Speaker Pelosi presented the first Lantos Human Rights Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama this morning in the Capitol Visitor Center. Named for the late Congressman and human rights activist Tom Lantos, the Lantos Human Rights Prize is intended to raise awareness about human rights violations and honor the brave individuals who are committed to fighting for human rights throughout the world. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)On the Good Ship Lollipop
The Democrats are taking their *We Suck Less* 2012 campaign slogan to the
next level:
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told Democratic House members at a
meeting Thursday morning to “embrace the suck” and encouraged enough
members to back the budget deal on the floor to allow passage, according to
an attendee of the meeting.
“We need to get this off the table so we can go forward,” Pelosi told her
members, according to someone inside the closed meeting of the caucus.
Pelosi pushed for including in the budget deal an extension of the
unemployment benefits that are set to expire a... more »
VISIONS OF PISA: Ravitch sells a bogus claim!
*FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013*
*Part 5—The return of the Age of Aquarius:* Liberal response to the new
PISA scores has often been quite hard to fathom.
Most amazing is the acceptance of the new cult of the PISA. This involves
the apparent acceptance of PISA scores as the sole measure of student
achievement.
In response to weak aggregate scores on the PISA, major liberals have
failed to mention the large score gains which have been recorded on the
NAEP, our widely-praised domestic testing program.
We’ve failed to mention American scores on the TIMSS and the PIRLS, the
major internati... more »
#optout recruiting Hall of Fame: And the winner is?
2013 is coming to an end and we (@the chalkface) would like to pay special
tribute to the one individual most responsible for swelling the ranks of
the various opt out groups. For example, when we (6 real radicals) formed
United Opt Out National over 3 years ago we managed to dig up around 2000
[…]
Facebook Really
Never been a part. This paints me as terrorist threat in some quarter, I do
not seem energized to share. Thats not my reason, its just I left high
school and although some of my fondest memories were there, I do not want
to be part of that culture as an adult. High school was the entry into the
Chrysalis of life not the exit. Now if you let Facebook mine
you mercilessly I am sorry for you and me. The world is spinning way to
fast and faces way to many challenges for so much energy to be consumed by
who ate what and who is on a fast.
Human Rights Week Roundup: New Work by (Somewhat) New Scholars
December 10th was UN Human Rights Day, starting off Human Rights Week. In
many regards, 2013 has been a very good year for human rights practices
around the world. In other regards, 2013 has had some abysmal failures
when it comes to human rights on the ground, especially the rights of
sexual minorities. For our
Continue reading
The class of an Australian, in this case the Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke
"Get ready for a broken fucking arm" - What a classy chap.
In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year After
In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year After. via In Memory: Sandy Hook
Elementary, One Year After.
AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit (December 2, 2013)
AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit (December 2,
2013). via AJC Guest Column: Children who are poor need slack, not grit
(December 2, 2013).
US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE VIDEO: The Resurgence Of Al-Qaeda In Iraq
Hearing starts after 2 min mark
Transport Econ 9: On Fare-Contracting Taxi Drivers
The campaign by the government (LTFRB, LTO, MMDA, LGUs, etc.) and some
private citizens against "nangongontrata (fare contracting) or isnabero"
taxi drivers this season is wrong. Airlines, shipping lines, hotels,
resorts, can raise their price during the holiday season, why can't taxi
drivers?
Bus lines' fares are also government regulated, they can not raise their
fares, but buses can adjust by packing in more passengers than usual to
maximize revenues. Taxis cannot do that.
One of my friends not only support "nangongontrata" taxi drivers, he
initiates the contract. If he is in a ... more »
Remembering Sandy Hook: Protecting Guns, Sacrificing (Some) Children
On December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, experienced yet
another mass shooting at a school in the U.S.
While that horror should have stirred the consciousness of us all in this
country—especially in regards to guns and children—we appear mostly to have
forgotten or disregarded that event, except for a few tributes.
I am reposting a blog here as a call not to forget, but more importantly to
act with a renewed consciousness.
*Protecting Guns, Sacrificing (Some) Children **
"In 2008, 2,947 children and teens died from guns in the United States and
2,793 died in 2009... more »
First time in 112 years
Well that's a comfort. Weird weather happens on a century scale. Whats
missing from this story is some indication of why it happened so long ago.
I forgive them if there are no records. The fact is that weird weather is
the planet turning on the windshield wiper when you hit the power window
button. Read Rendezvous with Rama. That Arthur C Clarke was not dumb.
Paul Krugman Cuts Through the BS on Education Spending
Paul Krugman, today's column in the NYT
*"What has been cut? It’s a complex picture, but the most obvious cuts have
been in education, infrastructure, research, and conservation. While the
Recovery Act (the Obama stimulus) was in effect, the federal government
provided significant aid to state and local education. Then the aid went
away, and local governments began letting go of hundreds of thousands of
teachers."*
There's nothing like a good Paul Krugman Friday column to see the glaring
reality and truth. As the chattering class, the corporate education hacks
and the clueless corp... more »
Bananas and Foc and Taiwan
*Part of the old Qing trench network above Keelung city used in the siege
of the French.*
The world of bananas we see today is not the world that existed sixty years
ago. In that world the major export banana was a type called Gros Michel.
It was the principal banana imported into the the US until the early 1960s.
And then came the fungus known as Fusarium Wilt, or Foc, also known as
Panama disease, where it was first reported back in the 1890s. Over the
next half-century Gros Michel was wiped out, with shortages allegedly
inspiring the famous "yes we have no bananas" song, accordi... more »
American Who Disappeared in Iran in 2007 Revealed as CIA Agent
Undated
photo of retired FBI agent Bob Levinson anonymously sent to his family
in April 2011.
The Associated Press' Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, two of the Pulitzer
Prize-winning investigative journalists who revealed the New York Police
Department's rampant profiling and spying on Muslim communities, broke a
new story late Thursday afternoon. Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent
who
If You Think You're Bored Of The Civil War In The Republican Party Stories Now, Just Wait… They've Barely Started
Boehner and the Republican Establishment are finally fighting back
against
the venal forces of far right-wing populism-- i.e., the increasingly
unpopular Tea Party, racists, Koch-brother-brand-Birchers, Hate Talk
Radio
hucksters and the rest of the menagerie. The menagerie served it's
purpose-- ruining Obama's presidency-- and now it's time for the
Republican
Establishment to get serious. As Krugman pointed out in the *NY
Times*yesterday, "there was a brief, modest spurt in spending associated
with the
Obama stimulus-- but it has long since been outweighed and swamped by a
collapse... more »
Read Stuff, You Should
Happy Birthday to Tom Verlaine, 64.
Good stuff:
1. More good points on ACA implementation from Ross Douthat.
2. Josh Huder on the long-term fallout in the Senate. Fair enough -- but
I'd emphasize that what happens in 2015 depends on the 2014 election
results.
3. And Jared Bernstein on the Volcker rule -- but really about policymaking
and personnel.
Stephen Colbert Interviews David Keith on Geoengineering...
PS: See this article for more:
http://chemtrailsplanet.net/2013/12/10/colbert-report-suggests-government-is-secretly-spraying-aerosols/
Seed: The Untold Story Trailer Video
Inspiring documentary unearths the dramatic story of seeds. From creators
of QUEEN OF THE SUN & REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN.
*Seed is not just the source of life. It is the very foundation of our
being. - Vandana Shiva*
*Dear Friends,*
Welcome to our new Kickstarter Campaign. Thank you for your incredible
support to bring this film to life. Kickstarter is all or nothing, meaning
that we will need to meet our pledge goal by December 19th or the funds
will be returned. This is the *FINAL PUSH* to complete*SEED: The Untold
Story*. Together, with your help, we will finish this film in... more »
Untitled
*Report: Hedge fund manager cons La. retirement systems ~Richard Thompson,
New Orleans Advocate*
*La. tax amnesty program brings in $435 million ~WVUE*
*New Orleans nurse doubles as stunt double ~WWLTV *
*Lafayette Named Number 1 Overall City In America ~Lafayette Live, KPEL*
*Lightwire brings artistry to Joy Theater ~Barri Bronston*
*Kermit Ruffins at Vaughan’s: Book chronicles 20 years of Thursday nights
~Alex Rawls*
Can My Employer Trash Me In References? 6 things you need to know about job references
Suzanne Lucas, better known as the Evil HR Lady (she's very nice and not
evil at all), did an interesting article about what employers are saying
about former employees in references. Hint: It's not good.
Lucas says this: "Reference-checking firm Allison & Taylor estimates that
50 percent of their reference checks come back negative or lukewarm." If
you want to chill your blood, read the article for some actual things
employers have said about employees.
In my AOL Jobs column, I answer a reader question about whether or not
employers can trash employees in job references. You can re... more »
Mr. Harper And The Pope
Conservatives are not happy with Pope Francis. He has attacked their *rosetta
stone.* And he's pulling no punches:
“The danger in today’s world," he says, "pervaded as it is by consumerism,
is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the
feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.”
Prominent conservatives claim that Francis doesn't know what he's talking
about. Paul Adams writes:
More than a few conservatives have criticized the Pope for being
economically naive. Perhaps that’s a cue for us to ask some embarrassing
questions abo... more »
Gardasil: If I Had Only Known… by Wendy Stec
Jennifer
Gardasil: If I had only known…
By Wendy Stec, Beaverton Oregon
Sane Vax, 8 December 2013
Sadly, our story of pain, adversity, and medical mysteries did not begin
with the Gardasil vaccine. My 18 year old Autistic daughter Jenni has
struggled with pain and challenges from day one.
As a newborn, she was extremely irritable and diagnosed with colic. As an
infant, she was highly sensitive to noises and continued to suffer with
symptoms of colic. Before her first birthday, Jennifer had already begun
occupational and physical therapy for fine and gross motor delays and l... more »
GARDASIL : « si seulement j’avais su ! par Wendy Stec
[image: Jenni-Gardasil.jpg]Jennifer
*GARDASIL : « si seulement j’avais su !*
Par Wendy Stec, 8 décembre 2013
Malheureusement, notre histoire de souffrances, d’adversité, et de mystères
médicaux n’a pas commencé avec le vaccin Gardasil. Ma fille Jenni (18 ans),
autiste a dû lutter avec la douleur et les problèmes depuis son premier
jour.
A peine née, elle était extrêmement irritable. On a de suite diagnostiqué
des coliques. Elle était très sensible aux bruits et a continué à souffrir
de coliques. Avant son premier anniversaire, Jennifer avait déjà été
soignée en ergothérapie ... more »
An Extremely Loudmouthed Very Minor Minority: Anonymous Racist Net-haters Exposed in Sweden
The last week or so, the big news in my country has been the reporting in
daily tabloid *Expressen* of the result of the independent *Research Group*'s
unmasking of the most active and organized online "net-haters" on various
racist or semi-racist or "nationalist" internet fora – a phenomenon I
discussed from a moral psychological point of view in a former post. The
messages of the haters convey a rich collection of completely unrestrained,
inconsiderate or even mildly civil language, open blatant racism, many
statements about the need for using fire arms as a reaction to current
Sw... more »
Teen avoids jail with affluence defense in deadly drunk-driving case - primed for a career as a banker ?
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/12/12/judge-rules-teensaffluenceisadefenseagainstdui.html
Teen avoids jail with affluence defense in deadly drunk-driving case
by Amel Ahmed @amelscript December 12, 2013 4:09PM ET
Legal experts say ruling is symbolic of larger problems in criminal justice
system
Topics: Law & Justice Texas U.S.
[image: ethan couch]
Ethan Couch, a 16-year-old convicted over the deaths of four people in a
drunk driving accident, arrives at Juvenile Court on Tuesday.WFAA
A Texas teenager who killed four people while driving drunk was sentenced
this week to 10 ye... more »
No more Sci Fi in real war
Yup laser battles are on the battlefield. Just on trucks for now, look for
Predator type personal lasers coming to a war near you. Unfortunately there
is no evidence the art of war is advancing.
Kill them all or find a new plan
After so many centuries of human history can no one in charge figure out
you can not kill your way to victory. If the plan was to keep the war on
terror going they are succeeding.
If I had been GWB and if I had not engineered 911. I would have fuel
air bombed Kandahar Sept 11 at ten AM. Thus saving billions of dollars and
improving the life of millions.
An afterthought. If I am OBL and I just brought down the twin towers would
I have not taken actions that would preclude the opportunity to be taken
out at Tora Bora, just saying.
North Korea reminded us what an undivided left-wing government looks like
Most events in North Korea are sad and the latest ones are no exception.
Recall that the communist regime was founded by Kim 1 (1912-1994), the
eternal president, who was followed by his son Kim 2 (1941-2011). After his
death, his young son Kim 3 (1983-hopefully_soon) took the power and he's
showing us that he is a true heir to the world history's most famous
socialists.
*Kim 3's photograph according to his or its Twitter account.*
Kim 3 just executed his uncle (1946-2013). Well, the uncle was a husband of
Kim 2's younger sister since 1972. They had a daughter (1977-2006) who went... more »
GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara Newell
GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara Newell. via GUEST POST: Continu—what? Sara
Newell.
REVIEW: De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas
REVIEW: De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas. via REVIEW:
De-Testing and De-Grading Schools, Bower and Thomas.
The oldest living Holocaust survivor speaks, and plays the piano
The Lady in Number 6 is one of the most inspirational stories ever told.
109 year old, Alice Herz Sommer, the world's oldest pianist and oldest
holocaust survivor, shares her views on how to live a long happy life. She
discusses the vital importance of music, laughter and having an optimistic
outlook on life. This powerfully inspirational video tells her amazing
story of survival and how she managed to use her time in a Nazi
concentration camp to empower herself and others with music. See the entire
documentary at:
https://twitter.com/AliceTheFilm
Answer Sheet
Here are the answers to the Fun Quiz I posted a few days ago:
1. For 35 years, Bob Barker welcomed those who had "come on down"
to this TV game show.
The Price is Right
2. New Ec10 soap opera starring Luke, Laura, and Francis Edgeworth.
General Equilibrium (or General Equilibrium Hospital)
3. First U.S. car manufacturer to offer seat belts as an option.
Nash
4. Neurosis shared by bus rides and margarine .
Inferiority Complex
5. One-word term for one's first apartment.
Efficiency
6. The result of Atlas's misplacing his celestial sp... more »
I also loved the Amber Chronicles
I am not a big purveyor of fantasy. LOTR and The Earthsea Chronicles along
with Amber are maybe all I have ever read. Highly recommended.
Introducing D.C. Mayoral Candidate Andy Shallal
61 minute interview via the http://rocknewmanshow.net/ Tagged: DC Mayoral
Race
Canada Post
Basically we've got tens of billions to waste on fighter-jets and 3 billion
to simply *lose* on public safety, but Canada Post has to cancel home
delivery to save us money. So says Canada Post management and the
think-tank that CP's prez is connected to.
It's also a good idea to eliminate 8,000 decent jobs and raise user fees
during a recession.
These people are fucking morons.
Avery-Chowdhury criticism of ER-EPR is plain wrong
Steven G. Avery (Brown) and Borun D. Chowdhury (Arizona) have released a
preprint called
No Holography for Eternal AdS Black Holes
which claims to "disprove" the ER-EPR correspondence by Susskind and
Maldacena and the earlier and more vague van Raamsdonk's glue-entanglement
correspondence by "disproving" the 2001 "double CFT" treatment of the
eternal black hole by Maldacena.
The only problem is that Avery and Chowdhury are just plain wrong.
The main idea of their "disproof" is that the Hamiltonian of two CFTs is
the sum of two separated Hamiltonians, without an interaction term... more »
Thai Protests: Why Elections are Unacceptable...
...When mass murder is popular. Beyond mere corruption, Wall Street's
Thaksin Shinawatra and his regime are 3rd world relics that must be left
behind forever.
*December 13, 2013* (Tony Cartalucci) - The Western media portrays the
current political unrest in Thailand as "elite vs. rural poor" struggle
between Thailand's establishment and the political machine of Thaksin
Shinawatra which it claims is "democratically elected" and therefore
"legitimate." It repeatedly reminds readers of how Thaksin's opposition has
failed to win in elections against his "populist policies," popular amo... more »
Syria's War: The Next Phase
"Moderate" myth is dropped as West prepares to leverage terror threat to
end war in their favor.
*December 13, 2013* (Tony Cartalucci) - The alleged fleeing of General
Selim Idriss of the so-called "Free Syrian Army" (FSA), was more symbolic
than anything else. Whether or not he really fled, and whether he is in
Turkey or Qatar is of little consequence. The so-called "moderates" he
commanded were nothing more than a smokescreen, a cheap veneer applied to
the hardcore Wahabist extremists of Al Qaeda's Al Nusra franchise and
similar fronts that have formed the core of foreign-backed ... more »
Starting Friday off right...
*enjoy.*
*Oh Come All Ye Faithful*
Indeed!
by David Osmund
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GAY?
How many people are gay, or bisexual?
Apparently, the typical 'gay' person is married to someone of the opposite
sex.
One recent piece of research, involving over 50,000 people, found that:
* 33% of those polled considered themselves to be exclusively heterosexual.*
67% considered themselves not-exclusively heterosexual.
*67% is No Minority!*
0Exclusively heterosexual1Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally
homosexual2Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual
3Equally heterosexual and homosexual4Predominantly homosexual, but more
than incidentally... more »
Green, Schwarz win the 2014 Milner Prize
As John Preskill correctly predicted, Michael Boris Green and John Henry
Schwarz won the 2014 Fundamental Physics Prize "for opening new
perspectives on quantum gravity and the unification of forces." See The
Guardian.
Congratulations to the well-deserved $3 million to each! The ceremony will
take place on January 27th and will be aired since 9 pm by the Science
Channel. To appease the San Francisco liberals, Green and Schwarz will be presented
as psychics. ;-)
The names Green and Schwarz appear together in 94 TRF blog entries and even
though they were the candidates I know least i... more »
TOO WEE, TOO POOR, TOO STUPID?
*Scots*
Should Scotland be independent?
Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party has brought out a Scottish
independence plan.
*According to David Walker, in The Guardian:*
"The Scottish independence white paper, unveiled by the first minister Alex
Salmond on 26 November 2013, was *'conservative' and 'unambitious'*."
*Did Alex Salmond miss his chance?*
*According to Lynn Henderson, of the Public and Commercial Services Union: *
"A more fundamental failure of the independence blueprint is to not imagine
a Scottish state controlling the fiscal and economic levers required to... more »
Updates On Syria [12.13]: FSA Meme Cannot Survive New Battlefield Realities, Threat Posed By Religious Extremists And Global Jihadists Becomes Top Priority, Former CIA Head Warns Syria Will Break Up
*1. An excerpt from, "Hagel Says America’s Syria Policy in Turmoil" by
Richard Sisk, Military.com, December 12:*
On Wednesday, the Islamic Front's seizure of SNC supply warehouses near the
Turkish border prompted the U.S. and Britian to cut off non-lethal aid to
the SNC and the FSA.
"We continue to support General Idriss and the moderate opposition," Hagel
said. However, he said the current situation is an indicator to "how
complicated and dangerous the situation is."
*Regional reports suggested that the recent setbacks for the FSA and its
parent group, the Supreme Military Counci... more »
Native Americans to Sonic Drive-In: Concrete action needed to eradicate racism
Native
Americans urge Sonic Drive-in to create campaign to educate public
about racism and mascots
By Jacqueline Keeler
Navajo/Yankton Dakota SiouxCensored News
BELTON, Missouri -- December 12, 2013 The Native American community is
still shocked and angered by the racist sign saying, "KC Chiefs" Will
Scalp the Redsk*ns Feed Them Whisky Send - 2 - Reservation put up by an
employee at a
Winnemem Wintu, Fishermen, blast Bay Delta Plan
.
Photo: Tribal leaders, fishermen, family farmers, environmentalists and
elected officials held a press conference on the north steps of the
State Capitol opposing Governor Jerry Brown. Photo by Dan Bacher.
Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Fishermen Blast Bay Delta Conservation Plan
by Dan Bacher
Censored News
The California Natural Resources Agency on Monday, December 9 released
34,000
Gold and silver report December 8 , 2013 - China continues to devour gold and the West continues to send its gold to the East and middle East......GLD ETf continues to be drained ( down to 835 tons ) .... Ed Steer's Gold and Silver Report December 7 , 2013 ( News , data and views on or touching upon the precious metals )
Catharsis Ours - 11 hours ago
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-08/china-october-gold-imports-surge-second-highest-ever
China October Gold Imports Surge To Second Highest Ever
[image: Tyler Durden's picture]
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/08/2013 12:18 -0500
- China
- <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/taxonomy_vtn/term/9237" rel="tag
Presaging A Take Over In India By The Right-Wing BJP, The Supreme Court Reinstates A Sick 1861 Colonial Law Against Gay Sex
I'm not sure if the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has been
officially designated a hate group, but-- despite their claims that their
only interest is preventing same-sex marriage-- their president, Brian
Brown was in Moscow in June testifying in the Duna against gay adoption in
"countries that allow gay people to marry." Hate groups like NOM have been
working in other countries to stir up hatred against the LGBT community,
hatred that has often led to violence. Same with the crazy right-wing World
Congress of Families in Illionois, which has been promoting international ... more »
(Sen. Warren Blows Bloomberg Frauds Away!) The Latest Salvo in the Transfer of Working Class People's Money to the 1%? (Getting A Decent Policy Under Obamacare If You're Poor? (Impossible))
As Cuba Gooding says in The Murder of Crows*, "If money talks, all I've
heard it say is 'Goodbye!'" You'll want to watch this very short video if
only for the joy of seeing one program on TV which isn't Koch-funded
propaganda (or even Bloomberg's) about how we need to impoverish (starve)
both the old and young now in order to assure riches for those real
"entitled" (being taught to complain
Horses are Sacred, A View from Nohooka' Dine'
Horses are Sacred
A View from the Nohooka Dine'
Thank you to Leland Grass for sharing with Censored News. Read online at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/191244836/Horses-are-Sacred-View-from-Nohooka-Dine
Horses are Sacred, View from Nohooka Dine' posted on Scribd by brendanorrell
John Boehner: "Are you kidding me?"...(video)
*No, John, we're not kidding you.*
But you, quisling that you are, just made life-long enemies of the very
people who have supported you.
P.S. You look like a fool and the only person who has lost "all
credibility" is you. Dope!
*Don Bongino* has a message for you:
An open letter to the establishment GOP.
I am serving you with divorce papers. For those who are unaware of what
happened, the establishment wing of the Party has openly declared war on
the grassroots.
For those who say this fight is hurting the Republican “brand” I reply; it
is those on both sides of the aisle wh... more »
Mascota navideña con mensaje especial de Navidad
[image: Imagenes Gratis para Navidad y Año Nuevo 2014]
President Obama nominates Stanley Fischer as Federal Reserve Vice Chair - This truly Global Bankster and the recent head of Israel Central Bank now holds the number two position at the US Fed ! With Janet Yellen allegedly an uber dove on monetary policy , how will things work with alleged monetary hawk Stanley Fischer ? So , who whispered in Obama's ear for this selection ? Just another reason not to trust the totally untrustworthy Federal Reserve Bank ?
Obama Nominates Israeli Bankster as Federal Reserve Vice Chair
- [image: The Alex Jones Channel][image: Alex Jones Show podcast][image:
Prison Planet TV][image: Infowars.com Twitter][image: Alex Jones'
Facebook][image: Infowars store]
Stanley Fischer will guide QE Infinity along its destructive path
*Kurt Nimmo*
Infowars.com
December 12, 2013
[image: Dual American-Israel citizen Stanley Fischer has sterling globalist
credentials. Photo: World Forum]
Dual American-Israel citizen Stanley Fischer has sterling globalist
credentials. Photo: World Economic Forum
The Obama adminis... more »
Bad Bear's Photos Longest Walk 4 Folsom City, Calif.
.
.
.
Thanks to Carl Bad Bear Sampson, Western Shoshone Long Walker, for
today's photos of the Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz walking through
Folsom City, Calif. The five month walk began in Dec. on July 15, and is
nearing Alcatraz. Walkers arrive on Dec. 21, with a Sovereignty
Gathering on Dec. 22.
Bad Bear's previous set of photos: Longest Walk in Miwok
John Hodgman, from the un-chic part of Brooklyn's Park Slope, wishes his Manhattan-bound neighbors the de Blasios well
*"The end of the world is a little like death":* *At TEDxMidwest, 2011,
self-styled "deranged millionaire" (and former "minor television
personality") John Hodgman owns up that he hasn't gotten around to
preparing his "go bag" for the predicted nuking of NYC, where he lives.*
"Now you may say, 'That John Hodgman, he's crazy.' Yeah, that's how I
*opened* this. I said I was *deranged.* [*Waving his hand dismissively*]
There goes your argument there."
--
*John Hodgman, on the Coming GlobalSupercollapse and Total Superpocalypse*
*"[Park Slope resident John] Hodgman said [the de Blasios... more »
Obama Birth Certificate Verifier Is Lone Fatality In Small Plane Crash - amazing that things like this happen ? Wonder if she had started chirping ?
Director Who Released Obama Birth Certificate Dies in Mystery Plane Crash
- [image: The Alex Jones Channel][image: Alex Jones Show podcast][image:
Prison Planet TV][image: Infowars.com Twitter][image: Alex Jones'
Facebook][image: Infowars store]
Long form document stoked suspicions of forgery
*Paul Joseph Watson*
Infowars.com
December 12, 2013
The health director who approved the release of President Obama’s long form
birth certificate, which some claim was a fraudulent document, has died in
an unexplained plane crash in Hawaii, it was announced today.
Was Loretta Fuddy’s p... more »
Puerto Rico sees its debt placed on review to junk downgrade by Moody's - with 70 billion in debt overall and 52 billion subject to the downgrade , this could make Detroit look like a walk in the park for Bond Land.....
Thursday, December 12, 2013 10:58 AM
Moody's Puts Puerto Rico on Downgrade to Junk Review Citing Very High Debt,
Pension Obligations, Chronic Deficits; Exodus Underway
Deficit spending and untenable pension obligations frequently go together,
and always cause problems when they do.
Coupled with a buildup of debt, and a very bloated public sector (which
also go hand-in-hand) Puerto Rico is about to fall to junk level.
Please consider Moody's puts Puerto Rico on review for downgrade.
Citing Puerto Rico's weak finances and economy, Moody's Investors Service
put the comm... more »
East China Sea tensions rising December 8 , 2013 - different perspectives offered....
Catharsis Ours - 15 hours ago
China....
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1375702/china-confident-no-military-conflict-over-air-defence-zones
China confident of no military conflict over air defence zones
None of the governments involved want to risk instability in the region,
analysts say, as Australia calls for a reduction in tensions
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 08 December, 2013, 6:27am
UPDATED : Sunday, 08 December, 2013, 6:27am
Minnie Chan and Agence France-Presse
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1. Work and pay woes put Hong Kong residents in doldrums compared to
China's cities
2... more »
LISTEN: Creepy AI Telemarketer Sounds Human, Denies Being a Robot
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
*Activist Post*
Time Magazine is investigating a healthcare telemarketing firm who has been
using an amazingly realistic robot caller which seems to operate on
advanced and a bit creepy artificial intelligence.
The Florida firm Premier Health Plans Inc. is responsible for "employee"
Samantha West heard in the exchanges below. After cleverly filibustering,
she repeatedly insists she's a real person and not a robot.
Listen to the newest recording below:
CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATE
Stop wasting global resources on militarization. These precious resources
are urgently needed to deal with climate change.
Convert the global war machine now.
Remember the seventh generation!
WHO IS WATCHING WHO?
Congress provided the legislative vehicles for the NSA’s massive spying
programs—and it’s time to roll them back.
The incredible abuse of government power demonstrated by the NSA spying
programs shows the grave threat that secret and unchecked government
surveillance programs present to democratic freedoms.
Act now to back legislation that repeals the surveillance state sections of
the Patriot Act and FISA.
Physical abuse of accused to obtain confession justifies stay of proceedings
R. v. Singh, 2013 ONCA 750:
[46] Yet the police had provided no response to the testimony of the
appellant and Maharaj on the stay hearing. Indeed, they have not done so
to this day. The absence of any meaningful disciplinary measures is
telling, in my view, because the inability or refusal of the police to
muster a pointed response in the face of such unchallenged allegations of
serious criminal conduct by state actors during a criminal investigation
makes the case for a stay under the residual category all the more
compelling. Just as the fabrication of evidence by the poli... more »
Only 32 Democrats Had The Guts To Vote No On The Ryan-Murray Budget
What do you get if you cross Paul Ryan and Patty Murray?
This is a budget that is profoundly against the interests of working
families. It passed 332-94. 62 crazy right-wing fanatics voted against it
because it wasn't harsh enough. These are the 32 Democrats who just said
no:
*•* Karen Bass (D-CA)
*•* Judy Chu (D-CA)
*•* David Cicilline (D-RI)
*•* Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
*•* John Conyers (D-MI)
*•* Pete DeFazio (D-OR)
*•* Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
*•* Keith Ellison (D-MN)
*•* Lois Frankel (D-FL)
*•* Marsha Fudge (D-OH)
*•* Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
*•* Colleen Hanabusa (New Dem-HI)
*•* Rush Holt (D-... more »
Afghanistan policy confusion involving the US hits new limbo lows - Top Officials perplexed when asked death count of Americans for 2013 and what is the cost of the War ? And then the big drop dead date of the end of December 2013 for President Karzai to sign the BSA or else --- now is not so drop dead after all ? January would be fine ( well , how about February , March or April 2014 ? ) How many times are we planning to show the world our foreign policy is toothless , incoherent and not serious ?
http://www.businessinsider.com/why-afghanistan-is-such-a-mess-in-two-unanswered-questions-2013-12
Why Afghanistan Is Such A Mess, In Two Unanswered Questions
GEOFFREY INGERSOLL
40 MINUTES AGO 12
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[image: Dana Rohrabacher]
www.youtube.com
"Holy Cow!"
As part of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Afghanistan,
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R., Calif.) asked three top officials two simple
questions: How many Americans have died in Afghanistan this year? And how
much is the war costing the U.S.?
Awkward excuses and befud... more »
Enough Already
You hold the keys to the kingdom. They’ve been hidden beneath layers of
subservience, until now. The reason for their hiding does not matter. You’ve
found them. It is upon you to remember that you hold them in your hands.
There are others showing up now, making demands, attempting to push you
back down, to douse your light. They are saying “We hold the keys to your
freedom. Do this as we command. We will grant your release if you comply.”
As the key holder, you wonder… “Who are these others, making demands?” “Why
do they not show themselves?” “How is it that they hold t... more »
NEOCON GODFATHER CALLS FOR STRIKE AGAINST IRAN
Norman Podhoretz, often regarded as one of the Godfathers of
neoconservatism, has a piece in the *Wall Street Journal* calling for the
bombing of Iran. In it he argues that the alternative is to accept that
Iran will get a nuclear weapon and that it will be used against Israel
despite the certainty of Israel launching a devastating retaliatory nuclear
strike that would destroy Iran. He writes:
*…that the prospect of being annihilated in a retaliatory nuclear strike,
which had successfully deterred the Soviets and the Chinese from unleashing
their own nuclear weapons during the Cold ... more »
Friday Morning Ramble: ‘’Twas the fortnight before Christmas, and all through the House…” edition
“Parliament is full of whores … The Whore Index of New Zealand Politics
simply looks at how much of a whore each party is, measured by how many
dollars they spend per vote.” So which two parties are far and away the
biggest whores? (Write your answer down before you click.)
*The Whore Index of New Zealand Politics* – The Pitchman, WHORES & GANGSTERS
“The parliamentary year ended yesterday, and so it is time for the school
prizegiving.”
*Of musical chairs and other absurd carryings-on* – Claire Trevett, NZ
HERALD
Submissions detailed in a report titled *A House Divided,* released ... more »
Best Little Drummer Boy, evah! Not to be missed!...
for your listening pleasure.
*Behind the Scenes of Little Drummer Boy*
Seymour Hersh is a gritty investigative journalist of U.S. government, wars, and military intelegence who can and will explain all he has learned if asked. Amy Goodman: "In the end, President Obama chose not to strike Syria because the American people just overwhelmingly said no." Seymour Hersh responds: "He didn’t—I’m telling you, he didn’t do it because the American people said no. He knew it because he didn’t have a case. And there was incredible opposition that will be, one of these days, written about, maybe in history books. There was incredible operation from some very, very strong-minded, constitutionally minded people in the Pentagon. That’s the real story. I don’t have it; I could just tell you I know it."
------------------------------
*MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013*
Original Here
Seymour Hersh: Obama "Cherry-Picked" Intelligence on Syrian Chemical Attack
to Justify U.S. Strike
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/9/seymour_hersh_obama_cherry_picked_intelligence
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh joins us to discuss his new article
casting doubt on the veracity of the Obama administration’s claims that
only the Assad regime could have carried out the chemical attacks in the
Damascus suburb of Ghouta earlie... more »
Mass Insight into Evansville: Gates, Broad, and Joyce in Indiana
By Doug Martin
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation is fighting to keep its recently
hired Boston-based Mass Insight Education turnaround company. Mass Insight
Education was hired last school year for $600,000 to help “turn around”
Glenwood’s Leadership Academy and four other schools in the corporation
which have received poor grades over the last few years.
According to a recent *State Impact Indiana* story, Mass Insight Education
isn't too happy about the state department of education looking too closely
into its gig, calling another “lead partner” in the Evansville sc... more »
Teachers Fleeing New Mexico Districts
This article will be updated as more formal reports are released. Thanks to
an orchestrated drive to punish good teachers and reward those who follow
the rules (yes, there is a big difference), the number of early retirements
and resignations in districts throughout New Mexico are increasing rapidly.
There is always turnover to be expected, […]
Guest Post By Ed Pawlowski, Candidate To Replace Tom Corbett As Governor Of Pennsylvania
Earlier in the year, we started a series of guest posts by the candidates
running for governor of Pennsylvania, hoping to find an alternative to New
Dem Allyson Schwartz. With her recent exposure as a co-chair of the
virulently anti-family, pro-Wall Street, conservative group Third Way, we
thought it was time for another installment. This guest post is by
Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Feel free to check out earlier guest posts by John
Hanger and Tom Wolf at the links.
*Guest Post*
*by Ed Pawlowski*
One of the things I enjoy most about being Mayor of Allentown is the fact
that, wi... more »
Corporate War Veteran
*corporate war veteran*I suspect, and I don't like revealing this to you
all, that I've just WASTED my whole entire life, frittered it away watching
the world go by, hoping that it would one day have a revelatory moment and
go, "Shit, this place truly sucks."
I don't want you to pity me (that's not the point of this), I want
you ALL also to realise, "We're in the same boat."
All that great stuff, that Creativity, that Passion, that Kinship, we
promised our younger selves we'd accomplish got SHAT ON by our own
Complacency in a Society and an Economy that's rotten to the core, totall... more »
No Excuses for the Poor; Affluenza for the Privileged
What happens when a white rich boy gets drunk, drives, and kills 4 people
and paralyzes 1? No jail time--he is suffering from affluenza.
Really--that's the defense that worked and now is recorded into case law.
From Time:
For most people, conviction for vehicular manslaughter due to drunk driving
warrants a lengthy sentence, but not in the case of Ethan Couch, a wealthy
young man from the state of Texas.
The Keller, Tex., 16-year-old has a rare condition that a judge believes is
best remedied with anything but dealing with the consequences for causing a
DWI wreck that killed four ... more »
Hungry
Some days I just despair for the future of my progeny. Are we so far gone
as a society to find it acceptable to watch our elderly and disabled slide
into abject poverty while casino capitalists on Wall Street are raking in
billions of nearly tax free winnings and corporate CEOs make 475 times more
than their workers, who have reached the human capacity for increased
productivity while sharing none of the gains?
With House Republicans hell-bent on cutting food stamps, some Congressional
Democrats believe they can strike a "compromise" in the upcoming Farm Bill
by "only" taking $90... more »
Dear God: What have we become? Obamacare ad linking to "Getcovered" featuring a rapping fake Obama...
*in which the libtards insult the intelligence of the American public and
every decent black person.*
I seriously cannot believe what I just saw. You won't either.
H/T Weasel Zippers
There's war of conservative aggression in the House
Thing about Tea Party cons, they will never back down. It's the prime rule
of the crackpot credo. No compromise. No surrender. Never admit you're
wrong. So now we're on day two of the BigCon Grifters versus John Boehner.
Apparently John has found that mason jar with his balls in it that Charlie
Pierce keeps talking about. Channeling his inner honey badger, Boehner
don't care what the fuck they do anymore.
Admit I'm admiring him just a little today for finally standing up to them.
Wondering how long it's going to last though. This from a charter member of
the House Crackpot Caucus o... more »
Michael Voris: "You can't dialogue with someone who hates you"...
*this is a message for all conservatives - not just Catholic conservatives.
*
*See also:*
Newsbusters: *Five Years of H8 from NOH8*
Matt Walsh: * Next up: force the churches to perform gay weddings*
The Importance of Angry Letters
Editor’s Note: this is an abbreviated version of a post that originally
appeared on my personal blog. How can international institutions foster
cooperation given that they lack enforcement capability? One view, quite
simply, is that they can’t. This view is shared by realists and many
outside the academy. Many would argue this critique is unfair.
Continue reading
Former Israeli central banker offered top position at Fed
Yesterday, *The Jewish Daily Forward* (citing *Reuters*) reported that
Stanley Fischer, the former head of the Israeli central bank, has been
offered a top position at *the Jewish-controlled Federal Reserve* by the
Obama administration:
*Former Israeli central bank governor Stanley Fischer has been offered the
position of vice chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve*, a source familiar
with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
“He’s been offered the job” the source, who declined to be named, said. The
source added that the process would still require approval by the U.S.
Senate.
Wor... more »
Senior Funeral Exploiter
I don't really have anything to say about this, other than to say that it's
not the first time. Or the second time. In fact, the evidence strongly
suggests that there is, somewhere (at the RNC? Fox News?) a Senior Funeral
Exploiter whose job it is to carefully monitor all funerals, memorial
services, and other potentially solemn occasions in which Democratic
politicians are expected to attend with the goal of finding some
"inappropriate" behavior. And once it's identified, it spreads rapidly
through the GOP-aligned press.
The classics of the genre are the Paul Wellstone funeral, and... more »
The Wisdom of Dr. Seuss
The wisdom of Dr. Seuss...... You are never too young nor too old to learn
a valuable lesson.
Newhouse's Tremonton, Utah Movie Revisited
I hadn’t planned on doing this simply because it was more work at this
point than I wanted to take on, but there seems to be a real interest in
the film and there is a lot of misinformation floating around about it.
These are distortions that I believe are lodged in the belief structures of
the various commentators rather than in the facts of the case. I’m using as
many of the original sources as possible, including the reports of others
who interviewed the photographer after the event, sometimes years
afterwards and will point out that when I interviewed him, I just wanted to
conf... more »
Too fake and phony to be self-governing!
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013*
*Maddow debuts in the Post:* In our view, a whole lotta piddle’s been going
on in the major op-ed columns.
But good lord! This morning, the Washington Post debuted its new monthly
columnist—and it’s Rachel Maddow!
In our view, Maddow’s cable work has been tumbling down hill fast. This
morning’s perfectly worthless column hastens our sense of descent.
Wow! You get a spot in the Washington Post and *that’s* what you burn it
on? Except as tribal snark, the piece is pointless in every way. It isn’t
even written well, unless you like your cicadas in groves ... more »
Don't blame poverty for thoughtless animal cruelty
Coquetta In the wake of the truly awful death of a little dog in our
neighbourhood on Sunday, I've had a lot of conversations this week about
animal cruelty in Honduras. The poor dog was scalded with boiling water by
a restaurant worker trying to shoo her away, and died eight slow, suffering
days later from her massive injuries.
The news completely horrified me and virtually all of my Canadian
friends, for whom that level of casual animal cruelty is incomprehensible.
Were anyone to scald a dog to death in my hometown of Victoria, B.C., I am
quite sure there would be somethi... more »
Haiti and it's Place within the New World Order
What do AIDS and the 2010 Haitian Earthquake have in common?
A humor format keeps murdering sleep!
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013*
*Too dumb to be self-governing:* Years ago, we used to do a humor segment
two mornings a week on WBAL-AM, Baltimore’s “good guy” news station.
Occasionally, we did a format called “The too dumb to be self-governing
file.”
In those days, we thought of this as a joke. We remember only one such
offering:
A gubernatorial candidate in Texas unveiled his ten-point education plan.
When reporters counted its bullet points, they discovered that the
ten-point education plan only had nine points.
That sort of thing can happen! Today, though, we’re often struck—i... more »
The Obamacare Scam -Trifecta: The 20,000% Mark-Up!...(video)
*in which Bill Whittle, Stephen Green, and Tammy Bruce explain just how
badly the American people were fleeced of their money. *
Mandela and Other Oathtakers
"*The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; *
*and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret
societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings." *
*The President and the Press*
*April 27, 1961*
Don't ever take an Oathtaker at his word - he's not for you, he's sworn a
higher loyalty to something else which you may not know and probably aren't
a party to.
Lawyers and police swear an oath to the Constitution (which says a Negro is
3/5ths of a human being).
Doctors swear an oath to sell medicine rather than heel people or supply
cures... more »
New DiCaprio Wall Street Movie Whitewashes Republican Corruption Out Of The Film
My friend Michael took me to a press screening for the new Leonardo
DiCaprio film, *The Wolf of Wall Street* last night. It was a really good
movie-- so good in fact that when a song I published came on-- "Never Say
Never" by RomeoVoid; thank you, Robbie Robertson-- that wasn't even the
highlight of the film for me! The movie is based on the real life story of
Wall Street fraud and depravity-- the Stratton Oakmont predatory brokerage
firm and its founder and CEO, Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio). The Stratton
Oakmont scandal had already inspired one film in 2000, Boiler Room starring
Be... more »
What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn’t Achievement
What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn\’t Achievement. via
What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn’t Achievement.
Does a snowfall mean more than that it is snowing?
A climate fearmonger called Jared Huffman (D-Calif) who is ironically
employed as the U.S. Congressman has said some "audacious" things in the
U.S. Parliament:
We've Reached The Point Where Climate Change Deniers Need To Be Reminded
That It Snows Every Year (The Huffington Post)
He tried to "remind" his colleagues that "a snowfall in December does not
disprove climate change".
Well, the only problem is that it does.
I am not talking about the tautological climate change – the self-evident
fact that the climate is changing and has been changing for 4.6 billion
years, something... more »
Book Page Bracelet
Certain books and quotes stick with you forever. As an avid reader, I
actually keep a small book of quotes that really hit home for me. This
quick and easy bracelet makes a wonderful gift for the reader in your life.
You can use any book or make it really special by using a favorite quote
from loved book. If you use a classic, you have a high chance of being able
to find a copy at your local thrift store for a great price.
You will need:
An old book
A smooth bangle, wider is better
Mod Podge
a foam brush
Cut your book pages into strips anywhere from a quarter to a half inch
wide. ... more »
The Good Old Days
When people lament about how broken academia is now (for example Higgs of
Higgs-Boson), I am so tempted to generalize about the olden days: Many, if
not most, jobs were not advertised publicly and many job processes were
really old boys networks at work. The job market may not be efficient and
does induce heaps
Continue reading
Mea Culpa
Yesterday on Twitter, I was having a cozy gloomy shared among several buds,
when this reply popped up.
@fernhilldammit @canteach It's Never too late to Fight for your Rights &
What is Right!! #IdleNoMore #ElsipogtogSolidarity
— RedBrown-TWC-NA (@IamRedBrown) December 11, 2013
I was shamed.
It struck me that the total disdain and disregard with which the CONtempt
Party of Canada treats all of us -- well, except their rich, oily pals --
is much like the disdain and disregard that First Nations people have
endured for centuries, when they weren't actively being murdered, starved, ... more »
Vellacott's Last Gasp
In the other recent yawn story, Maurice Vellacott is taking his last kick
at the abortion can.
He's moving two motions to 'study' the abortion issue. Full text of both
here.
Both motions are almost certainly doomed to fail. Prime Minister Stephen
Harper has been consistent on having no desire to reopen the abortion
debates in Canada, and his party has shut down numerous efforts by pro-life
caucus members to do so.
Vellacott expects the votes to take place within a couple of days of the
House of Commons returning in January. This is the last chance Vellacott
has to bring the matte... more »
Why we like the Clash, and the Who
Is it possible that I will not be CEO
I got so much stimulation
could there be no chance
I will not lead the nation
if I can not be number one'
what can i DO
everyone else hates
me for stepping over them
so I could go to the press
with an interview
So I failed to lead
I did not hold up
when the best option
was to fold.
What we see today
is that the royals
can be brought down
but with their demise
is a great comprise
Not for me to be
the authority
Janie Jones by the Clash
Pause, Then Politicize
After Mandela died last week, Dave Weigel wrote an item telling people to "Go
Ahead, Politicize Mandela"in response to some twitter requests to cut out
the partisan sniping for a while.
I'm sympathetic to that point of view...but I also think there's an
etiquette issue here, too, as I also said a while ago. And I think that for
at least a short while -- a pause -- the etiquette issue deserves
precedence over the politics.
Basically, it's polite to wait a short bit before jumping into partisan or
other political point-scoring, and people should be polite.
I want to emphasize: short ... more »
Going Past Fifty Percent
This is not a good idea, no matter what cause you will stress out something
and its bound to fail. Even in your personal lives where logic is not a big
determiner like th2 mechanical I would say, do not push to hard over fifty
percent will leave you at home alone and hard. If you ever build anything
do a fifty percent o3v3r build. Cause standard is like eating from a
dumpster.
MOAR cops more better NOT
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-12-12/cops-capita-who-has-worlds-most-and-least-concentrated-police-force
Your moment of Zen
Aurora over Maine farmhouse. [photo via]
Deep tweets
Not sure of context. Assume presser.
Actual question to a congressman just now: “ You keep saying this is a step
forward. Is it really kicking the can down the road?”
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) December 11, 2013
GOP infighting heats up the House
Looks like the one lesson old guard Republicans learned from 2012 is the
Tea Party's crackpot conservatism is toxic for the Republican brand.
Showing a rare flash of public irritation, it's cear John Boehner has had
enough of *those* people. The crackpot cons were not amused:
Club For Growth issued a statement in response to Boehner's remarks, but
didn't mention him by name, and instead lit into the budget agreement he
and Ryan are vouching for.
"We stand with Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Tom Coburn, Rand Paul, members of the
Republican Study Committee and every other fiscal conservati... more »
cant hurt to watch
http://libertyblitzkrieg.com/2013/12/10/video-of-the-day-pirate-party-founder-explains-swarm-intelligence/
Argentina: Unusual "Light Movement" Witnessed by Fishermen in Puerto Madryn
*Source: VISION OVNI (Andrea Pérez
Simondini)http://www.visionovni.com.ar/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1208Date:
11.13.2013*
Location: Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Date: Saturday, 2 November 2013
Time: Between 0200 and 0500 hours
Witnesses: Two (2) younger anonymous witnesses and an older one
Vicky Zeigler, a researcher with the VISION OVNI team, has been closely
following the events taking place in the city of Puerto Madryn, Chubut
Province, due to the characteristics of these events: Lights are seen
entering and departing from the water, remaining suspended over the oce... more »
Mexico: New Anomalous Lights Over Popocatepetl
Contributing Editor *Ana Luisa Cid* (Mexico) has shared some intriguing
images of an anomalous light over the Popocatepetl Volcano. They were
obtained by the TELEVISA monitoring camera at 05:44 hours on 5 December
2013.
To watch the video in its entirety (1:13), please visit:
http://youtu.be/qYsSbdUKqc8
Inexplicata Podcasts covering items from UFO / paranormal history in Spain,
Latin America and the Caribbean
Former Federal Budget Director David Stockman: Budget deal a 'joke and betrayal'...(video included)
*"It's the final surrender of the House Republican leadership to Beltway
politics and kicking the can and ignoring the budget monster that's
hurtling down the road." *
Is there really anyone in this country that doesn't understand that the
federal and state governments steal money from the producers and spend it
on nonsensical programs, grants, and as a way to line their own pockets?
Just this morning, I read where the feds are handing out a grant of over
200K dollars to "study how kids order food in restaurants" in order to
prevent obesity. You may think 200K is a drop in the buc... more »
Anti-union, Nonprofit Shill Attacks AFT
On December 10, 2013, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) (don’t believe the
name) sponsored a full-page ad in the New York Times attributing the “high
school slip in global rankings” to a single issue: The failure of American
Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to promote merit pay for
teachers. The ad reads, We have fallen […]
Jay Saper on TFA and Subsequent KIPP Recruiting Experience
I talked with an amazing young man the other day about his getting booted
out of TFA during the early fall of 2013. His name is Jay Saper, and,
despite his recent experiences, he remains articulate, confident, and eager
to become a real teacher with real teacher preparation and credentials.
From our long conversation, it became apparent to me that he is much too
empathetic to be successful in an organization like Teach for America,
which values achievement scores and its corporate branding over the welfare
of children and parents.
This is not to deny that there are many well-intenti... more »
VISIONS OF PISA: Weingarten, Ravitch lose the NAEP!
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013*
*Part 4—The liberal world’s rolling incompetence:* The misstatements tend
to be general when you read Diane Ravitch, who tends to be excessively
partisan in support of whichever side she is currently on.
We assume that Ravitch is well intentioned. In certain ways, her new book,
Reign of Error, is very useful, at least theoretically.
But Ravitch tends to overstate toward the goal of winning each partisan
point. As an example, let’s consider something she said in a post this
Tuesday.
The post was aimed at the D.C. schools, one of her favorite targets. S... more »
ON THE INSIDE TRACK
A very interesting look inside of North Korea from the seats of five New
Zealanders on motor bikes.
Some really strikingly beautiful nature scenes in the video and it is
obvious that they encountered many wonderful people. It reminds me how
much our view of North Korea is tainted by years of unrelenting US
propaganda.
Take a look and see for yourself.
Security Situation In Southern Iraq November 2013
November 2013 saw southern Iraq return to its annual average in terms of
attacks and casualties. There were two waves of car bombings during the
month, but otherwise violence was scattered and low level across the
region. That was different from the previous two months that saw a huge
amount of fatalities. Compared to the rest of Iraq the south remains
relatively peaceful despite the best laid plans of insurgents.
November saw a decline in deaths from the previous two months. There were
29 incidents for the month. Almost half, 14 were in Babil, which is a
militant hotbed. After ... more »
Opportunistic soundbite
Interesting feature on Today with Justin and a defender of the London
university ‘gender apartheid’ debacle.
I’ve boiled down the item till it’s reduced to half its volume.
Lady opens with famous burka manoeuvre - “who are *we* (UCL) to interfere
with a woman’s right to wear/sit where she likes?”
Justin counters with “Women are probably *coerced* into choosing
segregation”
Closing move: ”Libertarian universities can never ‘dictate’ *rules*.”
Labour business secretary *Chuk**s* in “*Labour* government wouldn’t *allow*gender apartheid”
(impliedly invoking *Umunni*ty from own responsib... more »
Untitled
*With dear friends like Big Oil, are we our own worst enemies? ~Mark
Moseley, The Lens*
*Sand from Ship Shoal used to build barrier project south of Port Fourchon
~Amy Wold, Advocate*
*Review: Federal Flood Drama Is Paul Walker's Finest Hour ~Joe Leydon, CBS*
*James Andrews To Lead New Orleans Second Line For Nelson Mandela ~Jocelyn
Ninneman, offBeat*
Third World Justice
Come
on, really. Do not mess with Texas because its hurtin freedom.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/12/11/teen-who-killed-four-while-driving-three-times-over-the-limit-gets-off-because-his-rich-parents-papered-him/
Cruel And Unusual Punishment
Jim Flaherty vows that the budget will be balanced by the next election.
But at what cost? Daniel Tencer, of *The Huffington Post, *writes:
Job creation in Canada this year has been the weakest in a non-recession
year in more than a decade, and the low quality of the jobs being created
is causing some economists to raise concerns about the country's economy.
Looking at StatsCan’s latest job numbers, released last week, BMO economist
Benjamin Reitzes notes that Canada created fewer than 175,000 net jobs in
the year to date (meaning all of 2013 except December).
It's not just abou... more »
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