Thursday, October 24, 2013

24 Oct - Blogs I'm Following

English: Stephen Harper, despotic ruler of Can...English: Stephen Harper, despotic ruler of Canada and Borg Centurion, assimilating resistors. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
10:44am MDST

FROM BOTH SIDES NOW: Columnist Collins confronts The Crazy!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 1 hour ago
*THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013* *Part 4—Our own tribe’s lack of smarts:* It’s true! Many conservatives say and believe the darnedest things! To cite the saddest example, many conservatives even say Obama was born in Kenya. You have to be *extremely* gullible to believe that ludicrous claim. But people have always believed the darnedest things, down through the annals of time. For quite a few years, we liberals got to laugh at all the ditto-heads. Finally, after the war in Iraq, we began to emerge from our nap in the woods, where we’d been for a good many years. We liberals began to r... more »

Quick Oversight Hearing Primer

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 1 hour ago
I'm not watching the big House Obamacare oversight hearing this morning, but half my twitter stream is, and we've reached the point in which they're complaining that we're not going to learn anything. Here's why they are actually very useful. Even when they're boring. Time for a quick primer. Congressional oversight hearings are mostly useful because they exist. The actual hearing itself? Not much usually happens. But the threat of being called to account, and then the process of being called to account, should and probably does put pressure on executive branch agencies and departme... more »

MSM Has Yet To Detect Stephen Harper's Slip Up In Question Period On Wednesday ...

leftdog at Buckdog - 1 hour ago
** *".. during Wednesday's question period the Prime Minister let slip a statement that contradicts a point he has emphatically made in the past. * *The issue was whether Nigel Wright "acted alone" on the notorious $90,000 gift, or whether other Conservative Party or government officials were involved.* *The question came from NDP leader Tom Mulcair: "On June 5 and 6, when I asked the Prime Minister whether Ray Novak was involved in the Duffy affair, the Prime Minister said that Nigel Wright acted alone. Was that true?"* *In his answer, Harper appeared to have misunderstood the... more »

Pan-STARRS1 survey: dark energy up to \(w=-1.19\), 2-sigma deviation

*Cosmological constant as an explanation of the accelerated expansion under attack* *Scientific American* chose a dramatic title for a 1-week old astro-ph preprint that the astro/physics blogosphere missed: Leading Dark Energy Theory Incompatible with New Measurement (SciAm) ------------------------------ Cosmological Constraints from Measurements of Type Ia Supernovae discovered during the first 1.5 years of the Pan-STARRS1 Survey (astro-ph arXiv) A "medium deep survey" looked at 146 Type Ia supernovae, found a small deviation, and allowed the experimental cosmologists to claim that... more »

Nicely done Are You Being Served?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 1 hour ago
Are You Being Served was never my favourite sitcom, not very subtle. But the bit from 22:22 to 23:45 is rather good: "What are you afraid of?" "...The unknown" And an inside leg measuring technique that really dates the programme, National Service was that recent in the early 1970s. Sadly with the death of Frank Thornton (Captain Stephen Peacock) on March 16, 2013 at the age of 92, the only member of the original cast still living is Nicholas Smith (Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold).

McDicking Us Over

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 1 hour ago
In the nearly nine years I've been blogging, I've almost never mentioned McDonald's, a corporation that's responsible for more obesity than sugar, polyunsaturated fats and cheese combined. This is because, largely thanks to Morgan Spurlock's *Super Size Me*, I would think that most of us already knew that McDick's represents the very worst in corporations and everything that is wrong with America. They slowly kill us with ersatz, corporately-generated food substitute and had strong-armed the House into passing the Cheeseburger Law that protects their bottom line from tort laws... more »

TOTAL SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
The U.S. Government has turned the Internet into something it was never intended to be: a system for spying on us in our most private moments. Out of control government surveillance is a dangerous form of censorship. Don't be intimidated.

School-wide Parent Boycott of Tests for K-2 Brings Down Test

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 2 hours ago
This is what OPTOUT looks like. From RealNews:

Once Upon a Time: the Story of ONE

Breaking The Silence at Removing The Shackles - 2 hours ago
I really don't have anything to add to Lucas' article from yesterday. He kinda says it all in my opinion. * **"The human said god is great. He knew all was like god. All of it. Every part every bit as a reflection of god that is all and is in all. He knew to be One without loosing his own formed identity that made him human. He came to know the unconditional love to all without any limits as all just was."* We are all on our journey. We are all on paths heading towards the Unity of ONE. Our Paths cross and intersect occasionally with others, but their path is not ours. S... more »

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 2 hours ago
*Saints morning report: Brees gets topped ~Mike Triplett* *House approves bipartisan water bill ~Jordan Blum, New Orleans Advocate*

Black and Veach on the future cost of energy

Charles Barton at The Nuclear Green Revolution - 3 hours ago
I recently called attention to Breakthrough Institute's report, How to Make Nuclear Power Cheap.This report called attention to the potential use of advanced nuclear technology to lower and even dramatically lower nuclear costs. This point has been repeatedly argued in Nuclear Green since 2008. Thus it should not be assumed that nuclear costs will remain constant over the next 35 years. My findings which are based on the Research of Dr. Per Petersen, other nuclear engineers and scientists, ORNL, MIT, and UC Berkley, is that advanced nuclear technology, using liquid salts holds g... more »

DEMOLITION OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN UK

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 3 hours ago
Put your ear to the railroad tracks and hear the train coming..........

Read Stuff, You Should

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 3 hours ago
Happy Birthday to Kevin Kline, 66. Good stuff: 1. Andrew Sprung argues with me about GOP dysfunction and the Constitution. My point: unless you can show that GOP dysfunction is a consequence of the Constitution or that it is particularly harmful because of the system of separated institutions sharing powers, then you're not making a Constitution argument. I don't believe that the Linz argument does the former, and I disagree that it succeeds on the latter. 2. Dan Drezner assesses the Obama Administrations motives on Syria policy. 3. And more Colorado politics and parties from Se... more »

War watch October 24 , 2013 - Bahrain ( huge tear gas tender made ) , Syria ( continued progress made on destroying chemical weapons , state of play in ongoing war , discussion of peace talks ) , Iran ( nuclear talks items of note ) , Libya ( forgotten Libya items of the day)

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 3 hours ago
Bahrain’s enormous tear gas tender exposed amid ongoing unrest Published time: October 24, 2013 09:39 Get short URL [image: A Bahraini protester, wearing a mask, runs away from tear gas and bird shot fired by riot police during clashes following the funeral of Ali Khalil Sabbagh in the village of Bani Jamrah, west of Manama, on October 23, 2013. (AFP Photo / Mohammed al-Shaikh)] A Bahraini protester, wearing a mask, runs away from tear gas and bird shot fired by riot police during clashes following the funeral of Ali Khalil Sabbagh in the village of Bani Jamrah, west of Manama, on Oct... more »

Overnight news for Europe and Asia - October 24 , 2013... China continues its present mode of tightening with money market rates rising once again , Europe sees disappointing PMIs ( France , Germany and Europe Compositie ) ..... Japan warns wealth effect may be in danger ( stocks not magically going up but food and energy prices are rising )

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 3 hours ago
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-24/futures-ramp-declining-european-pmis-japan-wealth-effect-warning-china-tightening-fe Futures Ramp On Declining European PMIs, Japan "Wealth Effect" Warning, China Tightening Fears [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 10/24/2013 06:55 -0400 - Barclays - Ben Bernanke - British Pound - Central Banks - China - Copper - Credit Suisse - Crude - Deutsche Bank - Eurozone - fixed - France - Germany - Global Economy - Italy - Japan - LTRO - Norges ... more »

Neither Our Best Nor Our Brightest

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 3 hours ago
Two days ago, Mike Duffy took aim at Stephen Harper. Yesterday, Pam Wallin framed the issue: The Government, through Senator Carignan, has truly put the cart before the horse – the sentencing before the trial – and that is why it would be both unfair and troubling if his motion proceeds. If it does, each and every one of you will seriously have to consider whether this is a place of sober second thought, or a place where anyone who enters must blindly follow a political master’s dictates. And yesterday Stephen Harper -- that paragon of accountability -- insisted that he was dema... more »

Josh Romney To Primary Mike Lee?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 3 hours ago
Josh Utah may be the most right-wing state in the country. The nuts in Texas may be more vicious and dangerous but Utah only gave President Obama 25% of its vote last year-- compared to 41% in Texas, 44% in Mississippi, 46% in Georgia and even 33% in the 4th Reich Idaho. The *least* red district in the state, UT-04 (home of hopelessly conservative Blue Dog Jim Matheson) has a PVI of R+16. Matheson was one of only two Democrats-- the other being the equally execrable Mike McIntyre (NC)-- to have joined the Republicans in shutting down the government. But the federal government is the ... more »

The U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make

plthomasedd at @ THE CHALK FACE - 3 hours ago
The U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make. via The U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make.

Senate scandal : questions and more questions

Alison at Creekside - 3 hours ago
According to Duffy, the PMO blackmailed him into taking a bribe to save his own skin and that of the Cons from the wrath of their base. Questions ... It seems no amount of $90K carrots or Senate expulsion sticks were spared to shut down that Duffy Deloitte senate audit. Where was it going that was ultimately worth the risk of what's coming out now- the PMO conferring an illegal under-the-table bribe on a sitting senator and then trying to cover it up? When CBC applied for access to docs and emails re the Wright/Duffy payoff, there were apparently none to be had. None. Yet Duffy s... more »

NRA Lies Exposed

Len Hart at The Existentialist Cowboy - 4 hours ago
*by Len Hart, The Existentialist Cowboy* The NRA wants you to believe that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives them an unqualified, blank check right to 'keep and bear' arms as they choose. That's not so! The Second Amendment --from which the right to 'own and bear' arms is derived --is a single sentence'. U. S. v Miller is the only U.S. Supreme Court decision that directly "interprets" the Second Amendment. U.S. v Miller states clearly that the right to keep and bear arms occurs BUT within the context of a "...well-regulated militia." All other Federal decisions an... more »

The Senate Scandal

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 4 hours ago
The senate scandal. Lets break it down in real time. If you were a party hack or failed candidate or a high profile person with what was considered enough juice to change a marginal plantation You got a dream job. That is not to say that every Senator in there own partisan way was not working to make Canada a better place for the people to play. That was the old school. You put in the hacks and paid your debts through a Senate position. Prior to Harper coming to power could the average Canadian name a single Senator. Then Harper and his Republican consultants spotted a huge opportunit... more »

28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear Radiation From Fukushima by Michael Synder

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 4 hours ago
28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear Radiation From Fukushima by Michael Synder Global Research Canada, 23 Ocotber 2013 *1.* Polar bears, seals and walruses along the Alaska coastline are suffering from fur loss and open sores… Wildlife experts are studying whether fur loss and open sores detected in nine polar bears in recent weeks is widespread and related to similar incidents among seals and walruses. The bears were among 33 spotted near Barrow, Alaska, during routine survey work along the Arctic coastline. Tests showed they had *“alopecia, or... more »

Bad Bear's Photos: Longest Walk 4 Beautiful Rockies!

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 4 hours ago
. Photos by Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, copyright. Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz near Monarch Pass, walking west toward Gunnison, Colorado, on Highway 50 today, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. Share the love, with a stay place, food or supplies! They need a stay place in Green River, Utah. From Utah, they walk through Nevada! Thanks

Sol takes it's dance to the next level of Exuberance

Breaking The Silence at Removing The Shackles - 4 hours ago
So, while trying to not sprain my shoulder by patting my self on the back too enthusiastically.... I was right, again, lol. http://removingtheshackles.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-sol-tango-incoming-cmes-and.html In the last 24 hours we've had 4, count them FOUR, M Class solar flares, AND..... 1877 decided to get all complex and broody and blew an M 9.3 flare just after midnight UTC last night. Yesterday I said to watch out for 1877 because I had a feeling she was going to show us some serious dance moves and I was correct. From the time I wrote the article yesterday to midnight 187... more »

Pioneering Ancestors

Len Hart at The Existentialist Cowboy - 5 hours ago
*by Len Hart, The Existentialist Cowboy* Some of my long time FB friends may recall that my Great Uncle Lawson "Loss" Hart was the federal marshall who tracked down, outdrew, shot and killed the outlaw --Bill Dalton of the infamous 'Dalton Gang'. (depicted right) I just found some more interesting stories and information about my Great Grandfather --Timothy James Hart. He fought on the side of the confederacy in the Civil War and later emigrated to Texas. It was in Cooke, County where he was put on trial for killing a man. He was acquitted "...by reason of self-defense." Timothy Ja... more »

Grangemouth

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 5 hours ago
I write about the decadence of the British ruling class and then confirmation makes the headlines shortly thereafter. There is nothing I can add about the specifics, except to say this piece by Robin McAlpine is an excellent rundown of what's been happening at Grangemouth, as well as a condemnation of Britain's flexible labour markets - where flexibility is labour's responsibility and capital's rigidity is sacrosanct - and the appalling London centrism of our media and our politics. I want to make some quick observations. 1) Ineos are the biggest privately-owned company in the UK. ... more »

So you want to move to the United Kingdom…

Brandon Valeriano at Duck of Minerva - 5 hours ago
Its 2013, the U.S. government was recently shut down for almost two weeks. The National Science Foundation will only fund grants if you can help the U.S. build operational transformers or drones that can make targeted killing choices. The movement to replace full time faculty with part time adjuncts has sapped the open jobs on Continue reading

Dry Bones almost nails it again

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 5 hours ago
Actually to be fair, Islamists also murder a lot of Muslims, in fact more Muslims than Christians and Jews. But that's only because Israel protects Jews rather better than Islamists would like. More Dry Bones here.

Jim Flaherty on First Nations Protests

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 5 hours ago
Canada's incompetent finance minister, the incompetent gnome Jim Flaherty, warned that a nation-wide campaign of blockades would negatively impact his delusions about Canada's economic growth. (The story is at "Stun New" who I won't give links to.) Flaherty also warned the First Nations themselves that there aren't different legal regimes in Canada. There's one set of laws and if the First Nations break them, they'll be in BIG trouble. His words would have a lot more weight if his own government wasn't a serial violator of the law. But even if harper wasn't a criminal on many lev... more »

UN's new 26 science advisers are not representative of science

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 6 hours ago
Six days ago, the UN boss Ban Ki-moon announced 26 members of a Scientific Advisory Board for the U.N. that will be hosted by UNESCO: UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board to strengthen connection between science and policy I learned about this news story because Fabiola Gianotti, the former spokeswoman for the ATLAS collaboration at CERN (who led the discovery of the Higgs boson), is one of the 26 folks who were appointed – one of the 3-4 "real top scientists" in the board. Otherwise I must say that the selection underscores the world organization's political and ideolo... more »

Bearing False Witness - The Spectral Evidence of Violation and Rape

Zoe Brain at A.E.Brain - 8 hours ago
Let's take a moment to discern the Spirits.... Now the public schoolchildren are being told by a demonic spirit "You must open up your daughters' privacy to our perversion". And this demonic spirit inside of this boy is now violating, and for all intents and purposes, he's raping - at least visually - these teenage girls. "Spectral evidence" is the only evidence they have, of course. Only they can see the true danger. Everyone else in the town sees a girl using a restroom and engaging in girltalk, as she's done for the past two years.. A girl who happens to be Trans. Oh yes - se... more »

At UN, Pakistan Praises Saudi Arabia for Protecting “Women’s Rights” | FrontPage Magazine

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 8 hours ago
'As the UN Human Rights Council scrutinized Saudi Arabia's domestic rights record this morning… out of 95 countries who took the floor, 82 praised Saudi Arabia. Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based human rights group UN Watch, said the country is poised to win a seat on the Human Rights Council. "A country whose legal system routinely lashes women rape victims rather than punish the perpetrators should not have been praised effusively by members of the UN's top human rights body," said Neuer. "Instead the world should have addressed the Saudi regime's use of cruel, i... more »

The De-Americanization Of The World?  Worse Than Watergate!  (The End . . . Beautiful Friends?)

Again, a judgment with no help for the defrauded homeowners. Justice in America. You can't make the ending of this melodrama up any more tragically. JPMorgan, a Record Penalty But No Relief for Homeowners Reuters "The ongoing criminal investigation underscores how even if this settlement takes some heat off JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, he still has myriad regulatory issues to deal

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Anon at aangirfan - 8 hours ago
*Sir Alex Ferguson and Tony Blair* Sir Alex Ferguson has said: "I think Tony Blair was a fantastic Prime Minister." http://www.dailymail. *Blair and Sir Jimmy Savile* Sir Alex Ferguson says: "Gordon Brown was ... fantastic." http://www.dailymail. *Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United 1986-2013.* * *Sir Alex Ferguson was sacked by St. Mirren football club. An industrial tribunal concluded that Ferguson was "particularly petty" and "immature".[29] It was claimed during the tribunal by St. Mirren chairman, Willie Todd, that Ferguson had "no managerial ability". *Abo... more »

The victim surcharge will be MANDATORY effective tomorrow, Oct. 24/13.

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 9 hours ago
As you may know, the victim surcharge will be: (1) 30% of any fine imposed; or (2) if no fine imposed, $100 for summary conviction offences or $200 for indictable offences. Bill C-37, now the Increasing Offenders' Accountability for Victims Act removes the Judge's discretion to impose the victim surcharge.

My Best Year as a Teacher

Kris Nielsen at @ THE CHALK FACE - 10 hours ago
I began teaching in my first, full-time classroom in 2006, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was right in the thick of various No Child Left Behind changes and shifts, and it was about the time that data became paramount and a new program was being handed down every other week. Or so it seemed. I […]

October 23, 1973

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 10 hours ago
The House was back in -- and that meant resolutions of impeachment are introduced by Members of the House. Judiciary Chair Peter Rodino announced that his committee was beginning preparations for impeachment of the president. The more important message, perhaps, is sent by House Republicans to the White House: unless Nixon surrendered the tapes, they would not be able to protect him. Speaker Albert (who, remember, was currently next in line to the presidency) announces that confirming Gerald Ford would move forward. Al Haig at the White House warned about "a turnover of the governm... more »

Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 10 hours ago
*Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research* AM By Kesha West Updated Wed 23 Oct 2013, 1:56pm AEDT Geoscientists have discovered gold particles in the leaves, twigs and bark of eucalyptus trees. See here for video: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-23/an-gold-found-in-gum-tree-leaves/5039226 Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research Geoscientists in Perth have discovered gold particles in the leaves, twigs and bark of eucalyptus trees, claiming a "eureka" moment which could revolutionise gold mining. CSIRO researchers believe... more »

dirty wars: an important movie, marred by nationalism

laura k at wmtc - 10 hours ago
Last night we watched "Dirty Wars," investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill's documentary film exposing the United States' covert, lethal, extra-governmental operations around the globe. It's an important film. Depending on your level of knowledge of the US, it may be eye-opening, or it may be shocking. If you have not yet seen this film, I urge you to. It's available on US Netflix and from many public library catalogs. (The website has a link to agitate for cinema screenings in your area.) Please note I have called this film "important" and I have urged you all to see it. I have... more »

Gaia Calls for “Essentials Awareness” at this Moment…

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 11 hours ago
* * * * *Gaia Calls for “Essentials Awareness” at this Moment…* by ÉirePort Gaia calls for "essentials awareness" in all matters at this moment. Higher D guidings are primary. Secondaries, tertiaries, are being requested to be shelved, at this moment. Hue-manity activities must now align with Gaia Purpose. All Hue-Beings are "called", as it were, to team with the Whole Gaia Consciousness, and to set aside individual ego desires. There is only one Being at this moment... and that is Gaia. Cosmic influxes are continuing to dissolve (eliminate) separation paradigms, on all levels. ... more »

Portals for hu-manity Unfoldment Have Opened…

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 11 hours ago
* * * * *Portals for hu-manity Unfoldment Have Opened…* by ÉirePort Portals for hu-manity unfoldment have opened and allow such beings to experience full awakening to Higher Self. Establishment of secure growth portals has been restricted, until the current moment. hu-manity whole consciousness levels have risen sufficiently to allow this next step. Fortification of such portals permits large numbers of hu-manity to enter as group, as well as individual, entities. ÉirePort | October 23, 2013 at 05:11 URL: http://wp.me/p2sFUY-py

Political Cartoonists Have Field Day With Harper's Dishonesty Dilemma ..

leftdog at Buckdog - 11 hours ago
*Cartoon by kind permission of Graeme MacKay at mackaycartoons.net* *(Click on image to enlarge) * *Cartoon by Greg Perry - The Tyee* *(Click on image to enlarge) * Cartoon By Theo Moudakis — National Newswatch *(Click on image to enlarge) * Cartoon By Malcolm Mayes — National Newswatch *(Click on image to enlarge) * Cartoon by Michael de Adder - Hill Times *(Click on image to enlarge) *

The Plot to Kill Jimmy Carter

Paul Coker at News Spike - 12 hours ago
"Jimmy Carter is an innocent" Former Vice President Walter Mondale, in conversation with Seymour Hersch, 2009 By Jim Marrs "Toward mid-1979, President Carter was being chastised by critics within the media, as well as by the Republicans, as being wishy-washy on a variety of issues. They said his was a mediocre presidency. The mass media were already focusing on conservative California Gov. Ronald Reagan as the man of the hour. His nomination as GOP presidential candidate for the 1980 election seemed assured. Carter asked for and was granted a national television spot during prim... more »

The Edward Snowden Modified Limited Hangout

Paul Coker at News Spike - 12 hours ago
Webster Tarpley - The Snowden Limited Hangout Psyop from Spike1138 on Vimeo. "Tell us about 9/11, ED...!" Edward Snowden of US Army Special Forces and the CIA tells us there are wiretaps. WARRANTED wiretaps.

Musical Interlude: 2002, “The Dreaming Tree”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
2002, “The Dreaming Tree” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hOphl_fsg

The Poet: Walt Whitman, "Miracles"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
*"Miracles"* "Why, who makes much of a miracle? As to me I know of nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky, Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water, Or stand under trees in the woods, Or talk by day with anyone I love, or sleep in the bed at night with anyone I love, Or sit at the table at dinner with the rest, Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car, Or watch honeybees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon, Or animals feeding in the fields, Or birds, or the ... more »

Gatito sobre las flores de colores

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FOTOFRONTERA - 12 hours ago

Coche color rosa bajo un hermoso cielo azul

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FOTOFRONTERA - 12 hours ago

"Is Life Embedded in the Cosmos?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
"Is Life Embedded in the Cosmos?" by Luke McKinney . "A recent mathematical analysis* says that life as we know it is written into the laws of reality. DNA is built from a set of twenty amino acids - the first ten of those can create simple prebiotic life, and now it seems that those ten are thermodynamically destined to occur wherever they can. For those unfamiliar with thermodynamics, it's the Big Brother of all energy equations and science itself. You can apply quantum mechanics at certain scales, and Newtonian mechanics work at the right speeds, but if Thermodynamics says some... more »

How Will The Texas GOP Keep Wendy Davis Out Of The Governorship? Easy-- By Keeping Women From Voting

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Republicans are so scared of women voters right now, they can't see straight." Especially Texas Republicans. So they're doing all they can to prevent as many women from voting. Lawrence O'Donnell and his guest explain what's going on and why. So did Natalie Smith: The new Texas law requires all voters to provide a photo ID that reflects their current name. If they cannot, voters must provide any of a series of other acceptable forms of identification all of which must match exactly and match the name on their birth certificate. Supporters of these new laws insist that requiring ... more »

"I Am That..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago

Ricos postres con frutas frescas del campo

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FOTOFRONTERA - 12 hours ago

Arreglos florales con rosas rojas hermosas

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FOTOFRONTERA - 12 hours ago

Updates On War In Syria: KSA Feels Let Down By Big Daddy, OPCW Is Happy With Progress

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 12 hours ago
An excerpt from, *"Saudi Prince Turki Expresses 'Disappointment' With US Over Syria"* by Andrew Parasiliti, Al Monitor, October 22, 2013: Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud, chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and former director-general of the Kingdom’s General Intelligence Directorate, said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, ‘There is definitely, from a public opinion point of view in the Kingdom, a high level of disappointment in the US government’s dealings, not just with Palestine, but equally with Syria.” Speaking with *Al-Monitor* after delivering the luncheon k... more »

ISRAEL AND THE COMING WAR WITH IRAN

Further to my last post wondering if Israel might launch a pre-emptive unilateral attack against Iran before the gulf between Israel and the US over Iran’s nuclear program gets to a point of no return, it should be pointed out – as some commentators have – that there is unlikely to be any attack against Iran while the current round of talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 alliance are still underway. Talks are scheduled to restart on 10 November 2013 after a break that allows the parties to consider their next moves. Once the talks are over, however, if the outcome of the talks ... more »

“The 13th Warrior: Prayers Before Final Battle”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
*“The 13th Warrior: Prayers Before Final Battle”* * * Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: “Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness.” “Lo, there do I see my father. Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters, and my brothers. Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. Lo, they d... more »

"No Special Hurry..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
"The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry." - Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell To Arms"

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
"Is this what will become of our Milky Way Galaxy? Perhaps if we collide with the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years, it might. Pictured below is NGC 7252, a jumble of stars created by a huge collision between two large galaxies. The collision will take hundreds of millions of years and so is effectively caught frozen in time in the above image. The resulting pandemonium has been dubbed the Atoms-for-Peace galaxy because of its similarity to a cartoon of a large atom. *Click image for larger size.* The above image was taken recently by the MPG/ESO 2.2 meter telescope in C... more »

"The Opposite Of Courage..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
"The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity." - Rollo May

Musical Interlude: Flash And The Pan, “Hey, St Peter”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
Flash And The Pan, “Hey, St Peter” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17L-QaTq3LA

"Your Own Darkness..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people.” - Carl Jung

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. Thanks for stopping by.

"Our Fate..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
"It seems to me that almost all our sadnesses are moments of tension, which we feel as paralysis because we no longer hear our astonished emotions living. Because we are alone with the unfamiliar presence that has entered us; because everything we trust and are used to is for a moment taken away from us; because we stand in the midst of a transition where we cannot remain standing. That is why the sadness passes: the new presence inside us, the presence that has been added, has entered our heart, has gone into its innermost chamber and is no longer even there, - is already in our... more »

Chet Raymo, “Reaching For The Stars”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
*“Reaching For The Stars”* by Chet Raymo “Here is a spectacular detail of the Eagle Nebula, a gassy star-forming region of the Milky Way Galaxy, about 7,000 light-years away (click to enlarge). This particular spire of gas and dust was recently featured on APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day). The Eagle lies in the equatorial constellation Serpens. If you went out tonight and looked at this part of the sky - more or less midway between Arcturus and Antares - you might see nothing at all. The brightest star in Serpens is of the third magnitude, perhaps invisible in an urban envi... more »

Kahlil Gibran, “Maxims”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
* * *“Maxims”* by Kahlil Gibran “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood. All that spirits desire, spirits attain. An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind. If the other person injures you, you may forget the injury; but if you injure him you will always remember. Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children. I ... more »

"Your Country..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
“Your country ain't your blood. Remember that.” - Santino “Sonny” Corleone

What Gives Your Life Meaning?

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 14 hours ago
What gives your life meaning? For some people it’s opposing, trolling, insulting. For others it’s productive, creative work—the central purpose of which serves to integrate a life. Under the Surface Episode 2: What Gives Your Life Meaning? from The Undercurrent on Vimeo. So what gives *your* life meaning. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 14 hours ago
The "o"s above are of course these fine, good and true patriots... Ever vigilant, todays' visits, so far anyway... *Click image for larger size.* Don't you feel safer from all the scary terrorists on this blog, Good Citizen? Me too... - CP

Star Trek Continues

Southern Man at Southern Man - 15 hours ago
Now this is just about as cool as can be. *Star Trek Continues* is a fan-supported effort to finish off the last two years of the original five-year mission. They've got a full episode out, and it's pretty darn good. Episode One: *Pilgrim of Eternity* with Michael Forrest returning as the Greek god Apollo. They're clearly amateurs but the attention to detail in the sets, costumes, music, and even lighting is incredible. It's a stunning re-creation of the original series right down to the cheesy engineering tools, nonsensical technobabble, and sixties-era bridge consoles. If you'... more »

"Egotisticalgiraffe" could be a new pet name for Ted "Jesus, I Suck" Cruz, but how about "Whitetamale" and "Moneyrocket"?

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 15 hours ago
*Plus, Richard Cohen walks back his "just plain wrong" (mis)judgments of Edward Snowden* *"Some computer has a strange sense of humor. . . . I'm waiting for ‘Rusticrhubarb.' "* *-- Matthew Aid, author of *The Secret Sentry: The Untold History of the National Security Agency *by Ken* No, it turns out that the *egotistical giraffe* has nothing to do with Senator Scum, any more than *white tamale* is "the name of a vegetarian special at a Tex-Mex joint, or possibly an ethnicity-bending rap artist," as our pal Al Kamen speculates in his Washington Post "In the Loop" item "Odd names for... more »

Let’s have some fun ways of getting around

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 15 hours ago
Andrew Galambos famously declared of traffic jams that they are an example of the collision of capitalism and socialism: capitalism, he observed, being able to produce cars faster than socialism can produce roads. But it’s much worse than that. Capitalism is able to produce abundant forms of getting around. But they produce them faster than socialised planners can permit their use to cut down traffic jams. Roller skates, roller blades, Segways, skateboards, scooters, jet packs, unicycles … they’re all viable forms of transport that “the authorities” either tolerate and regulate (... more »

Did the US tap Germany's Prime Minister Merkel's phone ? And why should we expect the man who allegedly didn't even know Obamacare 's website was a complete clusterfark has the slightest idea of who we are or are not spying on / or whose phones are being tapped ?

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 16 hours ago
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 4:19 PM Germany Accuses US of Spying on Merkel’s Phone; Merkel Phones Obama; Why Should Any Country Trust the US? The Wall Street Journal reports Berlin Says U.S. May Be Spying on Merkel’s Phone BERLIN—Germany said it believed U.S. intelligence may be spying on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, an intrusion that it said would constitute a “grave breach of trust” between the longtime allies. Ms. Merkel called President Barack Obama on Wednesday and made clear that such surveillance among allies would be “fully unacceptable,” her spokesman, Steffen... more »

Arctic speculation . . .

Edstock at The Galloping Beaver - 17 hours ago
STEVIE'S STEALTH SNOWMOBILE: the Harper concept of the future of Arctic conflict. Now as we know, the CONs are not the sharpest tools in the drawer and the acquisition of equipment for promoting our Arctic presence has been a Stevie problem. And with global warming opening the Arctic waters, the future could be very interesting. Annalee Newitz has a post at io9, “The war that comes after

Your own Intercontinental Drone Cheap

Abraham Ben Judea at Abraham says - 17 hours ago
without going into too many details...Here's what we think As if there aren’t enough different Helicopter RC Gadgets available, here comes another that innovates by following your own voice commands for regular use and fun activities. The RC Helicopter is 18 centimenters long and can still operate up to 10 meters away from the voicing individual in both Japanese or English with regular remote control commends include Up, Down, Hold, Stop and to Start Engine. Seems like it would be fun to fly this thing around even though for me it will look a little like people that are t... more »

OutFoxed

Paul Coker at News Spike - 17 hours ago
Oufoxed - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism from Spike1138 on Vimeo. RUPERT MURDOCH'S FOX NEWS RAN 'BLACK OPS' DEPARTMENT, FORMER EXECUTIVE CLAIMS RUPERT MURDOCH’S FOX NEWS TELEVISION CHANNEL HAD A “BLACK OPS” DEPARTMENT THAT MAY HAVE ILLEGALLY HACKED PRIVATE TELEPHONE RECORDS, A FORMER EXECUTIVE FOR THE STATION HAS ALLEGED. Daily Telegraph By Jon Swaine, New York 11:07PM BST 20 Jul 2011 Dan Cooper, who helped launch Fox News as managing editor in 1996, said that a “brain room” carried out “counter intelligence” on the channel’s enemies from its New York headquarters. He was th... more »

Healthy Aging 3: GCOA-EMHN Policy Dialogue in Bangkok

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 17 hours ago
Yesterday morning, the Emerging Markets Health Network (EMHN) and the Global Coalition On Aging (GCOA) jointly sponsored a "Policy Dialogue on Aging", here at Plaza Athenee Bangkok. There were 16 of us from 8 countries -- China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines (me), Canada and USA. The forum was led and moderated by Cathy Windels, the President of The Policy Workshop in New York, who represented GCOA, and Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of IDEAS in Malaysia, which handles the EMHN project. Six participants from five countries: Barun from India, Chris and Cathy from the US, ... more »

The Economy: "A Barbarous Fed..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
*"A Barbarous Fed..."* by Bill Bonner "Dow up 75 points yesterday. Gold up $26 an ounce. Stock investors are still acting as though Janet Yellen will be good for the economy… or at least good for stock prices. Gold investors must think so too. But will she be? Yellen has no business or investment experience. Her entire career has been spent in academia and in public policy institutions. She has never started a business or had a job in the private sector. Does she have any idea how an economy functions? Not on the evidence… In 2005, she described the developing housing bubble ... more »

ASEAN Tax Reform Initiative

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 17 hours ago
Still here in Bangkok, flying back to the Philippines this noon. Two nights ago, some friends at the Americans for Tax Reforms (ATR) met with some Asian participants of the Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia 2013 Conference. It was an exploratory meeting how we can possibly put up a regional think tank focused on tax issues -- how to have low, simple taxes among countries in the region, other Asian economies. I did not take photos that night as other friends did. Will post those photos soon here. Nonetheless, I am excited about this new initiative. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of free m... more »

Tech Stock bubble blowing redux ? With Price Line and Google trading at more than 1000 per share and the Twitter IPO looming for November , haven't we seen this " Tulip Bulb " mania before with Nasdaq stocks ? No bubble - do you want the red or blue pill , Neo ?

Catharsis Ours - 17 hours ago
NASDAQ / Tech stock bubble harbingers ..... http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/18/4853682/ahead-of-twitter-ipo-nyse-will-allow-dry-run-of-trading-systems Ahead of Twitter IPO, NYSE will allow dry run of trading systems to avoid glitches By Chris Welch on October 18, 2013 06:42 pm Email1*COMMENTS* DON'T MISS STORIES *FOLLOW THE VERGE* [image: exchange-NYstock] 0 inShare Ahead of Twitter's IPO, the New York Stock Exchange is taking extra precautions to avoid the glitches Nasdaq suffered when Facebook went public. Facebook's debut on Wall Street in May was hampered by delays and ord... more »

Longest Walk 4 on West 50 into the Rockies!

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 17 hours ago
Thanks to Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, Western Shoshone long walker, for sharing his photos with Censored News! Today, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, the walkers were walking west from Canon City, Colorado, on that beautiful stretch, and into the Rockies. On Monday, Longest Walk 4 honored Saa swanis his wags (Robert Buckskin) who was co-head of security on the 1978 Longest Walk. The walkers

Providing Rich Reading For Time Poor Readers

Martyn Daniels at Brave New World - 18 hours ago
How do we get people reading again or introduce them to reading? We have to accept that reading is different in that it stimulates thinking and imagery that is often served up on a plate with other media. After all, you don’t have to imagine what someone looks like when they are stood as large as life in front of you on a screen. We have seen many charity and government-backed initiatives and ones driven by the industry itself but the bottom line is that at best they are treading water and at worst losing the battle. We may all cheer from the battlements when books are donated and ... more »

Syria Cooperates while the West Twists the Knife

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 18 hours ago
Sigh.. what else can one expect from a criminal cabal? This post finds me both angered and filled with sadness Syria: joint OPCW-UN chemical weapons team reports visits to nearly all declared sites 23 October 2013 – The Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations dealing with Syria’s chemical weapons programme reports that it has now visited 18 of the sites disclosed by Damascus, a spokesperson for the chemical watchdog said today. *“Interaction with UN remains excellent and cooperation from Syrian authorities complete... more »

Offshore oil drilling opponents blow up their case [updated]

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 18 hours ago
POPULAR OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE oil drilling continues in NZ, even as oil continues to be the world’s most abundantly used energy source—including by its opponents, recognising perhaps in their own ongoing use of energy and products derived from oil that fossil fuels actually improve the planet for human life. The importance of oil for energy production can easily be seen in Germany and Japan, where their shutdown of nuclear power stations has made it abundantly clear that so-called “renewable energy” sources just can’t cope with the energy demands of our industrial civilisation. ... more »

Nawaz Sharif, Barack Obama Set To Discuss Illegal Drone Attacks In Pakistan

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 18 hours ago
Obama, Sharif to Meet at White House. Source: VOAvideo. Date Published: October 22, 2013.

Like Stealing Candy From A Baby

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 18 hours ago
As I've said before I'm not a fan of these Mark Dice petition videos. These people are signing the petition because they want to be polite, they don't know how absurd it sounds because they're probably tuning out what Mark is saying throughout the whole time. Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel make these same stupid and cheap videos where they ask people basic questions and then show how stupid they are. Taking advantage of people's lack of intelligence and knowledge to increase ratings and get YouTube views is lame as hell. It's like stealing candy from a baby.

Massive blackout in Syria after rebels blast gas pipeline [RT]

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 19 hours ago
This terrorism against Syria has failed to bring the country down. Washington, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey are backing this terrorism. They believe they are immune from retaliation. They are mistaken, especially Turkey. Massive blackout in Syria after rebels blast gas pipeline. Source: RT.

We spy or we don't spy - that is the question

address-withheld@my.opera.com.invalid (Dr. John v. Kampen) at - 19 hours ago
Link: http://youtu.be/-3CTk1DqooA Link: http://youtu.be/grR7mMK-JtM Is the USA losing "friends"? Pakistan, India, Saudi-Arabia and similar 'partners', but now even *Germany*?! Thanks for nothing, or was the USA overplaying its cards? Is president Obama (US) in or also under control? Does he perhaps overestimate his influence and power? With a financial collapse approaching, which will revolutionize the debt-driven fabric of US society, Mr. Obama needs to be careful these days. The saying: "once a thief always a thief" may have a different meaning amongst "friends". So, if Mr. Obama... more »

Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 19 hours ago
This is a book that I just finished. Paul Mason's *Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere: The new global revolutions*. It was written in the supposedly heady days of 2011, when the "Arab Spring" and "Occupy Wall Street" and the anti-Austerity riots were raging across Europe. Apparently it's based on observations that became his blog. (Or something.) I find it an excellent, but frustrating book. Excellent because it provides a great summary of the structural causes of the present economic crisis. Frustrating because there's all this self-evidently crapola nonsense about how ordinary pe... more »

Trade Unions and Employment Rights

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 19 hours ago
We built this city! But contrary to Starship's audacious claim, it wasn't on rock & roll. You see, Stoke-on-Trent is a city that rests on the proud history of our labour movement. And on October 31st the Labour Party and the trade unions will be coming together in a public event to celebrate that. Organised by Joan Walley, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North it will be an opportunity to mingle with trade union folk and take part in a question and answer session. This features Joan's fellow Stoke-on-Trent MPs, Rob Flello and Tristram Hunt; Chief Executive of local housing association Br... more »

Mmm, tendentious...

Roobin at THROUGH THE SCARY DOOR - 19 hours ago

Catch of the Day

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 19 hours ago
Matt Yglesias demolishes a conservative talking point about Singapore and health care reform. Bottom line, after he reviews what Singapore actually does: None of this sounds to me like anything American conservatives favor. As in, there is no legislation that's been championed by major Republican leaders that would do any of these things and, in general, none of these measures comports with conservative aversion to government spending and regulation. Here's where I think we are. There are several conservative policy wonks who are basically sincere, as far as I can tell, in their vi... more »

Everybody Favors Marijuana Legalization Except Elderly Republicans

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 19 hours ago
How many Democrats are running for Congress advocating the end of prohibition? This week Gallup released a national poll reporting that, for the first time ever, a *majority* (not just the usual plurality) of Americans favos legalizing marijuana. Democrats and Independents favor it by wide margins. Republicans are opposed, which seems to indicate that libertarianism is still not part of the Republican mainstream. Only 35% of Republicans favor legalization. Over 60% of normal Americans favor it-- with a huge growth in pro-pot independents, up 12 points over the last year! 58% of Ameri... more »

STEALTH DESTROYER LAUNCH THIS FRIDAY

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 20 hours ago
*The first ever Zumwalt "stealth" destroyer built at Bath Iron Works* I learned today that the new "stealth" destroyer made here in Bath will be put into the water on this Friday, Oct 25. I am going to put together a vigil on Washington St in front of the BIW administration office from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. All are invited to join me. This warship will be used to sneak up along China's coast because it will supposedly be able to evade radar detection. There can be no doubt that its primary mission is not defense, but instead is a key tool in the Pentagon's first-strike planning. The *A... more »

PTSD IS REALLY POST TRAUMATIC HEART DISORDER ~ ONLY LOVE HEALS

Allen L Roland, Ph.D at Allen L Roland's Weblog - 20 hours ago
** ** *It is obvious that the symptoms of PTSD are very similar to the symptoms of people being seemingly separated from love whereas deep psychic pain as well as feelings of guilt and unworthiness override the ability to give and receive love ~ thus supporting a heart centered approach to recovery: Allen L Roland, PhD.* In March 2005, PBS aired *A SOLDIERS HEART* where a physician on that show reported that every soldier in Iraq is forever emotionally changed after serving in combat. This can actually become a hardening of the heart whereas the soldier eventually becom... more »

BITS AND PIECES

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 20 hours ago
- Word comes today from Jeju Island where a dedicated Catholic activist supporter of the village struggle against the Navy base was hit by a big construction truck and carried to an emergency room of a hospital. No word yet on extent of injuries. It is just a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed the way the police and naval authorities are ramping up construction and repression of the people. Boycott Samsung - the lead construction contractor for the Navy base. - I met for lunch today with Nicholson Baker and Tom Jackson . N... more »

Greece, and Italy have no economic balls

Abraham Ben Judea at Abraham says - 20 hours ago
What Iceland Teaches Us: “Let Banks Fail” Agence France-Presse notes: Three years after Iceland’s banks collapsed and the country teetered on the brink, its economy is recovering, proof that governments should let failing lenders go bust and protect taxpayers, analysts say. *** “The lesson that could be learned from Iceland’s way of handling its crisis is that it is important to shield taxpayers and government finances from bearing the cost of a financial crisis to the extent possible,” Islandsbanki analyst Jon Bjarki Bentsson told AFP. “Even if our way of dealing with the crisis wa... more »

As heard on Fox: Do you understand the nature of that alleged health care “exemption?”

bob somerby at the daily howler - 20 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013* *Glenn Kessler explains in the Post:* Conservative voters constantly hear misinformation on Fox. With that in mind, we learned something about Obamacare from reading Glenn Kessler this Sunday. Kessler runs the Washington Post’s Fact Checker site. Each Sunday, one of his reports is printed in the hard-copy Post, where it’s given a fairly high profile. This Sunday, we learned something about the health care law from reading Kessler’s featured report. In the piece which appeared in the Post, Kessler tackled a claim we constantly hear on Fox. Right at t... more »

Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 proves that light degrades to MICROWAVES, proves that space isn't FLAT.

Mike Philbin at PROGNOSIS II - 21 hours ago
Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 has a red shift value of 7.5, the largest ever recorded. Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 is VERY FAR AWAY, and that's all it means. In fact, it means the LIGHT HAS DEGRADED over 13 billion years ago since it began its journey, the wavelength of its light has lengthened towards the Microwave end of the electromagnetic spectrum. And don't tell me that CMB or Cosmic Microwave Background is your only evidence of a Big Bang ... that makes it a bunkum theory. The reason I'm so cocky and forthright on this issue is BECAUSE I TURNED PHYSICS ON ITS HEAD - my HC Unit theory states that... more »

Mike Duffy's happy dance

LeDaro at LeDaro - 21 hours ago
Now that Senator Duffy has gotten the stuff off of his chest, after speaking in the Senate, he does a happy dance. Is it possible that he will become the John Dean of Watergate? Nixon and buddies wanted to make John Dean the fall guy and he in return screwed them all. Nixon had to resign in disgrace. Is that the fate of Harper now?

CAPRI, CATAMITES AND THE COGNOSCENTI

Anon at aangirfan - 21 hours ago
*Capri* Young boys were an interest for novelist Graham Greene, who made his home on Capri Young boys were an interest for Emperor Tiberius, German industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp and many others who made their homes on Capri. This island of satyrs has a licentious reputation. *Graham Greene of MI6* 'For occasional homosexual adventures', novelist Graham Greene used to take young Italian boys to Villa Rossaio, his home on the island (Source: Graham Greene, The Man Within, by Michael Shelden, publ.Heinemann.) *Graham Greene's The Third Man.* Greene's friend Doctor Elizabeth... more »

Do Congressmen Really Get Away With Taking Bribes? You Bet'cha!

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 21 hours ago
"The real scandal in Washington isn't what's illegal; it's what's *legal*." It's why I'm always writing about "legalistic bribes" and it's how *60 Minutes'* Steve Kroft began his report Sunday on how congressmembers skirt the law to profit from their offices. Watch it above and keep in mind that corruption is very bipartisan in Washington and that "everyone" in DC is aware of it, but no one back in the states know their Member is a crook. The Hoover Institution's Peter Schweitzer: "I think campaign fundraising is increasingly not just about winning elections; it's a lifestyle subs... more »

Winter is coming...

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 22 hours ago

Leave to appeal for costs is not required if the substantive disposition is different from that of the decision under appeal

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 22 hours ago
*Chiaramonte v. Chiaramonte,* 2013 ONCA 641: The husband also asks this court to set aside the costs order of Snowie J. dated February 1, 2013, which ordered costs in favour of the wife on a full indemnity basis in the amount of $90,616.91 for fees and $10,724.89 for disbursements. The wife argues that this court cannot consider the costs order of Snowie J. without leave to appeal. However, the general principle is that, when an appeal is allowed, the order for costs below is set aside and the costs below and the costs of the appeal are awarded to the successful appellant: *St. Jean... more »

Bibliography on Science in Policy (Mainly EU)

noreply@blogger.com (Roger Pielke, Jr.) at Roger Pielke Jr.'s Blog - 22 hours ago
Colleagues at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission put together this very useful bibliography on science in policy making, shared here with their permission for future reference. Enjoy! Future directions for scientific advice in Whitehall, Robert Doubleday and James Wilsdon, April 2013 Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy, Kenneth Prewitt, Thomas A. Schwandt, and Miron L. Straf, Editors; Committee on the Use of Social Science Knowledge in Public Policy; Center for Education; Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Coun... more »

Doctor Who's coming back but what does the trailer mean?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 22 hours ago
First of all why are some of the Doctor Who iterations not in the trailer? No Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy or Paul McGann - I did originally think that Christopher Eccleston was also missing but he's there at 0:37. Or have I missed them?

The Realist Report with John Friend

John Friend at John Friend's Blog - 22 hours ago
On this edition of *The Realist Report*, we'll be joined once again by Brother Ryan. *Brother Ryan* and I will be discussing his views on Christian Anarchism and American nationalism. You can download the mp3 for this program *here*, or visit *The Realist Report* on BlogTalkRadio to subscribe via iTunes and view past programs.

FR. BIX ON HIS JEJU TRIP

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 22 hours ago
Fr. William "Bix" Bichsel, S.J. spent about two weeks on Jeju Island, South Korea recently (late September through early October). It was a transformative experience for the 85 year old Jesuit. In this interview, In this interview, Bix speaks passionately about the struggle by the people of Jeju Island to stop construction of the massive naval base that is unnecessary from a military perspective, and will only serve to increase tensions in the region.

Art-ertainment

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 23 hours ago
When Grayson Perry’s Reith lectures were being trailed I thought we were going to get the lowdown on the slippery subject of evaluating and defining art in the present day. You know, get some answers to questions like “How to tell ‘good‘ art from ‘bad’, and “What *is* art?”. What’s more we were to be getting them from an insider. Someone who is lauded by the establishment, whose work is undoubtedly considered by “them” to be ‘good’ *and* ‘art’. Instead, he pussyfooted around, telling us that the arbiters of ‘value’ or ‘quality’ were gallery owners, collectors and, well, Charles Saa... more »

Because some things are beyond criticism

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 23 hours ago
The Telegraph reports something interesting:* * *BBC 'shelves' Panorama exposé of Comic Relief* The planned broadcast of a Panorama investigation into Comic Relief has reportedly been cancelled after a string of BBC executives ruled themselves out of making decisions about it. Apparently: The documentary is understood to examine how the charity allegedly invested £150 million of its funds for up to eight years, before handing the money to the causes for which it had been raised. Some of the money was allegedly invested in tobacco firms and an arms company. By the end of last ye... more »

M of A - Syria: After CW Removal, Obama May Again Go For Regime Change

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 23 hours ago
*Syria: After CW Removal, Obama May Again Go For Regime Change * *Source: Moon of Alabama* *Date Published: October 23, 2013* The NYT has a long piece on the development of Obama's policies towards Syria. While some on his staff pressed for outright open war on Syria others were going along the "let them kill each other" line. Their idea was and is to let both sides fight each other until no one is left standing. To this purpose the stream of weapons and ammunition to the mercenaries fighting the Syrian government was switched off when the mercenaries are in advantage and switche... more »

'Traditional tribal customs' - hmmm really BBC?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 1 day ago
The BBC report this: 'A 15-year-old Yemeni girl was burned to death by her father for getting in touch with her fiance before their wedding, police say. The 35-year-old man was arrested after the teenager's death in the remote village of Shabaa, in Taiz province. "The father committed this heinous crime on the pretext that his daughter had been keeping in contact with her fiance," a police statement claimed. Local news websites said he had caught the pair chatting on the telephone. Traditional tribal customs in some parts of Yemen prohibit contact between men and women before marri... more »

Mohawk John Kane 'We are not alone'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 1 day ago
. We are not alone By John Kane, Mohawk A few things are clear from the events of the past week. The first is that we are not alone. The Mi’kmaq who are standing against fracking for natural gas in Elsipogtog do so not just with the courage of their own convictions but also with support from places diverse in geography, culture and ethnicity. Social media have made it much easier

Weed vs. Marriage

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 1 day ago
I said over at PP yesterday that I think Democrats have a fight coming over marijuana, thanks to new polling that shows a majority currently favor legalization. I compared the situation to marriage, and I see Joshua Tucker did, too; in many ways it's a natural comparison. I do have one caution about it: I'm a lot less confident that it's a one-direction lasting trend than the marriage trend. This is basically just speculative, but for whatever it's worth... I've always been fairly confident that the case against same-sex marriage would dissolve if and when it was enacted. The argum... more »

The Duck of Minerva is blocked in China

Robert Kelly at Duck of Minerva - 1 day ago
I was just in China for a work thing, when I checked the Duck for something. Turns out the Duck is screened out by the Great Firewall. Even if you go to Google Search Hong Kong, it’s still blocked. Wow. Who knew even nerdy IR theory and pop culture references posed a threat to CCP Continue reading

Known Knowns and Unknown Unknowns Strike Again

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 1 day ago
Whenever public officials want to pass one of the many bucks that keep fluttering toward their desks, they go to the propaganda cabinet and drag out their trusty Word Salad Spinners. Perhaps the most famous example of this defense mechanism was when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld gave his tortured explanation for the debacle in Iraq: *There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know.* And now... more »
Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments: