Wednesday, May 22, 2013

22 May - Blogs I'm Following

1107am MDST

In-between

risa bear at A Way to Live - 10 minutes ago
One of the things we do when it's too wet to play in the garden, and in between other projects, is get in wood. This used to involve sharpening the gasoline powered chain saw, fire up the pickup, go get a permit, head forty miles into the mountains, compete with other homesteaders for the picked-over trashwood on the landing, load up, and drive the groaning truck back down the sharp mountain curves, trying not to run over other, often not dirt-road-wise, permittees scrabbling their way up the washboard gravel. We're a little too old for that. But still cooking on wood. Our own plac... more »

RepubliCONS are FAR TOO NICE!!!

2old2care at Because I Can - 26 minutes ago
Oh my god! These folks are definitely smoking something! Evidently - they are not aware of the obstruction happening inCongress. Evidently - they haven't been watching the news lately - what was that about again - Republicans lying???? again and again and again And wasn't there another vote to repeal Obamacares - oh yeh, for the 37th time. Here's a piece from the Tea Party When it comes to politics, the left plays hardball. They go for the throat every time. *Conservatives are far too nice. We want to get along and go along*. We believe in the free market of ideas and *we be... more »

Climate-change disasters worry UN – ‘Natural disasters are not only becoming more frequent but are becoming more vehement’

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 31 minutes ago
[image: Opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction at the International Conference Center of Geneva, 21 May 2013. Photo: Jean-Marc Ferré / UN] New York, 22 May 2013 (AFP) – The world needs to wake up to the risk of a spike in natural disasters linked to climate change and strive to find ways to cut the human and economic cost, the United Nations warned yesterday. "We live in a time of huge natural disasters which are made worse by climate change," the UN's deputy secretary-general, Jan Eliasson, told reporters at the start of a three-... more »

Steve, the Accountability Guy

Alison at Creekside - 38 minutes ago
Stand Up Comedy for Canada from Mr. Accountability Guy, Stephen Harper, in 2006. Yesterday Steve never mentioned the under-the-table Perrin/Wright/Duffy cheque itself nor the cheque issuer or recipient. But just a little over 100 words into his 1000 word speech, Steve did spare a moment to mention Adscam and his pissy mood about what he did not mention, before blowing off the whole thing unmentionable thing as a "distraction" and winding up with "Let's get back to work". . Bonus Steve, 2005 : "There's going to be a new code on Parliament Hill: bend the rules, you will be punished... more »

The First #Finland Comparison I’ve Cared About in Months

Kris Nielsen at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 41 minutes ago
I’ve told people that I’m tired of hearing the ongoing, back-and-forth debate about Finland’s educational model. Christine McCartney is a New York teacher currently teaching and researching in Finland, which means I’m more likely to listen to her. She has been putting together some pretty great material and resources to help put both sides in […]

Fiduciary duty

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 44 minutes ago
The Toronto Party v. Toronto (City), 2013 ONCA 327 discusses how fiduciary duties arise: [37] The concept of fiduciary obligation has a venerable lineage rooted in the notion of breach of confidence, an original head of jurisdiction in Chancery: *Gué**rin v. The Queen*, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 335, at p. 383. Where by statute, agreement, or perhaps by unilateral undertaking, one party has an obligation to act for the benefit of another and that obligation carries with it a discretionary power, the party thus empowered becomes a fiduciary. Equity intervenes to supervise the relationshi... more »

The new network dramas must be very dumb!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 50 minutes ago
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013* *Even Dowd says they’re too shlocky:* Luckily, nothing of significance is going on in the world today. There is no issue that needs explanation or clarification. We know that because Maureen Dowd is writing about the major networks' new TV programs. Apparently, these shows are so dumb that even Dowd has noticed. And the famous Pulitzer winner is just *plenty* annoyed: DOWD (5/22/13): *It turns out that Washington isn’t the only place where ideas go to die.* TV honchos cling to outmoded programming traditions even as many younger Americans, gorging on a m... more »

Vitamin C kills drug resistant TB

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 58 minutes ago
Vitamin C can kill multidrug-resistant TB in the lab, scientists have found. The surprise discovery may point to a new way of tackling this increasingly hard-to-treat infection, the US study authors from Yeshiva University An estimated 650,000 people worldwide have multidrug-resistant TB. Studies are now needed to see* if a treatment that works using the same action as vitamin C* would be useful as a TB drug in humans. While the findings of this study appear promising, further research to confirm the observations would be essential before Vitamin C can be used to supplement TB t... more »

ARE YOU SAFE?

Abraham Ben Judea at Abraham says - 1 hour ago
The manchurian Candidate.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpYxkNf94LU&feature=player_detailpage Manchurian II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gO72dK4HjA http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=XpYxkNf94LU Seed Newsvine

Open Hearts Gives Marie a Second Chance

John Carroll at Dying in Haiti - 1 hour ago
Open hearts give Haitian patient a 2nd chance - The Naperville Sun couriernews.suntimes.com/lifestyles/200… via @napervillesun — John A. Carroll (@haitianhearts) May 22, 2013

Top 10 warning signs you may be a ‘Guardian Left’ anti-Semite from CiF Watch

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 1 hour ago
Here's the first two: ' 1. You claim the mantle of human rights yet find yourself running interference for anti-Semitic world leaders and helping to spread the propaganda of Islamist extremists - and even terrorist leaders who openly call for the murder of Jews. 2. You claim to condemn racism at every opportunity yet are strangely silent or seriously downplay even the most egregious examples of antisemitic violence.' More here http://cifwatch.com/2013/05/22/top-10-warning-signs-you-may-be-a-guardian-left-anti-semite/ I wonder how many of these apply to certain people who I have... more »

FIGHT BACK GROWS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 1 hour ago
Fifty-seven protestors were arrested Monday at the North Carolina General Assembly, bringing the demonstrations led by the state chapter of the NAACP to their highest total in their fourth straight week. Hundreds thronged the Senate rotunda to show support for demonstrations that are drawing increasing numbers of people to Raleigh for what the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is calling "Moral Mondays." General Assembly Police Chief Jeff Weaver placed the arrest count at 57, which brings the total over four weeks to 158. The beauty is to see the diversit... more »

Study Finds Vitamin C Kills Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 hour ago
*Activist Post* In a striking, unexpected discovery, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture. The finding suggests that vitamin C added to existing TB drugs could shorten TB therapy, and it highlights a new area for drug design. The study was published today in the online journal Nature Communications. TB is caused by infection with the bacterium M. tuberculosis. In 2011, TB sickened some 8.7 million people and took some 1.4 million lives, according... more »

Lois Lerner: "I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations, and I have not provided false information to this or any other Congressional committee."...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 1 hour ago
*other than that, she really doesn't have anything to say to the committee or the American people. Thanks for taking time out of your very busy schedule to stop by, Lois.* *Meanwhile:* * Under The Radar – Gang of Ocho Immigration Reform Advances While Everyone is Distracted….. (Must watch video)* *More:* Michelle Malkin: *The Obama crony in charge of your medical records* Freedom Works: *It’s No Longer Obamacare — It’s IRScare*

Crack Cocaine & Child Pornography

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 1 hour ago
Scene from the 2013 Sun Media Celebrity WeekendIf things keep going on as they've been going, ... are we going to end up hearing about how Rob Ford is going to appear on "To Catch a Predator: Canadian Edition"? Inquiring minds want to know. Given the moral caliber of our "conservative" overlords, is it possible that Ford, harper, Flanagan and the Duffmeister General (and whatever harpercon/Con scumbag you care to think of) are all hiding out at Duffy's cottage smoking crack and watching child pornography? I'm just asking here. Rob Ford's latest Chief of Staff takes a question.

Wednesday Addams Linkage

PM at Duck of Minerva - 2 hours ago
It’s so disorienting to be posting on a Wednesday! I’d like to begin with a bleg: I’m in the market for a platform that allows for easy screencasting. In other words, if you wanted to have 6 to 10 users simultaneously viewing a series of slides, but you thought that Google Hangout was just a Continue reading

Mapping IR Theory

Daniel Nexon at Duck of Minerva - 2 hours ago
Thanks to the patience of the former EJIR editorial team, PTJ and I will have an article in the forthcoming special issue on the “End of IR Theory?” Only the first 35-40% resembles the working paper (PDF) we posted at the Duck. Even the name has changed. We still argue in favor of thinking about international-relations theory Continue reading

IMF Calls on Cameron Tories to Change Course

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 2 hours ago
Britain's Conservative Cameron government are the High Priests of bone-crushing austerity. David Cameron and his gaggle of privileged Saville Row suiters are not interested in sparing the lash when it comes to Britain's weak and vulnerable. Meanwhile, Steve Harper looks on with fawning admiration at everything he wishes he could be. Yet Cameron has now run afoul of that bastion of radical socialism, the International Monetary Fund. The IMF is crying "enough already" and pleading with Cameron to reverse course if only to boost the British economy. *It said the £10bn-worth of sp... more »

Xbox One next-generation: Microsoft

Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox One which will go on sale later on this year. The next-generation console was shown off alongside a new Kinect sensor and a redesigned gamepad. The US firm described the voice and gesture-controlled machine as an all-in-one system offering games, live TV, movies and music. *The firm's Entertainment and Devices Division accounted for $9.6bn worth of sales in Microsoft's last economic year. * That only represented about 13% of its total revenue for the period - but one analyst said the importance of this launch should not be underestimated. *Microso... more »

The Pearson Test

Jim Horn at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 2 hours ago
From Stan Karp: Take the Pearson Test: See if you qualify for millions in tax breaks too! 1. NJ is giving over $60 million in tax subsidies to the British-based test publishing giant Pearson, even though the company: A. is sending over 500 jobs out of NJ to NYC B. made profits of $1.4 billion last […]

Utilitarianism and Empathy, or: Are Kantians Abnormally Empathic?

noreply@blogger.com (Christian Munthe) at Philosophical Comment - 2 hours ago
I just made some comments on a new psychology research article on the topic of how moral judgement link to emotional features in the journal PLOS ONE, entitled *Low Levels of Empathic Concern Predict Utilitarian Moral Judgment*. As with other articles of this type, I am a bit concerned by the sloppy use of ethical theoretical terminology among psychology and cognitive science researchers, as well as biased reportings of results. The secondary title of this little post is meant as a well-meant and humorous wink to the authors of the article and other researchers in the field of mora... more »

It feels like the Right has split irrevocably - Telegraph

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 2 hours ago
Something to worry any Democrat. ' The prospect of PR should fill us with horror. It allows politicians to stitch up deals after the voters have had their say and denies the country strong government at moments of crisis. But if neither Labour nor the Tories are capable of commanding a broad sweep of public opinion on polling day, it is where we are headed.' More here http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/news/politics/ukip/10068930/It-feels-like-the-Right-has-split-irrevocably.html

Did Somebody Mention Bruce Carson?

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 2 hours ago
Oh yes, I did. I mentioned Bruce Carson simply to reinforce the point that the beating heart of corruption within the Harper government is, in fact, the Prime Minister's Office, the PMO. The denizens of the PMO aren't all outstanding, accomplished A-List types like Nigel Wright. Harper's PMO has been a comfy way station for real scoundrels such as convicted fraudster and disgraced, disbarred lawyer Bruce Carson, who used his position inside to pursue his nefarious ways. Remember what Bruce Harper had to say about Stephen Carson? (wait, did I get that mixed up? no, they're sort ... more »

Just do it!

Capt. Fogg at The Impolitic - 2 hours ago
By Capt. Fogg Perhaps Fred Phelps Jr. is getting slow, or perhaps he has to type with one hand because he's so exited at God's wrath being inflicted on Moore, Oklahoma. The very thought of little children being crushed or torn to pieces as they scream in terror must excite him past the point of self control. It took him hours to inform us that this disaster was the result of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball star Kevin Durant’s public support for gay basketball player Jason Collins. God works in mysterious ways, but there's nothing mysterious about Fred unless you're interested in ... more »

TARIQ ALI ON SYRIA

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
Hezbollah militants have joined forces with pro-Assad troops in the fearce fight for control of a rebel stronghold on Syria's border with Lebanon. The town of Qusair is considered a key entry point for smuggling arms into Syria. Middle East expert Tariq Ali believes the recent escalation of sectarian violence in the region is being used by the West to target Iran.

DC schools bet the farm and then some on #commoncore. Good luck with that.

Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 2 hours ago
DC loves its reform. Especially those based on faith, not evidence. Education Week writes about what they call the “common core era.” Wow, I thought, you know, at least six months had to pass before we’re officially in an era. In a year, it might be an epoch. How well the school district can reach […]

Iraq Announces New Date For Delayed Elections In Anbar And Ninewa Provinces

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 2 hours ago
Iraq recently held provincial elections in twelve of its eighteen provinces. Voting did not take place in Anbar and Ninewa however, because the government had indefinitely postponed them there. Now a date has finally been given for those governorates to have their day at the ballot box in June 2013. Security was the official reason given for the delay, but it was widely believed that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wanted to stop candidates supported by the protest movements there from gaining power. That move has likely backfired as the demonstrations are going on as strong as eve... more »

Celebrity Losing Popularity?

plthomasedd at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 2 hours ago
George Parker looks at celebrity, building on the renewed interest in The Great Gatsby: What are celebrities, after all? They dominate the landscape, like giant monuments to aspiration, fulfillment and overreach. They are as intimate as they are grand, and they offer themselves for worship by ordinary people searching for a suitable object of devotion. […]

BE GMO-FREE

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
On Saturday, March 25 there will be a Global March Against Monsanto. In Portland, Maine I will be attending the protest at 2:00 pm at Monument Square. Stand up and demand to be GMO-free!

Need more sleeps

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 2 hours ago

New York Mall Kiosks Raided by Homeland Security for "Terrorism" Goods

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 3 hours ago
Activist Post Some people still might be unaware of just how long the reach of Homeland Security has become. How about counterfeit goods as possible terrorism? That is what has been suggested fairly recently as DHS has begun to conduct an increasing number of raids in several states over the past few years aimed at rooting out this "threat to our liberty and economy." Operations such as 2012's "Operation Fashion Faux Pas" was part of a six-month crackdown that closed 20 businesses. As the video below illustrates, hundreds of others have been swept up in similar raids, many of whic... more »

25 Reports That Can Put You on the Terror Watch List

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Daniels) at Global Political Awakening - 3 hours ago
Anonymous* * *Activist Post* A concerted effort has been afoot for some time to merge local police with federal authorities to respond to the implementation of citizen spy "snitch" programs. This has been best illustrated by the role of threat fusion centers, which are integrating data from public and private sources alike -- even universities. The FBI has now made public their "Communities Against Terrorism" Suspicious Activity Reporting flyers. I myself have seen documents like this as a former retail store owner. One day, roughly 10 years ago, I received a flyer in my mailb... more »

THE REFUSAL TO FIGHT: Adopting Isikoff’s Fox-tinged line!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 3 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013* *Part 3—Rachel just isn’t that sharp:* With how much skill has The One True Channel analyzed the Benghazi nonsense? Has this channel been willing to fight? Alas! Consider the “analysis” which emerged last Wednesday night, May 15, when Michael Isikoff appeared with Rachel Maddow. A bit of background: Five days earlier, on May 10, ABC’s Jonathan Karl had released twelve versions of the talking points which were crafted last September concerning the Benghazi attack. On May 14, it had been revealed that Karl misquoted one of the e-mails which helped shape thos... more »

A proof of the Riemann Hypothesis using the convergence of an integral

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 3 hours ago
Some people talk about the proof of "almost twin" prime integers separated by at most 70 million or something like that. I am not terribly excited by this result even if it is true. It's always more interesting to talk about somewhat promising proofs to the Riemann Hypothesis, not only because of the $1 million that will be given to the first person who solves the old puzzle. Many people have thought that they had a proof but the candidate proofs have always failed so far. So you must understand it is extremely likely that we have another example of a failure here. But I am going to... more »

WotW: 10 Tips for Taking Better Cell Phone Pics

Seth R. Hawkins at Housewife Eclectic - 3 hours ago
[image: Tips for Taking Better Cell Phone Pics] I have a confession to make: I like Instagram. You're probably thinking, "Of course you do. Who doesn't?" The thing is, I didn't think I would. I mean, the very concept is ridiculous: a social media platform where people can post pictures of food, random street signs and selfies (can we all just agree to ban this word and type of photography as a crime against humanity?). Far and away, most of the pictures are mediocre at best, but every now and then you come across a truly impressive picture and wonder how they were able to take su... more »

Man shot dead by FBI agent knew Boston bombing suspect, friend says

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 3 hours ago
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The Psychology of Evil

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 3 hours ago
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City Waiting on Water-Supply Fix

By: Nathan Lamb Residents of a southern California city may have had drinking water contaminated by a nearby munitions complex, according to this story from the Los Angeles Times. Multiple city wells have been shut down in the City of Rialto, which is importing drinking water until widespread groundwater contamination is fixed. The wells are tainted primarily with perchlorate, a persistent contaminant that can cause thyroid problems, especially with pregnant women and children. A 2012 study by the California Department of Public Health indicated that drinking water supplied to R... more »

The Ugly Republican Politics Behind Aid For Oklahoma Tornado Victims

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
Like most Americans, President Obama's reaction to the tornado devastation is Oklahoma was to ask how we could help. He pledged "all of the resources" necessary to rebuild to the state that gave him his poorest results in November, 33% and a loss of every single county. (Cleveland County, where the devastation was the most brutal, went for Romney 59,019 to 34,701 in November.) Oklahoma has 5 congressmen, all Republicans. Jim Bridenstine, Markwayne Mullin, Frank Lucas, Tom Cole and James Lankford. The two senators-- both are extreme right Republicans who have been especially obstr... more »

The funniest Blackadder exchange?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 4 hours ago
General Melchett: Is this true, Blackadder? Did Captain Darling pooh-pooh you? Captain Blackadder: Well, perhaps a little. General Melchett: Well, then, damn it all! What more evidence do you need? The pooh-poohing alone is a court martial offense! Captain Blackadder: I can assure you, sir, that the pooh-poohing was purely circumstantial. General Melchett: Well, I hope so, Blackadder. You know, if there's one thing I've learnt from being in the Army, it's never ignore a pooh-pooh. I knew a Major, who got pooh-poohed, made the mistake of ignoring the pooh-pooh. He pooh-poohed it! Fat... more »

Today the CPS board will vote to enact the largest mass public school closing in American history.

Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 4 hours ago
Reblogged from Fred Klonsky: In typical Rahm fashion, four more schools have been removed from the closing list. CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett is expected to withdraw her recommendations to shutter Marcus Garvey Elementary School and Mahalia Jackson Elementary School on the South Side; Leif Ericson Elementary Scholastic Academy on the West Side, and George Manierre […]

FBI shoots and kills alleged person of interest regarding Boston bombings - man shot allegedly attacked Agent .....

fredw at Catharsis Ours - 4 hours ago
This is odd , have to wait and see what develops...... http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/22/breaking-fbi-shoots-kills-person-of-interest-in-boston-bombing-after-man-attacks-him/ Breaking: FBI shoots, kills person of interest in Boston bombing after man attacks agent POSTED AT 7:49 AM ON MAY 22, 2013 BY ED MORRISSEY Hmmmm: One of two men allegedly being questioned in connection with the Boston Marathon bombings was shot and killed by an FBI agent in Florida on Tuesday, sources told WESH-TV. According to NBC News, a special agent was interviewing the suspect regarding his connectio... more »

Read Stuff, You Should

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 4 hours ago
Happy Birthday to Jay Carney, 47. Also, don't forget the good stuff: 1. Harris Mylonis on national building. 2. Dan Larison on signaling. 3. And the Reagans, mowing. From Amber Lautigar Heichert.

Thank You - Wisconsin

2old2care at Because I Can - 4 hours ago
Currently in North Carolina a movement is building. Weekly rallies – arrests of peaceful protestors. It makes the news every week. But what is hidden in the background is just as important. From an article on Common Dreams this morning: *Thank You - Wisconsin!* *NC - UPDATE later that day* ** *Battleground North Carolina: 100+ arrests in 3 weeks resisting right-wing attacks* By Zaina Alsous and Ben Carroll on May 21, 2013 » Add the first comment. North Carolina — Addressing a packed church April 28, the night before more than a dozen community members would engage in an act of c... more »

Their Howard Beale Moment

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 4 hours ago
Yesterday Stephen Harper held a pep rally and beat it out of town. He gave no answers. He thinks it will go away. But, as Lawrence Martin wrote yesterday in the* Globe and Mail*, the integrity issue is reaching a critical mass. It's not about Mike Duffy or Nigel Wright anymore. It's about Stephen Harper himself, for the government and the man are one: Mr. Harper and his band might be able to make people forget about the Senate scandal, and other affronts to the integrity of the system. But there’s simply too much out there for this government to escape the reckoning – a dire one. ... more »

Weiner's In Again.

2old2care at Because I Can - 4 hours ago
Heard this on the radio and then found it on HuffPo. *Anthony Weiner Enters 2013 New York Mayoral Race* He doesn't understand the issue Just because Sanford and other Repugs were able to come back to politics from scandal doesn't mean Weiner can. If you are a Republican and you do something immoral - - you can get re-elected - - - - cause Republican voters have no moral compass. BUT Democrats have historically had more morals than Repugs and they act on them which means that Weiner won't get in, again. Just because someone thumps a bible 24/7 - doesn'... more »

Ed Steer's Gold and Silver Report for May 22 , 2013 - Testimony of Bernanke today and Fed minutes will be a highlight for the PMs !

fredw at Catharsis Ours - 4 hours ago
http://www.caseyresearch.com/gsd/edition/ted-butler-blockbuster-in-gold Ted Butler: Blockbuster in Gold May *22* - Yesterday in Gold and Silver - Critical Reads - The Funnies - The Wrap RetweetShare "As last COT Report showed, the precious metals are configured for a major move higher" ¤ YESTERDAY IN GOLD & SILVER After an exciting day on Monday, trading in the Far East was very quiet...and the attempt to break through the $1,400 spot mark around 1:30 p.m. Hong Kong time was the start of a long, slow sell-off that ended at the London p.m. gold fix. The low tick at that... more »

Why Are They Trying to Kill Us?

2old2care at Because I Can - 4 hours ago
For weeks now I have been asking myself - why are they trying to kill us? The corporations - GMO's, pharmaceuticals, food processors, fossil fuel The politicians - cuts, cuts, cuts - not only in programs, slashing regulatory agencies Why are they trying to kill us? What have we done - that makes those in power consider us dispensable? I intentionally did not write anything on it - cause I don't have an answer - and I questioned if I actually had a viable question. And I couldn't figure out a way to come at this without having to put on a tin-foil hat. But it works out that my thou... more »

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 4 hours ago
*Columnist Stephanie Grace, reporter Laura Maggi join The Advocate**~Also~ * *Sara Barnard has been named director of sales and marketing for The Advocate in New Orleans.* *Sean Payton: 'Mr. Positive' for 2013 New Orleans Saints ~Gregg Rosenthal* *Oh, brother, where art thou? Is state income tax really why Nikesh Jindal split? ~Mark Moseley, The Lens* *Sal Perricone: "I did nothing wrong" in anonymous commenting ~Lee Zurik, WVUE* *Seafood board bill heads to new waters ~Jeremy Alford, Daily Comet* *City alcohol board rejects Jimmy’s Music Club appeal ~Uptown Messenger* *Professional ... more »

The Psychology of Authority

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 5 hours ago
YouTube Related Article: The Psychology of Tyranny vs. the Nature of Conformity Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter: Delivered by FeedBurner Be the Change! Share this using the tools below.

The Psychology of Tyranny vs. the Nature of Conformity

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 5 hours ago
*When we see somebody doing bad things, we assume they are bad people to begin with.* – Dr. Philip Zimbardo, The Stanford Prison Experiment Image Source Anna Hunt, *Contributor* The foundation for understanding the psychology of tyranny and human obedience is based on classical studies such as the Stanford Prison Experiment conducted in 1971 by Dr. Philip Zimbardo, and the Milgram Obedience Experiment conducted by Stanley Milgram in the early 1960s, with very little done since then in terms of research into this form of extreme behavior. These experiments showed that ordinary peop... more »

Socialized Healthcare 15: Over-extending Government Role in Health

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 5 hours ago
There is a new article from the New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org) by Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA. It is a good article, except that the role of government in public health is over-extended and over-rated. For instance, on top of the old or long-standing role of government, there are more, newer roles. Like new laws and prohibitions where people can smoke and where they cannot. Mandating alcohol ignition interlock devices in cars, reduction of sodium in package foods -- with penalties and fines for ... more »

Republicans Fixing a Problem? NEVER been done!

2old2care at Because I Can - 5 hours ago
A new tweet roll that I am lurking in and reading (*ExposingALEC*) had a great tweet this morning that had to be shared. *How many Republicans does it take to fix a problem?* *No one knows,* *It's NEVER been done*. Damn - that is good - the truth hurts.

The Palestinian Textbook Fiasco | TheTower.org

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 5 hours ago
A fascinating read. http://www.thetower.org/article/the-palestinian-textbook-fiasco/

Ask questions to James Hansen

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 5 hours ago
Today, at 5 p.m. Boston Daylight Savings Time (11 p.m. Central European Time), James Hansen will give a talk over here. Live Video streaming by Ustream It's being claimed that you will be allowed to ask a question when he's finished. First, people like James Hansen would make sure that the debate is over. And then they start the debate – so that no one inconvenient may really participate it. I am not promising you anything, however. It's plausible that only convenient questions will be allowed. So Barbara Boxer will ask whether the Oklahoma tornadoes were caused by an SUV... more »

Proof of Heaven Popular

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 6 hours ago
It is the ultimate irony. That the heavenly abode should butt its way into our consciousness as a living reality in the Age of Modernism is utterly confounding. It is also doing it in ways that makes denial impossible and as delusional as we would have held those same opinions in the past. You end up knowing a new living reality of the soul. You do not exit the experience holding a shred of doubt. In my own interlude, reported a few months back, I simply went into a trance or what we now describe as a luminous dream state. I found myself in a grey forest of young c... more »

A serious question re the Hammersmith Apollo

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 6 hours ago
Every time I go to the Hammersmith Apollo or see anything filmed there I notice that the end of act music is by Warren Zevon. Now I am a massive Warren Zevon fan but why? Here's 'Lawyers, Guns and Money'

NYSUT L2L

antiqueteacher60 at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 7 hours ago
As I actually had some time to read/clean out my email, I found this little gem. I am still on the “list” from my days as President of my local over a decade ago. Here we have it – NYSUT’s response to criticism about a Gates Foundation Grant. I must note that the email asks […]

Mummified Skeleton Found in Atacama Desert

A teensy skeleton with a squashed alien-like head may have earthly origins, but the remains, found in the Atacama Desert a decade ago, do make for quite a medical mystery. Apparently when the mummified specimen was discovered, some had suggested the possibility it was an alien that had somehow landed on Earth, though the researchers involved never suggested this otherworldly origin. Now, DNA and other tests suggest the individual was a human and was 6 to 8 years of age when he or she died. Even so, the remains were just 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. "While the jury is out rega... more »

Klaus Dona - Lyddite tools, Conehead skulls and Glowing sculptures - 17,000 years old

Mike Philbin at FREE PLANET - 8 hours ago
I'm surprised I haven't featured this March 2010 video presentation from museum curator turned archeological investigator Klaus Dona on Free Planet before. Highlights, for me, are the Lyddite instruments, the Conehead skulls and the Glowing sculptures stretching back as far as 17,000 years into a human history that's not supposed to have existed.

REVOLUTION?

Anon at aangirfan - 9 hours ago
David Icke on defeating the BAD GUYS without violence. Coming together. Meanwhile in Watford: What is going on?

Oslo Runs Out of Garbage

Photo courtesy: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 Nearly 40 years ago, I worked with a very sensible, down-to-earth man who always maintained there was money in garbage. He said it didn`t matter what part of the garbage industry you were in, there was money there if you just cared to look. I have found many, many times over the next four decades that my co-worker was right. Garbage is a vastly under-rated commodity. So...here`s to Oslo and garbage. Oslo, the capital of Norway, has a strange garbage problem. Too much? No, not enough. At first it might seem like any garbage is too much garbage, ... more »

Poachers Kill Last Rhino in Mozambique

African rhino. Photo courtesy: flowcomm/CC BY 2.0 No one can say for certain when African rhinos first began to inhabit the forests and plains of Mozambique -- but we do know when their reign there ended. Conservationists say that the nation's remaining 15 rhinos were found dead last month, butchered by poachers and robbed of their horns. The endangered animals were discovered on the grounds of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a wildlife reserve along Mozambique's southern border where rhinos numbered in the hundreds just a decade ago. Authorities believe that park rangers, charge... more »

CHILD ABUSE: POLAND, UK, AUSTRALIA, USA...

Anon at aangirfan - 9 hours ago
Children who complain about being raped by pedophile rings are up against the Freemasons. The security services and the criminal justice system are infested with Freemasons. *Masonic cover-up* Freemasonry unites Nazis, Zionists and Mafias. Reportedly, Freemasonry is based on the rites and rituals of the Jewish religion and the mysticism of the Jewish Cabala In the UK, children can be taken from parents and given to strangers. "Furthermore, it has become politically correct for homosexual couples to adopt children. "The motivation of Social Services tends to be money in a mul... more »

World's Most Insane Health Care Billing System

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 10 hours ago
In a rational world, this would be described as criminal enterprise rigged to exploit the desperate who inevitable need service immediately by the time they activate the service. In fact this report is so insane, I do not know how a single American can still stand up to defend it. As soon defend Hitler’s special treatment of the Jews. Even better it practices genocide on those who cannot afford to access the system by outright gambling with their lives. I would generate a petition outlining this position properly and get every elected official to sign of on his endorse... more »

Brain Prosthetic?

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 10 hours ago
I do not think that this will allow you to activate photographic memory but it also might well be able to do that. My point is that a prosthetic device will be in demand for everyone in short order once it proves possible. This also strongly informs us of the ways and means to developing brain training, which presently is also abandoned to those most in need. The results of brain training needs to be universally applied. This is well worth pondering. *How to Make an Implant that Improves the Brain* *Loren Frank* *Enhancing the flow of information through the ... more »

Magnetic Graphene

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 10 hours ago
This a core breakthrough that pretty well makes certain that graphene will be able to do everything better and pretty quickly even. I have no doubt that graphene will be the core of electronics from here on out. It has actually been quite a ride and long running since the original discovery several years ago. As I have posted before this is the enabler for both the Holodec and the Magnetic Field Exclusion Vessel and just about anything else we may imagine. How about an intelligent super strong nano cable able to locally modify its behavior? *New magnetic graphene m... more »

Abusing Prisoners Decreases Public Safety --An interview with author and former prisoner Shawn Griffith

angola3news at Angola 3 News - 10 hours ago
*Abusing Prisoners Decreases Public Safety* *--An interview with author and former prisoner Shawn Griffith* *By Angola 3 News* If given the attention it deserves, an important new book is certain to make significant contributions to the public discussions of US prison policy. The author, Shawn Griffith, was released last year from Florida’s prison system at the age of 41, after spending most of his life, almost 24 years, behind bars, including seven in solitary confinement. *Facing the US Prison Problem 2.3 Million Strong: An Ex-Con’s View of the Mistakes and the Solution*was sel... more »

Don’t look now, the govt’s just withdrawn all your money

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 10 hours ago
[image: image] You don’t have to live in Cyprus to find you bank account stripped by government agents. Just ask Queensland pensioner Adrian Duffy, who emerged from a quintuple heart bypass only to find his bank had emptied his account, handing more than $22,000 to the Federal Government—the result of a move last year to strip every bank account in the country the government deems is being under-used. The money was only returned when a newspaper took up their cause. Governments all around the world are short of money, and they’ll do almost anything to get it. Stealing from fo... more »

Anthony Zee: Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 11 hours ago
Škoda is not just a carmaker; it is producing happy drivers. And you may see that even the engines in the factory are having a great time. In the same way, Anthony Zee – as Zvi Bern noticed – decided to make many readers fall in love with the physics of general relativity by having written this wonderful tome, Einstein Gravity in a Nutshell. Bern said that the goal wasn't to create new experts but Zee corrected him that he wanted to make the readers fall in love so deeply that they may dream about becoming experts, too. And the clearly enthusiastic Anthony had to enjoy the writing o... more »

-- The Harpranos --

leftdog at Buckdog - 11 hours ago
*(Canada's newest mob show is dominating the entertainment ratings) * *(Click on images above to enlarge ...)* *No one is producing better graphic representations of the Harper/Conservative/Senate Scandal than Simon from the Montreal Simon blogsite. Kudos sir!!* [image: Progressive Bloggers]

solidaridad: End Racist Scholarship at Harvard University

rdsathene at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 11 hours ago
solidaridad: End Racist Scholarship at Harvard University. Filed under: ROBERT D. SKEELS: Schools Matter Tagged: bigotry, education, harvard, neo-eugenics, racism, white supremacy

Musical Interlude: Gregorian, “The Sound of Silence”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 11 hours ago
Gregorian, “The Sound of Silence” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7c44bXST-o

Your moment of Zen

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 11 hours ago
Happy face orchids. [photo via]

Scientists: "Stop repressing your anger!"

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 11 hours ago
The Hulk only gets mad at people who invade his space. *Article by Alexander Besant*: "Expressing your anger is good for your longevity, says new study: Researchers at the University of Jena in Germany found that getting your anger out and being hot-tempered is actually helpful in extending one's lifespan." *Title: Scientists: "Stop repressing your anger!" YouTube Video Description - [Channel: AutonomistVoice. Uploaded on Feb 15, 2012]:* "Staying positive" while you're surrounded by injustice can kill you.

The Realist Report with John Friend

John Friend at John Friend's Blog - 12 hours ago
On this edition of The Realist Report, we'll be joined by J.B. Campbell of *J B Campbell: Extremism Online*. J.B. is the founder of the modern militia movement in America, which began when be published his book The New American Man - A Call to Arms back in 1989. J.B. and I will be discussing his background and unique experiences, some of his essays, potential solutions to the problems facing America, and related matters. Tune in for what will surely be a fascinating and hard-hitting conversation! You can download the entire program *here*, or subscribe to the American Nationalist... more »

What America And Iran Have In Common: Only Approved Candidates Are Presented To The Public

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 13 hours ago
"The decision on Tuesday to bar the presidential candidacy of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a founding father of the revolution and a former president, shocked Iranians, particularly among the 70 percent of the population that is under 35 and grew up when he served in many leading positions." - Thomas Erdbrink, *"A Founder of the Revolution Is Barred From Office, Shocking Iranians,"* The New York Times, May 21, 2013. America is an oligarchy; Iran is a theocracy. Actually, it isn't that simple. Iran's system of government has oligarchical elements, and America's leadership is more... more »

Stolen Valor-- How Will Mark Kirk Vote?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 13 hours ago
Valor stealers Yesterday the House voted 390-3 on a Stolen Valor bill sponsored by Nevada Republican Joe Heck. The 3 oddballs who voted NO were Justin Amash (R-MI), Paul Broun (R-GA) and Tom Massie (R-KY). The actual Stolen Valor Act was written by then-Congressman John Salazar (D-CO) and passed in 2006 and signed by George W. Bush. It passed both Houses of Congress unanimously. Salazar's bill made it illegal for unauthorized persons to wear, buy, sell, barter, trade, or manufacture "any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of t... more »

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Computer Use

Small Footprints at Reduce Footprints - 13 hours ago
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far. This post contains great information and I encourage ... more »

Edward Dorn - Wait till the Christians Hear About This

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 13 hours ago
*The IRS should like this poem*.

Richard Branson to Class of 2013: Do Something Bold

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 14 hours ago
*Richard Branson founded and ran Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Airlines, Virgin Megastores, Virgin Radio, Virgin Rail and Virgin Galactic. Among other ventures. Leaving school at 15 clearly did him little harm. Here’s his speech to a graduating class who didn’t follow his early example. * Class of 2013: You'll Never Again Be so Unburdened; Do Something Bold The best advice I could give any graduate is to spend your time working on whatever you are passionate about in life. If your degree was focused upon one particular area, don't let that stop you moving in another dire... more »

ECONOMICS FOR REAL PEOPLE: Planning without central plans

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 14 hours ago
[image: The never-ending Euro crisis - Anatomy of an economic...] Here’s your invitation for tomorrow night’s meeting from our friends at the Auckland University Economics Group: We all go about our daily lives unaware of the plans others have made for theirs, yet somehow, for the most part, our plans coordinate. We go for a beer, and the pubs have beer; we go to for hot chips and fine dining, and the city delivers. We leave the house with just pieces of printed paper and a plastic card, and fully expect all our reasonable needs to be met. (And even some of our unreasonable needs!... more »

ALEC Corp Member - Yes, We Can - Screw the Workers

2old2care at Because I Can - 14 hours ago
I guess if you can’t enact right-to-work for less as an ALEC member – you can find other ways to screw union workers. Patriot Coal, created by Peabody Energy 2007 with 43 percent of Peabody’s liabilities but just 11 percent of its assets, filed for bankruptcy in July, 2012. Patriot has filed motions *demanding the effective elimination of the current system of health care for retired miners and drastic pay and benefit cuts for active workers. *U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kathy Surratt-States is scheduled to rule on the company’s motions on or before May 29. *Because Patriot was ... more »

A Man of No Integrity and Limitless Hypocrisy

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 15 hours ago
Stephen Harper's performance before the Conservative parliamentary caucus this morning spoke volumes for the integrity and sense of raw power and privilege of what passes for a prime minister in Canada today. Harper played victim and complained about how he was very upset at the conduct of certain Parliamentarians (i.e. Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau) and how he'd been let down by his own Prime Minister's Office. Having, like Pilate, washed his hands of the affair, Harper demanded the Senate reform itself forthwith, clean up its act, put an end to these transgressions. But what exactl... more »

The Big Corporate Lie

Grant G at The Straight Goods - 15 hours ago
Today a federal court threw out the case the unions had filed against HD Mining... Federal Court dismisses union challenge against B.C. foreign workers Our BC election has ended, the Government of the corporate and for the corporation has prevailed, no need to carry on the mock concern over the needling details of the HD Mining fraud, deception and denial, or of the temporary foreign worker program.. Unemployment levels in Europe of 20%..In America of 15%...In Canada of 10%...Yet the big lie continues, the skilled worker shortage.. When I was a boy there was no self serve gas s... more »

Tom Vander Ark is selling snake oil.

Timothy D. Slekar at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 15 hours ago
Why do Common Core supporters get to make unsubstantiated statements? Why? Look at the latest piece in Huffington Post by Tom Vander Ark. Below are a collection of statements made by Mr. Vander Ark. It’s exciting to see 45 states voluntarily adopting common college and career ready expectations for students — it makes the U.S. […]

We Are All Chicagoans Now, In Open Rebellion Against the Oppression of Corporate Reform Schools

Jim Horn at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 15 hours ago
After cataloguing a long list of atrocities, Chris Hedges offers this advice in a recent essay: “Rebel. Even if you fail, even if we all fail, we will have asserted against the corporate forces of exploitation and death our ultimate dignity as human beings. We will have defended what is sacred. Rebellion means steadfast defiance. […]

Marie Goes Home

John Carroll at Dying in Haiti - 15 hours ago
Marie goes home....blogs.pjstar.com/haiti/2013/05/… — John A. Carroll (@haitianhearts) May 22, 2013

Allying With Jihadists In Syria Is A Surefire Way To Creating Instability For Decades

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 15 hours ago
*Obama and Erdogan say Assad must leave Syria. The civilized world says Al-Qaeda must leave Syria. Source for photo: Charles Dharapak/AP.* Establishing a timeline to determine the origins of Washington's support for the *Jihadist terrorists* in Syria is difficult because of its covert nature. But, what we do know for certain is that leading neoconservative figures in the Bush administration such as Paul Wolfowitz had their eye on Syria since the end of the first Gulf War in 1991. General Wesley Clark confirmed Washington's anti-Syria agenda in numerous media interviews and lect... more »

Nigel Farage on Europe

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 15 hours ago
UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage is one of the world’s few politicians who says what he thinks, and seems to mean what he says. Even when he’s wrong—as he is when he talks about immigration. He talks here to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about Europe’s many problems, and in so doing displays some of his own: [Hat tip David McGregor] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)

New Documents: Occupy Portland, Ore, and Boston: Politics and spies

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 15 hours ago
  Occupy Portland arrests 2011: Ray Whitehouse/The Oregonian The Eviction of Occupy Portland, Ore.:A Supremely Political Affair New Documents Also Show More Detail into Boston Law Enforcement Focus on Peaceful Protests in 2011 By Partnership for Civil Justice Fund The latest trove of documents obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) from the Department of Homeland

Dept of Interior's Long Relationship with ALEC

2old2care at Because I Can - 16 hours ago
This article is getting a lot of re-posts the last couple of days across the web. The “shock” of the announcement - the horror of it all - chills to the bone. Obama Admin. Approves ALEC Model Bill for Fracking Chemical Fluid Disclosure on Public Lands On May 16, the Obama Interior Department announced its long-awaited rules governing hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") on federal lands. I sit back and shake my head! What fools these mortals be. People want to think that lowly - state legislators from ho-bunk nowhere are the only ALEC threat - but it goes much bigger than that. A... more »

2nd MUST READ - Before the Chicago ALEC Protests

2old2care at Because I Can - 16 hours ago
The first must read came out only two days ago. From TruthOut On March 27, Chicago teachers and their supporters - including parents, students and community residents - rallied against the largest mass public school closure in US history. News of the mobilization sparked huge public interest before the demonstration - including from an undercover police officer calling himself "Danny Edwards." *Read the whole article* * * *>>>>HERE<<<<* It’s long – but very informative

War on Christmas 2013

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 16 hours ago
Great news for public school kids jammed into overcrowded classrooms in falling apart buildings with outdated textbooks and underpaid teachers. They can't have art or music classes, or play sports unless they can afford the fees but by golly in the great state of Texas their teachers can wish them a Merry Christmas. Because, freedom *of* religion, not from religion. One can only hope they don't live next door to an unregulated fertilizer storage facility just waiting to explode, so they live long enough to hear them say it.

Don't cooks who acknowledge their kitchen bloopers enhance their general credibility?

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
*Ellie's latest book* *by Ken* My mother had a pretty universal peeve about the cooking shows that proliferated in the later part of her life. Oh, she was grateful enough for the Food Network, especially in the earlier years when it really was about cooking, before it began its now-nearly-complete transformation into a network that's primarily for people who wouldn't cook on a bet. In fact, she first saw Food Network when she was staying with me during a by-then-rare visit to New York. It wasn't carried at all on her Florida cable system, and at that time we still didn't get it un... more »

The known universe

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 16 hours ago
Commander Chris’s space-borne rendition of Bowie’s *Space Oddity* has helped revive popular interest in the universe around us. Which is so vast as to be almost incomprehensible—but not wholly indemonstrable: [Hat tip Whale Oil] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)

The known universe

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 16 hours ago
Commander Chris’s space-borne rendition of Bowie’s *Space Oddity* has helped revive popular interest in the universe around us. Which is so vast as to be almost incomprehensible—but not wholly indemonstrable: [Hat tip Whale Oil] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)

Kill the filibuster before it kills us

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 16 hours ago
I'm one of the last holdouts on this. I've argued for years that we should keep the filibuster to protect the Senate minority. But that was before the entire Republican party's brains melted before our eyes. Now convinced Paul Waldman is right. The crackpots have taken over the GOP. When they manage to take the majority again, and they will, they will kill the filibuster. My only quibble with Paul is I don't think they'll wait a hot minute. They'll kill it preemptively on the first day of the session. So Harry Reid should just let it die with dignity now, while we still have a chan... more »

Mohawk Nation News 'Oklahoma Whirlwind'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 17 hours ago
OKLAHOMA WHIRLWIND Posted on May 21, 2013  Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com MNN. May 21, 2013. We send greetings to our Oklahoma relations, all the people, animals, plants, birds, fish and all that are part of the natural world. We especially send our utmost regards to the four winds – owera – who continue to

Video: Jeremy Scahill Speaks About His Book "Dirty Wars"

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 17 hours ago
*"Dirty Wars: The World Is A Battlefield"* By Jeremy Scahill. YouTube Video Description - [Channel: jeannekyle. Published on May 20, 2013]: Jeremy Scahill is an author and self-taught journalist. He is the National Security Correspondent for The Nation magazine and has reported from four continents. Scahill gave a talk in San Diego, California, on 2 May 2013, based on his newest book, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield. Jeremy Scahill Part 1: Iraq Jeremy Scahill Part 2: Yemen Jeremy Scahill Part 3: Abdulrahman

Open Thread

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 17 hours ago
Busier than usual day and I'm drier than a Republican's eyeballs. Any interesting stories you'd like to share, cry about?

in which i officially become a librarian

laura k at wmtc - 17 hours ago
We interrupt this travelogue to bring you an important announcement. I got my first librarian job!! This is a part-time, temporary position in the children's department of the Central Library, where I was a page for 14 months. I am thrilled. But wait, there's more! I also interviewed in a competition for eight part-time positions, not librarians, but great experience doing reference and programming. I was one of the top scorers and was offered my choice of four of these positions, including two that are permanent. So what does this mean? It means I can be a part-time librarian unt... more »

Maturing with H.L. Mencken

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 17 hours ago
*Look in any good dictionary of quotes, and after Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde you’re likely to find one **H.L. Mencken** coming in third for the number of quotes included. **Samples**: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard” –“Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere is having a good time” – “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” Guest poster Bill Bonner arg... more »

Alan Waldman : ‘My Hero’ is Droll Britcom About Alien Superhero Adapting to English Town Life

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 17 hours ago
  Waldman's film and TV treasures you may have missed: A very funny cast supports comic laffmasters Ardal O’Hanlon and James Dreyfus in 51 highly original episodes. By Alan Waldman / The Rag Blog / May 21, 2013 [In his weekly column, Alan Waldman reviews some of his favorite films and TV series that readers may have missed, including TV dramas, mysteries, and comedies from Canada, England,

Bok Kim hints Fed cannot never leave Q E to Infinity or the World will come to an end financially.... Speaking of debt , we now have a new debt ceiling - debt as high as an elephant's eye ...... ..... Meanwhile , does Koroda and the BOJ have anything up their sleeve or will the bond market suffer disappointment come Thursday ?

fredw at Catharsis Ours - 17 hours ago
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-21/and-new-us-debt-ceiling ( 16 trillion seven hundred billion in debt , ten year bonds less than two percent - that is just sick......) And The New US Debt Ceiling Is... [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/21/2013 16:38 -0400 - Ben Bernanke - Debt Ceiling The grace period between February and mid-May, when the US spent like a drunken sailor without regard for even structural limitations, and raked up over $300 billion in debt, or said otherwise when it was without an official debt limit, is over as of t... more »

LEARNING ABOUT THE BAY

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 18 hours ago
I did something different today which was nice for a change. I was asked to volunteer at the Spring Bay Day held by the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB) - a local environmental group that I belong to. They hold this event each year for local school kids to come and learn about the interconnected web of life that lives in and around the Merrymeeting Bay that is in our part of Maine. Over 250 fourth graders were brought to the headwaters of the Bay and I served as a chaperone for one of the groups from nearby Phippsburg. There were three sessions where the kids were taken to di... more »

BOOKS / Ron Jacobs : Albert Camus and the Liberal Dilemma

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 18 hours ago
Algerian Chronicles: Albert Camus and the liberal dilemma These writings do much toward describing the plight of the Algerian people, but suffer from an inability to acknowledge, much less examine, the root cause for their situation. By Ron Jacobs / The Rag Blog / May 21, 2013 [Algerian Chronicles by Albert Camus (2013: Belknap Press); Hardcover; 240 pp; $21.95.] Albert Camus is arguably

Tea Party launches lawsuit against IRS

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 18 hours ago
This is too precious. The biggest grifter born of the original Tea Party uprising is suing the IRS for making them wait too long and work too hard to get their for tax-exempt status. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, the NorCal Tea Party Patriots accused the IRS of violating its constitutional rights due to the "intensive and intrusive scrutiny" it received while seeking tax-exempt status. [...] The lawsuit has the backing of a group calling itself Citizens for Self-Governance, a group launched by the co-founder the Tea Party Patriots, Mark Meckler. "We ... more »

Highest level cover up in the UK

Abraham Ben Judea at Abraham says - 18 hours ago
However, it is understood the alleged breach in Lord Blair’s senior management team, which regularly discussed matters of national security, was never passed on to the Commissioner. The former commissioner first learned of the report when a whistleblower handed it to him in December 2011 at the height of the Leveson Inquiry. When he learned that Met anti- corruption officers had intelligence to suggest his senior team had been compromised six years earlier yet told him nothing about it, Lord Blair visited Scotland Yard’s headquarters in Victoria. He passed the report to detective... more »

Lamar W. Hankins : Texas Atty. Gen. Greg Abbott's 'Demagoduery'

thorne dreyer at The Rag Blog - 19 hours ago
Kountze cheerleaders. Screen grab from ABC News. Image from Austinist.com. Gimme a 'G': Texas Atty. Gen. Abbott’s 'demagoduery' It is beyond conjecture or opinion: the Kountze cheerleader banners expressing religious views are government speech. By Lamar W. Hankins / The Rag Blog / May 21, 2013 Sometimes the marvelous English language with its quarter of a million words fails to capture

Release of monies seized under civil remedy legislation so as to retain counsel

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 19 hours ago
In AG v $104,877 US, 2013 ONSC 2955, just released, Justice Perell allowed monies to be released from funds seized and preserved under the civil remedies legislation to allow civil counsel to be retained. Civil counsel (not myself) will now be retained to dispute the seizure. Apparently this is the first time monies have been released in this way. The decision is careful and sets out the necessary standard. I expect it will be released on line soon but I have a copy now for anyone who needs it.

The soaring confidence of the borgeoisie

Roobin at THROUGH THE SCARY DOOR - 19 hours ago
Roger Carr (no relation to Jimmy I presume?) the Head of the CBI has attacked David Cameron for moralising about tax. A little indication as to just how much things are going the ruling class. David Cameron has done more for the British bourgeoisie than any recent Prime Minister, drastically redistributing wealth upward and reducing all practical opposition to austerity to nought… but that’s not enough for Roger Carr. He wants the debate about corporations and taxation to be framed thus. 1) No morality, it must be all about the rules, or in other words what can’t be got away w... more »

The Peace Process: Is It A Cynical Enterprise That's Set Up To Crumble?

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 19 hours ago
Does the peace process lack credibility? Is it a cynical enterprise that is set up to crumble? Do both sides want peace? No, not the *Israeli-Palestinian peace process*, the Turkish-Kurdish one. Two months ago, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan *said* that the Kurdish movement for freedom and autonomy in Turkey will leave the battlefield and fully enter the political arena. Ocalan ordered his troops to withdraw from Turkey. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Kurdish cities for the celebratory occasion. The PKK's decision to declare a ceasefire was a historic turning point. But i... more »

Harder living in Hamilton [updated]

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 19 hours ago
The notion of the so-called “living wage” essentially is that employees are to be paid not for what they do, but for how many mouths they have to feed. It’s called a “living wage,” but to the extent the wage is paid above what the wage-earner produces, the extra has to be paid for by someone—whose own living is thereby made correspondingly harder. And to the extent the wage is made irrelevant to what wage earners produce—their production being the reason they were employed in the first place—their incentive to produce is disconnected from their incentive to earn. At a stroke thi... more »

Mohawk Nation News 'Harper at CFR'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 19 hours ago
HARPER AT CFR MNN. May 17, 2013. This is the “between the lines” translation of Canadian Prime Minister Harper’s remarks to the Council of Foreign Relations( CFR) bankers in New York City. He reassured them he has our resources and will stop our griping about the theft. Canada is one of the world’s main providers of war material. He thinks the Indigenous can’t interfere as

Nintendo: A Lament

Phil at A Very Public Sociologist - 19 hours ago
I am sat here watching the live feed of Microsoft's unveiling of their new games console, the imaginatively named Xbox One. 'Xbox' because you cannot possibly change the name of a system these days, and 'One' because it concentrates a whole range of multimedia functions into an anonymous-looking case. It sounds impressive, and with upgraded SmartGlass and Kinect it will prove a very tough act to follow when the beast launches toward Christmas time. But this doesn't really interest me. I'm a luddite when it comes to modern video game systems. For instance, I am only just now contemp... more »

Indigenous confront Royal Dutch Shell at The Hague

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 20 hours ago
Extreme Energy development is a risk for investment and the planet, Indigenous delegates tell Royal Dutch Shell shareholders in The Hague, Netherlands Press statement Posted at Censored News Tuesday May 21st, The Hague, Netherlands- Today members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) and the Native Village of Point Hope, Alaska attended the Royal Dutch Shell AGM to confront the

Not Every Vulnerable Candidate Folds And Joins The Enemy-- But A Lot Of Democrats Are Doing That

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 20 hours ago
Sunday, Bill Jarman at Daily Kos created two charts of the most vulnerable Members of the House, a chart of Democrats (above) and a chart of Republicans (below). He combined data on the nature of their districts with data on how close their last race was to come up with his conclusions. I cut each chart off at the #25 most vulnerable. He explained his methodology by way of example: Here's an example of how it works: Take, for instance, the Democratic House member that the Index deems most vulnerable, Jim Matheson of Utah's 4th congressional district. If you refer back to the earl... more »

Free Download: Aldous Huxley, "Brave New World"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
“Till at last the child's mind is these suggestions, and the sum of the suggestions is the child's mind. And not the child's mind only. The adult's mind too- all his life long. The mind that judges and desires and decides- made up of these suggestions. But all these suggestions are our suggestions...” - “Brave New World: Suggestions from the State” • Freely download “Brave New World", by Aldous Huxley here: - http://freepdfdb.com/pdf/brave-new-world

If the Opposition Fumbles This Ball They're Not Fit to Govern

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 20 hours ago
Nix "Duffygate," trash "Senategate," this is "HarperGate" and that's what the opposition needs to hammer away at. Heritage minister James Moore is said to be en route to Prince Edward Island to demand Duffy's resignation. That has to be part and parcel of rolling this scandal back out of the PMO and straight into the lap of a safely-resigned former senator where the opposition will be left to pick on a carcass. Harper signalled that would be the approach in his remarks this morning. Oh he was so deeply upset that these bad people had *betwayed* him. Bad people, bad people. S... more »

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago

"O Brave New World..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
"How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't." - William Shakespeare, "The Tempest"

CHARITIES RUN BY THE SPIES?

Anon at aangirfan - 20 hours ago
*Are charities being taken over by the spies?* In 1991, in the UK, Duncan and Jenni Dyason watched a TV documentary about street children in Guatemala being shot dead by the police. They set up the* Toybox* Charity to help street children. Toybox now works in Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru and El Salvador. *Duncan Dyason* However, Toybox appears to be changing. Duncan and Jenni no longer work for Toybox. *1.* The new boss of Toybox is Lynne Morris. Lynne worked for* World Vision* for over 12 years *2.* Jeni York is now a Toybox Trustee. Jeni was Human Resources Director at *World ... more »

Greg Sargent (and others) are playing us rubes!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 20 hours ago
*TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013* *What marks we liberals be:* Following Kevin Drum, we’ll cite Greg Sargent’s post concerning the GOP’s possible overreach in pursuit of the current “scandals.” Liberals are making this happy-talk argument all over the web. What fools we liberals be: SARGENT (5/21/13): *A few of us on the left have been arguing that the current scandal-mania gripping the GOP risks bringing about a rerun of 1998*, when the frenzy amid the Monica Lewinsky revelations led the GOP to overreach, resulting in backlash. Now we have a longtime respected nonpartisan observer, Charlie... more »

“Cell Towers Are NOT What We Are Told”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 20 hours ago
*“Cell Towers Are NOT What We Are Told”* by LesMajeste, Jimstonefreelance.com “Upon arriving in Mexico City, I noticed that there was what appeared to be a complete lack of cell towers. Yet perfect cell service was everywhere. And that got me wondering, how could a cell phone system work so well with no cell towers around? After stating it on the forum, Bunk Hound got on the American Tower web site and located a few, which I subsequently went to with Google maps, and they were very much like American cell towers. But aside from these which I could locate with a map, there were non... more »

Who Is That Winging His Way to Cavendish, PEI?

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 20 hours ago
*Harper's Consigliere?* Word has it that Harper minister and loyalist, James Moore, has been dispatched to P.E.I. to demand that the Cavendish Cottager resign his senate seat. Will Duffy call the cops on another intruder? Does Harper's envoy come bearing parting gifts? Oh to be a fly on the wall.

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 20 hours ago
*Times-Picayune Steals NOLA Eats Moniker From Local Blogger! ~Eater, New Orleans*

THE SACRED CORN

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 21 hours ago
*SUNNÚ* is a documentary about the destruction of rural life and its relationship to the monopolization of the food industry. It shows the deterioration of family farming and the chasm between rural and urban realities, as well as the struggle of indigenous farmers and small farmers to keep producing corn, despite the society’s ignorance regarding the civilizing importance of this grain. Corn has always been the center of Mexico’s economic, social and culinary life, the heart of its very identity. Mexicans are forgetting how important the grain truly is: it lies at the heart of ... more »

Breaking: CBS News is officially crazy!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 21 hours ago
*TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013* *Remarkably, Kessler can’t tell:* We’ve been telling you this for years, but as of today, it’s official: You no longer have an actual press corps. Officially, we’re all living in a post-journalistic madhouse. It’s hard not to draw that conclusion after reading Glenn Kessler’s latest Fact Checker piece for the Washington Post. For what it’s worth, we agree with some of Kessler’s conclusions about Jonathan Karl’s now-famous May 10 report for ABC News. In that report, Karl presented twelve versions of the now-famous talking points about Benghazi. Midway thro... more »

Friday Nerd Blogging: Early but On Time

Steve Saideman at Duck of Minerva - 22 hours ago
I am posting this now for two reasons: 1) I am going to be at a conference for the next few days and the hotel apparently lacks wifi! 2) it is the anniversary of Youtube, which has made much of Friday Nerd Blogging possible. So here is a tribute to the Youtube anniversary:

“Republicans Question Whether Obama Could Handle Actual Scandal”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 22 hours ago
* “Republicans Question Whether Obama Could Handle Actual Scandal”* by Andy Borowitz WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)— “President Obama’s handling of controversies about the I.R.S., the Justice Department, and Benghazi has raised “grave doubts” about his ability to cope if he ever became involved in an actual scandal, prominent Republicans said today. “If this is how he handles this stuff, Lord have mercy on him if he ever has to deal with a real scandal,” said newly elected Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S. Carolina). “Quite frankly, I don’t think he has what it takes. The true test of a... more »

Pandas

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 22 hours ago

Syria: Turkeys' military escapades; Israeli jeep enters Syrian territory & more

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 23 hours ago
Yes, it's going to be a long one. But worth reading. I have had much catching up to do May as well get started................... Let’s take a gander at Turkey and it’s involvement as NATO’s ninny in destroying Syria The Turkish people aren’t to pleased: Protesters oppose Turkey's support for Syrian rebels in the civil war *Three cheers for the Turkish people!!* *Brief rant:* Time to end that belief in government.... Government serves no one but itself and it’s masters..It is a self perpetuating, leech on society. Government is part of the illusion of choice and freedom. Pop the illu... more »

Against Democratic Certainty That Republicans Will Go Nuclear Next Time

Jonathan Bernstein at A plain blog about politics - 23 hours ago
Paul Waldman makes a claim that I see all the time: Let's be realistic here. Unless there's some kind of major upheaval within the Republican party that moves it back to the center, when the day comes that there's a Republican president and a Republican senate, the filibuster will be gone. It won't take a Democratic minority using it with the profligacy Republicans have, either. All it will take is one filibuster on something Republicans care about. Today's Republicans don't care about the institution's traditions, or about what kind of precedent they might set. They care about gett... more »

While you were sleeping...

A Teacher at AMERICAN KABUKI - 23 hours ago
Two words. They are crawling, jumping, whispering and shouting into my consciousness. “Do something.” Urgently and absolutely, this is a call to act. Last year, the *Light Worker Series* ended with *December22nd, First Day on the Job. *Since then, there’s been a recovery and perhaps a bit of mourning going on from 12/21/12. Enough already, it’s been 5 months and there is much to do. The One People’s Trust broke the bonds of slavery for us. Now, with the I/UV in our pocket, it is up to us to shake them off completely and get to work. For the “owners” are still around... more »

The tenacity of hope

Jody Paterson at A Closer Look: Jody Paterson - 23 hours ago
Spending every Sunday for more than a year now with a ragtag group of kids from deprived, troubled childhoods has turned out to be a surprisingly heartening experience. The kids at Angelitos Felices foster home were like little cyphers to me when I first started volunteering there last April. Their squeaky little voices were impossible for me to understand in those early days of learning Spanish, and I also found it hard to see past the overwhelming grimness of where they were living to even consider getting to know them as individuals and not just tragic cases of societal neglect. ... more »

President Obama, cool, calm, collected

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 23 hours ago
Some insights from former speechwriter Jon Favreau, on how President Obama deals with media driven scandals. Worth a read in full, but here's the standout grafs: In the case of the AP phone records, Obama the former constitutional-law professor cares deeply about the balance between freedom and security. This is the president who began the foreign-policy section of his inaugural with the words “We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.” And he wants Congress to debate and finally pass a media-shield law. But can you imagine if the president of the United Stat... more »

Validity of information

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 23 hours ago
R. v. Ladouceur, 2013 ONCA 328 holds non-compliance with s. 508 of the *Criminal Code** *has no effect on the validity of an information: [19] So, if an information survives a defect in the time limit imposed by s. 505, the crucial issue raised in this appeal is whether there is any reason, based in logic or policy, why a deficiency in the confirmation process set forth in s. 508 ought to operate differently so as to nullify a valid information. I am of the view that a defect in the confirmation process does not affect the validity of an information. The legal consequence of... more »

Millions March Against Monsanto

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
Brad Jordan *[Editor's note: This article is an excellent rundown of what Monsanto is in regards to food rights, safety, monopoly, patents, cronyism, and why millions are marching in peaceful protest. Please read and especially share with friends and family who are hearing about it and may not be aware of Monsanto and genetically modified foods. -HC ]* *Fight for your right to eat food* Tired of not being able to trust your food? Tired of all the food deserts in this country, where there’s no choice other than which nasty fast-food place to drive-thru? Tired of federal regulator... more »

Election Day In L.A.: Eric Garcetti Is The Better Candidate... By A Mile

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
I don't recall any L.A. Mayor going on to be President of the United States. Eric Garcetti could be the first. Today's the day that will be decided. His opponent, "former" (technically-speaking) Republican Wendy Greuel, a shill for the DWP (Department of Water and Power), is a dead end hack with a lot of endorsements from a lot of people who instinctively pick a corrupt conservative Democrat over a progressive reformer. Bill Clinton is backing Greuel of course. He never backs progressives over ConservaDems and EMILY's List... well, they can always be counted on to play the filthy ... more »

Joe Rogan & The Pharmaceutical Industry: Prescribing Happiness

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
*Youtube* Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter: Delivered by FeedBurner Be the Change! Share this using the tools below.

The IRS War on Medical Marijuana Providers

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
Freda Art Clarence Walker *Stop The Drug War* Dispensaries providing marijuana to doctor-approved patients operate in a number of states, but they are under assault by the federal government. SWAT-style raids by the DEA and finger-wagging press conferences by grim-faced federal prosecutors may garner greater attention, but the assault on medical marijuana providers extends to other branches of the government as well, and moves by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to eliminate dispensaries' ability to take standard business deduction are another very painful arrow in the federal q... more »

Pesticide Content in Food Less Regulated by Codex Than Vitamins and Minerals

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
image source Brandon Turbeville In the past, I have written numerous articles dealing with Codex Alimentarius and its guidelines regarding vitamin and mineral food supplements, food irradiation, and genetically modified (GM) food. I have also written about the unfolding agenda to implement Codex standards on a global scale to the detriment of all those who value clean, healthy food and the ability to make their own choices regarding what they do or do not eat. In keeping with the theme of these previous reports, it is important to note the official Codex position on pesticide con... more »

Sent by Jon Lubar, a few words on chronic absenteeism

Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
I invited a guest speaker to come into one of my classes who teaches at one of worst high schools in the country–literally, it’s on a list. In any event, this teacher stated that of the 120 students or so on record, he’ll see in a good day about half of them. And since he’s […]

7 Things About The Mainstream Media That They Do Not Want You To Know

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
Michael Snyder Have you ever wondered who controls the mainstream media? In America today, we are more "connected" than ever. The average American watches 153 hours of television a month, and we also spend countless hours watching movies, playing video games, listening to music, reading books and surfing the Internet. If someone could control the production of all of that media, that would make them immensely powerful. They would literally be in a position to tell people what to think. Well, what if I told you that there are just six enormous media conglomerates that combine ... more »

Disturbing irregularites regarding the 9/11 phone calls: CNBC reporting

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 1 day ago
*CNBC:* Why is this corporate newsworthy now? I mean, it is nice to see mainstream, sure. But is it acceptable, presently, all these years later, for the media to bring forward just one of the many, many 9-11 "inconsistencies" ? It only reinforces the fact that the media, are nothing but the *great regurgitators..*. Then as now. Like Iraq. Like Syria. Like Libya. You get the idea? NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- America first learned of the 9/11 hijackings from Solicitor-General Ted Olson, who reported two calls from his wife, well-known CNN commentator Barbara Olson. Good th... more »

Being Jeb...a pretend interview.

Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
Reblogged from Blue Hat Movement: Hi, my name is Charlie and I want to present to you a scenario. For the sake of explaining a portion of what is happening to our public schools, I am going to perform a little magic and transport you to a world where I am Jeb Bush. But first, […]

Uncle Sam SUCKS!

Colleen McCool at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
Uncle Sam sucks American blood and liberty!! At Least 274 American Soldiers Remains Discarded In Trash Dump!! Doesn't that make you want to declare independence once more! This time from Uncle Sam! The Love revolution is one of the greatest cultural shifts in the history of mankind. It is a global political awakening! We will soon reach the tipping point, as more of us refuse to remain neutral in these times of great moral conflict and work for positive change! Perhaps you thought Uncle Sam was a benevolent spirit but harassing disabled, sick and dying citizens over their medicina... more »

Graph of the Day: Observed and modeled September Arctic sea ice extent, 1900-2100

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 1 day ago
[image: September Arctic sea ice extent based on 89 ensemble members from 36 CMIP5 models under the RCP8.5 (high) emissions scenario. Each thin colored line represents one ensemble member from the model. The thick yellow line is the arithmetic mean of all ensemble members and the blue line is their median value. The thick black line represents observations based on adjusted HadleyISST_ice analysis for the period 1953-1978, and NSIDC from 1979-2012. Observation data were provided by Meier, NSIDC. The horizontal black dashed line marks the 1.0 M km2 value, which indicates nearly sea... more »

Justice for All?

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 1 day ago
Residents just outside Fukushima seek damages in nuclear crisis (2013, May 21), The Asahi Shimbun, http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201305210101 [Excerpted] Nearly 700 residents from the Hippo district of Miyagi prefecture, just north of Fukushima, are demanding equal compensation to the residents of Fukushima prefecture where the accident occurred. [end] Majia here: Apparently the residents in Miyagi are being denied full compensation despite findings of high radiation in their area. Radiation fallout is always patchy, but by drawing arbitrary boundaries Te... more »

--Harper Completely Sidesteps PMO / Senate Scandal - Today marks the beginning of the end of his government ...

leftdog at Buckdog - 1 day ago
*(The Harpranos)* *Stephen Harper's speech to his Caucus isn't going to work out very well for the Conservatives in the long run.* * **Here's how the emergency Conservative Caucus meeting went this morning:* * **1) Harper invited the Parliamentary Press Gallery into the Caucus room for the first part of the meeting. * *2) He started the meeting by making a statement. He didn't let Caucus members have a chance to do or say anything on the issue in front of the press.* * **3) He had his stern face on and lectured the Caucus, threatening anyone who falsely files expense claims from he... more »

You Are Not the PROBLEM, I Am Not the PROBLEM; the PROBLEM Is the PROBLEM

John Thompson at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
At Bridging Differences, veteran educator Deborah Meier and reformer Mike Petrilli are debating who is the problem. And, that is a step up from their previous disagreement over who was a part of the disease. While I side with Meier, I would like to make a couple of suggestions for the further bridging of differences. […]

Barton Paul Levenson: No warming for 15 years!

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 1 day ago
[image: Regression of Hadley CRUTEMP3 annual land-sea temperature anomalies for the years 1982-2011. Graphic: Barton Paul Levenson]By Barton Paul Levenson 10 April 2013 "There's been no global warming for fifteen years!" This is the latest cry of the global warming deniers. It's totally spurious, of course, because you need 30 years to show a climate trend, not 15. But just to prove my point, I'll show in detail how sample size affects the conclusions you can come to on temperature trends. [Using] the Hadley CRUTEMP3 annual land-sea temperature anomalies for the past 30 years, le... more »

living in tyranny

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago

A Foolish Little Hobgoblin

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 1 day ago
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has a little mind. He's also a fool. He's a grotesque hobgoblin who doesn't even have the decency to wait for scores of constituent bodies to be dug out of the wreckage before announcing that aid to his state must first be offset by cuts. From the *Huffington Post*: Coburn spokesman John Hart on Monday evening confirmed that the senator will seek to ensure that any additional funding for tornado disaster relief in Okla... more »

Tiwesdæg: the Left-hand of Linkage

Daniel Nexon at Duck of Minerva - 1 day ago
Greetings all. PM and I are switching linkage duty. Omar Ali looks at the 2013 Pakistani election at 3QD. Tom Nichols argues against US ambiguity on Iran and North Korea. Via Alana Tiemessen: international justice infographics from the Leitner Center (pdf). North Korean piracy and maritime disputes in Northeast Asia. Juan Cole on mounting sectarian violence in Iraq. The Continue reading

UPDATED: A Trip Down Memory Lane - Remember When This Scandal Was All About Mike Duffy?

The Mound of Sound at The Disaffected Lib - 1 day ago
This began with a scandal about Mike Duffy and a cottage on Friendly Lane in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. Suddenly that seems like so long ago, an eon. Duffy, Duffy who? Now the scandal has shot straight up the food chain, ricocheting around the Senate and on into the PMO. And the path is littered with the bodies - Duffy, Pam Wallin, Nigel Wright and now, seemingly, Benjamin Perrin, Harper legal counsel. Now the scandal has kept on going, right into Mr. Harper's private office, right to his very throne. Thanks to some dissident, insurgent if you will, probably from the ran... more »

Cynicism - Too Little Too Late

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 1 day ago
The BBC has produced a comparatively even-handed piece on the latest chapter in the Al Durah saga. From the extreme anti-Israel website Mondoweiss, which quotes a typically ‘self-hating’ article in Haaretz that describes the latest Israeli report on the incident as “surreal”, to Honest Reporting’s article, which reproduces the report in full, the BBC emerges somewhere in the middle. Apart, perhaps, from the misleading first paragraph which says “*An Israeli investigation has said a French news report in 2000 which blamed Israeli troops for shooting dead a Palestinian child **was ba... more »

Just 4 U - Courtesy of Koch & Keystone

2old2care at Because I Can - 1 day ago
Coming to your backyard - - - - soon. Courtesy of Koch If you need another reason for fear and loathing of Keystone, there's this: Towering over the Detroit River is a *three-story, block-long pile* of petroleum coke, the toxic, high-sulfur, high-carbon and ever-increasing - Canada has 79.8 million tons stockpiled - *waste byproduct* of refining tar sands oil. From Common Dreams

New Research on VAM from Carnegie Center for the Advancement of Teaching

Jim Horn at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
As the evidence mounts, we see that corporate education’s hastily-planned war on teachers and public schools was based on bad intel intentionally warped to shape public buy-in. Now the assault finds itself discredited by the facts on the ground and bogged down by an indigenous resistance that has just sensed its advantage. Highlights below are […]

10 of My Favorite Book Covers

Debra Hawkins at Housewife Eclectic - 1 day ago
Today I am talking about book covers. A book cover doesn't necessarily say whether or not I am going to read a book, but if a book has a beautiful cover I am more likely to delve into it quicker. Here are some of my favorite. Linking up with The Broke and the Bookish. Insurgent by Veronica Roth- My favorite part of this cover is the train in the bottom part of it. It just fits the story. On a side note, have you seen the cover for Allegiant? LOVE! Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo- I absolutely love this cover. The colors of it fit the story Crossed by Ally Condie- I love the ima... more »

Government bureaucrat said to be sharp!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 1 day ago
*TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013* *You rarely see statements like this:* In this morning’s New York Times, three major figures—two from the GOP—defend the administration’s conduct with respect to the AP. We aren’t saying they’re right or wrong. We simply want to call attention to one of their statements. We were struck by the highlighted statement. In our world, you rarely see statements like this: BARR, GORELICK AND WAINSTEIN (5/21/13): At the time the [AP] article was published, there were strong bipartisan calls for the Justice Department to find the leaker. *Attorney General Eric H. Hol... more »

Need to crowdsource an issue: can you all help us with ESEA law?

Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
I was sent a link to some language in the ESEA from the DOE’s website. It largely covers the establishment of the NAEP and how it should be administered. But then, there’s this: EC. 6301. PROHIBITION AGAINST FEDERAL MANDATES, DIRECTION, OR CONTROL. Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize an officer or employee […]

THE REFUSAL TO FIGHT: What, our TV stars worry?

bob somerby at the daily howler - 1 day ago
*TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013* *Part 2—Why doesn’t Hayes want to fight:* Liberals and Democrats ought to be angry about the Benghazi pseudo-scandal. As part of that anger, they ought to be angry at the way their TV stars keep refusing to fight. Right from the start, the attacks against Ambassador Susan Rice have illustrated a familiar theme of modern politics: It’s easy to generate bogus attacks against major Democrats. The attacks on Rice are a perfect example of this familiar problem. Last September 16, she discussed the killing attack in Benghazi on four of the major Sunday programs.... more »

Monsanto Planting New GM Soybeans in 20 Locations Despite Recent Activism

Mark Daniels at Global Political Awakening - 1 day ago
Alex Pietrowski The imperative nature of marching this Saturday, May 25th, in the March Against Monsanto couldn’t ever be more stressed than now, with recent news that Monsanto keeps forging ahead with its repugnant plans to poison us all by planting more altered seeds – yet again. Monsanto and other mega-pharmaceutical companies, with the USDA's complicit agreement to keep them afloat with both tax dollars and federal court shenanigans, are already targeting a crop called the ‘Xtend’ soybean to be planted in more than 20 farms across the United States. This particular strain of ... more »

Fallout In Iraq From Conviction Of Fake Bomb Detector Maker

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 1 day ago
In May 2013, Jim McCormick the owner of the company that sold 7,000 fake bomb detectors to Iraq was sentenced to ten years in prison by a British court on three counts of fraud. The fallout in Baghdad is just beginning to be felt. The government is trying to act like nothing happened, while two anti-corruption groups are pushing for new investigations, and implicating Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and other top officials. Unfortunately, while committees can look into these matters there is little likelihood that anything substantive will happen. A fake bomb detector still bein... more »

Minnesota Republican on climate change: ‘It’s just a complete United Nations fraud’

Jim at Desdemona Despair - 1 day ago
[image: Minnesota Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, claims there's been no warming trend over the last 16 years (according to CPAC), therefore climate change is 'just a complete United Nations fraud and lie'. Photo: The Uptake] By Aaron Rupar 16 May 2013 (City Pages) – Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, is anti-gay and gets his "facts" from materials distributed at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Other than that, we're sure he's exactly the sort of elected leader Minnesota needs. During a recent rant on the House floor, Gruenhagen characterized climate change as "ju... more »

Civil Rights Lawyers Sign Open Letter to Stop Chicago Schools Closure and Privatization Scheme

Jim Horn at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 1 day ago
Meanwhile, dozens of protestors were arrested yesterday as hundreds marched and tried to deliver the letter excerpted below to Rahm’s office. Video from CBS Chicago here. A clip from the letter (ht to PURE) signed by 128 Chicago lawyers: “[If carried out, these actions] will dramatically alter the school environment for vulnerable elementary students. More than 47,500 […]

Your moment of Zen

Libby Spencer at The Impolitic - 1 day ago
Lovely downtown Northampton, MA.

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