11:11 pm MST
If Only the News Told the Truth About Prescription Drugs Like Robin Williams Does in This Video
Robin Williams was always known more for his outrageous antics than his commentary on issues surrounding topics like health and politics, but like most comedians who speak without a filter, he has the ability to absolutely nail it whenever he does. Case in point: the following rant he went on in about prescription drugs and the absurd side effects that come with them. Dozens of comics have offered their own take on drug company side effects but the bit he pulls off at the end is something completely unique, something that is genuinely Robin Williams (like pretty much every he prod... more »
Picture Of The Day
People sit a medical point in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh *WNU Editor*: The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Bombs fall on Syria's Ghouta* (Reuters).
Netanyahu happy with Trump’s embassy move to occupied East Jerusalem (
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:40 A.M.) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his happiness with US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem in a TV address from West Jerusalem, on Saturday. “This is a great moment for the state of Israel. President Trump’s decision to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Air Force Chief of Staff Predicts That We’ll Be Fighting From Space In A Matter Of Years
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein speaks at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 23, 2018. Credit: U.S. Air Force *Space News*: *Air Force Chief Goldfein: ‘We’ll be fighting from space in a matter of years’* *Goldfein: To prepare to fight from space, the Air Force will have to invest in new technology but also in the training of leaders.* ORLANDO, FLA. — Gen. David Goldfein’s speech on Friday represented the strongest rhetoric yet on space warfare as an area that deserves special attention from the U.S. Air Force. Goldfein, the Air Force... more »
Which Member Of Congress Does Putin Love More, Dana Or Devin?
The last time I spoke with Dana Rohrabacher was on a staircase in Pasadena. We were talking about how Ted Lieu, who is helping Democratic candidates for Rohrabacher's Orange County seat hone their messages, was working with him on a bill to legalize marijuana. My friend David was with me and when Rohrabacher started complaining that his back was hurting because he had been surfing earlier, Dave asked, "Where, in the Moscow River?" David and I had recently returned from Moscow and had stayed at at the Baltschug Hotel, right across the Moskva River from the Kremlin, overlooking the B... more »
Some CoArray FORTRAN Notes
Some rough notes on places to start learning about Coarray Fortran and how to use it. Continue reading →
Weekend reads: Automated image duplication detection?; journal editor frustrations; cash for catching errors
We seem to be past the worst of our technical issues, so thanks for your patience with us over the past few weeks. (Some of the fixes came at a cost, so we would be remiss if we did not ask readers to consider a donation to support our work.) The week at Retraction Watch featured … Continue reading Weekend reads: Automated image duplication detection?; journal editor frustrations; cash for catching errors
Prof who just dropped $10M suit against PNAS: “I was expecting them to settle”
Yesterday, Mark Jacobson, a researcher at Stanford University who studies the future of renewable energy, announced he would drop a $10 million defamation suit over a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that was critical of his work. As we reported, the announcement came just two days after the District … Continue reading Prof who just dropped $10M suit against PNAS: “I was expecting them to settle”
Caught Our Notice: Big journal, big correction
Title: Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Coronary-Artery Surgery What Caught Our Attention: When the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) publishes a correction that is more than a misspelling of a name, we take a look. When NEJM publishes a 500-word correction to the data in a highly cited article, we take notice. This study … Continue reading Caught Our Notice: Big journal, big correction
Stanford prof plans to drop $10m suit against PNAS and critic
A professor who is suing a journal publisher and critic for defamation has announced he plans to drop the case. Yesterday, Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson announced on Twitter that he plans to “voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit” he filed last year in the District of Columbia, in which he alleged he was defamed when the … Continue reading Stanford prof plans to drop $10m suit against PNAS and critic
BMJ journal pulls case report after UK tabloids publish graphic photos
A BMJ journal has retracted a medical case report about a couple in the United Kingdom who were infected by parasitic worms while on a Caribbean cruise. The paper in BMJ Case Reports included graphic photos of the patients’ buttocks, the site of the infection, which were republished within a week by UK tabloids. Specifics … Continue reading BMJ journal pulls case report after UK tabloids publish graphic photos
Psst…Need a PhD thesis? That’ll be $63,000
Many readers may have heard whisper of companies that offer a range of writing services — some more ethical than others. Although some companies offer to edit and polish writing, others can write PhD research proposals, masters’ theses, or even a dissertation. In other words, the students engage in so-called “contract cheating” — paying someone … Continue reading Psst…Need a PhD thesis? That’ll be $63,000
Retracted letter about vaccine safety made potentially “slanderous” claims
Last October, David Hawkes read a letter to the editor that shocked him: It alleged Hawkes and a colleague had lied about their professional affiliations. Hawkes told Retraction Watch that he contacted the journal Toxicology on October 19 to complain that the letter contained “numerous factual errors that could adversely affect our professional standing,” and … Continue reading Retracted letter about vaccine safety made potentially “slanderous” claims
Author: Journal’s unapproved edits distorted my ideas
Researcher Floribert Patrick Endong had been looking forward to seeing his paper in print. Several months after he submitted it to Gender Studies, the journal told him in March that it was online. But when he read it, Endong was disappointed to see some changes he had not approved, which he believed “deformed much of … Continue reading Author: Journal’s unapproved edits distorted my ideas
PNAS asks D.C. court to dismiss $10 million defamation lawsuit
WASHINGTON, DC — Lawyers for the National Academy of Sciences have asked a District of Columbia court to dismiss a $10 million defamation suit brought by a Stanford University professor. Mark Jacobson, an engineering professor at Stanford who has published research about the future of renewable energy, alleged he was defamed in a June 2017 … Continue reading PNAS asks D.C. court to dismiss $10 million defamation lawsuit
Target of $2M recruitment grant falsified several images: ORI
A former NIH postdoc recruited to a tenure-track position last year committed multiple acts of misconduct in two papers, according to the U.S. Office of Research Integrity. According to the new notice, issued by the ORI, Colleen Skau altered results and multiple figures across the papers, published in Cell and PNAS. The misconduct occurred while … Continue reading Target of $2M recruitment grant falsified several images: ORI
The South Korean Army Is Bigger Than The U.S. Army
A South Korean soldier takes part in a combined arms collective training exercise in Pocheon, South Korea September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji. *Kyle Mizokami, National Interest*: *South Korea's Army Has 560,000 Troops Ready to Take on Kim Jong Un * The Republic of Korea Army is a large, powerful land force capable defending the border from North Korean invasion. It’s no accident that the North Korean military has evolved asymmetric means such as long range border artillery, light infantry, infiltration forces, and chemical and radiological units to counter the South’s increasin... more »
North Korea Could Easily Nuke Tokyo (the Largest Urban Area on the Planet)
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* And millions of people would lose their lives. Tokyo has a population of 13.491 million, making it by far the largest city in Japan and home to more than 10 percent of the nation’s population. The greater Tokyo area, home to thirty-seven million, is the largest urban area on the planet. It is also squarely in the crosshairs of North Korea’s nuclear weapons. In the event of nuclear attack, Tokyo could experience enormous destruction the likes of which it hasn’t experienced since World War II. Tokyo became the capital of modern Japan in the late n... more »
The Decline of Cold-War-Era Regimes Could Lead to an International Security Crisis
*Polina Sinovets* *Security, Europe* [image: Russian servicemen equip an Iskander tactical missile system at the Army-2015 international military-technical forum in Kubinka, outside Moscow, Russia, June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin] The decline of international-security regimes is inevitable—in part because the majority of them were created during the Cold War. One of the most visible tendencies of the twenty-first century is the gradual decline of the global international-security regimes. Created in the years of the Cold War, they ensured international stability, provided... more »
Europe Still Doesn't Take Its Own Defense Seriously
*Doug Bandow* *Security, Europe* Berlin plans to leave the defending to Washington—as do most of NATO’s other members. If candidate Donald Trump had one signature position, it was criticizing America’s populous, prosperous allies for leeching off the U.S. military. He even talked about charging them for the Pentagon’s services. But like many other issues, he proved to be more bark than bite. Whether reflecting a lack of belief or attention, he left European policy to his Europhile officials, who told European leaders to ignore the president. “There is a lot more support for cont... more »
Turkey May Try to Build an Unmanned Tank
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Middle East* And that would be a really big deal. Turkey may try to build an unmanned tank. That’s according to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Speaking at a meeting at the presidential palace on February 21, Erdoğan declared: “We will carry it a step further [after domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles] . . . We should reach the ability to produce unmanned tanks as well. We will do it.” Erdoğan’s comments came weeks after five Turkish soldiers were killed in a tank while fighting in Syria’s Afrin district. Ankara has deployed military... more »
The Marine Corps May Finally Get a New Sniper Rifle—Just Not the One They Need
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, North America* And that could be a big problem. The Marine Corps is throwing down cash to test-drive the same compact sniper rifle the Army has pursued in recent months. But while its 7.62mm rounds pack the punch required by scout snipers facing increasingly protected enemies downrange, its effective range falls well short of the sniper systems used by both foreign militaries and militants — a limitation that makes it unclear just what the Corps could do with this new weapon. The Army’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget includes $46.2 millio... more »
A Secret for 40 Years: Navy Jets Secretly Battled Russian Jets in a Siberian Snow Storm
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Asia* Thanks to North Korea. On the afternoon of November 18, 1952 four sleek jets painted an inky navy blue soared off the deck of the carrier USS Oriskany into a swirling Siberian snow storm gusting over the Sea of Japan. The carrier was part of Task Force 77, a fleet of twenty-five ships which included three carriers used to launch daily airstrikes on North Korean bridges and logistics during the Korean War. Earlier that day, its warplanes had struck the logistical base at Hoeryong, used as a gathering point for supplies received from China and t... more »
Russia Celebrated Defender Of The Fatherland Day Yesterday
*Sputnik:* *10 thousand volleys fired form 15 different sites were ignited to commemorate the Defender of the Fatherland day and Red Army's 100-year anniversary in Moscow.* 30 additional volleys providing the accompanying salute were fired from a different site. Defender of the Fatherland Day commemorates the date in 1918, during the Russian Civil War, when the Red Army conducted its first mass draft. Originally known as Red Army Day, it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy Day in 1949, and given its current title in 2002. *Read more* .... *Update #1:* Russia Marks Red Army's Cent... more »
Which side are you on?
You pick - 43,000 kids in Maine living in poverty or more corporate welfare for a mega-rich General Dynamics - which had $3 billion in profit last year? Who needs help the most? Video by Regis Tremblay
What does the latest 30 day ceasefire in the East Ghouta mean?
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:25 A.M.) – The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Saturday that called for a 30 day ceasefire to immediately be implemented in the East Ghouta region of Damascus. Based on the terms of the resolution, all areas absent of the Islamic State (ISIS) and Jabhat Al-Nusra will be under […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iran accuses US of aiding ISIS in Syria
The US has been transferring Daesh militants from Syrian cities to outside of the region on a regular basis, which undermines the fight against terrorists, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted, speaking at Tehran University during an event called “the Patterns of Regional Order in the Post-ISIS (Daesh) Era” on Saturday. “The terrorist communication […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto Scraps Plans To Visit The White House After 'Testy' Phone Call With President Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto during the their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. Reuters/Carlos Barria *The Hill:* *Mexico's Peña Nieto scraps plan to visit White House following call with Trump on border wall: report* Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has reportedly scrapped his plans to visit the White House after a contentious call with President Trump discussing his proposed border wall. U.S. and Mexican officials familiar with the call told The Washington Post that Peña Nieto and Trump reached a... more »
Is China Ready For A Trade War Against The U.S.?
The People's Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit, January 18, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Hyungwon Kang *Alex Capri, SCMP*: *Is China ready for what US could unleash in trade war?* Tariffs and blocking trade are just parts of the arsenal Washington could deploy – citing ‘national security interests’ – to monitor, control and stop commercial activities. As rumblings of a trade war between Washington and Beijing grow louder, the Trump administration appears ... more »
Help Stop Charter Co-Location at North Hollywood High School
A concerned student at NHHS, Anna Winikow, contacted Schools Matter asking for help. Please sign her petition and share it widely everywhere. Thank you. Stop Charter Co-Location at North Hollywood HS 1,501 SIGNATURES (as of 1:08PM) ASK FAMILY, FRIENDS, ALUMNI TO SIGN: bit.ly/SaveNoHoTo: LAUSD School Board Members LAUSD Superintendent, Local District Superintendent Los Angeles Mayor, City Council Member, Neighborhood Council, CA Senator, CA Assembly Member School Construction Bond Oversight Committee CC: LAUSD Charter Division We strongly oppose the addition of VIP charter school to t... more »
Syria, Turkey, Russia and the Kurds: the struggle for Afrin
Russia tries to broker a diplomatic solution to the Afrin conflict More The post Syria, Turkey, Russia and the Kurds: the struggle for Afrin appeared first on The Duran.
General Kim Yong-chol Will Head North Korea's Delegation To The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (Updated)
North Korea's general reconnaissance bureau head Kim Yong Chol speaks during an emergency briefing for diplomats basing in North Korea, in Pyongyang August 21, 2015, in this photo released by Kyodo. / Reuters *BBC*: *Kim Yong-chol: North Korea's controversial Olympics delegate* General Kim Yong-chol will head North Korea's delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics closing ceremony on 25 February. He is a controversial figure - and his upcoming visit has been met with hostility in South Korea. During his time as military intelligence chief, Gen Kim was accused of masterminding... more »
Florida school shooting survivor reminds his critics that he and his peers will outlive them.
Courtesy of Share Blue: *“The right is claiming that you are being led around by celebrities, by George Soros, by the left,” host Joy Reid said. “Your response?” * *“I’m so sorry for each and every one of them,” Hogg said, before turning to the camera and addressing his attackers directly. “It’s so sad to see how many of you have lost faith in America, because we certainly haven’t, and we’re never going to.” * *“You might as well stop now,” he added, “because we’re going to outlive you.”* Damn, that is kinda gangster. But he's right. These old white assholes can rant and rail... more »
China Condemns New U.S. Sanctions On North Korea
*VOA:* *China Reacts Angrily to New US Sanctions Against North Korea * China responded angrily Saturday to new sanctions the United States imposed on North Korea, maintaining they were counterproductive to efforts to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and long-range missile development programs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday what he called the "largest ever" set of sanctions against North Korea and threatened a "phase two" if the measures weren't effective. The sanctions target one person, 27 companies and 28 ships registered in China and seven other countries with the int... more »
Is Mobster Sheldon Adelson Paying For The Trumpist Embassy In Jerusalem?
*Bad for the Jews?* As far as I know, Henry Ford never offered to pay for an embassy Berlin. Tokyo Rose never offered to put up the yen to build an American embassy in Tokyo. Nor did Benedict Arnold offer to pay for one in London in 1780. But the Republicans appear to be ready for a whole new theory of outsourcing and the privatization of foreign policy. Early yesterday morning, AP reported that Señor Trumpanzee is considering an offer from Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson to pay for at least part of a new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Lawyers at the State Department are looking i... more »
Prez Buffoonery Reaches New Heights: Teacher Merit Bonuses Based on Marksmanship
Trump promises 'shootings will not happen again' if states give yearly bonuses to 'Armed Educators': After remaining silent most of Saturday, President Donald Trump once again made the pitch to arm school teachers with the promise that it will bring to end school shootings. Writing on Twitter, Trump pushed back against law enforcement officials and educators who want to see no weapons on school campuses at all, saying states should take the lead and give pistol-packing school officials “yearly bonuses.” “Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) …
Can The Truth Be “Racist”?
I’ve been involved in a most curious discussion that brought up some important issues. An online acquaintance of mine, very well educated, a UK citizen working in the Netherlands, claimed that foreigners with Residence Permits should be allowed to vote in local, not national but local, elections where they are residing. That seemed crazy to…
U.S. Congress Has Released The Redacted And Declassified Democratic Memo On DOJ And FBI Alleged Surveillance Abuses
*The Hill*: *House Democrats release intelligence memo defending DOJ, FBI investigation* House Intelligence Committee Democrats have released their memo countering the GOP document that alleged surveillance abuses in the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI. The 10-page Democratic memo, authored by Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.), the top Democrat on the committee, was made public after President Trump declassified a four-page Republican memo last month alleging that officials at the FBI and DOJ had abused their powers to spy on a Trump campaign official. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor:*... more »
Has Russia Miscalculated In Syria?
Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd R) meet with servicemen as they visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria, Dec. 11, 2017. *Martin Chulov, The Guardian:* *Moscow mired in Syria as Putin’s gameplan risks a deadly ending* *Russian leader’s gamble backing Bashar al-Assad increasingly looks miscalculated* From his spot in the ruins of east Ghouta, Arif Othman sees the current phase of Syria’s war as brutally simple. The longer he holds out against Bashar al-Assad and his allies, the worse it will get – especially at the h... more »
Study: Medieval Climate Change Existed in Africa
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: From the Institute for Hydrography, Geoecology and Climate Sciences comes this paper that is just one more piece of evidence that the Medieval Warm Period was global, and not regional. Mapping Medieval Climate Change in Africa: Continental warming, coastal cooling and shifting rainbelts 1000 years ago Global climate…
Anthropogenic Warmers: Global Warming to Decrease Snow Fall
Originally posted on Sierra Foothill Commentary: The claim: ♦ IPCC TAR (2001): “Milder winter temperatures will decrease heavy snowstorms” ♦ Kunkel et al., 2002: “Surface conditions favorable for heavy lake-effect snow decreased in frequency by 50% and 90% for the HadCM2 and CGCM1 [models], respectively, by the late 21st Century. This reduction [according to models]…
United Nations Votes For A 30-Day Humanitarian Ceasefire In Syria
*DW:* *UN Security Council votes for 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay* The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to approve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. Reports suggest that shortly after the vote, warplanes once again struck the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. UN Security Council votes for 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to approve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. Reports suggest that shortly after the vote, warplanes once again struck the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. *Read more... more »
Randy Quaid
Original here Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced
Kurdish SDF to Pass Control of Manbij to Syrian Army
*It's from an unnamed source- Which is problematic. * *However, if true, it's timely and could indicate that there is a wider agreement to push the USrael backed Kurdish militias east of the Euphrates.. A situation I've long believed and have stated here at the blog, could be tolerated by all parties concerned. * *A move that should not be confused or associated with peace, cessation of hostilities and the exit of Israel or the US.* *Coming right after the passed UN Resolution.. *UN Security Council Approves Syrian Cease-fire/Vasily NebenzyaSputnik: photo from sputnik "Kurdish-led S... more »
Kurdish SDF to hand over Manbij in northern Aleppo to Syrian Army: report
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) have agreed on the transfer of control over the northeast city of Manbij in the Aleppo province to the Syrian army that will enter the city in the coming days, a Kurdish security source told Sputnik on Saturday. “The agreement was reached, under which the Syrian Arab Republic’s army will […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
New satellite image confirms Su-57 jets in Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 A.M.) – A new satellite image posted by ISI revealed the arrival of the Russian Su-57 fighter jets to the Hmaymim Military Airport on February 23rd. The ISI image specifically revealed the first deployment of two fifth generation Su-57 jets that were rumored to have arrived at the Hmaymim Airport after an […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
UNSC vote cannot be used as pretext for military action – Russian ambassador
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:55 A.M.) – Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said that negotiations were prolonged “to make sure that is not used as a pretext for any military action” speaking after the UNSC meeting in New York, Saturday. “We wanted to make sure that is not used as a pretext for any […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Middle Finger Symphony Theater
** No Tuxedos Required ** Brought To You By *BLUESJUNKY*: Chair of Music - Middle Finger Symphony Music Director
Manafort Indictment Sparks Hunt for Europeans Paid to Lobby
The lobbying by the European political figures — identified in documents as the "Hapsburg Group" — allegedly took place in 2012 and 2013.
On historical perspective
I'll give Roland Priddle this much: he's absolutely right in his impression that the best way to argue for waving through expanded tar sands pipelines without an unbiased review is to pretend that nobody has learned anything about environmental protection, oil or dilbit spills, climate change, or energy industry trends over the past six-plus decades. But I'll suggest that the public interest is probably best served by analysis based in the present rather than 1951.
Former RNC head Michael Steele stunned to learn that he was only hired as the token black.
CPAC communication director Ian Walters said tonight at the Ronald Reagan dinner: “We elected Mike Steele as chairman because he was a black guy, that was the wrong thing to do.” Guests at tables apparently gasped in shock. https://t.co/pRJjNPsM29 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 24, 2018 Courtesy of The Hill: *Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said Saturday that a suggestion from a CPAC official that Steele was only chosen to lead the RNC because he is black underscores a tense relationship with race within the GOP. * *"It’s the groupthink that... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, “A Year And A Day”
2002, “A Year And A Day” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7b_avTk38
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Point your telescope toward the high flying constellation Pegasus and you can find this expanse of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies. Centered on NGC 7814, the pretty field of view would almost be covered by a full moon. NGC 7814 is sometimes called the Little Sombrero for its resemblance to the brighter more famous M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. *Click image for larger size.* Both Sombrero and Little Sombrero are spiral galaxies seen edge-on, and both have extensive central bulges cut by a thinner disk with dust lanes in silhouette. In fact, NGC 7814 is some 40 million light-years... more »
"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"
*"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"* by Marc Chernoff “Today, I’m sitting in my hospital bed waiting to have both my breasts removed. But in a strange way I feel like the lucky one. Up until now I have had no health problems. I’m a 69-year-old woman in the last room at the end of the hall before the pediatric division of the hospital begins. Over the past few hours I have watched dozens of cancer patients being wheeled by in wheelchairs and rolling beds. None of these patients could be a day older than 17.” That’s an entry from my grandmother’s journal, dated 9/16/19... more »
"You Have To Play the Cards You Get..."
“Just because fate doesn't deal you the right cards, it doesn't mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.” - Les Brown
"8 Reasons Why You Act Against Your Own Better Judgment"
*"8 Reasons Why You Act Against * *Your Own Better Judgment"* by Mark Sisson "We all make poor choices against our better judgment. It’s kind of what makes us human – the tendency to actively and willfully make decisions that will result in unfavorable outcomes. Sure, the candy bar tastes good, but you know you’ll feel awful after eating it. Yeah, that blog is fun to read, but you know you’d be much happier if you finished that essay for class first. And yet five minutes later, a candy bar wrapper sits, emptied of its contents; your molars house fragments of nougat and sport a caram... more »
"Hard As It May Be..."
“You observe your children or your children’s children, making the same absurd mistakes, heart-rending mistakes often, which you made at their age. And there is nothing you can say or do to prevent it. It’s by observing the young, indeed, that you eventually understand the sort of idiot you yourself were once upon a time- and perhaps still are.” “One can fight evil but against stupidity one is helpless… I have accepted the fact, hard as it may be, that human beings are inclined to behave in ways that would make animals blush. The ironic, the tragic thing is that we often behave in... more »
The Poet: James Broughton, "Quit Your Addiction"
"Quit Your Addiction" “Quit your addiction to sneer and complaint. Try a little flaunt, Call for comrades who bolster your vim and offer you risk. Corral the crones, Goose the nice nellies, Hunt the bear that hugs and the raven that quoths. Stay up all night to devise a new dawn...” - James Broughton, “Little Sermons of the Big Joy”
City planning ‘homeless roundup’ to make themselves pretty for Olympics parade?
There’s hoovervilles all over town but most prominently on the likely route for such a parade. Got to hide that dead and rotting pachyderm in the antechamber. Don’t want the Capitalist “leaders” who make money from killing people overseas and especially in America to have to see the results, in human form, of their greed […]
UN Security Council Approves Syrian Cease-fire/Vasily Nebenzya
*TASS* UN, February 24. /TASS/. During negotiations on a UN Security Council resolution on ceasefire in Syria, Russia sought to prevent the document from becoming a pretext for military action in Syria, *Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, said on Saturday*. *Vasily Nebenzya* *"The reason why we negotiated for so long on this resolution is that we wanted to make sure that it is not used as a pretext for any military action," he said. "We heard some worried comments on that in recent days and including today, some of them very bellicose. And we said it clearly that we won’t let an... more »
The U.S. Is A Corrupt Country-- Now More Than Ever... Is That The Swamp?
The House Ethics Committee still hasn't taken up the very serious charges against ex-Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) and current Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY), who have both engaged in flagrant insider trading while serving on committees that were able to influence the value of sticks they were trading. It's been over a year. A 29-page report from the Office of Congressional Ethics strongly suggests that there was insider trading by both Collins and Price and on July 14, 2017 recommended that the House Ethics Committee pursue a formal investigation. It hasn't. The report reads t... more »
Are Some Instant Pot Cookers Having Meltdowns?
Days after a customer's account spread on social media, the company warned about a product defect affecting specific models.
Breaking: Al-Qaeda almost wiped-out by rival Islamist militant faction in northwest Syria after brutal 4-day annihilation battle
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:05 P.M.) – Al-Qaeda affiliate militia Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (better known as Jabhat al-Nusra), long considered to be the dominate rebel faction among all non-ISIS insurgent groups, is on the verge of being completely wiped-out in northwestern Syria (its traditional stronghold) following four days of constant defeats to rival Islamist militia Jabhat Tahrir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
No, We'll Talk Now
(By *American Zen*’s Mike Flannigan, on loan from Ari) *I*f Dana Loesch, who once had the wisdom to block me on Twitter, didn't get her tires slashed after the NRA Town Hall last week, then it was a miracle. As it was, it was a minor miracle the spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association even had the guts to show her face and answer pointed questions from the same high school students who'd survived the massacre at their school. The virtually non-existent gun control lobby finally had a face and a name in Emma Gonzalez and during the testy exchange at the Town Hall, Loesch ... more »
Quote of the Day: Human progress ...
*"In other classes of animals, the individual ... attains, in the compass of a single life, all the perfection his nature can reach. But in the human kind, the species has a progress as well as the individual. They build in every subsequent age on foundations formerly laid."* ~ Adam Ferguson, from 'An Essay on the History of Civil Society' [Hat tip Human Progress] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.
The Privatization of U.S. Foreign Policy
*Paul R. Pillar* *Foreign Policy Presidency, United States* The unethical blurring of private interests and public business is a hallmark of Donald Trump’s presidency. That blurring has increasingly involved U.S. foreign policy. The possible effects on U.S. foreign relations may be subtle and largely out of public view, but they arise every time, for example, foreign governments wanting something from the United States bring their business to the hotel that Trump's company runs a few blocks from the White House. The blurring was more openly displayed this week as Donald Trump J... more »
The Florida school shooting survivor who confronted Marco Rubio about taking NRA money has been forced off of Facebook by death threats.
Temporarily got off Facebook because there’s no character count so the death threats from the @NRA cultists are a bit more graphic than those on twitter. Will be back when I have the time for it. Busy getting my feelings hurt by fellow teenagers at Br**tb*rt — Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) February 21, 2018 Courtesy of The Hill: *A survivor of the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week says he has left Facebook after receiving death threats for his gun control advocacy. * *"Temporarily got off Facebook because there’s no character count so the death threats from the @... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Dublin, New Hampshire, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
X22 Report, “The Next Economic System Expands West, Will The US Join The New Trade System?”
X22 Report, “The Next Economic System Expands West, Will The US Join The New Trade System?” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__PN81vlvOs *Related followup report:* X22 Report, “The Deep State Has Been Duped Again” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqeVBWQ8cBQ
Satan - the father of all lies...
*do not believe the lies.* *"The essence of the satanic or diabolic is the hatred of the cross of Christ."* Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen nails it over 60 years ago. *"And when you think of the demonic and the satanic, do not be led off the track by what you may hear through the media of communications."* “Never before in history has there been such a strong argument for the need of Christianity, for men are now discovering that their misery and their woes, their wars and their revolutions increase in direct ratio and proportion to the neglect of Christianity. Evil is self defeating... more »
Apparently the “Solution” to Mass Shootings Is to Turn Schools Into Prisons
By Carey Wedler In response to last week’s shooting at a Florida high school, the state’s governor recently released his plans to make schools safer.... more »
New Smart Robot Opens Doors Even When Humans Try To Stop It
By Jake Anderson One of the creepiest parts of the film Jurassic Park is when the velociraptor uses his witch-like claws to manipulate the door handle and... more »
Kentucky Committee Approves Bill to Limit Drone Spying, Help Thwart Federal Surveillance Program
By Michael Maharrey Yesterday, a Kentucky Senate Committee passed a bill that would require police to get a warrant before engaging in drone surveillance in... more »
Nikola Tesla Relied on the Power of Visualization – Here’s How to Use it in Your Life
By Dylan Charles Although he was unique in many ways, one of the most fascinating aspects Nikola Tesla’s life was his extraordinary power of visualization.... more »
Dr. Oz Interview With Medical Journalist Nicole Saphier On 5G Cell Towers. Is She Concerned or “Que Sera Sera”?
By B.N. Frank On February 9, 2018, Dr. Oz included a segment on his program about Americans who are concerned about 5G small cell towers... more »
U.S. Sailors Stranded In Montreal Are Helping Out
*CTV News*: *Stranded in Montreal, U.S. sailors volunteer at Welcome Hall Mission* A crew of U.S. sailors stuck in Montreal since December has been putting their time to good use. In addition to training exercises aboard their vessel and learning how to deal with subzero weather, they have been taking part in volunteer activities on dry land. On Friday, they volunteered at the Welcome Hall Mission, helping unload boxes of food and preparing items for those in need. *Read more* .... *Update:* Stranded U.S. marines volunteer at Montreal’s Welcome Hall Mission (Global News) *WNU ... more »
"The Sole Purpose..."
"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." - C. G. Jung
“Your Most Vital Commitment: Finding Time for You”
*“Your Most Vital Commitment: Finding Time for You”* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM “We can excel easier in our lives when our own spiritual, physical, and intellectual needs are fulfilled. Within each of there is a well of energy that must be regularly replenished. When we act as if this well is bottomless, scheduling a long list of activities that fit like puzzle pieces into every minute of every day, it becomes depleted and we feel exhausted, disconnected, and weak. Refilling this well is a matter of finding time to focus on, nurture, and care for ourselves, or "you time." Most ... more »
Olympic Skier Shuts Down Dog Farm In South Korea And Will Bring Puppies Home
Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy helped shut down a South Korean dog meat farm and will bring 90 of the pups to the US and Canada — including this one he's adopting for himself Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy used the spotlight of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to highlight the inhumane treatment of canines at dog meat farms in South Korea. In an Instagram post on Friday, the 2014 silver medalist wrote: "It's not my place to impose western ideals on the people here. The way these animals are being treated, however, is completely inhumane and culture should never b... more »
Feb, 24: Arm the Teachers. Yah.
Arm the teachers. Right! Nothing like a mass shootout in the halls and classrooms to save the children. No. Trump solves the problem without looking at what caused it. It was not caused by any lack of armed teachers. Teachers in all schools in developed countries I have ever heard of are unarmed. But have you ever heard of kids walking into school in Britain or France or Sweden getting assassinated in school attacks? In Cuba every family has guns at home, military guns. That's in case of an American invasion. But there has never been a school attack in Cuba. In fact, Cuba has one ... more »
“The Mass Conspiracy Of Blame Avoidance”
*“The Mass Conspiracy Of Blame Avoidance”* by Paul Rosenberg "If you can ever get far enough from the status quo, one of the most shocking sights you’ll see is the mass conspiracy of blame avoidance. This phenomenon is so pervasive that most people go their entire lives without taking serious notice of it. It simply *is*, and the possibility of another way has never occurred to them. People do see this from time to time of course, but only as it intrudes on them personally. And even then, they generally wander away from the conflict and slide back into the conspiracy, wondering wh... more »
NO TRUE GUN OWNER: THE MYTH OF A BENIGN GUN CULTURE THAT HAS NO TIES TO KILLERS
At FoxNews.com, Frank Miniter has published an opinion piece titled "America Has Two Gun Cultures: Don't Blame Law-Abiding Gun Owners for Murders." He writes: ... the truth that is many in the media refuse to cover the truth about guns and the gun cultures in America. They don’t want to admit there are two wildly different gun cultures in our country. One is the freedom-loving, gun-rights culture that upholds the responsible use of guns for hunting, sport and self-defense. The other is the criminal culture that thrives in the places where government restricts gun rights. This is "n... more »
Day 13: A Holy Day in Bath
We gathered at Bath Iron Works for the Lenten Vigil today at 11:30 am. They will be held weekly until March 31. Bob Klotz rode his bike up from South Portland (took almost 4 hours) to join us and link his 350Maine climate change work with our efforts to help Mainers save $60 million. Bob’s been a key force to spread the word about this effort into places where we had few real contacts. Twenty-eight turned out for the vigil and ‘enjoyed’ the warm spring feeling – but also knew that February in Maine isn't supposed to look like mud season in April. Our signs focused on the moral ... more »
A Closer Look At Air Force One
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* The aircraft contains a conference and dining room, kitchens, a communications suite - and even an attic running almost the entire length of the plane *Business Insider:* *These features make Air Force One an incomparable flying fortress* * The security features on Air Force One are extensive. * The body of the plane can withstand a nuclear blast. * Many of these features are hidden to the untrained eye. Embellished with the American flag, the presidential seal, and the words "United States of America," the world's most famous plane is as tall as a six... more »
Iraq Continues To Rank As One Of Most Corrupt Countries In World
Transparency International released its annual “Corruptions Perceptions Index” report for 2017, and Iraq was again near the bottom of the list. Iraq was ranked the 12th most corrupt country in the world. It received a score of 18 with 0 being the most corrupt and 100 being the least. Last year, Iraq was the 11th most corrupt country with a score of 17. For the last several years, Iraq has received a similar low figure with 16 from 2013-2015 and 18 in 2012. Previously, Transparency International used a 0-10 score and Iraq was continuously in the bottom 10 nations. Transparency Inte... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 24
1917 British retake Kut from Ottomans in 2nd Battle of Kut 1921 Churchill met with French who argued against Feisal being put in power in Mesopotamia because of his record in Syria against France (Musings On Iraq article on Churchill’s views on Mesopotamia) 1955 Iraq signed security treaty with Turkey which England eventually joined Would become anti-Communist Baghdad Pact 1955 Iraq got control of Habaniya and Shaiba air bases from England UK would come to aid of Iraq in war and continue with military supplies under Baghdad Pact 1984 Iran ended... more »
Ward Valley Triumphant -- 20 Years Later in 2018 -- by Ofelia Rivas, O'odham
Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, and Earl Tulley, Dineh, at Ward Valley today. Now at Ward Valley in the Mojave Desert Photos by Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, Ward Valley Victory Celebration Celebrating the Occupation that halted a nuclear dump here 20 years ago. Today, Feb. 24, 2018 Radio interview with Earl Tulley by Govinda at Spirit Resistance Radio. Listen: .https://albireo.shoutca.st:
Syria's Two East-Ghouta Campaigns: One For Liberation, The Other To Save Terrorists
[image: undefined] Daily mortar and missile attacks against the Syrian capital Damascus have been ongoing for years but intensified in recent months. The often quoted Syrian Observatory notes: ... raising to 116 persons at least including 18 children and 14 citizen women, who were killed as a result of the fall of these shells since the beginning of escalation on the capital Damascus and its suburbs on the 16th of November, and the SOHR documented the injury of more than 563 persons who were injured in these daily targeting during 3 consecutive months. Other accounts report higher... more »
What Would an ‘America First!’ Security Policy Look Like?
[image: undefined] Republicans love to caricature Democrats as big spenders whose only approach to any problem is to throw money at it. As with most caricatures, it is made easy by the fact that it is mostly true. At least when it comes to domestic entitlement programs, nobody can top the party of FDR and JFK when it comes to doling out goodies to favored constituencies paid for by picking someone else’s pocket. However, Republicans are hardly the zealous guardians of the public purse they would have us believe. While quick to trash their partisan opponents for making free with tax... more »
Armed School Guard(s) becomes Patsy in Fla shooting...because shooter incongruously survived
*Fear Scale - With False Flag at Top* I haven't been writing about the latest False Flag Mass Shooting this past week...well...because it's the same old, same old "*dog bites man*" story. It's just not newz anymore. My blogging colleague, Ed(itor) has been sending me some links which I have gratefully embedded in the text below for those who have the time and energy to pursue this latest shooting...prior to the next one coming along. *Trump: School Officer "Didn't Have The Courage"* US President Trump made it somewhat more interesting yesterday, when he switched the meme to "*m... more »
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