentary tweets concerning his impartiality as a reporter. (Jeremy Bowen is another of these rare beasts). I noticed this unusual trend a year or so ago and have been following it, and I've found a bit of a pattern. See if you can spot it too from this very representative sample: "*Got a lot of respect for you as a journalist*" (from Marx Media) *"I like @BBCMarkMardell Intelligent. Knows and understands Europe" * (from David Randall #FBPE)... more »
US And Russia Trade Jabs On Nuclear Arms Use At The Munich Security Conference
Image source: MSC / Mueller *Defense News:* *Escalate to de-escalate? US and Russia trade jabs on nuclear arms use* MUNICH — If anyone had any doubt left, a panel discussion today at the Munich Security Conference showcased with brutal clarity that the United States and Russia have very little common ground for a rapprochement on nuclear weapons — or much else, for that matter. Seated on a podium here at the stately Bayerischer Hof hotel, John Sullivan, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, found himself treading familiar waters with Sergey Kislyak, the former Russian ambassador in ... more »
Some Are Hoping That The Olympics Has Given Momentum For Talks Between The U.S. And North Korea
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are seen at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 9, 2018. *Sebastian Sprenger, Defense News*: *Is momentum building for talks between the United States and North Korea?* A Republican lawmaker said the United States is “of course” open to talk with North Korea in an effort to defuse an escalating conflict over that country’s nuclear weapons program. Rep. Michael Turner... more »
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu Warns Iran To Not Test Israel's Resolve
*ABC News Online:* *Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to act against Iran* Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel would act against Iran, not just its allies in the Middle East, if needed, reiterating his country's position that Tehran is the world's greatest threat. As tensions increase in the Middle East over Iran's role in Syria and Yemen, and as US President Donald Trump presses for a tougher approach on Tehran, Israel is seeking wider support to contain its regional nemesis. Holding a piece of what he said was an Iranian drone after its incursion in... more »
Cops Busted Running Major Steroid Ring—Selling Roids to Other Cops For Years
[image: steroid] Two police officers were tried and found guilty of trafficking anabolic steroids as they made a killing selling them to their fellow cops. The post Cops Busted Running Major Steroid Ring—Selling Roids to Other Cops For Years appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
X22 Report, “The Retail Apocalypse Picks Up Speed, This Will Not End Well”
X22 Report, “The Retail Apocalypse Picks Up Speed, This Will Not End Well” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCjXV-8ZqNw
"How It Really Was!"
"Karma? Lions Eat Suspected Poacher in South Africa"
Global Temperature Datasets “are not a valid representation of reality”
via Global Temperature Datasets “are not a valid representation of reality”. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that Global Average Surface Temperature (GAST) data, produced by NOAA, NASA, and HADLEY, are sufficiently credible estimates of global average temperatures such that they can be relied upon for climate modeling and policy analysis […]
FOX News Cuts Off Reporter When She Links Psychotropic Drugs to Florida Shooter
By Matt Agorist Stephen Paddock, Omar Mateen, Gavin Long, Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, James Holmes, and now, Nikolas Cruz all have one thing in common... more »
“I’m Failing At Passwords”
*“I’m Failing At Passwords”* by Peter Funt "I have several online accounts that I use a few times year and not once have I gained access without first trying several passwords and then clicking “Forgot Password” to begin the damnable process of getting a new one. More challenging for me than the password itself is the Security Question. What was the first street you lived on? Apparently when I set-up the account I typed “Mt. Airy Road,” but months later I entered “Mount Airy Road.” Sorry: Your answer does not match our records for this account. Who was your favorite school teache... more »
Israeli Tanks, Warplanes Target Besieged Gaza Strip Following a Bomb Blast
Israeli Tanks, Warplanes Target Besieged Gaza Strip Following a Bomb Blast by http://www.presstv.com/ Israeli warplanes and battle tanks have pounded the Gaza Strip after a bomb explosion left casualties among Israeli forces as the Tel Aviv regime goes ahead with its acts of aggression against the besieged Palestinian coastal sliver. – Israeli regime warplanes on Saturday struck […]
‘Widespread’ Problem of Police Sex Trafficking Women Exposed in Las Vegas
[image: trafficking] Several police officers and a lead prosecutor have been accused of participating in and covering up a sex trafficking ring in exchange for cash and free prostitutes. The post ‘Widespread’ Problem of Police Sex Trafficking Women Exposed in Las Vegas appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Daniel Ellsberg On A Life Dedicated To Preventing Nuclear Attack That Would Result In Near-Extinction Of Humans
Daniel Ellsberg is best known as the whistleblower who released the Pentagon Papers, which exposed what United States government officials really knew and thought about the Vietnam War. But he also worked as a nuclear war planner when he was a RAND Corporation researcher and consultant for the Defense Department. The post Daniel Ellsberg On A Life Dedicated To Preventing Nuclear Attack That Would Result In Near-Extinction Of Humans appeared first on Shadowproof .
The Legislature, GD/BIW Need to Wake Up — Maine People Are Not Stupid
By Orlando E. Delogu Most Maine people know that GD/BIW does not need another $60 million dollars of taxpayer’s money to keep the doors open. They are scamming the Legislature and the public with veiled threats of closure and job loss if this subsidy is not provided. In fact GD/BIW is one of the wealthiest corporations in America. Here are 10 reasons all of which suggest that this latest round of corporate welfare is unwarranted. Badgering the state for another $60 million is an abuse of corporate power; giving in to this demand is legislative dereliction of duty—a duty owed ... more »
In a tweet yesterday Donald Trump accused Democrats, that's right DEMOCRATS, of not wanting to do anything about gun control.
Just like they don’t want to solve the DACA problem, why didn’t the Democrats pass gun control legislation when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration. Because they didn’t want to, and now they just talk! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2018 First off the Democrats did NOT have control of Congress for very long at all during the Obama Administration. Courtesy of Ohio.com: *In May, 2009, Robert Byrd got sick and did not return to the Senate until July 21, 2009. Even though Franken was finally seated July 7, 2009 and Byrd returned on Jul... more »
How the Navy’s First Fighter Jet Went to War with MiGs over North Korea
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Asia* And it might have been the first jet to shoot down another jet. After World War II, the U.S. Navy scrambled to field its own jet fighters—but designing a warplane that could fly dramatically faster while still landing on a short carrier deck proved a challenge. The Navy’s first operational jet, the underpowered FH Phantom, was retired after only two years of service. Naval aircraft manufacture Grumman received funding in 1946 to develop a four-turbojet G-75 prototype based on the twin piston engine F7F Tigercat. However, the concept proved so ... more »
Are China's South China Sea Bases Pointless?
*Robert Farley* *Security, Asia* In a war they might not fair so well. But that isn't the only reason Beijing built them. China has built some islands in the South China Sea. Can it protect them? During World War II Japan found that control of islands offered some strategic advantages, but not enough to force the United States to reduce each island individually. Moreover, over time the islands became a strategic liability, as Japan struggled to keep them supplied with food, fuel and equipment. The islands of the SCS are conveniently located for China, but do they really represen... more »
Winston Churchill's Greatest Fear: Why Didn't Hitler Invade Great Britain?
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* The sun would have really set on the British Empire—or maybe not. Major Graf Von Kielmansegg, an officer in Germany’s 1st Armored Division based near Orleans, France, was dragged from a cinema on the night of August 28, 1940, and told to report to his chief of staff. “As I entered his office I was sure that we were finally going to be told that Sea Lion had been given the green light. I asked, ‘Are we on our way?’ He said, ‘Yes, we’re on our way but not to England, to East Prussia.’ So then we knew Sea Lion was a dead duck.” Von Kielm... more »
Sunday morning music, and homeward bound
It's been an interesting three days at LTUE. A group of friends and fellow writers gathered at a local rendezvous last night to share good food and good company, as a fitting end to a busy convention. Since many brought their families, it was interesting to have to avoid rampaging small children while keeping up a conversation - not the usual Con fare! Miss D. and I will be heading homeward later today. The only direct flight that still had seats available when I booked, some months ago, is in mid-afternoon, so we'll kill time until then, perhaps visiting with friends once more.... more »
U.S. Unsure Who Ordered And Directed The Syrian Attack That Left Scores Of Russian Contractors Dead In Syria
U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis addresses a news conference during a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 15, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir *Reuters*:* U.S. still unsure who directed Syria attack, despite Russian dead* WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is still unsure who directed a Feb. 7 attack on U.S. and U.S.-backed forces in Syria, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday, even as he acknowledged accounts that Russian civilian contractors were involved. Reuters has reported that about 300 men working for... more »
Pipeline Politics
Pipeline Politics have haunted this country since the end of the Second World War. Robin Sears reviews the history: Every major pipeline we have built in Canada since the Second World War was typically the product of a long and difficult political battle. The first cross-Canada pipe, the project that gave birth to Trans-Canada Pipeline, helped bring down the Liberal government of Louis St. Laurent in 1957. The infamous Pipeline Debate, ended nearly half a century of Liberal hegemony, and elected John Diefenbaker. It ushered in a period of political instability with six elections i... more »
Why Did The King Of Jordan Fly To Moscow To Meet Russian President Putin?
King Abdullah II of Jordan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. © Alexei Nikolskiy/Russian Presidential press service/TASS *Shehab Al-Makahleh, Al Arabiya*: *Did Jordan king visit Moscow to avert disaster in the region?* The moment his plane landed in Moscow on February 15, Russian media broadcast the king while saying: “I am always very delighted and warmed by the opportunity to see my dear brother, President Putin, as a friend, a dear friend of his as well as a friend of Russia ’, with this statement King Abdullah II started his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Th... more »
France And Germany Push for The Establishment Of An EU Army
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen talks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, February 16, 2018. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle Reuters *US News and World Report/Reuters:* *Let's Work Together on Defense, France and Germany Tell Europe * MUNICH (Reuters) - The defense ministers of Germany and France pledged to redouble their military and foreign policy cooperation efforts on Friday, inviting other European countries to participate if they felt ready to do so. In a speech to the Munich Security Conference, German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen said Europe... more »
Germany's Defense Minister Denounces President Trump's Military Spending
*Washington Post:* *German defense minister slams Trump’s military-heavy approach to security* MUNICH — German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen denounced President Trump’s military-heavy approach to global affairs Friday, saying the United States is shortchanging diplomacy and soft power in favor of a dangerous overreliance on its military. The tough criticism, made to an audience of the world’s security elite, including an unsmiling Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, was a European riposte to Trump’s ongoing push for Europe to spend more on defense. Even as von der Leyen acknowl... more »
Another view
Laura Perrins On the subject of Brandon Cox, this is quite a statement from Julia Hartley-Brewer: And what do you make of this from Laura Perrins in response? - What the story about Brendan Cox reveals is how ruthless and dishonest the MSM, especially the BBC are. They knew about these allegations (see @JuliaHB1) and yet were happy to use him 2 push anti-Brexit agenda. - The BBC&MSM knew Brendan Cox was in a weak position to begin with, and eventually would have been brought down. It is why he didn't run for Jo Cox's seat. They didn't care about that or the two y... more »
National Debt Threatens Economic and National Security
” “This situation is unsustainable, as I think we all know, and represents a dire threat to our economic and national security,” he said. He echoed an Obama-era warning by then-Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, who called … Continue reading →
Sunday Sermonette
*Life, Death and Politics* On January 29, a bill came to the floor of the US Senate, which if passed, would ban late-term partial birth abortion. In this procedure, the baby is dismembered in utero and pulled piece by piece from the mother. One key lobby that *opposed the bill banning the practice* was the so-called Catholic lobby - members of the Senate who publicly identify as Catholics and receive political contributions on that basis. The Catholic senators who vote to allow partial birth abortion to continue in America are (in alphabetical order for your convenience): Maria Can... more »
Searching For Light Dark Matter: A Gedankenexperiment
Dark Matter (DM), the mysterious substance that vastly dominates the total mass of our universe, is certainly one of the most surprising and tough puzzles of contemporary science. We do not know what DM is, but on the other hand we have a large body of evidence that there must be "something" in the universe that causes a host of effects we observe and which would have no decent explanation otherwise. read more
Top GOP donor threatens to cut off funds if Republicans don't do something about assault weapons in this country.
Courtesy of the New York Times: *A prominent Republican political donor demanded on Saturday that the party pass legislation to restrict access to guns, and vowed not to contribute to any candidates or electioneering groups that did not support a ban on the sale of military-style firearms to civilians. * *Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fund-raiser for George W. Bush’s campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban. * *“For how many years now have we been doing thi... more »
Will Progressive Education Policy Put Bernie In The White House Next Time?
A week or so ago we looked at an interesting video of Bernie's wife Jane interviewing economist Stephanie Kelton about a paper she and her colleagues had just published on student debt cancellation, likely to be unimportant part of Bernie's 2020 campaign platform. A couple of years ago Gaius posted about Bernie's likely 2020 opponent, Joe Biden and how he has backed bills to make it harder to *reduce* student debt, let alone cancel it. I can't imagine a Democrat who would be a worse representative of a perspective from the 20th Century... or even the 19th. Before Biden was rebran... more »
Skeleton
Andrew Marr is making the news again. (See posts above). But today's programme should be best remembered for him describing the women's skeleton in the Winter Olympics as "basically a supersonic tea tray." I'm guessing that was a reference to this from Ian Fleming's *The Spy Who Loved Me*:
Pictures: Turkish Army hurls another mechanized battalion at Kurdish forces in Afrin battle
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:15 P.M.) – The Turkish Army has deployed tens more infantry fighting vehicles to the frontlines in Syria’s Afrin region as part of a reinforcement package aimed at bolster its hitting power against Kurdish forces. Yesterday, photos (shown below) emerged showing one of several new mechanized companies that the Turkish Army is deploying […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Pictures: Kurdish forces lose 2 European fighters amid ongoing battle with Turkish Army in Syria’s Afrin
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:40 P.M.) – The media wing of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) has announced the death of two European volunteer fighters – one from Spain and the other from France – from within its ranks amid ongoing battles with Turkey-led forces across Syria’s Afrin region. The pro-YPG European volunteer fighters have been […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
China’s step into the maelstrom of the Middle East
The Middle East has a knack for sucking external powers into its conflicts. China’s ventures into the region have shown how difficult it is to maintain its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. China’s abandonment of non-interference is manifested by its (largely ineffective) efforts to mediate conflicts in South Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan as well as […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS pocket in Homs-Deir Ezzor desert becomes major problem for the Syrian Army amid endless ambushes, raids
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 A.M.) – A vast area of desert countryside held by Islamic State forces in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor is now becoming a major problem for the Syrian Army and allied paramilitaries despite the fact that they have, technically, cordoned-off the area. For months now, Syrian pro-government forces have upheld […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Untitled
*Students Ban National Anthem at California High School* Students offended by the third verse of the National Anthem have banned it at one California high school – and school officials say they’re okay with the move. The move is tied to a national controversy over the Anthem, The San Francisco Chronicle reports: “Students at California High School in San Ramon decided at a recent pep rally that the national anthem will no longer be played, bucking tradition and drawing the school into a national controversy about what and whom the anthem represents.” The school district has voic... more »
Untitled
*World’s Largest Science Organization Gives Top Honor To Conspiracy-Monger Michael Mann* If you need another example of scientific establishment’s deteriorating credibility since the election of Donald Trump, here it is: The world’s largest science organization is bestowing a top honor on a climate propagandist who spends lots of his time making hateful, inflammatory comments about the president, his family, his administration and GOP lawmakers on social media. Michael Mann, a Penn State University professor and infamous author of the so-called “hockey stick” graph to show the pl... more »
Global Temperature Datasets “are not a valid representation of reality”.
By Paul Homewood https://thsresearch.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/ef-gast-data-research-report-062717.pdf I missed this report at the time, but it is a comprehensive account of how large scale adjustments of temperatures have made global temperature datasets virtually worthless. ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that Global Average Surface Temperature (GAST) data, produced by NOAA, […]
Czech agent claims 15 Labour MPs met spies as Ken Livingstone and John McDonnell deny claims
Following the recent claims that Jeremy Corbyn had supplied information to the rather nasty Communist regime running Czechoslovakia during the Cold War, claims reported in The Sun and other newspapers but not on the BBC, today we can read in the Sunday Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/17/czech-agent-claims-15-labour-mps-met-spies-ken-livingstone-john/ that the claims involve more leading (and prominent) Labour politicians: 'Ken Livingstone, John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn were part of a group of at least 15 senior Labour figures who shared information with Eastern... more »
The Tyranny of the Click
*A new study** has found that overwhelming majority of Canadians believe in the critical role of journalism to democracy, and support more policies to defend the industry. * “*Financial pressures have strained Canada’s news industry, with layoffs in newsrooms across the country. * *News Media Canada has **proposed overhauling the Canadian Periodical Fund**, which currently provides funding only to print magazines and non-daily newspapers to offset their mailing costs. That policy measure was supported by survey respondents, with 79 per cent in favour of amending the fund to include d... more »
Nothing to see here!
Unintentional comedian Paul Mason tweeted what Frank Carson would doubtless have called "a cracker" this morning. His tweet began reasonably enough: The Telegraph’s “spy” smear @johnmcdonnellMP is literally fake news. but then his tinfoil hat went straight back on again: The whole operation seems co-ordinated from Tory HQ... Lovely use of the word 'seems' there, Paul! Now, Brother Paul isn't the only one who doesn't reckon much to the *Sunday Telegraph*'s lead story today: Andrew Marr gave it short shrift this morning: They've also got the story about Jeremy Corbyn and the Cz... more »
Best of: Break My Stride
Note: Cathy has the weekend off. She wrote this post this time of year in 2014. By Cathy Jameson All I wanted to do on Thursday was vacuum. At 10pm, as I made my way to bed, I glanced over...
"Whatever else it is it's a sad, sad story for him"
There was a striking statement from Andrew Marr this morning, during his run-through of the newspaper front pages: And finally the *Mail on Sunday*, the interview there with Jo Cox's widower - a very sad story actually, given what that man has gone through. Whatever else it is it's a sad, sad story for him. That echoes what he said last week, when he again called it "a sad story". This was followed by an even more striking gesture: His paper review chose not to discuss the *Mail on Sunday *story. Brendan Cox has been interviewed twice by *The Andrew Marr Show*. I suspect that And... more »
The Top Three Settlements on Dadu Shan
Today my man Drew took me up to the "Yang Yuan" area above Taichung city atop Dadu Shan (google map link). This area, enclosed in the green box, takes its name from some prominent local family named Yang. It is filled with old houses, and also hints about what used to be there. Note the name above the purple line: "savage city".... In local names resides much history. Here are two old wings of a Sanheyuan style house. Note the stand of bamboo on the left. That is probably the living remains of the old aboriginal palisade that was here when the first Han settlers moved into the area... more »
On The Hellenistic Philosophical Schools
In her Introduction to *The Therapy of Desire: Theory and Practice in Hellenistic Ethics,* Martha C. Nussbaum draws a comparison between the Hellenistic schools of philosophy and modern philosophy. Here's an excerpt: The Hellenistic philosophical schools in Greece and Rome—Epicureans, Skeptics, and Stoics—all conceived of philosophy as a way of addressing the most painful problems of human life. They saw the philosopher as a compassionate physician whose arts could heal many pervasive types of human suffering. They practiced philosophy not as a detached intellectual technique de... more »
Human Rights And Human Dignity
Human rights are based on an individual’s worth and should have as their goal the realization of that person’s human dignity. The post Human Rights And Human Dignity appeared first on OrientalReview.org .
CHARITIES RUN BY CHILD ABUSERS; WORLD VISION; MALAWI; CIA
*RACHEL MEGHAN MARKLE* supports the charity, *World Vision*, which is said to be a front for the *CIA*. World Vision has been linked to the massacres of children at Sabra and Shatila and at Jonestown. CHARITIES RUN BY THE SPIES. An investigation has confirmed that people in Haiti receiving aid from World Vision were 'subject to a level of sexual and financial exploitation'. World Vision has now admitted that, in Haiti, its employees traded food and cash for sex. dailymail *Meghan Markle* *"Orphaned girls in Haiti - some as young as 12 - were regularly taken by aid workers ... more »
Inexplicata - 3,000,000!
*INEXPLICATA - Three Million Views* It's not a paid holiday or anything, but it's a red-letter day for those of us at the Institute of Hispanic Ufology. Our efforts have earned us our three millionth visitor this month - a landmark we thought we'd never achieve, and a modest one at that, in a field where the average web page or blog receives that much traffic in a month. Our total score may be higher, taking into account that IHU came into existence in late 1998, when visits were tracked through web counters that weren't always accurate. This 3M mark is more thanksgiving day of ... more »
"The Proper Function Of Man..."
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." - Jack London
Sickle Cell George Monbiot & The White Helmets
Would someone please ask @GeorgeMonbiot as he has "muted" @VanessaBeeley . Thanks. Would they also please ask if Monbiot endorses implicit death threat against @EvaKBartlett, we should keep asking... Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced
Top Syrian Army general for Deir Ezzor killed by ISIS in deadly ambush
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 A.M.) – A leading commander in the Syrian Arab Army who was responsible for military intelligence in the Deir Ezzor region has been killed in an ambush carried out by Islamic State forces. On Saturday (likely in the afternoon), Syrian Army Brigadier General Jamal Razuk was killed in east Syria by Islamic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Pictures: New Al-Qaeda militia appears in Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:55 A.M.) – A new Al-Qaeda affiliate group by the name of Jaysh al-Malaheem has appeared in Syria – at least as far as picture evidence is concerned. What should be made clear is that Jaysh al-Malaheem is not a re-branding of some other preexisting Al-Qaeda affiliate group (such as Jabhat al-Nusra which […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS traps US-backed forces amid powerful counter-attack to reclaim stronghold in east Syria (video + pictures)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:15 A.M.) – Beginning on Friday, Islamic State militants operating on the eastern shore of the Euphrates launched a powerful counter-attack against US-backed forces aimed at fully reclaiming the fortress village of Al-Bahra. The terrorist counter-blow, still ongoing as of Sunday, has seen ISIS muster what remains of its shock forces in east […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
These Chinese Military Innovations Threaten U.S. Superiority
Military vehicles carrying DF-21D ballistic missiles roll through Tiananmen Square in 2015. Damir Sagolj / Reuters file *NBC*: *These Chinese military innovations threaten U.S. superiority, experts say* BEIJING — The Chinese New Year began with the traditional lighting of firecrackers on Friday, but the country's military has been working on incendiaries on an entirely different scale. Over the past year, the nation that invented gunpowder has been rolling out an array of high-tech weapons that some experts say could threaten the global superiority of the United States. "The U.S.... more »
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* The official portraits for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were unveiled in Washington on Monday. Of course, since they break with stylistic tradition, the portraits are a bit controversial but so what. Many of those who object are complaining about the choice of the artists who did each portrait; African-American artists and damn good ones at that. Some people will just never get over it. Hopefully, such people will die off soon, very soon. Tomorrow can't be too soon. Anyway, lots of people like that the Obamas broke with the stuffy old tradition of presi... more »
[Vidéo] Cessons d’idolâtrer le travail ! Automatisation, revenu de base…
Ethical Technology - 1 day ago
Initialement publie sur le site de l’Association Francaise Transhumaniste - Technoprog Dans cette vidéo, je vous invite à devenir « agnostique du travail » pour mieux préparer le monde de demain (mais vous pouvez continuer à aimer votre travail !)
Most Homes In Puerto Rico Do Not Qualify For Disaster Relief
*Miami Herald:** Half of Puerto Rico’s housing was built illegally. Then came Hurricane Maria.* SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Gladys Peña built a home the way many thousands of people in Puerto Rico, maybe most, did for decades: in makeshift fashion. Every week for years, Peña, a cafeteria cook, set money aside until she had enough to buy a vacant wooden shack in a densely packed working-class barrio, a one-time squatters’ community a short stroll from the towers of San Juan’s Golden Mile financial district. She knocked down most of the flimsy house, bought building materials bit by bit a... more »
Tweets For Today
BREAKING/VIDEO: Moments ago Israeli jets launched fresh air strikes on militant targets in Gaza. Militants targeted the planes for the second time tonight which caused additional sirens to be heard. No rockets identified as of this moment. pic.twitter.com/cga7SZzNbL — Israel Breaking (@IsraelBreaking) February 18, 2018 Anger growing among Cameroon's English-speaking refugees in Nigeria #Ambazonia #Ikom pic.twitter.com/nwl2uVgoz5 — AFP news agency (@AFP) February 17, 2018 Facebook plans to use U.S. mail to verify IDs of election ad buyers https://t.co/Q9dDgMYrz6 pic.twitter.com/00... more »
The Desert Tortoise on Sacred Land: Celebrating Victory at Ward Valley, 20 Years Later
BLM officials (far left) sent to evict activists. Wally Antone (Quechan), right; AIM member (far right), Feburary 13, 1998. | Photo: Greenaction Quechan Lightning Singers and dancers at front line of occupiers blocking police from entering Ward Valley, February 13, 1998. | Photo: Greenaction. Activists holding the line at Ward Valley occupation, 1998. | Photo: Molly P. Johnson.
Saudi Arabia Wants China And Russia To Invest In Their Upcoming Aramco IPO
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak attend a news conference at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh on February 14, 2018. Photo: Reuters / Faisal Al Nasser *M.K. Bhadrakumar, Asia Time: **Putin prefers Aramco to Trump’s sword dance* *Hardly 10 months after honoring the visiting US president, the Saudis are open to a Russian-Chinese consortium investing in the upcoming Aramco IPO * In the slideshow that is Middle Eastern politics, the series of still images seldom add up to make an enduring narrative. And the probability is high that when a... more »
Quantum mechanics is thinking outside the classical box
Several folks have sent me a text about interpretations of quantum mechanics, Thinking Outside the Quantum Box, that was recently posted by Bernardo Kastrup at a Scientific American's weblog. *Lots of people whose skulls are confined in a spherical bubble are imagining that they're creative geniuses who are thinking outside the box. But the reality is inside out. One needs to perform the spherical inversion to see it. They're narrow-minded, intellectually limited losers confined into a bubble while the proper solutions require the realm outside the bubble.* It's mostly another mo... more »
Picture Of The Day
Giant panda cubs play with decorations during an event to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year of Dog, at Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, Sichuan province, China. © REUTERS/ Stringer *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Lunar New Year Celebrations Across the Globe* (Sputnik).
Musical Interlude: Neil H, “The Remembering”
Neil H, “The Remembering” - https://www.youtube.com/
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Seen one galaxy, seen 'em all? Not on your life: The Hubble Space Telescope has captured lots of fantastic pictures of spiral galaxies during its 20-plus years of operation, as you can see in our lineup of "Hubble's Greatest Hits." But I have a feeling that today's image of the galaxy NGC 4911 will be joining the hit parade. This jewel and the other gems in the setting are part of the Coma Cluster, a gathering of galaxies 320 million light-years away from Earth in the northern constellation Coma Berenices. You can make out the wispy tracks of NGC 4911's outer spiral arms, which are... more »
6 Inspirational Women in Business
6 Inspirational Women in Business https://www.usameribank.com/about-usameribank/usab-media/blog/6-inspirational-women-in-business/ Advertisements
The science world is shocked by this 26 year old’s answer to antibiotic resistance.
The science world is shocked by this 26 year old’s answer to antibiotic resistance – Ideapod https://ideapod.com/science-world-shocked-26-year-olds-answer-antibiotic-resistance/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=sciencedump
Jesus healed using cannabis, study shows.
https://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2009/12/22/jesus-healed-using-cannabis-study-shows/
Genes remain active after death
I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it: Genes remain active after death – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43046905
New scanning technique reveals secrets behind great paintings
I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it: New scanning technique reveals secrets behind great paintings – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43088339
Probe provides rapid lung investigation
I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it: Probe provides rapid lung investigation – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43076783
Poor fitness linked to weaker brain fiber, higher dementia risk
Medical Xpress: Poor fitness linked to weaker brain fiber, higher dementia risk https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-poor-linked-weaker-brain-fiber.html
Silicon Valley insiders are switching off their smartphones because “our minds can be hijacked”
Silicon Valley insiders are switching off their smartphones because “our minds can be hijacked” – Ideapod https://ideapod.com/silicon-valley-insiders-switching-off-smartphones-minds-can-hijacked/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=natural
Global Warming vs. Solar Cooling: The Showdown Begins in 2020
https://www.space.com/39665-sun-cooling-global-warming.html?utm_content=buffer9bb9a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
A New Treatment For Hemophilia B Just Became Available.
https://patientworthy.com/2018/02/15/new-treatment-for-hemophilia-b-available/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Patient%20Worthy&utm_content=A%20New%20Treatment%20For%20Hemophilia%20B%20Just%20Became%20Available
US Northern Commander: '100 percent' Confident She Can Defend North America From A North Korean Missile Attack
Gen. Lori Robinson, the U.S. Northern Commander, (pictured right) said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that North Korea's successful nuclear and missile tests over the past year "represents the most immediate threat to our homeland, and therefore remains NORTHCOM's highest priority." (US Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox/Released) *The Hill:* *General: '100 percent confident' in North Korea missile defense* The military official in charge of the command that defends the United States from missile threats says she's “100 percent confident” in her abilit... more »
"We All Know..."
“We all know that something is eternal. And it ain’t houses and it ain’t names, and it ain’t earth, and it ain’t even the stars... everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal, and that something has to do with human beings. All the greatest people ever lived have been telling us that for five thousand years and yet you’d be surprised how people are always losing hold of it. There’s something way down deep that’s eternal about every human being." - Thornton Wilder “I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. I believe that... more »
Chet Raymo, “We Are The Consciousness of the Universe”
*“We Are The Consciousness of the Universe”* by Chet Raymo "The curtain opens on the sky. The great starless spaces fall like a black velvet drape into the west. The show opens. The sky begins. As the Sun sinks beneath the horizon, the Pleiades rise in the east, heralding the arrival of the spectacular winter stars. Aldebaran, the red eye of the Bull. Sirius, the Dog Star. Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion. Castor and Pollux, the Twins. Old Capella, the She-Goat, with her Kids. And Jupiter, blazing this winter in Gemini, hanging at the zenith like a celestial lamp when I go out to fet... more »
Who Is Going To Protect America From Trump And Trumpism? Larry Krasner?
This morning, the *NY Times* asserted that Trump's Conspicuous Silence Leaves a Struggle Against Russia Without a Leader. OK, but who will protect our country from Trump? With shameless Trump enablers Paul Ryan and Miss McConnell in charge of Congress, there's exactly zero hope from either the Senate or House. Mueller seems like a serious guy but Trump can fire him when he feels like he needs to. So that leaves the states. And there's basically one state most people count on-- or, at least one state Attorney General: New York's Eric Schneiderman. He's suing the Trump Regime over D... more »
"Grave Faults..."
“Only the following items should be considered to be grave faults: not respecting another's rights; allowing oneself to be paralyzed by fear; feeling guilty; believing that one does not deserve the good or ill that happens in one's life; being a coward. We will love our enemies, but not make alliances with them. They were placed in our path in order to test our sword, and we should, out of respect for them, struggle against them. We will choose our enemies.” - Paulo Coelho, "Like the Flowing River"
"Mars HiRISE"
"HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) is the most powerful camera ever sent to another planet, one of six instruments onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. We launched in 2005, arrived at Mars in 2006 and have been imaging ever since. Our camera’s high resolution capability (imaging up to 30 centimeters per pixel) remains unprecedented for any existing orbiter in the study of the Red Planet, as well as being an indispensable instrument for helping to select landing sites for robotic and future human exploration. In the past decade, we’ve also imaged avalanches in ... more »
"APOD"
Link to our main NASA site: http://apod.nasa.gov/ which will direct you to http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html. This main site is the first to update and the most likely to be up-to-date.
"InternetRadio"
"Music from *36,932* radio stations! Tune in to thousands of internet radio stations live right now!" *Click image for genres, larger size.* - https://www.internet-radio.com/ *Enjoy!*
China's Donation Of A New Headquaters For The African Union Was Fitted With Hidden Microphones And Compromised Computers
*The Next Web:* *‘China’s gift to Africa’: How China spied on the African Union via donated computers* For a period of 5 years, China continued to spy on all electronic communications at the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Chinese spy operation continued throughout this period without being detected until some network administrators at the AU’s headquarters discovered it in January 2017. This is according to an investigation conducted by Le Monde which has gone on to reveal how the Chinese, who donated and built the new AU headquarters in Adis Ababa, fit... more »
"The Web Gallery of Art"
"The Web Gallery of Art" "The Web Gallery of Art is a virtual museum and searchable database of European painting and sculpture of the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism and Realism periods (8th to 19th centuries), currently containing over 44,800 reproductions. It was started in 1996 as a topical site of the Renaissance art, originated in the Italian city-states of the 14th century and spread to other countries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Intending to present Renaissance art as comprehensively as possible, the scope of the collection was later extended t... more »
"MIT OpenCourseWare "
"MIT OpenCourseWare " by Stephen Carson "Already one of the richest collections of openly shared educational materials in the world, the MIT OpenCourseWare website has reached a significant milestone: With the publication of 10 new courses in the last two weeks, the site now shares core academic materials- including syllabi, lecture notes, assignments and exams- from more than 2,400 MIT courses. First announced in 2001, MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is an ambitious effort to share MIT's education resources freely and openly on the web to improve formal and informal learning worldwide. A... more »
China’s Overseas Basing: Will the PLA Follow the Renminbi?
*Joel Wuthnow* *Security, Asia* [image: Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington man the rails as the ship pulls out of Hong Kong after a five-day port visit in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated November 14, 2011. REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erin Devenberg] The People’s Liberation Army will play an increasingly visible role in and beyond Eurasia, through deployments and diplomacy. Recent media reports suggesting that China may soon open a second overseas military base, to be located in Pakistan, raise the question: where will it end? ... more »
Expanding the ISIS Brand
*Colin P. Clarke* *Security, Middle East* [image: An Iraqi soldier looks at a wall painted in the colours of the black flag commonly used by Islamic State militants, in the village of Argoob, Iraq, January 6, 2017. REUTERS/Ari Jalal] The existing ISIS franchise groups are dangerous, already proving themselves a lethal and destabilizing force in the areas they operate. But where might the next Islamic State franchise group emerge? The Islamic State’s caliphate has collapsed, although leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still at large, and the group still claims as many as ten thousand... more »
Turkey extradites high ranking ISIS commander to Iraq
Turkish authorities have reportedly extradited a top Daesh leader to Iraq following the militant commander’s capture. Baghdad and Ankara collaborated with the US to execute the capture and extradition. Ismail Alwan Salman al-Ithawi, 55, is an Iraqi national and led Daesh’s Ministry of Religious Edicts as well as the committee that decided on appointments to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Air sirens go off in Israel after rocket fire
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:10 A.M.) – At approximately 11:30 A.M.) – (Jerusalem Time), air sirens went off inside the Hof Ashekelon settlement near the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson reported. According to the IDF report, a rocket struck the Sha’ar Hanagev area near the Palestinian territories. No casualties have been reported. Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Kurdish fighter claims Turkey using napalm, chlorine in Afrin operation
The Turkish troops have failed to advance in Syria’s Afrin district, where they prefer to use the hit-and-run tactics, according to Reizan Hedu, a representative of the Kurdish self-defense forces in Afrin. Speaking to RIA Novosti, Reizan Hedu, representative of the Kurdish self-defense forces in Afrin, claimed that the Turkish army is using internationally-banned arms […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Two of the largest rebel groups may merge in northern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:15 A.M.) – Rumors have begun to surface about an alleged merger between two of the largest rebel factions in northern Syria. According to pro-opposition activists, Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham are allegedly preparing to merge their factions in order to form one large group called Jabhat Tahrir Souriya. Neither of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army prepares for largest offensive of 2018
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is making their final preparations for what is expected to be their largest offensive of 2018. According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army’s elite Tiger Forces have arrived in the eastern part of Damascus after making the long journey from the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Overheated claims on temperature records
By Dr. Tim Ball and Tom Harris Now that the excitement has died down over the news that Earth’s surface temperature made 2017 one of the hottest years on record, it is time for sober second thoughts. Did the January 18 announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that 2017 was our planet’s […]
South Korean President Moon Jae-in Says It Is Too Soon To Talk To North Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks North Korea's Kim Young Nam and Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un. Seoul, South Korea, February 10, 2018 © Yonhap via / Reuters *CNN:* *South Korea's Moon puts brakes on hopes for quick talks with North* Pyeongchang, South Korea (CNN)South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Saturday it was too early to talk about hosting a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, hinting he would not rush the matter. A high-level delegation from the North invited Moon to Pyongyang for talks with his North Korean counterpart whil... more »
Nebraska Law Now Limits ALPR Data, Helps Block National License Plate Tracking Program
By Michael Maharrey Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a bill into law that puts limitations on the storage and sharing of information collected by... more »
5 Reasons To Question The Official Narrative Of The Florida School Shooting
By Aaron Kesel Anytime a shooting happens, it’s a tragic event whether it was a false flag or a legitimate mass shooting by a lunatic;... more »
Petition Warning The World About 5G At The Winter Olympics
By Catherine J. Frompovich Something is going on at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea that is not part of the official sporting events, but... more »
Was Snopes.com ‘BUSTED’ for Our CEO’s Ties to George Soros?
A meme going around is heavy on propaganda and embarrassingly light on fact.
The Planetarium Gift Shop Manager Weighs In On The Florida School Shooting
Millions have offered their thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families, and Neil deGrasse Tyson weighed in just as you might expect:
The Daily "Near You?"
Malmö, Skane Lan, Sweden. Thanks for stopping by!
"The Door In The Wall..."
"The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser but less sure, happier but less self-satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend.” – Aldous Huxley
The Poet: Robert Bly, "Things to Think"
*"Things to Think"* "Think in ways you've never thought before. If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message Larger than anything you've ever heard, Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats. Think that someone may bring a bear to your door, Maybe wounded and deranged; or think that a moose Has risen out of the lake, and he's carrying on his antlers A child of your own whom you've never seen. When someone knocks on the door, Think that he's about To give you something large: tell you you're forgiven, Or that it's not necessary to work all the time, Or that it's been decided that if ... more »
Has Turkey Gone Rogue?
*James Kitfield, Breaking Defense:* *Has Turkey Gone Rogue?* When Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives in Ankara on Thursday, he will find Turkey unrecognizable as the ostensibly Muslim democracy and close ally that U.S. officials once held up as a model for the Islamic world. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is poised to complete his long transformation of Turkey from a raucous -- if imperfect democracy -- to an autocracy, one ruled by caprice and fear. *The once solid U.S.-Turkish relationship has foundered on miscalculations, grievances, and increasingly divergent worldview... more »
Free Download: Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged"
"If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - what would you tell him to do?" "I... don't know. What could he do? What would you tell him?" "To shrug." - Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged” ○ *“Atlas Shrugged”* by Ayn Rand "Then you will see the rise of the men of the double standard - the men who live by force, yet count on thos... more »
"State Property"
*"State Property"* When one man’s security becomes another man’s chain gang. by Robert Gore "Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal wrung from the trauma of the 1930s a lasting legacy of economic and social reform, including the Social Security Act, new banking and financial laws, regulatory legislation, and new opportunities for organized labor. Taken together, these reforms gave a measure of security to millions of Americans who had never had much of it, and with it, a fresh sense of having a stake in their country." From the dust jacket description of "Freedom From Fear, The American ... more »
Israel Accuses Turkey Of Giving Hamas Military Assistance
Turkey PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Hamas Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh. Reuters *Ahval:* *Turkey gives Hamas military assistance – Israeli intelligence* Turkey has rejected claims brought up in an investigation by Israeli intelligence that it has helped strengthen Hamas, the Islamist governing party of the blockaded Palestinian territory of Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday. Israel’s claims came after a Turkish citizen, Cemil Tekeli, was arrested attempting to board a plane at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport. The ensuing investigation by Israeli internal intelligence agen... more »
I will leave you today with the powerful words of Emma Gonzalez, who was in that Florida school the day a man came in with an AR-15 and massacred 17 of her schoolmates.
I know it is hard to hear, but I urge you to listen to it in its entirety. The raw emotion coming from this young woman is exactly what we should never forget as we call out Senators and Congresspeople and demand that they do something so that these victims in Florida become the LAST victims of school gun violence, and not simply the most recent. For those who cannot get through with breaking down, here is a transcript: *We haven't already had a moment of silence in the House of Representatives, so I would like to have another one. Thank you. * *Every single person up here today, a... more »
Legal Marijuana v Jeff Sessions
This is a list of U.S. senators: Cory Gardner (R-CO),Michael Bennet (D-CO) Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Edward Markey (D-MA). It seems unlikely that anything would put these 18 on the same list. But what did was marijuana. From someone as progressive as Elizabeth Warren to someone...more »
Prigozhin: Caterer To The Kremlin And Sanctioned Defense Contractor With Perfect Mafia Profile Indicted For Meddling In US Elections
Putin’s grandfather was allegedly cook for Lenin and then Stalin – both of whom may have been poisoned – but … Continue reading →
Heavy Fighting Reported Between Israel And Hamas After 4 Israeli Soldiers Injured In Explosion Near Gaza Border
These are the military targets the IDF struck this evening in response to the IED attack that wounded 4 IDF soldiers along the fence in southern #Gaza pic.twitter.com/yP7AfrX6TA — Jonathan Conricus (@LTCJonathan) February 17, 2018 *Haaretz:* *Israel Carries Out 'Large-scale' Attack in Gaza; Rocket From Strip Hits Israeli House* * Four Israeli soldiers wounded in explosion near Gaza border * Reports from Gaza say Israeli warplanes struck various targets in the Strip and injured two Palestinians The Israel Defense Forces said it struck six Hamas targets in Gaza Saturday in what i... more »
ACLU Sues to block Ohio's Down Syndrome Abortion Ban
[image: aclu-sues-to-block-ohio-s-down-syndrome-abortion-ban] The ACLU has filed a lawsuit to block an Ohio measure banning the abortions of pre-born babies with Down syndrome.
Left Condones Use of FDA-Unapproved Drug for Lactation in Transgender “Woman”
[image: left-condones-use-of-fda-unapproved-drug-for-lactation-in-transgender-woman] The liberal-Left is so bent on advancing the notion that transgenderism is normal that they are willing to use an FDA-unapproved drug to maintain their façade. Transgender advocates are applauding the use of domperidone on a male-to-female transgender individual to induce lactation and breastfeed his child, even though the Food and Drug Administrationhas warned against its use for safety reasons, citing concerns about its associations with cardiac arrest and sudden death.
For BBC News the history of Jerusalem began in 1967
This BBC report http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43098896 on an incident between Gaza and Israel contains one of those BBC standard paragraphs that shows their bias whilst trying not to. 'Israel regards Jerusalem as its indivisible capital. Palestinians want the east of the city, which Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, to be a capital of a future state.' Q. So who occupied Jerusalem prior to 1967? A. Jordan, the country created as the state for the Arabs on the majority of the land promised to the future Jewish state. Q. Israel has ceded control of the Tem... more »
Israel returns fire after Hamas-staged explosion at security fence
Four IDF soldiers were injured, two of them severely, in Saturday’s attack at the security point, while the Israelis were patrolling the border. An Israeli defense forces tank targeted a Palestinian observation post on Saturday in response to an earlier explosion at the security fence in southern Gaza Strip, IDF reported on their official Twitter […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Latest battle update from northern Aleppo – map
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:10 A.M.) – The Turkish-backed rebels have been cruising through the Afrin countryside lately, capturing several areas from the Kurdish-led YPG forces. Led by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the Turkish-backed rebels captured a number of areas inside the large Rajou District, forcing the YPG to retreat from several sites. In addition to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
SDF claims Syrian Kurds attacked military camp on Turkish territory
The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attacked a military camp on Turkish territory used by troops for preparing Operation Olive Branch in Syria’s Kurdish-held Afrin, the SDF media center said on Saturday. “Our forces carried out a specific military operation against the invaders and their operation desk in Qara Xaneh township in the Turkish state […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Dutch volunteer with US-backed forces killed by ISIS in Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:50 P.M.) – A Dutch volunteer with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was killed this week while fighting the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) terror group in the Deir Ezzor Governorate. According to the SDF’s official media wing, Fjord Heger was killed in east Deir Ezzor after his vehicle was destroyed by an […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iran inks port lease deal during Rouhani’s Delhi trip
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:35 P.M.) – Iran President Hassan Rouhani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a joint press conference following bilateral talks in New Delhi on Friday. The two sides inked and exchanged agreements in several areas, the most notable being Iran leasing the operational control of part of the Iranian east coast port […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army foils terrorist infiltration from Lebanon
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:25 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) foiled a terrorist infiltration attempt at the Lebanese-Homs border on Saturday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. According to the SANA report, the Syrian Army caught a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate the Homs Governorate’s Talkalakh District; this would result in a series […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey is fighting terrorism, not waging war in Syria: Turkish PM
Ankara is not fighting a war in Syria but is fighting against terrorism, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday. “We are not conducting a war against any country. There is not a war in Syria, as we speak. In Syria, it’s just that there is a fight against terrorism currently. And this is […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
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