Tuesday, April 16, 2019

16 April - Blogs I'm Following - 2 of 3

10 pm MDT

DO THE FOX NEWS TWO-STEP

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 9 hours ago
I didn't watch the Bernie Sanders town hall on Fox last night, but he's getting good reviews for it, like this one, from Politico: Bernie Sanders entered the Fox's den on Monday night — and he not only survived the hourlong encounter, but often dominated. Appearing at a Fox News-hosted town hall, smack in the middle of Trump Country, the Democratic presidential front-runner played the part, swatting down tough questions from the hosts about health care, defense spending and his newfound wealth. At one point, the Vermont senator even led the network’s audience in a call-and-response ... more »

Victory! Fairfax, Virginia Judge Finds That Local Police Use of ALPR Violates the State’s Data Act

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By Nathan Sheard and Jennifer Lynch Thanks to a recent ruling by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Robert J. Smith, drivers in Fairfax County, Virginia... more »

Florida bank, medical cannabis business association sever ties

Jeff Smith at Marijuana Business Daily - 9 hours ago
SunTrust Bank and the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida officially ended their banking relationship, weeks after the financial institution gave notice it would terminate the account the group opened in 2014. “I spoke with the management at SunTrust several times and we were working on a way to keep (the account) open, but at the end […] Florida bank, medical cannabis business association sever ties is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Brazilian cannabis import authorizations top 1,000 in the first quarter of 2019

Alfredo Pascual at Marijuana Business Daily - 9 hours ago
Brazilian authorities continued to approve permits to import medical cannabis at an increasing rate through the first quarter of 2019. According to data provided to Marijuana Business Daily, Brazil’s National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) granted 884 new authorizations and 170 renewals during the first quarter of 2019 – more than one-third of all the authorizations that were […] Brazilian cannabis import authorizations top 1,000 in the first quarter of 2019 is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Slang to acquire Arbor Pacific, expanding marijuana operations in Pacific NW

Nick Thomas at Marijuana Business Daily - 9 hours ago
Toronto-based Slang Worldwide (CSE: SLNG), a manufacturer of cannabis packaged goods, announced it will acquire Arbor Pacific, a Washington state-based marijuana brands group with manufacturing operations in Colorado, Oregon and its home state. Through the deal, the value of which was not disclosed, Slang will have its products available in 12 states. For more details […] Slang to acquire Arbor Pacific, expanding marijuana operations in Pacific NW is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Denver Council gives initial OK to ease rules for cannabis social consumption sites

Joey Pena at Marijuana Business Daily - 9 hours ago
The Denver City Council gave preliminary approval to relax rules that require marijuana social consumption businesses to operate at least 1,000 feet from schools, child care facilities, drug and alcohol treatment centers and city recreation buildings. The proposal – which is expected to jump-start the city’s fledgling social use program and generate new business applications […] Denver Council gives initial OK to ease rules for cannabis social consumption sites is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Dr. Ken Atwater: A Student-Centered President

Jamal Watson at Diverse - 9 hours ago
Dr. Ken Atwater’s enthusiasm for community colleges is quite infectious. It’s apparent when you talk to administrators, faculty and some of the nearly 45,000 students at the five-campus Hillsborough Community College (HCC) where he serves as president.

Teachers College Name Dr. Stephanie J. Rowley Provost, Dean and VP for Academic Affairs

Monica Levitan at Diverse - 9 hours ago
Dr. Stephanie J. Rowley, associate vice president for research in the University of Michigan’s Office of Research, has been named the next provost, dean and vice president for academic affairs at Teachers College, Columbia University, effective July 1. Rowley will succeed Dr. Thomas James, who served as the college’s chief academic officer for 12 years. […]

Fibromyalgia Hurts. Exposure to Electrosmog (Cell Phone Radiation, Dirty Electricity, EMFs, WiFi, etc.) Could Be Making It Worse.

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By B.N. Frank It makes sense that prolonged exposure to any kind of unnatural radiation pulsing could cause or increase inflammation and pain. There are... more »

Don't Believe the Hype: 5 Most Overrated Military Weapons Ever Created

Robert Farley at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * The five weapons of war listed below are “overrated” in the sense that they occupy a larger space in the defense-security conversation than they really deserve. Some of them are fantastic, effective systems, while others are not. All of them take up more ink than they should, and (often) distract from more important issues of warfighting and defense contracting. *To reiterate, using the concept “overrated” requires evaluating the difference between reality and hype. The family can include useless weapons that have a veneer of utility, or good weapon... more »

5 Dangerous Chinese Weapons of War (Stolen or Copied from Russia and America)

Robert Farley at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * Here are five systems that the Chinese have stolen or copied, in whole or in part. *The United States has become increasingly aggressive about slowing down or halting China’s industrial espionage efforts. This has included indictments of PLA officers, broad condemnations of Chinese spying, and targeted reprisals against some Chinese firms. But given the extensive commercial contacts between China and the United States, stopping the flow of technology is virtually impossible. Moreover, China has developed a large, innovative technology economy in its ... more »

What Harry Kazianis and Victor Cha Think Should Happen Next with North Korea

John Dale Grover at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*John Dale Grover* *Security, Asia* [image: FILE PHOTO: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump talk in the garden of the Metropole hotel during the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi, Vietnam February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo] Is peace possible? Korea Watch readers would enjoy reading the thoughts if Harry J. Kazianis and Victor D. Cha. These two prominent North Korea experts wrote recently in *The National Interest* print edition. Harry argues that fresh ideas are needed to break Washington’s diplomatic deadlock with Pyongyang. He ... more »

Why China Loves Russia's Fighter Jets (As In Stealing All of Their Technology)

Charlie Gao at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * A true statement. *Despite these advances, China continues to acquire Russian jets, though this is largely in order to acquire technologies in the latest versions of the Flanker, the Su-35. China acquired these aircraft in December 2015. Supposedly, the primary item of interest is the improved engines in these aircraft, following China’s failure to get a license to produce that specific part and its own difficulties in producing clones of the original Su-27SK engines for the J-11. Regardless, the reasons for China’s adoption of the Su-27 stand: Beijin... more »

My Grandfather’s Unit Was Overrun by Hitler Youth, Then Attacked by a Stuka Dive Bomber

Robert Beckhusen at Test Feed Using Fields - 9 hours ago
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, * Piecing together fragments of the past, decades later. Jack Beckhusen, my grandfather, died 17 years ago at the age of 84. He hadn’t been in great shape, and a lifetime of drinking and smoking took away his voice. But I remember as a boy, shortly before he died, sitting with my brother in his house along the Trinity River in southeast Texas as he wrote down his war stories, slowly and barely legibly, on a legal pad. *(This first appeared in 2017.)* Fifty-five years before his death, Beckhusen was a master sergeant — and the command sergeant major... more »

Guns Headed For The Classroom

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 9 hours ago
Of all the bad ideas. I know there are folks who believe in their heart of hearts that arming teachers will make schools safer, or that putting armed police in the building will be helpful. But there are so many bad signs. I want to believe that school resource officers can be helpful. Earlier this month, a school shooting was likely averted just up the road because students at the school felt comfortable enough with the SRO to turn in the students who were planning the attack. But when I see stories like the one of the Chicago cops dragging a sixteen year old student down a flight... more »

Oh Gawd! I’ve been HonkPilled!

E.M.Smith at Musings from the Chiefio - 9 hours ago
I've been Honkpilled by Honkler... Honk Honk! Continue reading →

Police Use Drones To Spy On Suspicious People At “Potential Crime Scenes”

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By MassPrivateI For years, law enforcement has been claiming that drones will only be used for natural disasters, crime scene investigations, car accidents and rescue... more »

Gun Control Advocates Want Banks to Refuse Service to Gun Companies

Activist Post at Activist Post - 9 hours ago
By Dagny Taggart Anti-gun activists and politicians are doing everything they can to effectively disarm the public. Already this year, extreme and unconstitutional gun control... more »

Notre Dame rose-glass windows largely intact?

Bob Dinn at balance10 - 9 hours ago
1,063 attacks on Christian churches and symbols were registered in France in 2018 The 6-6-17 near Notre Dame attack followed other attacks or attempted attacks on French landmarks in 2017, including the Louvre machete attack in February, the Orly airport attack in March, and the Champs-Elysées attack in April.[7] French landmarks have received constant police protection because they are regarded as being "especially vulnerable,"[9] these security measures are part of a state of emergency which has been in place in France since 2015.[7][10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017... more »

2:00PM Water Cooler 4/16/2019

Lambert Strether at naked capitalism - 10 hours ago
By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Trade “Exclusive: U.S. waters down demand China ax subsidies in push for trade deal – sources” [Reuters]. “The issue of industrial subsidies is thorny because they are intertwined with the Chinese government’s industrial policy. Beijing grants subsidies and tax breaks to state-owned firms and to sectors seen as strategic for […]

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 16, 2019

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Moscow Times: **Russia Has Ceased ‘All’ Cooperation With NATO, Foreign Ministry Official Says* Russia has stopped all cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with state media on Monday. The Western alliance suspended military and civilian cooperation with Russia in the spring of 2014 in response to Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula. Several disputes, including a naval standoff in the Kerch Strait and the U.S. withdrawal from a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, have further strained ties ... more »

Empowering Border Patrol To Make Asylum Decisions Drastically Increases Danger For Immigrants

Natascha Elena Uhlmann at Shadowproof - 10 hours ago
Department of Homeland Security is placing migrants in harms way with plans to task Border Patrol with facilitating the early stages of the asylum process. The post Empowering Border Patrol To Make Asylum Decisions Drastically Increases Danger For Immigrants appeared first on Shadowproof.

Greens bank on Labor win but hope to exploit Senate shortfall

Alexandra Beech at Just In - 10 hours ago
Sarah Hanson-Young says her party will be pushing Bill Shorten to get serious about climate action if he emerges victorious on May 18, expecting a Labor Lower House to turn to The Greens for control of the Senate.

Indonesia's election off to shaky start with pre-marked ballots and 'conflict' allegations

David Lipson at Just In - 10 hours ago
In one of South-East Asia's last real democracies, 6 million election officials are today undertaking a mammoth task: oversight of the biggest and most complex single-day poll on earth. Have they taken on too much?

US delivers military equipment to Lebanon

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:40 P.M.) – The United States delivered a large batch of military equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense announced this afternoon. According to the ministry’s report, the U.S. delivered a large amount of night vision goggles, telecommunication devices, and other equipment as part of their ongoing support […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

In photos: Hundreds of cars await to fill up gas in Damascus as fuel crisis continues

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:15 P.M.) – The fuel crisis in Syria has forced the Syrian government to issue rations on gas in order to deal with the ongoing sanctions that are greatly effecting the country. Over the last two weeks, thousands of cars in cities like Damascus, Latakia, and Aleppo are forced to wait several hours […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Houthi Forces unveil new domestically-made ballistic missile (video)

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 10 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Houthi forces unveiled their new domestically-made Badr-F ballistic missile this week in a video released via their official media wing. According to the Houthi forces, their new Badr-F ballistic missile will have a range of 160km, which is a nearly 30km increase from their old version of the Badr-1P […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

FDA wants to lower amount of fluoride in bottled water, but scientists say it is still too high

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 10 hours ago
Emma Fiala, TMU Waking Times Rather than combating the high levels of pesticides found in much of the food grown in the United States, the negative effects of factory farming, or the lack of clean water available to numerous communities across the country, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing slightly lowering the […] The post FDA wants to lower amount of fluoride in bottled water, but scientists say it is still too high appeared first on Health Nut News.

Iowa social worker sued after lying to court to remove children from parents

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 10 hours ago
Comments by Brian Shilhavy Editor, Health Impact News Former Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) social worker Chelsea Gray may finally be facing justice for her part in lying to a judge in 2018 that caused 4 children to be wrongly removed from their parents. RELATED STORY: Arizona Attorney General demands Health Impact News take […] The post Iowa social worker sued after lying to court to remove children from parents appeared first on Health Nut News.

London Protests Outside Prison Where Julian Assange Is Being Held (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 10 hours ago
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 143. The post London Protests Outside Prison Where Julian Assange Is Being Held (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Are These Images from the Live Action ‘Lilo and Stitch’ Remake?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
This concept art could earn "Lilo and Stitch" a not-so-Disney G-rating.

Did the Obama Transition Team Keep a ‘List of Muslims For Top Jobs’?

Bethania Palma at Snopes.com - 10 hours ago
It's unclear why a story from the 2016 election cycle was circulating in 2019.

WATCH: Cop Shoots Unarmed Man Inside a Jail Cell and Is NOT Charged

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 10 hours ago
[image: shooting]Despite clear video showing a cop pull out his gun and shoot an unarmed man in the stomach, inside a jail cell, there will be no charges.

Biden Still the Man to Beat in Democratic Race; Bill Weld Announces GOP Candidacy

R. Cort Kirkwood at rss - 10 hours ago
[image: biden-still-the-man-to-beat-in-democratic-race-weld-announces-run-against-trump] According to recent polling data, the top two 2020 choices for Democrats are clearly Biden and Sanders. Also, liberal “Republican” Bill Weld has announced he will run on the GOP ticket against Trump in 2020.

Godly Kings: How War, Politics And Propaganda Helped Bring Down The Mayans

News Staff at Science 2.0 blogs - 10 hours ago
The discovery of an ancient painted vase in the Central America lowlands offers new clues into the mysterious breakdown of ancient Maya civilization - because it bears one of the longest hieroglyphic texts ever found. The shattered vessel was discovered in excavations at the Maya site of Baking Pot in Belize, found amid artifacts associated with the abandonment of the royal palace complex. The fragments were found in a corner near a palace entrance. The archeology team also unearthed blades, pendants, inkpots, fragments of flutes — and human bones - in burial sites. read more

When It Comes To Marijuana, Women Are More Conservative Than Men

The Conversation at Science 2.0 blogs - 10 hours ago
Surveys show that on issue after issue, women are more liberal than men, save for one: Men are more likely than women to support the legalization of marijuana. Americans are becoming more supportive of marijuana legalization each year but the gender gap remains a constant: While 68 percent of men now support marijuana legalization, only 56 percent of women do. read more

Melinda Gates Achieves Peak Epic Cluelessness

Peter Greene at CURMUDGUCATION - 10 hours ago
Sigh. Melinda Gates seems like a nice lady who means well, but her recent interview at the New York Times Magazine is a master class in how living in a very wealthy bubble can leave you out of touch with the rest of the world and an understanding of your place in it. It starts in the very first paragraph. *“There are absolutely different points of view about philanthropy,” says Melinda Gates, who, along with her husband Bill, heads the charitable foundation that bears their name, aimed at increasing global health and reducing poverty. Its endowment, at $50.7 billion, is the largest ... more »

The Russian View On The Notre Dame Fire

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
Firefighters spray water on Notre-Dame Cathedral, April 16. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes *Moscow Times:* *Notre Dame Fire Symbolizes Europe's Decline, Russian Commentators Say* Russian condolences poured in after a fire tore through the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of Paris late on Monday, but some commentators in the country said the inferno symbolized the decline of Europe. Firefighters doused the smoldering ruins of the eight-centuries-old Gothic cathedral with water on Tuesday as investigators tried to establish what started the fire, Reuters reported. The blaze consume... more »

Left out: the partial Space Force story & and their agenda

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 11 hours ago
Global Network Advisory Board member Lynda Williams (Physics teacher in California) writes about this pro-Space Force video: Hey Global Network Friends - have you seen this? Talk about lying by omission. Please comment on what is missing. I see this: they skipped over Reagan-era SDI program & the US withdrawal from the ABM treaty. Nor do they mention the US also blew up a satellite with [its own] ASAT (Anti-satellite weapon)! And what about the [Space Command] Vision for 2020 report? Critical parts of the Story! Hard to believe Laura Grego approved this video. yikes. The Center ... more »

European Churches Are Being Vandalized, Defecated On, And Put On Fire "Every Day"

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
A firefighter is seen as flames shoot through the front door of St. Sulpice Church in Paris March 17, 2019, in this still image taken from social media. Vandals and arsonists have targeted French churches in a wave of attacks that has lasted nearly two months. (Credit: CNS photo/Instagram@agneswebste via Reuters.) *Gatestone Institute*: *European Churches: Vandalized, Defecated On, and Torched "Every Day"* * In Germany, four separate churches were vandalized and/or torched in March alone. "In this country," PI-News, a German news site, explained, "there is a creeping war against ... more »

The Tank America Would Have Battled Russia With: Meet the M60 Patton

Sebastien Roblin at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * And it still can wage war. *The Patton is considerably more vulnerable than the M1 or Merkava—and even the older T-72! The Patton’s old-fashioned cast steel frontal armor is rated equivalent to 253 millimeters Rolled Hardened Armor, the standard measure of tank armor effectiveness. Modern tanks use composite armor which is drastically more effective for the same weight, especially against shaped charge warheads. A modern M1A2 is rated equivalent to around 800 millimeters verses tanks shells and 1300 verses shaped charges.* Just how far can you so... more »

Wanna Get Your Hands on 4 Russia Nuclear Weapons? (Just Go 15,000 Feet Below the Waves)

Robert Farley at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *Security, * A crazy story with a tragic ending. *Although details remain scarce, there apparently was no opportunity to safely remove the four nuclear torpedoes from K-8, and transfer them to the repair ship.* The Bay of Biscay is one of the world’s great submarine graveyards. In late World War II, British and American aircraft sank nearly seventy German U-boats in the Bay, which joined a handful of Allied and German subs sunk in the region during World War I. On April 12, 1970, a Soviet submarine found the same resting place. Unlike the others, however, K-8 wa... more »

Brexit Will Heighten Division Within the European Union

Benjamin Woodfinden at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Benjamin Woodfinden* *Security, Europe* [image: Reuters] London acted as an important and practical brake on Brussels. With Britain gone, European integration will speed up and so will the backlash of rising nationalism. The chaos surrounding Britain’s still unclear departure from the European Union has created the perception of an incompetent, divided, and humiliated British government. In contrast, the EU comes out looking cool, steady, and completely in control. But while Britain may appear humiliated, this apparent triumph is an illusion that masks the challenges that the EU... more »

Can Moon Jae-In Bridge the Gap between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un?

Robert E. Kelly at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Robert E. Kelly* *Security, Asia* [image: Reuters] The next eight months will be a test of whether the Republic of Korea is ready to arbitrate among competing powers in northeast Asia. Last week, South Korean president Moon Jae-in met President Donald Trump in the White House. A working level meeting, little major news came out of it. Moon’s likely goal was to keep the mercurial U.S. president committed to a course of engagement with North Korea after two mixed-at-best summits between Trump and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un. Neither summit—in Singapore last year, in H... more »

Idahoans Don't Want Their Cities Used as Target Practice by the Air Force

Task and Purpose at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Task and Purpose* *Security, Americas* [image: By Master Sgt. Roy Santana, US Air Force - http://www.dvidshub.net/image/1053188/f-16-farewell#.UsX02PRDt8E, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30448548] And they're suing over it too. A cadre of Idaho residents are suing the Air Force over the "extraordinary and unprecedented" urban training exercises planned to take place in nine cities across the state. In a complaint filed earlier this month in the U.S. District Court of Idaho, a group of Boise residents allege that the Air Force's Urban Close Air S... more »

Don’t Believe the Doomsayers: NATO Has a Future

Nikolas K. Gvosdev at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Nikolas K. Gvosdev* *Security, Europe* [image: Reuters] Reaffirmation of Article V, however, must occur hand-in-hand with a renewed emphasis on Article III: the self-help provision of the alliance. ANXIETY ABOUT the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) future is older than the actual alliance. Its founders worried about the prospects for its survival before the Washington Treaty was fully drafted, much less signed and ratified. Today’s concerns about NATO’s future are, in a sense, old hat. From another perspective, however, the NATO of 2019 is profoundly different from ... more »

America’s Misuse of Its Financial Infrastructure

Henry Farrell, Abraham Newman at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Henry Farrell, Abraham Newman* *economy, Americas* [image: Reuters] Delirium tilted over into imperial folly, as high officials began to think that they could use America’s economic power to re-order the world better to their liking. THREE DECADES ago, a German history professor listed 210 proposed explanations for the fall of the Roman Empire. The remarkable array included such fanciful causes as Bolshevism, public baths, hedonism, the pressure of terrorism and, most famously, lead poisoning. The last explanation has been discredited. It is highly unlikely that lead water pipe... more »

Iraq's Place in the Saudi Arabian-Iranian Rivalry

Geneive Abdo, Firas Maksad at Test Feed Using Fields - 11 hours ago
*Geneive Abdo, Firas Maksad* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] The new government in Baghdad walks a tightrope between appeasing Iran, the dominant power broker in Iraq, and capitalizing on new opportunities from Arab Gulf states, such as Saudi Arabia. The skeptics questioning whether Saudi Arabia’s conspicuous overtures during the last year and a half to improve bilateral relations with Iraq will bear fruits, after twenty-five years of estrangement, may now have to reconsider their doubts. Saudi Arabia and Iraq are engaging in a flurry of activity that is proof both side... more »

Ancient Rome Offers Lessons on the Importance of Sustainable Development

WASHINGTON DC, Apr 16 (IPS) - Anthony Annett is an assistant to the director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Joshua Lipsky is a senior communications officer in the IMF's Communications Department.Sustainable development encapsulates the idea that material progress must always go hand in hand with social inclusion and respect for the environment. Read the full story, “Ancient Rome Offers Lessons on the Importance of Sustainable Development”, on globalissues.org →

Why the Prosecution of Julian Assange is Troubling for Press Freedom

NEW YORK, Apr 16 (IPS) - Alex Ellerbeck* is North America Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists & Avi Asher-Schapiro* is North America Research AssociateAfter a seven-year standoff at the Ecuadorean embassy in London, British police last week arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange--a development press freedom advocates had long feared. Read the full story, “Why the Prosecution of Julian Assange is Troubling for Press Freedom”, on globalissues.org →

Q&A: Achieving “Togetherness”

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 16 (IPS) - This article is part of a series on the current state of civil society organisations (CSOs), which was the focus of International Civil Society Week (ICSW), sponsored by CIVICUS, and which took place in Belgrade, April 8-12.Increasingly facing restrictions and assault, civil society from around the world have come together to celebrate and promote people power. Read the full story, “Q&A: Achieving “Togetherness””, on globalissues.org →

World Bank Dispossessing Rural Poor

KUALA LUMPUR and SYDNEY, Apr 16 (IPS) - The World Bank's Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) project, launched in 2013, has sought agricultural reforms favouring the corporate sector. EBA was initially established to support the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, initiated by the G8 to promote private agricultural development in Africa. Read the full story, “World Bank Dispossessing Rural Poor”, on globalissues.org →

Global Governance and Information

VIENNA, Apr 16 (IPS) - Ambassador Walther Lichem* of Austria is President Inter Press Service (IPS). The past seventy years since the end of the second world war have been marked by profound changes in our international system. Relations between states have become more horizontally structured interactions with a rising significance of the common good articulated and pursued by newly-created international programmes and organisations. Read the full story, “Global Governance and Information”, on globalissues.org →

Could Arson Be Responsible For The Notre Dame Cathedral Fire?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
A view of the debris inside Notre-Dame de Paris in the aftermath of a fire that devastated the cathedral, during the visit of French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner (not pictured) in Paris, France, April 16, 2019. Christophe Petit Tesson/Pool via REUTERS *Reuters*: *No sign of arson in Notre-Dame blaze as nation grieves for symbol* PARIS (Reuters) - The fire that tore through Notre-Dame cathedral was probably caused by accident, French prosecutors said on Tuesday after firefighters doused the last flames in the ruins overnight and the nation grieved for the destruction of on... more »

Big Green, Inc., Updated

Erin Amsberry at IER - 11 hours ago
WASHINGTON — Today the Institute for Energy Research is announcing the release of two updates to its Big Green, Inc.… The post Big Green, Inc., Updated appeared first on IER.

Big Green, Inc. : The Money Fueling the Environmental Left

IER at IER - 11 hours ago
Read the full report here. Executive Summary Today’s environmental movement is fueled by a group of interconnected, left-leaning foundations that… The post Big Green, Inc. : The Money Fueling the Environmental Left appeared first on IER.

"The Broken Heart Of Paris"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*"The Broken Heart Of Paris"* by RT "Heart-wrenching aftermath of Notre Dame fire in aerial 360 Panorama. Aerial images show the tragic extent of the damage caused to Paris' iconic Notre Dame Cathedral, ravaged by a massive blaze on Monday night. Pictures taken from above show the blackened expanse of its collapsed roof and a gaping hole in the center, where its spire used to be. After some 12 hours of burning, the 850-year-old Gothic building stands charred and broken. LIFE’s Gigarama project has created ‘The broken heart of Paris’, a 360-degree aerial panorama image, where you ca... more »

FIU College of Law Grads Earn Highest Bar Passage Rate in State for 4th Consecutive Year

Monica Levitan at Diverse - 11 hours ago
Graduates from Florida International University (FIU) College of Law have earned the highest bar passage rate among the total 11 Florida law schools for the fourth year in a row. FIU graduates exceeded the state’s average bar score by 22.7 percent on the February 2019 Florida Bar exam, with a total 80 percent passage rate. […]

A Student-Centered President

cmaadmin at Diverse - 11 hours ago
Dr. Kenneth Atwater is recognized as *2019 Diverse Champion*.

Rodrigo Amarante Plays in Rio Tonight

Jack Arnhold at The Rio Times - 11 hours ago
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante will be kickstarting his Brazilian tour with a solo show tonight at Theatro Net, in Copacabana. Following his solo show in Rio, the ever-busy Brazilian troubadour will be playing in São Paulo and Salvador, then reuniting temporarily with Los Hermanos in […] The post Rodrigo Amarante Plays in Rio Tonight appeared first on The Rio Times.

Another Greenland Hockey Stick

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 11 hours ago
Greenland has gained nearly 100 billion tons of ice so far this month. SMB_curves_LA_EN_20190415.png (846×1080) summit:status:webcam This is coming after two years of near record surface mass gain. Greenland Gains Huge Amounts Of Ice For The Second Year In A … Continue reading →

Squaw Valley Snowfall Approaching 700 Inches

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 11 hours ago
Squaw Valley, CA is having their second snowiest season on record, after the record year of 2017. They will be skiing well into July. View Last 7 Years of Squaw Valley Snowfall | Squaw Alpine In 2008, Katharine Hayhoe predicted … Continue reading →

European Churches: Vandalized, Defecated On, and Torched “Every Day”

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 11 hours ago
This was published two days ago, before Notre Dame burned. European Churches: Vandalized, Defecated On, and Torched “Every Day”

Will The Release Of The Mueller Report Make Public Those Who Gave 'Damaging' Information On President Trump?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
*NBC*:* White House officials concerned about being exposed by Mueller report* *Some of the dozen-plus officials interviewed by Mueller are concerned about president's "wrath" if they are seen as a source of damaging information in Thursday's report.* WASHINGTON — Some of the more than dozen current and former White House officials who cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller are worried that the version of his report expected to be made public on Thursday will expose them as the source of damaging information about President Donald Trump, according to multiple witnesses in... more »

the consideration of the ascended masters is the same for all

Bob Dinn at balance10 - 11 hours ago
* There *is no need for you to struggle. The light of the physical Sun is a comfort to the smallest flower as it assists that flower in unfolding from a tiny bud into a blossom. Even so God will help you whether you are a person of great sophistication who mind is so charge with worldly knowledge the you feel compelled to judge all things by the standard of men’s opinions or one lacking in knowledge and engaged in a struggle to understand life. No matter what the category of your consciousness the consideration of the ascended masters is the same for all. God is no respecter of... more »

"Uncle Sam Takes More Than Taxes From the Middle Class"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
*"Uncle Sam Takes More Than Taxes From the Middle Class"* By Bill Bonner PARIS – "Yesterday was Tax Day. The Ides of April. Time to square up the accounts with Uncle Sam. But the feds always have an ace up their sleeves and a rabbit under their hats… *No Real Cut: *As we showed last week, the Trump tax cut was no real cut at all. The average person will save less than 2% on his tax bill. But his real cost of government went up – 10 times as fast. The latest budget proposal calls for a 20% increase over Obama-era spending, with $2 trillion more in debt added in the last 24 months. ... more »

Jammy Tarts

E.M.Smith at Musings from the Chiefio - 11 hours ago
Remembering a half century+ ago and reliving the process of making Jammy Tarts with Mum lead me to a nice breakfast snack ;-) Continue reading →

Bernie: Into The Fox's Den-- While Corrupted Rich Democrats Work On Their Stop Bernie Crusade

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Jonathan Martin's headline in the *New York Times* this morning said it all: 'Stop Sanders' Democrats Are Agonizing Over His Momentum. He starts with "a closed door gathering of about 100 wealthy liberal donors in San Francisco last month" freaking out about Bernie winning the nomination. These are people who have been served well by the status quo. They all want women to be allowed to have abortions and they support gays marrying each other. But beyond that, they're not liberals at all; they do not want anyone *touching* the economic fundamentals of the status quo, their status ... more »

Bering Sea Ice Blues Mid April 2019

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 12 hours ago
“Freedom’s Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose.” (Kris Kristofferson) In April, Arctic ice extent is declining as usual with the notable exception of Bering Sea, along with ice retreating in nearby Okhotsk. Bering still has some ice to lose, but at 178k km2 it is only 31% of the ice there January 27, […]

How to value 27 newspapers spread across three provinces: the Ford Falcon test

Tim Bousquet at Halifax Examiner - 12 hours ago
News 1. Police Commission I have left this item for last to write about today, simply because it’s so dispiriting. I spent a couple of hours watching the police commission in action yesterday, and I could write at length about it here, but Margaret Anne McHugh summarized it perfectly with this tweet: Learned a lot […]

Judge Barnes’ husband bribed Zellner for Democrat nomination, sources say

The Buffalo Chronicle at The Buffalo Chronicle - 12 hours ago
Sources are telling The Chronicle that newly elected County Court Judge Sue Maxwell-Barnes‘ husband, Rich Barnes, bribed Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner with political donations in order to secure the nomination for his wife. Mr. Barnes is said to have

Can the beauty of Notre Dame and all it symbolizes ever be regained? (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 12 hours ago
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 142. The post Can the beauty of Notre Dame and all it symbolizes ever be regained? (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

May & Merkel finalize Brexit betrayal, but will Farage’s Brexit Party & UKIP have last laugh? (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 12 hours ago
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 141. The post May & Merkel finalize Brexit betrayal, but will Farage’s Brexit Party & UKIP have last laugh? (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Dan Moller’s Governing Least

Bryan Caplan at Econlib - 12 hours ago
Michael Huemer’s The Problem of Political Authority is definitely my favorite work of libertarian political philosophy. Dan Moller’s new Governing Least, however, is definitely now my second-favorite work of libertarian political philosophy. The two books have much in common: Both use common-sense ethics to argue for libertarian politics. Both are calm, logical, and ever-mindful of potential criticisms. […] The post Dan Moller’s Governing Least appeared first on Econlib.

Utopianism and The Doctrine of Perfectibility

Anoop Verma at The Verma Report - 12 hours ago
The idea of transforming the nature of human beings to create a utopia has been in disrepute for a long time now. Gertrude Himmelfarb makes some interesting comments on utopianism in Chapter 9, “History and the Idea of Progress,” of her book *The New History and the Old*. Here’s an excerpt: The ideal of a utopia not only belittles any kind of progress that can be achieved short of utopia, making anything less than perfection seem radically evil, but the pursuit of that idea—whether in the form of absolute reason, absolute liberty, absolute virtue, or any combination of these—makes ... more »

Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Declaration Of War’ By Rumours Of War

Kevin Gosztola at Shadowproof - 12 hours ago
The anarcho-punk track depicts a world of politicians hiding in bunkers and locked down palaces. The elites fear what the rabble may do to them as they fight back against their poverty and repression. The post Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Declaration Of War’ By Rumours Of War appeared first on Shadowproof.

Ten Tips For Arguing Against Assange Smears

Caitlin Johnstone at Caitlin Johnstone - 12 hours ago
This is an excerpt from the beginning of the upcoming mega-article “Debunking All The Assange Smears”, which is still under construction. I’m putting together a comprehensive list of all the major smears and disinfo that’s being circulated about Julian Assange, and refuting those arguments with […]

11 simple ways to start clean eating today

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 12 hours ago
The term “clean eating” has become very popular in the health community. It’s a diet pattern that focuses on fresh, whole foods. This lifestyle can be easy and enjoyable as long as you follow a few general guidelines. RELATED STORY: Eating mistakes that could quietly steal your later years Here are 11 simple tips to […] The post 11 simple ways to start clean eating today appeared first on Health Nut News.

A legal challenge against forced vaccination filed in New York City

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 12 hours ago
On April 15, 2019, a legal challenge was filed in the New York State Trial Court by Robert Krakow, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Patricia Finn against the New York City Department of Health and Human Hygiene for their forced Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination. The legal team asked for a temporary restraining order against the mandate that […] The post A legal challenge against forced vaccination filed in New York City appeared first on Health Nut News.

Perhaps the greatest health threat of the 21st Century

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 12 hours ago
A cluster of cancer cases among young children at Weston Elementary School in Ripon, California, has reignited the conversation about whether electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation from cell towers might be a contributing factor. In 2016, at the age of 10, Kyle Prime was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Five months later, his classmate, Mason Ferrulli, was […] The post Perhaps the greatest health threat of the 21st Century appeared first on Health Nut News.

Black hole breakthrough: how scientists captured the elusive first photo.

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 12 hours ago
https://news.theceomagazine.com/news/first-photo-black-hole/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=IN-SIN&utm_content=Black+Hole+Post+%E2%80%93+Copy Advertisements

Promotion et protection de l'investissement : Djibouti adhère au protocole de la Convention CIRDI

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 The ICSID Convention, which entered into force in 1966, establishes the institutional and legal framework for foreign investment dispute settlement.

Djibouti signs ICSID Convention to encourage investment

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 The ICSID Convention, which entered into force in 1966, establishes the institutional and legal framework for foreign investment dispute settlement.

Chile pelea cuerpo a cuerpo contra el TPP11

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 Chile vive hoy días políticos convulsionados dado el acalorado debate por la ratificación parlamentaria del Tratado Transpacífico, conocido como TPP11.

Will free trade make Africans sick?

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 African governments must act immediately to address the AfCFTA's potential negative implications for Africans' health.

El recorte a las renovables de PSOE y PP puede costar otros 7.000 millones de euros

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 El Estado español se enfrenta a 35 demandas por el recorte a las renovables de los gobiernos de Zapatero y Rajoy. Según un nuevo informe, las indemnizaciones podrían sumar otros 6.500 millones a los 400 a los que ya ha sido condenado a pagar el Estado español.

L'UE propose aux USA de négocier un accord de paix commerciale, malgré l'opposition de Macron au nom du climat

bilaterals.org - 12 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 Les Etats de l'UE ont approuvé l'ouverture de négociations commerciales avec les Etats-Unis pour éviter une guerre commerciale avec Washington en dépit du refus affiché de Paris de négocier avec un partenaire hostile à l'accord mondial sur le Climat.

Redaction Nation: US History Brims with Partial Deletions

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
The Freedom of Information Act wasn't enacted until 1966, and broad demands for accountability only began with the jarring revelations of the 1970s.

Trump Keeps Attacking as Redacted Russia Report Due Thursday

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
Trump's inner circle knows there will likely be further releases of embarrassing or politically damaging information.

Dog Rescued While Swimming 135 Miles Off Thailand

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
A worker said they were lucky to spot it because if there had been waves it probably would not have been visible.

Source: Officials Consider New Penalty for Visa Overstays

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
The administration has also been weighing targeting the remittance payments sent home by people living in the country illegally.

Fire Out, Treasures Intact But Work Ahead for Notre Dame

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 12 hours ago
Officials consider the fire an accident, possibly as a result of the restoration work at the global architectural treasure.

Glimpse At Some Of The Liberated Areas Of Iraq

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
Aid groups are really the only ones consistently reporting on the liberated areas of Iraq. Many of these places are rural and the government isn’t even that present. The United Nations’ Migration Agency, Returns Working Group, and Social Inquiry released a paper on the displaced returning home that contained information on the Ramadi district in Anbar, Sadiya and Jalawla in Diyala, Abbasi in Kirkuk, west Mosul, Sinjar, and Tal Afar in Ninewa, and Baiji and Tuz Kharmato in Salahaddin. All were considered hotspots due to local tensions, the lack of housing and services, and other issu... more »

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 16

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 12 hours ago
1941 Britain told Iraq that troops would be landing in Basra soon under Anglo-Iraq Treaty 1941 PM Gaylani agreed to allow British troops landing in Basra but demanded that they immediately set out for Palestine or Egypt 1941 German letter arrived saying it would support Iraq revolt against British (Musings On Iraq book review of *Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941*) (Musings On Iraq book review of *Persian Gulf Command, A History of the Second World War In Iran and Iraq*) (Musings On Iraq book review *Iraq 1941, The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Falluj... more »

Decorated Cop Arrested for Sex With His Own K9, Now Charged With 31 Counts of Child Porn

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: child]Officer Terry Yetman had only been out on bail for two days for having sex with his K9 when he arrested again on dozens of child porn charges.

Cop Issues $115 Ticket to Mom While Breastfeeding Her Baby in Her Parked Car

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 12 hours ago
[image: breastfeeding]While a mom sat in the backseat of her own parked car breastfeeding her newborn, a cop walked up to her and wrote her a $115 ticket.

Lessons learned from Colorado’s 4/20 marijuana sales: Q&A with The Clinic’s Zach Engel

Joey Pena at Marijuana Business Daily - 12 hours ago
Colorado’s cannabis retailers are preparing for what could be a record day of sales on Saturday, April 20, the unofficial marijuana holiday dubbed 4/20. It’s the first time since the Centennial State kicked off recreational sales in 2014 that the 4/20 holiday has landed on a Saturday, which is expected to generate even more purchases. […] Lessons learned from Colorado’s 4/20 marijuana sales: Q&A with The Clinic’s Zach Engel is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Chart of the Week: Colorado 4/20 sales spike higher than other recreational cannabis markets

Joey Pena at Marijuana Business Daily - 12 hours ago
Despite competing with newer adult-use marijuana markets in other states that also attract swarms of tourists, Colorado’s established recreational cannabis business arena remains a steady retail sales leader on April 20 – the unofficial marijuana holiday known as 4/20. According to data provided by Flowhub, a Denver-based marijuana software company, and Headset, a Seattle-based cannabis […] Chart of the Week: Colorado 4/20 sales spike higher than other recreational cannabis markets is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepr... more »

"Unplanned" Movie Is a Box Office Hit and Is Saving Lives

Steve Byas at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: unplanned-movie-is-a-box-office-hit-and-is-saving-lives] Actress Ashley Bratcher — who plays former abortion clinic director Abby Johnson, now a prominent pro-life acitivist, in the movie *Unplanned* — shares the wonderful feeling she has because women have told her that they have decided not to abort their babies after seeing the movie.

Brazilian Evangelical Bishop Granted Diplomatic Passport

Lise Alves at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (Itamaraty) has granted diplomatic passports to evangelical bishop Edir Macedo, founder and leader of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, and his wife, according to the Official Registry. The authorization for the issuance of the diplomatic passports was signed […] The post Brazilian Evangelical Bishop Granted Diplomatic Passport appeared first on The Rio Times.

After Wave of Criticism, NY Museum Cancels Bolsonaro Event

Lise Alves at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – After widespread criticism, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City has decided not to host the Brazil-United States Chamber of Commerce’s “Person of the Year Awards” dinner honoring Jair Bolsonaro. “With mutual respect for the work and goals of our individual […] The post After Wave of Criticism, NY Museum Cancels Bolsonaro Event appeared first on The Rio Times.

U.S. Air Force Deploys F-35As To The Middle East For The First Time

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
Two F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron fly overhead prior to their first landing at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2019. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Mya M. Crosby) *Military.com:* *Air Force's F-35A Deploys to Middle East for First Time* The U.S. Air Force's F-35A variant has officially deployed to the Middle East. Air Forces Central Command announced Monday that F-35 fifth-generation fighters from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, have deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates to ke... more »

I remember when

Keith at musingsofanoldfart - 13 hours ago
As I dressed for a long walk this morning, I was reminded of an old dressing habit. This prompted a reflective post (you can hum Nat King Cole’s “I remember you” as you read with me): I remember when we … Continue reading →

Rhodesia and white supremacists

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 13 hours ago
The New York Times recently published an article titled "Rhodesia’s Dead — but White Supremacists Have Given It New Life Online". Here's an excerpt. Nostalgia for Rhodesia has ... grown into a subtle and profitable form of racist messaging, with its own line of terminology, hashtags and merchandise, peddled to military-history fans and firearms enthusiasts by a stew of far-right provocateurs. In conversations and email exchanges with The New York Times, some prominent social-media figures and companies selling Rhodesia-themed merchandise denied trafficking in white-power messages,... more »

Random Rants

LL at Virtual Mirage - 13 hours ago
*The Coming Ice Age* All of those climate deniers who felt that Earth was going to turn into a cinder are having to revise their plans. (h/t CW at the Daily Timewaster) Chicago's O'Hare Airport was whitened by 5.3 inches of snow on Sunday. That made April 14 one of the top-two snowiest days this late in the season. The snowiest day in the city's history from April 14 to early May is 5.4 inches of snow on April 16, 1961. It was enough to bring Chicago O'Hare and Chicago Midway airports to a ground stop for arriving flights, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). O'... more »

Reborn—The Incredible Blue Angels Hope to Fly F/A-18 Super Hornet by 2021

War Is Boring at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*War Is Boring* *Security, Americas* [image: By Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon, U.S. Air Force - http://www.defenselink.mil/dodcmsshare/WeekInPhotos/2008-12/hires_081215-F-7823A-285.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5713900] A new era dawns. The world’s most famous military aerobatic display team undergoing big changes since their return to their home base in Pensacola, Florida, including a new airplane and new commander. Two former pilots with the Blue Angels have been working to get the Blues flying the newer F/A-18 Super Hornet by 2021, a big moment... more »

The F-35 Is About to Get Its First Taste of Modern War

Task and Purpose at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Task and Purpose* *Technology, Middle East* [image: By MSgt John Nimmo Sr. - http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imageRetrieve.action?guid=bcfecb7f82c5cf53d10ff066ef2e4d985ff7ce35&t=2, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26519882] Here's what we can expect. The Air Force's variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has arrived at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to fly combat operations if needed, a defense official said on Monday. "They were already scheduled to come out here for an exercise," the d... more »

How a Customer Service Representative Might Have Saved a Marine Sniper in Battle

Task and Purpose at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Task and Purpose* *Security, * Don Cook, a Marine veteran who’s been maintaining M107s for more than two decades, told National Geographic in 2011 that he one day received a call to Barrett’s workshop from a harried young Marine. During maintenance of the unit’s M107, the Marine had bent the ears of the rifle’s lower receiver; the next day, after engaging the enemy, they discovered the rifle wouldn’t fire consistently. *A true story. * The Barrett M107 .50-caliber long-range sniper rifle is a firearm made for the modern war on terrorism. Officially adopted by the U.S. Army in 2... more »

This Is the Only Way To Deter Russia in Europe

Dan Goure at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Dan Goure* *Security, Europe* [image: By Specialist Christina Anne Horne (U.S. Army) - [1], uploaded by Signaleer at english wikipedia., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4242365] Did someone say Fort Trump? The U.S. Army is poorly deployed to assist NATO in deterring Russian conventional aggression against the Alliance. The U.S. Army is essentially based in the Continental United States (CONUS), while the likely place for conflict with Russia is on NATO’s eastern border. Recognizing this, over the past several years, the Army has been increasing it... more »

Tuesday Morning Links

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 13 hours ago
This and that for your Tuesday reading. - Andrew Phung highlights how important it is for younger voters to be heard in Alberta's election. Travis Benson offers plenty of suggestions as to why even people who aren't always NDP supporters should be happy to re-elect Rachel Notley. And PressProgress rounds up just a few of the ways in which Jason Kenney plans to enrich corporations and their wealthy shareholders at the expense of workers, while Emma Graney examines how Kenney's plan to slash the minimum wage for younger workers has done nothing but undercut wage rates when applied els... more »

THE LITTLE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT COULD: Kevin Drum published a sensible post!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 13 hours ago
*TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019The New York Times published a novel:* Kevin Drum wrote a sensible post in the wake of the Stuyvesant uproar. It happens every spring! Only a handful of black kids had been admitted to Gotham's most "elite" public high school. In response to the annual uproar, Drum offered several sensible points. First, he said progressives "are ill-served by the continuing notion that every standardized test ever invented is racially biased in a massive way." A larger point, one which was implied by this statement, was directly stated in Drum's headline: *The Black-White... more »

Can The U.S. Deter Russian And Chinese Influence In Venezuela?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
Maduro gestures during a meeting with soldiers at a military base in Caracas on Jan 30, 2019.PHOTO: REUTERS *CNN:** Pentagon developing military options to deter Russian, Chinese influence in Venezuela* The Pentagon is developing new military options for Venezuela aimed at deterring Russian, Cuban and Chinese influence inside the regime of President Nicolas Maduro, but stopping short of any kinetic military actions, according to a defense official familiar with the effort. The deterrence options are being ordered following a White House meeting last week where national security ad... more »

Kamala Harris to Hold Town Hall Meeting at SC State University

Monica Levitan at Diverse - 13 hours ago
U.S. Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Kamala Harris, D-Calif., plans to hold a town hall meeting at South Carolina State University on Saturday, April 20. Bakari Sellers, attorney and CNN political commentator will serve as the moderator. Harris plans to share her vision for the future of America with the campus community and general public […]

Geoffrey E. Eaton Appointed Director of Community Affairs & Diversity at TouroCOM, Touro College of Pharmacy

Monica Levitan at Diverse - 13 hours ago
Geoffrey E. Eaton has been appointed director of community affairs and diversity at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) and Touro College of Pharmacy in Harlem. Eaton has worked at TouroCOM for several years, serving in roles such as the founding member of the TouroCOM Harlem Community Advisory Board, where he currently serves as its […]

The Overthrow Of Omar El-Bechir

Thierry MEYSSAN at OrientalReview.org - 13 hours ago
Certain pockets of Sudan are still at war, and the Khartoum government is still military. Nothing has changed despite the fact that President Omar el-Bechir has been toppled. Sudan’s problem, after 30 years of dictatorship by the Muslim Brotherhood, is above all cultural. Current events have no relation with an aspiration for liberty, but only with freedom from starvation.

Why China’s Current Account Balance Approaches Zero

Yves Smith at naked capitalism - 14 hours ago
China's once-hefty current account surpluses are falling away. What are the implications?

The State of FirstNet, America’s Public Safety Broadband Network

aloh at Lawfare - 14 hours ago
On April 1, AT&T announced that the Navy and the Marine Corps had signed up to the FirstNet public safety broadband network, which prioritizes public safety communications over other types of traffic. A policy directive from the secretary of the Navy provides guidance on how the Navy and the Marine Corps should procure and deploy FirstNet devices and services. The government has been working on the creation of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network for over a decade. Here is what FirstNet is, where its development stands, and why it matters. *The Creation of F... more »

Remembering the Bay of Pigs: Law and Covert War

MWaxman at Lawfare - 14 hours ago
An aerial view of the current CIA headquarters in Virginia. (Photo: Wikimedia/Library of Congress) Tomorrow is an ignominious anniversary. On that date in 1961, about 1,400 American-trained Cuban exiles launched a secret invasion of Cuba in an effort to overthrow the Fidel Castro regime. After landing on the island’s southern coast at the Bay of Pigs, the invading guerrillas were routed by government forces. The humiliating disaster gave rise to a rare, publicly available Justice Department analysis of presidential power to wage covert war. Although the botched Bay of Pigs operat... more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 14 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Youtube Conflates Notre Dame with 9/11 Gas tanks and Arabic documents found in unmarked car by Paris' Notre Dame cathedral spark terror fears (2016) French Billionaire Pinault Pledges 100 Million Euros To Rebuild Notre ... United States added to list of most dangerous countries for journalists for first timeJerry Nadler Accuses Trump Of Stealing $150,000 For Small Businesses After 9/11 Denver company recalls more than 13,000 pounds of uninspected meat sold in Colorado Surge of Ticks Expected in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic States Due to Wet, Mild Winter Ecuador's ... more »

Are the Trans-Atlantic Nations Capable, Culturally, of Ending the Decay and Launching a New Paradigm?

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 14 hours ago
[image: In a terrible loss for all humanity, the famous Notra Dame Cathedral in Paris was on fire for 8 hours on April 15, 2019. The Cathedral was in repair/construction when the fire started. (Remi Mathis / Wikimedia / CC 4.0 Share Alike International)] The above question is not merely a matter of speculation, or of personal opinion, but an existential challenge within the context of universal history. Never in the modern era has the human race been closer to breaking the power of Empire — from the Roman Empire, to the Byzantine, to the Venetian, and to the Anglo-Dutch Empire infec... more »

Voting by non-citizens

Norma at Collecting My Thoughts - 14 hours ago
This pre-Obama, pre-Trump article (from July 2008) on voting by non-citizens is interesting, well thought out, and shows how times have changed in 11 years. In the old days, the onus was on the illegal behavior of the non-citizen and how it disenfranchised American voters. Now the writer would just be a white supremacist for suggesting illegal aliens and legal aliens shouldn't vote. https://www.heritage.org/report/the-threat-non-citizen-voting? *The evidence is indisputable that aliens, both legal and illegal, are registering and voting in federal, state, and local elections. Fol... more »

Salty sea dog rescued 220 kilometres off the coast of Thailand

Just In - 14 hours ago
The doggy-paddling pooch was discovered floating off an oil rig by workers who named him "Boon Rod", Thai for "Survivor".

More than 200 people arrested in London climate change protests

Just In - 14 hours ago
British police arrest 209 people after climate change activists block some of London's most famous roads in an attempt to force the Government to do more to tackle climate change.

Natural Treatment Remedies for Type 2 Diabetes

Ashley Swanson at The Drs. Wolfson - 14 hours ago
What causes Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 Diabetes has many causes. The two main causes are diet and lifestyle. These lead to insulin resistance, otherwise known as a condition where the body’s cells resist the action of insulin. This resistance to insulin leads to high blood glucose and overtime, a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. […] The post Natural Treatment Remedies for Type 2 Diabetes appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.

Is The U.S. Marine Corps Suffering From An Identity Crisis?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
U.S. Marines Corps *Washington Times:* *Marine Corps suffers identity crisis in age of cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence* Many of the Marine Corps‘ iconic battles such as Iwo Jima and Inchon are decades in the past, and the amphibious assaults that were once the service’s calling card seem to have fallen by the wayside in a world of artificial intelligence weaponry, cyberwarfare and the Pentagon’s strategic focus on outer space and great-power rivals such as China and Russia. Now, an open letter to Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, the White House’s pick to become Marine Corps command... more »

Satellite Footage Exposes Smuggling On North Korean Border

William Craddick at Disobedient Media - 14 hours ago
A primer for the MSM on how to find actual sanctions violations.

Russian military to receive new advanced electronic warfare systems

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 14 hours ago
Advanced radio jamming systems Pole-21 will arrive for troops in Russia’s Central Military District for the first time in 2019 under the rearmament program, Electronic Warfare Chief in the District’s Staff Major-General Sergei Portnykh said on Monday. “We are the leaders in fulfilling the rearmament program in the Central Military District. Currently, we operate over […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Hashd Al-Shaabi is on high alert as ISIS terrorists attempt to cross into Iraq from Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 14 hours ago
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd al-Sha’abi) have been placed on high alert along the strategic road connecting Al-Qa’im to Albukamal, as Islamic State terrorists have attempted to cross into western Iraq, the Arabic-language Al-Ma’aloumeh News reported on Tuesday. “The forces from the 17th and 18th divisions of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi have been stationed along the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

IRGC commander Soleimani blocked on Instagram after US blacklisting

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 14 hours ago
The development comes a day after the US officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The Instagram account of Major General Qasem Soleimani from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), who have about 900,000 subscribers, has been blocked. Soleimani has been at the helm of the IRGC’s Quds Force — a division mainly responsible for extraterritorial military and clandestine operations […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Armenian demining teams clear over 10,000km2 of territory in Syria

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 14 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – The Armenian demining teams in northern Syria have cleared more than 10,000 square kilometers of territory since they began their operation earlier this year. The Armenian Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise spokesperson Nazeli Elbakyan told ARMENPRESS on Tuesday that they are maintaining daily contact with the group’s commander Ara […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army kicks off new operation to eliminate ISIS from Iraqi border

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 14 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) carried out a new military operation, today, in the eastern part of the Deir Ezzor Governorate. According to a source in Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Arab Army began the operation near the key border city of Albukamal, which was liberated from the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

The American Model Of The Internet Is Losing To China's Version Of Controlling It

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*Bloomberg*: *The U.S. Is Losing a Major Front to China in the New Cold War* * Increasingly autocractic regimes find China’s model alluring * The spread of Beijing’s vision is starting to alarm the U.S. A swathe of the world is adopting China’s vision for a tightly controlled internet over the unfettered American approach, a stunning ideological coup for Beijing that would have been unthinkable less than a decade ago. Vietnam and Thailand are among the Southeast Asian nations warming to a governance model that twins sweeping content curbs with uncompromising data controls -- becau... more »

EXTRADITION: ‘The Railroad That Awaits Julian Assange’

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 15 hours ago
*John Kiriakou* | No matter what happens, no matter what the charges, Assange will not get a fair trial in Eastern District of Virginia.

Brazil’s Bolsonaro: How’s He Doing After 100 Days? Part III – Economics

Michael Royster at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
Opinion by Michael Royster São Paulo, SP – It is almost ritualistic for pundits to analyze presidential performance and public opinion during a president’s first 100 days in office; the Curmudgeon has been unable to resist the temptation. During his campaign, Bolsonaro repeatedly admitted he knows nothing about economics. So, as was the case with […] The post Brazil’s Bolsonaro: How’s He Doing After 100 Days? Part III – Economics appeared first on The Rio Times.

WILL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE MUELLER REPORT DEVOLVE INTO GOSSIP?

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 15 hours ago
Is this NBC report a hint of media coverage to come? Some of the more than one dozen current and former White House officials who cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller are worried that the version of his report expected to be made public on Thursday will expose them as the source of damaging information about President Donald Trump, according to multiple witnesses in the investigation.... Of particular concern is how Trump — and his allies — will react if it appears to be clear precisely what specific officials shared with Mueller, these people said. “They got asked questi... more »

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jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 15 hours ago
*Millenials Know Almost Nothing About the Holocaust* *They are not taught it* A survey conducted by Schoen Consulting in Canada for the Azrieli Foundation and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, also known as the Claims Conference revealed some disturbing data about Holocaust awareness. 75 years after the end of World War II, 54 percent of those surveyed did not know that six million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. 62% of millennials, people born in the 1980s and ’90s, did not know that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. 22% of millenni... more »

It's A Con

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 15 hours ago
Now that the dust has settlled, analysts are taking a hard look at the Ford government's first budget. Martin Regg Cohn writes: It gets tough on some (mostly poor people and students). It lavishes love on others (tax breaks sprinkled here and there). Call it tough love — not to be confused with “tough luck” — from a premier who loves to be loved. By the right people. And that's really the point: Ford's populism is for the right people: Ford’s first budget deceptively heralds his munificence while it downplays the take-aways. He is spending more than any previous Liberal governmen... more »

Brunei wants to punish gay sex with death by stoning – can boycotts stop it?

Paula Gerber, Professor of Human Rights Law, Monash University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
Brunei's new anti-gay Sharia laws are the harshest in the world. Yet few countries have publicly condemned them, and an international boycott could backfire.

How Hispanics really feel about Trump

Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
Hispanics oppose Trump's immigration policies in larger numbers than the rest of the population. But their opinions are divided sharply across partisan lines.

Journalism's Assange problem

Laurel Leff, Associate Professor of Journalism, Northeastern University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
It's dangerous for the press to take up Julian Assange's cause, two journalism scholars write. Assange is no journalist, they say, and making him out to be one is likely to damage press freedoms.

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JR at GREENIE WATCH - 15 hours ago
*Conspiracy theories behind attack on Roundup* *They can't fault the scientific tests* For years, scientists at Monsanto Co. worked closely with outside researchers on studies that concluded its Roundup weedkiller was safe. That collaboration is now one of the biggest liabilities for the world’s most widely used herbicide and its new owner, Bayer AG, which faces mounting lawsuits alleging a cancer link to Roundup. Plaintiffs’ attorneys are putting Monsanto’s ties to the scientific community at the center of a series of high-stakes suits against Bayer. Since the German company acq... more »

Infographics: Two out of Three Brazilians Have Access to Internet

Richard Mann at The Rio Times - 15 hours ago
By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter This is the first series of infographics on Digital Life in Brazil. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian consumer is ready for digital disruption. In many ways, it has already begun. More than two out of three Brazilians have access to smartphones and the internet Brazilians spend more than […] The post Infographics: Two out of Three Brazilians Have Access to Internet appeared first on The Rio Times.

Bad News: The British Army Bought the Wrong Tank

David Axe at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * At least that’s the opinion of one retired army officer who during his 20-year career helped to assess tank designs on behalf of U.K. policymakers. At least that’s the opinion of one retired army officer who during his 20-year career helped to assess tank designs on behalf of U.K. policymakers. When the Ministry of Defense in 1987 decided to replace its existing Chieftan and Challenger I main battle tanks, *according to* Stuart Crawford, a regular officer in the Royal Tank Regiment, the obvious choice was Germany’s own latest tank. “Leopard 2 was our rec... more »

U.S. Navy Wants a 'Robot' Fleet to Fight Russia or China

David Axe at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * If ever needed. The U.S. Navy's upcoming force-structure assessment could recommend a huge expansion of the fleet's efforts to acquire robotic warships, all in order to compete with the rapidly-modernizing Chinese and Russian navies. The multi-billion-dollar investment in unmanned surface vessels and submarines that the U.S. sailing branch is proposing as part of its 2020 budget is "an expression of the urgency the Navy is attaching to the situation," *said* Ronald O’Rourke, a shipbuilding expert with the Congressional Research Service. O'Rourke and ot... more »

Historic Moment: U.S. Air Force F-35 Stealth Fighters Just Went Off to War

David Axe at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*David Axe* *Security, * At least six F-35s from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings on April 12, 2019 traveled from their home station at Hill Air Force Base in Utah to Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates to participate in coalition air operations targeting Islamic State militants in the Middle East. U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth fighters for the first time have deployed for combat. At least six F-35s from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings on April 12, 2019 *traveled* from their home station at Hill Air Force Base in Utah to Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates t... more »

Democrats Are Still Twisting Themselves Into Knots Trying To Explain Health Insurance And Other Progressive Initiatives To Voters

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
"Look," no one serious ever said, "we can't put the Mob out of business because it will throw so many people out of work." It's true. If the Mob were shut down, all kinds of people doing work that, in varying degree, is anti-social. Insurance companies are also doing work that is anti-societal. Yet it is widely thought that if they are phased out as an anachronism for another, more effective means of paying for healthcare, too many people will be unemployed. Writing for *This Week* last week, Ryan Cooper pointed out that Democrats need to get over their fear of disrupting private ... more »

This Footage Shows a Russian Su-27 Fighter Making a Sharp Turn Near a U.S. F-15C Fighter

Mark Episkopos at Test Feed Using Fields - 16 hours ago
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, * It is unclear when the video was filmed, with some speculating that it occured during a prior NATO BAP (Baltic Air Policing) mission. When viewed in that light, this incident seems to fall into the trend of what US officials have previously described as “unsafe” Russian interceptions and “aggressive maneuvers” in high-tension airspace. *The Russian account is not implausible, given that Kremlin officials frequently fly to and from Kaliningrad-- a Russian enclave in Europe nestled between several NATO countries-- over Baltic airspace. For instance, ... more »

Too much skin in the game: Derm journal calls out author for duplication

Adam Marcus at Retraction Watch - 16 hours ago
We often praise authors for doing the right thing by retracting with transparency. Here’s a journal that deserves recognition for its handling of a case of duplicate publication. Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (ADAPA), a European derm publication, has retracted a 2018 article in smack-down fashion, calling out a co-author for deceit. The paper … Continue reading Too much skin in the game: Derm journal calls out author for duplication

Marine scientist's sacking by James Cook University 'unlawful', court rules

Talissa Siganto at Just In - 16 hours ago
Dr Peter Ridd was unlawfully sacked by James Cook University in north Queensland for criticising his colleagues' research on the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia rules.

Radio Rentals to close with loss of 100 jobs

Just In - 16 hours ago
Radio Rentals will close all 12 of its South Australian stores, blaming difficult retail conditions and online competition in the company's core business of electronics and household goods.

Police warn they might mistake 'gel blasters' for real weapons

Just In - 16 hours ago
South Australian police warn that anyone brandishing a toy gun commonly known as a "gel blaster" will initially be treated as though they are holding a real firearm by officers called to the scene.

Search for missing Queenslander moves to NT outback, months after last sighting

Just In - 16 hours ago
The search for a missing Queenslander has shifted to a remote corner of the Northern Territory outback, more than two months after he was last seen.

Thief who set dog on police officer a 'coward', court hears

Elizabeth Byrne at Just In - 16 hours ago
The screams of a police officer being attacked by a dog as its owner urged the animal on are heard in an audio recording played to a Canberra court.

Looking to improve your marijuana for extraction? Here’s how

Kevin Huhn at Marijuana Business Daily - 16 hours ago
Growing marijuana that works well in the extraction process demands a specified approach beyond simply cultivating the best possible plants. Looking to improve your marijuana for extraction? Here’s how is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs

Un expert allemand conseille à la Tanzanie de rejeter l'Accord de partenariat économique avec l'UE

bilaterals.org - 16 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 Un expert allemand a conseillé lundi aux pays africains, dont la Tanzanie, de rejeter la signature de l'Accord de partenariat économique (APE) avec l'Union européenne (UE), estimant qu'il ne présentait aucun avantage économique.

Tanzania has good reasons not to sign the EPAs, say German Scholar

bilaterals.org - 16 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 German scholar Prof Helmut Asche today April 15, said that Tanzania has good reasons not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU).

Chile is fighting the TPP-11 hand-to-hand

bilaterals.org - 16 hours ago
16-Apr-2019 Chile is currently experiencing convulsed political days given the heated debate over the parliamentary ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as TPP11.

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