Thursday, March 07, 2013

7 March - Blogs I'm Following

The Coat of arms of VenezuelaThe Coat of arms of Venezuela (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: United States Senator Rand Paul speak...English: United States Senator Rand Paul speaking at the Night of the Rising Stars in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
United States Senate candidate Rand Paul at a ...United States Senate candidate Rand Paul at a rally in Erlanger, Kentucky, along with Texas Congressman Ron Paul and his son, Will Paul. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. Unauthorized use by any candidate or candidate's committee is strictly prohibited without approval. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1:53pm MST

"Viral Video Shows U.S. Wealth Inequality"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 26 minutes ago
*"Viral Video Shows U.S. Wealth Inequality"* By Deborah Dupre "In only four days, a video on Mashable that began going viral Friday showing the extent of United States inequality, has over 486 thousand "Likes" and continues to climb on YouTube. The video also reflects why the United States has one of the highest worst human rights violation levels in the world. Charlie Rose writes for Mashable, "The issue of wealth inequality across the United States is well known, but this video shows you the extent of that imbalance in dramatic and graphic fashion." The video also is demons... more »

Who Is Pete Peterson and How Did He Come So Easily To the Proud Role of Ruiner of the US Middle Class? The Deficit Is A Virtue, Not A Vice In Times of High Unemployment (The Sequester Is Obama's Fault Because He Has Played It Too Cute By Half)

"Too cute by half?" I like the ring of it. Especially as the nightmare springing from the sequester picks up speed. Peter Peterson, founder and chairman of Peter G. Peterson Foundation. (Photo: Lingjing Bao / Talk Radio News) Is the role Pete Peterson's playing still confusing you? Pay attention. For Christ's your own sake! Much like the many tentacles of the Kochtopus, “Fix the Debt”

No time to cut entitlements

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 59 minutes ago
And for the love of all that is holy, please stop calling them entitlements. They're earned benefits dammit. Still, Thomas B. Edsall exposes the stupid in our inane national conversation about starving granny to save the wealthy a few bucks in taxes. There is a simple fix to "save" the programs: Currently, earned income in excess of $113,700 is entirely exempt from the 6.2 percent payroll tax that funds Social Security benefits (employers pay a matching 6.2 percent). 5.2 percent of working Americans make more than $113,700 a year. Simply by eliminating the payroll tax earnings cap ... more »

Jimmy Kimmel: New Yorkers give their opinion about the new Pope...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 1 hour ago
*(who hasn't been elected yet.)* H/T Philothea on Phire

Sorry for your loss and for our PM, Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (fern hill) at DAMMIT JANET! - 1 hour ago
If you, like the people of Venezuela, are appalled by PMSHithead's sanctimonious anti-condolence message, you can send your own. First, what he said. Note no mention of Chávez's family. Harper said in his short statement on Tuesday that he hopes the death of Chavez brings a more promising future for the Venezuelan people. "At this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights," Harper said in a statement Tuesday evening. Harper also said ... more »

Color Guard

Southern Man at Southern Man - 1 hour ago
Southern Daughter on duty at Fort Meade, MD. Pics stolen from her friend's FB. Why, yes, Southern Man *is* a Proud Navy Dad. Why do you ask?

Rand Paul and the Merkely Plan

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 1 hour ago
No, Rand Paul's filibuster wasn't, as Josh Marshall thinks, "the best argument of the need for reform" -- and particularly, for Jeff Merkley's idea that current successful filibusters (that is, those where cloture should not be invoked) should become talking filibusters. Suppose, for example, that the Merkley plan went into effect this week. And suppose Democrats nonetheless brought up the Halligan nomination. The cloture vote happens, and fails, since every Republican but one opposes cloture. Under the new rules, that triggers a talking filibuster. What happens next? Republicans mu... more »

Vaginas Retaliate!

noreply@blogger.com (fern hill) at DAMMIT JANET! - 2 hours ago
The University of Cincinnati recently played host to the campus-roving display of huge nasty photos linking abortion to genocide and slavery and bad breath. You know, the FetusMobile people. Well, some smarty-pants students came up with an absolutely brilliant idea and are pulling it off in spectacular fashion. Nearly a dozen billboard-sized photos of vaginas in various states – including shaved ones, others that are blemished, and still some with tampons inserted – are slated for display today and tomorrow at the University of Cincinnati as part of a student-sponsored “Re-Envision... more »

Police brutality: cops walk, again.

noreply@blogger.com (deBeauxOs) at DAMMIT JANET! - 2 hours ago
More evidence that cops are not subjected to the same *justice* system standards that ordinary citizens are. Two police officers charged after an incident with an elderly man that court heard involved a Taser, won’t have to face trial since the case was delayed too long. RCMP Const. Mitchell Spears and Transit Police Const. Ken Jansen were both charged with assault after an incident at Surrey Memorial Hospital with patient Keith Booker that was witnessed by a nurse, court heard previously. Spears, the officer who arrested Booker on April 22, 2010 and took him to hospital, was also ... more »

Canada's Massive Glacier Melt

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 2 hours ago
70-billion tonnes a year and accelerating. That is the amount of ice Canada's Arctic glaciers are reported to be losing annually. A peer-reviewed report, *Irreversible Mass Loss of Canadian Arctic Archipelago Glaciers*, published in *GRL, Geophysical Research Letters*, found that the world's third largest ice field, after Antarctica and Greenland, will keep thinning ever faster until, by 2100, what remains will be melting at 145-billion tonnes a year.

LOCAL DRONE ACTION

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
A citizen speaks before a Coeur d' Alene City Council meeting in which he calls for banning drones in that Idaho community. Eighteen state legislatures and many local communities are now (or have already passed) considering laws to ban, or at least, regulate drones.

Old Philosophy vs New Philosophy

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 2 hours ago
Dry Bones right on the money as usual.

RIP John Smith

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 2 hours ago
"John Smith was more than half-way across the bridge to glory when he fell. To die at such a moment of promise is tragic, and yet the mourners in Edinburgh did not feel that the world was utterly unfair and impossible. The 'lost leader' bitterness was somehow missing. It was as if the dead man had unlocked a rusty gate, so that a way ahead was open. An Edinburgh councillor, standing with her children, said 'when I go round doorsteps, they say: 'You're all the same'. So where does this feeling come from?' It comes from a sort of relief. The British, perhaps for a moment only, are t... more »

Which Incumbents Does Steve Israel Give DCCC Money To-- And Why?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 2 hours ago
Israel, recovering from a pounding in Illinois last week This week, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel announced the 26 Frontline candidates upon whom most of the money the DCCC collects this year will be lavished. With just a few exceptions, most of these vulnerable Democrats are conservatives. Several of these conservative Dems-- like Suzan DelBene (WA), Patrick Murphy (FL), Elizabeth Esty (CT) and Scott Peters (CA), for example, are multimillionaires who can bankroll their own campaigns without sucking money from hardworking grassroots Democrats. Even worse, some of them have been the mos... more »

Ever wonder just how big the wealth disparity in the U.S. really is?

David L Griscom at Cherchez la Verite - 3 hours ago
------------------------------ http://youtu.be/QPKKQnijnsM *Wealth Inequality in America* politizane *Published on Nov 20, 2012* Infographics on the distribution of wealth in America, highlighting both the inequality and the difference between our perception of inequality and the actual numbers. The reality is often not what we think it is. References: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2... http://danariely.com/2010/09/30/wealt... http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011... http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/19/news/... Cherchez la Verite

Reasons to be grateful to Václav Klaus

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 3 hours ago
After 10 years in office, Václav Klaus is leaving the Prague Castle, the traditional workplace of Czech kings and presidents, tonight. Tomorrow, the new president Miloš Zeman will be inaugurated. Throughout his presidential years, Klaus often enjoyed as high as 70% approval rate. However, things like the New Year 2013 Amnesty restored the natural tendency of a large part of the Czech nation to stupidly criticize Klaus so his departure is accompanied by lots of bitterness at many places. I can't watch TV programs about Klaus for more than 10 minutes because soon or later, some idioti... more »

New Method of Creating Energy Through Water Osmosis Discovered

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 3 hours ago
* * * * *New Method of Creating Energy Through Water Osmosis Discovered* By JG Vibes theintelhub.com March 6, 2013 Every few weeks now there is a new discovery that gives us a glimpse into what the future of energy could look like if governments and oil cartels would just get out of the way and let human beings create. In the past few months we have seen battery chargers that harvest electricity from thin air, converting waste heat to energy, and a group of children in Africa win an international invention fair by creating an electricity generator that was powered by urine. The ... more »

About that Blind Spot. Don't Worry, Be Happy.

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 3 hours ago
Lockheed's troubled F-35 is attracting criticism due to pilot complaints that they can't see what's behind them. They can't "check their six" man, bummer. Who cares? If you're piloting an F-35 and there is something behind you that's a mortal threat, being able to see it isn't going to be much help. Chances are very good that by the time you see the threat your fate is already sealed. It's over. The F-35 is not much of a dogfighter. It can't go as fast, it can't turn as fast, it can't climb as fast as its contemporaries be they Russian, British/German or French. And ther... more »

TALKING TO BLOCK

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 3 hours ago
*The Daily Show with Jon Stewart* Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) ended his filibuster after 12 hours and 52 minutes. Paul and others, concerned over the administration's use of lethal drone strikes, were interrupting the confirmation process of Obama's nomination of new CIA director John Brennan. Brennan will now be confirmed by a wide margin in the Senate.

Three little bears

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 3 hours ago

Brian Kelly & Seraph Interviewed on Freedomizer Radio/Gadsen Rising

Brian Kelly at AMERICAN KABUKI - 3 hours ago
*Brian Kelly & Seraph Interviewed on Freedomizer Radio/Gadsen Rising* * * Important Note: When the archive for this video was sent, it was combined with the show "Eccentric" which aired right before ours. *We come in at about the 1 hour 33 min mark (1:33). * * * In-Joy! ~ Brian * *

Former Pakistan Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Resigned as a Member of Senate

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 3 hours ago
* * * * http://www.geo.tv/GeoDetail.aspx?ID=91198 *Abdul Hafeez Shaikh resigns from senate seat* March 07, 2013 - Updated 1735 PKT ISLAMABAD: Former Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh resigned as a member of senate which was immediately accepted, Geo News reported. Election Commission of Pakistan (EC) scheduled election on his seat on March 14. Chairman Senate Nayyar Bukhari's office received the resignation which was immediately accepted. Abdul Hafeez mentioned personal issues as a reason of his resignation. Election commission has called by-polls on Abdul Hafeez seat on Marc... more »

Flu Hospitalization Rates for 2012-2013

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 3 hours ago
[excerpted] Flu hospitalization rates This index measures the number of flu-related hospitalizations per 100,000 people nationwide. *The 2012-2013 season has passed 2009-2010 levels,* when the H1N1 virus caused the first pandemic in 40 years. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/us-weekly-flu-report/?tid=rr_mod

MILITARIZING LOCAL POLICE

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 3 hours ago
The MRAP featured in this video was in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Law Enforcement Day which was held at a local area Target Store. This MRAP is stationed in El Paso, Texas at The Homeland Security Investigations Office. Imagine that - showing this at a department store parking lot. A clear warning to the public - don't you dare stand up against corporate domination and austerity. Gas mileage predictions anyone? 3-4 miles per gallon?

Palestinian Finance Minister Resigns Amid Cash Crisis

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 3 hours ago
Palestinian Minister of Finance Nabil Qassis is shown resigning while Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s hands are folded next to an empty safe in this editorial cartoon published March 3, 2013. (photo by Khalil Abu Arafeh/Al Quds/@khalilabuarafe) http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/finance-minister-qassis-resigns-financial-crisis.html *Palestinian Finance Minister Resigns Amid Cash Crisis* *Minister of Finance Nabil Qassis found himself cornered and unable to deliver proposed reforms to address the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis, writes Daoud Kuttab.* By: Daoud... more »

Keystone XL pipeline: US government report drew on analysis by oil consultants

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 3 hours ago
[image: The Keystone Oil Pipeline is pictured under construction in North Dakota. The U.S. State Department issued a long-awaited draft environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline project that would link Canada's oil sands to refineries in Texas, 1 March 2013. Photo: Reuters] By Lisa Song for InsideClimate News, part of the Guardian Environment Network 6 March 2013 (guardian.co.uk) – The State Department's recent conclusion that the Keystone XL pipeline "is unlikely to have a substantial impact" on the rate of Canada's oil sands development was based on analysis provided... more »

The Way, the Truth, the Life

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 3 hours ago
Last night, while you were perhaps trying to decide between paying your electric bill or splurging on that long-delayed expensive medical checkup, Blessed Barack and the new Twelve Disciples of the Republican Party were stuffing themselves on terrine de foie gras and Lobster Thermidor as they mulled putting old people on a cat food diet and other creative ways to make your lives even more miserable. The president had invited a dozen Senators to the exclusive Plume Restaurant at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington in hopes of forging a new testament to safety net cuts in order to appea... more »

Belgian Finance Minister Quits Over Banking Dispute

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 4 hours ago
Steven Vanackere * * http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/05/belgium-financeminister-idUSL6N0BX5V920130305 *Belgian finance minister quits over banking dispute* By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Ben Deighton BRUSSELS, March 5 (Reuters) - Belgium's finance minister resigned on Tuesday and his party hurriedly appointed a lawyer and university professor to succeed him ahead of imminent talks on further austerity savings. Belgium only emerged at the end of 2011 from 18 months of political paralysis which saw its bond yields shoot to euro-era highs as investors worried about its ability... more »

Inherent jurisdiction to set aside order to prevent miscarriage of justice exercised rarely

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 4 hours ago
Horner v. Benisasia, 2013 ONCA 136 deals with the common law power of a superior court to set aside orders to prevent a miscarriage of justice. While holding such power exists the Court is clear such power is to be exercised rarely: [16] As to the third basis argued – the court's inherent jurisdiction at common law to set aside or change an order to prevent a miscarriage of justice where new facts have arisen or been discovered – *West v. West,*2001 CarswellOnt 1936, 18 R.L.F. (5th) 440 relied on by the appellant, notes that a "fairly stringent" test must be met before the cou... more »

Lawrence has fun with Mr. O!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 4 hours ago
*THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013* *Big pot calls large kettle black:* Bill O’Reilly melted down Tuesday night on his semi-eponymous program. On The One True Liberal Channel, Lawrence O’Donnell has had big fun with this major meltdown on each of the last two evenings. Last evening, he teased the vastly pleasing meltdown all the way through his program. It was the way he kept us rubes tuned in: O’DONNELL (3/6/13): Having just watched his show, I can tell you that Bill O’Reilly is just as ignorant tonight as last night about President Obama and spending cuts. [...] O’DONNELL: *Coming up, i... more »

Australia's "Angry Summer"

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 4 hours ago
It might have a lot to do with pre-emptive politics but Australian government climate scientists have issued a report directly linking their nation's summer of extreme weather events to climate change. The report, aptly titled "The Angry Summer", ties both extreme heat and extreme floods Australians have endured to the fact of climate change. It comes with easy to understand graphics showing how Australia has moved to a new, hotter climate. And it explains how a new, hotter Australia will be vulnerable to extreme flooding events. Best of all, one chapter directly addresses the p... more »

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago

Qatari emir buys six Greek islands for a song

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 4 hours ago
€8.5m (£7.35m) for six idyllic isles in the Ionian sea sounds bloody cheap to me. You can barely buy a house in Holland Park for that, let alone The Bishops Avenue! The Guardian have the details.

Mohawk Nation News 'Hugo Chavez, El Libertador'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 4 hours ago
HUGO CHAVEZ, EL LIBERTADOR Posted on March 7, 2013 MNN. Mar. 6, 2013. In 2007 President Hugo Chavez held a large conference of Indigenous people in Caracas Venezuela. The MNN Editor attended. So did Vernon Bellcourt of AIM and others. We stayed in a 5 star hotel. Top officials mingled with us daily. The Venezuelan dynamic socialist movement was proudly displayed. They

ABOUT THAT RECORD STOCK MARKET VALUE

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 4 hours ago
Browning, E. S. (2013, March 6) ‘On Wall Street, Investors Plot Next Move’ The Wall Street Journal, C1, C4. “In nominal terms the Dow today appears to have risen 22% from the record it hit in January 2000. But taking inflation into account, it still is more than 10% below that record. ...The last nominal Dow record, in October 2007, wasn’t a record at all once inflation is removed. The last real, or inflation adjusted, record was on Jan 14, 2000. (C1) …But since the end of 1994, when the stock boom began, consumer prices have risen 55% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics…... more »

La Ferrari - totally pointless or delicious dream?

Mike Philbin at FREE PLANET - 4 hours ago
Costing a cool ONE MILLION EUROS, you'll need (to own, or at least be friends with someone who owns) a Private Circuit to properly appreciate La Ferrari's hybrid-accelerated 0-60mph of 'under three seconds' and top speed of 220 mph. If you can afford all that (or have the connections), this delicious dreamof a car'll be 'the one you want'. otherwise, totally pointless.

“The Illusion Of Reality”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
RT, “The Illusion Of Reality” - http://www.youtube.com/

“In Amerika Law No Longer Exists: The Extermination of Truth”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 5 hours ago
*“In Amerika Law No Longer Exists: * *The Extermination of Truth”* - Paul Craig Roberts "In the 21st century Americans have experienced an extraordinary collapse in the rule of law and in their constitutional protections. Today American citizens, once a free people protected by law, can be assassinated and detained in prison indefinitely without any evidence being presented to a court of their guilt, and they can be sentenced to prison on the basis of secret testimony by anonymous witnesses not subject to cross examination. The US “justice system” has been transformed by the... more »

NYT: 6,000 Page Senate Study is a "Sweeping Indictment" of CIA "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques"

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 5 hours ago
[Excerpted from NYT] "a sweeping indictment of its now-defunct interrogation program — a blistering, 6,000-page Senate study that includes incendiary accusations that agency officials for years systematically misled the White House, the Justice Department and Congress about the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques like waterboarding that were used on Qaeda prisoners. By the account of people briefed on the report, it concludes that the program was ill-conceived, sloppily managed and far less useful in obtaining intelligence than its supporters have claimed. [end] Majia here... more »

It took almost thirteen hours before Rand Paul had to take a potty break...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 5 hours ago
*now that's impressive!* Picture filched from Nine Pound Sledgehammer

Five Billion Dollars and No One to Hate

Sophia at AMERICAN KABUKI - 5 hours ago
We are faced with freedom, looking at our liberation and walking though the door to Oneness. As with any new endeavor, this one will have to be practiced in order to be perfected. What is it like to live without debt? There has been financial debt. There has been emotional debt. Freedom means we are unencumbered; no debt of any kind. You do not owe anyone. No one owes you. We are all in a Monopoly game, drawing nothing but “Get out of Jail Free” cards. Wrap your head around that before deciding if it’s real or not. Our world exists only within the... more »

TSA Backs Off

Capt. Fogg at The Impolitic - 5 hours ago
By Capt. Fogg So you think the TSA has finally come to its senses and smartened up its ban on deadly weapons like nail clippers and pool cues? Most people, if they bother to think about it, aren't all that terrified that some 12 year old carrying his Little League bat or hockey stick is going to commandeer a 747, nor is the woman with that tiny Swiss Army knife on her keychain. The TSA has at least recognized that the hijackings of 9/11/01 were facilitated by cabin doors without locks, thanks to the refusal of our regulatory agencies to force that level of security on private bu... more »

US Attorney General Holder: Financial Institutions "So Large" as to Make it "Difficult For Us To Prosecute Them"

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 5 hours ago
Attorney general says big banks’ size may inhibit prosecution by D. Douglas 3/6/2013 Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/holder-concerned-megabanks-too-big-to-jail/2013/03/06/6fa2b07a-869e-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines [Excerpted] Holder’s admission bolsters criticisms that federal prosecutors are deeming some banks “too big to jail,” a charge that lawmakers and consumer advocates have routinely made in the wake of recent bank settlements. Although the government has issued record multimillion-dollar fines in these cases, critics say... more »

Shame on Michelle Malkin: "I Hope Hugo Chavez is Choking on Sulfur & Rotting in Hell" ...(video)

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 5 hours ago
*while I agree with everything else she says, to "hope" for the damnation of another person is treading on dangerous ground. * Hope is one of the three theological virtues (Faith and Charity being the other two): by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." source

First Nations Leadership

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 5 hours ago
Link.

Yet another life-long Republican comes to the conclusion that the present wealth inequality in the U.S. is not due to high productivity of those at the top or the laziness of those at the bottom. Rather the cause has been government actions including taxpayer bailouts of too-big-to-fail banks, central-bank-engineered financial asset bubbles, and unjustified tax breaks that favor the rich.

David L Griscom at Cherchez la Verite - 5 hours ago
------------------------------ OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR ORIGINAL HERE Grand Old Parity By SHEILA C. BAIR Published: February 26, 2013 WASHINGTON LAST month Emmanuel Saez, a celebrated economist at the University of California, Berkeley, issued another depressing report on income inequality. Among other things, Mr. Saez examined how real family incomes changed in the United States from 2009 to 2011, the first two years of the recovery. The richest 1 percent of... more »

"Our Disintegrating Government"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 5 hours ago
*"Our Disintegrating Government"* by Karl Denninger "There's only one way to look at this folks. "WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder's stunning admission that it was difficult to prosecute large banks because of the potential economic impact may be a turning point of the drive to break them up." It's not stunning at all. It is, however, an admission of what we have known for years. Now the pants of "Nobody committed any crimes" have in fact been artfully dropped to the floor and what's in our face is the ugly anatomical truth that crimes were committed and inte... more »

Millions left without money as RBS systems crash

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 5 hours ago
* * http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rbs/9914242/Millions-left-without-money-as-RBS-systems-crash.html *Millions left without money as RBS systems crash* *Up to 17.5 million RBS banking group customers were left without their money last night as the bank’s systems crashed.* By Hayley Dixon12:03AM GMT 07 The group, which owns Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and the Bank of Ulster, apologised to its customers amid reports that they were unable to access their accounts or withdraw money. The crash comes just months after a computer meltdown that left millions of c... more »

IMITATIONS OF LIFE: The sounds of shrillness!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 5 hours ago
*THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013* *Part 3—Joe Nocera’s selective concern:* Did Charlie Rose interview Justice O’Connor on his eponymous news program? Or was that session just another imitation of life? The interview, or the imitation of same, occurred Tuesday night on PBS, a news organ conventionally thought of as being very bright. At one point, Charlie turned to the question of Bush v. Gore, a very famous case. Here’s how the exchange began. To watch the whole session, click here: ROSE (3/5/13): *How did you like Bush versus Gore?* O’CONNOR: Well, that was tough. It was *not* nine-zip. ... more »

Canada, key allies storm out of UN nuclear meeting in protest of Iran’s ‘Israeli genocide’ remarks

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 5 hours ago
Iran accuses Israel of genocide, some countries' representatives walk out but not William 'all mouth no trousers' Hague. National Post have the details of which country's representatives have a moral backbone and which don't.

KIPPster Jay Mathews, Practiced in the Art of Deception

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 5 hours ago
Leader FeinbergThat's a line from the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," of course. If Jay could get what he wants, it would be a KIPP in every black or brown community of America, where Alpha male CEO "school leaders," with shaved heads, white shirts, and bad attitudes ride herd on a clueless group of white female TFA "corp members," who were successfully brainwashed during the 6 weeks of basic teacher training to run themselves and their students into the ground if the Fisher-trained school leader commands it. Whatever is good for the Family. If Jay is not already pa... more »

Chomsky: On ALEC's Anti-Climate Education Policies

2old2care at Because I Can - 5 hours ago
Gotta love Chomsky!!! Been reading him for decades Yesterday he published an article that showed up on Truthout this morning. Well worth your reading time >>>>HERE<<<< *Will Capitalism Destroy Civilization?* *Thursday, 07 March 2013 09:12 By Noam Chomsky, Truthout | Op-Ed* Let’s keep to the most critical immediate problem that civilization faces: environmental catastrophe. Policies and public attitudes diverge sharply, as is often the case under RECD (really existing capitalist democracy). The fact that the public is influenced by science is deeply troubling to those who dominate th... more »

The System Is Broken: Incompetent Science and Insane Politics

Harry Dale Huffman at The Earth and Man: Setting the Stage - 5 hours ago
The Steven Goddard site has a post on "It must be the CO2" (he rightly ridicules the idea), and the following is my response: *My Venus/Earth temperatures comparison (the key of which is to do the comparison at points of equal pressure in the two atmospheres, and over the range of Earth tropospheric pressures) established that the Standard Atmosphere model for Earth--as developed over many years of temperature measurements around the globe, and well-known for over a century--agrees precisely with the actual vertical temperature distribution on Venus as measured on ONE DAY (October 5... more »

Read Stuff, You Should

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 6 hours ago
Happy Birthday to J.R. Richard, 63. Oh, the good stuff: 1. Conor Friedersdorf asks: who were the radicals in 2002? 2. Partisanship, ideology, and Rand Paul. From Hans Noel. 3. Ezra Klein on what the Obama charm offensive tells us about Obama. 4. And a terrific Sarah Binder post about the Rand Paul filibuster.

Could House Republican Extremists Kick Boehner Out Of His Job?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 6 hours ago
This week Boehner had quite the jolt when former high ranking Ohio Republican Bob Ney's tell all book, Sideswiped: Lessons Learned Courtesy of the Hit Men of Capitol Hill, was published. It paints Boehner as a drunken, womanizing, bribe-taking, golfing fanatic with little interest in policy and lots of interests in how to extract cash from lobbyists-- exactly how * DWT* has been painting him for the last six years. Ney retells the story of Boehner handing out Tobacco Industry bribery checks on the floor of the House and suggests that if the FBI were to examine who paid for Boehner's... more »

Old Chemicals Spark New Groundwater Concerns

By: Nathan Lamb A discontinued solvent has contaminated groundwater at an airplane factory in Washington state—and that has nearby residents concerned about possible health impacts, according to this story from the Auburn Reporter. The problem stems from the Boeing-Auburn plant, which is near the Algona city line. Recently released tests show a plume of contaminated groundwater that begins at the factory and migrates off-site. A spokesperson for the state departments of Ecology and Health said the size of the plume is still being determined and that cleanup won't begin until after... more »

Damage Control: Syrian Rebels "rescued" the UN peackeepers

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 7 hours ago
*Another day, another batch of lies. * Following up on yesterday's news: *Breaking! Syria "rebels" seize UN peacekeepes in Golan* *FYI: the above post was updated with a link back to the post covering news or lack thereof on the missing Canadian Peacekeeper* *Syrian rebels 'rescued' the UN peacekeepers..... * *This claim cannot be taken seriously*. Obviously the NATO media is spinning to 'save face' here. These rebels/NATO mercs are being supplied/armed and trained by the West. By NATO. By Israel. And they kidnap UN peacekeepers under the watchful eye of Israel. Damage control is clea... more »

New Front Against Enforcement of Securitized Student Loans

In plain English if a chartered bank did not take in the loan as a loan receivable and instead converted it into a bond receivable to investors, then the bank took no risk at all, and there was no reason to provide a guarantee of a risk of loss that did not exist. The misrepresentation of the financial community has dumped hundreds of billions of "losses" onto the federal government when those

more canadian pet-supply chains sign the no-puppy-mill pledge

laura k at wmtc - 7 hours ago
HSI Canada has announced a major step forward in the fight against puppy mills. PJ's Pets and Pets Unlimited, two sizable retail chains of pet-supply stores, will no longer sell puppies. This is a direct result of public education and small-scale, person-to-person activism. It should give us all hope that shutting down puppy mills by shutting down the retail demand for their "product" is possible. For readers who may not be informed about puppy mills, here's something I wrote a few years back, during a Puppy Mill Action Week. * * * * Puppy mills are places of horrible cruelty and... more »

I hate having a cold!

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 7 hours ago

EI Backlash

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 8 hours ago
Stephen Harper does not play well with others. Chantal Hebert writes: Under Harper, the First Ministers no longer gather and the unsolicited input of the premiers usually falls on deaf ears. The adoption without compensation to the provinces of a potentially costly law-and-order agenda; the imposition of a new funding formula for medicare and the implementation of an EI reform that stands to transform the seasonal economies of parts of Quebec and Atlantic Canada are all cases in point. Now Harper proposes to claw back funds that are used by the provinces for job training. Ther... more »

Not surprising news, so what's the BBC's excuse?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 8 hours ago
Frontpage reports that 'Al Jazeera Dedicated to the Service of the Muslim Brotherhood, says Arab Newspaper'. Here's some more detail: 'Qatar’s relations with the Muslim Brotherhood are multi-pronged. On the media front, Qatar has dedicated Al Jazeera, the country’s most prized non-financial asset, to the service of the Muslim Brotherhood and turned it into what prominent Middle East scholar Alain Gresh calls a “mouthpiece for the Brotherhood.” The channel has in turn been repeatedly praised by the Brotherhood for its “neutrality.”' Well that's not surprising, but what's the BBC's ex... more »

What causes "systemic collapse"? CorbetReport explains

address-withheld@my.opera.com.invalid (Dr. John v. Kampen) at - 8 hours ago
Link: http://youtu.be/5i7Q4Mm7t5w Of course this contribution from James Corbett calls for more explanations. To answer the most intriguing of all, please read this article in the Spanish "El País". John

The dangers of shisha

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 9 hours ago
Shisha cafés are multiplying, sometimes it seems hard to find a café in parts of London that doesn't offer shisha pipes. So I was intrigued to learn that 'Smoking shisha poses the same health risks and diseases associated with cigarette smoking but can be more damaging as smokers typically use shisha over a longer time period. A one-hour shisha session is reported to provide the same amount of toxins as between 100 and 200 cigarettes.' Per http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/10273402.Warning_to_parents_over_teenagers_visiting_Blackburn_shisha_cafe/ Should shisha cafés be ... more »

UK Eurovision Entry 2013

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 9 hours ago
And drawing the short straw this time is ... Bonnie Tyler: Well that was insipid. Will the UK ever enter a decent song again? Eurovision is taking place this year on Saturday May 26th. Expect the traditional run down/commentary before then.

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 10 hours ago
*Louisiana Voucher School Students Taught Hippies Were Dirty, Rude, Rock-Loving Satan-Worshippers * *The $60 Million Question: Is Jimmy Graham Worth It?* *A year later, Scott Fujita moving past Bountygate, toward Machu Picchu* *Jindal sidesteps questions about sinkhole visit * *Louisiana Crawfish Part One: To Everything There Is a Season – Especially for Farming Crawfish* *Odd Words*

HITLER AND CASTRO - GAY JEWS?

Anon at aangirfan - 11 hours ago
In recent times, only Hitler and Castro have put homosexuals into concentration camps. Both Hitler and Castro surrounded themselves with gay people. Hitler had sex with boys. Both Hitler and Castro have Jewish origins. *Gay? Of Course! - By Servando Gonzalez * * * "In recent times, only two countries in the world have ... interned homosexuals in concentration camps: Nazi Germany and Castro's Cuba... "Ernst Roehm, Rudolf Hess, Reinhard Heydrich, and even Hitler’s driver, Emil Maurice, were well-known homosexuals... "Castro’s close friend Alfredo Guevara (no relation to Che) and ... more »

Backwards: Natural Compounds in Grapefruit Removed to Prevent Medication Reactions by Mike Barrett

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 12 hours ago
Source: http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.se/2012/07/amazing-health-benefits-of-grapefruit.htmlBackwards: Natural Compounds in Grapefruit Removed to Prevent Medication Reactions by Mike Barrett Natural Society, 7 March 2013 *How attached have we become to the pharmaceutical industry? If a negative reaction is triggered while combining certain medications and real foods, do scientists move to alter and fix the medication? Rather than altering the medication in question, scientists are actually removing naturally occurring compounds found in various fruit instead. This is the c... more »

Who Barack Obama's US State Department choose to honour

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 12 hours ago
“An explosion on a bus carrying Israelis in Burgas airport in Bulgaria on the Black Sea. Today is a very sweet day with a lot of very sweet news.” the ruling (of Saudi Arabia) Al Saud family as “dirtier than the Jews.” “I have discovered with the passage of days, that no act contrary to morality, no crime against society, takes place, except with the Jews having a hand in it. Hitler.” “Today is the anniversary of 9/11. May every year come with America burning” Per Atlas Shrugs (and I have not second sourced this story): ' "Michelle Obama and John Kerry to Honor Anti-Semite and ... more »

Green Borer Decoys

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 12 hours ago
This is a neat trick that hopefully applies to many other insects. Importantly it establishes immediate warning of a pending infestation allowing timely response. Something like this has great promise for field work generally. It may even allow trees to be inoculated just as they come under attack. This avoids a meaningless late discovery when the tree is beyond saving. Again we see the pressing need for boots on the ground in all wood lots. Most everything that afflicts a tree usually manifests itself on a single branch whose timely pruning ends the danger. Black rot on ... more »

Tianyuan Man Linked to Modern Chinese

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 12 hours ago
This is very encouraging. I am certain that many separated populations arose during the Ice Age and developed most of the distinct features associated with those regions. It just makes good sense. On the other hand, a new influx of genes, particularly if they are highly adaptive, would soon integrate into the indigenous populations. We have always tried to explain this process as one of violence in which the losers die when it is nothing of the kind. The losers may well die, but the breeding women are inevitably conserved. Thus a successful adaptation inevitably finds its w... more »

Arctic Development

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 12 hours ago
The Arctic is that part of the globe in which land based plant husbandry is simply impractical. A modest harvest of caribou and other ruminants is possible but certainly not expandable. Again because we are outside a proper growing environment. This can be partially offset with artificial refugia, but even that calls for energy inputs. What is plausible however is an active Arctic fishery although it is necessary to work with the ice. That can also include fresh water fisheries such as Arctic char. The recent reduction of summer sea ice makes this even more plausible. ... more »

The Tom Robinson Band - Power In The Darkness

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 13 hours ago
Obama, Holder, & the rest of the clowns in DC are the enemies of the American people and of all mankind. President Obama does not have the legal authority to kill a Pakistani, let alone an American. Barack Obama has as much authority to kill Americans as Osama fucking Bin Laden. One is a supporter of terrorism and the other is a puppet who died more than a decade ago.

Malaysia Invaded - 100's of Terrorists Land on Beaches, Western Media Mute

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 13 hours ago
*March 7, 2013* (LD) - Hundreds of heavily armed terrorists have crossed from the Philippines and landed in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah. Dozens are already dead, and the Malaysian military has brought in aircraft and armor to confront the audacious, bizarre invasion, scattering militants into the jungles of Borneo island. A seemingly headline news event, the invasion has been downplayed and spun by the Western media, many calling militant Al Qaeda-linked terrorists, an "armed Filipino clan." *Image: Malaysia has called in air support and armor to confront a bizarre terror... more »

dead Jimmy Savile sex abuse fervour - but not 9/11 or 7/7 or Gareth Williams fervour - is it a case of National Security?

Mike Philbin at FREE PLANET - 13 hours ago
The BBC, and other so-called News Networks, ran a story yesterday (for most of the day) about new policies for dealing with children reporting sexual abuse in foster care or by politicians/celebrities/priests. *Child sex abuse victims treated 'overcautiously' Draft guidelines are expected to be published in May ahead of a three-month public consultation. Child sex abuse investigations put too much focus on the victims' credibility and not enough on the suspects, says the director of public prosecutions as he announces a shake-up of guidelines. Director of Public Prosecutions Keir ... more »

March 6, 1973

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 13 hours ago
Patrick Gray is back before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a third day, and once again he makes front page headlines -- and once again the squeeze tightens on a key figure: -- Senator Kennedy. According to the FBI summary, which is provided for the record, Mr. Dean was present during the FBI interviews at the Wliite House? Mr. Gray. That is correct, sir. Senator Kennedy. Is this normal procedure for the FBI? Mr. Gray. I would say that the honest answer to that question has got to be "No", this is not normal procedure in the normal average Senator Kennedy. Well, is it ever perm... more »

Alberta budget primer: when they say ‘tough decisions,’ they really mean … ‘decisions that will be tough on you’

David Climenhaga at Alberta Diary - 14 hours ago
Typical Albertans await tomorrow’s budget aboard the Good Ship Richest Place on Earth. Alberta may not actually be as damp as illustrated. Below: Premier Alison Redford. Why is this woman smirking? Oh, we’ll squeeze you till the pips squeak, Premier Alison Redford seemed to be promising Albertans yesterday, as we nervously awaited the provincial budget ... more »

INTERVIEW / Jonah Raskin : American Jewish Poet Hilton Obenzinger on Israel, Zionism, and the Radical Sixties

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 14 hours ago
Hilton Obenzinger with family photo. Photo courtesy of Stanford University. Interview with Hilton Obenzinger: Stanford professor, Sixties radical,   and anti-Zionist American Jewish poet “American Jews have been suckered into supporting Israel in unthinking ways. This has been changing, but not enough American Jews are yelling and screaming to stop Israel’s colonial expansion.” -- Hilton

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago

Your moment of Zen

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 15 hours ago
Aromatherapy.

Thursday Morning Linkage

Josh Busby at Duck of Minerva - 15 hours ago
Here is some Thursday morning linkage action: In time for the CITES meeting on the trade in endangered species, scientists released a study that showed a 60% decline in the small forest elephant species in Africa in the last TEN years Meanwhile, news accounts reported on the shadowy networks of criminals involved in the trade Continue reading

When Unlocking is a Victory

Elias at Stop The Tennessee Pipeline! - 15 hours ago
Today was a powerful day on the campaign to stop the Tennessee Gas Pipeline. After positioning themselves and locking down at 8:00 AM, activists in New Jersey waited for workers and police to show up and readied themselves to non-violently refuse to be moved. As the number of police on site increased, Matt Smith of Wanaque, NJ and Jerome Wagner of Wayne, NJ expected to be extracted. Instead, Ramapough Lunaape Nation fellow Chief Vincent Mann approached the blockaders and explained to them his desire that they stand down. The news article explains the facts of what happened tod... more »

RIP Stompin' Tom Connors ....

leftdog at Buckdog - 15 hours ago
*Not sure who Stompin’ Tom Connors is? The country-folk crooner well known for pounding the floor with his left foot during performances became a Canadian icon and developed a devoted following throughout his lifetime.* ***Although wide commercial appeal escaped Connors for much of his four-decade career, his heritage-soaked songs like “Canada Day, Up Canada Way,” “The Hockey Song,” “Bud the Spud,” and “Sudbury Saturday Night,” have come to be regarded as veritable national anthems thanks to their unabashed embrace of all things Canadiana.* ***A few days earlier the musician penn... more »

Rand Paul Did Not Accept Any Bribes From The Drone Makers-- But Some Of The Other Filibusterers Are Totally On The Take

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 15 hours ago
Aqua Buddha refused bribes from drone makers but his comrades in arms were all soliciting bribes Buck McKeon isn't and never will be a U.S. senator. He's in the House and he's chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and the founder and chairman of the Unmanned Vehicles Caucus, better known as the Drone Caucus. He's responsible for all the legislation allowing drones to fly in Americans airspace, responsible, at least, in terms of introducing it. Obviously, the drone manufacturers' lobbyists wrote it for him. McKeon, who is likely to be a lobbyist for an arms manufacturer himse... more »

Jim Turpin : Is the Imperial Presidency the 'New Normal'? / 2

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 16 hours ago
Photo by Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images./ Foreign Policy. The 'new normal'? The Imperial Presidency / 2 “You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?” -- Talking Heads ("Once in a Lifetime") By Jim Turpin / The Rag Blog / March 7, 2013 Second in a two-part series. In my previous installment of this article, I discussed how the codification of the Executive’s imperial power and

Innovative cyclist alert-and-brake car system Introduced by Volvo

Megaan at Current news updates, World current news - 16 hours ago
*Volvo** has announced it is releasing a cyclist detection facility which should prevent deadly accidents.* The Chinese-owned group introduced the aspect at the Geneva Motor Show. The auto firm supposed that vehicles fitted with the system will be able to detect threats including a cyclist unexpectedly swerving out into a car's path. It held that if a crash risk was detected an alarm would sound and the car's brakes would be fully deployed. The technology is an improved version of Volvo's ambler detection system which it launched in 2010. The knowledge is an enhanced version of... more »

North Jersey on the Rise!

Tumbleweed at Stop The Tennessee Pipeline! - 17 hours ago
From www.northjersey.com :Pipeline opponents hold protest in Ringwood [video] Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Last updated: Wednesday March 6, 2013, 7:25 PM BY MATTTHEW MCGRATH AND JIM NORMAN STAFF WRITERS The Record RINGWOOD -- Two protesters lashed themselves to a pair of maple trees in Ringwood Wednesday to try to slow construction of a gas pipeline, leading to a standoff with police that eventually ended with the intervention of a Native American tribe leader. [image: Contractors for Tennessee Gas cut trees and clear a pathway near Morris Road in Ringwood Wednesdsay, part of Ringwood... more »

EVEN BEFORE CHÁVEZ’S DEMISE, NEOCON JACKALS BEGAN TO SNIFF OUT OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE

The late President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez isn’t even in his grave but already the neocon jackals are trying to ensure that the US will influence Venezuela’s political future by suggesting the US make demands of the interim and successive government before the US provides any support. The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) produced a paper even before Chávez had actually died. Among their key demands are: *The respect for a constitutional succession;* *The adoption of meaningful electoral reforms to ensure a fair campaign environment and a transparent vote count in expected presid... more »

Counter-What?

Steve Saideman at Duck of Minerva - 18 hours ago
This article discusses the importance of doing counter-intuitive work in the social sciences: We love our counterintuitive findings. And for fields such as psychology, they’re almost a necessity.If new conclusions already gel with our beliefs, goes the common refrain, why was precious taxpayer money ever wasted on the study in the first place? (I find Continue reading

Via @AntoniaZ: Corporate ratfuckers kiss off quality journalism

Orwell's Bastard at Orwell's Bastard - 18 hours ago
*Res ipsa loquitur.* * *Covering your ass and letting the shit fall on people below you in the food chain. Real character there. *Related posts:* - Wente, the Gelber, and the Globe: more quality control from Carol Wainio - Politics and its Discontents: Another Victory For The Star - Lying cops, Mark Pugash, and the Star: Where we juxtapose, once again

Is there any way to thank Valerie Harper for Rhoda Morgenstern?

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 18 hours ago
*Mary and Rhoda* *by Ken* Especially for someone with an AOL e-mail address, the tabloid gossip is hard to escape, and often -- well, usually -- I find myself wondering why anyone on earth would care whether so-and-so is sleeping with such-and-such, or whether the marriage of Yokum and Hokum is more than just on the rocks this time. And then comes this awful news about Valerie Harper's brain cancer. Somewhere I saw Valerie's signature character, Rhoda Morgenstern, Mary Richards's best friend on *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* who was then spun off into her own show, *Rhoda*, as "icon... more »

The Economy: "Why Central Planning Fails"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 19 hours ago
*"Why Central Planning Fails"* by Bill Bonner "The Dow is still rising. It rose another 125 points yesterday… hitting a new record high. Gold is dawdling. We’re still thinking about how so many smart people came to believe things that aren’t true. Krugman, Stiglitz, Friedman, Bernanke — all seem to have a simpleton’s view of how the world works. They believe they can manipulate the future and make it better. Not just for themselves, but for everyone. Where did such a silly idea come from? Aristotelian logic came to dominate Western thought after the Renaissance. It was e... more »

Napoleon On His Legacy

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 19 hours ago
*Related:* *Napoleon On Men of Destiny*. *Napoleon On Speculators And Profiteers*. *Napoleon On An Age of Transition & The Dangers of A Militarist Government *. *Napoleon On Alexander The Great*. *Napoleon On Public Debts*. *Napoleon On Public Opinion*. *Napoleon On Homer*. *Napoleon On The "Courage of 2 A.M."* *Napoleon On Statesmen.* *Napoleon On Tragedy.* From, *"The Mind of Napoleon: A Selection from His Written and Spoken Words,"* edited and translated by J. Christopher Herold. Columbia University Press: New York. 1955. Pg. 239-242. [Conversation, 1816] I sh... more »

ECONOMICS FOR REAL PEOPLE: First meetup for 2013!

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 20 hours ago
[image: 276464_137539366339987_1226509_n] Our friends at the Auckland Uni Economics Group kick off for the year tonight at Auckland Uni Business School with free pizza and book giveaways. You’d be a fool not to join them. Here’s their invitation: *Hi all, *Hopefully you had a good break and are ready for another great year. We sure are. With global economies and financial markets still in turmoil, what better time to discuss the importance of economic ideas. So, come along tonight to the first Economics Group event of the year and hear economic ideas and economic thinkers kicke... more »

Queen Noor Has Hope

gail zawacki at Wit's End - 20 hours ago
*Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.* ~ Augustine of Hippo That's my idea of REAL hope, but unfortunately, too often when people hope, they have no intention of doing anything about the problem they hope gets fixed, especially if it requires sacrifice, or radical rebellion. The following is an interview with Queen Noor, who is in the US to promote the organization Global Zero, which is dedicated to working towards a world without nuclear weapons. Understandably, s... more »

RAG RADIO / Thorne Dreyer : A Conversation With Austin Chronicle Editor and SXSW Co-Founder Louis Black

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 20 hours ago
Austin Chronicle editor and South by Southwest co-founder Louis Black in the studios of KOOP-FM in Austin, Texas, Friday, March 1, 2013. Photo by Thorne Dreyer / The Rag Blog. Rag Radio Podcast: Austin Chronicle editor Louis Black, co-founder of South by Southwest "It used to be that you had to leave Austin to establish yourself politically, as a writer, as a filmmaker, as a musician. And now

Which Are You?

cowboss at WALLACE SPRINGS CATTLE COMPANY - 20 hours ago
*Either You are part of the solution, OR You are part of the problem - there is NO middle ground.* Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food and do not be afraid to ask your pork provider how the pigs that are your food were raised - that includes how the sows were kept, and farrowed. If the farmer/purveyor say's "dunno" then Say No Thanks. Thanx - The farm animals are counting on you.

ALEC Legislators - Make Poor Decisions on Muni Broadband

2old2care at Because I Can - 20 hours ago
Do you folks know that you could get better internet service – higher speed internet service at a lower cost if your city were to invest in and build a broadband system? Yep – that’s the truth! But ALEC members in your state legislature are passing legislation that makes it impossible for cities to develop their own broadband systems for their citizens. ALEC legislative members push ALEC "model legislation" that bans municipal broadband to benefit ALEC corporate sector members. Why does ALEC do this? Because ALEC Corporate Profit sector members rule over the legislatures and what... more »

Vermont Voters Say "No" to Athabasca Bitumen

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 21 hours ago
The people of Vermont want nothing to do with Athabasca bitumen being piped through their state. 29 towns, including Montpelier and Burlington, have passed resolutions opposing the proposed transport of bitumen. *The main purpose of this effort was to challenge proposed changes to an aging oil pipeline that could have a serious impact on Vermont and our entire region. Recent weeks have seen visits to our state capitol by the CEO of the pipeline company – owned by ExxonMobil's Canadian subsidiary – along with environmental officials from Alberta, confirming long-standing suspicio... more »

Real tele-presense Marital sexual relations

Abraham Ben Judea at Abraham says - 21 hours ago
Prediction....on the news you missed... let's take a look at the stories below... (A) *wireless brain sensor...* Today it needs to be implantable...in 8 or 10 years it will be a peelable patch... Just like the phone became wireless and cars are going wireless and driverless so too will this will change and the implanted part. (B) *Brain to Brain inteface* The scientist that made the Brain to Brain interface possible in rats have made the feat greater in the sense that they also made rats in other parts of a continent share knowledge via the internet... Think about this Rats share Expe... more »

Piling Mistake Upon Mistake- The Hindu

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 21 hours ago
*The only way to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy in Syria is through the regime. Destroying the state will lead to a power vacuum and chaos * The Hindu "For two years, the United States and the European Union have done everything short of sending their own troops and aircraft into battle to evict Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria. Only recently have they begun to realise that they have made a historic mistake: in the euphoria created by the Arab Spring, they are in imminent danger of handing over the entire Arab world to Islamists for whom democracy is anathema. In... more »

Hugo Chavez: How he brought heating oil to Native Americans

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 21 hours ago
Photo Robert Free Galvan Native Americans Lost an Ally By Robert Free Galvan Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com Robert Free Galvan with Senk'lip (ALEX LOUIE) of BC, withVenezuelan Minister of Indigenous Health Dr. Noli Fernandez, Wayuu Nation, visiting  health care clinics in the Amazon region of Venezuela. We lost an ally! May he rest in peace President Hugo Chavez.

Rand Paul Talks

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 22 hours ago
So we're some number of hours into Rand Paul's talking filibuster of the nomination of John Brennan for Director of the CIA. Paul has been joined by a few Republicans and by one Democrat, Ron Wyden. Everyone agrees that 60 or more Senators support the nomination, so at this point it's just a case of how long Paul wants to keep it going; presumably it ends when he's done, although it is possible that the others could tag-team and keep it going indefinitely and thus force a cloture petition to end it. As usual, these things draw a lot of attention from the political press, which these... more »

Terrance Nelson 'Assassination of Hugo Chavez'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 22 hours ago
Assassination of Hugo Chavez March 6th 2013    By Terrance Nelson Vice Chairman of American Indian Movement Former five term Chief of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation Censored News www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com   I have read the article posted in your website written by Greg Grandin. http://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/8040   I was in Iran five months ago in October 2012 and in

A Ray Of Light Amid The Austerity Blight In Washington

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 22 hours ago
Paul Ryan and his cronies want to import failed European-style Austerity. A better idea would be importing the Robin Hood tax on stock speculators It looks like the country that once brought the world democracy, is now on board with the worldwide shift towards plutocracy and oligarchy. This week, *Forbes* reports that there are politicians on the 2013 Forbes Billionaires List. That helps explain how an Austerity Agenda that is disastrous for upwards of 95% of the people in the Western democracies just keeps chugging along. And that's why it was so nice to watch Senator Tom Harkin (D-I... more »

Perrito mirando la llegada del sol

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Perrito mirando la llegada del sol] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de Perritos* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Mourning Venezuelans march alongside Chavez's coffin

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 23 hours ago
Oligarchs of Venezuela, unite! And then bend your knees before the CIA. Mourning Venezuelans march alongside Chavez's coffin. Source: Al Qatar.

Paisaje en otoño con enormes árboles

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Paisaje en otoño con enormes árboles] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de otoño* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Ositos panda buscando gusanitos

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Ositos panda buscando gusanitos] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de osos panda* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

La gran isla fría con su pequeña lancha

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: La gran isla fría con su pequeña lancha] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de islas* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Hermosa cascada en el bosque verde

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Hermosa cascada en el bosque verde] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de cascadas* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

The mystery of China’s “missing province”

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 23 hours ago
There is a “missing province” in China that explodes the myth about China’s strong economic growth. You see, China’s political leadership is nominally communist, but in every important respect is the same as Chinese political leadership since the time of Confucius: they have the “Mandate from Heaven” to live off the backs of others, just as long as they deliver the national goals, be they national pride, military success, and/or economic growth and prosperity. Succeed in delivering the goals, with or without bloodshed, and the leadership has a job for generations—the makings of a... more »

Frescas y saludables frutas y vegetales

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Frescas y saludables frutas y vegetales] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de frutas y vegetales* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Exóticas orquídeas perfumadas

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Exóticas orquideas perfumadas] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de orquideas* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Dibujos animados de mujeres y conejos

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Dibujos animados de mujeres y conejos] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de mujeres* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Was Hitler a Zionist stooge?

John Friend at John Friend's Blog - 23 hours ago
Perhaps no other political figure and period of history is as misunderstood as Adolf Hitler and his rise to power and reign as the Führer of National Socialist Germany. Confused and oftentimes *disingenuous conspiracy historians* and alternative media personalities present a *wide variety* of *interpretations* of Adolf Hitler and National Socialist Germany, with many claiming Hitler was some sort of secret "Rothschild operative" collaborating with the Jewish international bankers as an agent of Zionist interests in the Middle East, as J. Speer Williams *has recently argued*. Thes... more »

Bebé escondiéndose de la camara

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Bebe escondiendoce de la camara] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de bebes* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Aguilas peleando por su comida en la nieve

José Luis Ávila Herrera at FotoFrontera - 23 hours ago
[image: Aguilas peleando por su comida en la nieve] *Nota:* Click aquí para ver más *imágenes de aguilas* Por favor visite nuestra página oficial: www.fotofrontera.com

Middle-aged Matt Miller makes it look easy!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 23 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013* *Calls Ezra Klein to mind:* Is Matt Miller *allowed* to say these things? In his new piece for the Washington Post, Miller describes Paul Ryan’s new budget plan, which is due for release next week. Is Miller allowed to say these things? He kicks Ryan’s ass all over the town, telling valuable truths in the process: MILLER (3/6/13): Ryan’s new budget, slated to be unveiled next week, will alter the debate in ways no one has prepared for. To be sure, *I expect Ryan’s new blueprint to be another exercise in faith-based budgeting, a duplicitous document that p... more »

Count the lies about Iran

Left I on the News at Left I on the News - 23 hours ago
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren appeared on the Colbert Report last night. Count the lies in this statement made by him (and unchallenged by Colbert): "Iranian leaders are every week threatening to wipe us off the map if they get those nuclear weapons." Of course the truth is that Iranian leaders have *never* threatened to "wipe Israel off the map," much less have they done so "every week," nor have they ever spoken about what would happen "if they get those nuclear weapons," since not only have Iranian leaders never spoken of a desire for nuclear weapons, they have spo... more »

Breaking! Syria "rebels" seize UN peacekeepes in Golan

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 1 day ago
UNITED NATIONS — Syrian rebels on Wednesday abducted more than 20 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone pushing back the frontier of their war with President Bashar al-Assad. The United Nations said it is trying to negotiate the release of the Philippines soldiers. But a* spokesman for the rebels said in a video that the UN troops would be held until Assad's forces pull back from a village in the Golan.* About 30 armed fighters stopped a UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) convoy in the ceasefire zone, where the UN has had peacekeepers monitoring a ceasefire between Syr... more »

Can we have a serif with this stupid scandal

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 1 day ago
Silly faux scandal of the day is the GOP freakout over the White House calligrapher. This is a side outrage to the shutting of the White House tours the GOPers have been wildly howling about all over the intertoobz. [T]he “Chief Calligrapher,” Patricia A. Blair, who has an annual salary of $96,725, and her two deputies, Debra S. Brown, who gets paid $85,953 per year, and Richard T. Muffler, who gets paid $94,372 every year. No idea what the going rate for high quality calligraphy is these days, but with all the White House formal functions that happen in any given year, I'm certain... more »

The Assassination of Hugo Chavez: The CIA Gave Chavez Cancer

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 1 day ago
"Would it be so strange that they've invented the technology to spread cancer and we won't know about it for 50 years?" Chávez pondered, one day after Argentina's president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and would undergo surgery in January. Speaking on Wednesday during an end-of-year address to the armed forces, Chávez hinted that a spate of cancer among the region's leaders could be a US plot– although he conceded he had no proof and did not want to make "reckless" accusations. "I repeat: I am not accusing anyone. I am simply t... more »

Tuppence for Hugo Chavez

Roobin at THROUGH THE SCARY DOOR - 1 day ago
Here are a few words for Hugo Chavez; and why not? He had plenty of words for everybody else. The first thing to say was he was not a socialist. This is not to do the man down. He was a reformer and a powerful inspiration. I am quite particular about my socialism however, firstly because there is nothing more damaging to socialism than Actually Existing Socialism. A socialist movement does not need to whip out a mat and pray to Caracas five times a day. Socialism is critical or it is nothing. The second reason his movement’s achievements and setbacks have been marked by the lack o... more »

"The Power Of Ideas" - Glenn Greenwald

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 1 day ago
"The Power Of Ideas" - Glenn Greenwald. Source: We Are Change.

Billions down the drain in Iraq

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 1 day ago
There's a new report that maps out the disaster of the Iraq occupation. Nobody talks about it much anymore, although it should come up every time a GOPer wails about excess spending. This was one expensive fiasco in foreign relations. Overall, including all military and diplomatic costs and other aid, the U.S. has spent at least $767 billion since the American-led invasion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. National Priorities Project, a U.S. research group that analyzes federal data, estimated the cost at $811 billion, noting that some funds are still being spent on on... more »

Pentagon Report Slams F-35

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 1 day ago
U.S. defence officials are beginning to have disquieting thoughts about the F-35 light attack bomber that include its survivability in air combat. A 68-page report dated 15 February, 2013, addresses a number of performance deficiencies in the F-35 and its systems. *It includes stunning pilot comments about the aircraft’s survivability (“Aft visibility will get the pilot gunned [down] every time”) while detailing the limited performance of the Air Force’s F-35A and its support systems during initial training at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base.* *Some of the shortcomings are simply a ... more »

The Slippery Slope Down Towards Domestic Totalitarianism

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 1 day ago
By Michael Isikoff “*Holder: No drone strikes in US, except in 'extraordinary circumstance'” OpenChannel NBC, http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/05/17197906-holder-no-drone-strikes-in-us-except-in-extraordinary-circumstance?lite =* [Excerpted] The Obama administration has "no intention" of carrying out drone strikes against suspected terrorists in the United States, but could use them in response to “an extraordinary circumstance” such as the 9/11 terror attacks, according to a letter from Attorney General Eric Holderobtained by NBC News. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who recei... more »

Hugo Chavez is dead, his legacy will linger

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 1 day ago
It can't be denied he was a flawed man. By the end, it became all too clear that Hugo Chavez was a bad administrator. One could even say he behaved tyranically, seduced by power and tripped up by his own machismo. But I think what remained true to the end was he truly cared about social justice. He began with the best of intentions and surely his people loved him. Chavez was the champion of the mestizo, Venezuela's shockingly poor underclass. He was one of them. He empowered them. He gave them a voice. He lifted them a little from undeserved, grinding poverty. They re-elected him ... more »

Filibusters and Judges

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 1 day ago
The Senate this morning defeated cloture on the Caitlin Halligan nomination for the DC Circuit Court. The vote was 51-41, with Harry Reid switching to "no" for procedural reasons. I don't know the details of the vote yet; last time she came up for cloture during the 112th Congress, every Democrat and one Republican supported her. After the vote, I saw several people on twitter talking about the supposed failure of Senate reform I wrote yesterday over at PP about why that's wrong; basically, neither the reform package that passed or the Udall/Merkley package that failed would have ch... more »

Some Wisdom From Roger Ailes

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 1 day ago
Below is an excerpt from the article, *"Exclusive Excerpt: Roger Ailes Off Camera,"* published by Vanity Fair. I asked if he is afraid to die. “Because of my hemophilia, I’ve been prepared to face death all of my life. As a boy I spent a lot of time in hospitals. My parents had to leave at the end of visiting hours, and I spent a lot of time just lying there in the dark, thinking about the fact that any accident could be dangerous or even fatal. So I’m ready. Everybody fears the unknown. But I have a strong feeling there’s something bigger than us. I don’t think all this exists b... more »

World Health Organization: ‘Small increased cancer risk’ from Fukushima radiation

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 1 day ago
[image: Cover of the WHO publication on the Fukushima nuclear disaster, 'Health risk assessment from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, based on a preliminary dose estimation', 28 February 2013. Graphic: WHO] 28 February 2013 (BBC) – People living near the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan have an increased risk of developing some cancers, the World Health Organization says. The increased risk is limited to communities and some emergency workers exposed to radiation after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, analysis shows. For those l... more »

New details on the University of Minnesota psychiatry morass: suspicion of vital documents falsified and hidden from court

noreply@blogger.com (Christian Munthe) at Philosophical Comment - 1 day ago
More on what I posted on a few days ago with regard to a thickening enigma around the ethics of the so-called CAFÉ study – involving Astra-Zeneca and associated with at least one death – at the psychiatry department of the University of Minnesota, here. To read the new developments, looki here! In short, as new evidence occurs the suspicions about a bona fide coverup, featuring falsified consent documents and other vital pieces of evidence hidden from court investigations – are strengthened. I repeat myself when under stress: At the very least, the University of Minnesota should ha... more »

Rand Paul Stands Up For The Rule of Law

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 1 day ago
Rand Paul is all about limited government, but *he's also for war against Iran*. This is a transparent contradiction. You can't have a limited government in wartime. So Rand Paul's words are meaningless. Still, they are nice words. So enjoy the video below. Seeing a senator talk like this is pretty cool.

Euro Zone reports record joblessness and low inflation – ‘Wage growth is set to weaken from already low rates’

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 1 day ago
[image: An unemployment office in Athens. Greece's jobless rate is 27 percent; Spain's is 26.2 percent. The unemployment rate in the euro zone edged up in January 2013 to another record, as the ailing European economy continued to weigh on the job market. Photo: John Kolesidis / Reuters] By DAVID JOLLY 1 March 2013 PARIS (The New York Times) — The unemployment rate in the euro zone edged up in January to another record, official data showed on Friday, as the ailing European economy continued to weigh on the job market. That, along with new data showing a decline in inflation in ... more »

HONORING HUGO CHAVEZ

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 1 day ago
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