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CFR Seeks to Sovietize U.S. Education | Behind the Deep State
[image: alex-newman-cfr-seeks-to-sovietize-us-education-behind-the-deep-state] VIDEO - In this episode of Behind the Deep State, host Alex Newman continues exposing the Council on Foreign Relations' radical plan to restructure America using state and local government — with this segment focusing on the education component of the scheme. In this CFR program, known as “The Work Ahead,” globalist Deep State operatives seek to finalize the Sovietization of America's K-12 and college education. This would be a key component of central planning the economy and society. Alex interviewed s... more »
Obama Judge in California Rules Against Gig Economy
[image: obama-judge-in-california-rules-against-gig-economy] An Obama-appointed California judge denied an injunction against SB 5, which would force freelancers to essentially become employees, causing many of them to lose work.
Japan Is Building Coal Fired Power Plants Despite Its Paris Accord Commitment
Japan plans to build as many as 22 new coal-fired power plants at 17 different sites in the next five… The post Japan Is Building Coal Fired Power Plants Despite Its Paris Accord Commitment appeared first on IER.
Syria News Links 17-18 February 2020
18 February 2020 — The New Dark Age There may be some duplication due to cross-posting and may be updated throughout the day, so please check back Russian-Italian bilateral mechanisms working more and more steadily — Lavrov https://tass.com/politics/1121489 Today’s Links 18 February 2020 http://mikewhitneysgraspingatstraws.blogspot.com/2020/02/todays-links_18.html Explaining Syria: It’s Everyone’s Fault Except the U.S. and Israel https://www.globalresearch.ca/explaining-syria-everyone-fault-except-u-s-israel/5703993 US-Europe … Continue reading Syria News Links 17-18 February 2020
Venezuela News Links 6-18 February 2020
18 February 2020 — The New Dark Age There may be some duplication due to cross-posting and may be updated throughout the day, so please check back Bolivia’s Coup In Practice Canada out of the Lima Group, Core Group and OAS https://dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/canada-out-of-the-lima-group-core-group-and-oas/ Categorically Debunking The Claim That China Is Imperialist https://seeyouin2020.blogspot.com/2020/02/catagorically-debunking-claim-that.html Venezuela Prepares for Potential Threats … Continue reading Venezuela News Links 6-18 February 2020
Iran News Links 17-18 February 2020
18 February 2020 — The New Dark Age There may be some duplication due to cross-posting and may be updated throughout the day, so please check back Selected Articles: America “Down the Rabbit Hole” https://www.globalresearch.ca/selected-articles-us-further-down-rabbit-hole/5703892 US Pressuring Iraq Not to Reveal Details of Soleimani Killing: MP https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-pressuring-iraq-not-reveal-details-soleimani-killing-mp/5703918 Iran – USA: Aggressive American Politics https://journal-neo.org/2020/02/18/iran-usa-aggressive-american-politics/ U.S. Uneasy … Continue reading... more »
Bolivia News Links 14-18 February 2020
18 February 2020 — The New Dark Age There may be some duplication due to cross-posting and may be updated throughout the day, so please check back Canada out of the Lima Group, Core Group and OAS https://dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/canada-out-of-the-lima-group-core-group-and-oas/ ‘It is Clear that This is U.S. Neoliberal Interference in Bolivia’ https://libya360.wordpress.com/2020/02/16/it-is-clear-that-this-is-u-s-neoliberal-interference-in-bolivia/ Bolivia: The First Coup Against the … Continue reading Bolivia News Links 14-18 February 2020
Trump supporters have little trust in societal institutions
Magdalena Wojcieszak, Professor of Communications, University of California, Davis at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 11 hours ago
In a survey, Trump supporters showed the lowest faith in the Supreme Court, the federal government, the media and other pillars of society.
Fringe religious party gains power in crisis-stricken Peru
Matthew Peter Casey, Clinical Assistant Professor of History, Arizona State University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 11 hours ago
After a bribery scandal that took down four presidents and led Congress to dissolve, some Peruvians are putting their faith in an austere religion called the Israelites of the New Universal Pact.
A Psychologist Told Us How Simple Out-of-Context Photos Could Be the New Deepfake
*Lisa Fazio* *Technology, World* Out-of-context photos are very common source of misinformation. Here is what damage they can do. When you think of visual misinformation, maybe you think of deepfakes – videos that appear real but have actually been created using powerful video editing algorithms. The creators edit celebrities into pornographic movies, and they can put words into the mouths of people who never said them. But the majority of visual misinformation that people are exposed to involves much simpler forms of deception. One common technique involves recycling legitimat... more »
Could Your Dietary Supplements Kill You? The Facts Are Pretty Shocking.
*C. Michael White* *Health, Americas* [image: Reuters] Here's why. More than two-thirds of Americans take dietary supplements. The vast majority of consumers – 84% – are confident the products are safe and effective. They should not be so trusting. I’m a professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut. As described in my new article in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, consumers take real risks if they use diet supplements not independently verified by reputable outside labs. *What are the risks?* Heavy metals, which are known to cause cancer, dementia and brittl... more »
Think the Donald Trump Era of U.S. Politics Is Tough? Pull Out Your History Book.
*Gary W. Gallagher* *History, Americas* [image: Reuters] Politics have been far more divisive. Far. More. It has become common to say that the United States in 2020 is more divided politically and culturally than at any other point in our national past. As a historian who has written and taught about the Civil War era for several decades, I know that current divisions pale in comparison to those of the mid-19th century. Between Abraham Lincoln’s election in November 1860 and the surrender of Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army at Appomattox in April 1865, the nation literally brok... more »
Hunter Biden Served On Board For Group Lobbying Obama Over Ukraine Aid
*Chuck Ross* *Politics, Americas* [image: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend an NCAA basketball game between Georgetown University and Duke University in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2010. Picture taken January 30, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst] It overlapped with his time at Burisma. - *Hunter Biden served on the board of a trade group that lobbied for increased spending on international aid, including for Ukraine. * - *Biden’s association with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and its close affiliate, the Center for U.S. Global Leade... more »
Conservative Group Joins Oracle's Supreme Court Attack Against Google
*Chris White* *Politics, Americas* [image: FILE PHOTO: File photo: The Google logo is seen at an event in Paris, France May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo] Intervening in the tech showdown. - *Conservatives are opening a salvo against Google as the tech behemoth beats back claims that it stole thousands of lines of code from Oracle. * - *One conservative group seeking to hold Google accountable for supposedly targeting conservatives filed an amicus brief supporting Oracle’s copyright claim against Google. * - *If Oracle wins and the Supreme Cou... more »
REVEALED: China's Secret Reasons for Imprisoning Uyghurs
*Mary Margaret Olohan* *Security, Asia* [image: Hong Kong protesters rally in support of Xinjiang Uighurs' human rights in Hong Kong, China, December 22, 2019. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson] Yet another leak from inside the communist state. The Chinese government imprisoned Muslims for basic religious activity, such as going to a mosque, praying or having a long beard, a database obtained by The Associated Press shows. The newly released database shows that the Chinese government targeted Muslims based both on their religious beliefs and on their ties to family members, according to th... more »
How Cable Companies Are Making Millions Off a Repair Service You Will Never Use
*Harry J. Kazianis* *Technology, * Wanna save some money on your cable or dish bill? Here's how. Do yourself a big favor: Pull out your cable or satellite bill. If you see a charge on your bill for a Service Protection Plan or wire coverage plan, call Comcast, Cox, or whoever you have for pay-tv and cancel it immediately. You could save anywhere from $5.00 to as much as $11.00 per month. The reason, I would argue, is pretty clear: the charge is a total scam. The cable companies are ripping you off, and there is no need to pay this. Ever. The actual service has been around for d... more »
Even Russia Knows Its High-Tech T-14 Armata Tank Is in Deep Trouble
*Michael Peck* *Technology, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2019%3Anewsml_RC1AAAEFAF30&share=true] Too costly? *Key point:* Moscow has a new and impressive tank, but it still has many teething issues. Moreover, Russia's T-14 is also very expensive. Does Russia’s much vaunted T-14 Armata tank have problems? There is evidence that the next-generation tank, which has caused a stir in Western defense circles, has run into difficulties, according to Russian defense publication Military-Industrial Courier. Writer Oleg Falichev uses a bit of i... more »
Donald Trump Will Never Achieve 'Total Victory' in a Trade War with China
*David Morris* *Economics, * America is not going to win an unqualified, unambiguous “total victory” in the trade war with China. Chinese consumers and businesses are not hurting any worse than American ones, so we shouldn’t hold out for Chinese capitulation to American demands. Rather, we should make limited demands and look for a quick resolution. In a manufacturing plant in Dongying, Shandong province, workers are pumping out thousands of brake rotors every day. After spending two weeks touring this factory and a dozen others like it, it’s clear that Chinese employees on the ... more »
How ISIS Used Make-Shift Armored Cars to Carry out Suicide Bombings
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2014%3Anewsml_GM1EA6B05TB01&share=true] Terrible. *Key point:* Insurgents and weak forces with low budgets often come up with improvised weapons to maximize damage. That includes both suicide attacks and armored vehicles. In the early 2000s, the video game *Command & Conquer: Generals *included a playable terrorist faction which could build kamikaze suicide trucks from factories to blow up opponents on the cheap. At the time the concept struck the author as not only a di... more »
Yes, China's New DF-100 Anti-Ship Missile Are a Big Problem
*James Holmes* *Security, Asia* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2015%3Anewsml_GF10000191342&share=true] Not good at all. *Key point:* Beijing knows its new weapons can hold Washington's navy at risky. But is there any way for America to counter this danger? So China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unveiled new weaponry during its October 1, 2019 military parade? Color me gobsmacked. If China’s rise to martial eminence has shown one thing, it’s that PLA commanders and their political overseers delight in surprising and trolling Western observers... more »
Who Makes the Finest Weapons: America, China, or Russia?
*Michael Peck* *Security, World* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2018%3Anewsml_RC1286FBA9D0&share=true] Let's take a look. *Key point:* Washington wants to sell more weapons to foreign countries. In order to win over customers, the United States is touting its superior (although more expensive) systems. The U.S. government has a message for those nations that would buy Russian and Chines weapons: buyer beware. “We have come a long way since the AK-47 became the ubiquitous symbol of Soviet-backed insurgencies from Southeast Asia to Africa,” R. C... more »
No Laser for You: The Pentagon Wants to Destroy Enemies' Laser Weapons
*Michael Peck* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2011%3Anewsml_GM1E73L1KT801&share=true] But how? *Key point:* Everyone wants lasers but how will countries counter these new weapons? In the case of America, DARPA is already on the case with anti-laser solutions. As militaries around the world race to develop powerful combat lasers, the Pentagon has something else in mind. It wants to destroy those lasers. The U.S. military worries that high energy lasers (appropriately known as HEL) weapons can destroy or damage surveillan... more »
President Trump's 'Deal of the Century' Would Be a Historic Mistake
*Doug Bandow* *Security, * And only one nation would benefit. President Donald Trump has unveiled his “Deal of the Century” and it is—for Israel. In the past the Palestinians have been said to never lose an opportunity to lose an opportunity. In this case the opportunity is entirely Israel’s, and even more directly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s. Neoconservative Max Boot called the initiative “a PR campaign, not a peace plan.” Any proposal brokered by Washington should be immediately suspect. There is no pretense that American policymakers are objective or balanced: Israe... more »
How Donald Trump Can Jumpstart Diplomacy with North Korea
*Doug Bandow* *Security, * President Trump took a risk in pursuing the opening with Kim. The process has stalemated, but he should not abandon the opening which he has created. Progress remains possible but will require a change in approach. The possibility of promoting stability and peace is worth the risk of doing so. President Donald Trump apparently has given up on North Korea, according to his aides. He said he wants no summits this year while he concentrates on his reelection campaign. Downplaying PR extravaganzas makes sense as long as there is no agreement. However, the ... more »
Donald Trump's Real North Korea Mistake
*Ted Galen Carpenter* *Security, * It should be puzzling, frustrating, and alarming to all Americans that the United States is still on front lines of any crisis involving North Korea. That dangerous, unrewarding role arose in a different era under very different circumstances. Time for a policy change. President Trump needs to take advantage of his strengthened political position following the impeachment fiasco to keep his 2016 campaign promises about reassessing obsolete American military alliances. Unfortunately, thus far his approach has consisted of little more than empt... more »
Could the U.S. Collapse in the Next 5 Years?
*Virginia Aabram* *History, * “On July Fourth, 2026, the U.S. will be 250 years old. That is the average life span of great nations,” Thomas said. “I’m not saying the end is near, but what is going to prevent it if we don’t turn things around?” If there were a chance that America’s values and prestige would collapse around the Fourth of July in 2026, what would that change about the way Americans interact? That’s the question author and syndicated columnist Cal Thomas posed to his audience in a recent presentation, “America’s Expiration Date,” at The Heritage Foundation. If the... more »
A little more about me…
I think I need to update this part of my portfolio, pad… Continue reading “A little more about me…”… The post A little more about me… appeared first on Asian Straight Shooter.
Jury Begins Deliberating in Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Trial
The once-powerful Hollywood mogul could be behind bars for the rest of his life.
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, "You & Me"
Moody Blues, "You & Me"
The Daily "Near You?"
Arvada, Colorado, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
Free Download: Charles Mackay, "Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"
*"Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"* "Every age has its peculiar folly: Some scheme, project, or fantasy into which it plunges, spurred on by the love of gain, the necessity of excitement, or the force of imitation. Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one." - Charles Mackay "'Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds" is an early study of crowd psychology by Scottish journalist Charles Mackay, first published in 1841. The book chronicle... more »
"Most Of Us..."
"Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. Most of us are about as eager to change as we were to be born, and go through our changes in a similar state of shock." – James Baldwin
Republican legislators urge key US senator to oppose marijuana banking
A dozen Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are urging U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chair Mike Crapo to oppose legislation that would allow financial institutions to provide banking services to the marijuana industry. The 12 legislators voted against the so-called SAFE Banking Act last September, though the measure was approved by the full House in an overwhelming 321-103 […] Republican legislators urge key US senator to oppose marijuana banking is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Australia a haven for illicit funds, tax evasion and laundering, report finds
Australia continues to host significant quantities of illicit funds from outside the country and is not doing enough to counter money laundering, according to the 2020 Financial Secrecy Index.
Cambodian PM capitalises on virus crisis as Australians cleared to leave Westerdam cruise
As Australians are cleared of coronavirus in Cambodia, the nation's Prime Minister Hun Sen launches a charm offensive aimed at showing what a welcoming country he is running.
Mike Feinberg's Lawyers Go After Abused Hispanic Family
In what has to be one of the greatest power disparities in the history of charter school sexual abuse, Mike Feinberg and his high-rolling legal team faced off against a girl and her mother last week at a hearing to determine if the predator KIPP founder will be able to keep his teacher's license after being fired for sexually abusing a middle school child. Reading the excerpt from the Texas Tribune article below, it's not a tough call. We will still have to wonder, however, if Feinberg will be able to buy his way clear. . . . . In a petition calling for the hearing, a TEA lawyer sa... more »
France: Protesters And Police Clash As Parliament Begins Debating Pension Reform Bill
Protesters took to the streets of Paris on Monday and clashed with riot police as the pension reform bill reached the French National Assembly for debate. Tensions between the demonstrators and riot police were visible, as the police tried to keep protesters at bay with batons, before arresting a few. Yellow Vests and unionist with flares could also be seen joining in with the rally. “Sixty per cent of the French are against this reform and against a certain number of measures which have been taken before. We are under attack from all sides on social justice, in a country that prides... more »
#NotAgainSU: Students Occupy Administrative Building, Threatened And Denied Food
Syracuse, NY - Students with #NotAgainSU, who have been protesting racism and hate incidents on campus that are not being punished, are currently occupying the admissions building, Crouse-Hinds Hall. Their action began yesterday. Last night when the university ordered them to leave at closing time and move their action to the library, which is open twenty-four hours a day, the students refused. Today, the students remain in Crouse-Hinds Hall, but rather than listening to their concerns, the university is limiting access to the building to employees only and preventing anyone from br... more »
World News Briefs -- February 18, 2020
*Reuters:* *China sees fall in coronavirus deaths, WHO urges caution, Apple takes hit* BEIJING/GENEVA (Reuters) - China reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since January on Tuesday and its lowest daily death toll for a week, but the World Health Organization said data suggesting the epidemic had slowed should still be viewed with caution. The head of a leading hospital in China’s central city of Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, died of the disease on Tuesday, becoming one of the most prominent victims since the disease first appeared at the end of last ye... more »
"No One Gets Out Of Here Alive (Part Two)"
*"No One Gets Out Of Here Alive (Part Two)"* by Jim Quinn "In Part One of this article I exposed the numerous false narratives being peddled to the masses, as this Fourth Turning is entering the intense phase headed towards an unknown climax. I’ve been expecting the next shoe to fall in this Fourth Turning for years, but the financial elite have pulled the debt levers to keep the Ponzi scheme alive far longer than a reasonable person would expect. We are only six weeks into 2020 and it seems like a year’s worth of major events have already occurred. The year started with the assass... more »
Judge Refuses to Delay Sentencing of Roger Stone After Trump Tweets
The string of tweets from the president came shortly before a court session for his longtime political ally.
Feb. 18: Our final insanities.
A note to the Canadian Legion....Is this the world that Canadians fought and died for in World War Two? A world of non stop wars in which the U.S. has killed over twenty million people to serve the greed of American (and western in general) billionaires? Is this why Canadians died in Korea and Afghanistan? How can the Legion be silent on this? ________________________________________________________________ A reminder for Canadians about their mass murder of indigenous peoples. We were nice to indigenous peoples? Well, no. We stole this country from them. We killed those who were ... more »
‘You’re Doing 65 in a 70’: Racial Profiling Cop Pulls Over Innocent Man for Driving UNDER Speed Limit
[image: speed limit]An infuriating case of racial profiling was caught on video showing a white cop harassing a black man for driving safely down the road, 5 mph under the speed limit.
WATCH: Man Permanently Disabled After Cops Mistake Stroke for Drunkenness, Lock Him Up, Ignore Him
[image: stroke]A man in the middle of a massive stroke was mistaken as being drunk by police who, instead of getting him medical help, locked him in a cage and ignored him until he almost died.
New Record Low Temperature For Greenland Set Last Month
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood A month ago, it was reported that a record low temperature for Greenland had been provisionally set on 2nd January: Summit Camp, also known as Summit Station, is a year-round research station on the apex of the Greenland Ice Sheet.…
Revising the history of WWII
Poland regularly tries to reconsider the Soviet Union’s role in the war More The post Revising the history of WWII appeared first on The Duran.
Russia Needs to Prioritize Greece as Relations Rift with Turkey
Russia Can Find a NATO and EU Friend in Greece More The post Russia Needs to Prioritize Greece as Relations Rift with Turkey appeared first on The Duran.
A New Look at the ‘Pale Blue Dot’
The 30th anniversary of the famous ‘Pale Blue Dot’ image of Earth, which took place on February 14, is an appropriate occasion for the newly updated image below, which brings the latest methods to bear on the data Voyager 1 presented us. Our planet takes up less than a single pixel and for that reason […]
Super Bowl Control: You’re Not Paranoid. They’re Watching
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola Story at-a-glance Advertisements by technology giants during Super Bowl LIV were designed to tug on your heartstrings while hiding the truth Google has perfected the art form of understanding your desires and placing their truth at the top of the search engine Mobile networks are exposing you to higher levels […] The post Super Bowl Control: You’re Not Paranoid. They’re Watching appeared first on Health Nut News.
Jury awards $265 million to Bader Farms in lawsuit against Bayer, BASF
A jury has awarded $265 million in punitive damages to a Missouri peach grower who sued Bayer and BASF over damage to his orchards that he says was caused by the weed killer dicamba drifting onto his trees. The award Saturday came a day after the jury awarded $15 million in actual damages to Bill […] The post Jury awards $265 million to Bader Farms in lawsuit against Bayer, BASF appeared first on Health Nut News.
Mega speakers wanted! Coaching your way to riches
News 1. Hold on to your ballots Tax cuts for corporations, a tweet about the $1 increase in the minimum wage, and a photo-op with Education Minister and Zach Churchill and some kids during an announcement of pre-primary programs for every elementary school in Nova Scotia. Stephen Kimber looks at all the hints that Premier […]
WHO DG SAYS NO EVIDENCE OF SUSTAINED TRANSMISSION OF CORONAVIRUS OUTSIDE OF CHINA, DIAMOND PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP
*WHO Director General said today, Tuesday, there is no evidence of sustained local transmission outside China, apart from specific circumstances like Diamond Princess, and that there is still chance of preventing global spread.* https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19-outbreak-on-18-february-2020 *"So far there are 92 cases in 12 countries outside China of human-to-human transmission," Tedros Ghebreyesus said a at a press conference Tuesday.* *The suggested the data set on cases outside China is too small "to make a ... more »
India Hastily Builds Wall Along Slum Ahead of Trump Visit
A half-kilometer (1,640-foot) brick wall has been hastily erected in India's Gujarat state ahead of a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, with critics saying it was built to block the view of a slum area inhabited by more than 2,000 people.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Nephew and Wife Agree to Divorce
The Earl of Snowden, David Armstrong-Jones, and his wife Serena, the Countess of Snowden, agreed to separate after more than 25 years of marriage.
China’s “Karma” and Karma’s Solution…
The CoronaVirus Scam Is/Was All About Trying To Implement Mandatory Vaccines For Everyone… From Europe By Karma Singh One of the laws of physics states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. So when the jet engine on the aeroplane you’re riding pushes hot air backward, your ‘plane goes forwards. If … Continue reading China’s “Karma” and Karma’s Solution…
Explaining Syria
[image: undefined] The first week in February was memorable for the failed impeachment of President Donald Trump, the “re-elect me” State of the Union address and the marketing of a new line of underwear by Kim Kardashian. Given all of the excitement, it was easy to miss a special State Department press briefing by Ambassador James Jeffreyheld on February 5th regarding the current situation in Syria. Jeffrey is the United States Special Representative for Syria Engagement and the Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL. Jeffrey has had a distinguished career in govern... more »
Trump Is Right: The US Does Indeed Need a Space Force
[image: undefined] Right now, America has only a pathetic five divisions of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. We desperately need a sixth. And what could be more fitting for our President than fulfilling this need with a brand new spanking Space Force. Thank goodness Mr. Trump has now called this new initiative into being. The case for the Space Force is overwhelming. Consider the following. The Martians may attack at any moment. Do we have to wait for an actual invasion of the creatures from the fourth planet to protect ourselves? No. The threat thereof... more »
The Death Of Free Speech: Zuckerberg Asks Governments For Instructions On 'What Discourse Should Be Allowed'
[image: undefined] I have written for years on the effort of European countries to expand their crackdown on free speech globally through restrictions on social media and Internet speech. It appears that Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has relented in what may prove the death knell for free speech in the West. Zuckerberg seems to relent in asking governments for regulations stipulating what speech will be permitted on Facebook and other platforms. It is the ultimate victory of France, Germany, and England in their continuing attack on free expression though hate speech laws... more »
Democrats support the right to kill gays
In Washington State Rep. Nicole Macri is working hard to make it easier to kill gays. In this she's following in the footsteps in California who have already made it clear that deliberately infecting someone with HIV is not a big deal. Currently in Washington, but not California, if a someone who has AIDS doesn't tell their sexual partner about that before they have sex they're guilty of a felony. But Macri wants to make that a misdemeanor. To be clear if the person who has HIV doesn't know that they have HIV it isn't currently a crime. Only if a person knows they have HIV and do... more »
Wall Built to Hide Slums & Families Evicted Ahead of Trump Visit to India
Link: https://youtu.be/eFz4gro7uhs Steve Herman @W7VOA tweets: “Clearing the way for @narendramodi and @realDonaldTrump“ in response to “Press Trust of India … Continue reading →
Trump To Campaign For Congressional Republicans? Kara Eastman Says "Bring It On!"
*Hole-in-One by Nancy Ohanian* During the 2016 election, a putative Democrat from the South Bronx, Rubén Díaz, Sr., backed Ted Cruz for president and invited him to speak in his district. It didn't do Cruz much good. In the Republican primary, Cruz came in third-- with just 1,022 votes, in New York's bluest county. Trump won the county in the primary with 2,702 votes but in the general election, Hillary eviscerated him 318,403 (88.7%) to 34,424 (9.6%). Today, still running as a Democrat (or some kind of Democrat), Díaz Sr. is trying to sneak into the NY-15 congressional district fro... more »
Will Zimbabwe Allow Freedom of Airwaves and Freedom of Speech too?
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Feb 18 (IPS) - Zimbabwe is making fresh commitments to open up its airwaves with government promising to issue licences to private television and community radio stations before the end of the year. Read the full story, “Will Zimbabwe Allow Freedom of Airwaves and Freedom of Speech too?”, on globalissues.org →
Global Economy Still Slowing, Dangerously Vulnerable
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (IPS) - In an annual ritual early in the year, most major economic organizations have released forecasts for the global economy in 2020. Incredibly, almost as a reminder of where financial power resides in this day and age, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its forecasts at the World Economic Forum's 50th annual meeting in Davos. Read the full story, “Global Economy Still Slowing, Dangerously Vulnerable”, on globalissues.org →
Biodiversity & Agriculture: Nature’s Matrix & Future of Conservation
Global Issues News Headlines - 12 hours ago
OAKLAND, California, Feb 18 (IPS) - Angus Wright, Ivette Perfecto and John Vandermeer, authors, Food First, Institute for Food and Development PolicyWhen we were children, a long auto trip would require a stop every hour or so to clean the windshield of the insects that had been intercepted. Read the full story, “Biodiversity & Agriculture: Nature’s Matrix & Future of Conservation”, on globalissues.org →
Leftism, Marxism really are mental disorders
Sometime in 2013, Ann Coulter famously said that liberalism is on the spectrum of mental illness. Well, this was surely not the first time when a similar quote emerged. In 2010, Michael Savage released the book Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder. Those statements might sound like memes or insults. The only problem is that they're not only memes and insults. They're also approximations of cold hard facts. Slate Star Codex has organized a survey involving 8043 participants and investigating links between the formal mental diagnoses and the self-identified political beliefs of the people. ... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 18, 2020
*Anti-war.com:* *US, China Drive Surge in Global Military Spending* Biggest increase in spending in 10 years New data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has shown a roughly 4% increase in military spending for 2019, the single largest rate of growth seen in the past 10 years. The increase is being driven in large part by the two largest military spenders in the world, the United States and China. Both nations increased their respective spending by 6.6%. The US alone increased spending $53.4 billion, which is itself almost as much as other major nations,... more »
Facebook’s White Paper on the Future of Online Content Regulation: Hard Questions for Lawmakers
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg onstage at Facebook's 2017 developers conference. (Maurizio Pesce, https://flic.kr/p/V5XXzf; CC BY 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) I once wrote, after Australia passed some particularly terrible legislation, that maybe Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg should have been more specific when he publicly asked for more regulation of “harmful content.” It seems that Zuckerberg has finally gotten around to clarifying what he meant. His recent comments at the Munich Security Conference, where he suggested that online platforms should be treated s... more »
Free market develops coronavirus vaccine in 3 hours
A biotech company called Inovio Pharmaceuticals has developed a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus just three hours after gaining access to the genetic sequence. The post Free market develops coronavirus vaccine in 3 hours appeared first on CFACT.
Misleading SOTU Video Still Plays, Despite Rule Changes at Facebook, Twitter
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the target of at least two high-profile incidents.
Homeland Security Waives Contracting Laws for Border Wall
The Trump administration said that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Quarantine on Cruise Ship in Japan Comes Under Question
An extraordinary two-week quarantine of the Diamond Princess cruise ship ends Feb. 19, with thousands of passengers and crew set to disembark over the next several days in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Poverty Rate In Iraq Down But Still Higher Than Pre-War Level
Iraq’s Planning Ministry announcedthat poverty had declined over the last two years, but it was still above the level seen before the 2014 war against the Islamic State. There were also huge variances in the percentage of people below the poverty line depending upon the province they lived in. The Planning Ministry released the results of a 2018 survey that found poverty had gone from 22.5% in 2014 to 20% in 2018. The rate varied across provinces however. The four southern provinces of Muthanna, 52%, Diwaniya, 48%, Maysan, 45%, and Dhi Qar, 44% did the worse, followed by Ninewa at... more »
U.S. Navy Is Preparing Its New Ford Carriers For Massive Ocean Warfare
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) raises the American flag on it's mast as the ship get underway, Feb. 3, 2020 - file photo. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zack Guth) *FOX News/Warrior Maven:* *Navy preps its new USS Ford carrier for massive ocean warfare* Navy weapons developers say the service’s emerging Ford-class carriers are engineered for the purpose of enabling a much higher volume of high-speed, overwhelming air attacks in rapid succession, as compared to today’s Nimitz-class carriers … all due to new technologies and the design configuration of the pla... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 18
1940 PM Said resigned over growing problems with pan-Arabist Golden Square officers Said wanted Gaylani to become PM and he would become Foreign Minister to maintain pro-British policies Golden Square objected to Gaylani govt because it would include Said and Gen Hashemi Went to Regent calling for their exclusion from new govt Regent disagreed with Golden Square officers over new govt and made Gen Umari Mosul garrison commander retire as a result (Musings On Iraq book review of *Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941*) (Musings On Iraq book review *The Rol... more »
Farming Does Not Take Much Smarts, According to Bloomberg
[image: farming-does-not-take-much-smarts-according-to-bloomberg] Bloomberg is only the latest elitist to tell us what he thinks of Americans working on farms and in factories.
Oklahoma Seeks to Revoke Licenses of Abortionists
[image: oklahoma-seeks-to-revoke-licenses-of-abortionists] A bill moving through the legislature in Oklahoma would fine and revoke the medical license of any doctor who performs an abortion.
Coronavirus, breathing masks, and respirators: the facts
There's an awful lot of hype circulating about breathing masks, respirators, and protection against the current coronavirus epidemic. Most of the articles are not scientific or factual - they're more like hyperbole and hysteria. In particular, current stocks of surgical masks and disposable respirators available to the general public have been largely exhausted, and a number of vendors are reporting that they don't know when (or even whether) they'll be able to get stock again. That's complicated by the fact that most such masks are made in China, which last week was said to have... more »
Whom the Gods Would Destroy...
Do not focus on any single aspect of the multiple crises facing mankind, Helga Zepp-LaRouche cautioned yesterday. That approach will lead you to a mistaken reading of what is going on in the world, and what to do about it. The question is: *Why* is the COVID-19 virus epidemic threatening to become a global pandemic if not contained? *Why* could the foiled impeachment drive against President Donald Trump become an even nastier overt coup d’état? *Why* might the locust infestation sweeping the Horn of Africa become a full-fledged locust plague destroying the food supply of nations a... more »
Another LGBTQ Success In Their Battle Against Traditional Morality and Faith-Based Values
Yesterday, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, to defend their dwindling financial resources against hundreds of lawsuits alleging homosexual child abuse by adult males in the organization, committed on boys entrusted to their care. You do see how this works, don’t you: First the homosexuals infiltrate a target-rich organizational environment. Then they corrupt it with deviant behavior. Finally, they have the temerity to demand open inclusion in the leadership ranks of that organization, to the cheers of a complicit media. After the damage... more »
Time Capsule: Parkour defined my teenage years
[image: Time Capsule: Parkour defined my teenage years] Parkour united teens who had nothing else in common in our small, concrete-clad town Read full article →
THE RATIONAL ANIMAL'S SYSTEMS: Rachel says she just can't sleep!
*TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020Tucker recalls Avenatti:* BREAKING! Even the anthropologists have started to say it: It's all comedy now! As American systems fall apart—as the sensible center can no longer hold—we're left with nothing more than the possibility of amusement as we await whatever will come, "as on a darkling plain." As our systems crash and burn, is it really all comedy now? Consider what millions of viewers were handed by Rachel and Tucker last week. Concerning Rachel, the high-rated "corporate progressive" has apparently been struggling with her sleep. We know this be... more »
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin Hospital director in China's coronavirus epicentre dies from disease himself - World News - Mirror Online I spoke to experts on authoritarian rule about Trump's behavior this week. They say 2020 could be our last free election To Tame Coronavirus, Mao-Style Social Control Blankets China 14 Americans aboard evacuation plane from Japan stricken with coronavirus Twenty-four killed in Burkina Faso church attack: governor Venezuela realiza ejercicio militar Escudo Bolivariano 2020 After 40 Years of Hunting, Scientists Identify a Key Flaw in Solar Panel EfficiencySCIENTISTS M... more »
COLDTYPE Issue 200 Mid-February 2020 – is now online
18 February 2020 — Coldtype Download and read all issues of ColdType – free of charge at www.coldtype.net/reader.html —————- ISSUE 200 – we’ve got lots of great reading for you this month. In our cover story, Medea Benjamin & Nicholas JS Davies call for a revival of the global peace movement to curb the USA’s war machine, while … Continue reading COLDTYPE Issue 200 Mid-February 2020 – is now online
Doctors For Assange Ratchet Up Pressure
Doctors for Assange have launched a new campaign to get proper medical treatment for the imprisoned WikiLeaks journalist by publishing a letter in Britain’s leading medical journal.
Seeing Through the Lies – US Edition
The Guardian newspaper has taken the art of obfuscation, false implication and the subtler forms of journalistic lying to new heights in its very extensive coverage of the Roger Stone sentencing saga. It has now devoted fourteen articles in the last fortnight to this rather obscure episode of American political history. Yet in not one of those articles – nor in more than a dozen articles about the Stone case that preceded it over the last few months – has the Guardian informed its readers what Stone was actually convicted of doing.
Grenfell Tower – ‘Independent experts’ advised by lobbyists for combustible insulation manufacturers
Two of the Grenfell Inquiry’s independent experts were invited to attend an advisory group meeting with lobbyists for combustible insulation manufacturers. Both previously advised the inquiry against banning these products from high rises.
The Lancet publishes letter from doctors: “End torture and medical neglect of Julian Assange”
This week’s edition of the Lancet—the world’s pre-eminent peer reviewed medical journal—carries a letter from 117 medical doctors in 18 countries, renewing their call for urgent action to save the life of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange. Their letter appears less than one week before the start of the US extradition hearing in London that may decide Assange’s fate.
Dresden Terror Bombing, Like Hiroshima, a Maniacal Warning to Moscow
This weekend 75 years ago, the German city of Dresden was razed to the ground by British and American aerial bombardment. At least 25,000 mainly civilians were destroyed in raid after raid by over 1,200 heavy bombers, indiscriminately dropping high explosives and incendiaries. It took seven years just to clear the rubble.
Bayer On The Edge As Jury Awards $265 M To US Peach Farmer Over Illegal Dicamba Drift
A jury on Saturday awarded US$ 250 million in punitive damages to a southeastern Missouri peach farmer who argued that weedkiller dicamba that had drifted onto his orchards from other farms had severely damaged his trees — an award that could bode well for over 140 other farmers suing the chemical’s makers – Bayer (Monsanto) and BASF.
One more reason not to trust the Washington Post: lying about Trump editon
A front page article in the WaPo uses misdirection to try and blame Trump for "changing the narrative". Of course by changing the narrative leftists at the WaPo really means disagreeing with the Democrat's lies but even ignoring that the article has a big problem. It correctly states that the FBI/DOJ believe that the Russians did try and interfere with the 2016 election. But then it goes on to try and make you think that that's what Trump is trying to dispute. The reality is that Trump is disputing what we now know, thanks to the Mueller investigation and the IG report, was a big... more »
Tweets For Today
China reports another drop in number of new coronavirus cases, but another 98 people have died in Hubei province pic.twitter.com/z5QF4THZ4O — TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) February 18, 2020 The director of a leading hospital in Wuhan, designated to solely treat the coronavirus-infected patients, died from disease https://t.co/NmQHbN7r5C pic.twitter.com/1rUtPJUcm3 — Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2020 Airlines suspend China flights due to coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/Kwc1POhmIs pic.twitter.com/zwnubyFbiL — Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2020 Global markets continue to be... more »
"We Don't Get To Choose..."
“We don't get to choose what is true. We only get to choose what we do about it.” - Kami Garcia
Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders Face Risks Experienced By Environmental Human Rights Defenders Around The World
The Indigenous Wet'suwet'en land defenders protecting their territory in northern British Columbia from the construction of the TC Energy Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline are experiencing many of the situations, risks and dynamics that environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) around the world encounter.
‘Reconciliation Cannot Be Achieved At Gunpoint’: B.C. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip On Wet’suwet’en Stand-Off
It's an-all-too familiar story in Canada: Indigenous communities facing down a pipeline, along with heated debates about what constitutes meaningful consultation and consent. At the centre of the latest dispute is a natural gas pipeline passing through northwestern British Columbia. It's a multi-billion dollar project, touted to be the largest private sector investment in Canadian history.
Reimagining Democratic Public Ownership For The Twenty-First Century
A new transatlantic project will explore how new models of public ownership can shape the emerging commanding heights of the economy. As we enter the second decade of the new century, signs of crisis are all around us. Climate change, rising economic inequality, assaults on workers’ rights and wages, unchecked corporate power, financialization, entrenched racism... more »
No Fascist USA! Lessons From A History Of Anti-Klan Organizing
Ever since fascism first crawled out of the ideological sewer, anarchists and autonomists have been there to confront, antagonize and organize against it. You need not dig deep into past history to find evidence of this. After the mayhem of Charlottesville, Cornell West, reported to Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!
Coronavirus: Media And Politicians Take Anti-China Fear Mongering To New Levels
Despite praise from the World Health Organization for its handling of the coronavirus, China has been derided by Western media and politicians alike over nearly every aspect of its response. Starting in Wuhan in December, the coronavirus outbreak has spread across China, infecting around 64,000 people and worrying the rest of the world. Fueling the panic, media have been printing alarmist scare stories and politicians peddling false information.
The 2 track law system: Obama asking DOJ to prosecute someone at Soro's behest
According to famous leftists lawyer Alan Dershowitz Obama asked the FBI to investigate someone because billionaire nazi sympathizer and hard core leftists George Soros asked him to. We have to take this with a grain of salt since Dershowitz hasn't revealed any evidence yet because a law suit hasn't yet been filed but historically Dershowitz has been honest even if his policies haven't been ones that conservatives like. Additionally Dershowitz has said that this is nothing new; that Presidents regularly do this. He points out that when JFK was President the White House exercised a l... more »
Father Arrested for Drugs, Dying In Prison As State Denies Him Cancer Treatment
[image: prison]A father and husband was arrested for drugs and now he is dying in prison as the state denies him life saving treatment for his cancer.
Picture Of The Day
Statues with face masks on are seen amid snow in Wuhan, China, February 15. China Daily via REUTERS *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Inside Wuhan, epicenter of China's coronavirus outbreak* (Reuters).
I can't explain it
The French (historically) loved to put knives on revolvers. This is the Lefaucheux-type hybrid revolver, manufactured in France or Belgium c.~1860′s - no serial number. Simply can't explain why you'd want to mount what is essentially a pocket knife under a revolver in that period. 7mm pinfire six-round cylinder, double action with a 7.5cm folding blade attachment, ivory grip. And true to its nation of origin, the weapon has a great deal of style. During the same time period, the Baby LeMat was being produced by the Confederate States of America Navy - roughly the same size as... more »
Buying the law: Bloomberg uses his money to hurt you
Mike Bloomberg has an army of mercenary lawyers, yes that is redundant, who he uses to hurt you by having them sue people to "protect the environment". The end run around democracy works by Bloomberg paying lawyers who work in the offices of leftists Attorney Generals around the US. Acting with the authority of the AGs they work for but following Bloomberg's orders they're essential a dictatorial way for Bloomberg to buy himself power over we the people. Imagine if you will if someone paid attorneys and embedded them in AG offices with orders to prosecute illegal immigrants. The o... more »
Bloomberg's Corporate Higher Ed Plan
Quotes from The Intercept: Who would be tougher on student loan repayment than Betsy Devos? The plan also goes backward in some places and would also slash the benefits borrowers receive under an income-driven student loan repayment program, capping the amount that can be forgiven after 20 years for people in income-driven repayment plans. Currently, there is no cap. Whose plan would likely devastate enrollment at HBCUs and tens of billions less in financial assistance than Sanders or Biden or Warren? Another plank of the oligarch’s higher education plan commits to tripling direc... more »
The Optimism Of Theism
Atheism, which implies materialism, is the philosophy of pessimism—the atheists believe that one day the sun will turn into a supernova and all the planets in the solar system will be obliterated, with that will vanish all trace of mankind. But theism, which implies spiritualism, is the philosophy of optimism—it gives us the hope that even if the sun is destroyed, by god’s blessings mankind may survive and even if mankind goes out of existence, the memories of our achievements will be somehow preserved, if only in the mind of god.
Unity is not uniformity
I saw this title on a Presbyterian church sign last week. I thought it speaks volumes, especially given that it is a church sign. “Unity is not uniformity.” So true. I am a huge fan of diversity in people, thoughts, … Continue reading →
The Real Doug Ford
During the federal election, Doug Ford kept his head down and his mouth shut. But, if you really want to know what's going on inside Ford's head, Martin Regg Cohn writes that you should pay attention to what he said on his visit to Washington: In the rarefied air of Washington this month, Ford forgot himself. Or more precisely, he allowed himself to be himself. How else to explain his passionate homage to Donald Trump? “I loved listening to the president’s State of the Union address the other night,” Ford gushed to a hushed Canadian American Business Council. “We hope the electio... more »
UN World Health Organization Holds Secret Talks With Tech Giants To Stop Spread of Coronavirus “Misinformation”
Facebook and Twitter already announced that they would remove content deemed to be misinformation regarding the virus, however, what is considered “misinformation” is totally subjective.
US Lawmakers Introduce bill That Would Stop Federal Grants to States That Give Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Immigrants
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to allow unauthorized immigrants to obtain drivers licenses. States that issued licenses to illegal aliens received an estimated $53-million last year that would be impacted by this new legislation.
Locust Swarm may Cause Food Crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia
The UN is calling on the international community to provide $76-million to fund insecticide spraying of the affected areas. The UN also is warning of an ensuing plague that could last several years and would further stimulate migration.
Jeff Bezos Announces $10-Billion “Bezos Earth Fund” to Fight Climate Change, But Keeps His Profit-Making Scheme a Secret
Bezos' project requires central banks to match his $10-billion at a rate of roughly 100 of theirs to his 1 and commit trillions more in a way that forces investors to buy Environmental, Social, and Governance (known as ESG exchange-traded funds). His $10-billion 'donation' could be an excellent 'investment'.
Man killed by flying gas bottle in 'one-in-a-million accident' as storms batter NSW
Just In - 14 hours ago
A severe thunderstorm hammers NSW, causing property damage and power outages, as police investigate the death of a man killed by a flying gas bottle.
'I don't know when it will be my turn': Life under quarantine on the Diamond Princess
Just In - 14 hours ago
As hundreds of Australians prepare to be evacuated to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Darwin, here's a look back at what the passengers on board the ship faced.
Bloomberg qualifies for Democratic presidential debate for first time
Just In - 14 hours ago
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg qualifies for this week's Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, putting him on the same stage as his rivals for the first time.
“NATO Go Home!”
President Trump will spend the last year of his first term in office bringing the Boys home. All U.S. troops stationed in the broader Middle East and Africa are expected to withdraw. However, this withdrawal of troops will in no way mean the end of US governance in these regions […]
Logika dla początkujących - czyli jak ustalić prawdę na podstawie wielu kłamstw.
Jeśli w jakiejś sprawie dostrzegamy wiele różnych kłamstw - to możliwe jest ustalenie prawdy poprzez odnalezienie wspólnego motywu powstania tych kłamstw. Na przykład - oszuści z medycyny twierdzą, że w cytrynie jest witamina C a my wiemy, że witamina C to kwas askorbinowy i w cytrynie nie ma go ani miligrama - to zadajemy pytanie: dlaczego medycyna chce, żebyśmy jedli kwas cytrynowy? W jabłkach jest kwas jabłkowy - askorbinowego brak, askorbinowy jest jedynie w pomarańczach i mandarynkach. Podobnie z kapustą kiszoną, ogórkami kiszonymi i kiszonymi burakami - nie ma w nich ani mili... more »
Plastic Watch: Congress Considers Bill to Impose Extended Producer Responsibility, AKA ‘You Break It, You Buy It’
Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act would extend producer responsibility for those who package in plastic.
A Universal Vaccine - Exploiting Viral Weaknesses
With the world's fixation on the current version of the coronavirus/COVID-19 which has infected over 50,000 people (lab confirmed cases), a recent announcement by a team of American and German researchers working at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is particularly pertinent. Here is the press release: The research was also published in the peer-reviewed Cell Reports as shown here: One of the authors, Dr. Kate L. Jeffrey made the following comment: "*The goal is to understand how our immune system works to we can create treatments that work against a range of viruses, rather ... more »
Flooding Exposes Folly Of UK’s Misbalanced Climate Policies
By Paul Homewood There’s obviously a lot going on regarding the floods, so this is a quick round up. First, a press release from GWPF, pointing out that the tens of billions current wasted on renewable subsidies could have been employed on flood defences: Since 2002 the UK has been spending increasingly large sums […]
THE LIST OF FETAL PRODUCTS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN IS SHOCKING
Every time you purchase mass-produced processed “food” from the likes of Kraft, Pepsi Co, or Nestle, you’re feeding your family, not only genetically engineered poisons and chemical additives, but also various flavoring agents, manufactured using... The post THE LIST OF FETAL PRODUCTS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN IS SHOCKING appeared first on Healing Oracle.
US Federal Judges to Hold Emergency Meeting on Trump Admin Interference in Politically Sensitive Cases
From VOA News: “Federal Judges to Hold Emergency Meeting on Trump Admin. Interference in Politically Sensitive Cases By Kenneth Schwartz … Continue reading →
How To Improve The Quality Of Teaching With Tools Districts Already Have At Hand (And How To Mess It Up)
There is never a shortage of ideas about how to improve the quality of teaching in U.S. classrooms. From the intrusive and convoluted (“Let’s give every student a test and then run the test through a complex mathematical formula and use it to identify the strongest and weakest teachers and then fire the weak ones and replace them with strong ones, somehow”) to the traditional and banal (“Time for a day of professional development sessions that most of you will find boring and useless”), tied to either threats (“We’ll fire you!”) or rewards (“Merit pay!”), school systems and policy m... more »
Choice, Parents, Power, Caveat Emptor, and Stupid
Here's an opening sentence from a recent piece of charter advocacy from the74: *But charter schools and the new, more consumer-oriented public education landscape they represent are here to stay.* Well, no. I'm going to skip past the "here to stay" part, because what caught my attention was the "consumer-oriented pub lic education landscape" bit. Because that's not what choicers have been pushing. What they have pushed, and established to a greater or lesser degree in many cities, is a business-oriented landscape for folks who want to sell an education-flavored product. The rhet... more »
Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. - Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac offer a stark look at the plausible worst-case scenario for a climate breakdown over just the next thirty years. And Zarah Sultana argues that in the UK (as elsewhere), we need to demand transformative politics to respond to our social and environmental crises: The scale of the climate crisis means moderation won’t cut it. The only answers are radical. Socialists across borders will need to link up to campaign for an international Green New Deal. It will tax the super-rich and take on polluting prof... more »
The U.S. Navy Is Looking To Eliminate $40 Billion From Its Budget In The Next 6 Weeks
*Forbes: Valentine’s Day Massacre: U.S. Navy Eliminating $40 Billion In 6 Weeks * The Department of the Navy is preparing to announce a crash program to find “at least $40B in real line-of-accounting savings” over the next six weeks. This lighting-fast cost-cutting initiative, called a “Stem-to-Stern Capability Strategic Review”, will begin on February 18 and end on Tuesday, March 31. The projected $40 billion in cuts will meet a budget savings target in the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2022-2026 “Future Years Defense Program” and support a required June Program Objective Memorandum (POM) s... more »
El régimen de protección de inversiones y sus impactos en Colombia
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 En 2018, Colombia fue el país más demandado ante tribunales de arbitraje privados por parte de corporaciones transnacionales.
UNCITRAL and ISDS reform: Plausible folk theories
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 As observers of the UNCITRAL process, we watch the debates with great interest, writing about the emergence of different camps, giving perspectives on how the process fits within broader geopolitical developments, and offering potential models for moving forward.
Ioukos: la Russie condamnée en appel à payer 50 milliards de dollars aux ex-actionnaires
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 In tribunal néerlandais a condamné en appel la Russie à verser 50 milliards de dollars d'indemnisation aux ex-actionnaires de l'ancien groupe pétrolier Ioukos, aujourd'hui démantelé.
Court reinstates order for Russia to pay $50 bln over Yukos
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 A Dutch appeals court reinstated an international arbitration panel's order that it should pay $50 billion compensation to shareholders in former oil company Yukos.
Donald Trump India visit: Modi govt keen to ink trade deal, offers wider market access for US imports
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 A trade deal, even a small one, with New Delhi comprising greater market access for the U.S. is likely to help Trump further consolidate his position in an election year.
Kenya will be in breach of EAC, AfCFTA rules in proposed trade deal with America
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 Kenya's proposed free trade deal with the US has put it in the crosshairs as critics say the planned bilateral agreement would be a breach of regional and continental trade protocols.
Envoy sees strong potential for UK-PH free trade agreement
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 Visiting United Kingdom Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the Philippines ees strong potential for free trade agreement in the future between the UK and the Philippines.
Canada strives to modernize free trade agreement with Ukraine
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 The Government of Canada launches public consultations on possible modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.
East Africa: UK seeks trade pact with Rwanda, EAC
bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
18-Feb-2020 The United Kingdom is seeking to enter into a trade pact with the East African Community member countries.
Redefining Victory in Democracy’s War on Terror
U.S. service members, bilateral exercise at Hatzor Air Base, Israel, May 2014 (Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden, https://media.defense.gov/2014/May/29/2000845145/-1/-1/0/140522-F-ZL078-454.JPG; Public Domain, https://www.usa.gov/government-works) The U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, recent U.S. operations against Shi’ite militant groups in Iraq, and Israel’s wars against Palestinian and Lebanese terrorist organizations are all examples of a new type of war that Western states are currently fighting. Although this “new war” forms the majority of ongoing armed conflicts, states lack a c... more »
Why Is California's Public Pension Fund Investing In Chinese Companies That Are Blacklisted By The U.S. Government?
*The Hill*: *GOP lawmaker accuses California public pension fund of investing in blacklisted Chinese companies* Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) on Thursday said that he has written a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to voice concerns over the state's public pension fund chief and his connections with China. The Indiana congressman is calling out the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest state pension fund in the U.S., for allegedly investing in numerous select blacklisted Chinese companies that manufacture military products. The California-based ... more »
"Defending My Church When No One Else Will"
*"Defending My Church When No One Else Will"* by Christine Flowers "The accusations of pedophilia in the Catholic church have never faded from the public eye, and while there are moments when other cataclysmic events push the tragedies a little further back from our immediate view, the fact that children were abused by prelates is never far from our consciousness. As a Catholic, I am particularly devastated by the black mark against my church. There are many Catholics who have abandoned the pews with an anger that approximates the searing white flame of a votive candle. There are o... more »
U.S. Democrat Senator Held Secret Meeting In Munich With Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks after the senate voted on a resolution ending U.S. military support for the war in Yemen on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 13, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts *The Federalist:* *Source: Democrat Senator Held Secret Meeting In Munich With Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif* Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and other Democratic senators had a secret meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the Munich Security Conference last week, according to a source briefed by the French delegation to the conference. Murphy’s office ... more »
Virus Claims Life of Hospital Director in Hard-Hit Wuhan
As a mysterious new virus enveloped central China's Wuhan early this year, Liu Zhiming mobilized all the resources of his hospital in the city's Wuchang district to deal with the thousands of sick people arriving daily, threatening to overwhelm the local health care system.
Vandals Cover Plymouth Rock in Red Graffiti
The iconic Plymouth Rock and other sites were covered in red graffiti during a vandalism spree discovered at the site marking the landing of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts 400 years ago.
Russia, Turkey end 2nd round of Idlib Talks- Turkey Stood Down at Saraqueb & Now M5 Highway Open/Aleppo Airport to Follow
*After keeping a watch yesterday on how these talks were progressing it seemed likely they had entered a second day. And, they had. Today the second round of talks ended and there has been no statement. Will there be a third meeting? It's possible.* * Not wishing to engage in speculation you and I will have to wait for concrete information to be available.* * Before we get to the Russia/Turkey talks, a little tidbit iof info is below, doubtful you'll read elsewhere. I'm quite certain this reality explains why the US got it's knickers in a knot over the situation in Idlib. As menti... more »
India Is Saying That They Have Seized A Chinese Ship Going To Pakistan With Components For Ballistic Missiles
*Money Control:* *Pak-bound Chinese ship intercepted in India, contains cargo used to launch missiles* So far, DRDO scientists inspecting the cargo have found that the autoclave in question is used to make the composite lining for solid-fuel ballistic missiles. Indian customs officials have detained a ship bound for Karachi’s Port Qasim for trying to pass on an autoclave as an industrial dryer. The vessel bearing a Hong Kong flag was carrying a machine that is used to launch ballistic missiles. Customs officials received an intelligence tip-off about the ship. Based on the tip-o... more »
MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE RIGHT WILL ATTACK BLOOMBERG FROM THE LEFT
I told you Sunday that if Mike Bloomberg is the Democratic presidential nominee, he'll be attacked from the left by the Trump campaign. You can get a hint of what's coming from the current front page of the Trump-aligned Breitbart: Yes, Breitbart -- the site that used to have a "black crime" story tag... ... is going woke on Bloomberg, favorably quoting a black critic of the Young Men's Initiative, a program Bloomberg championed as mayor of New York. Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg once claimed during a television appearance that an “enormous cohort” of young blac... more »
"COVID-19 Pandemic: The Complacent Are Clueless"
*"COVID-19 Pandemic: The Complacent Are Clueless"* by Charles Hugh-Smith "The eventual price of substituting magical thinking and survivorship bias for actual evidence will be far higher than the complacent realize. Here’s a sampling of complacent assertions being made about the COVID-19 virus as if they were certitudes: • It’s no worse than a bad cold. • It’s less deadly than a normal flu. • You can’t catch it unless you’re in sustained close contact with a carrier. • Carriers are only contagious for 14 days. After that, you’re home free. • A vaccine is just around the corner. • The... more »
We Talk About One U.S.-Backed Coup. Hondurans Talk About Three.
Despite ample evidence of extreme human rights abuses in the immediate aftermath of Zelaya’s removal, the United States decided to support elections widely considered questionable held in November 2009. In the last three weeks, two groups totaling over 4,000 people attempted to flee Honduras. At the same time, Indigenous groups back in Honduras are engaged in fighting a new law they say will increase their displacement and the violence that is aimed against them.
Kansas Man Facing 25 Years For Cannabis That Stopped Chronic Seizures
“No seizure medication helped. In fact, my seizures got progressively worse over time. It was terrible. Terrible. At my lowest I contemplated suicide,” Burgess told KCTV5 News. At one point, he was taking 23 pills per day to combat the seizures with little effect. Fredonia, Kan., authorities were possibly tipped off when Burgess chronicled his marijuana-growing endeavors on Instagram.
Bolivia’s Coup In Practice
Foreign policy, an area very much in the hands of the executive branch, has afforded Bolivia’s de facto president Jeanine Añez, who does not hold a parliamentary majority, an ideal outlet for her radical program. Within days of taking power, the Añez government had cut off relations with Venezuela, expelled its diplomatic staff, recognised instead the self-proclaimed government of Juan Guaidó... more »
Parents Become Activists In The Fight Over South Portland’s Petroleum Tanks
SOUTH PORTLAND—Sometimes, grassroots activism looks obvious, with bold signs and public acts of disobedience. Sometimes, it looks like this: 14 people sitting on the carpeted floor of a sunny room in a home on Cottage Road while young kids color and eat crackers and fruit. So it was on a recent Sunday, as members of Protect South Portland, an environmental group, sought to tap into a new vein of activism: parents.
Chile Where The Real Violence Is Coming From
Since the people’s rebellion began against the Sebastian Piñera Administration and neoliberalism in Chile, he and the pro-Pinochet right-wing have gathered under Chile Vamos, in collaboration with the institutional press, to stigmatize those in active opposition as rebels and subversive. As the saying goes, “the thief behind the judge.” The violence generated in Chile since October 18, 2019... more »
Try This On For Size: Could North Korea Kill an F-35?
*TNI Staff* *Security, * How good is Kim's air defenses? *Key Point:* Can Kim kill stealth? If the Trump Administration chooses to intervene in North Korea someday, the White House may discover that Pyongyang is a more formidable adversary than many might expect. Aside from the reclusive regime’s nuclear weapons, Kim Jong-un’s hermit kingdom boasts air defenses that are more advanced than many might realize. Moreover, Pyongyang has also taken steps to increase its resilience against any aerial onslaught that that United States might launch in the event of war. The so-called D... more »
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