Monday, March 19, 2018

19 March - My Feedly! 1 of 2

Today
The insights you need to get the inside edge

BLOGGER-FOLLOWING

It's time to protect yourself — and your friends — from Facebook
Mashable / 16hFacebook Cambridge Analytica Data
Remember the Marlboro Man? He was a sexy vision of the American west, created by a cigarette corporation to sell a fatal product. People knew this and used that product anyway, at great detriment to themselves and those around them who quietly inhaled toxic secondhand smoke, day into long night. An agreement between states and tobacco companies banished the rugged cowboy at the end of the 1990s,
'Outlander' is coming back for a fifth season yesssss
Mashable / 15h
Everyone's favorite show that isn't Game of Thrones is coming back for a fifth season. In lieu of an official announcement from Starz, Outlander executive producer Ronald D. Moore said Sunday that the show will be returning for a fifth season, Entertainment Weekly reported . Moore noted that there are still "usual negotiations and conversations" about the future of the show, but he seemed complet
Ghostly figure filmed aboard the HMS Victory
Unexplained Mysteries / 16h
Tony Ferguson had been visiting the historic vessel in Portsmouth when he caught something strange on film. The 33-year-old, who hadn't seen anything ...
Did a mystic predict Putin's rise to power ?
Unexplained Mysteries / 9h
During a meeting in 1979, blind mystic Baba Vanga allegedly predicted that Putin would 'rule the world'. Vanga, who was born in Bulgaria in 1911 and d...
Green Druid Di Natale blames cars, rocks, & mean people, for causing Cat 2 cyclones they said would happen less
JoNova: Science, carbon, climate and tax / 11h
Druids at work The voters smacked the Greens yesterday, so today the Greens smack the voters. Richard Di Natale, Green Chieftain, blames the recent spate of storms and fires for the governments failure to change the global weather. The Australian The Greens have blamed the federal government’s failure to address climate change for a cyclone and bushfires which have ravaged communities across Aust
Self-Driving Uber Car Kills Arizona Woman Crossing Street
cryptogon.com / 7h
Update: Tempe Police Chief Says Early Probe Shows No Fault by Uber Via: San Francisco Chronicle: Pushing a bicycle laden with plastic shopping bags, a woman abruptly walked from a center median into a lane of traffic and was struck by a self-driving Uber operating in autonomous mode. “The driver said it was like a […]

NEWS

US to sanction Russia if S-400 sold to any foreign nations
Signs of the Times / 21h
A group of US lawmakers led by Senator Bob Menendez told the State Department in a letter that any sale of Russian S-400 air defense system should lead to new punitive measures as stipulated in the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). "We are writing today to specifically inquire about reported negotiations between Russia and certain countries over sales of the Russian
ACLU: Donald Trump’s White House non-disclosure agreements unconstitutional
Salon: in-depth news, politics, business... / 14h
(Credit: Getty/Win McNamee) President Donald Trump may have violated the Constitution when he pressured high-level White House staffers into signing a non-disclosure agreement, according to the ACLU. “Public employees can’t be gagged by private agreements,” Ben Wizner, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, explained in a statement . “These so-ca
Fran Lebowitz: 'You do not know anyone as stupid as Donald Trump'
The Guardian / 2h
She loves to talk, hates to fly and wants to make it clear she takes no responsibility for the state of US politics Be grateful you didn’t sit next to Fran Lebowitz on the plane from New York to Melbourne. The trip was the longest flight she had taken, and therefore the longest time she managed to go without a cigarette. When I ask if it is her first time in Australia, she says: “That makes it so
British woman killed fighting Turkish forces in Afrin
The Guardian / 22h
Anna Campbell believed to be the first British woman to die alongside Kurdish forces in Syria • Syria’s new exiles: Kurds flee Afrin after Turkish assault A British woman fighting alongside Kurdish forces in Afrin, northern Syria, has been killed, her Kurdish commanders have said. Related: Anna Campbell’s death in Syria was futile, but her passion was admirable | Simon Jenkins Continue reading...
Our phony Middle East wars rage on while America's homeland crumbles
Signs of the Times / 9h
Overseas, the United States is engaged in real wars in which bombs are dropped, missiles are launched, and people (generally not Americans) are killed, wounded, uprooted, and displaced. Yet here at home, there's nothing real about those wars. Here, it's phony war all the way. In the last 17 years of "forever war," this nation hasn't for one second been mobilized. Taxes are being cut instead of rai
Last Week Tonight Created a Children’s Book About Mike Pence’s Gay Pet Rabbit for Charity, and Also to Troll Him
Stories from Slate / 14hMike Pence L. W. Tonight
Mike Pence’s homophobia is so well-established that even Donald Trump reportedly makes fun of it , but in a segment about the vice president on Last Week Tonight , John Oliver reminded us of some of the highlights. Pence signed off on Indiana’s “religious liberty” law, which effectively invited discrimination against LGBTQ people . He suggested that the legalization of gay marriage would lead to

SCIENCE

Cambridge Analytica Execs Caught Discussing Extortion and Fake News
Feed: All Latest / 9hCambridge Analytica Facebook Company
In undercover videos filmed by Britain’s Channel 4 news, Cambridge Analytica executives appear to offer up various unsavory tactics to influence campaigns.
'Kagome metal': Physicists discover new quantum electronic material
Phys.org - latest science and technology... / 13h
A motif of Japanese basketweaving known as the kagome pattern has preoccupied physicists for decades. Kagome baskets are typically made from strips of bamboo woven into a highly symmetrical pattern of interlaced, corner-sharing triangles.
Platypus milk might save us from bacterial infections, and that’s not even the best thing about them
Popular Science / 16h
Animals These weird lil’ guys defy everything about how we try to categorize animals. You may have heard that platypuses are going to save us from antibiotic resistance. This may or may not be true. But here’s what we do know: they’re definitely weird…
Stem cell therapy reverses sight loss and lets people read again
New Scientist - News / 12h
Human embryonic stem cells have been used to replenish damaged eye tissue resulting from age-related macular degeneration
Scientists detect radio echoes of a black hole feeding on a star
Phys.org - latest science and technology... / 16h
On Nov. 11, 2014, a global network of telescopes picked up signals from 300 million light years away that were created by a tidal disruption flare—an explosion of electromagnetic energy that occurs when a black hole rips apart a passing star. Since this discovery, astronomers have trained other telescopes on this very rare event to learn more about how black holes devour matter and regulate the gr
Volcanic eruption influenced Iceland's conversion to Christianity
Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily / 15h
Memories of the largest lava flood in the history of Iceland, recorded in an apocalyptic medieval poem, were used to drive the island's conversion to Christianity, new research suggests.

YOUTUBE

It's Splash or Cash in a Round of 'Make It Rain'!
The Ellen Show / 16h
Ellen gave two lucky fans a chance to make it rain $10,000 cash with Totes Umbrellas. From: TheEllenShow
Photographing the Strength and Beauty of Rescued Horses | National Geographic
National Geographic (uploads) on YouTube / 17h
When photographer Katie Orlinsky went to Rosemary Farm Sanctuary on assignment for National Geographic, she captured a unique and heartwarming story of resilience for rescued equine animals getting their second chance at life and the people working to care for them every day. Sponsored by BMWUSA. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: National Geographic is the worl
Black Market Demand for 'Red Ivory' Is Dooming This Rare Bird | Short Film Showcase
National Geographic (uploads) on YouTube / 6h
The rare and beautiful helmeted hornbill is vanishing at an alarming rate from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Prized for their red keratin “helmets,” this unique large bird species has been so heavily poached it is now more endangered than elephants. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe ➡ Get More Short Film Showcase: http://bit.ly/ShortFilmShowcase About Short Film Showcase: The S
Ellen Celebrates Allison Janney's Oscar Win with Hunks
The Ellen Show / 16h
To celebrate her recent Oscar win, Ellen gave her friend Allison Janney the hottest congratulatory present ever. From: TheEllenShow
Brendan Howey - RAW 100
Vimeo / Vimeo Staff Picks / 10h
Cast: Rupert Walker and Keith White Audio
Johnny's Home | ACLU commission
Vimeo / Vimeo Staff Picks / 13h
"You realize you haven't crossed the street in 13 years." For Johnny Perez, returning to society and to his family after being in prison for 13 years wasn't easy. JOHNNY'S HOME is part of a short animated documentary series about mass incarceration in the U.S., which shows the toll that an abusive and unjust criminal system takes on individuals, families, and communities. Watch all three films: S

THE ENVIRONMENTALIST

Awe May Be a Forest’s Least Known Gift
The EnvironmentaList / 11h
The perception of the interconnections among things is what inspires this powerful emotion, say researchers
Ryan Zinke to Look into Unpopular Montana Land Exchange Proposal
The EnvironmentaList / 3d
The 5,000-acre proposal by Texas oil barons was twice rejected under Obama
You Can’t Frack Without Harming Public Health, New Research Shows
The EnvironmentaList / 4d
Study examines over 1,200 peer-reviewed research papers, government reports, news articles
Mega Dams Are So Last Year
The EnvironmentaList / 5d
And we can’t wait for the day we can say these destructive projects are history
An Endangered Fish Out of Water
The EnvironmentaList / 6d
A unique hatchery program is keeping the Rio Grande’s silvery minnow alive. But the long-term fate of this tiny fish is uncertain.
Wyoming Proposes Grizzly Bear Hunt for First Time in Four Decades
The EnvironmentaList / 7d
Move comes less than a year after the iconic bears were stripped of Endangered Species Act protections.

THE CORBETT REPORT

China Banning People From Transit for Bad “Social Credit” Scores
The Corbett Report / 1d
The slow-motion train wreck of "social credit" systems and the "gamification" of society has moved to the next stage. Now the Chinese government is going to start barring people from flying or riding trains if their social credit score is not up to snuff. China may be the test case for these ideas, but they're already being rolled out in other countries. So what are we going to do about it?
The Russia Poison Story is WMD 2.0
The Corbett Report / 2d
Is THIS Japan?!?
The Corbett Report / 5d
The eye of the camera is determining what you see and what you do not see, whether you know it or not. Don't let the media frame your understanding of the world...or at least be conscious of the fact that they are framing the world for you. Oh, and enjoy these images of the sunny climes of western Japan from The Corbett Report's 2009 Video Archive DVD!
“…And Then There Were None” – FLNWO #41
The Corbett Report / 3d
[audio mp3="https://www.corbettreport.com/mp3/flnwo41-lq.mp3"][/audio] "Take us to your leader!" is the science fiction cliche...but what if there's no leader to be taken to, and no one to do the leading? In this edition of the Film, Literature and the New World Order series, James examines the philosophy of Eric Frank Russell's 1951 story "...And Then There Were None" and unlocks the secret of t
Episode 332 – The Weaponization of Social Media
The Corbett Report / 17d
[audio mp3="https://www.corbettreport.com/mp3/episode332-lq.mp3"][/audio] Now openly admitted, governments and militaries around the world employ armies of keyboard warriors to spread propaganda and disrupt their online opposition. Their goal? To shape public discourse around global events in a way favourable to their standing military and geopolitical objectives. Their method? The Weaponization
What EVERYONE is Missing About “Russiagate”
The Corbett Report / 29d
Yes, America interferes in elections all the time. And yes, the Russian ad buys happened after the election. And yes, the DNC really did rig the primaries for Hillary. But if you believe the truth then you're a dirty Russian!

WWF - LATEST NEWS

Half of plant and animal species at risk from climate change in world's most important natural places
WWF - Latest News / 6d
LONDON - Up to half of plant and animal species in the world's most naturally rich areas, such as the Amazon and the Galapagos, could face local extinction by the turn of the century due to climate change if carbon emissions continue to rise unchecked. Even if the Paris Climate Agreement 2°C target is met, these places could lose 25 per cent of their species according to a landmark new study by t
Cape Town water crisis: Michael Bloomberg on Ground Zero as Day Zero is pushed back
WWF - Latest News / 11d
In recent months, all eyes have been on Cape Town as the city copes with a water crisis of unprecedented scale. It has been billed as the first major city in the world to run the risk of its taps running dry and though latest news reports indicate that Day Zero may be pushed back, the city's four million residents have become the face of the 'new normal' the world appears to be heading toward. No
Mondi joins WWF's Climate Savers business leadership programme
WWF - Latest News / 12d
Global packaging and paper group adopts 2050 science-based targets to limit global temperature rise to under 2°C. Vienna, Austria – Mondi Group has joined the ranks of global climate leaders by signing up to Climate Savers, WWF's climate leadership programme for businesses. The packaging and paper group commits to reduce its specific production-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 0.25 t CO
Project Extraordinary: A novel challenge to 'make sustainability sexy'
WWF - Latest News / 24d
The word 'sustainability' may bring a lot of adjectives to one's mind but 'desirable' or 'sexy' is rarely one of them. Sustainability is not often seen as a 'must have' and yet as we use and consume resources as if we had 1.7 earths, there is an urgent need for each of us to rethink how we can feed, fuel and power our society differently. On 21 February 2018, WWF-New Zealand and WiLD Studios (the

THWAP'S SCHOOLYARD

Justin Trudeau vs Free Speech Part II
thwap's schoolyard / 14d
So, in Part I , I talked about the Russian-origin "fake news" that supposedly destroyed Hillary Clinton's campaign (all on its own, with no help from the fact that Clinton was a terrible, uninspiring candidate, offering traditional Democratic voters more of the same rotten status-quo; who pissed-off the progressive base of the party by stealing the nomination from Bernie Sanders and then telling
Justin Trudeau vs. Free Speech PART I
thwap's schoolyard / 21d
So, there's this insultingly stupid meme going around that Russia's Vladimir Putin stole the 2016 US presidential election for Trump. He didn't. Trump is not Putin's puppet. Trump is a con-artist and he has a lot of financiers in Russia. Because there are a lot of uber-crooked oligarchs in Russia with lots of liquid assets they need to launder. This access to dirty money endears Russia to Trump a

ACTIVIST TEACHER

Liberal Trudeau government Canadian federal budget 2018
Activist Teacher / 17d
Social justice is the absence of injustices against individuals in society. But social justice is also a Liberal brand that powerfully connects citizens to the Liberal government, via superficial and institutionally manufactured "good person" self-identity. The gravy train is back with the latest federal budget. Canned high-impact Liberal social justice programs have hit the jackpot. In
Academic Freedom? How Nasty Can a University Be?
Activist Teacher / 28d
By Denis Rancourt (First published at Dissident Voice.) The present era of reactionary institutional responses to violations of political correctness is exposing the fact that “academic freedom”, of both professors and students, does not really mean much, except what it has always meant. In the concluding paragraphs of her chapter on academic freedom in her 1986 book No Ivory Tower,

THE STRAIGHT GOODS

Premier John "Prince of dithering and self-doubt" Horgan
The Straight Goods / 6d
Written by Grant G " a good plan today is worth more than a brilliant idea tomorrow" .....For John Horgan, neither is true, there is no good plan today and as for tomorrow, tomorrow will have to wait while Premier Dithers hand out more homework assignments to his chosen "consultants" ....the delayers, the make cover for premier Dithers' decisions.... In other words.....if this is leadership or vi
The European Union. Self-Destruction in Process.
The Straight Goods / 7d
The European Union. Self-Destruction in Process. Written by Robin Mathews (March 2018) It didn’t come together quickly … and its collapse won’t happen in a blinding flash. But the growing dissatisfaction among European populations will grow. Misrepresented by the likes of Mario Draghi, European Central Bank head – and former Goldman Sachs employee, and Jean-Claude Junker, President of the Europea
"The Law’s delay, the insolence of office” (Shakespeare/Hamlet)
The Straight Goods / 13d
“The Law’s delay, the insolence of office” (Shakespeare/ Hamlet) Written By Robin Mathews (March 2018) One of the most important legal cases in the history of Canada is presently in shadows as three B.C. Appeal Court justices weigh arguments in the Crown-appealed case (Jan. 15, 2018) against socially-challenged and recovering heroin addicts, John Nuttall and Amanda Korody. Put simply – they were

WMTC

what i'm reading: brendan's way by matthew bin
wmtc / 6d
Brendan's Way by Matthew Bin is a genre-blending journey story combining adventure, mystery, and conspiracy in a futuristic setting. It's technically science fiction, as it takes place in the future and features some technology that doesn't yet exist. But if, like me, you don't usually read science fiction, don't let that stop you. It's an engrossing story and a satisfying read. Brendan is immigr
what i'm reading: short reviews of fiction by margaret atwood, madeleine thien, frances itani, elizabeth kostova
wmtc / 8d
I've gathered some thoughts about several novels I read but neglected to write about. I enjoyed them all to varying degrees; all are worth reading if you enjoy the type. This is the first of three posts. * * * * The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood is subgenre we don't see enough of: the dystopian comedy. We're in the future, one in which the entire economy of the United States has collapsed. Fo
rip barry crimmins: call me lucky to have known him
wmtc / 9d
In late 2015, I blogged about a remarkable documentary: " Call Me Lucky ," about the life and times of Barry Crimmins. Barry died last week at the age of 64. Describing Barry as a comedian somehow seems wrong. He was a social critic who used biting humour and righteous anger to enlighten and to skewer. He was a fierce opponent of any system that furthers war, poverty, and repression, and a stalwar
beyond #iwd: fight for women by opposing privatization
wmtc / 9d
Visit We Own It for all the facts on privatization. When public services are privatized, everyone loses -- except, of course, shareholders of a private company, who increase their wealth with our money. But did you know the pain of privatization hits women disproportionately harder? As this excellent article by Jane Stinson in Canadian Dimension says: Privatization is not gender-neutral. It threa
things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #27
wmtc / 16d
This is a scene played out every day in public libraries all across North America. I'm at the information desk, and I see a boy, by himself, a chubby little toddler, toddle fast in one direction, then back in the other direction. He can't be much over 12 months old. When I see him cross the floor for the third time, I get up and go to chat with him. "Who are you here with, sweetie? Is your mom her
in which i finally give up my blackberry
wmtc / 22d
Well, I finally did it. I gave up my BlackBerry, and got a Samsung Galaxy phone. Yeah, I know, welcome to the 21st Century. Goodbye, old frenemy I previously only used my phone for talk, text, and organizer functions (calendar, contacts), and still felt -- still feel -- that nothing beats the physical keyboard. But now my Nexus mini tablet is dying, and there's no good low-cost replacement. Which

AMUSED CYNICISM

Twitter gets message order wrong
Amused Cynicism / 15d
Imagine you were designing an online messaging system. On your system, people could write messages, and other people could reply to them. And people could reply to the replies, and so on. So imagine you had a sequence of 5 messages, [1] to [5], where each is a reply to the last. In what order would you display them on the screen? I’d like you to think about that for a bit before you scroll down…
Brexit “won’t be like Mad Max”
Amused Cynicism / 23d
Mad May:

ANGOLA 3 NEWS

Albert Woodfox’s Release: Celebrating and Reflecting Upon the Two-Year Anniversary --An Interview With Law Professor Angela A. Allen-Bell
Angola 3 News / 28d
(PHOTOS: Albert's 71st Birthday party held this weekend at his home in New Orleans. Happy Birthday, Albert!) Albert Woodfox’s Release: Celebrating and Reflecting Upon the Two-Year Anniversary --An Interview With Law Professor Angela A. Allen-Bell By Angola 3 News On February 19, 2016, following 43 years in solitary confinement, Albert Woodfox of the Angola 3 was released from prison on his 69th b

THE ERGOSPHERE

Mail broken. Thanks for nothing, Yahoo.
The Ergosphere / 16h
Once more, good ol' Yahoo Mail has decided to screw things up totally. Their new mail form does not work on desktop. At ALL. Here's a brief list of problems: Mail is not marked as read when read. It remains unread. The reply links (both of them) are non-functional. I cannot reply to mail. The top-frame buttons to delete, mark read, etc. are non-functional. The buttons to go to previous/next

BUCKDOG

I NEVER Thought I Would Have To Look For Reasons To Remain In the Federal NDP ....
Buckdog / 3d
I've voted New Democrat in all Federal elections since 1972 with membership since 1981. With the woeful inexperience and bad judgement of the current Leader, I don't feel comfortable in the Federal Party anymore. Under his short leadership, major Party issues have been sidelined by 'Khalistan & Palestine'. Ongoing affiliation for me is very shaky. I am actively looking for reasons to stay. As wel
I
Buckdog / 25d

WELCOME TO POTTERSVILLE 2 (BLOGGING AGAINST FASCISM!)

UNC Beats Duke - On to Virginia! (Google Admits It Works for Pentagon: Drone Murder Program)
Welcome to Pottersville 2 (Blogging Agai... / 9d
UNC Beats Dook! Going for Virginia tomorrow night!!!!____________________ In my afternoon mail, I found some really terrific political insight from my favorite reporter, Lee Camp at "Redacted Tonight," when he interviews the incredibly still alive ex-CIA operative, Ray McGovern. Hey - In this gripping interview with 27-year CIA veteran Ray McGovern, he tells me that Deep State is very

CHERCHEZ LA VERITE

In his reascent speech Putin revealed the existence of new Russian nuclear weapons that make it indisputably clear that Russia has vast nuclear superiority over the United States and its pathetic NATO vassal states. However, he declared that Russia has no territorial ambitions, no hegemonic ambitions, and no intention to attack any other country. Putin described the weapons as the necessary response to the West’s firm refusal year after year to accept peace and cooperation with Russia, instead surrounding Russia with military bases and ABM systems. But he Putin stressed that Russia’s nuclear weapons are reserved for retaliation, not for offense, but that any attack on Russia or Russia’s allies will receive an immediate response “with all that it implies.”
Cherchez la Verite / 17d
Putin’s State of the Union By: 3 | 01 March , 2018 | Putin’s State of the Union Paul Craig Roberts Putin has given a remarkable address to the Federal Assembly, the Russian People, and the peoples of the world. In his speech Putin revealed the existence of new Russian nuclear weapons that make it indisputably clear that Russia has vast nuclear superiority over the United States and its pathetic N

THE EARTH AND MAN: SETTING THE STAGE

An Imbalance In Modern Thought
The Earth and Man: Setting the Stage / 20d
I submitted the following comment on the American Thinker site, in response to another comment stating that the United States suffers now from an "ideological imbalance" -- specifically, towards the far Left, or Democrat end. It may, and should be, of interest here (and, by the way, I will take no political comments on this science blog): The ideological imbalance came from cutting man off from t

DAMMIT JANET!

Anti-Choice Is a Fringe Position
Dammit Janet! / 10d
One of the best things about the new attestation for the Canada Summer Jobs program -- besides cutting off funding to anti-choice and anti-LGBTQ organizations -- is that it represents a strong message that respect for women's and LGBTQ rights is NOT a matter of opinion. It is the norm. And the corollary is that anti-choice is a fringe position. Anti-choice seeks to deny and rescind rights that the

VAGABOND SCHOLAR

St. Patrick's Day 2017
Vagabond Scholar / 1d
I've posted this song before, but it's one of my favorite picks for the day. Here's Dead Can Dance (with Lisa Gerrard singing) performing a striking rendition of the 19th century Irish tune, "The Wind That Shakes the Barley": My copy of the The Irish Songbook says: This is an excellent example of many songs that serve both as love lyrics and rebel song. The scene described refers to the 1783

SYRIA COMMENT

Foreign intervention in Syria: Isn’t it time to admit that the war against the Syrian regime is lost? – By Nikolaos van Dam
Syria Comment / 11d
Foreign intervention in Syria: Isn’t it time to admit that the war against the Syrian regime is being lost? By Nikolaos van Dam Lecture presented at the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, Vienna 7 March 2018 & published on Syria Comment Tonight, the 7 th of March 2018, it is exactly 55 years ago, that a group of young Syrian Ba’thist officers secretly mobilized their military support

SCREW YOU GUYS, I'M GOING HOME

Avoid Employers With White House Level Turnover
Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home / 6d
As much as potential employers might try to lure you in with big promises, one major red flag that indicates an employer to avoid is high turnover. Bad employers will give all kinds of excuses for why so many have left or been fired, and none of it was their fault, of course. It's all bad luck, bad employees, bad fit, but never, ever, that they're a bad employer. I mention this, of course, in ligh
Inclusion Riders Are A Good Idea In All Types Of Employment Agreements
Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home / 13d
Frances McDormand made an impassioned plea during her Oscar speech for more diversity. She mentioned the term, "inclusion rider" at the end of her speech. So what is an inclusion rider , and can it be used in non-Hollywood employment agreements? The idea of the inclusion rider is that stars with lots of negotiating power can help those with little or now power by protecting them in the stars' cont
My 2018 Predictions
Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home / 21d
Okay, okay. So I've been promising these for awhile. It has taken me a bit to wrap my head around things that have happened so far since the presidential election. The good news is that the GOP remains the party that couldn't shoot straight (no pun intended). So far, little has been done against employees on the legislative front. It's mostly been done by executive order. So what can we expect for

GEEZERPOWER

See Video on Newsmax Also, in the interview, Holy Joe mentions: “I’ve been a Democrat all my life. I got rejected by th...
Geezerpower / 9d
See Video on Newsmax Also, in the interview, Holy Joe mentions: “I’ve been a Democrat all my life. I got rejected by the Democratic Party in 2006 and went on as an independent, and thank God and the people of Connecticut, I got re-elected. “So I’m up again in 2012. I probably will run again. I’ve got to make that decision by the end of this year, I would say. You know, it’s possible. I haven’t de

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE

American Serengeti
What Is Sustainable / 11d
Once upon a time, the Great Plains of the western U.S. resembled the Serengeti of Africa, a vast prairie inhabited by abundant wildlife. Each year, during the wet season, grasslands produce far more new biomass than forests do, per unit of land. The greenery converts sunlight into carbohydrates, nutrients necessary for the existence of animal life in the ecosystem. Thus, the usually sunny plains

REAL HISTORY BLOG

Preview of the cover of my new book, A Lie Too Big to Fail!
Real History Blog / 9d
As many of you know, I've been researching the assassinations of the 1960s for more than 25 years now. I've had a particular interest in the assassination of Robert Kennedy. I started and stopped this book a couple of times over the last ten years, but got really serious about writing it over the last three and a half. Here is a preview of the cover. Jim DiEugenio was kind enough to write a

GREG MANKIW'S BLOG

A T-shirt for the Times
Greg Mankiw's Blog / 6d
Perfect for wearing when you teach Chapter 9 of my favorite textbook . (Make sure to check out the image on the back.)
What I've Been Watching
Greg Mankiw's Blog / 15d
The End of the F***ing World . A compelling coming-of-age/crime/love story, like a merger of The Breakfast Club and Bonnie and Clyde . On Netflix in eight brief episodes. Most definitely binge-worthy.
President Trump unites the country
Greg Mankiw's Blog / 17d
How often do Jeffrey Sachs and the Wall Street Journal editoral writers agree?
Summer Camp at Hoover
Greg Mankiw's Blog / 26d
A weeklong program for undergrads .

PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK

EPA weakens worker protections. Senators fight back.
Pesticide Action Network / 24d
In October 2015, we celebrated with farmworker unions and advocates when a much-improved Worker Protection Standard ( WPS ) was approved. The WPS is the only federal rule that protects farmworkers from exposure to hazardous pesticides on the job, and hadn't been updated in more than 20 years. Not surprisingly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it is planning to put
Native voices on food and farming
Pesticide Action Network / 25d
PAN board member Kyle Powys Whyte holds the Timnick Chair in the Humanities at Michigan State University. He is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Community Sustainability and a member of the Potawatomi Nation. PAN’s Executive Director Kristin Schafer recently chatted with Kyle about Indigenous food sovereignty and how PAN’s work intersects with his own. What brings you to PAN’s board? I’m pri
Pollinator protection goes global
Pesticide Action Network / 7d
The last few weeks have seen encouraging momentum around the world in protecting bees and other pollinators from harmful pesticides. Learn more Slideshow Category: Flex Slider
A farmer's perspective: Responding to climate change
Pesticide Action Network / 10d
On the small, mixed-fruit orchard I farm along California's Central Coast, confused apple trees spurt scattered blossoms in December, signaling that the weather patterns of yesteryear are being replaced by something new. With increasing drought, heat and disease pressure, any farmer will attest to the challenging impacts of climate change these days. Curious how other ecological farms are adaptin
Ahna Kruzic
Pesticide Action Network / 11d
Position: Communications Director Twitter: @ahnakruzic Ahna Kruzic is a community organizer turned communicator and writer from rural southern Iowa. As PAN’s Communications Director, Ahna is passionate about building communications and strategies to further PAN’s work for a just, thriving food and agriculture system. Ahna holds a Master of Science in sustainable agriculture and sociology from Iow
Pollinator protection goes global
Pesticide Action Network / 11d
The last few weeks have seen encouraging momentum around the world in protecting bees and other pollinators from harmful pesticides. As bees are responsible for pollinating one out of every three bites of food we eat — making them key actors in our food system — this news is extremely welcome. Neonics no more For years, independent scientific research has shown that neonicotinoid pesticides (or n

PAYING ATTENTION

My Tyee column: Why the new health tax makes sense
Paying attention / 5h
Winners are always champions of the status quo. Like Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson. He was asked whether it was fair that employers had paid MSP premiums for 40 per cent of workers, while the rest had to pay the premiums out of their own pockets. “Fairness is always a matter to be sorted out in the marketplace,” he said. “That’s what employers have to do is compete for good workers and pay them
My Tyee column: How the Chinese government took control of BC seniors’ homes
Paying attention / 21d
Great. The lives of seniors in B.C. care homes, where they are already over-drugged and under-supported, now depend in part on the Chinese government. On Friday, the government seized control of Anbang Insurance Group, a financial giant with investments around the world. It cited corruption, fraud and a risk the whole $390-billion company could go broke. Last year, Anbang spent an estimated $1 bi
NDP wins with bold BC budget
Paying attention / 25d
Give Finance Minister Carole James full marks for a bold budget approach and the skill to sell it. The new government was in a tough spot. It had lots of campaign promises to deliver, and no money because of the BC Liberals’ reckless decision to halve MSP premiums without any plan to replace the revenue. Conventional wisdom has been that tax increases of any kind would bring all kinds of abuse. S

OBSIDIAN WINGS

Brainstorming my Hugo nominations: Best Novel and Best Series
Obsidian Wings / 6d
by Doctor Science Hugo nominations have to be in by Friday, so I'm going to put up my longlist and hope the process of writing helps me make up my mind. I'm resurrecting my goodreads account to better keep track of what I've read (and what I started but did not finish , and why). I thought I had already written and posted reviews of most of these, but apparently I wrote many only in my head. Way
Why the Heck Not? – Weekend Open Thread
Obsidian Wings / 3d
by wj It occurs to me that, since an Open Thread is desıgned to wander around multiple topics, why shouldn’t the post do so as well. So this one is going to start with technology and end up at politics. This past year, I’ve been working on a project with ICANN (Internet Corporation for Addresses, Names, and Numbers). These are the folks who keep track of things like domain names – so you can’t go
Musical Titanic Cabinet Torture Chairs
Obsidian Wings / 6d
by Ugh Tillerson out! He very much wanted to stay, apparently. Wasn't told, doesn't know why. Mike Pompeo to State. Some wag on twitter notes that with access to both the CIA and State Department files, Pompeo can surely get to the bottom of....Benghazi! Gina Haspel will lead the CIA, she was directly involved in the, um, wonderful torture regime run by the prior republican president who took off
Until the next time
Obsidian Wings / 22d
by liberal japonicus With this comment , the names of the 17 people killed by a legally purchased AR-15 have been posted in the comments. Unlike the Las Vegas shooting, all of the victims were living in the same area, so I used the local paper to provide the links, except for the first identified victim, Jamie Guttenberg. Most lists order them in terms of last name, I've listed with the youngest
I got nuthin' Open Thread
Obsidian Wings / 10d
by Ugh The perpetual infrastructure week debacle is entertaining in an "OMFG look at that train wreck" dumpster fire-esque sort of way. I think. I'm sure our deal-maker-yet-can't-get-the-hush-money-NDA-correct-in-chief will end up getting North Korea to... eh. Maybe he'll end up like John McCain, tweeting about his visit with "Qadhafi" and how he is an "interesting man." "Wow, your people really
New York city recommendations
Obsidian Wings / 12d
by liberal japonicus My oldest daughter is going to NY city for an academic program with her university in June. Of course, I would like her to soak up that liberal elitism that I have heard so much about as well as learn to properly hate all conservatives and all things conservative, as I know I've been falling down on that part of my job. I have assigned her to read Ian Frazier's essay 'Your fa

LAND DESTROYER

WMD Lies Strike Again: The Skripal Incident
Land Destroyer / 3d
March 16, 2018 ( Tony Cartalucci - NEO ) - As the West rallies around recent allegations by the UK against Russia regarding the alleged poisoning of former Russian military intelligence officer-turned British spy - Sergei Skripal - it is crucial to point out the alarming lack of actual evidence involved. It is also important to point out the history of the accusers predicating entire wars on alle
US Political Meddling is Very Real, Spans the Globe
Land Destroyer / 6d
March 14, 2018 ( Ulson Gunnar - NEO ) - The United States has spent over a year now leveling accusations against the Russian Federation regarding alleged political meddling during the 2016 US elections. While accusations range from everything including "fake news" spread across the Internet to direct ties to the administration of US President Donald Trump used to assist him into power, no evidenc
US Propaganda Collapses in Syria, But Threats Remain
Land Destroyer / 17d
March 2, 2018 ( Tony Cartalucci - NEO ) - Propaganda used by the United States and its partners amid its destructive campaign of regime change aimed at the Syrian government has collapsed. Western media platforms find themselves relying on increasingly absurd narratives told to an increasingly smaller audience. They also find themselves the targets of growing criticism from around the world. The
US Seeks to Intentionally Prolong Syrian Bloodshed
Land Destroyer / 14d
A 2012 US policy paper admittedly sought to "bleed" the Syrian government, and with it the Syrian people. Today in Syria, the consequences of America's depraved foreign policy is being blamed by Western special interests on the very victims it targeted. March 5, 2018 ( Tony Cartalucci - NEO ) - From the beginning of Syria's conflict the United States presented to the world its unyielding ultimatu
Sum of all American Fears in Korea: Peace
Land Destroyer / 22d
February 11, 2018 ( Tony Cartalucci - NEO ) - North Korea has been depicted by the Western media as a dangerous rogue state, plotting the nuclear holocaust of America and holding global peace and stability hostage with its irrational aggression. It is the supposed threat North Korea poses to the world that the United States uses to justify its enduring decades-long military presence on the Korean
US-UK Accuse Russia of "NotPetya" Cyberattack, Offer Zero Evidence
Land Destroyer / 28d
February 19, 2018 ( Ulson Gunnar - NEO ) - The US and European press have both published stories accusing the Russian government, and in particular, the Russian military, of the so-called "NotPetya" cyberattack which targeted 
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