10:34pm MST
India, Iran Drop The Petrodollar
Iran and India have made plans to ditch the petrodollar in favour of using rupees for future crude oil trades. Indianexpress.com reports: Since 2013, Indian refiners have been depositing 45 per cent of their oil payments to Iran in rupees with UCO Bank and withholding the remainder after a payment route through Turkey’s Halkbank was stopped under US and European sanctions. The payment agreement needs amendment as tax exemption is contingent on the pact notified by the Centre in January 2012 which allows only 45 percent of oil payments in rupees. Budget 2012-13 exempted Indian refin... more »
Obama — and FDR — Set Precedent for Trump’s One-Man Rule
[image: Obamacare] There has been a lot of talk -- almost all of it accurate -- about how Barack Obama’s presidency has fueled the rise of Donald Trump. The president’s fans hate this talk, for understandable reasons. They see the president as dignified and... more »
Out of (Gun) Control
[image: No Shooting Sign, Bullet Holes, Bullets, Hunting, Guns, Firearms] I’m still waiting; waiting for someone to show me how laws stop a person intent on breaking them. Daily on the roads I see people breaking speed limits despite the possibility that cameras will catch them and send a ticket... more »
China Has Shut Down Its Stock Exchanges (Again)
A logo of yuan is seen at a foreign exchange store in Shanghai, China, December 1, 2015. REUTERS/ALY SONG *Bloomberg:* *China Halts Stock Trading After 7% Rout Triggers Circuit Breaker* Chinese stock exchanges closed early for the second time this week after the CSI 300 Index plunged more than 7 percent. Trading of shares and index futures was halted by automatic circuit breakers from about 9:59 a.m. local time. Stocks fell after China’s central bank weakened the currency’s daily reference rate by the most since August. “The yuan’s depreciation has exceeded investors’ expectations... more »
Senator Palin?
Probably not, but stranger things have happened-- like that lady hog castrator from Iowa who's now a senator and there's Jim Inhofe, the climate change denier and Jeff Sessions, the KKK guy from Alabama. So who knows? Palin's Scottsdale home is on the market for $2.5 million and she's been mumbling about moving back to Alaska and taking on the more mainstream Murkowski, who's tenure has been anything but conventional. Murkowski's father, Frank, was a crooked senator and a crooked governor. His first act as governor was to resign from the Senate and appoint his daughter to the job ... more »
Untitled
*From* *Jenna Orkin* Macy's Massacre: Thousands Fired; Guidance Slashed (Again); Weather Blamed Yahoo is prepping to lay off 10% or more of its workforce China has shut down its stock market after a 7% meltdown in 15 minutes Eyewitness Account Of The "Monstrous" Migrant Attacks In Germany: "It's Like Civil War" Cologne Mayor Slammed For Telling German Women It Is Their Responsibility To Keep Rapists At "Arm's Length" Permaculture and Balance "We The People Are Pissed": New Poll Finds Whites And Republicans Are Angriest Americans "Pray For Us": Libya Issues "Cry For Help" As ISIS Advance... more »
Islamic State In Libya Continues Their Assault On Libya's Oil Ports
*Reuters*: *Fires rage at Libyan oil ports after Islamic State attacks* Three days of Islamic State attacks on Libya's biggest oil terminals have started fires that have spread to five massive oil storage tanks, a guards spokesman said on Wednesday. Ali al-Hassi said the Petroleum Facilities Guards were still in control of the neighbouring ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, where at least nine guards were killed and more than 40 injured near the ports' perimeters on Monday and Tuesday. Hassi said guards had recovered bodies of 30 Islamic State fighters, and had captured two militar... more »
Colt’s Bankruptcy Exit Roiled by Sciens Default
[image: Sciens] Gun maker Colt Defense LLC's emergence from bankruptcy has been thrown into turmoil by a default on a $15 million funding commitment by private-equity owner Sciens Capital Management. After Sciens missed a December deadline to come up with the money... Continue reading *“Colt’s Bankruptcy Exit Roiled by Sciens Default”* at *google.com*.
NASA Photographs Reveal Unbelievable ‘Alphabet in the Sky’
[image: alphabet in the sky] In July 2012, NASA science writer and social media manager Adam P. Voiland enlisted the Internet in an ambitious project: to “help find an alphabet in the sky” based on photographs taken by NASA satellites and astronauts. Now, over three years... Continue reading *“NASA Photographs Reveal Unbelievable ‘Alphabet in the Sky’”* at *news.artnet.com*.
The REAL Queen Of England's Christmas 2015 Speech To Her Loyal Slaves
People who have been reading this blog for years know exactly how I feel about that slithering creature that sits on the throne in London England and rules over the "British Commonwealth" of nations.... Of course I am talking about the royal bitch whore pedophilic monster mass murdering freak of nature, Elizabeth Battenberg, aka.. "Queen" Elizabeth II...... Every year this foul creature has the nerve to get onto the BBC (British Jew spew Broadcasting Network) and give her fake "Christmas wishes" to her loyal servants (slaves) in the Commonwealth... It is a disgusting affair and noth... more »
China Launches A New 'Spy Ship'
China's third Dongdiao-class intelligence gathering vessel, Neptune (852), was commissioned into the PLAN's South Sea Fleet on 26 December 2015. Source: via PLA Daily *David Axe, Daily Beast*: *China Launches a New High-Tech Spy Ship* Neptune, the newly unveiled Type 815 surveillance vessel, is the latest addition to Beijing’s growing fleet—which has been deployed far and wide in recent years. The Chinese navy has just commissioned a new high-tech spy ship—at least its fourth since 1999. The Type 815 surveillance vessel Neptune, featuring sensitive electronic listening devices, c... more »
Guest Post: Relay Graduate School of Education: A Policy Brief
*Posted by the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools on January 6, 2016. * *This year the Philadelphia School District used training videos on classroom management from The Relay Graduate School of Education as part of its New Teacher orientation. The principals of Blaine and Kelley Elementary School (recent turnaround schools) are enrolled in Relay’s principal training program.Relay Graduate School of Education is a teacher/principal training program based in New York and founded by people who had little experience or training in education. The school has opened a Philadel... more »
The Truth About The Standoff At The Hammond Ranch In Oregon, USA, That Everyone Must Be Made Aware Of
I have read some of the reports about that "stand off" at that ranch in Oregon that has been ongoing for the last week, and to me something does not seem right..... Yes, the US Government has indeed gone way overboard with their outlandish charges against the ranchers involved, the Hammond family, especially when it comes to the charges of them setting off "uncontrolled fires" on government owned land... But there is so much more that has been going on that simply has caused more questions than answers... I hope that this article helps everyone to understand the situation as it stan... more »
The Situation In Syria: Bashar al-Assad's Forces Are Definitely Winning - A Great Summary Of The Last 3 Months
I have continued to follow the Syrian "civil war" very closely these last few months, especially with the good guys, the Bashar al-Assad government forces and their allies, now basically having the fraud "terrorist" and "rebel" groups on the run.... And these last few months have seen these forces obtain victory after victory thanks to the successful intervention of Russian forces aiding Syria's cause.... To help understand exactly what has been happening in Syria, I want to present the following very important article from the Fort Russ website, at www.fortruss.blogspot.ru, that is... more »
U.S. Navy Report Outlines The Challenges The U.S. Navy Will Be Facing In The 21st Century.
*Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat:* *US Navy: China and Russia ‘Focused on Taking the Lead’* In a new document, the Chief of Naval Operations outlines challenges the U.S. Navy will be facing in the 21st century. China and Russia, along with a number of other competitors, are “focused on taking the lead” in the maritime domain and will continue to challenge U.S. naval superiority, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, writes in a recently released U.S. Navy strategy document. The U.S. Navy “must pick up the pace and deny” foreign competitors their objectives, even... more »
Seek Out Signs God Offers Everyone for Finding Jesus, Pope Says
[image: seek out signs] VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Go out and seek the signs God is offering everyone today that will lead to Christ, Pope Francis said. The thirst for God is present in everyone, and it’s the church’s task to help those with... Continue reading *“Seek Out Signs God Offers Everyone for Finding Jesus, Pope Says”* at *catholicnews.com*.
Growing up Communist
[image: Communism - 400] Growing up Communist in post-War Britain must have been a strange experience. David Aaronovitch, now a columnist for The Times and soft-left supporter of Britain's recent foreign military interventions, was immersed in Communism from his birth in 1954. David's father... Continue reading *“Growing up Communist”* at *standpointmag.co.uk*.
Trooper in Sandra Bland Traffic Stop Indicted, Fired
[image: In this July 10, 2015, file frame taken from dashcam video provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia confronts Sandra Bland after a minor traffic infraction in Waller County,Texas. A grand jury indicted Encinia on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, with the misdemeanor charge. Encinia has been on desk duty since Bland was found dead in her cell in July. Her death was ruled a suicide.] HEMPSTEAD, Texas (AP) -- A Texas state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland after a contentious traffic stop last summer was fired Wednesday after being charged wit... more »
GOP Establishment Is Worried Trumpf Or Cruz Will Wreck Their Little Racket, Not So Concerned About America
Ted Cruz has a scaremongery anti-immigration TV ad (above) to compete with Herr Trumpf's scaremongery anti-immigration TV ad. The competition for the right-wing populist vote is on. Fiorina, now one of the margin-of-error candidates hoping to get a job in someone's cabinet-- though not Herr Trumpf's, apparently-- was asked on *Fox and Friends* about the new *Esquire* cover story, Hater-in-Chief. "[T]here is no doubt: Donald Trump is an extremely divisive candidate. That’s why he cannot win. That is why he cannot be our nominee. But honestly, Donald Trump reminds me of the Kim Kar... more »
Politicians’ Response to Transgenders Is Likely to Increase Suicides
[image: transgenders] It's nearly a year after the suicide of Josh Alcorn (who called himself Leelah), the 17-year-old Ohio transgender who stood in front of a moving tractor-trailer. Alcorn's death was a tragic failure on so many levels. Who knows what caused... Continue reading *“Politicians’ Response to Transgenders Is Likely to Increase Suicides”* at *thefederalist.com*.
Jan. 6: A very ugly world
“Grandmother in poverty lives with no heat, power or water.” That's the front page, lead headline in the Irving press. And so it should be. The provincial government hasn't answered her requests. The local MLA will contact the government department on this—um-- when he has time in a few days. I wonder how long premier Gallant would wait to return a call from JDIrving? The story is an important one. In this province, a senior executive with a large corporation already had almost $50,000, the average yearly salary in this province – and got it by working from nine to noon hour just y... more »
Was The U.S. Surprised By North Korea's Nuclear Test?
A sales assistant watches TV sets broadcasting a news report on North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/KIM HONG-JI *Nancy A. Youssef & Shane Harris, Daily Beast:* *U.S. ‘Tactically Surprised’ by North Korean Nuke* The North Korean nuclear test wasn’t exactly a shock—Kim Jong-Un’s cronies said they had developed an H-Bomb. But U.S. officials were still on the back foot when the Bomb went off. The U.S. military insisted Wednesday that it was was not surprised “strategically” by North Korea’s test of a nuclear device. But Pentagon and intelligence officials adm... more »
A Black Hole Can Be Spotted With The Naked Eye
Black hole activity can be witnessed by using a 20 cm amateur telescope, according to scientists. The great unknown can be distinguished through the effect it has on its surroundings, and the visible flickering light emitted from the energy created in its vicinity. International Business Times reports: A new study from Kyoto University, Japan, shows that optical rays, or visible light, is emitted from the gases surrounding black holes. Around every few decades, a black hole will have an outburst of energy from all of the substances that have fallen into it. The outbursts are as visib... more »
Free Download: Kahlil Gibran, "The Garden of the Prophet"
*"The Garden of the Prophet" * by Kahlil Gibran "Oftentimes we call Life bitter names, but only when we ourselves are bitter and dark. And we deem her empty and unprofitable, but only when the soul goes wandering in desolate places, and the heart is drunken with over-mindfulness of self. Life is deep and high and distant; and though only your vast vision can reach even her feet, yet she is near; and though only the breath of your breath reaches her heart, the shadow of your shadow crosses her face, and the echo of your faintest cry becomes a spring and an autumn in her breast. And... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind IV: Unity” (Full Album)
Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind IV: Unity” (Full Album) - https://www.youtube.com/
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 6, 2016
Japan Meteorological Agency's earthquake and tsunami observations division director Yohei Hasegawa points at a graph of ground motion waveform data observed in Japan during a news conference at the Japan Meteorological Agency in Tokyo. REUTERS/ISSEI KATO *Jack Kim and Fraincois Murphy, Reuters*: *Verifying North Korea hydrogen bomb claim may prove difficult* In the days and weeks ahead, nuclear experts will be hunting for airborne radioactive particles that could shed light on North Korea's assertion that it tested a hydrogen bomb, but drawing an independent conclusion could prove... more »
Musical Interlude: George Harrison, “What Is Life?”
George Harrison, “What Is Life?” Playlist: “All Things Must Pass” (Full Album) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_tj-CpIftI
World News Briefs -- January 6, 2016
*Daily Mail:* *It's NOT an H bomb: White House says evidence disproves Kim's claim to ultimate weapon* * The 'initial analysis is not consistent with the North Korean claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test,' press secretary Josh Earnest said * Earnest said the US came to that conclusion based on seismic data, as well as information obtained by its allies in the region * White House 'not prepared to list' potential retributive actions but asserted that the U.S. will 'consider a wide range of options' * Republicans are turning the news into a new assault on President Barack Obama's... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Sometimes galaxies form groups. For example, our own Milky Way Galaxy is part of the Local Group of Galaxies. Small, compact groups, like Hickson Compact Group 87 (HCG 87) shown below, are interesting partly because they slowly self-destruct. Indeed, the galaxies of HCG 87 are gravitationally stretching each other during their 100-million year orbits around a common center. *Click image for larger size.* The pulling creates colliding gas that causes bright bursts of star formation and feeds matter into their active galaxy centers. HCG 87 is composed of a large edge-on spiral galaxy ... more »
Chet Raymo, “Peacocks and Magpies”
*“Peacocks and Magpies”* by Chet Raymo “Here's the deal. It's all about how much time and effort males invest in the next generation. Peacocks copulate and cop out. The peahen goes off to incubate her eggs and raise her offspring. So there are always more sexually active cocks than hens, which means greater competition between males, which favors the males who are best at fighting and looking good. And you know the outcome: a huge degree of sexual dimorphism. All that male strutting and aggression and showing off. What a tale! What a tail! By contrast, male magpies invest lots of en... more »
"Reconnecting with Friends: Special Messengers"
*"Reconnecting with Friends: Special Messengers"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "When fate brings old friends back into our lives, there is always a reason. Every person that passes through our lives makes a contribution to our life stories. There are those who play large roles and make deep impressions, but sometimes a brief special appearance before life takes them in another direction creates a meaningful connection. It is a rare gift when they suddenly reappear in our lives after a long absence. Though the world may seem full of more people than we could ever know, we are ofte... more »
California Finally Declares Emergency Over Los Angeles Gas Leak
Governor Jerry Brown has finally declared a State of Emergency for the gas leak in Porter Ranch, southern California. It is the largest gas leak ever recorded, where a blown-out well has been spewing record amounts of methane gas since October last year. Environmental activist and lawyer Erin Brockovich says it is one of the most significant environmental disasters in recent history. Governor Brown has asked for expediency in plugging the well after the plug was left out by Southern California Gas Company. The Guardian reports: Ten weeks after the 23 October breach was detected, Brow... more »
As we shift - Fond Farewells & Open Arms
Our path could be called circular. As we watch ourselves, again and again, repeat habits to satisfy addictions. These are not addictions of the substance, but of the personality. We are no longer fed by these addictions; this kind of attention isn’t working for us today. Your ego is not running the show now. You’ve progressed such a long way and are right now transforming. You must feel this. It is your habit, your pattern of self-destruction that feels strange now. This is a result of your ongoing evolution. You recognize that life offers what it does and your entry into l... more »
Generational Conflict in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
I have seen *Star Wars: The Force Awakens*, and it was wonderful. That said, I'm not a huge *Star Wars* fan. There is something jarring about science fantasy that doesn't sit well with my own hard SF preferences. I guess that's what happens when, philosophically speaking, you're a miserable materialist. Yet sitting in the cinema this afternoon, I wasn't prepared for the emotional experience seeing the new film turned out to be. A story. *Star Wars* was one of the first films I remember seeing. My parents took me to watch *The Empire Strikes Back* on its *original release*. Not lon... more »
Congress Sends Obamacare Repeal to Obama for First Time
[image: House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., arrives for a closed-door Republican strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. After dozens of failed attempts to undo President Barack Obama's health care law, the GOP-led Congress will finally put a bill on the president's desk striking at the heart of Obama's signature legislative achievement. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)] WASHINGTON (AP) -- The GOP-led Congress sent legislation to President Barack Obama Wednesday repealing his signature health law, fulfilling a promise to Republican voters in a presidential... more »
This Is What It Looks Like When Five Oil Tanks Are on Fire in a War Zone
[image: Libya Fire - 900] An Islamic State attack on Libya's largest oil ports this week left at least five massive oil tanks aflame as of Wednesday. The attack began Monday at Es Sider, where at least four oil tanks were still burning Wednesday, a spokesman... more »
Waveforms and Sonifications
The Mainichi has a very interesting article on North Korea's probable nuclear explosion. The article explains how Japanese scientists used the explosion's waveform to distinguish it from a naturally occurring earthquake: Natural earthquake vs. nuclear test: waveform graphs tell the story. The Mainichi, January 6, 2016 (Mainichi Japan) http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160106/p2a/00m/0na/011000c North Korea claimed on Jan. 6 that it had tested a hydrogen bomb. Before the official announcement, however, news agencies were already reporting a possible nuclear test after an "art... more »
RCMP Terror Sting Update: RCMP Sgt said he "absolutely" urged his officers to consider Nuttall developmentally delayed
*Defendants Nuttall and Korody in Vancouver Court* As reported by the Vancouver Sun, the *Kanadian Keystone Kops* *Kaper* has continued in a Vancouver courtroom after a long break. Just to bring my readers up-to-date: In 2013, two unfortunate denizens of the downtown east side...or poorer quarters...were co-opted *by CSIS and its vassal police force...the formerly prestigious Royal Canadian Mounted Police.*..to perform duties enabling a False Flag attack on the BC legislature in Victoria, BC. We will never know the scope of this nefarious activity...i.e., whether it was supposed t... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Reedsburg, Wisconsin, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “Sleeping in the Forest”
*“Sleeping in the Forest”* “I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her pockets full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone on the river bed, nothing between me and the white fire of the stars but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths among the branches of the perfect trees. All night I heard the small kingdoms breathing around me, the insects, and the birds who do their work in the darkness. All night I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling with a luminous doom. By morning I had vanished at least a dozen times ... more »
"Truth..."
"Truth would quickly cease to be stranger than fiction, once we got as used to it." - H.L. Mencken
Keystone Pipeline Developer Sues Obama
[image: Keystone - 400] The company behind the Keystone XL oil pipeline is filing a pair of legal challenges to the Obama administration's rejection of the project. TransCanada Corp. said Wednesday that it sued the administration in a Houston federal court arguing that President... Continue reading *“Keystone Pipeline Developer Sues Obama”* at *thehill.com* .
Protests Grow as Five Children Seized by Norwegian Gov’t to Be Adopted Out
[image: five children] January 6, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) - Norway's Barnevernet, or child welfare service, has begun the process of adopting out the five Bodnariu children it seized from their Pentecostal parents Marius and Ruth in November, according to the children's uncle, Daniel Bodnariu.... Continue reading *“Protests Grow as Five Children Seized by Norwegian Gov’t to Be Adopted Out”* at *lifesitenews.com*.
Bill Clinton Rape Accuser: Hillary ‘Tried to Silence’ Me
[image: Bill Clinton] A woman who publicly accused former President Bill Clinton of raping her in 1978 is resurrecting her claims on social media. "I was 35 years old when Bill Clinton, Ark. Attorney General raped me," Juanita Broaddrick tweeted Wednesday. "Hillary tried... Continue reading *“Bill Clinton Rape Accuser: Hillary ‘Tried to Silence’ Me”* at *thehill.com*.
Netflix Now Live in Almost All Countries, Skips China
[image: Netflix] Netflix Inc’s video-streaming services went live in more than 130 countries on Wednesday, covering almost the entire globe except China, in a huge global push by Chief Executive Reed Hastings to counter slowing growth at home. Shares of the company,... Continue reading *“Netflix Now Live in Almost All Countries, Skips China”* at *reuters.com*.
The Mighty and the Almighty: Angela Merkel
[image: Merkel - 900] Introduction When she first came to power in 2005, Angela Merkel was often called Germany's Margaret Thatcher. The two leaders, it seemed, had much in common. Not only were they both prominent women in the largely male political world, but... Continue reading *“The Mighty and the Almighty: Angela Merkel”* at *theosthinktank.co.uk*.
Weather Related Losses Have been In Decline Since 1990
By Paul Homewood https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr/status/684740869707071488 An interesting tweet from Roger Pielke Jnr. We hear a lot about the ever increasing weather related losses, but measured as a percentage of GDP, it turns out that the reverse is true.
Melissa Joan Hart Won’t Shy Away from Her Faith
[image: Melissa Joan Hart at D23 Expo.] Melissa Joan Hart said it's scary to tell people about your faith these days. During an interview with Fox 411 Wednesday, the 39-year-old actress said being politically correct is practically a talent. Continue reading *“Melissa Joan Hart Won’t Shy Away from Her Faith”* at *dailycaller.com*.
Cruz’s Birth in Canada Unlikely to Cloud Run for President
[image: Republican Presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas talks to a reporter while standing with supporter Court Oviatt of Logan, Iowa, after a campaign speech at the public library in Onawa, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.] WASHINGTON (AP) -- It seems like only yesterday that skeptics of Barack Obama’s birth in Hawaii rushed to the Supreme Court to try to block the son of an American mother and Kenyan father from taking office as president. The... more »
In One Year, Gun Owners Stopped Hundreds of Criminals, Saved Countless Lives [INFOGRAPHIC]
[image: gun owners - 900] Gun carrying, private citizens who used firearms to stop criminal attacks saved at least 283 potential victims in a period between July 2014 and July 2015, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation analysis. The DCNF concluded its analysis as President Barack Obama announced... Continue reading *“In One Year, Gun Owners Stopped Hundreds of Criminals, Saved Countless Lives [INFOGRAPHIC]”* at *dailycallernewsfoundation.org*.
ATF Inadvertently Undermines Obama’s Big Executive Order in Two Facebook Posts
[image: Gun, Russian Roulette, Handgun, Bullet in Chamber, Revolver, Pistol, Ammunition] The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) fell victim to an embarrassing cascade of ridicule on Facebook over its efforts to explain President Barack Obama's new gun control executive order. Late Monday, ATF published a ten-page guide to... more »
Around the World, Poverty Is Collapsing. Why Is That so Hard to Believe?
[image: global poverty] In 2012 and 2013, The Spectator opened its Christmas special issue with a leading article counting the ways in which the world had never been a better place, and was set to get better still. We didn't do so this... Continue reading *“Around the World, Poverty Is Collapsing. Why Is That so Hard to Believe?”* at *blogs.spectator.co.uk*.
FDA Could Trigger Massive E-Cig Black Market, Turn Vapers Back to Smoking
[image: E-cigarettes, Electronic Cigarettes, Vaping, Vapers, Smoking, Smokers] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could start a massive black market and turn millions of vapers back to cigarettes if it pushes ahead with stricter regulations on e-cigarettes. One of the largest surveys of vapers ever conducted shows vast... more »
Showdown in Oregon: How to - and How Not to Fight Tyranny
*January 7, 2016 *(Tony Cartalucci - LD) - The showdown between armed ranchers and federal agents in the US state of Oregon has triggered passionate debates not only about the particulars of the standoff itself, but the precise manner in which people *should *stand up against an increasingly overbearing government and the corporate-financier special interests that have commandeered it. Wall Street and Washington have left the country itself in socioeconomic shambles. Abroad, these collective special interests are subverting nations politically and economically from Venezuela to Sou... more »
Iraq's War Against The Islamic State Is Intensifying
*VOA*:* Official: US-led Airstrikes Kill 2,500 IS Militants in December* U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria killed about 2,500 militants in December, a military spokesman said. Colonel Steve Warren told reporters that since coalition airstrikes began in September 2014, Islamic State has lost at least 20,000 square kilometers of land it once controlled. He said IS has not gained any land since May of last year. "We believe ISIL is now in a defensive crouch," Warren said using another acronym for IS. "If you're part of ISIL, we will kill yo... more »
Who Ever Decided To Call It A "Deep Bench" Never Looked To Closely At What Makes Rubio Tick
Rubio's excuse for abandoning his Senate seat while running for president-- which is *not* what fellow Senators Rand Paul, Ted Cruz or Bernie Sanders have done-- is that mere senators and congressmen can't get anything done anyway. I suspect most of his colleagues would beg to differ. What he's done is kind of similar to what Chris Christie did by spending 72% of his time outside of New Jersey. Both of these guys should resign and stop cheating the citizens of Florida and New Jersey. Rubio doesn't just miss votes. He has completely abandoned the crucial Subcommittee on Oceans, At... more »
The Economy: “Ellen Brown-Depositors Die and Banks Live in Next Financial Calamity”
*“Ellen Brown-Depositors Die and Banks Live in Next Financial Calamity”* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com "Public banking expert and attorney Ellen Brown says, “Your life savings could be wiped out in a derivatives collapse.” Brown explains, “Nobody anticipated what happened in 2008, and that was a $700 billion bailout. Even if the FDIC tapped its Treasury line, that’s only $500 billion. So, certainly things could go wrong. Also, why are they rushing to put these things into place? They’re expecting something.” Brown goes on to point out, “They think they have avoided too-big-to-fail... more »
"How It Really Is"
Politicians... What a bunch of money-whore clowns, a shame the joke's on *US*...
Satire: “Obama Continues to Stubbornly Link Gun Violence with Guns”
*“Obama Continues to Stubbornly Link Gun Violence with Guns”* by Andy Borowitz WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)— “Republican Presidential candidates ripped President Obama on Tuesday for what they called his stubborn insistence on linking gun violence with guns. In campaign stops across Iowa and New Hampshire, the G.O.P. hopefuls pounded the President for irrationally concluding that guns have played a role in the nation’s epidemic of mass shootings. “How any reasonable person could look at gun violence and say that guns are involved is beyond me,” said Texas Senator Ted Cruz. “And... more »
“How Corrupt Is the American Government?”
*“How Corrupt Is the American Government?”* by George Washington "Government corruption has become rampant: • Senior SEC employees spent up to 8 hours a day surfing porn sites instead of cracking down on financial crimes. • Nuclear Regulatory Commission workers watch porn instead of cracking down on unsafe conditions at nuclear plants. • An EPA employee who downloaded 7,000 porn files, then spent 2-6 hours each workday watching porn. He’s been doing it for years but the EPA never fired him. Another EPA employee harassed 16 women co-workers and then was promoted to a higher-paying j... more »
Supplemental: Matthews on Clinton, last night and back then!
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015His fraudulence knows no bounds:* At times, the fraudulence of our "cable news" stars seems to defy comprehension. One such moment occurred last night on the relentlessly fraudulent cable non-news program, Hardball. Chris Matthews interviewed Hillary Clinton at substantial length. At one point, he recalled the way Clinton's original run for the Senate took form in 1999. How to put this? As Matthews recalled the events of that day, his fraudulence ranneth over. Pay special attention to the passage we've highlighted near the end: MATTHEWS (1/5/16): Back... more »
‘That’s Not Who We Are’ — Glenn Condemns Mormons Citing Faith to Justify Oregon Militia
[image: Oregon militia] Members of an armed militia initiated a standoff with authorities in Burns, Oregon Monday, protesting the recent incarceration of two ranchers convicted of arson. Having occupied a wildlife refuge near Burns, the leader of the dozen or so gun-toting protestors,... Continue reading *“‘That’s Not Who We Are’ — Glenn Condemns Mormons Citing Faith to Justify Oregon Militia”* at *glennbeck.com*.
Are U.S. Air-Strikes Degrading The Islamic State?
*VOA*: *Analysts: Anti-IS Coalition Strikes in Syria Yielding Results* An Islamic State judge is among the latest top jihadists to be killed in targeted coalition airstrikes that are seen as beginning to take a toll on the leadership ranks of the terrorist army. U.S. officials vow 2016 will see many more strikes aimed at degrading the militant group's command and control structure and especially of its mid-level battlefield leadership. U.S. commando raids designed to throw the group’s leadership off balance are also more likely. The targeted airstrikes appear to be alarming the g... more »
Pervasive Conformity and Its Influence on Earth Culture
*Jon Rappoport* - Are we creating a machine culture as a result of massive conformity? The post Pervasive Conformity and Its Influence on Earth Culture appeared first on Waking Times.
What Happened In The German City Of Cologne On New Years Eve?
*Washington Post:* *Germans outraged by mayor’s advice for women after raft of harassment* The mayor of Cologne on Wednesday offered some poorly received advice to female residents of her city after a wave of New Year's Eve attacks that shocked Germany. "There’s always the possibility of keeping a certain distance of more than an arm’s length — that is to say to make sure yourself you don’t look to be too close to people who are not known to you, and to whom you don’t have a trusting relationship," Henriette Reker said, according to Britain's Guardian newspaper. Her advice, offe... more »
Pentagon: 2 U.S. Soldiers Wounded During Fighting In Afghanistan Have Finally Been Evacuated From The Battlefield
*Reuters:* *U.S. conducts air strikes as fighting rages in Afghan province* U.S aircraft carried out a dozen strikes in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday as fierce battles continued with Taliban insurgents around the town of Marjah near the provincial capital, a U.S. army spokesman said. The strikes came a day after one U.S. service member was killed and two other Americans and a number of Afghan special forces soldiers were wounded during operations in the province, which has seen months of heavy fighting. U.S. army spokesman Col. Michael Lawhorn said U.S. spe... more »
Bernard-Henri Lévy: The World Must Stand Up to Saudi Arabia
[image: Saudi] Iran is no paragon of democracy. And when its leaders denounce the "criminal workings" of the "vile" Saudi regime and its links to terrorism, the pot is calling the kettle black. Yet what occurred this past weekend in Saudi Arabia... Continue reading *“Bernard-Henri Lévy: The World Must Stand Up to Saudi Arabia”* at *algemeiner.com*.
Orthodox Christians Celebrate Epiphany
[image: A woman lights a candle before joining Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, for an Epiphany ceremony at the Patriarchate in Istanbul, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. The traditional Epiphany ceremony marks the Epithany in Istanbul when Bartholomew I or an Orthodox priest throws a simple wooden cross into the water to bless the water at the Golden Horn and swimmers race to be the first to retrieve it. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)] ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Wednesday is Epiphany, a major holiday in much of Orthodox Christianity celebratin... more »
Erick Erickson to GOP Establishment: Rally to Rubio
[image: Erick Erickson - 400] Erick Erickson is not endorsing Marco Rubio, but he has a message for members of the conservative establishment who don't want to see Ted Cruz or Donald Trump become the Republican nominee -- the Florida senator may be the only... Continue reading *“Erick Erickson to GOP Establishment: Rally to Rubio”* at *politico.com*.
Alabama Top Justice Orders Judges Not to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
[image: In this photo taken on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore poses in front the the American flag, in Montgomery, Ala. The chief justice continues to fight against gay marriage in Alabama. Moore told state probate judges to refuse the marriage licenses to gay couples, saying they weren't bound to adhere to the ruling of the federal judge who declared Alabama's gay marriage ban unconstitutional. Moore said decision legalizing gay marriage would be among the court's greatest mistakes.] The Alabama Supreme Court's chief justice on Wednesday ordered state probat... more »
Christian Album Skyrockets to Third in iTunes’ Top Album Chart
[image: Christian album] Music fans who looked at iTunes' top-selling album chart on Tuesday evening were likely stunned to find that a Christian album was locked in the third spot, directly behind Adele's "25? and Justin Bieber's "Purpose." "Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising,"... Continue reading *“Christian Album Skyrockets to Third in iTunes’ Top Album Chart”* at *theblaze.com*.
Florida University Professor Fired For Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory
A professor who claimed that the Sandy Hook massacre was a staged conspiracy has been fired from his job at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). The professor claims that the school shooting which occurred in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012, was a hoax. He was fired for a technicality in his contract, and for not supplying details of his interests in certain internet blogs, or activities not in line with FAU policies. Sun Sentinel reports: The university sent a letter Tuesday to James Tracy, a tenured associate professor of communications, announcing the action. His last day... more »
China Lands Two Planes On Disputed Island In The South China Sea
The runway at the Fiery Cross Reef, one of three China was constructing on artificial islands built up from seven reefs and atolls in the Spratlys archipelago, is shown in this IHS Jane's Satellite Imagery Analysis handout image released on January 4, 2016. REUTERS/CNES 2015. DISTRIBUTION AIRBUS DS / IHS: 1640203/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS *Reuters*: *China again lands planes on disputed island in South China Sea: Xinhua* China on Wednesday landed two test flights on an island it has built in the South China Sea, four days after it angered Vietnam with a landing on the same runway in the... more »
Quote of the Day: On grief, and joy
*"In this culture we display a compulsive avoidance of difficult matters and an obsession with distraction. Because we cannot acknowledge our grief, we’re forced to stay on the surface of life. Poet Kahlil Gibran said, 'The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.' We experience little genuine joy in part because we avoid the depths. We are an ascension culture. We love rising, and we fear going down. Consequently we find ways to deny the reality of this rich but difficult territory, and we are thinned psychically. We live in what I call a 'flat-lin... more »
Is The El Nino On The Wane?
By Paul Homewood http://www.thegwpf.com/el-nino-in-decline/ David Whitehouse brings up to date analysis of the current El NIno, suggesting that it is beginning to wane.. There are various signs, including SST’s, upper ocean heat content and winds, but the most telling comment is: Sea surface temperature across the equatorial Pacific basin have cooled roughly […]
Cognitive Dissonance, Conditioning, and Reality Creation
*Brendan D. Murphy* - Denial is a nice place to visit but do you want to live there? The post Cognitive Dissonance, Conditioning, and Reality Creation appeared first on Waking Times.
"Consider A Turkey..."
"Consider a turkey that is fed every day. Every single feeding will firm up the bird's belief that it is the general rule of life to be fed every day by friendly members of the human race 'looking out for its best interests,' as a politician would say. On the afternoon of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, something unexpected will happen to the turkey. It will incur a revision of belief." - Nassim Taleb
Four retractions follow Swedish government findings of negligence, dishonesty
A Swedish ethical review board has censured two biologists and their employer, Uppsala University, for events related to “extensive image manipulations” in five papers published between 2010 and 2014. The case has led to criticism from an outside expert — who brought the allegations to Uppsala — over the current system in Sweden for handling […] The post Four retractions follow Swedish government findings of negligence, dishonesty appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Censoring the news
Yesterday the BBC finally got round to reporting the wave of sex attacks on women in Cologne and other German cities by large gangs of "Arab and North African men" which took place on New Year's Eve. They even gave it prominent coverage on their news website. (It was in the top two of their 'most read' articles for much of the rest of the day). The most-watched news programme in the UK, the BBC's flagship* News at Ten*, however, made a clear editorial decision last night to downplay the story, pushing it well down its running order and then giving it a mere 19 seconds. The editor... more »
Site C Dam Not Required, British Columbia Could Save $15 Billion Dollars
*Written by Grant G* In late December/2014....A couple of weeks after Christy Clark told Bloomberg in New York that British Columbia didn`t need Site C dam for the proposed LNG industry, Christy Clark also told Bloomberg the price of Site C was going up by potentially $billions of dollars, we are looking at $10 to $15 billion dollars to build Site C...Possibly $15 billion dollars for a very tiny bite of electric power...Expensive power, power we don`t need for LNG...The one group that looked at Site C and BC Hydro`s power for the future projected growth model...They came to the... more »
4 Facts About ADHD That Teachers & Doctors Never Tell Parents
*Arjun Walia* - ADHD cases continue to rise and these may be the reasons why. The post 4 Facts About ADHD That Teachers & Doctors Never Tell Parents appeared first on Waking Times.
North Korea's Nuclear Test Will Result In A Missile Defense Build-up By Japan And South Korea
Japan should strengthen the ability of its military to deter and counter missile attacks, including the possible acquisition of the ability to hit enemy bases, the Defence Ministry said, but officials denied this would be used for pre-emptive strikes.(Reuters) *Reuters*: *North Korea test could put missile defense back in frame despite Chinese disquiet* North Korea's claim to have tested a miniaturized hydrogen bomb, which would represent a big advance in its strike capability, could lead to renewed calls for countries in the region to enhance their missile defenses, changes that... more »
Twitter is for Twits....continued
*Twitter is for Twits* I have written previously about my absolute distain for Twitter (and all social media---Facebook, Instagram, etc.) but every once in a while the bile rises up in my throat and I have to repeat myself: Today, this is what did it: RT has published a report on Twitter Responses to the North Korean Hydrogen Bomb Test. As if anyone really cares what Joe Blow in Palooka, Ohio thinks about the bomb test. Reliance on Twitter has become a crutch for crippled and stunted journalism. People who "Tweet" substitute that silly function for real activism and commentary re... more »
Baltimore: Row Houses Gone Rogue...
*to be torn down.* Compliments of the taxpayers. Let's not forget that in 2009 the city of Baltimore received over *$1.8 billion *from President Barack Obama’s stimulus law, including $467.1 million to invest in education and $26.5 million for crime prevention. *source* By 2014 the feds were demanding a bunch of that money back since no one seemed to know where it went. From *Baltimore Sun* Jan 5, 2016 (emphasis mine) Calling Baltimore's abandoned row houses "hotbeds for crime," Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday announced a nearly *$700 million plan to tear down thousands of vacant... more »
Documents Show JFK Was Murdered Days After Demanding UFO Files From CIA
Declassified documents show that JFK wrote a letter to the head of the CIA demanding the release of secret UFO files just days before he was murdered. The memo is one of two confirmed declassified documents released by the CIA and obtained under the Freedom of Information Act John F. Kennedy wrote the memo to the CIA on November 12, 1963 and was killed on November 22, 1963. The memo says: It would be very helpful if you would have the high threat cases reviewed with the purpose of identification of bona fide as opposed to classified CIA and USAF sources. It is important that we make ... more »
Female ISIS Torturer Kills Syrian Girl Over Her Dress
A girl from Syria was tortured to death at the hands of a female ISIS extremist, for not complying with the Islamic caliphate’s dress code. Signs on her body reveal that she could have been beaten to death by ISIS terrorists, in the northern city of Manbij. ABNA reports: The 21-year-old victim, who was arrested last week for violating the Islamic dress imposed by ISIS extremists, died under torture at the hands of an ISIS female, known as Oum Farouq, in the ISIS detention center in the Syrian border city of Manbij. A family member of the victim said they received the girl’s dead bod...more »
Massive Statue of Jesus Arises in Embattled Nigeria
[image: Jesus - 434] A 40-ton marble statue of Jesus arose for the New Year in the religiously embattled nation of Nigeria, thanks to a wealthy businessman who hopes the Prince of Peace's message can triumph over sectarian strife. The 30-foot-high likeness of Christ... Continue reading *“Massive Statue of Jesus Arises in Embattled Nigeria”* at *foxnews.com*.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On North Korea's Nuclear Test
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversees a rocket-launching drill in 2014. Photograph: Reuters *Anna Fifield, The Washington Post:* *Why Is North Korea's Hydrogen Bomb Test Such A Big Deal?* North Korea's claim Wednesday that it had tested a hydrogen bomb alarmed Pyongyang's Asian neighbors -- and the rest of the world. We take a look at what's behind this new North Korean claim. *Is this a big deal? We already knew they had nukes, right?* It's a big deal because a hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb is much, much more powerful. The "Little Boy" atomic bomb that the United States dr... more »
Melting the Arctic In the Middle of Winter
*A mid-winter warm front over the North Pole, with temperatures above freezing (click to enlarge; **GFS model courtesy of Levi Cowan; source)* *by Gaius Publius* Is it an emergency yet? Slate: Over the past several days, an alarming string of tornadoes has left dozens dead across the South. At least 68 tornadoes were reported in 15 states from California to the Carolinas from Dec. 21 to Monday, the longest streak on record of December days with a tornado. December tornadoes are twice as common during El Niño years, but this weekend’s atmosphere over the South was something differe... more »
UK Winters Not Getting Warmer Or Wetter – Will Someone Tell Comrade Harrabin?
By Paul Homewood http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35228779 Another dishonest piece from Comrade Harrabin: The Met Office says there is a direct link between the warmth and the record rains that brought widespread floods across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. In fact the Met Office has said no such thing, as even Julia Slingo […]
Russian Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test
People in Pyongyang, North Korea, watch a huge screen broadcasting the government’s announcement that it had carried out a hydrogen bomb test, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/Kyodo *Sputnik*: *Russia Condemns N Korea's Nuclear Bomb Testing as Int'l Law Violation* *Moscow called Pyongyang's testing of a hydrogen bomb "a clear violation of international law".* VIENNA (Sputnik) – Russia condemned North Korea’s alleged testing of a nuclear bomb earlier on Wednesday, calling it a violation of international law, Russia’s envoy to international organizations in Vienna, Austria, said. “Russia co... more »
Chinese Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test
Hua Chunying, spokeswoman of China's Foreign Ministry, gestures at a regular news conference in Beijing, China, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/JASON LEE *New York Times*: *North Korea’s Hydrogen Bomb Claim Strains Ties With China* BEIJING — For months, China’s leaders have worked to improve relations with North Korea, its loyal but unpredictable ally to the east. They dispatched a top official to the North for a military parade, rejected calls to isolate it with tough economic sanctions, and spoke glowingly of its leader. But on Wednesday, Beijing’s hopes of keeping its neighbor in chec... more »
Japanese Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test
Japan Times: *Japan slams North Korean ‘H-bomb’ test* The government slammed North Korea on Wednesday after it apparently conducted another nuclear test, its fourth, which involved what Pyongyang described as a powerful hydrogen bomb. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe denounced the action as “a grave threat to the safety of our country.” There were stern responses from Seoul and Washington, and China, North Korea’s sole major ally, said it “firmly” opposes the blast. A statement distributed by the state-run Korean Central News Agency declared that the nation has now “proudly joined the a...more »
‘I Feel So Dirty. So Used’ — Harrowing Testimony of Cologne Victims
[image: sex abuse - 400] Victims of the Cologne New Year's Eve migrant sex abuse gangs have told of the harrowing attacks they were subjected to this weekend, as it emerges a total of 118 Germans have now come forward to police to report having been... Continue reading *“‘I Feel So Dirty. So Used’ — Harrowing Testimony of Cologne Victims”* at *breitbart.com*.
Father Outraged by ‘Uncomfortable’ TSA Pat-Down on 10-Year-Old Daughter
[image: TSA_child_screening_patdown] A 10-year-old girl received an “uncomfortable” TSA screening at a North Carolina airport after security officials found a juice pouch in her carry-on, according to her father. Kevin Payne, of San Diego, says his daughter Vendela was meticulously patted down... Continue reading *“Father Outraged by ‘Uncomfortable’ TSA Pat-Down on 10-Year-Old Daughter”* at *nbcnews.com*.
Chipotle Subpoenaed as Part of Investigation; Sales Plunge
[image: Chipotle - 900] NEW YORK (AP) -- Chipotle has been served with a federal subpoena as part of a criminal investigation tied to a norovirus outbreak at one of its restaurants. The subpoena, received last month, requires Chipotle to produce a broad range... more »
Wettest December? Not According To The England & Wales Series
By Paul Homewood http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2016/december-records http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35228779 Only one slight problem! The Met Office have a much longer running record, the England & Wales Precipitation Series, which goes back to 1766, and this shows that last month was nowhere near being the record wettest. According to that, the wettest December was in 1876. […]
Diane Abbott car crash economics interview (21Jun15)
https://youtu.be/zWhFCH-1cAk Always fun to watch.... She was right about Jeremy Corbyn's chances of winning the Labour leadership, thanks to Ed Miliband's changes to the Labour leader electoral system.
Audio: Bill Clinton Privately Mocked Paula Jones as An Attention-Seeking ‘Floozy’
[image: Paula Jones3 - 400] Bill Clinton dismissed Paula Jones in the 1990s as a "floozy" and a "nobody" who was only suing him for sexual harassment in order to have her "moment in the sun," according to an audio diary recorded at the time... Continue reading *“Audio: Bill Clinton Privately Mocked Paula Jones as An Attention-Seeking ‘Floozy’”* at *freebeacon.com*.
Palestinian President Abbas Appears Publicly for First Time Since Rumored Ill Health
[image: NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrives for a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at the United Nations January 6, 2009 in New York City. Abbas discussed the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip with top diplomats at the UN. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mahmoud Abbas] RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has made his first public appearance since rumors began circulating last week that the 80-year-old was rushed to a hospital with serious heart problems. Abbas’ office has dismissed... more »
All Is Not Well In Dipper Land
http://www.thestar.com/ We have now heard the first public call for Tom Mulcair's head. Cheri De Novo, an NDP member of the Ontario Legislature, is calling for Mulcair's resignation. Tom Walkom writes: “He’s got to go,” says Cheri DiNovo who, as MPP for Toronto’s Parkdale-High Park, is one of only two elected New Democrats left standing in Canada’s largest city. “He’s tainted.” Critics like DiNovo don’t necessarily blame Mulcair for everything that went wrong in the Oct. 19 election — one that saw the NDP lose more than half its seats n... more »
New developments cause authors to pull paper on drugs’ environmental impact
The authors of an article about the effects of pharmaceutical drugs on the environment have retracted it before publishing the final version due to new developments in the field, which would have required a major revision. The authors pulled the paper from Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management before it went through the final publication process […] The post New developments cause authors to pull paper on drugs’ environmental impact appeared first on Retraction Watch.
South Korean Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test
*The Telegraph:* *South Korea 'strongly condemns' North Korea's nuclear test* South Korea says it will take all possible measures, including possible United Nations sanctions, to ensure Pyongyang pays the price after its fourth nuclear test South Korea said it will consult with allies and regional powers to get North Korea to face the consequences of the nuclear test it said it had carried out, such as additional UN sanctions. Presidential security official Cho Tae-yong said: "We strongly condemn" the North's fourth bomb test. *More News On South Korean Reaction To North Korea's... more »
UK Taxpayers Face Huge Blow As Fatcat Bank Probe is Dropped
An investigation into dodgy dealings by fatcat bankers has been quietly axed. The decision by the Financial Conduct Authority, has sparked outrage and has been labeled a “a huge blow for taxpayers” and “a slap in the face for ordinary people”. The investigation was dumped as the FCA said other measures were in place to tackle wrongdoing, but many see Osborne’s decision to sack the head of the FCA for wanting to be too tough on bankers as a critical reason. The Mirror reports: Early in 2015 the FCA announced plans to review banking’s culture. But now the idea has been dumped after t...more »
World Reaction To North Korea's Nuclear Test
*NPR:* *Russia, China And U.S. Condemn North Korea's Nuclear Test Claims* With North Korea announcing it conducted a nuclear test of a hydrogen bomb, China, India, Russia and other nations are condemning the move. The U.S. says it has yet to verify the claim, but it also reiterated its stance that North Korea can't be allowed to become a nuclear state. News of the test was announced via state-owned Korean Central Television, which reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally ordered the test in December and gave final approval over the weekend. Last month, Kim said his ... more »
Did North Korea Explode A Hydrogen Bomb?
*VOA*: *North Korea's 'Successful' Hydrogen Bomb Test Met with Skepticism* SEOUL — In a surprise and rare televised announcement over state television KCNA, North Korea said it successfully conducted a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb test Wednesday. Pyongyang's announcement was met with widespread skepticism. "We've now become a nuclear state that also holds a hydrogen bomb,” said the KCNA announcer. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a 5.1 magnitude earthquake near Punggye-ri, where North Korea conducted three previous nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. *More news On Growing ... more »
Israel Arrests Palestinians Seeking Refuge At Red Cross In East Jerusalem
Two Palestinians who had sheltered inside the headquarters of the Red Cross International Committee in Shaikh Jarah, occupied East Jerusalem, were arrested by Israeli occupation forces in a raid on Wednesday. The two Palestinians arrested were artists who had barricaded themselves in the premises to avoid administrative expulsion orders, after Israel banned them from their home city for several months. Gulf News reports: Samer Abu Aisah, 28 and Hijazi Abu Subaih, 33 have taken refuges at the headquarters protesting their “unfair” expulsion. The Israeli regime issued the orders on cl... more »
THE YEAR OF THE LIBERAL: The way our liberal professors now "reason!"
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015Interlude—At the new Salon:* On the brighter side, your incomparable Daily Howler keeps pounding out those results. We refer to Ruth Marcus' column about Candidate Trump in today's Washington Post. Marcus offers a mocking summary of Trump's standard, fluff-festooned stump speech. Then, in her penultimate paragraph, she offers the highlighted points: MARCUS (1/6/16): Readers, this [summary] is no caricature—it’s Trump unfiltered, alighting briefly on a topic, complicated or trivial, before flitting to the next. And it’s not as if Trump bolsters his stum...more »
North Korea's Nuclear Test -- News Updates January 6, 2016
New York Times: Did North Korea Detonate a Hydrogen Bomb? Here’s What We Know North Korea’s claim that it set off a hydrogen bomb on Wednesday — in what would be the fourth time it has tested a nuclear weapon since 2006 — has stirred concerns among governments around the world. Below is a brief primer on some of the central issues at stake. *Q*. What, precisely, did North Korea announce? *A.* The North’s government said that it had detonated a hydrogen bomb — its first — at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. “This test is a measure for self-defense the D.P.R.K. has taken to firmly protect th... more »
Ballot Boxing: Rubio Gets New Religious Advisers
[image: Marco Rubio] Less than a month before the presidential primary season begins with the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is set to announce a campaign advisory board focused on religious liberty issues. Rubio's campaign tapped a handful of... Continue reading *“Ballot Boxing: Rubio Gets New Religious Advisers”* at *worldmag.com*.
Man Beheads His Own Wife To Use As Dead Weight To Drown Himself
A man beheads his wife and then entombs her head in concrete to use as weight to drown himself in an Austrian lake. The old man first strangled and dismembered his wife during the suspected murder-suicide. Japan Times reports: Police official Gottfried Mitterlehner said the couple were a 72-year-old man and his 71-year-old wife from Germany but did not further identify them. Officials told reporters the head was found in a block of concrete in a bag attached to the man’s hand. The other hand also was weighted down. The corpse and the bag were recovered by police divers from the wate... more »
World News Briefs -- January 6, 2016
*Reuters*: *North Korea says successfully conducts first H-bomb test* North Korea said it successfully tested a miniaturized hydrogen nuclear bomb on Wednesday, claiming a significant advance in its strike capability and setting off alarm bells in Japan and South Korea. The test, the fourth time the isolated state has exploded a nuclear device, was ordered by young leader Kim Jong Un and successfully conducted at 10:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT), North Korea's official KCNA news agency said. "Let the world look up to the strong, self-reliant nuclear-armed state," Kim wrote in what...more »
2015 Public Opinion Poll Iraq Divided Over Future Of Kurdistan & Partisan Divide Amongst Kurds
The third part of the latest Iraq public opinion poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research dealt with Kurdistan. The survey was conducted from August to September 2015 and included 2,000 respondents from all parts of the country. The general feeling was that the relationship between Baghdad and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was getting worse, and at the same time the region was deeply divided along partisan lines. Everyone thought that ties between Baghdad and Irbil were getting worse. In Baghdad 67% said they were worse, 17% better. In the south 70% said worse compared to ... more »
Being Found Guilty of ‘Transphobia’ Could Cost You $250,000
[image: transgender - 900] In the last few days and weeks, with relatively little public fanfare, radical legislation was enacted in New York City and Washington State to protect the rights of those who identify as transgender -- at the cost of everyone else. And... more »
SPHERE ALLIANCE MESSAGE #124North Korea's H-Bomb Hoax
[1/6/16, 3:48:20 PM] AK/Terran: *AK Stan X, did North Korea really test an H Bomb?* [1/6/16, 3:50:38 PM] *DEAR ONE/AK/TERRAN. NORTH KOREA DID NOT TEST A HYDROGEN BOMB. * *THE "EXPLOSIVE" EVIDENCE IS STANDARD M4 AND M8 EXPLOSIVES PACKED INTO A CONCRETE "SHELL" THAT WAS "IGNITED" TO CAUSE THE VISUAL EFFECT. * *ALL ATOMIC/NUCLEAR TOYS ARE CONFISCATED. STAN.X. END.*
Drink Driving Woman Acquitted, Claims Her Body Is A Brewery
A woman from Hamburg, New York, successfully defended her drink driving charge, by claiming that her body is a natural brewery. Irish Independent reports: The woman was arrested while driving with a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit in New York state. She then discovered she had a rare condition called “auto-brewery syndrome”, in which her digestive system converts ordinary food into alcohol, according to her lawyer, Joseph Marusak. A town judge in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg dismissed the drink-drive charges this month, after Mr Marusak presented medical re... more »
We have a new record: 80 years from publication to retraction
We have a new record for the longest time from publication to retraction: 80 years. It’s for a case report about a 24-year-old man who died after coughing up more than four cups of what apparently looked — and smelled — like pee. According to the case report titled “Een geval van uroptoë” published in 1923, […] The post We have a new record: 80 years from publication to retraction appeared first on Retraction Watch.
One-Pot Simple Alfredo for a Classy and Simple Meal
One-pot meals are super popular right now, and for good reason. They make meal prep easy and clean up a piece of cake. But it's easy to assume that these meals aren't quite as good. Fortunately, this One-Pot Simple Alfredo keeps things classy and simple. *INGREDIENTS* 1 package small shells 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4-1/2 package fresh spinach, chopped 1 can peas 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Nutmeg Salt Pepper *PREPARATION* 1. In a large pot, cook the shells according to package directions. 2. Using the same pot (now drained of noodles and water), add cream and spinach over... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 6, 2016
*FOX News*: *'It changes things': Successful North Korean H-bomb test raises threat to US and Asia, expert says* If North Korea is confirmed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, as the country's Stalinist dictatorship claimed Wednesday, it would signify that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program is far more advanced than most analysts have imagined, a veteran North Korea watcher told Fox News late Wednesday. "If in fact it was a hydrogen test, this means the North Koreans are advancing their nuclear weaponization program at a faster and more efficient (and deadly) pace tha...more »
Former US Attorney Predicts Hillary Will Be Indicted Soon … or FBI, Intelligence Agencies Will Revolt
[image: PITTSBURGH - APRIL 14: Presidential candidate U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)speaks at a forum of the Alliance for American Manufacturing at the David L Lawrence Convention Center April 14, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Clinton is campaigning ahead of the April 22, Pennsylvania primary. (Photo by Jeff Swensen)] A former U.S. attorney thinks Hillary Clinton could face a criminal indictment from the FBI within the next 60 days. Joe DiGenova, a Republican U.S. attorney appointed by President Reagan, said Clinton’s “biggest problem right now” is the open FBI... Continue ... more »
Armed Group in Oregon Fears Raid; Critics Decry Their Goals
[image: A sign referencing Ammon Bundy and his brother, who are the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, hangs on a tree in front of a home Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, in Burns, Ore. Ammon Bundy, the leader of a small, armed group that is occupying a remote national wildlife preserve in Oregon said Tuesday that they will go home when a plan is in place to turn over management of federal lands to locals. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)] BURNS, Ore. (AP) -- The small, armed group occupying a remote national wildlife preserve in Oregon has said repeatedly that local people should control federal land... more »
The Republicans May Mourn The Loss But Steve Israel Is A Name To Be Quickly And Unceremoniously Forgotten
Unless this is the first time you've come to *DWT* you can probably guess that yesterday was a very special day for me: Steve Israel announcing he is retiring from Congress. The details haven't come out yet but there is little doubt he isn't retiring to spend more time as a failed author of inconsequential books. (My friend David and I are working on a sit-com that features a corrupt congressman from Long Island named Steve Tel-Aviv and perhaps he has some acting abilities... I bear him to personal animus. I've even become friends with Mark Foley after he... retired.) I shudder at... more »
Spider’s Blamed For Obstructing CCTV Cameras
Police in a Welsh town say that the long arm of the law is being obstructed by the long legs of the spider. The spiders have been weaving their webs in front of CCTV cameras, making images useless to police trying to solve crimes. Footage of the obstructions was shown during a recent meeting of the Ffestiniog Town Council. RT reports: Cambrian News reports the town clerk, or Spider Man as they’re being called in the office, will now be in charge of checking the monitors once a week and “thoroughly” cleaning the camera lenses at least four times a year. While none of the images from ... more »
Oregon Wildlife Refuge Protesters Dig in as Decades-Old Grievances Fester
[image: BURNS, OR - JANUARY 05: Ammon Bundy, the leader of an anti-government militia, speaks to members of the media in front of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on January 5, 2016 near Burns, Oregon. An armed anti-government militia group continues to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Headquarters as they protest the jailing of two ranchers for arson.] Dwight and Steven Hammond, a father and son who own a family ranch in southern Oregon, have returned to federal prison to serve more time for setting controlled fires on federal land they were leasing, fires that ... more »
Wheaton College Seeks to Fire Christian Professor Over View of Islam
[image: Larycia Hawkins] Wheaton College has begun termination proceedings against Larycia Hawkins related to her public statements of solidarity with Muslims, the evangelical school confirmed today. . . . "Dr. Hawkins's administrative leave resulted from theological statements that seemed inconsistent with Wheaton College's... Continue reading *“Wheaton College Seeks to Fire Christian Professor Over View of Islam”* at *christianitytoday.com*.
Pro-Gun Is Pro-Life
[image: ProLife ProGun - 900] Rob Schenck, a “leading” Evangelical preacher to DC politicos, or so says the Washington Post, has decided, as he puts it, that you can’t be pro-life and pro-gun. Schenck is not only wrong, but he has it backward. Pro-gun, rightly defined, is pro-life.... more »
Peace in Our Shire, War at the Door
[image: A view of the set for Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy movie.] ALAN EASON -- We are in a time of national and global stress. At such moments we do well to look back to periods of equal or even greater distress to see how the wise and brave faced such times. It was... more »
Mystery Cloaks Toxic Colorado Gold King Mine Spill as Contractor Hides Behind EPA
[image: Emergency tailing ponds constructed in response to the 2015 Gold King Mine spill, pictured on August 7, 2015.] It's been more than five months since the Colorado Gold King Mine spill turned rivers and streams in the American West into toxic yellow torrents, but who caused it remains a mystery due to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contractor's... more »
Roots and Identity
[image: Finding Your Roots] Ever since the miniseries Roots was shown on ABC in 1977, Americans have demonstrated a keen interest in finding out more about where they came from and the names and circumstances of their ancestors. Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.... more »
The Wildlife Refuge Putsch
[image: BURNS, OR - JANUARY 05: A member of an anti-government militia stands at a checkpoint in front of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters on January 5, 2016 near Burns, Oregon. An armed anti-government militia group continues to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Headquarters as they protest the jailing of two ranchers for arson.] The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge hasn’t heretofore been known as a locus of government tyranny or much of anything else. Saying that the refuge, established in 1908 by Theodore Roosevelt, is in the middle of nowhere makes it sound t... more »
On Gun Restrictions, Obama Plays Showman-in-Chief
[image: U.S. President Barack Obama during a presidential portrait sitting for an official photograph in the Oval Office on 6 December 2012.] Those who have been marveling at Donald Trump’s political showmanship were given a reminder of who is the top showman of them all, when President Barack Obama went on television to make a pitch for his unilateral actions to restrict... more »
Untitled
*Mental health programs in Mass. schools* *The objective is fine but there needs to be some measure of payoff. Are the activities working? Is mental health improving? Or is it all just trendy nonsense? No mention of that so far. I am certainly dubious that Tibetan gongs will help* The only sound that could be heard in Maria Simon’s first-grade classroom one December morning was the soothing hum from a vibrating Tibetan singing bowl. Her students had gathered on a brightly colored rug at the back of the classroom, sitting with their eyes shut, their legs crossed, and their arm... more »
Untitled
*Another hokey percentage agreement with Warmism* *Now it's about the opinions of economists -- but not any economists. A Law school surveyed "economists with climate expertise". Is it any surprise what they found? No economist with half a brain would risk his livelihood by going into that field if he was a global warming skeptic. All that the survey showed was that Warmists believe in Warmism. Not exactly startling* The Institute for Policy Integrity at the New York University (NYU) School of Law recently published a report summarizing a survey of economists with climate ... more »
ISIS Leaves Behind Mass Grave As Iraqi Forces Retake Ramadi
[image: Iraqi Security forces enter the heavy damaged downtown Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015. Islamic State fighters are putting up a tough fight in the militant-held city of Ramadi, slowing down the advance of Iraqi forces, Gen. Ismail al-Mahlawi, head of the Anbar military operations, said Sunday.] A mass grave containing approximately 40 civilian bodies was discovered by Iraqi forces in Ramadi Monday, according to an NBC News report. Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) began an offensive against Islamic State in the Iraqi city last month, r... more »
Most World Stocks Fall on North Korea Nuke Test, China Data
[image: A man looks at an electronic stock indicator of a securities firm in Tokyo, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. Most Asian stock markets declined Wednesday after a North Korean nuclear test unnerved investors and a poor Chinese economic report dampened sentiment. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index lost 1 percent to 18,191.32. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)] HONG KONG (AP) -- World stock markets mostly slumped Wednesday after a North Korean nuclear test unnerved investors and a report showing weakness in China’s service industries renewed worries about growth in the world’s No. 2 economy. ... more »
The Term ‘Neocon’ Has Run Its Course
[image: Ted Cruz] In interviews and on the stump, Sen. Ted Cruz likes to attack President Obama, Hillary Clinton and “some of the more aggressive Washington neocons” for their support of regime change in the Middle East. Every time we topple a dictator,... more »
Is The Rebel 'Syrian Free Army' Finished?
Free Syrian Army fighters (Reuters/Muzaffar Salman) / Reuters *Mona Alami, US News and World Report/Al-Monitor:* *Can the Free Syrian Army Get Back on Its Feet?* *The Free Syrian Army has been demoralized by Russia's involvement in the Syrian civil war* Nearly three months have passed since the Russian offensive in Syria began Sept. 30. The Russian intervention first targeted rebel strongholds in northern Syria and is now focusing on the Sheikh Maskin area in the south. Experts say the Free Syrian Army took the brunt of the onslaught. According to a recent report by the Institute ... more »
North Korea May Have Tested H-Bomb, in Violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions
[image: A South Korean army soldier watches a TV screen showing a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would put Pyongyang a big step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal. The letters read: " About 4.3-magnitude earthquake was detected in North Korea. " (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)] SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- The latest on North Korea’s announcement that is has condu... more »
Trained Dogs Can Help In Treating Veterans With PTSD
*NPR*: *Veterans Say Trained Dogs Help With PTSD, But The VA Won't Pay* At a warehouse near Dallas, a black Lab named Papi tugs on a rope to open a fridge and passes his trainer a plastic water bottle with his mouth. Service dogs are often trained to help veterans with physical disabilities. Now, a growing number are being trained to meet the demand from vets with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. Those dogs learn extra tricks — how to sweep a house for intruders, for example, so a veteran feels safe. "We teach them something called perimeter, where the... more »
SPHERE ALLIANCE MESSAGE #122JUPITER, URANUS AND NEPTUNE
[10/28/15, 2:33:27 AM] *AK/Terran: AK was Jupiter inhabited?* [10/28/15, 2:33:36 AM] *DEAR ONE/AK/TERRAN THERE WAS INDEED A TIMELINE IN WHICH JUPITER WAS INHABITED IN THE INTERIOR. END.* [10/28/15, 2:34:31 AM] *AK/Terran: Is it now?* [10/28/15, 2:34:58 AM] *DEAR ONE/AK/TERRAN NO JUPITER IS NOT INHABITED IN THE NOW. END.* [10/28/15, 2:35:31 AM] *AK/Terran: What is the red spot? Massive hurricane?* [10/28/15, 2:36:02 AM] *DEAR ONE/AK/TERRAN THE "SPOT" PERCEIVED ON JUPITER IS A GASEOUS CLOUD THAT WAS CAUSED BY A MASS ERUPTION OF MANY VOLCANIC REGIONS THERE. END*. [10/28/15, 2:37... more »
Economic News , Data & views ( January 6 , 2016 ) Europe In Focus ( 1.Greece hope to convince Troika on pension proposals . 2 Italy and EU Commission row increases as only italian member of Juncker's Cabinet quits. 3 . Libya and other MENA concerns front & center for EU Parliament and EU generally. 4. EZ Nov PMI flat at -0.2 ( M/M ). 5. BOE on hold until Nov 16 for rate hikes , as per ING. 6 Refugee related items. 7. Oil in free fall , ruble weakening in sympathy. 8. Stocks weaker on Dax. 9. EU Commission to seek more powers on emissions. 10. Odds & Ends. ) Asia/ Emerging Nations In Focus ( 1. North Korea announces test of H-Bomb. 2. Various items of note from Japan. 3. Various items of note from China. 4. Iran/ Opec item . 5. Currency items. 6. Odds & Ends )
Evening wrap..... *fred walton* @fredwalton216 2m 2 minutes ago fred walton Retweeted SoberLook.com Wow ! That didn't take long . Shanghai closed for the rest of the day after hitting second circuit breaker of -7% fred walton added, *SoberLook.com* @SoberLook No bid ... https://twitter.com/frostyhk/status/684917136200826880 … *fred walton* @fredwalton216 25m 25 minutes ago fred walton Retweeted Haidi Lun 伦海迪 One of the mornings in China. Stocks already halted once for first circuit breaker. fred walton added, *Haidi Lun 伦海迪* @HaidiLun If last time is anything to go by, t... more »
Russia's Military Is Investing Big In An Army Of Super Smelling Cyborg RATS
Cyborg: The rats are having microchips implanted in their heads, allowing scientists to monitor brain waves *Daily Mail*: *Vladimir Putin unleashes his new secret weapon in the fight against ISIS - an army of super smelling RATS* * Scientists in Rostov-on-Don are hoping to harness rats' 'raptor neurons' * Rats have microchips implanted so researchers can monitor brain waves * Meanwhile, physiologists train rodents to recognise explosives and drugs * Rats are already used to detect land mines in other parts of the world Vladimir Putin is preparing to unleash his latest weapon in the w... more »
One People's Show: Dec 22, 2015
... and finally, here is the video of the very last One People's Discussions for 2015!! There have been no shows for the past two weeks, but I think that this coming Monday- January 11th, we should be back on track at the regular show time. d
Russia Adopts U.S. Rules In Regulating Drones
Russian drone shot down over Turkey. (Photo: Twitter Photo Section) *Popular Science:* *Russia's New Drone Rules Look A Lot Like America's* *Imitation is the sincerest form of global leadership* Cheap drones are a worldwide phenomenon, and governments across the globe are struggling to adapt to the small unmanned flying machines. In the United States, the FAA recently required that every drone over half a pound be registered by February 19th. Last week, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill regulating drones, too. With almost the same regulations as America. The law is an... more »
Pol. Ideology 65, Liberals and liberty, positive and negative freedom
Reposting here a good article by a friend, published yesterday in a paper in Kuala Lumpur. Good discussion about liberal vs. illiberal, liberty vs. coercion, positive vs. negative freedom. ------ http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/thinking-liberally/2016/01/05/how-liberals-become-illiberal/ Negative freedom is the true way to respect choice, while positive freedom brings you closer to an illiberal coercive environment. IT is heartening to see more liberals speaking up these days. Every time an illiberal idea is put to the public, you can almost rest assured that someone... more »
Jenn Lewis : METRO | Homes for the brave? A vet’s story
I was officially a homeless military veteran in the otherwise vibrant city known as Austin. By Jenn Lewis | The Rag Blog | January 6, 2016 AUSTIN — Confucius once said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but … finish reading Jenn Lewis : *METRO* | Homes for the brave? A vet’s story
Russian Arsenal During The Time Of Ivan The Terrible Discovered Outside Of Moscow
A 16th century storehouse holding distinctive spiked helmets (pictured) and weapons intended for elite soldiers has been discovered near Zvenigorod, a town west of Moscow. The helmets were found stored in leather boxes along with sabres, belts and arrows, intended for use by a powerful group of Russian soldiers *Discovery*:* Ivan the Terrible Military Arsenal Found* The full arsenal of a military commander who served Ivan the Terrible has been uncovered in Russia, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences has announced. Found during a survey for a highway exp... more »
Isn't It Time to End This Relationship?
*Saudi Game-Changing Head-Chopping* By Robert Parry For generations, U.S. officials have averted their eyes from Saudi Arabia’s grotesque monarchy – which oppresses women, spreads jihadism and slaughters dissidents – in a crude trade-off of Saudi oil for American weapons and U.S. security guarantees. It is a deal with the devil that may finally be coming due. The increasingly undeniable reality is that the Saudis along with other oil sheikhs are the biggest backers of Al Qaeda and various terrorist groups – helping these killers as long as they spread their mayhem in other count... more »
(Defaulting Is the New Black?) Too Many Secrets Exposed (Next Subprime Trades: Compressed Risks Ready to Explode?) No Sustainables from Gates/Biotech Mob (Another Purposely Missing Safety Valve - Not Required by Law!)
Controlled by Shadow Government: How Top U.S. Officials Are at the Mercy of the “Deep State” Media Fear-Mongers About Supposed “ISIS Plots” While Covering Up Key Details Like Police Entrapment and Mental Illness The U.S. Press Has Been Accused of Helping ISIS Spread Propaganda. On New Year's we saw yet another absurd example. Ghanaians have been fighting attempts at the imposition of
Military Photo of the Day: January 6, 2016
[image: Airmen in Iraq-900] A U.S. Air Force aircrew walks the flightline after taking part in a recent refueling mission over Iraq. It is impossible to adequately thank the brave U.S. service members serving around the world, as well as their families here at... more »
A Spring Of Discontent In Russia?
*Owen Matthews, Newsweek*: *Restless in Russia - The Kremlin Braces For A Possible Spring Of Discontent* Predicting a coming Russian revolution has been a favorite hobby of Russia watchers for years now. But since President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014, the doomsaying has intensified, as plunging oil prices and Western economic sanctions wreak havoc on the Russian economy. Yet even though the ruble has lost over half its value, inflation has risen from 5 percent to 16 percent and Russians’ purchasing power has dropped to 1990s levels, Putin’s approval rating... more »
North Korea goes thermonuclear
Barack Obama has issued an executive order requiring additional background checks of sellers of guns and similar things. GOP candidates vow that they will undo such moves as long as they get in the office. The first person who has gotten Obama's permission to obtain a new weapon was Kim Jong-Un. In his country's fourth nuclear test, he detonated his first successful H-bomb. I have no doubt that they have performed *some* test. You may look at earthquake.usgs.gov and see a 5.1 magnitude earthquake that just happens to be located at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the Northeast of... more »
Hawking, Perry, Strominger on soft hair
Last June, Andy Strominger gave an interesting talk at Strings 2015 (and published papers) on memories, soft theorems, and asymptotic symmetries. New hair was identified along with infinitely many new conservation laws related to the BMS supertranslations etc. Two months later, Stephen Hawking said that he had used these advances to solve the black hole information paradox – which he had started 4 decades earlier – "again". Hawking has mentioned that Andy Strominger would be one of his assistants in getting the new great idea out. The main paper is now out: Soft Hair on Black Holes...more »
Is Anyone In The Middle East Listening To U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry?
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the media during a news conference at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, December 18, 2015. REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ *Politico*: *Kerry reaches out to Middle East leaders to calm tensions* Secretary of State John Kerry, determined to stop a Saudi-Iran break in diplomatic ties from scuttling the Syrian peace process, is reaching out to leaders across the Middle East to press for calm. The State Department said that Kerry had, since Sunday, talked at least twice to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, as well as Saudi Fo... more »
English GP surgeries reach new patient 'breaking point' per BBC News
You can read the whole of this BBC article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35200033 and be none the wiser as to why 'patient demand' has risen. Not a mention of immigration being a major factor in increasing patient demand for NHS GP services because for the BBC facts are sometimes just too inconvenient to mention.
Shepherd Bliss : FILM | Robert Bly: Tribute to a radical poet
Robert Bly has made a big difference in the lives of many, bringing a contentious, creative presence into his prophetic work. By Shepherd Bliss | The Rag Blog | January 6, 2016 Poet Robert Bly, now 89 years old, is … finish reading Shepherd Bliss : *FILM* | Robert Bly: Tribute to a radical poet
North Korea Confirm Successful H-Bomb Test Causing 5.1 Earthquake
Kim Jong-un has announced that North Korea have “successfully” tested a hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) on Wednesday, which was confirmed as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake was detected next to the nuclear test site. The nuclear test was announced in a special televised statement by Central TV where Pyongyang claimed, “The republic’s first hydrogen bomb test has been successfully performed at 10:00 am on January 6, 2016, based on the strategic determination of the Workers’ Party”. The South Korean weather agency said the tremor, felt 12 miles ENE of Sungjibaegam, was “artificial” – confirming tha...more »
Pope Warns “End Of Days Begin Now” As Iran-Saudi Crisis Develops
Pope Francis has warned that the “end of days begin now” and that the crisis involving Iran and Saudi Arabia represents a “tribulation on a timeline” that will “climax in the end of the world.” Addressing crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican for the celebration of Epiphany, the Pope took the opportunity to warn followers that the Middle East crisis will lead directly to the fulfilment of various Bible prophecies. “Gatherings of armies, natural disasters, and famine abound around the world. We have celebrated Christmas. Now we celebrate the Epiphany. But do not turn... more »
German Mayor: Women Must Adopt ‘Code Of Conduct’ To Avoid Rape
The Mayor of Cologne, Germany, has said that women must adopt a “code of conduct” if they do not wish to be raped in a crisis meeting following the sexual assault of women by 1,000 men on New Year’s eve. Mayor Herniette Reker’s shocking remarks were made during a meeting with Chief of Police Wolfgang Albers and Wolfgang Wurm. During the meeting they discussed how Germany should deal with the attacks, in which dozens of women were repeatedly groped and one alleged case of rape occurred in the town center. Independent.co.uk reports: “It is important to prevent such incidents from eve...more »
BREAKING NEWS: Scores Of U.S. Troops Surrounded And Trapped By Taliban Forces In Marjah, Afghanistan
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com *FOX News*: *More than a dozen US troops trapped amid Afghanistan firefight* More than a dozen U.S. Army special operations soldiers are trapped in Marjah, Afghanistan, taking cover in a compound surrounded by enemy fire and hostile Taliban fighters after a U.S. special operations solider was killed earlier in the day, senior U.S. defense officials told Fox News late Tuesday. A U.S. official described the “harrowing” scene to Fox News, saying there were enemy forces surrounding the compound in which the special operations team sought refu... more »
Some Thoughts On Tonight's North Korean Nuclear Test
*WNU Editor*: With this North Korean nuclear test .... the Iran - Saudi Arabia war of words is going to take a back seat for the next day or two. There is still no word from the White House on today's test .... but Asian countries are quickly condemning what has happened. China is still quiet. No word from Russia. I am sceptical that this was a Hydrogen bomb test. I was told a long time ago that only a few people in the world (about 300) understood the physics and engineering required to assemble a Hydrogen bomb. This is in contrast to assembling an atomic bomb, where there are ... more »
U.S. Army Troops Trapped Amid Afghan Firefight
Over a dozen U.S. Army troops have been left trapped in Marjah, Afghanistan, amid enemy fire by Taliban fighters after a U.S. special operations soldier was killed earlier on. Enemy forces surround the compound the soldiers are taking cover in, as they wait for backup over night. Foxnews.com reports: A U.S. official described the “harrowing” scene to Fox News, saying there were enemy forces surrounding the compound in which the special operations team sought refuge. “On the map there is one green dot representing friendly forces stuck in the compound, and around it is a sea of red ... more »
New Study Says Fracking Wastewater Causes Cancer
A new scientific study published in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology has proved that fracking wastewater causes cancer in humans. The paper titled, Malignant human cell transformation of Marcellus Shale gas drilling flow back water, confirms the suspicions already held by many people – that fracking pollution is carcinogenic. Scott.net reports: The new collaborative study was conducted by scientists at esteemed institutions in both the U.S. and China and found that so-called “flow back” fracking wastewater induced malignant changes in human bronchial epithelial cells consistent ... more »
North Korea Conducted A Successful SLBM Test Last Month
Photograph of a SLBM test launch released by Pyongyang in May, 2015. Yonhap 38 North: *North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Full Steam Ahead* *A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.* Reports of a North Korean “ejection” test of the Bukkeukseong-1 (Polaris-1, KN-11) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on December 21, 2015, appear to be supported by new commercial satellite imagery of the Sinpo South Shipyard. This imagery also indicates that despite reports of a failed test in late November 2015 North Korea is continuing to actively pursu... more »
2016-- And The GOP Is Still Playing Their Voters For Fools Over Obamacare And Planned Parenthood
Rubio has been boasting on the campaign trail and on Hate Talk Radio that he killed Obamacare. Since it isn't dead, he must be lying. Although he is trying. What he's trying to do is to lead an effort to deny requests to reimburse big insurers some $2.5 billion for unexpected losses suffered in 2014, which falls under a key Affordable Care Act provision known as risk corridors, included to help insurance companies that suffer higher-than-expected losses. Rubio with a cynical ploy persuaded Republicans to insist on "budget neutrality" and has engineered a $2.5 billion loss to insur... more »
Untitled
*From* *Jenna Orkin* A "Perfect Storm Is Coming" Deutsche Warns As Baltic Dry Falls To New Record Low Big banks are joining forces with the firms that were supposed to be disrupting them Russia and China are drastically scaling up their presence in Antarctica The Italian Mob Is To Blame For Naples' High Cancer Rates Whereas in the rest of the world, it's often the government. But who wants to defend the mob against a smear campaign? - JO Syrian Residents Are Starving To Death Inside Besieged Town Germany In Shock After "Monstrous" Attacks, Rape By 1,000 Men "Of Arab Or North African ... more »
Why The Pentagon Is Worried That North Korea Has Conducted A Nuclear Test
*Charles Tiefer, Fortune:* *North Korean Nuclear Test: Six More Worries for the Pentagon* North Korea’s underground test of an atomic bomb is worrisome enough in itself. But, further, it means facing a whole group of potentially alarming developments. Specifically, it increases six types of concerns that have been growing in 2015. *1. Growing arsenal – 10? 20? More?* The U.S. used to have a relatively benign view that the North Korean nuclear arsenal amounted to some ten atomic bombs. But, contact with Chinese academics in 2014 has led to a realization that in China, there is a ... more »
New Year Assaults by Apparent Immigrants Spark New Debate in Germany
[image: A woman protests against sexism outside the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 5, 2016. Poster reads " Mrs. Merkel. Where are you? What do you say? It's scary". German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced outrage Tuesday at a series of sexual assaults in the western city of Cologne on New Year's Eve, saying the perpetrators need to be found as soon as possible. Merkel called Cologne's mayor Henriette Reker to express her concern about the assaults, which took place around Cologne's main train station, next to the city's famous cathedral.] BERLIN (AP) -- A string of sex as... more »
Montage: In 33-Minute Speech on Guns, Obama Refers to Himself 76 Times
[image: Obama] While announcing his new executive actions on guns, President Obama spoke today about the pain of having to give speeches after mass shootings. He also spoke about meeting Gabby Giffords shortly after she was shot, and noted that she opened... Continue reading *“Montage: In 33-Minute Speech on Guns, Obama Refers to Himself 76 Times”* at *grabien.com*.
BREAKING NEWS: North Korea Has Conducted A Nuclear Test. Claims It Was A Hydrogen Bomb
*Daily Mail: **BREAKING NEWS: North Korea confirms it has launched a 'successful' HYDROGEN BOMB test causing 5.1 magnitude man made earthquake * * Sizeable tremor recorded 30 miles from the Punggye-ri nuclear test site * Chinese and South Korean officials say tremor appears to be man-made * US Geological Survey reading sparks worry that atomic weapon involved * Epicentre was 30 miles north west of Kilju city in north east of the country North Korea today conducted a 'successful' hydrogen bomb test, Pyongyang has confirmed. The detonation of the thermonuclear weapon triggered a massi... more »
Inside The Islamic State's Terror Weapons Lab
*SKY News*: *Exclusive: Inside IS Terror Weapons Lab* Experts describe the footage obtained by Sky News of a "jihadi technical college" as an intelligence gold mine. Terror group Islamic State is employing scientists and weapons experts to train jihadists to carry out sophisticated "spectacular" attacks in Europe, while also modifying weapons systems capable of targeting passenger jets and military aircraft. From a "jihadi university" in the Syrian city of Raqqa, the scientists have stunned western weapons experts by producing a homemade thermal battery for surface-to-air missile... more »
US Pacific Fleet Shrinks As China’s Military Grows
[image: FILE - This Oct. 17, 2015 file photo shows a U.S. Navy fighter jet approaching to land on the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during Exercise Malabar 2015 about 150 miles off Chennai, India. The U.S. Pacific Fleet is smaller than it was in the 1990s, helping fuel a debate about whether the U.S. has enough ships to meet challenges posed by fast-growing and increasingly assertive Chinese naval forces. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K., File)] PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) -- The U.S. Pacific Fleet is shrinking even as the U.S. and its allies are facing challenges posed by ... more »
Twitter Suspends Account of Oregon Militia Leader Ammon Bundy
[image: Ammon Bundy] The Twitter social media site on Tuesday restored the suspended the account of Ammon Bundy, the Nevada rancher who is leading a group of armed men occupying federal buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. On Tuesday afternoon,... Continue reading *“Twitter Suspends Account of Oregon Militia Leader Ammon Bundy”* at *usatoday.com*.
New Navy Leader: Nukes ‘Foundational to our Survival’
[image: Those who have been marveling at Donald Trump's political showmanship were given a reminder of who is the top showman of them all, when President Barack Obama went on television to make a pitch for his unilateral actions to restrict gun sales and make a more general case for tighter gun control laws.] WASHINGTON (AP) -- In his blueprint for a stronger Navy, the sea service’s new top boss, Adm. John M. Richardson, is blunt about what he thinks matters most: nuclear punch. Battling terrorists is today’s problem, but in looking toward a... more »
Islamic State has lost 30 Percent of Its Territory in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Says
[image: In this Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 photo, smoke rises from Islamic State positions following a U.S.-led coalition airstrike in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Islamic State had captured Ramadi in May, in one of its biggest advances since the U.S.-led coalition began striking the group in 2014. Recapturing the city, which is the provincial capital of Anbar, provided a major morale boost for Iraqi forces. (AP Photo)] BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group said Tuesday that the militants have lost 30 percent of the territory th... more »
Gun Sales Soar after Obama Calls for New Restrictions
[image: gun sales] More guns were sold in December than almost any other month in nearly two decades, continuing a pattern of spikes in sales after terrorist attacks and calls for stricter gun-buying laws, according to federal data released on Monday. The heaviest... Continue reading *“Gun Sales Soar after Obama Calls for New Restrictions”* at *nytimes.com*.
America, They Are Now Definitely Going For Your Guns - Criminal US President Gives BS Speech And Sheds Fake Tears For Gun Control!
Lets face it... The American people have been inundated by the liars in the Jew spew media, and their own government, throwing at them the constant bullshit propaganda of fake "shootings" over the last while...The agenda and ultimate goal being that the American people will stupidly and gullibly surrender their last line of defence from a tyrannical government, which is of course their guns.... It is sad that most of the American people do not understand the meaning of their 2nd Amendment and how it was put into place to prevent their republic from becoming a dictatorship! Just tod... more »
Franklin Graham Explains His ‘Campaign for God’
[image: Franklin Graham] Evangelist Franklin Graham is launching a nationwide effort to urge Christians to get out and vote in 2016, but the son of the legendary Billy Graham isn’t backing any one candidate or party, insisting his aim is to launch a... Continue reading *“Franklin Graham Explains His ‘Campaign for God’”* at *nbcnews.com*.
Is The Obama Administration Favouring Iran Over Saudi Arabia?
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama are greeted upon their arrival on Marine One for a meeting with Saudi King Abdullah at Rawdat al-Khraim (Desert Camp) near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, March 28, 2014. REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE *Josh Rogin and Eli Lake, Bloomberg:* *Obama’s Middle East Balancing Act Tilts Toward Iran* As the cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia heats up, the Barack Obama administration is trying to straddle the fence and not take sides, but its actions tell a different story -- they all seem to favor Tehran. Following the Saudi gover... more »
2016 And Wasserman Schultz Is Still Head Of The DNC!
Roots Action came up with a great way to launch 2016-- removing Debbie Wasserman Schultz as chair of the DNC. A better idea, though not as feasible, would have been to travel back in time and warn Obama what would happen if he followed Rahm Emanuel's terrible advise and appointed her to the job. They reached almost 20,000 signatories in 2 days! Washerman Schultz first came to my attention when, as a Florida state senator, she drew her own future congressional district-- making it as "Jewish" as she could-- in return for giving Republicans in the state legislature unfair and unwarr... more »
Musical Interlude: Kevin Kern, “Another Realm”
Kevin Kern, “Another Realm” - https://www.youtube.com/
"We May Be..."
“We may be in the Universe as dogs and cats are in our libraries, seeing the books and hearing the conversation, but having no inkling of the meaning of it all.” - William James (1908)
"A Look to the Heavens"
"The majestic Lagoon Nebula is filled with hot gas and the home for many young stars. Spanning 100 light years across while lying only about 5000 light years distant, the Lagoon Nebula is so big and bright that it can be seen without a telescope toward the constellation of the Archer (Sagittarius). Many bright stars are visible from NGC 6530, an open cluster that formed in the nebula only several million years ago. The greater nebula, also known as M8 and NGC 6523, is named "Lagoon" for the band of dust seen to the right of the open cluster's center. *Click image for larger size.* T... more »
Chet Raymo, "Final Exam: Philosophy 101"
*"Final Exam: Philosophy 101"* by Chet Raymo "Among the collected aphorisms of the poet Wallace Stevens is this: "The thing seen becomes the thing unseen. The opposite is, or seems to be, impossible." Discuss. The first question to ask is whether this aphorism, or any of Mr. Stevens aphorisms, means anything at all. Stevens is known for his tricky opacity, his oblique glance, his wry twists. All of this sometimes makes him seem profound, and fine fodder for the critic, but one has to ask: Does it really add up to a hill of beans? And the answer, I think, is: Yes. It does add up to... more »
Regulator quietly shelves inquiry into banking culture. Another victory for the bank lobby
Chris has it all explained by a banker... SOURCE BBC NEWS: Banking culture inquiry shelved by regulator FCA The FCA had planned to look at whether pay, promotion or other incentives had contributed to scandals involving banks in the UK and abroad. The Treasury denies involvement in the decision - which some commentators have suggested was politically motivated. Banks around the world have
European Tinder Box
The Zero Hedge headline is designed to shock: Germany In Shock After "Monstrous" Attacks, Rape By 1,000 Men "Of Arab Or North African Origin", Zero Hedge January 5, 2016, http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-01-05/germany-shock-after-monstrous-attacks-rape-1000-men-arab-or-north-african-origin ZeroHedge references BBC coverage of the event. Here is an excerpt: Germany shocked by Cologne New Year gang assaults on women, BBC January 5, 2015, accessed January 5, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35231046 What is particularly disturbing is that the attacks appear to have been ... more »
Dr. Seuss, "The Waiting Place"
*"The Waiting Place"* "…for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or the waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting. Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for the wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting. NO! That's not ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Banting, Selangor, Malaysia. Thanks for stopping by!
Speaking Truth to Militarized America
Russian President Putin tears apart US foreign policy Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about US foreign policy in an unscripted and open environment. Something Western leaders would be terrified of doing. He tears apart US foreign policy respectfully layer by layer, exposing Senator John McCain’s threats to him and to Russia, without once losing his cool or deflecting the questions put to him. Posted by The People's Voice on Thursday, October 29, 2015
The House Of Saud Is A Western Plot To Control The Middle East
The House of Saud isn’t exactly what it appears to be, as the Saudi Arabia royal family was actually born out of a zionist Western plot to exert control over the Middle East on behalf of the UK and U.S. The west wished to dominate the Arabian Peninsula, with its vast oil reserves and geopolitical advantages offered by its highly sought after location, and they have done exactly that. Stateofthenation2012.com reports: The original conspiracy to dominate the Arabian Peninsula was hatched by a rogue Zionist clan that murdered and killed, pillaged and plundered, bribed and blackmailed i... more »
India Is Under Attack
A few days ago Pakistani forces infiltrated the Indian airforce base on the western border. And more recently there was news of an Indian consulate in Afghanistan coming under attack. These provocations run a very real risk of war if India retaliates against Pakistan. That war could go nuclear as Pakistan previously declared that any attack by Indian forces would lead to a nuclear retaliation. Here are some events showing that India has been under attack recently: Pathankot: Gunmen attack India air force base near Pakistan border Five attackers and three members of the security forc... more »
"Why You're Always Right: The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind"
"Why You're Always Right: The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind" by Rith "Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you." - Richard Bach "No. I'm not talking about indignant righteousness that usually happens when you have to be right because you can't stand losing an argument and want to stand your ground (hey it happens to the best of us). I'm talking about something profoundly powerful… You see, the job of our subconscious mind is to obey the directions of what the conscious mind repeatedly think... more »
Who Would Win In A Saudi - Iran War?
*Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller:* *Who Would Win In A Saudi Arabia vs. Iran Showdown?* With the growing tensions in the Persian Gulf after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed and set on fire in the wake of Saudi Arabia’s execution of a Shia cleric, Americans ought to take notice. Five of the top seven oil producing nations are in the region of the Persian Gulf. So, even though fracking has helped increase American oil reserves to a 42-year high, things could get rocky if Iran and Saudi Arabia go to war. How bad could it get? Well, keep in mind, in the Iran-Iraq War back in the... more »
Jan. 5: Just thinkin'
Norbert Cunningham, the noted columnist and education authority who writes for the Irving press, has read a book. I'm so happy. It's a book by Stephen Pinker on how the level of violence has been declining in the world for centuries. (Actually, Norbert, Pinker spells his first name 'Steven'.) Hitler wrote a book, too. So did Mao. I can't wait for Norbert's column on those. Now, Professor Pinker undoubtedly has a first-rate mind. But even first-rate minds can have failings. That's why good newspapers have book review sections. People read those to get a general idea of how experts ... more »
"There Are Some Things..."
“There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are the very simplest things and because it takes a man's life to know them the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave.” - Ernest Hemingway, “Death in the Afternoon”
Biomedical Science Studies SHOCKINGLY Hard to Reproduce
*Smithsonian * *Considering rampant fraud & agenda pushing, alongside the goal of exploitation for maximum profit extraction in the medical industry, the inability to reproduce so called scientific studies is NOT shocking in the least.* *I'll highlight the sad truth behind medisin and it's manipulations * But over the past several years,* a growing contingent of scientists has begun to question the accepted veracity of published research*—even after it's cleared the hurdles of peer review and appears in widely respected journals. *The problem is a pervasive inability to replicate a... more »
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