English: Stephen Harper, despotic ruler of Canada and Borg Centurion, assimilating resistors. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)FROM BOTH SIDES NOW: Columnist Collins confronts The Crazy!
*THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013*
*Part 4—Our own tribe’s lack of smarts:* It’s true! Many conservatives say
and believe the darnedest things!
To cite the saddest example, many conservatives even say Obama was born in
Kenya. You have to be *extremely* gullible to believe that ludicrous claim.
But people have always believed the darnedest things, down through the
annals of time.
For quite a few years, we liberals got to laugh at all the ditto-heads.
Finally, after the war in Iraq, we began to emerge from our nap in the
woods, where we’d been for a good many years.
We liberals began to r... more »
Quick Oversight Hearing Primer
I'm not watching the big House Obamacare oversight hearing this morning,
but half my twitter stream is, and we've reached the point in which they're
complaining that we're not going to learn anything.
Here's why they are actually very useful. Even when they're boring.
Time for a quick primer. Congressional oversight hearings are mostly useful
because they exist. The actual hearing itself? Not much usually happens.
But the threat of being called to account, and then the process of being
called to account, should and probably does put pressure on executive
branch agencies and departme... more »
MSM Has Yet To Detect Stephen Harper's Slip Up In Question Period On Wednesday ...
**
*".. during Wednesday's question period the Prime Minister let slip a
statement that contradicts a point he has emphatically made in the past. *
*The issue was whether Nigel Wright "acted alone" on the notorious $90,000
gift, or whether other Conservative Party or government officials were
involved.*
*The question came from NDP leader Tom Mulcair: "On June 5 and 6, when I
asked the Prime Minister whether Ray Novak was involved in the Duffy
affair, the Prime Minister said that Nigel Wright acted alone. Was that
true?"*
*In his answer, Harper appeared to have misunderstood the... more »
Pan-STARRS1 survey: dark energy up to \(w=-1.19\), 2-sigma deviation
*Cosmological constant as an explanation of the accelerated expansion under
attack*
*Scientific American* chose a dramatic title for a 1-week old astro-ph
preprint that the astro/physics blogosphere missed:
Leading Dark Energy Theory Incompatible with New Measurement (SciAm)
------------------------------
Cosmological Constraints from Measurements of Type Ia Supernovae discovered
during the first 1.5 years of the Pan-STARRS1 Survey (astro-ph arXiv)
A "medium deep survey" looked at 146 Type Ia supernovae, found a small
deviation, and allowed the experimental cosmologists to claim that... more »
Nicely done Are You Being Served?
Are You Being Served was never my favourite sitcom, not very subtle. But
the bit from 22:22 to 23:45 is rather good:
"What are you afraid of?"
"...The unknown"
And an inside leg measuring technique that really dates the programme,
National Service was that recent in the early 1970s.
Sadly with the death of Frank Thornton (Captain Stephen Peacock) on March
16, 2013 at the age of 92, the only member of the original cast still
living is Nicholas Smith (Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold).
McDicking Us Over
In the nearly nine years I've been blogging, I've almost never
mentioned McDonald's, a corporation that's responsible for more obesity
than sugar, polyunsaturated fats and cheese combined. This is because,
largely thanks to Morgan Spurlock's *Super Size Me*, I would think that
most of us already knew that McDick's represents the very worst in
corporations and everything that is wrong with America. They slowly kill us
with ersatz, corporately-generated food substitute and had strong-armed the
House into passing the Cheeseburger Law that protects their bottom line
from tort laws... more »
TOTAL SURVEILLANCE SOCIETY
The U.S. Government has turned the Internet into something it was never
intended to be: a system for spying on us in our most private moments. Out
of control government surveillance is a dangerous form of censorship. Don't
be intimidated.
School-wide Parent Boycott of Tests for K-2 Brings Down Test
This is what OPTOUT looks like. From RealNews:
Once Upon a Time: the Story of ONE
I really don't have anything to add to Lucas' article from yesterday. He
kinda says it all in my opinion.
*
**"The human said god is great. He knew all was like god. All of it. Every
part every bit as a reflection of god that is all and is in all. He knew
to be One without loosing his own formed identity that made him human. He
came to know the unconditional love to all without any limits as all just
was."*
We are all on our journey. We are all on paths heading towards the Unity
of ONE. Our Paths cross and intersect occasionally with others, but their
path is not ours. S... more »
Untitled
*Saints morning report: Brees gets topped ~Mike Triplett*
*House approves bipartisan water bill ~Jordan Blum, New Orleans Advocate*
Black and Veach on the future cost of energy
I recently called attention to Breakthrough Institute's report, How to Make
Nuclear Power Cheap.This report called attention to the potential use of
advanced nuclear technology to lower and even dramatically lower nuclear
costs. This point has been repeatedly argued in Nuclear Green since 2008.
Thus it should not be assumed that nuclear costs will remain constant over
the next 35 years. My findings which are based on the Research of Dr. Per
Petersen, other nuclear engineers and scientists, ORNL, MIT, and UC
Berkley, is that advanced nuclear technology, using liquid salts holds
g... more »
DEMOLITION OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN UK
Put your ear to the railroad tracks and hear the train coming..........
Read Stuff, You Should
Happy Birthday to Kevin Kline, 66.
Good stuff:
1. Andrew Sprung argues with me about GOP dysfunction and the Constitution.
My point: unless you can show that GOP dysfunction is a consequence of the
Constitution or that it is particularly harmful because of the system of
separated institutions sharing powers, then you're not making a
Constitution argument. I don't believe that the Linz argument does the
former, and I disagree that it succeeds on the latter.
2. Dan Drezner assesses the Obama Administrations motives on Syria policy.
3. And more Colorado politics and parties from Se... more »
War watch October 24 , 2013 - Bahrain ( huge tear gas tender made ) , Syria ( continued progress made on destroying chemical weapons , state of play in ongoing war , discussion of peace talks ) , Iran ( nuclear talks items of note ) , Libya ( forgotten Libya items of the day)
Bahrain’s enormous tear gas tender exposed amid ongoing unrest
Published time: October 24, 2013 09:39
Get short URL
[image: A Bahraini protester, wearing a mask, runs away from tear gas and
bird shot fired by riot police during clashes following the funeral of Ali
Khalil Sabbagh in the village of Bani Jamrah, west of Manama, on October
23, 2013. (AFP Photo / Mohammed al-Shaikh)]
A Bahraini protester, wearing a mask, runs away from tear gas and bird shot
fired by riot police during clashes following the funeral of Ali Khalil
Sabbagh in the village of Bani Jamrah, west of Manama, on Oct... more »
Overnight news for Europe and Asia - October 24 , 2013... China continues its present mode of tightening with money market rates rising once again , Europe sees disappointing PMIs ( France , Germany and Europe Compositie ) ..... Japan warns wealth effect may be in danger ( stocks not magically going up but food and energy prices are rising )
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-24/futures-ramp-declining-european-pmis-japan-wealth-effect-warning-china-tightening-fe
Futures Ramp On Declining European PMIs, Japan "Wealth Effect" Warning,
China Tightening Fears
[image: Tyler Durden's picture]
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 10/24/2013 06:55 -0400
- Barclays
- Ben Bernanke
- British Pound
- Central Banks
- China
- Copper
- Credit Suisse
- Crude
- Deutsche Bank
- Eurozone
- fixed
- France
- Germany
- Global Economy
- Italy
- Japan
- LTRO
- Norges ... more »
Neither Our Best Nor Our Brightest
Two days ago, Mike Duffy took aim at Stephen Harper. Yesterday, Pam Wallin framed
the issue:
The Government, through Senator Carignan, has truly put the cart before the
horse – the sentencing before the trial – and that is why it would be both
unfair and troubling if his motion proceeds.
If it does, each and every one of you will seriously have to consider
whether this is a place of sober second thought, or a place where anyone
who enters must blindly follow a political master’s dictates.
And yesterday Stephen Harper -- that paragon of accountability -- insisted
that he was dema... more »
Josh Romney To Primary Mike Lee?
Josh
Utah may be the most right-wing state in the country. The nuts in Texas may
be more vicious and dangerous but Utah only gave President Obama 25% of its
vote last year-- compared to 41% in Texas, 44% in Mississippi, 46% in
Georgia and even 33% in the 4th Reich Idaho. The *least* red district in
the state, UT-04 (home of hopelessly conservative Blue Dog Jim Matheson)
has a PVI of R+16. Matheson was one of only two Democrats-- the other being
the equally execrable Mike McIntyre (NC)-- to have joined the Republicans
in shutting down the government. But the federal government is the ... more »
The U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make
The U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make. via The
U.S. Formula for Children and the Choices We Refuse to Make.
Senate scandal : questions and more questions
According to Duffy, the PMO blackmailed him into taking a bribe to save his
own skin and that of the Cons from the wrath of their base.
Questions ...
It seems no amount of $90K carrots or Senate expulsion sticks were spared
to shut down that Duffy Deloitte senate audit. Where was it going that was
ultimately worth the risk of what's coming out now- the PMO conferring an
illegal under-the-table bribe on a sitting senator and then trying to cover
it up?
When CBC applied for access to docs and emails re the Wright/Duffy payoff,
there were apparently none to be had. None. Yet Duffy s... more »
NRA Lies Exposed
*by Len Hart, The Existentialist Cowboy*
The NRA wants you to believe that the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution gives them an unqualified, blank check right to 'keep and
bear' arms as they choose. That's not so! The Second Amendment --from which
the right to 'own and bear' arms is derived --is a single sentence'.
U. S. v Miller is the only U.S. Supreme Court decision that directly
"interprets" the Second Amendment. U.S. v Miller states clearly that the
right to keep and bear arms occurs BUT within the context of a
"...well-regulated militia." All other Federal decisions an... more »
The Senate Scandal
The senate scandal. Lets break it down in real time.
If you were a party hack or failed candidate or a high profile person
with what was considered enough juice to change a marginal plantation
You got a dream job. That is not to say that every Senator in there own
partisan way was not working to make Canada a better place for the people
to play.
That was the old school. You put in the hacks and paid your debts through a
Senate position. Prior to Harper coming to power could the average
Canadian name a single Senator. Then Harper and his Republican consultants
spotted a huge opportunit... more »
28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear Radiation From Fukushima by Michael Synder
28 Signs That The West Coast Is Being Absolutely Fried With Nuclear
Radiation From Fukushima
by Michael Synder
Global Research Canada, 23 Ocotber 2013
*1.* Polar bears, seals and walruses along the Alaska coastline are
suffering from fur loss and open sores…
Wildlife experts are studying whether fur loss and open sores detected in
nine polar bears in recent weeks is widespread and related to similar
incidents among seals and walruses.
The bears were among 33 spotted near Barrow, Alaska, during routine survey
work along the Arctic coastline. Tests showed they had *“alopecia, or... more »
Bad Bear's Photos: Longest Walk 4 Beautiful Rockies!
.
Photos by Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, copyright.
Longest Walk 4 Return to Alcatraz near Monarch Pass, walking west toward
Gunnison, Colorado, on Highway 50 today, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. Share
the love, with a stay place, food or supplies! They need a stay place
in Green River, Utah. From Utah, they walk through Nevada!
Thanks
Sol takes it's dance to the next level of Exuberance
So, while trying to not sprain my shoulder by patting my self on the back
too enthusiastically.... I was right, again, lol.
http://removingtheshackles.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-sol-tango-incoming-cmes-and.html
In the last 24 hours we've had 4, count them FOUR, M Class solar flares,
AND..... 1877 decided to get all complex and broody and blew an M 9.3 flare
just after midnight UTC last night. Yesterday I said to watch out for 1877
because I had a feeling she was going to show us some serious dance moves
and I was correct. From the time I wrote the article yesterday to midnight
187... more »
Pioneering Ancestors
*by Len Hart, The Existentialist Cowboy*
Some of my long time FB friends may recall that my Great Uncle Lawson
"Loss" Hart was the federal marshall who tracked down, outdrew, shot and
killed the outlaw --Bill Dalton of the infamous 'Dalton Gang'. (depicted
right) I just found some more interesting stories and information about my
Great Grandfather --Timothy James Hart.
He fought on the side of the confederacy in the Civil War and later
emigrated to Texas. It was in Cooke, County where he was put on trial for
killing a man. He was acquitted "...by reason of self-defense." Timothy
Ja... more »
Grangemouth
I write about the decadence of the British ruling class and then
confirmation makes the headlines shortly thereafter. There is nothing I can
add about the specifics, except to say this piece by Robin McAlpine is an
excellent rundown of what's been happening at Grangemouth, as well as a
condemnation of Britain's flexible labour markets - where flexibility is
labour's responsibility and capital's rigidity is sacrosanct - and the
appalling London centrism of our media and our politics.
I want to make some quick observations.
1) Ineos are the biggest privately-owned company in the UK. ... more »
So you want to move to the United Kingdom…
Its 2013, the U.S. government was recently shut down for almost two weeks.
The National Science Foundation will only fund grants if you can help the
U.S. build operational transformers or drones that can make targeted
killing choices. The movement to replace full time faculty with part time
adjuncts has sapped the open jobs on
Continue reading
Dry Bones almost nails it again
Actually to be fair, Islamists also murder a lot of Muslims, in fact more
Muslims than Christians and Jews. But that's only because Israel protects
Jews rather better than Islamists would like.
More Dry Bones here.
Jim Flaherty on First Nations Protests
Canada's incompetent finance minister, the incompetent gnome Jim Flaherty,
warned that a nation-wide campaign of blockades would negatively impact his
delusions about Canada's economic growth. (The story is at "Stun New" who I
won't give links to.) Flaherty also warned the First Nations themselves
that there aren't different legal regimes in Canada. There's one set of
laws and if the First Nations break them, they'll be in BIG trouble.
His words would have a lot more weight if his own government wasn't a
serial violator of the law. But even if harper wasn't a criminal on many
lev... more »
UN's new 26 science advisers are not representative of science
Six days ago, the UN boss Ban Ki-moon announced 26 members of a Scientific
Advisory Board for the U.N. that will be hosted by UNESCO:
UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board to strengthen connection
between science and policy
I learned about this news story because Fabiola Gianotti, the former
spokeswoman for the ATLAS collaboration at CERN (who led the discovery of
the Higgs boson), is one of the 26 folks who were appointed – one of the
3-4 "real top scientists" in the board.
Otherwise I must say that the selection underscores the world
organization's political and ideolo... more »
Bearing False Witness - The Spectral Evidence of Violation and Rape
Let's take a moment to discern the Spirits.... Now the public
schoolchildren are being told by a demonic spirit "You must open up your
daughters' privacy to our perversion". And this demonic spirit inside of
this boy is now violating, and for all intents and purposes, he's raping -
at least visually - these teenage girls.
"Spectral evidence" is the only evidence they have, of course. Only they
can see the true danger.
Everyone else in the town sees a girl using a restroom and engaging in
girltalk, as she's done for the past two years.. A girl who happens to be
Trans.
Oh yes - se... more »
At UN, Pakistan Praises Saudi Arabia for Protecting “Women’s Rights” | FrontPage Magazine
'As the UN Human Rights Council scrutinized Saudi Arabia's domestic rights
record this morning… out of 95 countries who took the floor, 82 praised
Saudi Arabia.
Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based human rights group UN
Watch, said the country is poised to win a seat on the Human Rights Council.
"A country whose legal system routinely lashes women rape victims rather
than punish the perpetrators should not have been praised effusively by
members of the UN's top human rights body," said Neuer. "Instead the world
should have addressed the Saudi regime's use of cruel, i... more »
The De-Americanization Of The World? Worse Than Watergate! (The End . . . Beautiful Friends?)
Again, a judgment with no help for the defrauded homeowners. Justice in
America. You can't make the ending of this melodrama up any more
tragically. JPMorgan, a Record Penalty But No Relief for Homeowners Reuters
"The ongoing criminal investigation underscores how even if this settlement
takes some heat off JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, he still has
myriad regulatory issues to deal
SIR ALEX FERGUSON
*Sir Alex Ferguson and Tony Blair*
Sir Alex Ferguson has said:
"I think Tony Blair was a fantastic Prime Minister."
http://www.dailymail.
*Blair and Sir Jimmy Savile*
Sir Alex Ferguson says:
"Gordon Brown was ... fantastic."
http://www.dailymail.
*Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United 1986-2013.*
*
*Sir Alex Ferguson was sacked by St. Mirren football club.
An industrial tribunal concluded that Ferguson was "particularly petty" and
"immature".[29]
It was claimed during the tribunal by St. Mirren chairman, Willie Todd,
that Ferguson had "no managerial ability".
*Abo... more »
The victim surcharge will be MANDATORY effective tomorrow, Oct. 24/13.
As you may know, the victim surcharge will be:
(1) 30% of any fine imposed; or
(2) if no fine imposed, $100 for summary conviction offences or $200 for
indictable offences.
Bill C-37, now the Increasing Offenders' Accountability for Victims Act
removes the Judge's discretion to impose the victim surcharge.
My Best Year as a Teacher
I began teaching in my first, full-time classroom in 2006, in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. It was right in the thick of various No Child Left Behind
changes and shifts, and it was about the time that data became paramount
and a new program was being handed down every other week. Or so it seemed.
I […]
October 23, 1973
The House was back in -- and that meant resolutions of impeachment are
introduced by Members of the House. Judiciary Chair Peter Rodino announced
that his committee was beginning preparations for impeachment of the
president.
The more important message, perhaps, is sent by House Republicans to the
White House: unless Nixon surrendered the tapes, they would not be able to
protect him.
Speaker Albert (who, remember, was currently next in line to the
presidency) announces that confirming Gerald Ford would move forward. Al
Haig at the White House warned about "a turnover of the governm... more »
Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research
*Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research*
AM By Kesha West
Updated Wed 23 Oct 2013, 1:56pm AEDT
Geoscientists have discovered gold particles in
the leaves, twigs and bark of eucalyptus trees.
See here for video:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-23/an-gold-found-in-gum-tree-leaves/5039226
Gold found growing in eucalyptus trees in world-first CSIRO research
Geoscientists in Perth have discovered gold particles in the leaves, twigs
and bark of eucalyptus trees, claiming a "eureka" moment which could
revolutionise gold mining.
CSIRO researchers believe... more »
dirty wars: an important movie, marred by nationalism
Last night we watched "Dirty Wars," investigative journalist Jeremy
Scahill's documentary film exposing the United States' covert, lethal,
extra-governmental operations around the globe. It's an important film.
Depending on your level of knowledge of the US, it may be eye-opening, or
it may be shocking.
If you have not yet seen this film, I urge you to. It's available on US
Netflix and from many public library catalogs. (The website has a link to
agitate for cinema screenings in your area.)
Please note I have called this film "important" and I have urged you all to
see it. I have... more »
Gaia Calls for “Essentials Awareness” at this Moment…
*
* *
* *Gaia Calls for “Essentials Awareness” at this Moment…*
by ÉirePort
Gaia calls for "essentials awareness" in all matters at this moment.
Higher D guidings are primary. Secondaries, tertiaries, are being requested
to be shelved, at this moment.
Hue-manity activities must now align with Gaia Purpose.
All Hue-Beings are "called", as it were, to team with the Whole Gaia
Consciousness, and to set aside individual ego desires.
There is only one Being at this moment... and that is Gaia.
Cosmic influxes are continuing to dissolve (eliminate) separation
paradigms, on all levels.
... more »
Portals for hu-manity Unfoldment Have Opened…
*
* *
* *Portals for hu-manity Unfoldment Have Opened…*
by ÉirePort
Portals for hu-manity unfoldment have opened and allow such beings to
experience full awakening to Higher Self.
Establishment of secure growth portals has been restricted, until the
current moment. hu-manity whole consciousness levels have risen
sufficiently to allow this next step.
Fortification of such portals permits large numbers of hu-manity to enter
as group, as well as individual, entities.
ÉirePort | October 23, 2013 at 05:11
URL: http://wp.me/p2sFUY-py
Political Cartoonists Have Field Day With Harper's Dishonesty Dilemma ..
*Cartoon by kind permission of
Graeme MacKay at mackaycartoons.net*
*(Click on image to enlarge) *
*Cartoon by Greg Perry - The Tyee*
*(Click on image to enlarge) *
Cartoon By Theo Moudakis — National Newswatch
*(Click on image to enlarge) *
Cartoon By Malcolm Mayes — National Newswatch
*(Click on image to enlarge) *
Cartoon by Michael de Adder - Hill Times
*(Click on image to enlarge) *
The Plot to Kill Jimmy Carter
"Jimmy Carter is an innocent"
Former Vice President Walter Mondale, in conversation with Seymour Hersch,
2009
By Jim Marrs
"Toward mid-1979, President Carter was being chastised by critics within
the media, as well as by the Republicans, as being wishy-washy on a variety
of issues. They said his was a mediocre presidency. The mass media were
already focusing on conservative California Gov. Ronald Reagan as the man
of the hour. His nomination as GOP presidential candidate for the 1980
election seemed assured.
Carter asked for and was granted a national television spot during prim... more »
The Edward Snowden Modified Limited Hangout
Webster Tarpley - The Snowden Limited Hangout Psyop from Spike1138 on Vimeo.
"Tell us about 9/11, ED...!"
Edward Snowden of US Army Special Forces and the CIA tells us there are
wiretaps.
WARRANTED wiretaps.
Musical Interlude: 2002, “The Dreaming Tree”
2002, “The Dreaming Tree”
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_hOphl_fsg
The Poet: Walt Whitman, "Miracles"
*"Miracles"*
"Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge
of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with anyone I love, or sleep in the bed
at night with anyone I love,
Or sit at the table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honeybees busy around the hive
of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the ... more »
"Is Life Embedded in the Cosmos?"
"Is Life Embedded in the Cosmos?"
by Luke McKinney
.
"A recent mathematical analysis* says that life as we know it is written
into the laws of reality. DNA is built from a set of twenty amino acids -
the first ten of those can create simple prebiotic life, and now it seems
that those ten are thermodynamically destined to occur wherever they can.
For those unfamiliar with thermodynamics, it's the Big Brother of all
energy equations and science itself. You can apply quantum mechanics at
certain scales, and Newtonian mechanics work at the right speeds, but if
Thermodynamics says some... more »
How Will The Texas GOP Keep Wendy Davis Out Of The Governorship? Easy-- By Keeping Women From Voting
Republicans are so scared of women voters right now, they can't see
straight." Especially Texas Republicans. So they're doing all they can to
prevent as many women from voting. Lawrence O'Donnell and his guest explain
what's going on and why. So did Natalie Smith:
The new Texas law requires all voters to provide a photo ID that reflects
their current name. If they cannot, voters must provide any of a series of
other acceptable forms of identification all of which must match exactly
and match the name on their birth certificate.
Supporters of these new laws insist that requiring ... more »
Updates On War In Syria: KSA Feels Let Down By Big Daddy, OPCW Is Happy With Progress
An excerpt from, *"Saudi Prince Turki Expresses 'Disappointment' With US
Over Syria"* by Andrew Parasiliti, Al Monitor, October 22, 2013:
Prince Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud, chairman of the King Faisal Center for
Research and Islamic Studies and former director-general of the Kingdom’s
General Intelligence Directorate, said on Tuesday, Oct. 22, ‘There is
definitely, from a public opinion point of view in the Kingdom, a high
level of disappointment in the US government’s dealings, not just with
Palestine, but equally with Syria.”
Speaking with *Al-Monitor* after delivering the luncheon k... more »
ISRAEL AND THE COMING WAR WITH IRAN
Further to my last post wondering if Israel might launch a pre-emptive
unilateral attack against Iran before the gulf between Israel and the US
over Iran’s nuclear program gets to a point of no return, it should be
pointed out – as some commentators have – that there is unlikely to be any
attack against Iran while the current round of talks between Iran and the
so-called P5+1 alliance are still underway. Talks are scheduled to restart
on 10 November 2013 after a break that allows the parties to consider their
next moves.
Once the talks are over, however, if the outcome of the talks ... more »
“The 13th Warrior: Prayers Before Final Battle”
*“The 13th Warrior: Prayers Before Final Battle”*
* *
Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan: “Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans
of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to
live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have
not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to
have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness.”
“Lo, there do I see my father.
Lo, there do I see my mother and my sisters, and my brothers.
Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo, they d... more »
"No Special Hurry..."
"The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong in the broken
places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and
the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these
you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry."
- Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell To Arms"
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Is this what will become of our Milky Way Galaxy? Perhaps if we collide
with the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years, it might. Pictured below
is NGC 7252, a jumble of stars created by a huge collision between two
large galaxies. The collision will take hundreds of millions of years and
so is effectively caught frozen in time in the above image. The resulting
pandemonium has been dubbed the Atoms-for-Peace galaxy because of its
similarity to a cartoon of a large atom.
*Click image for larger size.*
The above image was taken recently by the MPG/ESO 2.2 meter telescope in
C... more »
"The Opposite Of Courage..."
"The opposite of courage in our society
is not cowardice, it is conformity."
- Rollo May
Musical Interlude: Flash And The Pan, “Hey, St Peter”
Flash And The Pan, “Hey, St Peter”
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17L-QaTq3LA
"Your Own Darkness..."
“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for
dealing with the darknesses of other people.”
- Carl Jung
The Daily "Near You?"
Elizabethton, Tennessee, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
"Our Fate..."
"It seems to me that almost all our sadnesses are moments of tension,
which we feel as paralysis because we no longer hear our astonished
emotions living. Because we are alone with the unfamiliar presence that has
entered us; because everything we trust and are used to is for a moment
taken away from us; because we stand in the midst of a transition where we
cannot remain standing. That is why the sadness passes: the new presence
inside us, the presence that has been added, has entered our heart, has
gone into its innermost chamber and is no longer even there, - is already
in our... more »
Chet Raymo, “Reaching For The Stars”
*“Reaching For The Stars”*
by Chet Raymo
“Here is a spectacular detail of the Eagle Nebula, a gassy star-forming
region of the Milky Way Galaxy, about 7,000 light-years away (click to
enlarge). This particular spire of gas and dust was recently featured on
APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day). The Eagle lies in the equatorial
constellation Serpens. If you went out tonight and looked at this part of
the sky - more or less midway between Arcturus and Antares - you might see
nothing at all. The brightest star in Serpens is of the third magnitude,
perhaps invisible in an urban envi... more »
Kahlil Gibran, “Maxims”
* *
*“Maxims”*
by Kahlil Gibran
“Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection.
Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt
blood.
All that spirits desire, spirits attain.
An eye for an eye, and the whole world would be blind.
If the other person injures you, you may forget the injury;
but if you injure him you will always remember.
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does
not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children. I ... more »
"Your Country..."
“Your country ain't your blood. Remember that.”
- Santino “Sonny” Corleone
What Gives Your Life Meaning?
What gives your life meaning?
For some people it’s opposing, trolling, insulting. For others it’s
productive, creative work—the central purpose of which serves to integrate
a life.
Under the Surface Episode 2: What Gives Your Life Meaning? from The
Undercurrent on Vimeo.
So what gives *your* life meaning.
Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission
to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
"How It Really Is"
The "o"s above are of course these fine, good and true patriots...
Ever vigilant, todays' visits, so far anyway...
*Click image for larger size.*
Don't you feel safer from all the scary terrorists on this blog, Good
Citizen? Me too...
- CP
Star Trek Continues
Now this is just about as cool as can be. *Star Trek Continues* is a
fan-supported effort to finish off the last two years of the original
five-year mission. They've got a full episode out, and it's pretty darn
good.
Episode One: *Pilgrim of Eternity* with Michael Forrest returning as the
Greek god Apollo.
They're clearly amateurs but the attention to detail in the sets, costumes,
music, and even lighting is incredible. It's a stunning re-creation of the
original series right down to the cheesy engineering tools, nonsensical
technobabble, and sixties-era bridge consoles. If you'... more »
"Egotisticalgiraffe" could be a new pet name for Ted "Jesus, I Suck" Cruz, but how about "Whitetamale" and "Moneyrocket"?
*Plus, Richard Cohen walks back his "just plain
wrong" (mis)judgments of Edward Snowden*
*"Some computer has a strange sense of humor. . . . I'm waiting for
‘Rusticrhubarb.' "*
*-- Matthew Aid, author of *The Secret Sentry: The
Untold History of the National Security Agency
*by Ken*
No, it turns out that the *egotistical giraffe* has nothing to do with
Senator Scum, any more than *white tamale* is "the name of a vegetarian
special at a Tex-Mex joint, or possibly an ethnicity-bending rap artist,"
as our pal Al Kamen speculates in his Washington Post "In the Loop" item "Odd
names for... more »
Let’s have some fun ways of getting around
Andrew Galambos famously declared of traffic jams that they are an example
of the collision of capitalism and socialism: capitalism, he observed,
being able to produce cars faster than socialism can produce roads.
But it’s much worse than that.
Capitalism is able to produce abundant forms of getting around. But they
produce them faster than socialised planners can permit their use to cut
down traffic jams.
Roller skates, roller blades, Segways, skateboards, scooters, jet packs,
unicycles … they’re all viable forms of transport that “the authorities”
either tolerate and regulate (... more »
Did the US tap Germany's Prime Minister Merkel's phone ? And why should we expect the man who allegedly didn't even know Obamacare 's website was a complete clusterfark has the slightest idea of who we are or are not spying on / or whose phones are being tapped ?
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 4:19 PM
Germany Accuses US of Spying on Merkel’s Phone; Merkel Phones Obama; Why
Should Any Country Trust the US?
The Wall Street Journal reports Berlin Says U.S. May Be Spying on Merkel’s
Phone
BERLIN—Germany said it believed U.S. intelligence may be spying on
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone, an intrusion that it said would
constitute a “grave breach of trust” between the longtime allies.
Ms. Merkel called President Barack Obama on Wednesday and made clear that
such surveillance among allies would be “fully unacceptable,” her
spokesman, Steffen... more »
Arctic speculation . . .
STEVIE'S
STEALTH SNOWMOBILE: the Harper concept of the future of Arctic
conflict. Now as we know, the CONs are not the sharpest tools in the
drawer and the acquisition of equipment for promoting our Arctic
presence has been a Stevie problem.
And with global warming opening the Arctic waters, the future could be
very interesting. Annalee Newitz has a post at io9, “The war that comes
after
Your own Intercontinental Drone Cheap
without going into too many details...Here's what we think
As if there aren’t enough different Helicopter RC Gadgets available, here
comes another that innovates by following your own voice commands for
regular use and fun activities.
The RC Helicopter is 18 centimenters long and can still operate up to 10
meters away from the voicing individual in both Japanese or English with
regular remote control commends include Up, Down, Hold, Stop and to Start
Engine.
Seems like it would be fun to fly this thing around even though for me it
will look a little like people that are t... more »
OutFoxed
Oufoxed - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism from Spike1138 on Vimeo.
RUPERT MURDOCH'S FOX NEWS RAN 'BLACK OPS' DEPARTMENT, FORMER EXECUTIVE
CLAIMS
RUPERT MURDOCH’S FOX NEWS TELEVISION CHANNEL HAD A “BLACK OPS” DEPARTMENT
THAT MAY HAVE ILLEGALLY HACKED PRIVATE TELEPHONE RECORDS, A FORMER
EXECUTIVE FOR THE STATION HAS ALLEGED.
Daily Telegraph
By Jon Swaine, New York 11:07PM BST 20 Jul 2011
Dan Cooper, who helped launch Fox News as managing editor in 1996, said
that a “brain room” carried out “counter intelligence” on the channel’s
enemies from its New York headquarters.
He was th... more »
Healthy Aging 3: GCOA-EMHN Policy Dialogue in Bangkok
Yesterday morning, the Emerging Markets Health Network (EMHN) and the
Global Coalition On Aging (GCOA) jointly sponsored a "Policy Dialogue on
Aging", here at Plaza Athenee Bangkok. There were 16 of us from 8 countries
-- China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines (me), Canada and
USA. The forum was led and moderated by Cathy Windels, the President of The
Policy Workshop in New York, who represented GCOA, and Wan Saiful Wan Jan,
CEO of IDEAS in Malaysia, which handles the EMHN project.
Six participants from five countries: Barun from India, Chris and Cathy
from the US, ... more »
The Economy: "A Barbarous Fed..."
*"A Barbarous Fed..."*
by Bill Bonner
"Dow up 75 points yesterday. Gold up $26 an ounce. Stock investors are
still acting as though Janet Yellen will be good for the economy… or at
least good for stock prices. Gold investors must think so too. But will she
be?
Yellen has no business or investment experience. Her entire career has been
spent in academia and in public policy institutions. She has never started
a business or had a job in the private sector. Does she have any idea how
an economy functions? Not on the evidence… In 2005, she described the
developing housing bubble ... more »
ASEAN Tax Reform Initiative
Still here in Bangkok, flying back to the Philippines this noon. Two nights
ago, some friends at the Americans for Tax Reforms (ATR) met with some
Asian participants of the Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia 2013
Conference. It was an exploratory meeting how we can possibly put up a
regional think tank focused on tax issues -- how to have low, simple taxes
among countries in the region, other Asian economies.
I did not take photos that night as other friends did. Will post those
photos soon here. Nonetheless, I am excited about this new initiative. Wan
Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of free m... more »
Tech Stock bubble blowing redux ? With Price Line and Google trading at more than 1000 per share and the Twitter IPO looming for November , haven't we seen this " Tulip Bulb " mania before with Nasdaq stocks ? No bubble - do you want the red or blue pill , Neo ?
Catharsis Ours - 17 hours ago
NASDAQ / Tech stock bubble harbingers .....
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/18/4853682/ahead-of-twitter-ipo-nyse-will-allow-dry-run-of-trading-systems
Ahead of Twitter IPO, NYSE will allow dry run of trading systems to
avoid glitches
By Chris Welch on October 18, 2013 06:42 pm Email1*COMMENTS*
DON'T MISS STORIES *FOLLOW THE VERGE*
[image: exchange-NYstock]
0
inShare
Ahead of Twitter's IPO, the New York Stock Exchange is taking extra
precautions to avoid the glitches Nasdaq suffered when Facebook went
public. Facebook's debut on Wall Street in May was hampered by delays and
ord... more »
Longest Walk 4 on West 50 into the Rockies!
Thanks
to Carl 'Bad Bear' Sampson, Western Shoshone long walker, for sharing
his photos with Censored News!
Today, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, the walkers were walking west from
Canon City, Colorado, on that beautiful stretch, and into the Rockies.
On Monday, Longest Walk 4 honored Saa swanis his wags (Robert Buckskin)
who was co-head of security on the 1978 Longest Walk.
The walkers
Providing Rich Reading For Time Poor Readers
How do we get people reading again or introduce them to reading?
We have to accept that reading is different in that it stimulates thinking
and imagery that is often served up on a plate with other media. After all,
you don’t have to imagine what someone looks like when they are stood as
large as life in front of you on a screen.
We have seen many charity and government-backed initiatives and ones driven
by the industry itself but the bottom line is that at best they are
treading water and at worst losing the battle. We may all cheer from the
battlements when books are donated and ... more »
Syria Cooperates while the West Twists the Knife
Sigh.. what else can one expect from a criminal cabal?
This post finds me both angered and filled with sadness
Syria: joint OPCW-UN chemical weapons team reports visits to nearly all
declared sites
23 October 2013 – The Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations dealing with Syria’s
chemical weapons programme reports that it has now visited 18 of the sites
disclosed by Damascus, a spokesperson for the chemical watchdog said
today.
*“Interaction with UN remains excellent and cooperation from Syrian
authorities complete... more »
Offshore oil drilling opponents blow up their case [updated]
POPULAR OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE oil drilling continues in NZ, even as oil
continues to be the world’s most abundantly used energy source—including by
its opponents, recognising perhaps in their own ongoing use of energy and
products derived from oil that fossil fuels actually improve the planet for
human life.
The importance of oil for energy production can easily be seen in Germany
and Japan, where their shutdown of nuclear power stations has made it
abundantly clear that so-called “renewable energy” sources just can’t cope
with the energy demands of our industrial civilisation.
... more »
Nawaz Sharif, Barack Obama Set To Discuss Illegal Drone Attacks In Pakistan
Obama, Sharif to Meet at White House. Source: VOAvideo. Date Published:
October 22, 2013.
Like Stealing Candy From A Baby
As I've said before I'm not a fan of these Mark Dice petition videos. These
people are signing the petition because they want to be polite, they don't
know how absurd it sounds because they're probably tuning out what Mark is
saying throughout the whole time. Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel make these same
stupid and cheap videos where they ask people basic questions and then show
how stupid they are. Taking advantage of people's lack of intelligence and
knowledge to increase ratings and get YouTube views is lame as hell. It's
like stealing candy from a baby.
Massive blackout in Syria after rebels blast gas pipeline [RT]
This terrorism against Syria has failed to bring the country down.
Washington, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey are backing this terrorism.
They believe they are immune from retaliation. They are mistaken,
especially Turkey.
Massive blackout in Syria after rebels blast gas pipeline. Source: RT.
We spy or we don't spy - that is the question
address-withheld@my.opera.com.invalid (Dr. John v. Kampen) at - 19 hours ago
Link: http://youtu.be/-3CTk1DqooA Link: http://youtu.be/grR7mMK-JtM
Is the USA losing "friends"? Pakistan, India, Saudi-Arabia and similar
'partners', but now even *Germany*?! Thanks for nothing, or was the USA
overplaying its cards? Is president Obama (US) in or also under control?
Does he perhaps overestimate his influence and power? With a financial
collapse approaching, which will revolutionize the debt-driven fabric of US
society, Mr. Obama needs to be careful these days. The saying: "once a
thief always a thief" may have a different meaning amongst "friends". So,
if Mr. Obama... more »
Why It's Kicking Off Everywhere
This is a book that I just finished. Paul Mason's *Why It's Kicking Off
Everywhere: The new global revolutions*. It was written in the supposedly
heady days of 2011, when the "Arab Spring" and "Occupy Wall Street" and the
anti-Austerity riots were raging across Europe. Apparently it's based on
observations that became his blog. (Or something.)
I find it an excellent, but frustrating book. Excellent because it provides
a great summary of the structural causes of the present economic crisis.
Frustrating because there's all this self-evidently crapola nonsense about
how ordinary pe... more »
Trade Unions and Employment Rights
We built this city! But contrary to Starship's audacious claim, it wasn't
on rock & roll. You see, Stoke-on-Trent is a city that rests on the proud
history of our labour movement. And on October 31st the Labour Party and
the trade unions will be coming together in a public event to celebrate
that.
Organised by Joan Walley, the MP for Stoke-on-Trent North it will be an
opportunity to mingle with trade union folk and take part in a question and
answer session. This features Joan's fellow Stoke-on-Trent MPs, Rob Flello
and Tristram Hunt; Chief Executive of local housing association Br... more »
Catch of the Day
Matt Yglesias demolishes a conservative talking point about Singapore and
health care reform. Bottom line, after he reviews what Singapore actually
does:
None of this sounds to me like anything American conservatives favor. As
in, there is no legislation that's been championed by major Republican
leaders that would do any of these things and, in general, none of these
measures comports with conservative aversion to government spending and
regulation.
Here's where I think we are. There are several conservative policy wonks
who are basically sincere, as far as I can tell, in their vi... more »
Everybody Favors Marijuana Legalization Except Elderly Republicans
How many Democrats are running for Congress advocating the end of
prohibition?
This week Gallup released a national poll reporting that, for the first
time ever, a *majority* (not just the usual plurality) of Americans favos
legalizing marijuana. Democrats and Independents favor it by wide margins.
Republicans are opposed, which seems to indicate that libertarianism is
still not part of the Republican mainstream. Only 35% of Republicans favor
legalization. Over 60% of normal Americans favor it-- with a huge growth in
pro-pot independents, up 12 points over the last year! 58% of Ameri... more »
STEALTH DESTROYER LAUNCH THIS FRIDAY
*The first ever Zumwalt "stealth" destroyer built at Bath Iron Works*
I learned today that the new "stealth" destroyer made here in Bath will be
put into the water on this Friday, Oct 25. I am going to put together a
vigil on Washington St in front of the BIW administration office from 3:00
- 4:30 pm. All are invited to join me.
This warship will be used to sneak up along China's coast because it will
supposedly be able to evade radar detection. There can be no doubt that
its primary mission is not defense, but instead is a key tool in the
Pentagon's first-strike planning.
The *A... more »
PTSD IS REALLY POST TRAUMATIC HEART DISORDER ~ ONLY LOVE HEALS
**
**
*It is obvious that the symptoms of PTSD are very similar to the symptoms
of people being seemingly separated from love whereas deep psychic pain as
well as feelings of guilt and unworthiness override the ability to give and
receive love ~ thus supporting a heart centered approach to recovery: Allen
L Roland, PhD.*
In March 2005, PBS aired *A SOLDIERS HEART* where a physician on that show
reported that every soldier in Iraq is forever emotionally changed after
serving in combat.
This can actually become a hardening of the heart whereas the soldier
eventually becom... more »
BITS AND PIECES
- Word comes today from Jeju Island where a dedicated Catholic activist
supporter of the village struggle against the Navy base was hit by a big
construction truck and carried to an emergency room of a hospital. No word
yet on extent of injuries. It is just a matter of time before someone gets
seriously injured or killed the way the police and naval authorities are
ramping up construction and repression of the people. Boycott Samsung - the
lead construction contractor for the Navy base.
- I met for lunch today with Nicholson Baker and Tom Jackson .
N... more »
Greece, and Italy have no economic balls
What Iceland Teaches Us: “Let Banks Fail” Agence France-Presse notes:
Three years after Iceland’s banks collapsed and the country teetered on
the brink, its economy is recovering, proof that governments should let
failing lenders go bust and protect taxpayers, analysts say.
***
“The lesson that could be learned from Iceland’s way of handling its crisis
is that it is important to shield taxpayers and government finances from
bearing the cost of a financial crisis to the extent possible,”
Islandsbanki analyst Jon Bjarki Bentsson told AFP.
“Even if our way of dealing with the crisis wa... more »
As heard on Fox: Do you understand the nature of that alleged health care “exemption?”
*WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013*
*Glenn Kessler explains in the Post:* Conservative voters constantly hear
misinformation on Fox.
With that in mind, we learned something about Obamacare from reading Glenn
Kessler this Sunday.
Kessler runs the Washington Post’s Fact Checker site. Each Sunday, one of
his reports is printed in the hard-copy Post, where it’s given a fairly
high profile.
This Sunday, we learned something about the health care law from reading
Kessler’s featured report. In the piece which appeared in the Post, Kessler
tackled a claim we constantly hear on Fox.
Right at t... more »
Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 proves that light degrades to MICROWAVES, proves that space isn't FLAT.
Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 has a red shift value of 7.5, the largest ever recorded.
Galaxy Z8-GND-5296 is VERY FAR AWAY, and that's all it means.
In fact, it means the LIGHT HAS DEGRADED over 13 billion years ago since it
began its journey, the wavelength of its light has lengthened towards the
Microwave end of the electromagnetic spectrum.
And don't tell me that CMB or Cosmic Microwave Background is your only
evidence of a Big Bang ... that makes it a bunkum theory. The reason I'm so
cocky and forthright on this issue is BECAUSE I TURNED PHYSICS ON ITS HEAD
- my HC Unit theory states that... more »
Mike Duffy's happy dance
Now that Senator Duffy has gotten the stuff off of his chest, after
speaking in the Senate, he does a happy dance. Is it possible that he will
become the John Dean of Watergate? Nixon and buddies wanted to make John
Dean the fall guy and he in return screwed them all. Nixon had to resign in
disgrace. Is that the fate of Harper now?
CAPRI, CATAMITES AND THE COGNOSCENTI
*Capri*
Young boys were an interest for novelist Graham Greene, who made his home
on Capri
Young boys were an interest for Emperor Tiberius, German industrialist
Friedrich Alfred Krupp and many others who made their homes on Capri.
This island of satyrs has a licentious reputation.
*Graham Greene of MI6*
'For occasional homosexual adventures', novelist Graham Greene used to take
young Italian boys to Villa Rossaio, his home on the island
(Source: Graham Greene, The Man Within, by Michael Shelden, publ.Heinemann.)
*Graham Greene's The Third Man.*
Greene's friend Doctor Elizabeth... more »
Do Congressmen Really Get Away With Taking Bribes? You Bet'cha!
"The real scandal in Washington isn't what's illegal; it's what's *legal*."
It's why I'm always writing about "legalistic bribes" and it's how *60
Minutes'* Steve Kroft began his report Sunday on how congressmembers skirt
the law to profit from their offices. Watch it above and keep in mind that
corruption is very bipartisan in Washington and that "everyone" in DC is
aware of it, but no one back in the states know their Member is a crook.
The Hoover Institution's Peter Schweitzer: "I think campaign fundraising is
increasingly not just about winning elections; it's a lifestyle subs... more »
Leave to appeal for costs is not required if the substantive disposition is different from that of the decision under appeal
*Chiaramonte v. Chiaramonte,* 2013 ONCA 641:
The husband also asks this court to set aside the costs order of Snowie J.
dated February 1, 2013, which ordered costs in favour of the wife on a full
indemnity basis in the amount of $90,616.91 for fees and $10,724.89 for
disbursements. The wife argues that this court cannot consider the costs
order of Snowie J. without leave to appeal. However, the general principle
is that, when an appeal is allowed, the order for costs below is set aside
and the costs below and the costs of the appeal are awarded to the
successful appellant: *St. Jean... more »
Bibliography on Science in Policy (Mainly EU)
Colleagues at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission put
together this very useful bibliography on science in policy making, shared
here with their permission for future reference.
Enjoy!
Future directions for scientific advice in Whitehall, Robert Doubleday and
James Wilsdon, April 2013
Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy, Kenneth Prewitt, Thomas A.
Schwandt, and Miron L. Straf, Editors; Committee on the Use of Social
Science Knowledge in Public Policy; Center for Education; Division of
Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education; National Research Coun... more »
Doctor Who's coming back but what does the trailer mean?
First of all why are some of the Doctor Who iterations not in the trailer?
No Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy or Paul McGann - I did originally think
that Christopher Eccleston was also missing but he's there at 0:37. Or have
I missed them?
The Realist Report with John Friend
On this edition of *The Realist Report*, we'll be joined once again by
Brother Ryan. *Brother Ryan* and I will be discussing his views on
Christian Anarchism and American nationalism.
You can download the mp3 for this program *here*, or visit *The Realist
Report* on BlogTalkRadio to subscribe via iTunes and view past programs.
FR. BIX ON HIS JEJU TRIP
Fr. William "Bix" Bichsel, S.J. spent about two weeks on Jeju Island, South
Korea recently (late September through early October). It was a
transformative experience for the 85 year old Jesuit. In this interview, In
this interview, Bix speaks passionately about the struggle by the people of
Jeju Island to stop construction of the massive naval base that is
unnecessary from a military perspective, and will only serve to increase
tensions in the region.
Art-ertainment
When Grayson Perry’s Reith lectures were being trailed I thought we were
going to get the lowdown on the slippery subject of evaluating and defining
art in the present day. You know, get some answers to questions like “How
to tell ‘good‘ art from ‘bad’, and “What *is* art?”.
What’s more we were to be getting them from an insider. Someone who is
lauded by the establishment, whose work is undoubtedly considered by “them”
to be ‘good’ *and* ‘art’.
Instead, he pussyfooted around, telling us that the arbiters of ‘value’ or
‘quality’ were gallery owners, collectors and, well, Charles Saa... more »
Because some things are beyond criticism
The Telegraph reports something interesting:*
*
*BBC 'shelves' Panorama exposé of Comic Relief*
The planned broadcast of a Panorama investigation into Comic Relief has
reportedly been cancelled after a string of BBC executives ruled themselves
out of making decisions about it.
Apparently:
The documentary is understood to examine how the charity allegedly invested
£150 million of its funds for up to eight years, before handing the money
to the causes for which it had been raised.
Some of the money was allegedly invested in tobacco firms and an arms
company.
By the end of last ye... more »
M of A - Syria: After CW Removal, Obama May Again Go For Regime Change
*Syria: After CW Removal, Obama May Again Go For Regime Change *
*Source: Moon of Alabama*
*Date Published: October 23, 2013*
The NYT has a long piece on the development of Obama's policies towards
Syria. While some on his staff pressed for outright open war on Syria
others were going along the "let them kill each other" line. Their idea was
and is to let both sides fight each other until no one is left standing. To
this purpose the stream of weapons and ammunition to the mercenaries
fighting the Syrian government was switched off when the mercenaries are in
advantage and switche... more »
'Traditional tribal customs' - hmmm really BBC?
The BBC report this:
'A 15-year-old Yemeni girl was burned to death by her father for getting in
touch with her fiance before their wedding, police say.
The 35-year-old man was arrested after the teenager's death in the remote
village of Shabaa, in Taiz province.
"The father committed this heinous crime on the pretext that his daughter
had been keeping in contact with her fiance," a police statement claimed.
Local news websites said he had caught the pair chatting on the telephone.
Traditional tribal customs in some parts of Yemen prohibit contact between
men and women before marri... more »
Mohawk John Kane 'We are not alone'
.
We are not alone
By John Kane, Mohawk
A few things are clear from the events of the past week. The first is
that we are not alone. The Mi’kmaq who are standing against fracking for
natural gas in Elsipogtog do so not just with the courage of their own
convictions but also with support from places diverse in
geography, culture and ethnicity.
Social media have made it much easier
Weed vs. Marriage
I said over at PP yesterday that I think Democrats have a fight coming over
marijuana, thanks to new polling that shows a majority currently favor
legalization.
I compared the situation to marriage, and I see Joshua Tucker did, too; in
many ways it's a natural comparison.
I do have one caution about it: I'm a lot less confident that it's a
one-direction lasting trend than the marriage trend. This is basically just
speculative, but for whatever it's worth...
I've always been fairly confident that the case against same-sex marriage
would dissolve if and when it was enacted. The argum... more »
The Duck of Minerva is blocked in China
I was just in China for a work thing, when I checked the Duck for
something. Turns out the Duck is screened out by the Great Firewall. Even
if you go to Google Search Hong Kong, it’s still blocked. Wow. Who knew
even nerdy IR theory and pop culture references posed a threat to CCP
Continue reading
Known Knowns and Unknown Unknowns Strike Again
Whenever public officials want to pass one of the many bucks that keep
fluttering toward their desks, they go to the propaganda cabinet and drag
out their trusty Word Salad Spinners. Perhaps the most famous example of
this defense mechanism was when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld gave his
tortured explanation for the debacle in Iraq:
*There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know. There are
known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't
know. But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know
we don't know.*
And now... more »
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