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Thomas Paine

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

24 Dec - Blogs I'm Following II

11:35pm MST

Report: The Islamic State Has Launched Chemical Attacks On The Iraqi City Of Hit

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 33 minutes ago
*ISIL Launches Chlorine Gas Strikes In Iraq’s Anbar Province -- Press TV* ISIL Takfiri militants have launched chlorine gas strikes on a sub-district in the city of Hit in the troubled western province of al-Anbar, an Iraqi security source says. The ISIL militants attacked the Baghdadi district with mortar shells loaded with chlorine gas, the unnamed sources said on Wednesday. According to the source, the district has come under siege and heavy shelling by the ISIL terrorists. The situation has already left people, mostly children in the area, in dire need of food supplies. *Rea... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
Santa Claus and service members bow their heads in prayer during the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance holiday tree lighting event on Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 18, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Rashene Mincy

Private U.S. Contractors Are Returning To Iraq

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
A U.S. soldier performs a radio check during a patrol in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad (Reuters/Saad Shalash) *As U.S. Troops Return To Iraq, More Private Contractors Follow -- Reuters* (Reuters) - The U.S. government is preparing to boost the number of private contractors in Iraq as part of President Barack Obama's growing effort to beat back Islamic State militants threatening the Baghdad government, a senior U.S. official said. How many contractors will deploy to Iraq - beyond the roughly 1,800 now working there for the U.S. State Department - will depend in part, t... more »

Only In Red America-- My Husband's Not Gay

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 hour ago
Utah, a virtual theocracy inside America, came into focus a bit here at *DWT*... for no particular reason. This evening, let's round out the coverage by noting that the Beehive state is one of the most closeted locales anywhere in the country. But that doesn't mean there aren't gays-- not by a longshot. It just means the public parks, public toilets and parking lots are where gay men wind up having sex-- just like it was in the rest of America in the 1950s and '60s. All those guys hanging around Memory Grove Park (in the shadow of the Temple), Oxbow Park, Jordan Park, Harmony Park... more »

MH17 - Facts are starting to support Greencrow's theory voiced back in July 2014

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 2 hours ago
From WHATREALLYHAPPENED.COM This story suggests that the Ukrainian pilot, Captain Voloshin, shot down MH17 via mis-identification with a real target. So, with the eastern Ukrainians lacking any real air force, what target was Captain Voloshin searching for that would look like a Boeing passenger jet? As it happens, Russian President Vladimir Putin was flying through the same area on that very day, returning home from a six day visit to Cuba and South America. Putin's Presidential jet, not as grand as Air Force One, is based on the Ilyushin 96. The IL-96 is a passenger jet, and is ... more »

U.S. Senate Report: Afghanistan Is At Risk Of Becoming A Narco-State

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
*Senators: Without US Aid, Afghanistan Turns Into Narco-State -- The Hill* Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a bipartisan report Tuesday that aims to fight the Afghanistan drug trade. “The Afghan drug trade funds the Taliban, fuels corruption and creates major public health challenges,” Feinstein said Tuesday. “Afghanistan could become a narco-state without an effective, comprehensive and coordinated counternarcotics strategy, coupled with unprecedented levels of international cooperation. “If we don’t act, Afghanistan’s drug trade could under... more »

Santa drinks reindeer piss!

Kevin Barrett at truthjihad.com blog - 2 hours ago
"Unfortunately, as I write this on Christmas Eve, I know whatever you infidels out there are quaffing is probably a lot nastier than reindeer piss…" Full story: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/12/24/reindeerpiss/

Analysis: U.S. Troops Will Remian In Afghanistan Beyond 2016

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
U.S. Marines prepare to board a plane at the end of operations for U.S. Marines and British combat troops in Helmand, October 26, 2014. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani *Prediction: Obama Will Decide To Keep U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Beyond 2016 -- Michael O'Hanlon, Reuters* In 2015, I predict that President Barack Obama will rethink his plan to have all operational U.S. combat forces out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016. That goal was announced in spring 2014. It fit in the context of Obama’s longstanding goals, laid out in his 2012 reelection campaign, to end both the Iraq and Afghanista... more »

Sunday Classics (holiday edition) preview: For the first time since 2012, we bring back the legendary DWT gala "Nutcracker ('The Whole Deal')"

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
*You'd want to think twice before bidding on this record. The ABC Command label tells you it's one of the inferior later pressings; you want an original gold-label issue. (Note: Unfortunately, last year's preview-opening video clip of the Nutcracker Suite segment of Walt Disney's Fantasia has disappeared -- not entirely surprisingly, I guess. To be honest, I don't like it much anyway.)* *by Ken* As far back as the mind recalls, Sunday Classics has celebrated the holiday musically at last in part with music from Tchaikovsky's ballets, and last year I went whole hog and offered a com... more »

Is Saudi Arabia And The U.S. Colluding To Collapse The Price Of Oil?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
*Did The Saudis And The US Collude In Dropping Oil Prices? -- Andrew Topf, OilPrice.com* The oil price drop that has dominated the headlines in recent weeks has been framed almost exclusively in terms of oil market economics, with most media outlets blaming Saudi Arabia, through its OPEC Trojan horse, for driving down the price, thus causing serious damage to the world's major oil exporters – most notably Russia. While the market explanation is partially true, it is simplistic, and fails to address key geopolitical pressure points in the Middle East. Oilprice.com looked beyond th... more »

Venezuela Is On The Brink Of Economic Collapse And Bankruptcy

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*Sliding Oil Prices Leave Socialist Venezuela On Brink Of Financial Collapse -- Washington Times* President Nicolas Maduro under international pressure for jailing opposition figures The ongoing plunge in global oil prices is pushing Venezuela toward economic collapse just as President Nicolas Maduro — the hand-picked successor to the late socialist Hugo Chavez — faces mounting international criticism for jailing opposition figures after months of street protests. Where Chavez once drew praise from the world’s leftist elite for using the high price of crude oil during the 2000s t... more »

Merry Christmas

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *WNU Editor: *A small confession. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. And even though I am Russian Orthodox (we will be celebrating on January 7, 2015) .... I always make a point of enjoying both dates (Do you blame me?). Blogging will be light for the next few days .... but when I have time and everyone else in my home is off busy doing something else .... I will be parking my butt in front of my computer to take a look at what is happening around the world at that moment .... and to post news stories that deserve our attention. So .... Merry ... more »

Christmas 2014

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 5 hours ago
Dear friends and readers of this blog, Merry Christmas. The holiday season is a good time to relax, step back from our normal busy schedules and have reunion with our families and clans, friends and former schoolmates and officemates, meeting new friends, On my part, my family took a bus/roll on roll off (RORO) trip to several islands of the country and the two girls enjoyed two great beaches so far. Last Sunday, we went to White Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro province. This used to be a very famous destination for those who want white sand beach. But I think people now ha... more »

UK & Ireland Winter 2014/15 Update

rss2009 at Global Cooling & New Ice Age UK - 5 hours ago
*UK & Ireland Winter 2014/15 Update* Real time satellite images from over the past few months have clearly indicated a growing and colossal area of much colder than average surface temperatures in the middle of the Gulf Stream/Atlantic (Please see image below). This is of quite some significance as the Gulf Stream effectively acts as a heat machine for our shores, in particular, during our winter months. An example of this could be a location such as Newfoundland, who is on a similar latitude to the ourselves, but don't inherit the influence of the Gulf Stream. They, therefore, exp... more »

Peace on Earth

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 6 hours ago
*Holiday Salutations to everyone...* *Believe it or not, this is almost always the most difficult post to make, every year. For so many years running now*. *Wanting always to express to everyone here how much I appreciate them stopping by. Reading. Commenting. Leaving links. Offering insights. * *I wish everyone of you all the best. Love. Laughter. Family. Good Health. * *PS: Barring anything earth shattering happening, I am going to take a couple of days off, so no new posts. It is a much needed break, but, I left a bunch of posts to read and I will respond to comments :)* R... more »

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 24, 2014

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com *Did ISIS Shoot Down A Fighter Jet? -- Jamie Dettmer & Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast* The Islamic State, or ISIS, claims it has shot down a Jordanian fighter jet and captured its pilot. Will this undermine the kingdom’s bedrock role as an ally in the war? Islamic militants scored a significant propaganda coup today, displaying the captured pilot of a Jordanian warplane they claimed to have shot down over northern Syria with a shoulder-fired missile. The Jordanian F-16 is the first plane flying with the U.S.-led coalition to be lost in t... more »

Ukraine Situation ( December 18 - 19 , 2014 ) -- Ukraine has claimed it needs 15- 19 billion ( on top of the present 15-17 billion IMF / EU Financial Lifeline ) , US and EU have no intention of funding that additional lifeline and are disgusted with the incompetence and corruption of Kiev and their Oligarchs ...... Russia ( which had been funding Ukraine until Ukraine Revolution ) , possibly being " encouraged " through punitive , ever increasing sanctions / through attacks on oil , currency and economy - to " resume " financial backstop and funding for Western Vassal State Ukraine ?

Catharsis Ours - 7 hours ago
Ukraine ..... *fred walton* ‏@fredwalton216 3m 3 minutes ago Poroshenko Says Ukraine Can’t Scrimp on Army as S&P Rating Cut http:// bloom.bg/1Jzmvmg via @*business* EU interestingly expects Russian aid ? *Bloomberg Business* [image: View this content on business's website] Poroshenko Says Ukraine Can’t Scrimp on Army as S&P Rating Cut By *Bloomberg Business* @business Ukraine’s president, speaking a day after the nation’s junk credit rating was cut further, said next year’s budget mustn’t cut corners on military spending and should account for the possibility of... View on we... more »

World News Briefs -- December 24, 2014 (Evening Edition)

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
*Several Nations Tighten Christmas Security -- Voice of America* Security forces are on high alert in several countries this Christmas because of concern that radical Muslim groups could attack churches or Christian communities. In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, security officials said they had deployed 80,000 police officers and 65,000 military personnel across the country to deter any acts of violence against Christian targets. Indonesian Chief of Police General Sutarman, who uses only one name, said he hoped Christmas and New Year celebrations would be... more »

Christianity Is Being Wiped Out In The Middle East

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
Residents walk near a damaged church June 8 in Qusair, Syria, on their way to inspect their houses and collect their belongings. (CNS/Reuters/Rami Bleibel) *Christianity Forced From Its Middle East Birthplace -- The Australian/The Times* SAMIR’S children still remember their last Christmas in Maaloula, before Islamist militants overran the ancient Syrian Christian town. “They remember the snow,” Samir says, rubbing his thumb over the tiny crucifix tattoo imprinted on his hand, as he waits for handouts at a refugee centre in Beirut. He knows, however, that it is only a matter of t... more »

Report: Islamic State Has Converted Christian Churches Into Torture Chambers

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
A woman walks inside a damaged church in Maaloula. The Christian town was attacked last spring by extremist forces. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki *ISIS Is Turning Christian Churches Into Torture Chambers Where It Forces Believers To Convert To Islam… And Funding Its Terror Mission By Selling Stripped Artifacts To Western Collectors -- Daily Mail* * Christian churches are reportedly being turned into torture chambers * Artifacts worth millions have been stolen and sold to western collectors * Experts say the fanatics goal is to 'wipe out' Christianity Islamic State militants are turning Chri... more »

Crackpot Utopia: The Year in Republican Crazy, Part 6

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
*• And now a word about South Carolina• Pat Robertson and his magic asteroid• I'll have a pack of Twizzlers and an IUD to go, please* *Eight-year-old South Carolinian Olivia McConnell (see No. 1, Exhibit B) thinks she's so-o-o smart just 'cause she's smarter than the whole of her state's GOP. Okay, she's only eight, so she doesn't realize that this isn't all that remarkable a feat.* *Crackpot Utopia:* *A dream world as envisioned by republicans; a manifestation or expression of the deranged, warped alternate universe inhabited by republicans, at least in their minds. See also: Ba... more »

U.S. Military: Jordanian F-16 Fighter Jet Was Not Shot Down By The Islamic State

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Jordan Plane Not Shot Down By Islamic State, Says US -- BBC* *The Jordanian plane that crashed in Syria was not shot down by Islamic State (IS) militants, the US says.* The plane was lost in IS territory on Wednesday morning, and the pilot has been captured. IS militants said that they shot down the plane with a heat-seeking missile. However, the US says "evidence clearly indicates" that this is not true. Jordan is one of four Arab states in a US-led coalition that has launched air strikes on IS targets in Syria. *Read more* .... *More News On U.S. Military Reports That The Jo... more »

Round up: MH-17, Syria,Turkey, Falling oil prices- what's next? The Fed & that bogus Sony hack!!

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 9 hours ago
My trusty lasso and I had rounded a bunch of news stories, over the week, safely corralling them but not getting them into the barn. Consider this post the metaphoric* barn.* *MH17 * * Witness registered truthful by lie detector- May be taken in to protective custody* The investigators used a polygraph during the interview, which showed no evidence of the witness lying, he added. *“The facts were reported by the witness clearly and with no inconsistencies. The investigators lean towards considering them truthful. A polygraph examination confirmed them too,”* the official said. ... more »

Russia Tells France To Deliver The Mistral Warship Or Give Back The Money

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
The two Mistral-class helicopter carriers Sevastopol (L) and Vladivostok are seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in Saint-Nazaire, western France, on Dec. 23, 2014. Stephane Mahe / Reuters *Mistral Delivered Or Money Back, Russia Tells France In Warship Deal Standoff -- ITAR-TASS* *Everything is stipulated in the deal, including terms of delivery, penalty sanctions, procedures of how we can ask for a refund, Russia's deputy defense chief Anatoly Antonov says.* MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russia's deputy defense chief has demanded that France honours its ob... more »

October Surprise 1973 - Silent Coup

Spike EP at News Spike - 9 hours ago
Coming Soon : October Surprise 1973 - Go Quietly... Or Else... from Spike EP on Vimeo. Haig/Nixon: Nixon Doesn't Care About Ellsberg from Spike EP on Vimeo. Haig is *lying* through his teeth. Silent Coup : The Removal of a President from Spike EP on Vimeo. In a controversial new book on the Nixon resignation,* Silent Coup: The Removal of a President*, the authors said that White House aide John Dean was responsible for the cover-up of the 1973 Watergate break-in, that General Alexander Haig was attempting to unseat President Nixon, and that General Haig was also “Deep Throat.” ... more »

Holiday Song

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 9 hours ago

Unconnected incidents

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 9 hours ago
With the assistance of Camille Grand of the French think tank FRS, Justin went to enormous lengths this morning (7:20) to distance the recent ‘unconnected incidents’ in France from the religion of peace. "Three very different events""very unpleasant for French Muslims" Tips: *Don’t* mention: 1) Muslims; 2) Allahu Akbar; 3) Isis flag; 3) ‘Car Jihad’ (i.e.driving cars into people) *Do* mention: 1) Deranged lone wolf; 2) Marine Le Pen. JW: What’s happening in France this Christmas? There are 300m soldiers on the streets along with the usual police of the security forces. It follows ... more »

Things We Shouldn't Have to Do on Christmas

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 9 hours ago
There are a lot of things I should be doing between now and tomorrow tonight. There are a million things we should all be doing between now and tomorrow tonight. We should be wrapping presents, receiving the last of our cards, stuffing stockings, visiting loved ones and these things will be done in my household. But here's a list of the things we *shouldn't* have to do on Xmas Eve. We shouldn't be reading about another young black man named Martin who was shot & killed by a white man right after leaving a convenience store as was Antonio Martin outside Berkeley, MO, five ... more »

Moscow Threatens To End Russia-NATO Ties Over Ukraine

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Ukraine Ascension To NATO Would End Russia-NATO Ties – Moscow -- RT* If Ukraine were accepted as a NATO member, it would end any relations between the alliance and Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry warned. Kiev revoked a long-time non-alliance stance and is seeking NATO membership under the post-coup government. The threat was voiced by Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on Wednesday a day after the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada adopted a law, which allows Ukraine to become part of a military bloc. *Read more *.... *More News On The Deterioration Of Relations Between Russia ... more »

Mensajes Navideños para Compartir

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FOTOFRONTERA - 10 hours ago

Crimea Hit By Ukraine's Decision To Limit Electricity Supplies To The Peninsula

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Crimea Hit By Blackout Amid Mounting Ukraine Electricity Crisis -- Financial Times* Widespread blackouts hit Crimea after Ukraine cut electricity supplies to the Russian-occupied peninsula of 2m people, highlighting a mounting energy crisis in the war-torn country. Power was partially restored by noon on Wednesday following widespread outages earlier in the day, according to officials in Crimea. “After the cut-off, the Ukrainian side explained to us that Crimea supposedly exceeded its supply limits, caused . . . by a plunge in generation,” Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Se... more »

Peace Talks Resume Between Ukraine And Separatists In Minsk

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Ukraine and Separatists Resume Peace Talks -- Voice of America* Representatives of Ukraine and separatist rebels who support Russia resumed fresh peace talks Wednesday, with the Russian government and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also taking part. The goal is a settlement of the crisis dividing the government in Kyiv and the rebels, most of whom are in eastern Ukraine. Negotiators are focusing first on how to solidify a cease-fire that has reduced fighting since September, by gaining agreement on the pullback of troops and heavy weapons, prisoner... more »

Jeb Bush Staking His CorpEd Business Model on "Abject Failure" from Common Core Tests

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 10 hours ago
My favorite part of this Bush clip from 2013 is this unintended candor, where Bush admits the purpose of the Common Core tests is to demonstrate "abject failure": When the NGA and NCSSO came together to approve Common Core, "there was a sense of urgency that our nation is at risk unless we raise expectations significantly higher, assess where you are in a meaningful way, and then recognize that we have abject failure across the board and we'd better do something about it."

A Tribute to Guy Clark

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 11 hours ago
At Amazon.

Holiday Prayer

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 11 hours ago
'Can do whatever I want whenever I want to' prevailing consciousness of the USA mad hatters that we are The corporatists that run this show don't feel like they have to pay any consequences arrogance of power 'we are the dominant ones and we can dictate' The logic of domination and empire is absurd a bad poker player with a bad hand How do we counter this dark empire? What can one person actually do? We each are an interdependent living creature with tremendous beauty and diversity must take greater strides on the path toward resistance to global corporate empire resistance to ar... more »

It Is Official: The Much Feared And Anticipated Bank Worldwide Criminal Bank "Bail Ins" (Outright THEFT) Are Coming!

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 11 hours ago
Yes, it is Christmas time... And while everyone is busy (including myself) in preparing for the big holiday feasts, and going into rampant consumerism mode that will drive themselves into unending debt, there is much going on around the world... One major factor that I have been alerting everyone about for the last few months seems to now be coming to fruition, and its implications will hurt everyone in their pocket books shortly! That is of course the much anticipated criminal banks and their fraud called a "bank bail in". And now according to the following article from Mark Nest... more »

Barbic and ASD Corporate Skinheads Draining Public Funds

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 12 hours ago
Former charter CEO and current ASD superintendent, Chris Barbic, collects a salary that is larger than the superintendent of Shelby County Schools, which has over 100,000 students. Barbic oversees 10,000 students and a staff of 30 at ASD's downtown Memphis location. Barbic collects $116,110,000 from taxpayers each year for the charter chain gangs that are run by Barbic's out-of-state cronies. With the federal grant now gone that has been paying salaries for the 30 skinheads at their central office downtown, that $3,000,000 they have collected each year must now come out of public... more »

Quiz: BBC current affairs presenter anagrams

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 12 hours ago
As it's Christmas Eve, it's time for the return of a much-loved *Is the BBC biased? *tradition. Forget holly, mince pies and *A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. *It's time for the return of the annual *Is the BBC biased?* 'BBC current affairs presenters' anagram quiz. Can *you* work out the name of the BBC current affairs presenter from the following anagrams? Imams tie Lily (5,7) Warty kirks (6,4) Humans, hail I.S.! (6,6) Ritual hash (6,4) A rash unto a gem (5,8) Algebra user sunk (5,10) Hate any remark (6,7) The answers can be found in the comments field below. Merry Christ... more »

Wham! - Last Christmas

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 12 hours ago
I've always had a soft spot for George Michael. *Deal with it*.

What Does It Take To Be "An Embarrassment To The State Of Utah"?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Utah's Mike Lee (R), Jim Matheson (D)-- it doesn't get any worse Far right Utah Republican Mike Lee has been playing Tonto to Ted Cruz's Lone Ranger since the day he managed to get into the Senate. And plenty of Utah Republicans don't appreciate that-- nor the way he did get into the Senate, namely by smearing mainstream conservative 18-year Senate veteran Robert Bennett. The Utah GOP Establishment is actively considering taking on Lee in 2016 with a more mainstream conservative candidate. Many aren't happy seeing Utah's senator as a mere appendage of the ambitious, self-serving Texa... more »

My Gift for you

Sophia Love at AMERICAN KABUKI - 12 hours ago
[image: Picture] Here is a gift for the holiday season. It is a recording of a post created in August of 2013 and my most popular recording on Soundcloud. For this holiday season, it's been re-mastered by my friends at Soundsfiction. Enjoy! If you are on my mailing list, you've received this with the first "Love Note" which was sent on Friday, 12.19.14. If you didn't see it, check your email Spam or Promotions file as several have ended up there. "Sophia's Love Notes" will be sent regularly in 2015, so if you'd like to receive them, join the mailing list here. Details about... more »

India Rocked By Sectarian Killings In Assam State

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Assam Killings Take On Ethnic Hue: Over 70 Killed In Bodo Attacks, 250 Missing * The violence in Assam took on an ethnic hue on Wednesday, a day after armed Bodo rebels gunned down more than 70 Adivasis and injured 15 in orchestrated attacks in different parts of the state. Police officials said the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit) — the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland — carried out the attacks in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts lasting about three hours on Tuesday evening. The militants killed 37 people in Sonitpur, and 27 in Kok... more »

Merry Christmas from American Kabuki!

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 13 hours ago

Sony to Release "The Interview" as Bizarre Tale Continues to Evolve

Donn Marten at Carrying a Flag - 13 hours ago
The ubiquitous and dyspeptic Senator John McCain is the proverbial gift that keeps on giving. Despite being censured by the Republican party leadership in his home state of Arizona for being too liberal the old war horse continues to be trotted out as the GOP’s go-to guy in the mainstream media. McCain, the shameless political con artist who succeeded "Mr. Conservative" himself in the Senate took to the air to wail that the Sony hacking was an “act of war”. McCain - a man who has never met a foreign policy situation that he would not send Americans off to die for – talks tough but... more »

World News Briefs -- December 24, 2014

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*IS Captures Jordanian Pilot After Warplane Crashes In Syria -- BBC* Islamic State (IS) militants have captured the pilot of a Jordanian warplane that crashed in northern Syria, Jordan's military has confirmed. The jihadist group claimed it had shot down the jet with a heat-seeking missile near the city of Raqqa. It published photographs showing the pilot, who has been named as Flight Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh. This is the first US-led coalition aircraft to be lost on IS territory since air strikes began in September. Jordan is one of four Arab states which have bombed ... more »

A Festive Picture Which Says It All

Rufus News From Atlantis at News From Atlantis. - 14 hours ago

A memory of Eddie Greenspan

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 14 hours ago
I remember watching Edward Greenspan QC conducting a cross examination. He was scattered confused and the examination made no sense. And it was so obvious to everyone except the lawyer that the police officer was lying. And then it hit me. Greenspan wasn't scattered or confused. He was brilliant.

Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade From Fighting In Syria To Iraq

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
In April 2013 there were reports of young Iraqis being recruited to fight in Syria. Many were joining a new militia called Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade. They would sign up in Iraq and then travel to Iran for training before being shipped off to Syria. The reason given for the group’s involvement in Syria was to protect the Shiite shrine of Sayid Zainab in the Damascus suburbs, but it was really one of a number of armed groups organized by Iran to defend the government of Bashar al-Assad. It is now doing the same in Iraq defending the Baghdad government. (*Syrian Revolution*) The A... more »

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 24, 2014

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*NORAD Santa tracker 2014: How To Watch Santa's Trip Around The World -- Aol.com* Santa begins his Christmas voyage in just a few hours, and with NORAD's help, you and your family can follow along as he brings toys to girls and boys around the world! On *NoradSanta.org* you can see where on the Earth Santa has visited and where he's headed next. The site also features Christmas games, songs and videos as well as facts about Santa, NORAD and holiday traditions from around the world. NORAD's Santa Tracking technology is also available as an app for your Apple, Android and Windows ... more »

Passing of Edward Greenspan QC

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 14 hours ago
The criminal defence bar lost a true leader last night. Edward Greenspan has passed away. He was a giant.

Only temperatures, not temperature changes, may be dangerous

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 15 hours ago
Gavin Schmidt wrote a RealClimate.ORG blog post about the difference between the temperatures and temperature anomalies – or temperature changes – and which of them is known, predicted, and important. Absolute temperatures and relative anomalies Just to be sure, the temperature anomaly is the difference between the temperature and the "average" temperature recorded for the same place (or region) and the same date or month or season (if applicable). The average is computed (from the data at the same place and the same date[s]) over a period, like 1951-1980 or 1980-1999 or something l... more »

Plants Cure Cancer, Not Chemicals

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Sayer Ji* - Today, the weight of evidence indicates that plants and not chemicals are the solution for reversing the global cancer epidemic... The post Plants Cure Cancer, Not Chemicals appeared first on Waking Times.

Transpicuous News: D with Mel Ve Dec 24 2014

D ... Breaking The Silence at Removing The Shackles - 15 hours ago
This morning I interviewed Mel Ve from Freedom Central & the Conscious Consumer Network about the upheaval that took place for Mel and her husband yesterday. Monday night The media crew for the Conscious Consumer Network got together for an online meeting to go over the technical aspects of broadcasting on CCN. The next morning Mel Ve was detained by the Dutch police and taken to the station for "questioning". In our conversation this morning Mel Ve and I discussed the incident, and the positive aspects of how to deal with the perceived "authorities". http://transpicuousnews.blog... more »

The Economic Argument For Peace On Earth

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 15 hours ago
http://www.victorystore.com/ "Peace On Earth." We repeat the phrase often at this time of year. It's standard boilerplate -- a postive suggestion, but not very likely. However, Paul Krugman wrote this week that there are realistic reasons to support the suggestion. Those reasons have been around for awhile: More than a century has passed since Norman Angell, a British journalist and politician, published “The Great Illusion,” a treatise arguing that the age of conquest was or at least should be over. He didn’t predict an end to wa... more »

Reading Piketty and Raulston Saul

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 15 hours ago
*The Comeback * So, I've been reading John Raulston Saul's *The Comeback*, about the rising political importance of the First Nations of Canada. They are making a comeback in demographics, in culture, in political power. I'd heard good things about this book and I trusted Raulston Saul to summarize things for me, having enjoyed his books *Voltaire's Bastards* and *Reflections of a Siamese Twin*. I've done some research on the First Nations before and I know that it is a deep and vast topic. Many non-Aboriginal authors come to the topic with unintended, but very real prejudices, that... more »

"Twas The Night Before Christmas"... In Occupied Palestine

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 15 hours ago
It is of course Christmas Eve, and I really want to wish everyone a most Merry Christmas... I personally will probably be spending the next few days with relatives and my own family celebrating this time of the year... With everyone being in holiday cheer, I must remind everyone that we must not forget those less fortunate and do our part to help and aid our fellow man... With that in mind, I must also remind everyone of those innocent people who are right now being brutalized and even outright murdered in the occupied West Bank and of course the mess that is the Gaza Strip by the m... more »

The future is bland

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 16 hours ago
hey hey hey Vietnam protest cheer there is nothing close to us so near today We are missig in a big way a protest song everthing is all right just listen to Taylor she is pop right Protest has gone grass roots if may be back in the Guthrie days when a single guitar and voice illuminate the world in a way that changed the day

Jordanian Pilot Captured After Islamic State Militants Shoot Down A U.S. Led Coalition Warplane In Syria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*ISIS Captures Jordanian Fighter Pilot In Syria -- New York Times* BEIRUT, Lebanon — Militants from the Islamic State extremist group have captured a Jordanian fighter pilot, Jordan’s state news service reported on Wednesday after reports that the pilot’s plane was shot down over northern Syria. Shooting down a fighter jet from the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State would be a first for the group. The pilot’s capture is also a coup that could shake the resolve of the Arab countries in the coalition, which began bombing Islamic State sites in Iraq and Syria this ... more »

The Battle For Chak Valley Is How The War Against The Taliban Is Going To Shape Up For The Afghan Military

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
An Afghan air force MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopter flies over Kabul, Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Perry Aston *In A Strategic Valley, A Glimpse Of Afghan Troops’ Future After Most U.S. Forces Leave -- Washington Post* BABA, Afghanistan — Clutching M-16 rifles, the Afghan soldiers nervously stood watch on a sand-colored ridge next to a mud house blown apart by gunfire. A week earlier, their unit had pushed the Taliban from this village. Now, the insurgents were only a mile away, determined to recapture the territory. Every day, the 15 soldiers ha... more »

A Badge Of Courage: "We Have Earned The Hatred Of Entrenched Greed"... But Not For Today's DC Dems

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
Early Monday morning we took a look at an inspiring address FDR made to Congress in January, 1936, after his historic landslide win against the Republican Party, a landslide that decimated the GOP in both Houses of Congress as well, leaving them with just 16 Senate seats and 88 House seats. There was no question in the minds of the voters who was on their side and who was standing with Wall Street. Those were the glory days of the Democratic Partry. It's been all downhill since then due, primarily, to confusion over the degree of support the DC Democrats still offer working famili... more »

Black Gay James Bond

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 16 hours ago
No fucking way I say first of all James Bond must be in some way Scottish are there black Scotts even today? If the world will accept a white actor playing Nelson Mandela I will be okay with a black Bond. A Gay James Bond is not so hurtful However I do not want to watch it. Whats next a black Churchill, a black Patton please people do not mess with history to make a product politically correct or even a finacnial win. Your fucking with peoples minds if you take historical characters and make them black.

The CIA didn't just torture- THEY EXPERIMENTED on HUMANS-

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 16 hours ago
FINALLY! A full week after I refreshed my own and readers memories about the human experimentation being conducted by the CIA, as the main stream media focused 24/7 on *torture*, *THE Nation *has decided to mention the human experimentation- What annoys me is the timing! This article was published on line little more than a week before Christmas, when almost no one is paying attention. The same piece will be in print January 2015, when next to no one will bother to read the article. *The time to get this out was when the news was fresh in the audiences mind.* *Perhaps this is an a... more »

New Year's Eve destruction in France

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 16 hours ago
Over New Year 2012/13 there were 1,193 vehicles torched across France. Over New Year 2013/14 there were 1,067 vehicles torched across France. What do we think for this New Year? Higher or lower? Or have a proportion of the little tinkers moved on from vehicle burning to driving vehicles into innocent shoppers?

Global Treaty Regulating The Arms Trade Enters Into Force

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*Global Treaty Regulating Arms Industry Comes Into Force -- Irish Times* New treaty ‘dawn of a new era’ for arms regulation, says lobby group A global arms trade treaty that aims to regulate the $85 billion (€70 billion) industry and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers and criminals enters into force today. However, the US Senate has not yet ratified the arms trade treaty. Supporters of the treaty welcomed the development, saying it was long overdue. They say the treaty, which the United States signed in 2013, would require arms exporters around the world to meet ... more »

Stealthiness and the F-35, Harper style

Boris at The Galloping Beaver - 17 hours ago
Back here, Dave asked: Why is the coward bearing the title "prime minister" so hell-bent on sole-sourcing the F-35? BECAUSE HE'S MADE A DEAL HE HASN'T TOLD YOU ABOUT. He's hiding something - he always is! Now Bill Sweetman at Aviation Week asks the same after some delicate words regarding the results of the new fighter secretariat's review in the context of the Harper government's handling of

Steve's year in review

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 17 hours ago
Lots of ditto here. So I am only going to go with whats new. But there is no reason not to thank for another great year: Moeman, Allen, Simon and James for taking the Bullshit out of Blogging every day or so. Person of the Year is John Tory Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary thats Canada with one finger left for the collective. These cities are where the boots meet the ground in forging our future. Toronto is the most important and it has been rudderless for four years. John Tory has the CV to do great things. I both wish him well and pray he can do the improbable if not the im... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 17 hours ago
*Ocean acidity is a snark -- but a snark supported by threats* *The Feely-Sabine ocean acidification claim ignores 80 years of real-world data that show NO acidification trend* *The Feely fraud himself* “Ocean acidification” (OA) is receiving growing attention. While someone who doesn’t follow climate change science might think OA is a stomach condition resulting from eating bad seafood, OA is claimed to be a phenomenon that will destroy ocean life—all due to mankind’s use of fossil fuels. It is a foundational theory upon which the global warming/climate change narrative is buil... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 17 hours ago
*How to Reform No Child Left Behind* Lawmakers already are talking about reauthorizing No Child Left Behind — the George W. Bush-era education initiative. “I’d like to have the president’s signature on it before summer,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who will assume chairmanship of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee when Congress convenes in January. But lawmakers should be pursuing bold education reforms, not searching out weak legislative compromises that fail to limit federal overreach. Congressional conservatives should take this o... more »

Chen Wei-ting lets the side down

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 18 hours ago
*A local road in Miaoli.* Chen Wei-ting, the Sunflower movement leader, made a stunning revelation this week (Taipei Times): In an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) published yesterday, Chen, who is running for legislator in the by-election in Miaoli County in February, was asked to discuss his potential risk of falling victim to “attacks on his personal integrity,” to which he responded by making the revelation, saying: “There are things that I have kept to myself for a long time.” “One day, during the summer vacation before my... more »

James Corbett interviews Ellen Brown: Bank Bail in Rules Explained

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 18 hours ago
Interview 986 – Ellen Brown Explains the New G20 Bank Bail-in Rules *Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed* Today attorney, author and researcher Ellen Brown of EllenBrown.com joins us to discuss her article on “The Global Bankers’ Coup: Bail-In and the Shadowy Financial Stability Board.” We talk about the G20 and their rubber-stamping of the FSB’s proposed bail-in rules, what this shadowy body is and how it interlocks with the Bank for International Settlements, and what this means for depositors in the wake of the next banking crisis. *SHOW NOTES:* - *New G20 Rules: ... more »

Be prepared

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 18 hours ago
For the last few days I’ve been (mostly) thinking about Danny Cohen. The BBC’s director of television senses an ominous whiff of antisemitism in the air. The press has shown quite a bit of interest in Cohen’s interview with Yonit Levi of Israel’s Channel 2, and a complaint by a prominent Jewish media figure about rising antisemitism in the UK begs a fair few questions. I can’t decide how to approach this topic for “Is the BBC Biased?” Heavily sarcastic seems somehow wrong; yet tempting. *“As any fule kno, the Jews control the media, therefore a complaint by a prominent Jewish ... more »

G3 or Global Gambling Game - I am not a game player - Free Planet's new mantra

Mike Philbin at Mike Philbin's free planet blog - 19 hours ago
I am not a game player. Say it, say, "I am not a game player," and know what it means to make a stand for your Free Planet. Being a 'game player' means putting your head in the sand and hoping that the evil monster will never trespass into your soft and comfortable dreams. But it's already there. Every day. Haunting and Terrorising you. You're there, right now. You can feel the sand in your ears. You're unable to truly breath. You hate where you are but you think it's your only option. It's what your mommy and your daddy told you was the right and proper thing to do. It's what y... more »

NOSInt on a break

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: Happy Holidays] Wishing you all the joys of the season and happiness throughout the coming year. I'll be back monday, january 5th 2015, Kobus

Crusades vs Jihad in European, Middle East and North African history

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
How many times Muslims invaded Europe vs Christians invading the Middle East Not quite the way that the BBC and other politically correct fools portray this part of history, is it.

‘Stealth’ frigate handed over to Taiwan's Navy

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Tuo Jiang corvette]Taiwan's Navy yesterday took possession of the island’s first self-developed missile-carrying “stealth” corvette. The ship has been described by the Taiwanese media as an aircraft carrier killer and the 500-tonne twin-hull vessel, Tuo Jiang, was built by the Taiwanese shipbuilding company Lung Teh. The handover to the navy took place at Suao, a fishing port in the eastern part of Taiwan, and comes after the mainland has objected to the US sale of four Perry-class frigates to the island. Read more

Raytheon awarded $491 million contract for AMRAAM®

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: AIM-120 AMRAAM]Raytheon Company is being awarded a fixed-price contract $491,478,068 for the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile. The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM® missile and other AMRAAM system items, including the captive air training missile, common munitions bit/reprogramming equipment and non-developmental item airborne instrumentation unit. The contract includes foreign military sales to Korea, Oman, Singapore and Thailand. Read more

USMC receives first F-35C

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: F-35C Lightning II]The US Marine Corps has received its first carrier-based Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II, marking the 36th and final delivery of a Joint Strike Fighter in 2014. Lockheed Martin says the 22 December delivery of aircraft CF-19 meets the 36 aircraft delivery target for 2014, and marks the 109th overall delivery of operational F-35s to the USA and partner operators. The first USMC F-35C out of a planned 80 will be assigned to the US Navy’s VFA-101 “Grim Reapers” squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, based at Eglin AFB. After delivery CF-19 will be used for F-35C pil... more »

A Very Merry Christmas To All Whom Visit My Blog This Holiday Season 2014

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 20 hours ago
*A Very Merry Christmas To All Whom Visit My Blog *

Iraq / Syria Regional War ( December 24 , 2014 ) -ISIS claims to down jet piloted by Jordanian near Raqqa....... Battlefield and political reports for Iraq and Syria .....

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 20 hours ago
Links.... *Pentagon Uses ISIS as Excuse to Hide Abuse Pics* *Anonymous Tip to FBI Fuels Panic Over 'ISIS Threat' to Memphis Bridge* Mass Grave Found Near Baghdad; 228 Killed Across Iraq No Way Out for Iraqis Who Helped US in War Search Is on for Diplomatic Solution to Syria War Syrian Observatory: More Than 1,000 Jihadists Killed in US-Led Syria Strikes Tweets.... The man is allegedly a Jordanian Air Force pilot, Muadh Yusuf. IS claims to have shot his plane down with an anti-aircraft missile. [image: View image on Twitter] السلطان سنجر ✒ @Alsultansinjer2 Follow طيار أردني لم ي... more »

The Hits And Misses On Predictions From The National Intelligence Council

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 20 hours ago
*What The Intelligence Community Thought Would Happen In 2015 - In 2000 -- Kedar Pavgi, Defense One* After a year filled with non-stop national security crises, the question is: Can anyone predict chaos in the future? The answer is, sort of. Every four years, the National Intelligence Council - the arm of the Intelligence Community tasked with developing long-term outlooks - releases its Global Trends report. It’s an unclassified publication that uses open source information gathering techniques to plot out the world 15 to 20 years out. In 2000, the NIC released the Global Trends... more »

Air force preps B3.5bn purchase of new fighter jets

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft]Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi again has offered its M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft to Thailand as the air force looks at aircraft from as many as six countries to replace its ageing fleet of Czech-made L-39 Albatros jets. According to a report in HIS Jane's Defence Weekly, the offer was made following last week's announcement by the air force it would purchase four new fighter planes as part of its Advanced Jet Trainer/Light Attack Aircraft programme. The air force currently operates 36 L-39ZA/ART aircraft... more »

Russia Plans to Deliver New Aircraft to Belarus Air Base: Defense Minister

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
Russia will increase the number of airplanes and helicopters at its base to be opened in Belarus, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Ravkov. “I’m ready to continue our discussion of cooperation on a practical basis today. This is in regard to the S-300 [anti-aircraft missile system], as well as the creation and basing of [our] aviation in Belarus by increasing the number of airplanes and helicopters. This should provide for the security of our common airspace,” Shoigu said. The Russian airbase is to be opened ... more »

Parliamentary panel criticises delays, cost overruns in navy projects

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: INS Vikrant]The price of indigenous aircraft carrier has shot up a whopping six times and will now cost Rs 19,341 crore, a parliamentary panel has said, criticising the "regular delays" and cost overruns in almost all acquisition activities of the navy. The Standing Committee on Defence also said it is "high time" that adequate budgetary provisions are made to the force so that deficiencies are mitigated and the country is capable of taking on two-front challenges. The panel that it is "perturbed" to find a spurt in accidents involving navy vessels in the recent past. In 201... more »

Fire Scout Drone’s First At-Sea Takeoff

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
In video released today (above), the MQ-8C helicopter takes off from the destroyer Jason Dunham with its eyes closed — or rather with its cockpit windows painted over, because there’s nobody inside. Though derived from the widespread Bell 407, the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C is a drone. This month’s tests are the first time the unmanned helicopter has taken off from a Navy ship at sea, and the first time any unmanned helicopter of any kind has taken off from a destroyer. Read more

New destroyer Ji'nan commissioned to East China Sea Fleet

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Ji'nan (Type-052C class) DDG]A simple and grand ceremony marking the commissioning of the guided missile destroyer Ji'nan to the East China Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was held at a naval port in Zhoushan of east China's Zhejiang province on the morning of December 22, 2014. The newly-commissioned guided missile destroyer Ji'nan, together with the guided missile destroyer Changchun and Zhengzhou, are all new-generation guided missile destroyers independently developed by China. The guided missile destroyer Ji'nan (hull number 152), is equipp... more »

Vietnamese ambassador says Russia to remain top arms seller

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang]Vietnam's continued acquisition of Russian weapons will depend on regional developments and Hanoi's financial capacity, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son said in a recent interview with Russian news agency Interfax. The ambassador made the statement when asked about Hanoi's plans to continue buying weapons from Russia following several orders for submarines, frigates and warships. He said Vietnam buys Russian weapons for defensive purposes. Read more

How Do You Define Victory In Today's Wars?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ty-Michael Maes, left, directs his fire team during a live-fire assault exercise with the Saudi marines as part of exercise Red Reef 15 in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 16, 2014. Maes is a team leader assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus *How Do You Successfully End Wars? Academics Seek An Answer -- Katie Nguyen, Reuters* LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - What constitutes a military victory? In... more »

Maritime spats 'stirring undersea arms race'

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Soryu-class SSK]Territorial disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea are fuelling a build-up in submarine fleets that can spark more frequent armed clashes in the already volatile waters, according to a US-based think-tank. "The currency of naval power in the ESCS (East and South China seas) has become the submarine," Wikistrat, a consultancy that relies on "crowdsourced" analysts, said in its latest "simulation report". With disputes in the region unlikely to be resolved soon via diplomacy, China, Japan and Vietnam will keep sending submarines to the East and Sout... more »

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 21 hours ago
*Have a very merry Christmas everyone!* Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A

7 Top Medical Procedures Whose Risks Far Exceed Their Benefit

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
This is actually very useful and should be revisited every decade. We are already seriously skeptical of all these procedures just from the lousy PR that they earn. After all, just how do you get good PR for something that fails to cure or totally resolve? Knowing this they should all be put on a last resort list at least. It is still a surprise that a couple here really do not justify their support. The worst however is chemotherapy which cannot be justified at all and is pure exploitation of patient desperation. Anything else and a radically improved diet is really th... more »

The Christmas Truce of 1914 - Pinhole of Light Among a Nightmare of Madness

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 22 hours ago
*December 24, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - LD) In the end, we have more in common with the furthest flung foreign common man than the closest corporate-fascist that presumes dominion over our lives. During the early 1900's, Europe was locked in the first World War. Millions would perish - tens of thousands in a single day. On one brief occasion, a pinhole of light shined through this utter madness, revealing the truth of this man-made nightmare. The men in the trenches were being driven toward each other, not by some irreconcilable difference they had with one another, but by the greed ... more »

Pentagon: Santa Claus Mission Will Be Successful

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
*Pentagon Details Military Efforts to Ensure Santa Claus Mission is Success -- Washington Free Beacon* Amid concerns of increased threats to the United States during the holidays, Adm. John Kirby recently assured the public that all domains (land, air, cyber, space, sea) have been secured by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and that Santa Claus should make all of his deliveries on time. “Is the Pentagon at all concerned that NORAD’s Santa radar may be in danger of being cyber-attacked or hacked? And are you taking any I.A. (ph) measures to prevent that?” a re... more »

Triangulation and the Pineal Gland

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
I wish to propose a conjecture. The pineal gland is a full member of our visual sensory equipment that is placed deep inside the brain allowing much of the spectrum to be blocked to enhance sensitivity to the blue end of the spectrum. One immediate result is that it provides the brain with a way to establish a standard for the blue lines for both the pineal gland and the eyes themselves. This then allows correction to be applied to the rest of the spectrum as a form of natural triangulation. Another natural result is the capability to then detect blues properly which ap... more »

The 50 Latest Coconut Oil Benefits Backed by Science

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
The last sixty years has seen a huge amount of public manipulation of the health profiles of all oils. this has been entered into by various proponents and has inevitably sowed confusion and unending misinformation if not downright lies. Coconut oil was attacked and has now recovered and this is part of that story line. What is needed is a truly independent body able to provide meaningful guidance to overcome what is now an awful history of food fraud. We really need an ABC schedule to work against and a renewal of trust. In the meantime here is the dope on coconut oil. *The ... more »

Putin Announces Massive Foreign Currency Bailout For Russia's Collapsing Banks

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
Russia is once again going to the wall with its currency. A lot of this is been caused by the sharp drop in oil pricing along with Putin's bout of ill timed adventurism in the Ukraine. The internal economy it far to fragile to allow easy recovery from such shocks and ghere we have two back to back. Take oil out of the economic equation and the top down system is completely unfunded. That risk may seem remote today but that is going to be the big story over the next decade as the public finds itself able to shed monopoly pricing. Putin himself is still okay, but the internal s... more »

Nazi Mice of the Third Reich

Spike EP at News Spike - 22 hours ago
"Urwand said: *"Collaboration: it's not my word or invention. I got it from materials from both sides. It's the word that's regularly used to describe their relationship."* He said the German head of MGM spoke to the German press of the* "satisfying collaboration on both sides".* *"It's collaboration in the sense that Hollywood movie executives and Nazi officials are actually collaborating and the Nazis are having the final say," *said Urwand.* "They didn't want to lose their business. They didn't want to have to go home and come back under different conditions. They also felt Hi... more »

Every theory of quantum gravity is a part of string theory: a partial proof

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 23 hours ago
*A successful test in \(AdS_3\)* The first hep-th paper today is String Universality for Permutation Orbifolds by Alexandre Belin, Christoph A. Keller, and Alexander Maloney who are at Rutgers University, my graduate Alma Mater (I know A.M. from Harvard). Note that Christopher was terrified by the disagreement between the other two authors when it comes to "-re" or "-er" in their first name, so he erased it from his name altogether. ;-) *Serin Hall, Rutgers University, NJ* We sometimes say that string theory is the only consistent theory of quantum gravity. It's the only game in... more »

Torture Wrong. Drone Strikes OK?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Are Drone Strikes More Defensible Than Torture? -- Victor Davis Hanson, NRO* Democrats are hypocritically silent about Obama’s policy of targeted assassinations. There are lots of hypocrisies surrounding the recently released executive summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA’s detention and interrogation program. But they pale in comparison to the current Democratic silence about President Barack Obama’s policy of targeted drone assassinations. Since 2004, drones have killed an estimated 2,400 to 3,888 individuals in Pakistan alone, according to the Burea... more »

Christy Clark To Pay OFF BC`s Debt With Liquor Taxes And Funeral Fees

Grant G at The Straight Goods - 23 hours ago
*Written By Grant G* All through the house the only creature stirring was a drunken old louse, abusing the children and beating his spouse. On dancer and prancer who strip on the stage, where liquor is quicker to incite his rage, come after work and spend your hard earned pay, drink is aplenty, slurp a few more, gulp down some shooters then one for the road, happy hour never turns sour so let off a load. On Yap, On Coleman on Anton too, Christy Clark wants tax revenue from all of you, booze in the barn, golf courses ski hills and flea markets too, bring your children and babies... more »

Facebook: Colonialism 2.0

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 23 hours ago
Putting the entire planet online... then controlling everything they see or read. *December 24, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - The Western media has attempted to portray Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious plan to get every human being online as altruistic at first, but later revealed as simply what could be called "profitable empathy." In reality however, the truth is much more sinister, with Facebook already revealed to be much more than a mere corporation run by Zuckerberg and his "ideas" Facebook is the pinnacle of social engineering, an online operant conditioning chamber - also kn... more »

mr. death

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago
highway of death

Is Facebook Cooperating With The Kremlin To Shut Down Dissent?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny (left) and his brother, Oleg, on a Facebook page calling for a January 15 demonstration near the Kremlin in support of the embattled activist. *Facebook Helps Putin Shut Down Dissidents -- Washington Free Beacon* Social media company kowtows to Russian dictator, kisses up to Chinese president Facebook is facing heightened scrutiny of its conduct in countries with authoritarian regimes amid reports that an events page for Russia’s most prominent dissident was blocked by the company at the insistence of the Russian government. A page or... more »

Why Writing Off Russia Would Be Unwise

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Putin's jingoism suggests détente is impossible but let's wait a few months for things to cool. Photo: Kremlin Picture Office *Russia’s Crisis Is Also A Huge Opportunity -- Steen Jakobsen, Trading Floor * * Russia's failure to reform made crisis inevitable * Ukraine détente imperative for Russian revival * Writing off Russia would be unwise Russia’s years of neglecting to invest and reform pointed to an inevitable crisis. In 2014, that crisis came on two fronts, first in the confrontation over Ukraine from early this year and the resulting sanctions, and then followed by the incred... more »

How This Murder Case Almost Directly Impacted Me .... But In A Way It Did

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Luka Magnotta Guilty Of 1st-Degree Murder In Jun Lin's Slaying -- CBC* Jurors in 10-week trial in Montreal found 32-year-old guilty of killing university student, other charges Luka Magnotta has received an automatic life sentence for first-degree murder, with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He was sentenced to another 19 years for the four other charges he was convicted on. Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer gave Magnotta the maximum sentence on the four lesser charges, to be served concurrently with the first-degree murder sentence. Magnotta closed his eyes a... more »

Who Was Protected In Michael Grimm's Sweet Plea Bargain Deal?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
The Michael Grimm saga has always been special for me-- not because my sister lives on Staten Island or because his congressional district includes a part of the Brooklyn neighborhood I grew up in-- but because, in 2005-06-- when I was looking into the "disappearance" of a $400,000 that GOP serial criminal Tom Kontogiannis paid Duke Cunningham to get Bush to pardon him-- a reader informed me that an otherwise unknown crooked FBI agent who had gone over to the Gambino Crime Family, Michael "Mikey Suits" Grimm, was involved in the "missing" Bush bribe. The media, of course, covered ... more »

Is President Bush To Blame For The Rise of The Islamic State?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*First Known Western Journalist To Embed With ISIS Blames Bush For Group’s Existence -- CBS* WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The first known Western journalist to have embedded with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terror group blames former President George W. Bush for its existence. German journalist Jürgen Todenhöfer, 74, spent ten days with the terror group in Mosul. Speaking with the German website TZ, Todenhöfer said that the U.S. air campaign against ISIS will have little effect on the group. “With every bomb that is dropped and hits a civilian, the number of terrorists increas... more »

Former President George H.W. Bush Taken To Hospital By Ambulance

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Former United States President George H. W. Bush is brought into the auditorium where his son Former United States President George W. Bush speaks about his new book titled ''41: A Portrait of My Father'' at the George Bush Presidential Library Center in College Station, Texas November 11, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Bob Daemmrich/Pool *Former President George HW Bush Hospitalized -- ABC News* Former President George H.W. Bush was taken by ambulance to the Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing a shortness of breath earlier this evening, his spokesman said tonight.... more »

James Cameron

Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
*Cameron - On the Square* *Cameron - On the Level* *Cameron - Upright and True* *Strange Days (1995)* *The Titanic Deception : "There were rumors that the ships had been switched and all sorts of things...." from Spike EP on Vimeo.* *Cameron, James* *THE JAMES CAMERON CONSPIRACY THEORY* *(The Conspiracy Theorists Cut)* Note: this copy of the James Cameron Conspiracy Theory contains never before seen information that wasn't in the previous online version. This HTML version is divided into three 6.5 page sections for easier reading. WARNING: The information contained within the ... more »

U.S. Now Offering A $5 Million Bounty For An Al-Qaeda Terrorist It Had Released From Guantanamo

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
U.S. State Department *Oops! U.S. Offers $5 Mil Reward for Al Qaeda Terrorist it Released From Gitmo -- Judicial Watch* Years after liberating an Al Qaeda operative from the military prison at Guantanamo, the United States government has put him on a global terrorist list and offered a $5 million reward for information on his whereabouts. The unbelievable story comes as President Obama frees more and more terrorists—including four to Afghanistan over the weekend— long held in the military compound at the U.S. Naval base in southeastern Cuba. The president’s goal is to close the pr... more »

american fascism

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago
the terrifying future of america

Has Oil Become The Weapon Of Choice For The U.S. And Saudi Arabia?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*How Oil's Become The World's Most Potent Weapon: Forget Nuclear Arms. The U.S. And Saudis Are Behind An Oil Price Crash That Could Topple Regimes In Russia And Iran -- Daily Mail* * Price of oil has fallen dramatically - down by nearly half in six months * The collapse in price means it is cheaper to fill up your car at the pumps * But has sparked fiscal crisis that threatens to shift global power balance * U.S. and Saudi Arabia are using market slump to wreak havoc on enemies * While Russia - which depends on a bouyant price - is on the edge of crisis * Most pressing issue for Brit... more »

Hypertime

Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
"Hypertime is our name for the vast collective of parallel universes out there, in which you can somewhere find every DC story ever published - but it's also more than that. The standard model of parallel timelines is the branches of a river, right? The main timeline is the main stream while tributaries symbolize the alternate timelines? Well, imagine that sometimes those tributaries feed back IN to the main stream, sometimes for a while, sometimes forever. Other times, they cross OVER for only a MOMENT before going in an altogether NEW direction - and for the most part, no one n... more »

"A Look to the Heavens, With Chet Raymo"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*Click image for larger size.* "These two mighty galaxies are pulling each other apart. Known as " The Mice" because they have such long tails, each spiral galaxy has likely already passed through the other. They will probably collide again and again until they coalesce. The long tails are created by the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy." - http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080224.html *** "The Heaven's Embroidered Cloths" by Chet Raymo "In his "Defense of Poetry," Percy Bysshe Shelley said that one of the sacred tasks of the artist ... more »

"Ideals..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
"Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them, you reach your destiny." - Carl Schurz

Lockerbie - The Flight From Justice by Paul Foot

Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
Lockerbie - The Flight From Justice - Paul Foot - Private Eye Special Report by stax68

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