Tuesday, August 22, 2017

22 August - Blog I'm Following 2 of 2

11:34 pm MDT



German Police Seize Thousands of ‘Donald Trump’ Ecstasy Tablets

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Police in Osnabrueck found the pills, along with a large quantity of cash, after a car stop.

Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Killed in Kuwait?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
A disturbing set of images purportedly shows a pile of dead bomb-sniffing dogs that were put down after their contract with a security company was cancelled.

Antifa Announced a Plan to Protest the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2018?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Members of the "alt-right" have dared antifa to protest the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, but no anti-fascist group has announced such a plan.

Basic Rules of US Civil-Military Relations and Trump’s Afghanistan Policy

Steve Saideman at Duck of Minerva - 13 hours ago
Trump’s speech has something for everyone … to criticize. I will not focus here on how icky the first part on loyalty was. Instead, I focus on the rules of US Civil-Military Relations: the US military does not like to start new wars (see Deborah Avant) once involved in a war, the US military likes […]

Afghanistan is now officially James Mattis’ war

Simon Reich, Professor in The Division of Global Affairs and The Department of Political Science, Rutgers University Newark at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 13 hours ago
How will U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis handle America's "Forever War'? Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP Donald Trump’s speech on his administration’s strategy in Afghanistan – in which he announced the introduction of an unspecified number of new combat troops, without a mission and without a specified end date, in a strategy that abandoned nation building but entailed war-fighting – clearly contravened the principles of his “America First” isolationist election campaign promises. But for academics like me who spend their time studying American strategic policy, it provided ... more »

Are These The New Weapons That The Pentagon Needs To Confront Today's Threats?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
January 9, 2010 a Predator unmanned drone flies a training mission over Victorville, California. (Don Bartletti / MCT) *John Yoo, Chicago Tribune: **The new weapons America sorely needs* With threats, bribes, diplomacy and sanctions, American presidents of both parties have sought for 25 years to try to halt, or at least slow, North Korea's quest for a nuclear arsenal — to no avail. Though the brinkmanship of the last few weeks has subsided, President Donald Trump still faces the prospect of a madman — Kim Jong Un — in control of a nuclear arsenal. What the U.S. and its allies must... more »

Could A New Korean War Spread Across All Of Asia?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *Brendan Scott and Adrian Leung, Bloomberg*: *A Second Korean War Could Quickly Spread Across All of Asia* * Northeast Asia’s geography reveals the peril of any strike * Great powers risk being drawn into escalating conflict A recent survey commissioned by the New York Times found that people who could find North Korea on a map were more likely to favor talks over military action. A glance at North Asia’s geography explains why. More than six decades after the Korean War ended without a peace treaty, the peninsula remains bisected in a perpetual stale... more »

Is Trump's Agenda Being Eclipsed?

Patrick J. Buchanan at rss - 13 hours ago
[image: is-trumps-agenda-being-eclipsed] War is the health of the state, but the death of empires. Is it now time for the American empire to end?

U.S. Military Helicopters Will Soon Be Able to Blast Missiles out of the Sky

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * BAE is helping America keep up with shoulder-fired threats. BAE Systems is working to address an Army need by testing an emerging helicopter protection technology able to detect, distinguish and destroy approaching enemy fire in a more effective and integrated fashion than existing systems can, industry developers explained. As a way to respond to and anticipate evolving Army requirements, BAE is engineering and testing a 3-Dimensional Advanced Warning System, or 3DAWS, which integrates ultraviolet sensor technology from the Common Missile Warning Syst... more »

An Underwater War May Be Brewing in the Asia-Pacific

Graeme Dunk at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Graeme Dunk* *Security, Asia* When half the world's submarines will be so close together, how can we tell friend from foe? The 2016 Defence White Paper, the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, and associated statements by political figures such as Prime Minister Turnbull and Defence Industry Minister Pyne have all advocated the need for enhanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The impetus for this mooted rediscovery of ASW is the understanding that by 2030 over half the world’s submarines will be operating in the Asia–Pacific. Recent posts o... more »

A True Afghanistan Counterinsurgency Is Trump's Only Hope

John Nagl at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*John Nagl* *Security, Asia* [image: U.S. Marines patrol near the town of Khan Neshin, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan. Reuters/Goran Tomasevic.] I urge Trump to go to Afghanistan immediately—this week—to meet with his commanders and diplomats. Last night, Donald Trump became the third consecutive U.S. president to commit to a counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. He did not do so willingly; indeed, like President George W. Bush, Donald Trump had campaigned explicitly on the idea of abandoning nation-building campaigns like those conducted by his predecessor. But the... more »

Trump's 'Obama-Lite' Afghanistan Strategy

Jacob Heilbrunn at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Jacob Heilbrunn* *Security, Middle East* [image: Pfc. Samuel Corsolini, a gunner assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, pulls security with other Pathfinders as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off after unloading his team and members of 2nd Afghan National Civil Order Patrol Special Weapons And Tactics Team during a vehicle interdiction as part of Operation Pranoo Verbena in order to disrupt Taliban operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan] No matter what Trump says or how much he complains about his predicament, he has... more »

Poverty rates, demographics, and economic freedom across America

Content Multimedia - 13 hours ago
the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) published by the Census Bureau has existed for ve decades, despite continuing concerns related to how the measure is calculated and whether it is an accurate measure of poverty across the United States. Because the OPM thresholds do not change based on a household’s geographic location, using the OPM to com- pare poverty levels across states obscures important regional cost-of-living di erences. is tends to overstate the pov- erty rate in states where the cost of living is relatively low and to understate it in states where the cost of living is ... more »

Re-examining Poverty Rates

Content Multimedia - 13 hours ago
By Chuck DeVore The declared war on poverty is now more than 50 years old. A broad misunderstanding over the nature and prevalence of poverty hampers success in reducing pov- erty by addressing its root causes.

Saudi Arabia to blame for Yemen cholera outbreak

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
Doctors have blamed Saudi Arabia for cholera outbreak in Yemen. According to Lancet magazine, cholera outbreak, which was recorded recently in Yemen, is the result of the Saudi military policy aimed destabilizing the situation in the region. Jonathan Kennedy from Queen Mary University of London said: “Saudi-led airstrikes have destroyed vital infrastructure, including hospitals and public water […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian special forces liberate new town from ISIS in central Homs

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:55 P.M.) – After securing the strategic town of Huwaysis yesterday, the elite ISIS Hunters of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) 5th Assault Corps have since gone on to liberate yet another imperative settlement in central Homs. Today the elite ISIS Hunters continued offensive operations against ISIS in central Homs, advancing beyond their […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Two rebel commanders killed by Syrian airstrikes

Zen Adra at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (5:15 P.M.) – Airstrikes conducted by the Syrian Air Force on rebel-held areas in Syrian desert have killed two senior commanders belonging to US-backed militant groups in. Pro-rebel accounts on social media mourned the death of Ahmed al-Jarad and Rami al-Kamari; both are field commanders in the FSA-affiliated Osoud al-Sharqiyah faction. The US-sponsored […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Saudi jet accidentally bombs its own forces in Yemen

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:50 P.M.) – The Saudi Coalition was caught in another friendly fire incident in Yemen after a warplane bombed the Saudi-backed Hadi loyalists in the central part of the country. According to local reports, the Saudi Coalition mistakenly struck a group of Hadi loyalists that were deployed to the Sirwah area of the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

ISIS pocket in east Hama shrinking as Syrian Army advances

Zen Adra at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:30 P.M.) – Last night Syrian government forces launched a surprise attack against Islamic State militants in the east Hama pocket where scores of jihadists are now trapped. According to a military source, Syrian Army troops raided al-Mahsah hilltop located to the north of the ISIS-held Aqirbat and fought fierce battles against the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Norway: No reports confirming phosphorous was used in Syria – Egeland

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland said the usage of phosphorous by forces in Syria has not been confirmed by any reports, speaking from Oslo, on Monday. Egeland gave the example of Gaza where he claimed phosphorous bombs caused “enormous consequences for the civilians.” He also claimed […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

ISIL’s reign on the Lebanese border is nearing its end: map

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The month of August has not been too kind to the Islamic State (ISIL), as their self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ shrinks by the day in both Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. While they will still remain in Iraq and Syria next month, their reign over the northwestern part of the Syrian-Lebanese border will […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Footage of the Syrian Army’s push to besiege ISIL in central Syria

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 13 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) reportedly encircled dozens of fighters of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in a small pocket east of Hama, Monday, after seizing control of the villages of Kawm and Taiba. The fighting is part of the SAA offensive to break the blockade of Deir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

World News Briefs -- August 22, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
Donald Trump has committed the US to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan [Reuters] *Al Jazeea*: *World reacts to Trump's new strategy on Afghan war* India, UK and NATO express support for US president's policy, but Pakistan, China and Russia offer little enthusiasm. Politicians from across the world have reacted to US President Donald Trump's new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Trump on Monday committed the United States to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan and signalled he would send more troops there. He insisted that the Afghan government, Pakistan, India and NATO al... more »

Hannity talks to former U.N. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and Lt. Col. Oliver North on Afghanistan...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 13 hours ago
*a dramatic change from the Obama administration.* I've always believed that *all* wars are fought for economic reasons. This one is no different. Trump is threatening economic devastation to countries who do not cooperate. […] “The next pillar of our new strategy is to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan. We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond. “Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing... more »

"Say Goodbye to Your Safe Deposit Box"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 13 hours ago
*"Say Goodbye to Your Safe Deposit Box"* By Jeff Thomas "In 2013, the banks of Cyprus confiscated the deposits of many of their clients. There was no warning and there was little in the way of explanation, except to say that it was “necessary,” as the banks had been mismanaged to the point that, unless the deposits were confiscated, the banks would fail. Governments and banks the world over nodded in agreement. This was clearly the right thing to do. But, hang on a moment. The depositors had entrusted the banks with the safeguarding of their wealth. This was a case of theft. The ba... more »

Witnesses Watch in Horror As Cops Mace & Taser Deaf Mute Man Over a Parking Ticket

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: deaf]What started with a parking ticket ended up with a deaf man being pepper sprayed, tasered, slammed to the ground and arrested.

Joaquin Flores says Russian Weapon "Khibiny" may be behind US Navy Global Operations "Pause"

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 13 hours ago
*Russian Jets Buzz over USS "Donald Cook"* *in April, 2014. Was the Cook* *electronically disabled **by Khibiny?* Yesterday, as I posted in my *CawRANT Events #52*, speculation arose about the cause of the latest collision (the fourth in several months) between a US naval ship and a unhostile vessel. It is extremely unlikely that happenstance accounted for this series of similar unfortunate events. But here is the official story from the Lega$y Media. First, the "Official Story" from the CBC. RT is reporting roughly the same version. As we're all aware...global geopolitics is ... more »

Anger About White Supremacist Rally Boils Over at Charlottesville City Council Meeting

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
After a series of disruptions by members of the public, councillors held an impromptu town hall-style meeting.

California Woman to Receive $417 Million in Lawsuit Linking Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Eve Echeverria used Johnson & Johnson baby powder for more than 50 years and claims it caused her ovarian cancer.

Movie Prop Money Being Passed as Real in Pennsylvania Town

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Police haven't said if they know where the money came from or who passed it.

Civil War Lessons Often Depend on Where the Classroom Is

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Civil War lessons often depend on the classroom, with schools presenting accounts of the conflict that vary from state to state and district to district.

US Says Some Remains of Sailors Found on USS John McCain

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
A search for 10 sailors missing after a collision between the USS John S. McCain and a tanker shifted to the damaged destroyer's flooded compartments.

Catholic Church & Govt Say Kids “Consented” to Sexual Abuse to Avoid Paying Them Compensation

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: consent]An underage child cannot consent to be sexually abused. However, the Catholic Church and the government are claiming this as a defense.

WATCH: Cops Attack Innocent 72yo Man, Leave Him Bleeding Out—For Breaking Up a Fight

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: police]A 72-year-old man is suing police after their rough treatment left him battered and bloodied following an arrest for his attempt to stop a domestic dispute.

Ron Paul Just Eviscerated Trump’s Hypocritical Afghan War Narrative In An Epic Tweet Storm

Rachel Blevins at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: Paul]"Sad that these wars the politicians argue for are unconstitutional yet we are told we are over there defending the Constitution," Ron Paul wrote.

Ukraine investigated itself over N. Korea weapons claims and found itself ‘not guilty’

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 14 hours ago
The matter is far from conclusive. More The post Ukraine investigated itself over N. Korea weapons claims and found itself ‘not guilty’ appeared first on The Duran.

Wife of US Treasury Secretary creates PR disaster for Trump White House with this Instagram post

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 14 hours ago
This was a big social media mistake on the part of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's wife. More The post Wife of US Treasury Secretary creates PR disaster for Trump White House with this Instagram post appeared first on The Duran.

China tells Trump not to allow India to interfere in regional interests

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 14 hours ago
China has made it clear that any US-Indian cooperation should not threaten China's position in the region, including and especially in Pakistan. More The post China tells Trump not to allow India to interfere in regional interests appeared first on The Duran.

BREAKING: North Korea to strike Guam unless US acts sensibly

The Duran at The Duran - 14 hours ago
North Korea does not intend to discuss its missile, nuclear program until US gives up its provocative policies. More The post BREAKING: North Korea to strike Guam unless US acts sensibly appeared first on The Duran.

Hey, that’s my case study: Another retraction after doctors claim rights to case write-up

Alison McCook at Retraction Watch - 14 hours ago
A group of researchers have retracted their 2016 case report about a rare dermatologic disorder in the wake of disputes about authorship and institutional approval. The paper describes a young boy with Job’s Syndrome, in which patients experience painful, itchy and frequently disfiguring skin lesions, along with a constellation of other possible symptoms. The condition […] The post Hey, that’s my case study: Another retraction after doctors claim rights to case write-up appeared first on Retraction Watch.

One Idaho state representative is pretty sure he knows who was behind the violence in Charlottesville. Obama!

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 14 hours ago
Courtesy of The Hill: *An Idaho state lawmaker is facing backlash for sharing a conspiracy theory that former President Obama helped to orchestrate the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., as part of a plot to take down President Trump. * *Idaho Rep. Bryan Zollinger on Friday posted a story on Facebook that suggested Obama and other top Democrats like billionaire George Soros and Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe were part of a conspiracy to set up the rally, the Post Register reported. * *“I’m not saying it is true, but I am suggesting that it is completely plau... more »

Tal Afar Battle Day 2

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
The Iraqi forces (ISF) continued to advance on Tal Afar from five directions. In the west, the Federal Police and Hashd moved 19 kilometers into the Tal Afar district. A police major claimedthey were only a few meters from reaching the town itself. According to Joint Operations Command spokesman General Yahya Rasool six villages were capturedduring the day. The Golden Division moving from the southwest entered the first neighborhood of the town. The Tal Afar district is not that big. Most of it is open plain providing little cover for the Islamic State. There is only one built up ... more »

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 22

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
1973 Sheikh Jabir al-Sabah visited Iraq and again offered to talk about Iraq- Kuwait border dispute 1973 Iraq demanded 2 islands from Kuwait which it refused 1991 Bush announced no fly zone over southern Iraq to stop Saddam offensive to clear out southern marshes 1995 UN interviewed Hussein Kamal former Industry Min and Saddam’s son-in-law that defected to Jordan 1995 Kamal said Iraq hid its WMD & nuke programs from inspectors but all programs ended after Gulf War 1995 US & UN didn’t believe Kamal’s claim that Iraq had ended its WMD & ... more »

Rescuer saves drowning dog by hauling him out of a canal using his Legs

White Wolf at White Wolf - 14 hours ago
This footage shows the moment a drowning dog was rescued from a canal by a hero who hooked the struggling canine back to safety with his legs. In the clip the quick-thinking man dangles from a safety barrier with one hand to retrieve the dog. The video, which was uploaded to Malaysian Facebook page Siakap Keli, shows him hook his legs around the dog in a bid to haul it back to safety. He in turn is pulled to safety by a bystander, who pulls the have-a-go hero to safety with the dog safely in his grip. After his risky effort to save the dog, the long-haired man's bravery was prais... more »

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 22, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*Nikkei Asian Review*: *US, South Korea eyeing more offensive options on Pyongyang* Amid rising stakes, annual war games seen focusing harder on pre-emptive strikes SEOUL -- The U.S. and South Korea are expected to more strongly stress offensive maneuvers and even a possible decapitation strike against North Korea in their annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military drills that began Monday amid continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The mostly computer-simulated exercises through Aug. 31 usually center on such defensive maneuvers as responding to an attack by Pyongyang. B... more »

Tuesday Morning Links

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 15 hours ago
This and that for your Tuesday reading. - Karri Munn-Venn argues for a federal budget focused on social well-being - not merely on economic productivity. And Tom Hale discusses the harm done by social isolation. - The BBC reports on new research showing that the UK's public support for parents is falling behind the rate of inflation, resulting in even two-income families falling well below a "no-frills" living standard. - Matthew Jenkin assembles the stories of workers dealing with low pay and precarious employment in the UK, while Dominic Rushne offers a similar look at U.S. fast... more »

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Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 15 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Ron Paul: Big issue of the night: US expanding the war into Pakistan. Could precipitate more conflict between nuclear India and Pakistan. The world's top artificial intelligence companies are pleading for a ban on killer robots Video shows Chinese and Indian troops clashing with stones high along their border in the Himalayas Trump's approval rating drops below 40% in key states that helped him win the election NASA Unveils Plan To Stop Yellowstone "Supervolcano" Eruption, There's Just One Catch "A NASA plan to stop the Yellowstone supervolcano from erup... more »

Trump Goes from Afghanistan War Skeptic to True Believer

Christopher A. Preble at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*Christopher A. Preble* *Security, Middle East* Chalk up another point for the Blob. In his address to the nation on Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump explained that his “original instinct,” when he came into office, “was to pull out” of Afghanistan. But “decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office,” and so he, like his two predecessors, has determined that U.S. forces will remain there. “The American people are weary of war without victory,” he explained. So victory is what the president promised them. Specifically, he pledged to apply for... more »

Trump Puts America First in Afghanistan

James Jay Carafano at The National Interest - 15 hours ago
*James Jay Carafano* *Security, Middle East* [image: President Donald Trump announces his strategy for the war in Afghanistan during an address from Fort Myer, Virginia] What our president meant when he promised to put “America First” was not isolationism or going it alone in the world. President Donald Trump came into office with a promise of putting America first in his foreign policy. The announced plan for Afghanistan and the region makes it look like he is serious in delivering on that commitment. Still there is much more on the president's to-do list. *Back to Basics* Wha... more »

The 'Economic Solution' Can Unite Americans: LaRouche's 'Four Laws' and China's New Silk Road

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 15 hours ago
The President of the United States, yesterday a tool of Putin's Russia, is today a racist and white supremacist supporter of neo-Nazis, not to mention mentally ill. This crazed propaganda flows in torrents: from the Obama/Podesta-run "Resist" which has taken over much of the Democratic Party; from the British and American intelligence agencies which have collaborated to eliminate President Trump since he first announced for President; and from all the Wall Street media operations. The President is being publicly threatened — by members of Congress! — if he dares to speak publicly ... more »

Timing is everything, isn't it?

Yastreblyansky at No More Mister Nice Blog - 15 hours ago
Image via IN. Leon Wolf just used the word “pivot” in the context of Trump. (Managing editor of The Blaze) — Karoli (@Karoli) August 22, 2017 That was on MSNBC, before Trump's speech even began. New York Times came out shortly after it ended, trying to get out ahead of the narrative by not only calling the pivot in the speech ("his best speech" apparently meaning "the one with the fewest words composed by Donald J. Trump") *and* the counterpivot we should be expecting sometime today. POTUS gave his best speech as POTUS. He's given extremely few of these types of speeches. And he... more »

A socialist invented the c-word

Tim Montgomerie at Blog Posts – Page Array – UnHerd - 15 hours ago
The post A socialist invented the c-word appeared first on UnHerd.

Nothing to do with Islam

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
I have been watching Peter Kosminsky’s Channel 4 series 'The State' and also reading the reviews. They are diverse. The Telegraph, for example, takes it seriously. At first Michael Horgan approaches his 4 star review as if it were just any old drama. Then he goes into the moral issues. “This wasn’t easy viewing but it was eye-openingly powerful. Based on exhaustive research and first-hand accounts, its authenticity shone through.” I understand that “Bafta-winning director Peter Kosminsky” is boasting that eighteen months of research went into the production. Well, good for h... more »

North Korea will maintain its nuclear weapons–negotiations not on the table

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 16 hours ago
North Korea sees its nuclear weapons as a deterrent against US aggression More The post North Korea will maintain its nuclear weapons–negotiations not on the table appeared first on The Duran.

Macron’s historically low approval ratings are hardly surprising

Shane Quinn at The Duran - 16 hours ago
The French President’s past links to IMF-connected corporations, his personal enrichment, and assaults on freedom of speech do not augur well. More The post Macron’s historically low approval ratings are hardly surprising appeared first on The Duran.

CONFIRMED: Divers find dead sailors in USS John McCain shipwreck

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 16 hours ago
Ten missing sailors are now thought to have perished More The post CONFIRMED: Divers find dead sailors in USS John McCain shipwreck appeared first on The Duran.

Philippines to buy Russian small arms before end of 2017

The Duran at The Duran - 16 hours ago
Under President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines has developed increasingly warn relations with Russia More The post Philippines to buy Russian small arms before end of 2017 appeared first on The Duran.

What Moderates Believe

Greg Mankiw at Greg Mankiw's Blog - 16 hours ago
I much appreciated today's column by David Brooks, though he seems to be describing center-right moderates more than center-left moderates (or is that my own bias showing up?). David also taught me a new word: *syncretistic*. It refers to combining different forms of belief.

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 16 hours ago

Bannon's Departure Signals A New Season For The Trumpanzee Reality Show

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
The new season will likely divert viewers from reality with an epic brawl between Bannon/Mercer and their racist nationalists in one corner and Kushner/Cohn and their greed-obsessed kleptocrats in the other. Ratings could be higher than *Game of Thrones*, which is starting to feel a little long in the tooth with the zombiefication of Viserion Sunday night. Does Greg Sargent's *Washington Post* headline from early yesterday sound like a teaser for the next season of what? With or without Bannon, Trump will likely get a lot worse. Here’s what to watch for next. He then asserts that ... more »

Tuesday Morning ramble

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
John Humphrys read out the wrong date this morning but I think he got away with it. (They must have spliced the right date in afterwards) ********** On the principle that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing I hesitate to leap into the foray over about moral equivalence between out-and-out Nazis (the alt-right) and Antifa (or, if you like, the alt-left) Until we have a visible body of strutting, out and proud swastika-wielding Nazis in Britain we’ll probably have a different perspective on the issue. We have a slightly different set of villains. A discussion between Melanie Phil...more »

One way to boost your uni’s ranking: Ask faculty to cite each other

Alison McCook at Retraction Watch - 16 hours ago
Readers who follow scientific publishing will know the term “citation stacking” — as a profile-boosting technique, we’ve seen journals ask authors to cite them, and individual scientists work together to cite each other, forming “citation cartels.” And now, we’ve seen a university do it. A university in Malaysia has instructed its engineering faculty to cite […] The post One way to boost your uni’s ranking: Ask faculty to cite each other appeared first on Retraction Watch.

Afghanistan Will Make Or Break U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*Sandra Erwin, RCD*: *Afghanistan Strategy a Defining Moment for Mattis* The Afghanistan war strategy that President Trump announced Monday night was remarkable in that it was not a string of angry tweets but the product of a meticulous policy review. “The process was rigorous,” said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The strategy does not dramatically depart from the status quo. It essentially calls for a continued — but not open-ended — U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Notably, the president leaves it to the discretion of the Pentagon to set troop numbers and decide what target... more »

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jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 16 hours ago
*10 Colleges Getting Money to Start 'Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation' Centers* *Probably more aptly titled: 'Misrepresentation, Race-consciousness and regression to segregation'* Ten colleges and universities are getting $30,000 each to create brand-new campus centers for "Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation." The Association of American Colleges and Universities, which describes itself as an influential catalyst for educational improvement and reform, announced the awards last week. AAC&U said the ten schools, listed below, were selected based on their proposals t... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 17 hours ago
*28%* Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Americans think that climate scientists understand the causes of global climate change “very well.” A Pew Research study found that only 19% believe that the climate scientists have a very good understanding of the best ways to address the issue.[1] In general, the study found that Americans trust climate scientists more than politicians on the topic. Two-thirds (67%) believe scientists should play a major role in addressing policy issues on the matter. Most (56%) also believe that energy industry leaders (56%) and the general public (56%) sho... more »

In recent months more than 2,500 companies have stopped advertising on Breitbart News.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 17 hours ago
Courtesy of The Independent: *More than 2,500 advertisers have reportedly stopped advertising on right-wing news website Breitbart News in recent months, underscoring the swelling power of a grassroots campaign to boycott the platform, especially amid escalating political tensions in the US. * *According to a tweet by Sleeping Giants, a campaign group aiming to pressure companies into cutting ties with media they deem to be racist or sexist, the number of advertisers that have ceased advertising is “climbing towards 2,600”.* Gee does that mean that most advertisers do not want to... more »

What Comes Next

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 17 hours ago
There is some disagreement about whether or not Mark Twain actually said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but often it rhymes." Be that as it may, Geoff Smith writes that these days, in the United States, you can hear the rhymes -- with the 1920's: Americans in the era both celebrated and recoiled from the impact of cosmopolitan urban culture upon long-standing rural values. Nervous citizens also rued the corrosive effect upon tradition of what journalist Walter Lippmann termed the “acids of modernity” — the automobile, radio, “black” music and literature, and, of course, bootleg ... more »

"Tell Me, And Tell The Truth..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 17 hours ago
"Tell me yourself, I challenge you— answer. Imagine that you are creating a fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but that it was essential and inevitable to torture to death only one tiny creature... and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears: would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me, and tell the truth.” - Dostoevsky, "The Brothers Karamazov"

Breaking: Iraqi forces liberate key neighborhood in Tal Afar

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:55 P.M.) – The Iraqi Armed Forces announced the liberation of the Al-Nour Neighborhood in Tal ‘Afar this afternoon following an intense battle with the Islamic State (ISIL) terror organization in northwestern Iraq. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, the operation to that led to the liberation of the Al-Nour Neighborhood, today, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

ISIS-held west Qalamoun pocket shrinks by 50 percent – Map update

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:35 P.M.) – In just over one week of offensive operations between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army against pocketed ISIS forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border region, the area controlled by the terrorist group has retracted significantly. On the Syrian side of the border – in the country’s western […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Major development: Syrian Army launches final assault to besiege ISIL in central Syria

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:17 P.M.) – Approximately three hours ago, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched their final assault to cutoff the Islamic State’s (ISIL) last supply line to the region north of Al-Sukhnah. Backed by the 3rd and 5th legions, the Syrian Arab Army’s Tiger Forces stormed the Al-Dahk Mountains in the northern countryside of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Russian, Syrian jets raid Deir Ezzor constantly to prevent ISIS offensive

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:50 P.M.) – The Russian Aerospace Forces (RuAF) and Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) have been conducting round-the-clock raids over Deir Ezzor city in order to break-up ISIS concentrations and stall the terrorist group’s plans to launch another offensive against besieged pro-government forces. Today, the RuAF and SyAAF targeted ISIS bases, trenches and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

MAP: Central Homs after elite Syrian Army unit liberates strategic town

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 P.M.) – Yesterday, the elite ISIS Hunters of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) 5th Assault Corps liberated the strategic town of Huwaysis and most of the imperative mountain of Abu Duhur in central Homs Governorate from ISIS terrorists. The battle for this strategic area was the result of months of clashes whereby […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army unleashes vicious attack in strategic east Damascus suburb

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) carried out a powerful assault in the eastern suburbs of Damascus last night, firing a multitude of missiles towards the defenses of the Islamist rebels in Jobar. According to a military source in east Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army’s elite 42nd Brigade of the 4th […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Pictures: ISIS launches assault towards Salamiyah city in east Hama

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:05 P.M.) – The ISIS forces trapped in the ever-shrinking east Hama pocket (also called the ‘Uqayribat pocket) have launched determined attacks – at least according to the terrorist group’s own account – in the direction of Salamiyah city against pro-government troops. The apparent attacks by ISIS come despite the exceptionally depraved strategic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Erdogan berates German FM in elections interference row

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel when speaking from his Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) provincial advisory council meeting, Denizli, on Saturday, stating that the FM “does not know his limits.” “Now they have a foreign minister who does not know his limits. Who are you to talk […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah liberate several sites near the Lebanese border

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:10 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah resumed their large-scale offensive in the western part of the Qalamoun Mountains this morning, targeting the Islamic State’s (ISIL) remaining positions near the Lebanese border. Backed by heavy airstrikes from the SyAAF, the Syrian Army and Hezbollah stormed a number sites located west […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

In pictures: Lebanese Army captures loads of weapons, ammunition from ISIS

Chris Tomson at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 17 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (11:15 A.M.) – Two simultaneous military offensives in eastern Lebanon, led by the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah respectively, are not only yielding plenty of territorial gains but also many spoils of war after deadly clashes with Islamic State insurgents. A string of photos uploaded by a Lebanese soldier online show government forces with […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Protecting Americans from Russian Disinformation One Tweet at at Time

A Political Junkie at Viable Opposition - 17 hours ago
While so-called Russian "interference" and "disinformation" in the 2016 U.S. election has been pretty much headline news since July 2016, the means that are being taken to counter Russia's "anti-democracy" moves have received relatively little coverage. Thanks to recent developments, German Marshall has now given us at least one hint about where the battle against Russian disinformation is headed. For those of you that have never heard of the German Marshall Fund (GMF) (and I count myself among those), the organization's aim is to: "*...strengthen transatlantic cooperation on regi... more »

Pope Francis: Migrants' Rights Should Override National Security Concerns

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 17 hours ago
Pope Francis welcomes a group of Syrian refugees after landing at Ciampino airport in Rome following a visit at the Moria refugee camp in the Greek island of Lesbos, April 16, 2016. Filippo Monteforte *Reuters:* *Pope says migrants' rights should override national security concerns* VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged political leaders on Monday to defend migrants, saying their safety should take precedence over national security concerns and that they should not be subjected to collective deportations. His challenge to politicians, made in a comprehensive position paper o... more »

Turkey on verge of military cooperation with Iran against Kurdish militants

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 18 hours ago
America's silence is both puzzling and telling. More The post Turkey on verge of military cooperation with Iran against Kurdish militants appeared first on The Duran.

NATO stands behind Trump and his Afghanistan “new strategy” (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 18 hours ago
NATO agrees with Trump's 'Conditions-Based' Afghanistan strategy. More The post NATO stands behind Trump and his Afghanistan “new strategy” (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Electric Universe 2017 - Duardu Cardona r.i.p. - worlds in collision and such...

Mike Philbin at Mike Philbin's free planet blog - 19 hours ago
this year's Electric Universe conference *Future Science* has just ended with very little in the way of mainstream scientific journalism to its name, ho-hum. Some things never change, until they do... and until they do, here's Wal Thornhill's 2015 presentation of historian Duardu Cardona's ideas (during the debilitating period of his illness prior to his final demise in 2016) about how the History of the Ancient World. Cardona was an advocate of the scientific analysis of the contents of Mythology and created four books *God Star*, *Flare Star* and *Primordial Star* with *Newborn St... more »

Stat News Runs Incomplete Interview with Robert Kennedy Jr: Read Full Transcript

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 19 hours ago
By Anne Dachel Below is a link to an interview by Helen Branswell of StatNews with Robert Kennedy, Jr. This interviewer was argumentative and out to discredit Kennedy. The narrow scope of the questions showed that. A legitimate journalist would...

Somebody fixed Trump's Hollywood star.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 19 hours ago
Looks way more accurate now.

Global Ocean Circulation Appears To Be Collapsing Due To A Warming Planet

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 20 hours ago
I do think that all this is subject to a long cycle that operates through one thousand or so years. During this time span, the southern circumpolar current has a high and low point that sets the schedule for the thousand years. That high and low affects the strength of the Atlantic cycles. all this leads to unusual effects in the Arctic that must include the recent warm spell that now compares to the medieval warm spell or at least its beginning. Such a natural cycle is driven by the warming of the Pacific and its counter decline. So far all this is sufficient to... more »

Physicists turn a crystal into an electrical circuit

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 20 hours ago
Rather interesting. Perhaps we can upgrade electronics on the fly or even engineer built in the necessary hardware onto our chips. We have come a long way in terms of integrated circuits. All good *Physicists turn a crystal into an electrical circuit* * July 27, 2017 * *Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0* * https://m.phys.org/news/2017-07-physicists-crystal-electrical-circuit.html* *Washington State University physicists have found a way to write an electrical circuit into a crystal, opening up the possibility of transparent, three-dimensional electronics that, like an Etch A Sk... more »

The Seven Rules for Intuitive Health

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 20 hours ago
[image: No automatic alt text available.] I do know if this actually helps but perhaps. I do think cultivating an attitude of good health is positive. Then i do not think that we go beyond that easily. My rule is to simply have good attitude and have real awareness of what you are doing and consuming. All good. *. * *The Seven Rules for Intuitive Health* * https://www.facebook.com/chakrascience/photos* */a.349438505265214.1073741828.349433265265738/641892242686504/?type=3* *After 20 years as a medical-intuitive advisor, I realized that teaching people how to listen for the in... more »

Doctors Change Names of Diseases When Vaccines Do Not Work

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 20 hours ago
The level of fraud indicated is obscene and it is little more than a money making scheme*.* As i have posted before, specific cases of applying the vaccination protocol served to protect a population and plausibly end an outbreak. So far, so good. Yet it was for rather specific vulnerable pathogens. Now the promoters behave as if it will work universally and everyone needs dozens of vaccines to provide protection. I do not believe that such is even possible and blindly applying it to the population is really suspect. What this obviously discloses is that after... more »

Wittgenstein’s Hypnotic Absurdities

Anoop Verma at The Verma Report - 20 hours ago
Brand Blanshard's *Reason and Analysis *is a good critique of Pragmatism, Logical Positivism and other linguistic philosophies. Once you read this book you will feel surprised that even today there are many people who have some kind of high opinion of the works of philosophers like Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, Ludwig Wittgenstein, and Bertrand Russell. Its seems most people are hypnotized by demented philosophers. Here’s an interesting paragraph on Wittgenstein from Chapter V, “Theory of Meaning,” in *Reason and Analysis*: “There must have been something hypnotic about W... more »

"A Darkness Is Spreading Across the US”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
*"A Darkness Is Spreading Across the US”* by Bill Bonner "Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right." - George Orwell, “1984” "Today, a darkness spreads across the country. From coast to coast, we are benighted…in a total eclipse of good sense. We ended yesterday wondering what future ge... more »

"US Gross National Debt to Spike by $800 Billion in October?"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
*"US Gross National Debt to Spike by $800 Billion in October?"* *The other option: too ugly to even imagine.* by Wolf Richter “There is zero chance, no chance we won’t raise the debt ceiling,” swore Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) at an event in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday. He who couldn’t get his Republican ducks all lined up in a row to get any major legislation passed this year was confident that the Senate would pass a bill that would raise the debt ceiling so that the government could continue to pay for things that Congress told the Government to pay for, ... more »

Hezbollah Boasts That It Is Using Drones To Bomb ISIS In Syria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 20 hours ago
*Times of Israel:* *Hezbollah says it used drones to bomb Islamic State in Syria* Media outlet linked to terror group says unmanned craft struck jihadist targets during fighting along border. A source in the coalition fighting in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime said Hezbollah has confirmed using attack drones in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. The Lebanese terror group used the drones to hit IS positions in the Qalamoun mountains, near the border with Lebanon, a military media unit linked to the Shiite terror organization said, according to Reu... more »

Venezuela: West's Battle Against Multipolarism Reaches Far

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 20 hours ago
*August 22, 2017* (Tony Cartalucci - LD) - The battle between the established unipolar "international order" dominated by Wall Street, Washington, and London and an emerging multipolar order appears fixated on Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and across the entirety of Asia. However, it extends to virtually every corner of the globe, from competition in the Arctic to politically-motivated controversies in Earth orbit. The South American nation of Venezuela also seems far-removed from this ongoing competition engulfing the world's hot spots in the Middle East, Central and Asia, but ... more »

Jury awards $417M to a single plaintiff in lawsuit linking Johnson & Johnson talcum powder to the woman’s ovarian cancer

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
Today in Los Angeles, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $417million to terminally ill Eva Echeverria, of California. In her suit, she alleged that J&J didn’t “adequately” warn about the potential cancer risks associated with talcum powder use and that she developed cancer as a “proximate result of the unreasonably dangerous and defective

CNN: Diplomats hit by ‘large’ sonic attacks causing nausea, headaches, hearing loss…

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
Senior government officials are reporting that the number of U.S. and Canadian diplomats and their families attacked by a sonic weapon in Havana, Cuba is much larger than initially thought. “More than 10 U.S. diplomats and family members received treatment after the months of harassing attacks, which began in mid-November 2016 and stopped this spring.” Some

Energy company shutting off power of residents opposed to smart meters

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
If you live in Michigan and have been holding out getting a smart meter, you may soon have your power shut off. DTE has consistently maintained that no one should be worried about the radio frequencies the meters emit (others argue they are harmful to human health and are especially distressing for people with electromagnetic hypersensitivity)

2 Florida cancer centers accused of Medicare fraud and unsafe medical practices

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
Until very recently a 50-page federal whistleblower lawsuit, against two of the nation’s largest cancer-care providers, has been under seal and kept from the public eye. But it’s now been made public and it doesn’t look good. “According to the lawsuit, Florida Cancer Specialists and 21st Century Oncology paid ‘millions of dollars to each other in

These dogs are turning bright blue and one company is responsible

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
Though there are many Western nations that cherish dogs as companions, going so far as to regularly have them groomed and parts of their fur dyed different colors, that’s not the case with these stray dogs showing up with bright blue fur in Mumbai. Despite their comical appearance, this shade is anything but flattering or healthy for these

Controversy over fake meat burger heats up as documents reveal FDA safety concerns

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
By Dr. Mercola Three years ago, I wrote about the safety questions looming over the meat substitute known as Quorn, a fungus-based ferment that hit the U.S. market in 2002. Quorn was originally developed by Imperial Chemical Industries, one of the largest chemical companies in the U.K. The fungus used to make quorn is Fusarium venenatum,

No Bake almond butter cacao bars

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 20 hours ago
These dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free treats yield 8 square bars or 16 smaller bars. Enjoy! Many people avoid snacks because they believe it will contribute to weight gain when in actuality it helps to maintain a healthy weight and keep energy levels at an ultimate high, avoiding cravings of junk food and refined sugar. However,

EXPOSED: Democrat Party lawmakers quietly write-off $120,000 linked to Awan family

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 20 hours ago
House Democrat’s Office approved a $120,000 write-off linked to the Awan brothers. More The post EXPOSED: Democrat Party lawmakers quietly write-off $120,000 linked to Awan family appeared first on The Duran.

Blackwater founder “4,000 troops will make no difference” in Afghanistan, as Taliban “is winning” war (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 20 hours ago
Erik Prince: "At 10:00 tonight this will be Trump's war." More The post Blackwater founder “4,000 troops will make no difference” in Afghanistan, as Taliban “is winning” war (Video) appeared first on The Duran .

4,000 troop surge as Trump takes full ownership of Afghanistan war

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 20 hours ago
The military men around Trump begin to formulate foreign policy. More The post 4,000 troop surge as Trump takes full ownership of Afghanistan war appeared first on The Duran.

Soldiers should be replaced with robots

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 21 hours ago
Elon Musk along with some 100+ assistants – such as Lisa Randall, Stephen Hawking, Frank Wilczek, Max Tegmark, Noam Chomsky, Steve Wozniak – have sent an open letter to the United Nations AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS: AN OPEN LETTER FROM AI & ROBOTICS RESEARCHERS demanding a ban on the killer robots, machines that are controlled by autonomous programs capable of killing the people. This technology is bound to start an arms race – like the two previous revolutions, gunpowder and nuclear bombs – and that's bad for everyone. Except that it's not bad. Civilized countries deal with lots of triv... more »

It Would Be A Wise Move If Iraq Mediates Between Saudi Arabia And Iran

Andrew KORYBKO at OrientalReview.org - 21 hours ago
Iran and Saudi Arabia must find a temporary compromise in their Mideast-wide rivalry and cooperate in keeping Iraq together as the most visibly tangible sign of any forthcoming détente. The post It Would Be A Wise Move If Iraq Mediates Between Saudi Arabia And Iran appeared first on OrientalReview.org.

The Next Generation Of Drones Will Revolutionise Warfare

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
A Perdix swarm captured by high-speed cameras at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. CBS NEWS *CBS 60 Minutes*: *New generation of drones set to revolutionize warfare* *Autonomous drones are being called the biggest thing in military technology since the nuclear bomb. David Martin reports.* One of the biggest revolutions over the past 15 years of war has been the rise of drones -- remotely piloted vehicles that do everything from conduct air strikes to dismantle roadside bombs. Now a new generation of drones is coming. Only this time they are autonomous -- able to ope... more »

Iraqi Army pushes towards Tal Afar as ISIS throws Turkish suicide bombers into battle

Chris Tomson at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 21 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:45 A.M.) – The Iraqi Army’s 15th Division – heavily backed by the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and Kataib Hezbollah (paramilitary branch) – are on the roll in Nineveh province, brushing aside ISIS resistance amid new gains at the Tal Afar pocket. According to a military source close to Al-Masdar News, Iraqi troops […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Pictures: Tiger Forces secure key sites near al-Sukhnah in east Homs

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 21 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:13 A.M.) – Photos have been released on pro-government social media showing mechanized units of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) elite Tiger Forces operating south of the recently liberated crossroad town of al-Taybah. The photos are linked to a Tiger Forces operation which resulted in the securing of a dozen hilltops, points and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army pushes north of al-Sukhnah to link-up with Tiger Forces

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 21 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 A.M.) – The 5th Assault Corps of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continues to make advances around the strategic town of al-Sukhnah in Homs Governorate, now not only east in the direction of Deir Ezzor, but also – as of yesterday – north towards Tiger Forces units pushing down from al-Taybah. After […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Veteran terrorist commander shot dead off motorcycle in north Hama

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 21 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:15 A.M.) – A high-ranking and long-serving commander for the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda – currently known as Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra – has been assassinated by unknown assailants in northern Hama Governorate. Firas Al-Aliwi was one of the first commanders of Syria’s Hama-based Al-Qaeda chapter and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

VIDEO: Syrian Army, Hezbollah push ISIS out of west Qalamoun hills

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 21 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:35 A.M.) – The media wing of Hezbollah has released a 5-minute video showing an important operation conducted by pro-government forces yesterday that led to the securing of two strategic high-points from ISIS in the western Qalamoun region of Syria. Yesterday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah secured the hills of Qarnt […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Tech Leaders Call On The UN To Ban 'Killer Robots'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
*DW*: *'Autonomous weapons': Tech leaders warn UN of killer robots* With significant advances in robotics and AI, technology leaders have called for safeguards to avoid "destabilizing effects." They warned that "once this Pandora's box is opened, it will be hard to close." More than 100 leaders in the industries of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics signed an open letter on Monday warning of a "third revolution" in warfare, when the UN's Conference of the Conventional Weapons was scheduled to meet to discuss the subject. "As companies building the technologies in artifici... more »

Midnight Meme Of The Day

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 22 hours ago
*-by Noah* The Fashion Dreams Of Donald J. Trump; all made in China, of course.

National Study Shows Freshmen Better Off Taking 15 Credits

cmaadmin at Diverse - 22 hours ago
Students who took 15 credits during their first year of college did better academically and were retained at higher rates than those who took fewer credits, a new EAB analysis has found.

North Korea threatens US, S.Korea with ‘Ruthless Retaliation’ over joint drill

The Duran at The Duran - 23 hours ago
The US/South Korea drills are also opposed by China and Russia. More The post North Korea threatens US, S.Korea with ‘Ruthless Retaliation’ over joint drill appeared first on The Duran.

Breitbart declares ‘troop surge’ in war on Trump

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 23 hours ago
Trump's Afghanistan troop surge has been met with resounding disapproval from Steve Bannon's news outlet More The post Breitbart declares ‘troop surge’ in war on Trump appeared first on The Duran.

The Leftist Media Smear Campaign Continues Against Trump and Individualism

Charles R. Anderson, Ph.D. at An Objectivist Individualist - 23 hours ago
A civilized society minimizes the use of force, denying all groups and individuals the initiated use of force. A legitimate government has the primary function of protecting individual rights from violence and the threat of the use of force. There are minor additional functions to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness from some natural threats to life. The President of the United States has the job of executing the laws that are constitutionally intended to secure the equal rights of all American citizens. The media dominated by the postmodernist and collectivist vi... more »

"The Volunteers" Legends of the 21st Century Humans

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 23 hours ago

U.S. Secret Service's Budget Under Strain Protecting President Trump And His Family

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Washington Post*: *Secret Service says it will run out of money to protect Trump and his family Sept. 30* The Secret Service said Monday that it has enough money to cover the cost of protecting President Trump and his family through the end of September, but after that the agency will hit a federally mandated cap on salaries and overtime unless Congress intervenes. If lawmakers don’t lift the cap, about a third of the agency’s agents would be working overtime without being paid, agency officials said. “The Secret Service estimates that roughly 1,100 employees will work overtime ... more »

Soil, Monsanto and the Agribusiness Giants: Conning the World with Snake Oil and Doughnuts

Colin Todhunter at EAST BY NORTHWEST - 23 hours ago
Global Research, RINF, CounterPunch, Countercurrents In their rush to readily promote neoliberal dogma and corporate-inspired PR, many government officials, scientists and journalists take as given that profit-driven transnational corporations have a legitimate claim to be custodians of natural assets. There is the premise that water, food, soil and agriculture should be handed over to powerful and wholly corrupt transnational corporations to milk for profit, under the pretence these entities are somehow serving the needs of humanity. These natural assets ('the commons') belong to ev... more »

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Address to the Nation Full Video & Transcript:https://t.co/FELdImTuUM pic.twitter.com/6ly3fNatiX — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2017 Three top U.S. military commanders plan to issue a strong warning message to #DPRK in rare joint conference https://t.co/Nscm4llVYz — Strategic Sentinel (@StratSentinel) August 21, 2017 Navy ship in collision named for McCain's dad, grandfather https://t.co/aa7IbfQxNe pic.twitter.com/g3EuqJdepg — ArmyTimes (@ArmyTimes) August 22, 2017 A look inside the renovated Trump Oval Office. First thing noticed - lots more flags (at least thre... more »

For President Trump's Generals, Afghanistan Is Deeply Personal

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Sgt. Mallory Vanderschans/US Marine Corps *Peter Bergen, CNN*: *For Trump's generals, this is personal* (CNN)The seriously deteriorating situation in Afghanistan -- and what to do about it -- is a deeply personal issue for Trump's top national security advisers and generals. In the months after the 9/11 attacks, Trump's secretary of defense, retired Marine four-star General James Mattis, led the deepest assault from a ship in Marine Corps history near the key Taliban city of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Trump's National Security Adviser Lt. General H.R. McMaster served in Af... more »

Petition: Formally Recognize AntiFa As A Terrorist Organization

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*Petition to the Federal Government:* *Formally Recognize AntiFa As A Terrorist Organization* We The People ask the Federal Government to call on Congress to act on an issue: Formally recognize AntiFa as a terrorist organization. Terrorism is defined as “the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims”. This definition is the same definition used to declare ISIS and other groups as terrorist organizations. AntiFa has earned this title due to its violent actions in multiple cities and their influence in the killings of multiple police officers throughout the United ...more »

The U.S. Navy's Greatest Enemy Might Be Exhaustion

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * Is the fleet simply stretched too thin? With the USS *John S. McCai*n (DDG-56) knocked out of commission after a collision on Aug. 21 in the Straits of Malacca, the United States Navy is down two ballistic missile defense-capable Aegis destroyers in the Pacific. With USS *Fitzgerald* (DDG-62) being also being knocked out of action after a June 17 collision off the Japanese coast, the loss of the two vessels from operational service could not come at a worse time for the Navy, which needs of all the ballistic missile defense assets it can get to deal ... more »

Northrop Grumman vs. Boeing: Who Will Build the U.S. Military's New ICBMs?

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * A big contract is up for grabs. The United States Air Force has whittled down the number of would be contractors for its Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to two. Northrop Grumman and Boeing will move forward into the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase. As such, the Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $329 million contract and Boeing a $349 million contract for the TMRR phase. Under the contracts, the two companies will mature the GBSD technology and develop a “low technical ri... more »

UPS’ Innovation Culture Is A Model For Industry And Defense

Dan Goure at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Dan Goure* *Security, * The Pentagon should consider partnering with UPS in the identification and implementation of innovative logistics concepts and technologies. There is a myth that has captivated many senior business leaders, veteran investment analysts and even leadership in the Department of Defense. The fable is that the source of innovation that will drive the U.S. economy and be increasingly important to the effectiveness of the U.S. military is to be found in small startup companies, particularly those involved in the IT space. Silicon Valley is held up as the wellspr... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* A jet plane flies by the total solar eclipse in Guernsey, Wyoming U.S. August 21, 2017. Rick Wilking, Reuters

Israel’s Newest Tourist Attraction: Family Fantasy Camps Teach How to Kill

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Israel’s Newest Tourist Attraction: Family Fantasy Camps Teach How to Kill by Kathryn Shihadah, https://israelpalestinenews.org/ “Come visit Israel, where you can stop by the Western Wall, tour the Holocaust Museum, view the Dead Sea Scrolls, and shoot live bullets at cardboard cutouts of Palestinian terrorists!” – Israel is becoming a destination for a whole new experience: it’s […]

20 Declassified Files That Prove Governmental Crime And Conspiracy – Part 1

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
20 Declassified Files That Prove Governmental Crime And Conspiracy – Part 1 by Makia Freeman, http://www.activistpost.com/ Declassified files are useful in a world where truthtellers and open-minded investigators are shut down, censored and accused of being “conspiracy theorists.” Our world is fast becoming a digital censorship grid, where corporate technological behemoths like Google (who own YouTube) […]

What Happened to CNN? 😂

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Published on Aug 21, 2017 CNN once changed the entire news industry, but now is its biggest embarrassment. From improv pundits pretending to know what they’re talking about, to endless baseless speculation about nonsense to their race baiting, they have ruined their reputation. end

US, South Korea Start War Games Despite Pyongyang Warnings Could Lead to “Uncontrollable Phase of Nuclear War”

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Published on Aug 21, 2017 Pyongyang has described the US-South Korea annual military drills, set to kick off on Monday, as the “most explicit expression of hostility,” voicing fears that the war games, known as the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, may “evolve into actual fighting.” end

NASA Plans to Stop Yellowstone Super-Volcano May Trigger ‘Nuclear Winter’

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Published on Aug 21, 2017 A NASA plan to stop the Yellowstone “supervolcano” from erupting could actually cause it to blow, triggering a nuclear winter that would wipe out humanity. RT America’s Trinity Chavez reports. end

Total Solar Eclipse Stuns USA

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Streamed live 9 hours ago A unique line up of sun, moon and Earth is creating a total solar eclipse, which could be visible in 10 American states. An important moment for the scientific community as well as a nationwide spectacular event, which last happened 99 years ago is expected to attract thousands of onlookers. […]

“Is The President Mentally And Emotionally Stable?” New Bill Would Require Trump To Undergo Mental Health Evaluation

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
“Is The President Mentally And Emotionally Stable?” New Bill Would Require Trump To Undergo Mental Health Evaluation by Mac Slavo,SHTFplan.com Back in February it was reported by Zero Hedge that Democrats would soon act to remove President Trump under the 25th Amendment, which states in part that a President can be replaced should he be unable to discharge his […]

US Commanders To Issue “Rare Warning” To North Korea As Kim Threatens “Merciless Revenge”

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
US Commanders To Issue “Rare Warning” To North Korea As Kim Threatens “Merciless Revenge” by Tyler Durden, http://www.zerohedge.com As the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military drills begin near the Korean Peninsula, North Korea’s Kim has threatened “merciless revenge” against the “US Imperialists and South Korean war maniacs” for ignoring his warnings. North Korea’s state-run Korean Central […]

US and South Korea Simulate Nuclear War as 17,500 Troops Take Part in Drill

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
US and South Korea Simulate Nuclear War as 17,500 Troops Take Part in Drill by JON ROGERS, http://www.express.co.uk/ UNITED States and South Korea carried out military anti-terror and nuclear drills in a show of force against North Korea as fears of war escalated. – Armed forced dressed in red hazard suits and gas masks were seen running […]

US Will Remain in Syria for Decades After ISIS Defeated, Kurdish Militia Allies Say

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
America is illegally waging wars against many countries and illegally occupying many countries. America was never invited into Syria. – US Will Remain in Syria for Decades After ISIS Defeated, Kurdish Militia Allies Say by https://www.rt.com/ One of Washington’s main allies in their fight against Islamic State in Syria says US forces will remain in the […]

Problems Too Big And Too Many To Fix: Trump Will Be The Fall Guy

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Problems Too Big And Too Many To Fix: Trump Will Be The Fall Guy by Mish Shedlock, https://mishtalk.com/ The axe fell on Steve Bannon Friday. Mid-day, mainstream media proclaimed stocks were up because of the firing. Stocks closed the day down. Apparently, stocks were both up and down due to Bannon. Now Bannon is Back on the […]

The Revolution Betrayed: Now It’s Trump vs. Bannon

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
The Revolution Betrayed: Now it’s Trump vs. Bannon by Justin Raimondo, http://original.antiwar.com/ The exit of Steve Bannon, the President’s political strategist, from the White House and his return to Breitbart.com marks the defeat, if not quite the end, of the “isolationist” America First faction within the Trump administration. It is a victory for what I call the […]

Sanctions Are Almost Always a Prelude to War

mosesman at Socio-Economics History Blog - 1 day ago
Sanctions Are Almost Always a Prelude to War by Darius Shahtahmasebi, http://russia-insider.com/en Last Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed new sanctions into law against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The legislation was supported so overwhelmingly in Congress that President Trump’s ability to veto the legislation was rendered completely ineffective. – Even anti-interventionist Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted in favor of the bill, once again proving […]

Solar Eclipse in the South Pacific

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 1 day ago
A photograph purportedly showing a solar eclipse over the South Pacific is a composite image.

Vietnam Memorial Vandalized with Graffiti

Kim LaCapria at Snopes.com - 1 day ago
A replica Vietnam Wall in Los Angeles was defaced by vandals, but the larger monument in Washington, D.C., was not.

President Trump Sets Out New US Strategy For Afghanistan -- News Roundup

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Daily Mail:* *Trump sets out new US strategy for Afghanistan claiming 'we will win' – but makes no mention of new troop infusion* * Trump announced his Afghanistan plan Monday night address to the nation * He spoke from Ft. Myer outside Washington * He had been expected to announce an additional 4,000 troops to help Afghanistan avoid being overrun by Islamist jihadis * Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accompanied him to Fort Myer * Trump's Defense Secretary and National Security Advisor argued in favor of the troop surge * Says his own first instinct was to 'pull out' * Tough talk... more »

African-Americans fighting fascism and racism, from WWII to Charlottesville

Matthew Delmont, Director and Professor of the School of Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Arizona State University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 1 day ago
Tuskegee Airmen and P-47. San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives In July 1943, one month after a race riot shook Detroit, Vice President Henry Wallace spoke to a crowd of union workers and civic groups: “We cannot fight to crush Nazi brutality abroad and condone race riots at home. Those who fan the fires of racial clashes for the purpose of making political capital here at home are taking the first step toward Nazism.” The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African-American newspaper at the time, praised Wallace for endorsing what they called the “Double V” campaign. The Double Victory... more »

How should we protest neo-Nazis? Lessons from German history

Laurie Marhoefer, Assistant Professor of History, University of Washington at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 1 day ago
A supporter of President Donald Trump, center, argues with a counterprotester at a rally in Boston on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer After the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, many people are asking themselves what they should do if Nazis rally in their city. Should they put their bodies on the line in counterdemonstrations? Some say yes. History says no. Take it from me: I study the original Nazis. We have an ethical obligation to stand against fascism and racism. But we also have an ethical obligation to do so in a way that doesn’t help the fascists a... more »

The National Academy of Sciences teaches climate advocacy, not science

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 1 day ago
The National Academy of Sciences is off the rails when it comes to teaching kids about climate change.

Is the U.S. approaching peak solar power?

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 1 day ago
“At a certain point—and California seems to have reached it already—new solar PV does nothing to satisfy new peak net demand.”

The Ongoing Saga 84: News, Updates, & More

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 1 day ago
Most recent updates are on top, after image-intro commentary, so that routine readers will not have to scroll-down far. Time … Continue reading →

Running For Office-- On Marijuana Legalization... In Red States

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
Mike Ward was an extraordinarily progressive congressman from Louisville, Kentucky and later Associate Director of the Peace Corps. His mom, Lukey Ward, had been the day-to-day manager of the Kentucky chapter of Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It's a good family to be from and Mike's son, Jasper Ward, is an attorney in Louisville who, with his wife, is working on Legalize Kentucky Now... "legalize" as in marijuana. I like his perspective and asked him to write a guest post about what he's trying to do with this-- in a state that that went for Trump l... more »

Lawmakers Press Justice Dept. on Intentions Regarding Higher Ed Inclusion

cmaadmin at Diverse - 1 day ago
Several Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration for clarity on the question of whether the Department of Justice plans to “launch an attack on racial diversity and inclusion in higher education.”

Stakeholders Call for Postponement of White House Initiative on HBCUs Conference

cmaadmin at Diverse - 1 day ago
The White House Initiative on HBCUs annual conference is scheduled for September 17-19. However, stakeholders within the historically Black colleges and universities community, have requested that the conference be postponed.

Musical Interlude: Kevin Kern, “Remembering the Light - Sea (Mar)”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
Kevin Kern, “Remembering the Light - Sea (Mar)” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkGrvhZI8S0

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
“Sprawling across almost 200 light-years, emission nebula IC 1805 is a mix of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds. Derived from its Valentine's-Day-approved shape, its nickname is the Heart Nebula. *Click image for larger size.* About 7,500 light-years away in the Perseus spiral arm of our galaxy, stars were born in IC 1805. In fact, near the cosmic heart's center are the massive hot stars of a newborn star cluster also known as Melotte 15, about 1.5 million years young. A little ironically, the Heart Nebula is located in the constellation Cassiopeia. From Greek mythology, ... more »

"The Dreamers Of The Day..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago

The Poet: Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “Solitude”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*“Solitude”* “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone. For this brave old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own. Sing, and the hills will answer; Sigh, it is lost on the air. The echoes bound to a joyful sound, But shrink from voicing care. Rejoice, and men will seek you; Grieve, and they turn and go. They want full measure of all your pleasure, But they do not need your woe. Be glad, and your friends are many; Be sad, and you lose them all. There are none to decline your nectared wine, But alone you must drink life's gall. Feast, and your... more »

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