11:01 pm MDT
BWorld 233, Federalism, Cha-cha, and more government
* This is my column in BusinessWorld last Friday, July 20, 2018. *“The aim, therefore, of patriots was to set limits to the power which the ruler should be suffered to exercise over the community; and this limitation was what they meant by liberty.”* — John Stuart Mill, “On Liberty” (1859) The Duterte administration’s federalism push mainly plans to expand government from two to three layers with three sets of elected officials: (a) big national government with three branches (executive, legislative, judiciary) plus Constitutional bodies, (b) expanded municipal/city and provincia... more »
When Trump won, you may have lost some family and friends
"On November 9, you awoke from a self-induced, eight-year-long political coma to find that White House press secretaries shade the truth and top presidential advisors run political cover for their boss. You were shocked to discover that presidents exaggerate, even lie, on occasion. You became interested for the first time about the travel accommodations, office expenses, and lobbyist pals of administration officials. You started counting how many rounds of golf the president played. You suddenly thought it was fine to mock the first lady now that she wasn’t Michelle Obama. Once yo... more »
The 18 Military Phrases Civilians Should Never, Ever Use
*Task and Purpose* *Security, Americas* [image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39955793@N07/42231835792/] This is the list. Here are Task & Purposes’ nominations in the category of “Military Phrases That Should Never Pass Civilian Lips”: “Did you kill anybody?” “Thank you for your service.” “Collateral damage” “Boot camp” “Long pole in the tent” “Frickin’ ” “Klicks” for kilometers “In the trenches” “Roger”—especially when they mean “Wilco” “Kill chain” “Check your six” “Saddle up” “Boots on the ground” “Took him off the battlefield” for kill. Just as bad is “ne... more »
Everything you need to know about the DOJ/FBI FISA Application...
*not compliments of moi.* I've been way too busy to even read the heavily redacted papers, but I will 'cause I'm nuts like that. Scroll down and head over to Conservative Treehouse who does a masterful job of dissecting the papers - and we thank him. *Donald J. Trump*Verified account@realDonaldTrumpFollowingFollowing @ realDonaldTrumpMoreLooking more & more like the Trump Campaign for President was illegally being spied upon (surveillance) for the political gain of Crooked Hillary Clinton and the DNC. Ask her how that worked out - she did better with Crazy Bernie. Republicans mus... more »
On public interests
Plenty of others have pointed out the most direct lie in Jason Kenney's attempt to blame Alberta's NDP for the decisions of an Ontario court dealing with Carillion's Canadian bankruptcy. But it's worth taking a look at the much more fundamental lie at the core of Kenney's complaint. As mentioned in the very article linked to by Kenney, the privatization of Alberta's highway maintenance operations took place under his Conservative predecessors. It was the PCs who put a high-risk foreign operator in charge of maintaining a wide swath of the province's highways in the first place (PDF... more »
Five Infuriating Cases Showing How People Are Getting Fed Up With All the Snitches
[image: people] As 2018 marks the "Summer of the Snitch," it appears that people have finally had enough of neighborhood busybodies. The post Five Infuriating Cases Showing How People Are Getting Fed Up With All the Snitches appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Sea Ice Extent (Global Antarctic and Arctic) – Day 202 – 2018
Originally posted on sunshine hours: South / North
BBC’s Fake Heat Record Claims
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood ? ? Last week, the BBC seriously misled the public about so-called “heat records”, as I noted in this post here. ? ? ? In particular the BBC made a song and dance about Southern California, even though the LA records were…
Why Arctic sea ice will vanish in 2013
[Hifast Note: The entry below is from a 2013 prediction by Beckwith on the Sierra Club Canada website. The prediction was so woefully wrong, they removed it. But Archive.org’s Wayback Machine still has record of it, (click here for the archive).] Submitted by Paul Beckwith on Mon, 2013-06-10 23:18 By Paul Beckwith On March 23, […]
Charlatans Of The Arctic… Laughing Stock Ice-Free-Arctic Predictions …Fake Science At Its Best
From NoTricksZone: By P Gosselin on 21. July 2018 Brimstone and fire predictions of an ice-free Arctic made 10 years ago by leading scientists, politicians and media outlets are emerging today as preposterous. Recently climate catastrophe non-believers have been pointing out that Arctic sea ice volume has been gaining over the past years and has […]
Falling fog
This week's *The World This Weekend *focused on the issue of a second EU referendum. It looked at it through the lens of Labour Party divisions. Cue complaints from Corbynistas and Cadwalldristas: - *The World This Weekend* featuring bumper poll lead for Labour as Tories crash and burn? Course not - bashing them over their Brexit policy (if you cover Labour it must be negative - that’s the BBC way)! - Again the twisting the truth from *The World This Weekend* that "many Labour supporters voted leave". Maybe technically true "many" did, though TWO THIRDS voted re... more »
VIDEO: Syrian Army takes over several towns in Quneitra
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:30 P.M.) – As jihadi militants in Quneitra succumbed to a surrender deal, the Syrian Army is taking control of several towns and villages in the northwestern province. A video released online features a 6-minute tour inside the recently-recaptured towns of Nabe’ al-Sakhr, Majdolyah and Mashirfah, as well as a drone footage for […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian government to re-operate Tabqa Dam as per agreement with Kurds
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:00 P.M.) – The Syrian government and Kurdish forces in Raqqa made a deal in which Syrian specialists and engineers will take over Tabqa dam and the hydroelectric power plant on the Euphrates River in order to re-operate it again. According to the agreement, specialist and engineers who had previously worked in the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian government, rebels open new crossing in west Aleppo
DAMASCUS, SYRI (3:30 P.M.) – A deal has been reached between the Syrian government and rebel forces to open a new crossing in west Aleppo for commercial purposes. The agreed-on crossing will link the rebel-held al-Mansoura town (located nearly 10 km to the west) with the New Aleppo district, which is under the Syrian government […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Four rebel commanders flee to Israel as Syrian Army takes over Quneitra
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:05 P.M.) – Israeli Army has welcomed four top commanders of the Syrian rebel force in Quneitra province as the Syrian Army is increasingly gaining ground in southwest Syria. The commanders are: Moaz Nassar and Abu Rateb of Fursan al-Golan Brigade, Ahmad al-Nahs of Saif al-Sham Brigade, and Alaa al-Halaki of Jaish Ababeel. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Israel evacuates ‘White Helmets’ from Syria border
Terrorist linked crisis actors evacuated at the request of the UK government whose Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, described them as "the bravest of the brave".
Renew Palestinian Democracy to Avert a Succession Crisis
Photo Credit: Reuters via Al-Arabiya *Editor’s Note: It's always hard to be optimistic about anything involving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute today, and if anything, things are likely to get worse. Palestinian leadership is one particular problem. Nathan Stock of the Middle East Institute argues that succession after the death of 83-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to be messy, with always-fractious Palestinian politics getting even more hostile and a two-state solution even further away.* *** Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was hospitalized three time... more »
The Key To Winning In Maine This Year-- A Guest Post By State Rep. Jared Golden
Maine's second congressional district isn't white collar Portland or ritzy Kennebunkport. All 10 of Maine's wealthiest towns are in York and Cumberland counties, part of ME-01. Meanwhile ME-02 is an all-American blue collar district. And it's a swing district that Obama won by about 10 points both times he ran but that Hillary lost by about 10 points to Trump. The Democratic establishment was looking for a Blue Dog to run, a Republican-lite character who would sound like a less extreme version of the current congressman, Trump enabler Bruce Poliquin. Instead, Mainers chose one of... more »
Review The Iran-Iraq War
*Razoux, Pierre, **The Iran-Iraq War**, Cambridge London: Belkmap Press of Harvard University Press, 2015* Pierre Razoux in *The Iran-Iraq War* was able to write both a very in depth book on the conflict, while also keeping it interesting with a series of engaging stories. That is not always the easiest thing to do as many would have gotten lost in the details. Razoux goes into the Iran-Iraq War from the conflict between Saddam Hussein and the new revolutionary government in Iran, to all the battles, to the drawn out acceptance of a United Nations’ peace process. Razoux goes all ... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Jul 22
1920 Albu Hassan took Kifil from British 1920 Revolt 1920 TE Lawrence wrote British officials refused to give Iraq autonomy 1923 UK Minister to Tehran arrived in Baghdad to discuss deportation and immigration of Iraqi opposition figures to Persia Iraqi govt said they could return after elections for assembly held 1929 Iraq High Commissioner Sir Gilbert Clayton said giving Iraq concessions was best way to maintain good relations with Iraq and bad negotiations would have opposite effect 1931 Shiite leaders told Yasin Hashemi they would back him for PM if they got majority ... more »
Jeremy Corbyn 'felt upset' by Jewish MP's attack on him
'Jeremy Corbyn has admitted he "felt upset" after a senior Labour MP branded him an "anti-Semite" and a "racist" in the House of Commons.' 'Admitted'? Surely 'claimed'. Anyway, who cares if the allegedly "fucking antisemite and racist" is upset. More here https://news.sky.com/story/jeremy-corbyn-felt-upset-by-jewish-mps-attack-on-him-11445347
What Ever Happened To Common Core
You remember Common Core. First it was going to save the educational universe (and help lift a couple of political careers). Then it was going to turn all our children into gay communists. Then, most everyone stopped using the words. These days, it's considered more appropriate to talk about "college and career ready." Meanwhile, while many states still have the Common Core Standards in place, many other states have made a show of throwing them out, then re-installing them under some new name. But most of the heat and light surrounding the Core erupted on the policy level. A decade ... more »
Michelle Goldberg of the NYT identifies the Source of the Odor; Russia funneled Money Through the NRA to get Trump elected…no, Really.
We recently wrote an article about how the FBI arresting a Russian associated with the NRA didn’t pass the stink test. Now we are getting some answers as to the why. Something Simply Isn’t Passing the Stink Test Watching This Week with George Stephanopolis I was absolutely shocked by the absolute insanity that counts as … Continue reading "Michelle Goldberg of the NYT identifies the Source of the Odor; Russia funneled Money Through the NRA to get Trump elected…no, Really."
Episode #242 – ‘Operation Paper Bag’ with guests Mike Robinson, Vanessa Beeley
*SUNDAY WIRE SHOW* | Strap yourselves in and lower the blast shield – this is your brave new world…
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Katie Dangerfield reports on new research showing that carbon pricing can be an economic benefit, while unrestrained climate change would be disastrous. Bill Curry and Shawn McCarthy report that Scott Moe has eagerly lumped himself in with Doug Ford as Canada's most ignorant premiers, as the rest of the country's provincial leaders are still working toward meaningful climate policy. And David Climenhaga notes that the climate-denier coalition is relying purely on political bluster rather than any plausible constitutional argument. - Noah Smi... more »
Argentina: UFO Hunters at Work in San Juan
*Source: Planeta UFO and www.sanjuan8.comDate: 18 July 2018* Argentina: UFO Hunters at Work in San Juan Images were recorded and shared by a group of amateur ufologists in Pocito. The case involving a UFO in the skies over Pocito keeps racking up hits on Facebook. The images were taken by the amateur UFO group known as Guardianes del Cielo Cuyano (Guardians of the Skies of Cuyo). According to the publication made on Facebook, the sighitng took place last Sunday, July 15 [2018] over Cerro Plateado. The "witness guardians" were Ramón Lázaro Flores and Jorge Pérez, who received supp...more »
WATCH: Lawmaker Brags About Breaking Law, Claims Immunity During Stop for Criminally Speeding
[image: lawmaker] A state lawmaker was caught driving more than 40 mph over the speed limit, and he was not arrested, even after bragging that he normally drives 140 mph. The post WATCH: Lawmaker Brags About Breaking Law, Claims Immunity During Stop for Criminally Speeding appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Critical Mass: 17 States Now Disobeying Feds, Will Grow Hemp Despite It Being Illegal
[image: states] While the federal government has spent years claiming hemp is a dangerous drug, farmers in 17 states are using it to create a variety of useful products. The post Critical Mass: 17 States Now Disobeying Feds, Will Grow Hemp Despite It Being Illegal appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Russia Dumps Massive Amount of U.S. Treasury Holdings—Becomes World’s Largest Holder of Gold
[image: treasury] Russia's holdings of United States Treasury bonds is currently at its lowest point in 11 years as the country opts to invest in gold instead. The post Russia Dumps Massive Amount of U.S. Treasury Holdings—Becomes World’s Largest Holder of Gold appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Ten Cops Beat Native American to Death on Video, His Death Ruled a Homicide, No One Charged
[image: homicide] Even though a man's death was ruled a homicide, not one of the 10 detention officers who were responsible for his death have been charged. The post Ten Cops Beat Native American to Death on Video, His Death Ruled a Homicide, No One Charged appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
The Army’s Advanced New Night Vision Goggles Are Just Over The Horizon
*Task and Purpose* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/5178899234/in/photolist-nUg6Ge-oTiyMK-8TDdj7-c4kPgQ-jzZfTA-68afZN-is75MK-dBZPA4-b6DjSM-eZkgMr-o5pqnB-74dZBg-nXg6Qt-9Z4Ypg-fooytT-a2ExME-9kva8o-cNCQBu-6toMUx-8endVW-7N4944-9oy3Hd-9hy4v8-7oeoL2-a9LdP1-bUC9yW] A big deal? The objective of night vision technology, Army researchers wrote more than a half-century ago, is simple: “to make it possible for the soldier to operate at night with daytime flexibility and faculty.” That’s how the Army’s early night vision research was first descri... more »
Europe's Battlewagons Powered Its Rise to Power
*Steve Weintz* *Security, Europe* Like Leonardo's helicopters and tanks, ironclads and giant torpedoes would wait until civilization produced new materials and power sources before entering the arsenal. The 1500s were swashbuckling times, when vast empires fought each other for treasure, land and souls. While Islamic power waxed under the Ottoman sultans and Christian economies burgeoned with New World loot, ideas and inventions old and new flooded Europe and the Mediterranean. They were, indeed, an era much like our own, and those years spawned precocious notions; in a spirit e... more »
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From Jenna Orkin GHWB Cardiologist Killed Dozens Dead in Japan from Record-Setting, Long Duration Heat Event Otherwise known as a heat wave? Crop Failure and Bankruptcy Threaten Farmers as Drought Grips Europe US Sells More Weapons in Six Months Than in All of 2017 From the green and pleasant land: Furnace Temperatures in England Facebook: Ultimate Government Surveillance Tool 'Totally unheard of & perhaps illegal': Trump erupts amid news that Michael Cohen may have secretly recorded a conversation with him This One FBI Text In The Russia Probe Should Alarm Every American "It's Di... more »
Spain: UFO Crash in La Graña (Galicia, 1966)
*Source: Planeta UFO and Revista EngimasDate: 06 November 2017An article by Josep Guijarro* *Spain: UFO Crash in La Graña (Galicia)* In 1966, the Spanish Navy obtained the remains of a saucer-shaped aircraft that had flown over several military facilities in El Ferrol (A Coruña) If we suppose that UFOs are technological devices created by aliens, it is logical to suppose that some of them may have become damaged, or may have even crashed, during their visits to our planet. In greater or lesser measure, we follow the ups and downs of the Roswell Incident, seemingly one of the fi... more »
6 Off the Beaten Path Destinations in Taiwan
*An ultralight aircraft floats above the rift valley.* Last week, while I was taking a break, Taiwan News sent around 6 Off the Beaten Path Destinations in Taiwan. These six places, whose comically awful and ignorant descriptions strongly suggest that the writer has never visited Taiwan, let alone any of these places, are.... - "Keelung Night Market" which does not exist. The market pictured is the famous Miaokou Night Market in Keelung. The blurb says that it requires a "significant metro ride" though the metro does not at present go to Keelung. - Sun Moon Lake. Wi... more »
Hot July 22nd’s
This date in 1926 was the hottest on record in New York State, at 108 degrees. There were 100 degree temperatures from Louisiana to New Hampshire. The hottest July 22nd was in 1901, with the average afternoon temperature across the … Continue reading →
TRUMP IS SURE PUTIN SUMMITS ARE AN ELECTION-YEAR WINNER
Hi -- I'm back. Thank you, New York Crank and (especially) Yastreblyansky, for some great coverage of a wild week. I'm still catching up, but in the aftermath of the Putin summit I'm struck by the report in *The Washington Post* yesterday that President Trump was gobsmacked by the criticism: Delighted with his own performance, he stepped offstage after his freewheeling, 46-minute news conference alongside Putin — in which he seemed to accept Putin’s denial of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election campaign over the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies. The pre... more »
ICYMI: Back from Vacation Edition (7/22)
We're back from Seattle and I've managed to collect a few things for you to read. Remember-- the internet gives you the power to amplify the voices of others. Use it! *The Great Academy Schools Scandal * Great Britain has been trying its own version of charter schools. It hasn't gone well. *College Board AP World History and Colonialism* David Coleman's College Board has decided, for some reason, that AP history needs to be scaled way back, reducing the scope of world history to just the white parts. *A Teacher Explains Why the Janus Ruling Is Bad for Students* Just in case it'... more »
How Many Are There?
The United States has entered a strange new world. Americans have never been here before because they have never had a president like this before. Michael Harris writes: In the wake of the Surrender Summit, the president was variously called: a bumbling ingenue; a psychiatric study; a preposterous liar; a useful idiot; a national disgrace; a Putin groupie; a Russian intelligence asset; and a presidential traitor. Some of these epithets were hurled at him by members of his own party. It was a real life play -- a 21st Century version of *The Comedy of Errors* : Standing beside Vl... more »
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*Australia: Simple solution to STEM teacher shortage * *Both ideas put forward below have great merit but they do not exhaust the possibilities. Another idea is to make teaching into more attractive work than it is today. It seems fairly likely that a fair percentage of mathematically talented people are fairly nerdy types and they would be very much pushed away by the boisterous and occasionally violent classrooms that greet government school teachers today. Almost all teachers report problems with indiscipline and it is a major reason reported for teacher turnover.So it ... more »
FIT Scheme Costs Balloon To £1.6bn
By Paul Homewood h/t Philip Bratby A seemingly innocent document from BEIS, announcing the closure of the Feed-In Tariffs scheme to new applicants next year: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrJS9cKbFRb_FAAGSRLBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMWk2OWNtBGNvbG8DaXIyBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg–/RV=2/RE=1532288139/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2fgovernment%2fuploads%2fsystem%2fuploads%2fattachment_data%2ffile%2f726977%2fFITs_closure_condoc_-_Final_version.pdf/RK=2/RS=tdf_DxMTlq_XQyzljmEBQ7dvVuI- As the document explains, the FIT scheme was introduced to encourage small-sca... more »
The Economics of Biotech products
Last Tuesday, July 17, I attended the forum, "The Economics of Biotech products" held at SEARCA, UP Los Banos, Laguna. The Philippine Economic Society (PES) was a co-sponsor of the event. PES also provided the free transportation for participants from Manila to UPLB and back. The speakers that day: 1. Welcome message by Dr. Gil Saguiguit, Jr., Director, SEARCA 2. “Rationale of Symposium” by Dr. Majah-Leah Ravago, Assistant Professor, UP School of Economics and President, PES 3. “The Status of BioTech Crops: Global” by Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, Director, Global Knowledge Center on Crop ...more »
A Hoax Academic Paper About How Politicians Wipe Their Butts Was Published - And I Did It
I had what seemed like rather a good idea a few weeks back. Building on some prominent findings in social psychology, I hypothesized that politicians on the right would wipe their bum with their left hand; and that politicians on the left would wipe with their right hand. Ludicrous? Yes – absolutely. But for once my goal wasn’t to run a bona fide scientific study. Instead, I wanted to see if any “journal” would publish my ass-wiping “findings”. read more
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*United Nations Sending Millions To Corrupt Countries In The Name Of Green Energy* An initiative by the United Nations meant to promote green energy has been plagued with inefficiency and rampant funding of programs through corrupt governments. The Green Energy Climate Fund had ambitious goals when it was launched by the United Nations in 2010. Based in Songdo, South Korea, and employing 250 people, the organization’s mission is to boost renewable energy development in third-world countries with money donated from richer countries. Former President Barack Obama was a major support... more »
Nelson Report: Congressional Republicans Support Greater US-Taiwan Ties
*Haystacks await collection* The Nelson Report sent this around: *+++++++++++++++* Congressional Republicans Support Greater US-Taiwan Ties 19 Jul 2018 Terrence Matsuo, Nelson Report Statements by Congressional Republicans on Wednesday suggest the US will deepen ties with the Republic of China, but experts say policymakers should focus on substance and not symbolism. Speaking at two separate events, Representatives Michael McCaul and Ted Yoho suggested that the US should pursue deeper relations with the island of Taiwan. In a discussion on China at the American Enterprise Institut... more »
Iron Dome: Here Is How Israel Protects Itself From Hamas In Gaza
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Middle East* [image: By Israel Defense Forces - Iron Dome Battery Deployed Near Ashkelon, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34382720] On July 15th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it was deploying more Iron Dome missile defense systems near Tel Aviv. On July 15th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it was deploying more Iron Dome missile defense systems near Tel Aviv and other parts of southern Israel. The Iron Dome is Israel’s most effective defense system against short-range projectiles. The deployment came... more »
5 Radical Thoughts On How To Fix The Woes Of America’s Surface Navy
*Task and Purpose* *Security, Americas* [image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/42648763064/] Here they are. Here’s how to think about the Pentagon’s surface navy problems. The officer corps is like a bad union organization: They will never vote against their own self-interest, seniority matters greatly, they spend most of their time dealing with the bottom 10 percent and saving the politically connected. In the end, they do not care as much about the good of the company or government office more than they do their own jobs. They will not look long term at the harm it brings... more »
Jihadists set ablaze UN post in Golan Heights ahead of evacuation [+Video]
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (2:45 P.M.) – Extremist militants in northern Quneitra set fire on the former UN post before leaving the area as per a surrender deal with the Syrian government. The post acts as the only crossing between Syrian territories and the Occupied Golan Height, and used to be run by the United Nations Disengagement […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Graphic Content: Mass graves discovered in Syria’s Raqqa
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (2:30 P.M.) – Hundreds of corpses belong to fallen Syrian soldiers have been unearthed in north Raqqa by the Kurdish authorities controlling the region. the four mass graves contain bodies of more than 360 Syrian servicemen of the Brigade 93 who were captured and then brutally executed by the Islamic State during the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turning Kansas Blue? Nah... Just The Two Biggest Cities-- Alexandria And Bernie In The Sunflower State
*Jim Thompson with Bernie and Alexandria in Wichita* Hillary Clinton didn't campaign in Kansas. 427,005 people voted for her there anyway (36%). She won the Kansas City area-- Douglas County 31,195 (62.28%) to 14,688 (29.32%) and Wyandotte County 30,146 (61.80%) to 15,806 (32.40%) in landslides and did well enough in Johnson and Shawnee, respectively 129,852 (44.76%) to 137,490 (47.40%) and 33,926 (44.99%) to 35,934 (47.65%). She took the 3rd congressional district up there 47-46%. Sedgwick County (Wichita) was a bummer for her though-- 69,627 (36.88%) to 104,353 (55.28%). For whate... more »
Seriously, Brian? + Links
*Mobile data services: usage vs revenues. Note where Taiwan is.* Brian Hioe is interviewed over at the Diplomat. In the middle of that perfectly pedestrian interview he dropped this gem: However, personally, I see the role of New Bloom as more necessary than ever in the present moment. *A sign of how desperate Taiwan is for international acknowledgement is that, after the Trump-Tsai [phone call in 2016], there are those in Taiwan who have convinced themselves that the Trump administration genuinely has Taiwan’s best interests in minds, rather than hopes to use Taiwan as a potential... more »
Trump Trips, But He’s Right On Russia. Our Ruling Class Is Crazy. Remember the Romanovs!
More on the hysterical U.S. media response to Trump's Helsinki meeting with President Putin
Look What Your SUV Did Before 1940
A standard trick for climate alarmists is to post before and after pictures showing what your SUV did to glaciers over the past century. They don’t mention that the ice loss occurred before 1940. The National Geographic Archive And never … Continue reading →
New Ice-Free Arctic Forecast
Arctic sea ice volume loss slowed again yesterday, so I am changing my ice-free Arctic forecast to September 21, at 4:59 pm. Spreadsheet Data Another competing theory by the New York Times is that the Arctic has been ice-free since 1989. … Continue reading →
Aristotle, Kant, and the Stoics: Rethinking Happiness and Duty
It is traditionally believed that the ethical ideas of Aristotle, the paradigmatic representative of ancient ethical thought, and Immanuel Kant, the representative of modern ethics, are sharply opposed. While Aristotle holds that all action must be done for the sake of eudaimonia, Kant, the deontologist, insists that only those actions are moral that are performed for the sake of duty. Aristotle’s view of practical reason is monistic and he insists that all action must be performed for the sake of eudaimonia, whereas Kant criticizes eudaimonism for making happiness the criteria for ... more »
I'm Tired......
*I'm tired of the impossible promises that Doug Fraud keeps spouting, many issued before his newly elected MPs (blindly Con supporters?) had a chance to have any say in the matter. * No one could accuse Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government of being unambitious in the agenda set out in its first speech from the throne. He did not say when Ontario motorists will see the price of gasoline drop 10 cents per litre, as he promised during the election campaign. That would be achieved by eliminating the cap-and-trade system, which accounts for 4.3 cents per litre, and reducing the excise t... more »
Mystery History
I’ve discovered an interesting YouTube channel presenting unconventional explanations and skepticism of existing historical paradigms, Mystery History. Caveat Emptor. A consistent theme in the various short videos is the lack of inquiry shown by mainstream scientific institutions to empirical novelties … Continue reading →
Rio Nightlife Guide for Sunday, July 22, 2018
We have the top three picks for this Sunday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. LIVE: Beradero @ Ganjah (Lapa) – From Chico César to Milton Nascimento, Beradero’s musical influences go hand in hand. Danilo Mesquita and Ravel Andrade met as musicians and realized that […]
GRAFFITI - LIMASSOL, CYPRUS
Limassol, in Cyprus, has a lot of graffiti. In Limassol, kids can learn how to produce graffiti. In Limassol there are various gangs producing graffiti. Organised crime is big in Cyprus. Paphos mayor claims gangs control Nicosia... This is Limassol, not Detroit. This lovely old house in Limassol has been hit by graffiti. This is the owner of the house hit by graffiti. Cyprus has become associated with troubled banks, non-performing loans, Russian prostitutes, American spy bases, and the trafficking of people and drugs. *George Grivas, the leader of the EOKA terror group... more »
Sunday morning music
I've had a few appreciative comments about the German "pagan folk" group Faun that I mentioned in last week's music post. I thought a few more posts focusing on folk traditions that are less well known in the USA might be appropriate. I'll space them out over time, so as not to bore those who don't like them. This week, I've picked four Breton tunes from the rich musical heritage of Brittany, a region of France. It's strongly influenced by Celtic music, but has a lilt and lyricism all its own, and some unique historical instruments. The Breton language, too, branched off in dif... more »
New Solar Installations To Contract By 24% This Year
By Paul Homewood Goldman Sachs are predicting a 24% drop in new global solar installations this year. From Bloomberg: Anyone following clean energy knew this could be a tough year for solar. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. just put a grim number on how bad. The pace of global installations will contract by 24 […]
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima: The Story of the One of the Most Famous Photos of All Time
*Warfare History Network* *Security, Asia* [image: By Catie Drew - http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/byways/photos/63476, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=671374] Public perception of the famed Rosenthal photo depicting marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima has evolved much since the historic image was captured. Atop 550-foot Suribachi Yama, the volcano at the southwest tip of Iwo Jima, Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Division, hoist the Stars and Stripes, signaling the capture of this key position. Photographer Joe Rosenthal’s “photo of U.S. M... more »
Maybe We Should't Freak Out over a Russia-China Military Alliance Just Yet
*Nicholas J. Myers* *Security, Europe* New evidence highlights recent challenges. One of the most sensational naval stories of 2017 saw China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) sail three ships to the Baltic Sea to conduct an exercise with the Russians in Kaliningrad. It seemed to many to be another piece in the inevitable march to an anti-Western China-Russia alliance. This episode was actually only the least important part of a series of bilateral naval exercises the Chinese called “Joint Sea 2017” and the Russians “Maritime Interaction-2017.” This year, the exercises were... more »
Read All About It: Federal Vaccine Safety Reports Go Unreported
By Cathy Jameson Being mom to five is fun but can be tiring. These kids of mine love to sign up for things – sports, clubs, afterschool activities. I look forward to the summer months where I can take a...
Ugly breakup at FBI: Lisa Page throws ex-lover, Peter Strzok, under the bus (Video)
The Duran – News in Review – Episode 60. The post Ugly breakup at FBI: Lisa Page throws ex-lover, Peter Strzok, under the bus (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Weather Underground temperature report called into question; Does not match measurements?
Here is yet another example of where a news claim about a surface temperature does not match actual scientific measurements. “Weather Underground is reporting 100 degrees in Fort Collins. There are no thermometers close to 100 degrees near Fort Collins.” … Continue reading →
Forgiveness of Yourself. - A Quotation from M.N. Hopkins
*Forgiveness of yourself is the key that unlocks the prison that you have made around your heart. Once free, you are then able to forgive and to love others.* © 2018 *M.N. Hopkins*
Now and Then
There are a lot of little "living ghost towns" in Arizona. They were mining communities at one time that drew people. Sometimes they survived long enough to have a post office and a school. All of them had saloons, honky tonk girls and served pop-skull, tanglefoot, red-eye, and oh-be-joyful. Jimjams (delirium tremens) were said to be a problem. “Rattlesnake Valley, over yonder, ain't never been good for much exceptin' the finest breed of serpents an' horn-toads a man ever see outside a circus or the jimjams.”- Jackson Gregory. One of them is in the spotlight on Virtual Mirage today... more »
The West’s Fury and Bitterness About Russia’s Successes
The World Cup has been a resounding PR success for President Putin, writes Brian Cloughley. Although you wouldn't think so from the Western media coverage
Putin Goes ‘Off-Script’, Slams ‘Forces’ in the USA Undermining Russia Relations
President Putin elaborates on the content of his recent talks with President Trump. Warns of powerful forces in the U.S. that place their own narrow group interests over and above national interests. (In Russian with English subtitles).
New British Information Unit Fighting ‘Alternative News’, Promoting Govt-Approved ‘Facts’
UK government sets up a tax-payer funded unit to counter "alternative news"
TREVOR NOAH Responds to the French Ambassador
TV talk show host Trevor Noah was attacked by the French Ambassador to the U.S. for calling the French World Cup 2018 team "African". Here is his response
Illegal migrants in Paris suburb soar to 400,000 as hundreds of migrant children sleep on streets
Up to 20 percent of the population of the Parisian suburb Seine-Saint-Denis may be illegal migrants
The US Democratic Party is Communist–David Horowitz
Our schools have been transformed "into doctrinal training centers for [communist] social and political causes." Includes video
Face To Face – Without Shame Or Fear
To behold God face-to-face necessarily means that we behold Him without shame. Thus, this experience holds within it the promise of complete forgiveness and healing from the damage of sin. The post Face To Face – Without Shame Or Fear appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
Six Companies Want to Help Taiwan Build Its Own Submarines
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* And Beijing will be pretty angry about it. Six different companies are seeking to help Taiwan build its own submarines to counter the growing threat it faces from China. On July 10, the local media outlet, Taiwan News, reported that Taiwan had received bids from six foreign firms for its “Indigenous Defense Submarine” program. The report said that the bidders included two European firms, two American firms, as well as one each from India and Japan. Although it did not further identify the four European and American firms, it added that “the Indian... more »
"The Schizophrenic Deep State is a Symptom, Not the Disease"
*"The Schizophrenic Deep State is a Symptom, * *Not the Disease"* by Charles Hugh Smith "If we consider the state of the nation from 40,000 feet, several key indicators of profound political disunity within the elites pop out: *1. *The overt politicization of the central state's law enforcement and intelligence agencies: it is now commonplace to find former top officials of the CIA et al. accusing a sitting president of treason in the mainstream media. What was supposed to be above politics is now nothing but politics. *2.* The overt politicization of the centralized (corporate) med... more »
"To a Maori Figure Cast in Bronze ... "
This Hone Tuwhare poem [read here by the poet] seems strangely topical: the longing of a larger-than-life statue (by Molly McAlister) of a Maori warrior, planted at the foot of Queen St to greet tourists and stray passersby but who remains "hollow inside/with longing for the marae on / the cliff at Kohimarama, where you can watch the ships / come in curling their white moustaches ... TO A MAORI FIGURE CAST IN BRONZE OUTSIDE THE CHIEF POST OFFICE, AUCKLAND by Hone Tuwhare I hate being stuck up here, glaciated, hard all over and with my guts removed: my old lady is not going to l... more »
"'It's All Fake'- Reality TV That Masquerades As American Politics"
*"'It's All Fake'- Reality TV That * *Masquerades As American Politics"* by John Whitehead “Big Brother does not watch us, by his choice. We watch him, by ours... When a population becomes distracted by trivia, when cultural life is redefined as a perpetual round of entertainments, when serious public conversation becomes a form of baby-talk, when, in short, a people become an audience, and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture-death is a clear possibility.” - Professor Neil Postman "Americans have a voracious appetite for TV entertainme... more »
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* Tonight's meme is a rhetorical question, of course. Obviously, Republicans reached the point where treason became acceptable to them quite a while ago. They look at their treason on the one hand and the money to be made through the additional "tax reform" they aim to pass in September on the other, and guess which hand wins! They also long to work with Traitor Don to remove what's left of the Affordable Care Act, cut Medicare and Social Security, tell women what they are allowed to do, not just with their bodies, but with every aspect of their lives, and, of course, make... more »
The Redundant and Expensive Costs of Procuring Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
*Alex Moore* *Security, * Is this a weapon we can do without? Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs), also referred to as Boost Glide Vehicles, are a hot topic in arms control circles. Flying at hypersonic speed, these weapon systems are considerably faster than contemporary supersonic and subsonic cruise missiles while possessing similar standoff range and maneuverability to ensure survival. Moreover, HGV delivery platforms could potentially vary from air-launched iterations to glide vehicles attached to ballistic missiles that detach following the missile’s boost phase and serve as ... more »
Estonia Spy Chief: Network of Operatives Pushing Russian Agenda in West
From VOA: “Estonia Spy Chief: Network of Operatives Pushing Russian Agenda in West July 21, 2018 5:49 AM, by Jeff … Continue reading →
Christianophobia in Lancashire, England
There are those who hate Christianity and call their hatred all-embracing love for all religions. G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) Christianophobia = an irrational animosity towards or hatred of Christians, or Christianity in general. (McMillan Dictionary) Many Christians believe they have experienced animosity … Continue reading →
Sea level rise is a non-existent problem
“Let’s start with the automatic assumption by the public and the media that any major environmental issue, like global warming, glaciers melting, or sea level rising, is due to human activity. It reflects that bias, but also how little they … Continue reading →
Musical Interlude: Gandalf, “Once in a Star-Brightened Night”
Gandalf, “Once in a Star-Brightened Night” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlIrYXR1knA
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Massive stars, abrasive winds, mountains of dust, and energetic light sculpt one of the largest and most picturesque regions of star formation in the Local Group of Galaxies. Known as N11, the region is visible on the upper right of many images of its home galaxy, the Milky Way neighbor known as the Large Magellanic Clouds (LMC). *Click image for larger size.* The above image was taken for scientific purposes by the Hubble Space Telescope and reprocessed for artistry by an amateur to win the Hubble's Hidden Treasures competition. Although the section imaged above is known as NGC 17... more »
The Poet: Rolf Jacobsen, "When They Sleep"
*"When They Sleep"* "All people are children when they sleep. There's no war in them then. They open their hands and breathe in that quiet rhythm heaven has given them. They pucker their lips like small children and open their hands halfway, soldiers and statesmen, servants and masters. The stars stand guard and a haze veils the sky, a few hours when no one will do anybody harm. If only we could speak to one another then when our hearts are half-open flowers. Words like golden bees would drift in. God, teach me the language of sleep." - Rolf Jacobsen, "The Roads Have Come to an End Now"
"What We Might Have Been..."
“No star is ever lost we once have seen, We always may be what we might have been.” - Adelaide Anne Procter
What to Make of the Carter Page FISA Applications
The Carter Page FISAs are out via the Freedom of Information Act. Here are a few observations, relatively brief but still just a bit too long for Twitter. First, a huge amount of information is redacted in these FISA applications, but they still represent a monumental disclosure to the public. The government considers FISA applications to be very sensitive—and their disclosure, even heavily redacted, may have long-term, programmatic consequences long after we’re finished with President Trump. The government seems to have accepted that FOIA applies to FISA. Without taking a positi... more »
Hearings On Confirming Kavanaugh? Not 'Til After Trump's Treason Trial
I bet Señor Trumpanzee wishes he had given a Russophile and suck-up like Devin Nunes the DNI job instead of ex-Senator Dan Coats (R-IN), who he nominated and who is now serving. Nunes is, after all, an unpatriotic self-server. Is "anti-patriotic" a word? In the House Intelligence Committee on Friday, Nunes defeated an attempt by the Democrats to subpoena Trump's interpreter at his Helsinki meeting with Putin, an idea proposed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-MA). Adam Schiff proposed it to the Intelligence Committee and Nunes refused to recognize Schiff’s ... more »
Trump's Tariffs Are About Opening Markets, Not Closing Them
*Salvatore Babones* *Economics, Asia* [image: A U.S. 100-dollar banknote with a portrait of Benjamin Franklin and a Chinese 100-yuan banknote with a portrait of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong are seen in the picture illustration in Beijing, China, January 21, 2016.] If one looks closely, the rules of the WTO are actually on Washington's side. You can't call it “protectionism” when the United States uses tariffs to force other countries to end restrictive and predatory trade policies—and those countries retaliate by breaking international trade rules. According to classical tra... more »
It's Time to Stop China's Seaward Expansion
*J. Michael Cole* *Security, Asia* [image: The U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter and the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney sail in formation during the U.S.-Ukraine multinational maritime exercise Sea Breeze 2018 in the Black Sea July 13, 2] The time to prevent Beijing's takeover of the South China Sea has passed. What comes next? There was a time, when President Barack Obama was still in the White House, when the U.S.-led coalition in the Asia-Pacific could have responded to, and perhaps countered, the creeping occupation... more »
Quote of the week from Curry: global warming hiatus for ~2 more decades?
From WUWT: Anthony Watts / July 18, 2018 In response to a study from the University of Washington posted on WUWT (and elsewhere) today about a shift in the AMOC and a very clear statement about it not collapsing (as posited for collapse by many), including Michael Mann, Dr. Judith Curry gave this response to […]
Chet Raymo, “Under the Surface”
*“Under the Surface”* by Chet Raymo “Somewhere, in something I have written, I recall quoting with approval this passage from Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire: “For my own part I am pleased enough with surfaces - in fact they alone seem to me to be of much importance. Such things for example as the grasp of a child's hand in your own, the flavor of an apple, the embrace of a friend or lover, the silk of a girl's thigh, the sunlight on rock and leaves, the feel of music, the bark of a tree, the abrasion of granite and sand, the plunge of clear water into a pool, the face of the wind ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"The Truth Will Set You Free..."
"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." - Jim Davis
Jared Kushner, the only one in the White House who can get served in D.C.
From Bloomberg: Soon after a New York federal judge said formal delivery of a lawsuit isn’t a “game,” Jared Kushner’s lawyer [Abbe Lowell] agreed to accept service of the Democratic National Committee’s April complaint accusing him of colluding with Russia to … Continue reading →
Why Climate Change Hysteria Has Peaked. Mark Today as the Day Climate Change as a Viable Issue has Died
Climate Change isn’t a science and it never was about saving the plant. Climate Change is and always has been a poorly constructed ruse. After their success with looting the Tobacco Industry, the Trial Lawyers set their sights on an even bigger prize, Big Oil. The looters simply set their sights on the Oil Industry … Continue reading "Why Climate Change Hysteria Has Peaked. Mark Today as the Day Climate Change as a Viable Issue has Died"
An Open Letter to Bernie Sanders: ‘No Bernie, It Wasn’t the Russians’
*Teodrose Fikre* | They say there are no heroes when it comes to politics, and you're proving this theorem every time time you latch on to the 'Russian interference' narrative.
Greenwald: Ecuador President Will Handover Assange to British During London Visit
*21WIRE + RT* | Even if he's turned over this week, this story is far from over.
RUSSIAGATE: The Power of Overseas War Propaganda, Now Deployed at Home
*Liberty Report* | Dr Ron Paul and Daniel McAdams break-down the true state of the current political crisis in the US.
Google Fined A Mere $5 Billion For Stifling Competition And Illegal Deals According To EU
By Aaron Kesel Google was fined a mere $5 billion by the European Union and ordered to change the way it puts search and web... more »
Rehab EPA with a Proper Clean Power Plan
Robert Henneke writes a fine article in Washington Examiner Trump has a chance to rein in Obama’s out-of-control EPA Henneke is is the general counsel and director of the Center for the American Future at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Excerpts below in italics with my bolds. The Environmental Protection Agency has sent its replacement […]
"The Illusion of Truth"
*Click image for larger size.* *"The Illusion of Truth"* by PsyBlog "We see ads for the same products over and over again. Politicians repeat the same messages endlessly (even when it has nothing to do with the question they've been asked). Journalists repeat the same opinions day after day. Can all this repetition really be persuasive? It seems too simplistic that just repeating a persuasive message should increase its effect, but that's exactly what psychological research finds (again and again). Repetition is one of the easiest and most widespread methods of persuasion. In fact i... more »
"What Great Thing..."
"What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?" - Robert H. Schuller
Breaking: Syrian Army scores big advance against ISIS in southwest Syria after Russian air raid
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 A.M.) – Minutes ago, a military source told Al-Masdar News that the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had broken into the Islamic State’s (ISIS) bastion in southwest Syria after heavy airstrikes from their Russian counterparts. According to the military source, the Syrian Army entered the ISIS-held town of Jaleen, tonight, liberating several sites […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Israel allegedly evacuates 800 White Helmets from southwest Syria: Bild
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:30 A.M.) – Israel allegedly evacuated 800 White Helmets personnel from southwest Syria this weekend, the German publication Bild reported this evening. Citing one of their field correspondents in the occupied Golan Heights, Israel evacuated the 800 White Helmets personnel to Jordan, where they will later be transported to Great Britain, Canada, and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Second group of militants evacuated from Quneitra province (video)
Buses with a second group of militants and their families were seen departing the southwest province of Quneitra, through the Jaba crossing to northern Syria’s Idlib province, on Saturday. They moved through the countryside from their departure point in the village of Um Batina, en route to northern Syria. This is the second batch of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army attempts to break into ISIS bastion in southwest Syria – map
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a powerful attack tonight, targeting the Islamic State’s (ISIS) large bastion in southwest Syria. Led by their elite Tiger Forces and Republican Guard, the Syrian military stormed the Islamic State’s defenses at the large hilltop of Tal Jamou near the Daraa Governorate city of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russian air defenses shoot down militant UAV Hmeymim Airbase
According to the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, militants are continuing to deploy drones near the Hmeymim airbase in Syria. A drone launched from a militant-controlled area was detected and destroyed near the Hmeymim airbase in Syria, according to the Russian Defense Ministry’s Reconciliation Center. “From the territory occupied by militants, launches of unmanned aerial vehicles in the direction of the air base […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Four killed following massive Israeli airstrikes on Gaza (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 P.M.) – Four Palestinians were killed as the Israeli military carried out airstrikes against the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Three of the Palestinians were killed in the airstrikes with a fourth shot by Israeli snipers during a protest at the Gaza border. According to the Israeli military, over 60 targets were struck, including […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Manbij Military Council allegedly shuns Turkey for Syrian gov’t
City authorities and the military council of Syria’s Manbij would like to transfer it under the control of the Syrian government army after Kurdish militants’ withdrawal, Al Watan newspaper reported Saturday citing its sources. “The military council and the majority of residents consider Turkey an occupying country that wants to oust the Kurds from their territory, as it was done in Afrin, so they want […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Drone footage captures massive evacuation of militants in Al-Quneitra
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 P.M.) – On Friday, the massive evacuation process to move the rebel forces and their family members from the Al-Quneitra Governorate to northern Syria began inside the town of Umm Batna. More than 55 government provided buses arrived in the Umm Batna area, yesterday, to transport thousands of rebels and their family […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
France and Russia carry out joint humanitarian aid mission to Syria (video)
A Russian AN-124 cargo airplane delivered 40 tons of French humanitarian aid from an airport in Chateauroux, France, to Hmeymim airbase in Syria, between Friday and Saturday, after starting its mission at Chkalovsky Airport in Russia, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. “Today one plane of the Military Transport Aviation of the Russian Aerospace […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Prominent Democrats Flip-flop On Immigration; Previously They Confirmed President Trump’s Immigration Views
Op-Ed by Catherine J. Frompovich Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) apparently thought differently than he does today—and actually said so—in June of 2009 during a speech... more »
Why CO2 Centric Climate Models will NEVER Work
The above charts demonstrate the basics of the Scientific Method. Science in all about testing a hypothesis, and the way you test a hypothesis is through statistics. To test the CO2 causing global warming hypothesis, one would need to run a regression to measure the sensitivity of temperature to changes in CO2, or ΔY=fΔX +e. … Continue reading "Why CO2 Centric Climate Models will NEVER Work"
Neil Young-Alan Grayson Contest Ending-- "They Can't Kill Us All"
Our Alan Grayson-Neil Young contest ends this evening at 9 PM (PT), midnight on the East Coast. The randomly selected winner get a really beautiful double platinum RIAA-certified award plaque that was awarded for Neil Young's 1972 masterpiece, *Harvest*. It's very rare and would make an amazing Christmas present for the Neil Young fanatic in your life. (Yes, this triple digit weather will be ending in the not too distant future.) This page will explain how to win-- although it;'s easy: just qualify by contributing any amount to Grayson's campaign on that same page and then pray yo... more »
MPs Expose Smart Meter Con
By Paul Homewood The BBC cover a critical Parliamentary report on smart meters: People who have smart meters installed are expected to save an average of £11 annually on their energy bills, much less than originally hoped. A report from a parliamentary group now predicts a dual fuel saving of £26. In a […]
Either Trump Fires These People Or The Borg Will Have Won
[image: undefined] President's Trump successful summit with President Putin was used by the "resistance" and the deep state to launch a coup-attempt against Trump. Their minimum aim is to put Trump into a (virtual) political cage where he can no longer pursue his foreign policy agenda. One does not have to be a fan of Trump's policies and still see the potential danger. A situation where he can no longer act freely will likely be worse. What Trump has done so far still does not add up to the disastrous policies and crimes his predecessor committed. The borg, financed and sworn to t... more »
5 Revolutionary U.S. Weapons of War (That Never Happened)
*Robert Farley* *Security, * We explain why they never saw action. *Eventually, the big amphibious ships of the Tarawa and Wasp classes would take over the sea control role. In effect, the USN acquired Sea Control Ships, although we call them amphibious assault ships and delegate to them a broader array of tasks. We also rely on other countries to build small carriers to fulfill the missions envisioned by the SCS; many of the flattops operated by the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, and Japan essentially fulfill an SCS role.* Weapons die for all kinds of different reasons. Somet... more »
Eczema Medicine Ad Features Woman Using Smart Phone Against Her Face. “Fine Print” in Manuals Says That’s a No-No. Research Says It’s Bad for Skin and Everything Else.
By B.N. Frank Eczema is an uncomfortable as well as unattractive skin condition. This eczema medication commercial features an eczema sufferer with a smart phone... more »
July 21:What is (or should) voting be about?
Here's a story that didn't - and won't - make the irving press. (I usually start with The Guardian. It's not as intelligent and impartial as it used to be. But, with El Haaretz, it still leads the pack of the commercial news media.) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/21/defending-earth-violence-murder-activists-land-corruption Note that it's not the usual villains we read about that they're fighting. It's the villains our news media never mention - mining companies, factory farm corporations, corporate polluters.... And yes, some prominent ones are Canadian. __________... more »
Saturday Afternoon Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. - Hugh MacKenzie comments on the continued need for an adult conversation about public revenue, including the importance of bringing in enough in taxes to fund the services which serve everybody's best interests: The disconnect between public services and the taxes we pay to provide them that has dominated the Canadian political narrative for the past quarter-century isn’t just quirk of politics that we can just file under the heading “lies our politicians keep telling us.” That disconnect matters. It invites us to vote for a property tax f... more »
"The Fed Can’t Stop What’s Coming"
*"The Fed Can’t Stop What’s Coming"* by Bill Bonner YOUGHAL, IRELAND – "The show is Donald Trump. And it plays to sold-out audiences, 24/7. Meanwhile, in the back of the crowd, the Deep State goes about its work – picking pockets. The political world thus unchanged… we move back to the financial world. *King of Debt: *But wait… here comes politics again, sticking its big nose in. From CNBC: "Stocks fell on Thursday amid criticism of the Federal Reserve by President Donald Trump. The Dow lost 134 points. In a stinging and historically rare criticism, Donald Trump expressed frustrati... more »
How Pottersville Became Gotham City, Part 2
"*Do I look like a man with a plan?*" - The Joker to Harvey Dent, *The Dark Knight*, 2008 In last night's piece, I went into how Welcome Back to Pottersville became Welcome Back to Gotham City early last year. I'd used by way of comparison Tim Burton's *Batman Returns* and contrasted it with the Trump administration that's remaking America. Today, I'm going to use an even more recent and fun example: Christopher Nolan's *The Dark Knight*. I'd said after seeing that movie, "Tim Burton's Batman movies were for the kids. Christopher Nolan's are for the grown ups." And my ... more »
"Government's Already-Dismal Budget Forecast Just Got 106% Worse"
*"Government's Already-Dismal Budget * *Forecast Just Got 106% Worse"* by Simon Black "This week, the Office of Management and Budget released a new report called the “Mid-Session Review” of the US federal budget. It’s something they’re required by law to do – periodically review and update the government’s budget and track the changes. The last government budget update was released in February. And according to the February budget, the government’s deficit for this fiscal year was going to be a whopping $873 billion. Now they’re projecting to close this fiscal year (which ends on ... more »
Louisiana teen's climate change lawsuit cleared for trial: report
Federal government loses second attempt to dismiss 'climate kids' litigation
X22 Report, “A Week To Remember, Dark To Light”
X22 Report, “A Week To Remember, Dark To Light” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YLevMESN8A&t=17s *Related:* X22 Report, “The Agenda Is Set, Next Phase The Central Bank” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nWM7RmPniI
Keeping Up With The Democrats
George Orwell introduced the language of doublespeak in his dystopian novel “1984”published in 1949. Doublespeak is the language of opposites. Up is down and down is up. The word doublespeak derives from two Orwellian words “doublethink” and “newspeak.” Doublethink is … Continue reading →
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