Solitary confinement’s psychological effects are obvious enough. But you have to hear it from the prisoners to be truly horrified
Shourd was captured by the Iranian government in 2009, along with her now husband Shane Bauer and their friend Josh Fattal, when they accidentally crossed over the border during a long vacation hike. The three have just released a book called A Sliver of Light about their subsequent incarceration. Shourd spent less time in Evin prison than Bauer and Fattal, but she was held in solitary confinement for her entire stay. Her devastating account of how this isolation almost caused her to unravel will, no doubt, shock many American readers. They should be even more shocked, however, to know that there are tens of thousands of prisoners held in isolation in American prisons every day – and the conditions to which they’re subjected are not much better than Shourd’s in Iran.
Indeed, ‘the hole’ in the US is sometimes even worse than the worst public horror stories.
Nile River Dam Threatens War Between Egypt and Ethiopia
Egypt fears the new dam, slated to begin operation in 2017, will reduce the downstream flow of the Nile, which 85 million Egyptians rely on for almost all of their water needs. “One reason for the high level of anxiety is that nobody really knows how this dam is going to affect Egypt’s water share,” Richard Tutwiler, a specialist in water resource management at the American University in Cairo (AUC)
The dam is expected to improve flood control, expand downstream irrigation capacity and, crucially, allow Ethiopia to export surplus electricity to power-hungry Sudan via a cross-border link.
Some studies indicate that properly managed hydroelectric dams in Ethiopia could mitigate damaging floods and increase Egypt’s overall water share. Storing water in the cooler climes of Ethiopia would ensure far less water is lost to evaporation than in the desert behind the Aswan High Dam.
Egypt, however, is particularly concerned about the loss of water share during the five to ten years it will take to fill the dam’s reservoir.
Sanctioning Russia Won’t Help Ukraine
Sanctioning Russia may actually reduce its incentive to change course in Crimea.
Economic sanctions fail to achieve their objectives because they target the wrong demographic, increase government control over resources and create incentives for citizen loyalty to the state, and induce an impulse to “rally around the flag.”
The sanctions are superficial and pathetic, they won't really hurt Russia and they won't help Ukraine. They will however ratchet up tensions and may lead to unintended consequences. The regime in Washington has proven to be dangerous, inept and reckless. It seems the author of this piece ignorant of some important context. She is still a student and has perhaps fallen victim to the most pervasive, expensive and sophisticated system of propaganda in history. (aka public relations, see Walter Lippmann and Ed Bernays)
There was never any intention to help Ukraine. They want NATO ABM bases in Ukraine (aimed at Russia). Zbiggy "Grand Chessboard" Brzezinski and the gang want Russia surrounded, destabilized and broken apart.
There was never any intention to help Ukraine. They want NATO ABM bases in Ukraine (aimed at Russia). Zbiggy "Grand Chessboard" Brzezinski and the gang want Russia surrounded, destabilized and broken apart.
The neo-fascist Svoboda party with the xenophobic stooge "Yats" was hand-picked by Nuland. The EU wanted to install Klitschko, Nuland said "F the EU" and the EU lackeys dutifully backed down and let her have Yats. Nuland is on record boasting that the US taxpayer spent 5 billion dollars to "spread freedom and democracy" in Ukraine.
They want the IMF and the international bankster cartel to take over the country's economy, impose "austerity" and asset-strip the carcass until it is picked clean. I suggest the author look into the terms of the IMF package.
Maybe I am just intolerant due to the lies being told in the Anglo-Saxon so-called media but I noticed a subtle biased double standard about a couple of things (and I'm being very nice about it):
1. Russia did not "annex" Ukraine in a conventional sense at at all: Crimea seceeded from Ukraine and VOTED to join Russia in an exercise of DIRECT DEMOCRACY. Russia agreed. The vast majority of Crimea is Russian-speaking and wanted to join Russia.
2. The Kiev govt. was installed by a putsch, (supported by the US and others) and is by definition, illegitimate. Crimea told the neo-fascists in Kiev to bugger off. If we purport to support "freedom and democracy" we ought to applaud them. Otherwise "freedom and democracy" is little more than Doublethink.
2. The Kiev govt. was installed by a putsch, (supported by the US and others) and is by definition, illegitimate. Crimea told the neo-fascists in Kiev to bugger off. If we purport to support "freedom and democracy" we ought to applaud them. Otherwise "freedom and democracy" is little more than Doublethink.
PS: excellent article about academic social science
http://www.counterpunch.org/20...
http://www.counterpunch.org/20...
I understand what you are saying but don't agree 100%.
Crimeans had the choice of abstaining if they didn't like either choice and the idea of an independent Crimea is appealing but unsustainable in practice.
Referendums, by definition tend to be binary -voting for or against something. Younger Crimeans who don't remember Crimea as part of Russia pre-1954 are more likely to think of themselves as Ukrainians but even Tatars voted to rejoin Russia.
Crimeans had the choice of abstaining if they didn't like either choice and the idea of an independent Crimea is appealing but unsustainable in practice.
Referendums, by definition tend to be binary -voting for or against something. Younger Crimeans who don't remember Crimea as part of Russia pre-1954 are more likely to think of themselves as Ukrainians but even Tatars voted to rejoin Russia.
Russia will very likely sit by and see what unfolds; they have essentially had the Crimea handed to them on a plate as a by product of an illegal coup in Kiev. They need Ukraine only as a buffer between them and the NATO (USA) aggressors circling them like sharks.
The USA wants civil war so NATO can step in; whether the Ukrainian military will allow the neo-fascist thugs and the CIA to achieve that is moot.
Ukraine needs Russia for trade, energy and financial support. The EU needs Ukraine's debt like a hole in the head. Western Ukrainians want to join the EU so they can leave or at least better themselves -the latter a delusion.
NATO only wants bases there. The USA just wants to destabilise and weaken Russia as it has become a nuisance to its (USA) Imperial ambitions.
Neocons want war to satisfy their biblical prophecy and as revenge for Russia quashing their meddling -e.g. Syria, Iran, Snowden and now Ukraine.
As far as sanctions go, Russia can move from the dollar, cut off energy to Ukraine and Europe, call in their loans, cut the USA off from the 100% reliable overland route supporting their efforts in Afghanistan (we know how well the Pakistan route has worked) and squeeze the assets of various players. They don't need anybody right now and as extra blowback, the violent coup in Ukraine and re-joining of Crimea has increased Putin's popularity to 70% or so.
- Radical UN Report Promotes Democratic Control of Food and an End to Corporate Domination
- De Schutter, the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, spent six years visiting more than a dozen countries and concluded that the world’s entire food system should be rebuilt, starting with the promotion of local, sustainable farming so that ordinary people have control over what they can grow and eat.
7:18am MDST
Insecurity Updates - March 25 , 2014 -- Homeland Security Exercise Targets “Free Americans Against Socialist Tyranny” ...... New Jersey Lawmaker Blasts Proposed Magazine Ban “This body intends to treat otherwise law-abiding citizens the same way it treats sex offenders…” ...... Additional items from the Stasi State.....
Homeland Security Exercise Targets “Free Americans Against Socialist Tyranny” - [image: The Alex Jones Channel][image: Alex Jones Show podcast][image: Prison Planet TV][image: Infowars.com Twitter][image: Alex Jones' Facebook][image: Infowars store] Leaked documents reveal plan to counter online dissent during martial law *Paul Joseph Watson* Infowars.com March 24, 2014 Leaked Homeland Security documents obtained by Infowars reveal details of a joint DHS/FEMA national exercise set to take place this week, one of the components of which revolves around an effort to counter ... more »
Austerity never actually occurred for the big shots in D.C......Eric Holder & DoJ Spent Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars On Unreported Personal Travel - - The agency that tracks federal travel did not report hundreds of personal and other “nonmission” trips aboard government planes for senior Justice Department officials including Attorney General Eric Holder and former FBI Director Robert Mueller ..... Congress’s nonpartisan Government Accountability Office determined that the 395 flights cost taxpayers $7.8 million. But the General Services Administration, which oversees trips aboard federal jets, did not require documentation because of a GSA reporting exemption that covers intelligence agencies, even in cases of unclassified personal travel. Considering travel extravagance from the President and First Lady , no wonder the Minions are running amok on the tazpayer dimes !
Catharsis Ours - 5 minutes ago
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-24/eric-holder-doj-spent-millions-taxpayer-dollars-unreported-personal-travel Eric Holder & DoJ Spent Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars On Unreported Personal Travel [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/24/2014 21:36 -0400 - FBI - Mexico inShare *Submitted by Mike Krieger of Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,* As the Attorney General of these United States, Eric Holder is the top legal advisor for the entire nation. As such, he has been in a position to help punish financial criminals and the mega-banks for the crimes t... more »
Sea Turtle Rescue Release from Loggerhead in West. Palm Beach Florida. His Run for Freedom, Beautiful!
I was in West Palm Beach Florida last week with my daughter during her Spring Break (that is why there were no posts from me). We went to the Loggerhead Turtle Rescue in West Palm Beach, where my mother volunteers at times. It was beautiful how this turtle ran to the water for FREEDOM. It had been rescued off the pier after being hooked on a fish hook. It was found to have a few fish
Blue America Is Taking A Brief Time Out
If you ever donate to Democratic candidates or committees, for the rest of this week, you are likely to be bombarded with with hysterical, desperate spam from the DCCC, DSCC and their myriad candidates. The New Dems and Third Way candidates from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party, like Patrick Murphy and Sean Patrick Maloney, have been instructed to send out as many as 5 e-mails *per day* leading up to Monday, the last day of the FEC's first quarter of 2014. As the *Washington Post*'s Aaron Blake put it yesterday, pointing specifically to sleazy New Dem Brad Schneider (IL)... more »
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*CDC: Higher cancer risk for kids living near busy roads* *This is a bit of a nonsense. Why review only 7 studies? Did all the others show no effect? And did they all control for income? Probably not -- in which case we may be looking at a poverty effect. The journal article is "Residential Traffic Exposure and Childhood Leukemia"* Young children who are exposed to high levels of vehicle exhaust — such as what they'd encounter living near busy roads in urban areas — appear to have a greater risk of childhood leukemia, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention r... more »
Ukraine: Regime Change & the IMF's Bitter Pill
*Article from Global Research. Worth reading entirely* [image: arsenyiy obama] *In the days following the Ukraine coup d’Etat of February 23, leading to the ousting of a duly elected president, Wall Street and the IMF–in liaison with the US Treasury and the European Commission in Brussels– had already set the stage for the outright takeover of Ukraine’s monetary system. The EuroMaidan protests leading up to “regime change” and the formation of an interim government were followed by purges within key ministries and government bodies. * Interim Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk meets P... more »
Ed Steer's Gold , Silver and Precious Metals Update March 25 , 2014 - News , Data and Views of the day
http://www.caseyresearch.com/gsd/edition/silver-vault-for-600-tonnes-starting-in-singapore-on-investor-demand ¤ YESTERDAY IN GOLD & SILVER It was obvious that the gold price was going to have a rough go of it on Monday. By around 10:30 a.m. Hong Kong time, gold was down ten bucks---and volume was well over 20,000 contracts, which is extremely high for that time of day, so the HFT boyz were busy. After that, not much happened until precisely 8:30 a.m. EDT---and the New York HFT traders had their work done for the day by 11:30 a.m. The gold price traded pretty flat from there into ... more »
Venezuela Bolivar Devalues 89% in Start of New FX Market - Today's launch of SICAD II, a new currency market which allows the free-market to bid for USD (in Bolivars), appears to be an effort to provide liquidity to a black-market for dollars. SICAD II priced at 55 Bolivars today - an 89% devaluation from the official rate of 6.29 (and another auction-based rate SICAD I - applicable to some firms - of 10.8) ..... TEEN, PREGNANT 28- YEAR-OLD LATEST KILLED IN ATTACKS ON VENEZUELAN PROTESTERS
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-24/venezuela-bolivar-devalues-89-start-new-fx-market Venezuela Bolivar Devalues 89% in Start of New FX Market [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/24/2014 14:49 -0400 - CDS - Hyperinflation - Reality - Reuters - Transparency inShare6 *Venezuela's exchange rate is a Gordian Knot* of rules and regulations meant to baffle onlookers with bullshit and, we suspect, hide the hyperinflation from prying eyes just a little longer. Today's launch of SICAD II, a new currency market which allows the free-m... more »
'Sharia is incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy'
That sharia is incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy is not just my view but that of the European Court of Human Rights. In the case of Refah Partisi v Turkey, the ECHR upheld the Turkish Constitutional Court's dissolution of The Welfare Party (Refah Partisi) for violating Turkey's principle of secularism (by calling for the re-introduction of religious law). The ECHR held "that sharia is incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy." The ECHR justified this by reasoning that a legal regime based on sharia would diverge from the Convention's values, ... more »
Labour are against hereditary privilege, well unless...
Labour are against hereditary privilege, well unless it keeps jobs in their families...
IPCC: impact of climate change small, either beneficial or not
Media write about the report of the Second Working Group of the IPCC (focusing on "impacts of the hypothetical climate change") that will release its fifth report next Monday. Most of the sources tell us about the catastrophes that will cripple Asia, Australia, and any other random piece of the globe. You have seen this stuff 1,000 times in the past so you may imagine what they have to offer. But there are some notable exceptions. The BBC chose an interesting title, *Dissent among scientists over key climate impact report*. But The Sydney Morning Herald has the most upbeat articl... more »
Musical Interlude: Karl Jenkins, “Palladio”
Karl Jenkins, “Palladio” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqmbz8W1-tA
“The UN v. Skynet?” An ISA Teaser
As the gods of the International Studies Association have seen fit to place my panel at 8:15 on a Saturday morning, I decided to advertise my talk in the blogosphere in hopes of drumming up some attendees. Below please see the teaser trailer for my working paper this year, which explores the impact of science Continue reading
Musical Interlude: Adiemus, “In Caelum Fero”
Adiemus, “In Caelum Fero” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dc-tRfKjuQ&feature=related
“UAV Predator/Reaper Target Destruction GCS”
*“UAV Predator/Reaper Target Destruction GCS”* by DefenseTech "This is fairly detailed look at a Predator/Reaper strike simulated by what looks like company officials, though I'd bet this is what a CIA strike might look like. The video is both fascinating and at the same time disturbing. For one, it's amazing the control and detailed view available to the "pilot" and "sensor." It just blows me away that two people can control several drones from an air conditioned trailer 7,000 miles away in Nevada- or 100 miles away. The ability for the operators to distinguish targets, coordinat... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Far beyond the local group of galaxies lies NGC 3621, some 22 million light-years away. Found in the multi-headed southern constellation Hydra, the winding spiral arms of this gorgeous island universe are loaded with luminous young star clusters and dark dust lanes. Still, for earthbound astronomers NGC 3621 is not just another pretty face-on spiral galaxy. Some of its brighter stars have been used as standard candles to establish important estimates of extragalactic distances and the scale of the Universe. *Click image for larger size.* This beautiful image of NGC 3621 traces the... more »
Paulo Coelho, "Our True Friends..."
"Our true friends are those who are with us when the good things happen. They cheer us on and are pleased by our triumphs. False friends only appear at difficult times, with their sad, supportive faces, when, in fact, our suffering is serving to console them for their miserable lives." - Paulo Coelho
DEMMINK, HEROIN, PEDOPHILE RINGS
In a court in Holland, a former police chief, Klaas *Langedoen*, has said that 'Turkey blackmailed Joris *Demmink*' the former boss of the Dutch Justice Ministry. 'Turkije chanteerde justitietop met Demmink ... - De Telegraaf - *Translate this page* *Demmink* has been accused of sexually abusing boys in Turkey. *Langedoen*, the former chief of the Dutch Criminal Investigation Department (CID), carried out an investigation in Turkey. *The blackmail deal was reportedly arranged between former Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and the then Dutch Minister of Justice Winnie Sorg... more »
"My Own View..."
“My own view is that this planet is used as a penal colony, lunatic asylum and dumping ground by a superior civilization, to get rid of the undesirable and unfit. I can't prove it, but you can't disprove it either. It happens to be my view, but it doesn't challenge any of the findings of Darwin or Huxley or Einstein or Hawking.” - Christopher Hitchens
“Dark Night of the Soul: Surrendering the Ego”
*“Dark Night of the Soul: Surrendering the Ego”* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "While we are in a dark night of the soul experience, hold steady knowing the light will appear once again. Whenever a word is overused, it is most likely being misused, and over time, it begins to lose its meaningfulness. For example, we often refer to a fleeting feeling of depression or a period of confusion, as a dark night of the soul, but neither of these things qualifies as such. A dark night of the soul is a very specific experience that some people encounter on their spiritual journeys. There are... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Magdalena, New Mexico, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
“What Is Perhaps the Most Powerful Word in the English Language?”
*“What Is Perhaps the Most Powerful Word in the English Language?”* by Michael S. Broder, Ph.D. “I'll spare you the tease. That word is "no"! The ability to be assertive and say "no" is a communication skill we all learn at a very young age. If you're a parent, you know better than anyone that once this word enters a child's vocabulary it's used very often. However, as an adult, "no" is often much more difficult to say. As life gets busier and obligations increase, the ability to say "no" is increasingly important. If you can learn to assert yourself, it can be the difference betwe... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "Sonnets to Orpheus, Part One, IV"
*"Sonnets to Orpheus, Part One, IV"* "You who let yourselves feel: enter the breathing that is more than your own. Let it brush your cheeks as it divides and rejoins beside you. Blessed ones, whole ones, you where the heart begins: You are the bow that shoots the arrows and you are the target. Fear not the pain. Let its weight fall back into the earth; for heavy are the mountains, heavy the seas. The trees you planted in childhood have grown too heavy. You cannot bring them along. Give yourselves to the air, to what you cannot hold." - Rainer Maria Rilke
Chet Raymo, “tl;dr”
*“tl;dr”* by Chet Raymo “When I was invited to write a weekly column for the Boston Globe (the original Science Musings) those many years ago, I thought it took at least a thousand words to say anything that anyone would want to read. A gripping lead. Statement of theme. Development of theme. Recapitulation of theme and catchy exit. A thousand words were about right. I was paid by the column, not the word count. As the years passed, I learned that brevity is the soul of wit, and the column slowly shrank. 900 words. 800. After all, he who coined the phrase stands as the greatest wit... more »
People who rely on the BBC for their news just wouldn't understand Boris's reference to 'Ed Balls' and a 'Nazi uniform'
This Telegraph article contained a quotation from Boris Johnson (Ed) “went into his stock rant about which schools everyone used to attend, and which university clubs they belonged to (a bit much, when you consider that both he and I were at the same prestigious forcing-ground of talent that was Primrose Hill Primary School, Camden; or when you consider that Ed Balls himself was a member of an Oxford drinking club so egregious that he once appeared in Nazi uniform).” People who rely on the BBC for their news just wouldn't understand Boris's reference to Ed Balls' Nazi uniform as the... more »
Drug Price Control 39: Presentation at USC, Cebu, March 2014
Two weekends ago, I gave a talk at the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City, some 100 Pharmacy Economics students of a friend, Prof. Frank Largo. Frank is a fellow UP School of Economics (UPSE) alumni, also a fellow International Academy for Leadership (IAF) alumni at Gummersbach, Germany. Four years ago, I also gave a talk at his Economics graduate class also at USC. I was one of four speakers then. See Drug Price Control 38: Presentation at USC, Cebu, March 2010. The other speaker that day was Prof. Eric Salenga, Chairman of the Pharmacy Department, UP Manila, also Presi... more »
What to Expect When Your State is Being Run Amok
I had the unique experience of living in several states as the reform onslaught took hold over America’s public schools. Each state had its nuances, its preferences, its prejudices, and its own structure. I also had the priviledge of living in New York State just as the shit was hitting the fan and parents decided […]
21st Century Skills?
*Stephen Krashen* *Yogi Berra: "It's hard to predict, especially about the future."* "I contend that, instead of insisting on more and more standardization, we should be increasing variety, flexibility, and choice in what we offer in our schools (Noddings, 2009, p.243). " ... useful knowledge changes as societies change" (Zhao, 2009, p. 135). It is often stated that new standards are necessary so that children will develop "21st Century Skills." Education Secretary Duncan behaves, at times, as if he knows what these skills are (but see below). Most of us have no idea. The history of... more »
Vancouver Canada's First Non GMO Convention - June 8 2014
[image: Foto: Vancouver BC: MARK YOUR CALENDARS, you won't want to miss this! Jeffrey Smith is coming to town on June 8th for the VANCOUVER'S FIRST EVERYTHING VEGAN & VEGETARIAN EVENT! There will be a GMO information session with Jeffrey Smith himself. Check it out! READ MORE HERE: http://www.vegexpo.ca/ EVENTS PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/267318260094172/ #JeffreySmith #VegExpo #GMOs #gmofreecanada] Vancouver BC: MARK YOUR CALENDARS, you won't want to miss this! Jeffrey Smith is coming to town on June 8th for the VANCOUVER'S FIRST EVERYTHING VEGAN & VEGETARIAN EVENT! The... more »
It's A Good Life - An Organic Farming Video Story
IT'S A GOOD LIFE from Black Ticket Films Plus 11 months ago Not Yet Rated What does a farmer do to a land that has died? He teams up with nature...and works a miracle! In the midst of the pitched debate around how genetically modified (GM) food crops are going to give the world its solution to the impending food crisis, 'It’s a Good Life' tells the story of how one farmer in India changed his fortunes by switching from chemical to organic agriculture. Breaking several myths around organic agricult... more »
UPDATE 7 March 24 , 2014 (Day:17) MISSING MH370: Chinese plane spot several suspicious floating objects on Monday in remote seas off Australia ....... as a cautionary note , satellite images of possible debris observed by several nations have yet to be found let alone confirmed as being from MH 370...... 17 day fruitless search stirs concerns regarding cargo manifest and pilots as being potentially responsible for the plane's disappearance.....Strategic Aviation Solutions chairman Neil Hansford said it also suggests Malaysian authorities are not being fully transparent about what the Boeing 777-200ER, which disappeared on March 8 an hour into a journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, was carrying.
Catharsis Ours - 8 hours ago
Monday, 24 March 2014 22:43ALL HOPE LOST: MH370 crashed into Indian Ocean, airline says NO SURVIVORS - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - E-mail - Comments (13) Rate this item - - 1 - <a class="two-stars" href="http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=249901:all-hope-lost-mh370-crashed-into-indian-ocean-airline-says-no-survivors&Itemid=2#" rel="249901" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; ... more »
Americans Should Hear What Chris Hedges Had To Say At Oxford Last Month. They Won't
Chris Hedges, in making the case that Edward Snowden is a hero: "With moral courage comes persecution. It is always defined by the state as treason." His presentation, which I beg you to watch above, is only 8 minutes, 8 minutes of brilliance. Mike Lee-- no, not that Mike Lee, a student at Oxford-- covered it for the student paper and reported that the vote of the assembled students after the debate found that Snowden, as Hedges asserted, merits the title "hero." Hedges said that a hero “shows moral courage and disobedience to higher authority even at the risk of persecution” and... more »
Living Off The Grid - Survey Results
Our last survey asked whether or not we could live off the grid and, if so, what electrical devices we could live without. Here are your answers: *Which of the following items could youlive without (select all that apply)?[image: Prioritize energy use to live off the grid.]* *Other: - Hot Water- Hair Dryers and Hair Care Products * I drew the following conclusions from the results: - Microwaves are unnecessary (almost all participants said they could do without them). - All items received at least one vote suggesting that living completely off the grid is a realistic...more »
Social Security Lies That Will HURT US Still Being Media Spun at Great Velocity (Remember Kent State Murders? I Was at DC Protest) Jimmy Carter Bugged? Really!
There isn't much left to be said in defense of an almost three-trillion (yes, trillion) dollar taxpayer-funded program always under attack from those who want to take one-third of it for their personal profits arising from a bought-and-paid-for rich-man's-media-created hysteria that appeals to the ignorant or purposely uninformed. The first comment found below the essay is the usual right-wing
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*Climate scientists refuse to debate global warming with skeptics* *The few that have done so have clearly lost so the rest aren't game* Climate scientists and environmentalists are venting their frustrations debating those who are skeptical of man-made global warming — and some have even gone so far as to refuse debating skeptics. Dan Weiss, the director of climate strategy at the liberal Center for American Progress, refused to appear on Fox Business to debate climate skeptic Marc Morano last week. Morano runs the blog Climate Depot, where he reports on environment and climate new... more »
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*The Genocidal Duck Whisperers of the Post-Human Left* Pick up a copy of Obama’s $3.9 trillion budget and there among the TSA fee hikes, Medicare payment cuts and the $400 million for the Department of Homeland Security to fight Global Warming is a curious little item. On Page 930 of the budget that never ends is $575 million for “family planning/reproductive health” worldwide especially in "areas where population growth threatens biodiversity or endangered species." The idea that the way to protect insects, fish and animals is by preventing human beings from having children is par... more »
Mohawk Nation News 'Harper Meets National Socialist'
Post navigation ← Previous HARPER MEETS NATIONAL SOCIALIST Posted on March 24, 2014 MNN. Mar. 24, 2014. Why did the bankers send Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, to Ukraine?. Were Canadians behind the sniper incident? He pledged to the National Socialist Canada’s support for the coup. Leaked sniper conversation. Harper does not represent the true Indigenous people. He’s
I'M AN ACTIVIST AGAIN!
Speaking outside Mountjoy prison (Ireland) on her release, 79-year-old Margaretta D’Arcy says she will keep protesting. Margaretta D’Arcy, 79-year-old feminist, peace activist and film-maker was released from jail on 22 March 2014, after serving three months for protesting against the US military use of Ireland’s Shannon Airport. Following her release, Margaretta D’Arcy continued to reject the charges against her and her co-defendant, Niall Farrell, that they were interfering with the ‘proper use’ of Shannon Airport by going onto the runway in October 2012 and again in September 2... more »
Chch council planners telling businesses to bugger off
With Christchurch CBD owners shut out by the army, then council planners, then by the confiscations following on from Gauleiter Brownlee’s Central Plan – and with EQC and CERA doing their level best to ensure few there or anywhere else will rise again -- one of the few things to celebrate in Christchurch's non-recovery has been the way businesses keen to survive have kept on keeping on. With few places downtown to which to relocate, businesses have been setting up anywhere they can find a bit of space and a roof over their business’s head – in containers, in garages, and in works... more »
What Is Your Experience With Common Core Math?
Hello, all. In an effort to understand the experiences of teachers, parents/guardians, students, administrators, and other local-level officials regarding the impact of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) upon math classrooms across the nation, I am requesting reader comments of firsthand experiences. Please tell me whatever you believe is important for me to know. Feel […]
NEW US ALLIES IN KIEV CONTINUE TO BULLY
The acting chief executive of Ukraine's state broadcasting has been forced to sign a resignation letter - by neo-Nazi MPs who broke into his office. The group of men, from the far-right Svoboda party, were angry with Oleksandr Panteleymonov's decision to broadcast a ceremony from the Kremlin on Tuesday. It showed Russian President Putin signing a bill to make Ukraine's Crimea region part of Russia. The MPs filmed themselves beating Mr Panteleymonov over the head until he gave in to their demands. These are the people that the Obama administration is now supporting in Kiev. In the... more »
The lesson from Ukraine is clear ........As Russia asserts itself militarily , China is slowly asserting itself on the grand financial stage - the key is that they are working together and apparently supporting each other's goals ....
Catharsis Ours - 12 hours ago
China gives subtle signals as to what the Fed better do ? http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-23/china-affirms-yellens-six-month-guidance-says-not-expect-any-big-stimulus-out-beijin China Affirms Yellen's "Six Month" Guidance, Says Not To Expect Any "Big Stimulus" Out Of Beijing [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/23/2014 15:42 -0400 - Ben Bernanke - Ben Bernanke - China - ETC - European Central Bank - Federal Reserve - Federal Reserve Bank - Lou Jiwei - Monetary Policy - Quantitative Easing - Recession ...more »
Mayor de Blasio Won't Back Down from Support for Public Schools
Despite a multi-million ad campaign by corporate welfare queen, Eva Moskowitz, and tough rhetoric from the Wall Street's charter empire stooge, Governor Cuomo, the Mayor will not back down. From the Wall Street Journal: In a speech at Riverside Church in Harlem, the mayor said he failed to clearly lay out his decision in February to approve more than a dozen charter schools but roll back the expansion of three that were approved in 2013 under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I didn’t measure up when it came to explaining those decisions to the people of this city,” Mr. de Blasio s... more »
Why we can't give any ground to the Koch brothers on health care, argues E. J. Dionne Jr.
Ideology is as much about understanding the past as shaping the future. And conservatives tell themselves a story, a fairy tale really, about the past, about the way the world was and can be again under Republican policies. This story is about the way people were able to insure themselves against the risks inherent in modern life. Back before the Great Society, before the New Deal, and even before the Progressive Era, things were better. Before government took on the role of providing social insurance, individuals and private charity did everything needed to insure people against ... more »
ECONOMICS FOR REAL PEOPLE: The Rise, Fall and Modern Revival of Industry Policy in NZ
[image: image] Here’s what’s up this Thursday evening at the Auckland Uni Econ Group. Should be a cracker! Hi everyone, Remember the Trekka (right)? Remember Think Big? Professor Tony Endres does – and many other failures of government “industry policy” besides. We are very excited to have Professor Endres presenting to us at this week’s Economics Group seminar. Tony Endres is a Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland, whose research interests include New Zealand economic history and the history of economic thought. This Thursday evening, Tony will be presenting o... more »
Alphabet Soup: SI, OPPT, RV, PPP, GCR..... without prejudice
After last night's post "What if: The Tattered Ball of Twine", I put the computer away for the night and had a (relatively) early night. I awoke this morning to several people sending me the latest Zap and the latest SwissIndo video. On the topic of the SwissIndo video that was 2 hours long (and I fully and transparently admit that I did NOT listen to the whole thing), at the 1:13 mark, the speaker discusses SwissIndo and OPPT, and once again I feel the need to clarify facts and to point out mis/disinformation. The speaker that describes the purported link between the SI and OPPT... more »
Doug Martin's Book Due at Amazon Next Week: Get the Best Deal Before Then
Today Doug Martin is busy signing pre-ordered copies of his compelling new book, *Hoosier School Heist*. You can still get the book for $12.99 with no tax and no shipping charge by ordering here. He will sign it, too!
GCC bickering continues ... March 23 , 2014 - Turkey, Qatar excluded from Cairo Islamic meeting on religious extremism : report , Despite reports to the contrary from the Qatar side , the Saudis are sending every signal possible to display displeasure with Qatar !
Catharsis Ours - 13 hours ago
Turkey, Qatar excluded from Cairo Islamic meeting: report Print PageSend to friend » - - - - - Share [image: Prime Minister Erdoğan had criticized Al Azhar Shaikh Ahmed el-Tayeb for backing Mursi’s removal.] Prime Minister Erdoğan had criticized Al Azhar Shaikh Ahmed el-Tayeb for backing Mursi’s removal. Egypt has not invited Qatar and Turkey for a major Islamic conference due in Cairo later this week, according to a report published on March 22. “We are not having a crisis with the Qatari or Turkish people … The issue lies in the policy of the Turkish and Qatari... more »
The perfect bias-free BBC day (Part I)
AdrianD posted a thought-provoking comment on our '*Daytime Radio 4*' thread today: *AdrianD 24 March 2014 10:42* *I’m not sure whether you, or anyone who contributes to this blog, has done this before, but I think it would be interesting to see what you thought a good, non-biased, day of BBC broadcasting might look like. Apologies if you have (please send a link). I know what I want to see less of – I was just wondering what you would like to see more of. Thanks.* Oddly (or otherwise) we have never done such a thing, but it really is an interesting idea, isn't it? I shall write h... more »
“A falling interest rate is deadly poison to business.”
Here’s something counter-intuitive that might help you feel better about rising interest rates: “A falling interest rate is deadly poison to business.” Making the point is Keith Weiner, who argues the trillions of dollars pumped into the financial system by central banks since 2008 in an effort to push down interest rates, has not just spilled over into markets but led to deadly unintended consequences even on its own account. An artificially low interest rate is bad enough, as it hurts savers and retirees on a fixed income. However, a falling rate is deadly poison to business.... more »
Satire: “Putin Announces Historic G-1 Summit”
*“Putin Announces Historic G-1 Summit”* by Andy Borowitz MOSCOW (The Borowitz Report) — “Russian President Vladimir Putin made history today by scheduling the first-ever summit of the newly formed group of nations called the G-1. The summit, which Putin has set for June in Sochi, is expected to be attended by the G-1 member nation Russia. Putin pronounced himself delighted by Russia’s attendance, telling reporters, “It is an auspicious start for the G-1 to have the participatio of all its member nations.” In addition to what he called “a free exchange of ideas on issues of importa... more »
Yellow Fruit
The Pentagon said today that it recently discovered that a secret Army unit disbanded in 1983 had set up a Swiss bank account that may later have been used illegally to finance arms for the Nicaraguan rebels. A senior Pentagon official said an internal investigation had produced information suggesting that Lieut. Col. Oliver L. North, the dismissed National Security Council aide, and Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord, who retired from the Air Force in April 1983, were among those who had access to the unauthorized Army account. They are both under investigation on suspicion of providi... more »
Dale Spender on Feminism
No, I haven't passed on nor has the blog gone into hiatus. Instead I've been struck down with the flu, and the culprit is between one of my students one of the Stoke North hopefuls. So to point down a marker, as it were, here's something that came my way courtesy of Cat Grant.
Yulia the 'gas princess' -grab the guns and kill those damned Russians
Second post today and again a hat tip goes to brian! Who has been one heck of a busy fellow thanks brian. Yulia has quite the potty mouth...tsk tsk Yulia. NO class. *Ukrainians must take up arms against Russians so that not even scorched earth will be left where Russia stands* *“This is really beyond all boundaries. It’s about time we grab our guns and kill go kill those damn Russians together with their leader,”*Tymoshenko said. Time to face reality. The people we allow to lead us, are psychos! Opt out of the system. I have spoke of non participation for years now.... Long o... more »
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*Busy Saints offseason leaves Sean Payton nostalgic about past, excited about future ~Ramon Antonio Vargas, N.O. Advocate*
Indiana is Officially Opting OUT of Common Core: Only 44 States to Go
ht to TN Education Reports. From Indianapolis Star: Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation today requiring Indiana to adopt its own academic standards and opt out of Common Core — making Indiana the first state to opt out of the controversial national standards. The law basically solidifies action already in the works to redesign Indiana’s academic standards by the Department of Education and the Center for Education & Career Innovation, the agency Pence created to coordinate all education levels and job training. “I believe our students are best served when decisions about education ar... more »
Anti-fascist/anti-Bandera protests in Canada- Russian entry bans?
thanks brian! Protests took place yesterday in Toronto, Canada Kudos to the protestors for trying to get some reality out to the Canadian populace instead of the lies being spun by the NATO media in Canada. There are 5 videos up at Youtube. I will just post one Also, again for the Canucks. And everyone else too. Cause we all live on this planet together! Buffy and I were having a chuckle because Russia slapped sanctions on some Canadians, one in particular. Who is always presented as a champion of human rights. But he isn't. I am referring to Irwin Cotler Buffy- *Did you s... more »
Bringing a dog home from Honduras: Hard lessons learned
Maybe one day you’re going to find yourself somewhere in Honduras thinking, hey, here I am in a country with way too many sick, underfed dogs, and I’d like to find at least one of them a great new home in Canada. And with that one little thought, the grand and costly adventure will have begun. I must admit, bringing White Dog home seemed destined. We've been feeding a variety of dogs during our two-plus years in Copan Ruinas, but White Dog appeared out of nowhere for the first time a couple of days before one of my daughters and her husband arrived for a visit in January,... more »
Syrian pilot interview: My aircraft was shot down by Turkish aircraft while within Syrian airspace
An excerpt from, *"Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan Goes Rabid Ahead of Elections"* Syria News, March 24, 2014: The Turkish interference in the Syrian crisis is a main reason for the longevity of the crisis and the massive price the Syrians are paying fighting herds of tens of thousands of suicide bombers mostly smuggled into the country from NATO member state Turkey. The terrorists imported from all sides of the planet, more than 83 countries counted so far, into Turkey, trained, armed, financed and then smuggled into Syria through the 822 kilometers long borders to commit the most... more »
Ventura County Voters Are Sick And Tired Of Corrupt Careerist And Extremist Tony Strickland… So He's Moving
The Steve Israel "Mystery Meat strategy" precludes DCCC recruitment for many state legislators. Israel doesn't want candidates with voting records, and especially not candidates with records of leadership on cutting edge issues. Actvist, effective progressive legislators like Patrick Hope (VA), Pat Murphy (IA), Daylin Leach (PA), Ted Lieu (CA)-- hated by Israel bankster buddies for his consumer protection legislation-- are not going to be found on any early DCCC programs. All 4 are running on their records and emphasizing their accomplishments as legislative leaders, the exact opp... more »
Let the Data Speak: The Truth Behind Minimum Wage Laws
*Guest post by Steve Hanke* President Obama set American chattering classes abuzz after his recent unilateral announcement to raise the minimum wage for newly hired Federal contract workers. During his State of the Union address in January, he sang the praises for his decision, saying that "It’s good for the economy; it’s good for America." As the worldwide economic slump drags on, the political drumbeat to either introduce minimum wage laws (read: Germany) or increase the minimums in countries where these laws exist — such as Indonesia — is becoming deafening. Yet the glowing cla... more »
The New York Times covers race on page one!
*MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014* *Or does it? We aren’t really sure:* Alas! Right from the start, race was one of the central organizing principles of American life. Saturday morning, on the front page, the New York Times discussed one part of the giant backwash bequeathed to us by our benighted ancestors. Or did it? We aren’t entirely sure. We refer to this front-page report by Tanzina Vega. Here’s what the headline said: “Students See Many Slights as Racial ‘Microaggressions’ ” If the term “microagressions” is new to you, you shouldn’t feel bad. According to the Nexis archives, the wor... more »
AERA Folks and Philadelphia Citizens--Please Attend This Important Meeting
*Pennsylvania Education Crisis Highlights - March 24, 2014* You Are Invited to A Philadelphia Education Town Hall Thursday April 3, 5:30 to 8:30 PM Arch Street United Methodist Church Broad and Arch Streets Called by delegates to the American Educational Research Association Convention & the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools *Click here for details.*
And what about love.
For three years there’s been Quests for Agape. Searching, losing and finding deeper and still deeper levels of what we call love. Still now, surrounded in answers, the question remains. How do I love? How do I wake up, go to bed, day after day love? I can talk about what it means to love. It does not mean the things you imagine. It does not mean always getting your way or having someone cooperate and do things for you; even do things with you. *It means honor the ground they walk on. Be a positive force for them. It means gently absorb them as if they were your final breath... more »
What are we to do?...
*since the world is in such chaos.* The constant barrage of ugliness we are faced with everyday can become almost paralyzing. (How was that for a brilliant sentence straight out of an 8th 6th grade essay? No, really - I can't recall the last time I wrote something that bad. Oh, wait - yesterday??) We worry about the Ukraine, Crimea, and Putin. (Some of us do, anyway. don't.) So-called experts in the false science of global warming are telling us we're about to be fried to a crisp while we shovel more snow. (We didn't have a lot of snow this year, but I commiserate with thos... more »
"How It Really Is"
You better believe it! - CP
CONVERSION MESSAGE AT A12 BIW RALLY
During the past year a group of artists in Maine have been making banners for various protest movements. Artists' Rapid Response Team (ARRT!) is a fluid group of dedicated Maine artists who are members of the Union of Maine Visual Artists. Yesterday ARRT! met in nearby Brunswick for a day of banner making and delivered this one above to our house just before supper time. They made the banner for us to use on Saturday, April 12 at the planned protest during the 'christening' of the Navy's new stealth destroyer here at Bath Iron Works from 10:00 am to noon. On April 12 Veterans f... more »
Classroom Activity: Issuing Ultimata
This activity comes after students are to have listened to a lecture (slides) introducing the second big puzzle of the course: why states sometimes burn what they want in order to get more of it—that is, why wars occur despite the inefficiency their costly nature implies. Over the course of the next few lectures, I’ll be taking Continue reading
Stephen Harper got a swift response from Vladimir Putin
*OTTAWA - Russia on Monday slapped an entry ban on 13 Canadian lawmakers and officials, including Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer and government House leader Peter Van Loan, in retaliation for Canadian sanctions over Ukraine.* Read more here.
The Economy: "How This Central Bank Bubble Ends"
*"How This Central Bank Bubble Ends" * by Bill Bonner “I sometimes get the feeling that somewhere across that huge puddle, in America, people sit in a lab and conduct experiments, as if with rats, without actually understanding the consequences of what they are doing." – Vladimir Putin, 4 March 2014 “We promised to explain how it ends. The world, that is. The world we live in now. The one in the middle of a rapidly inflating central bank bubble. First, we need to understand that this is a very different world from the world of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a world wher... more »
Inflation on the back of an envelope
*Guest blog by John Preskill of Caltech, a trained particle physicist, cosmologist, a top quantum computing expert, and a teacher of nations* Last Monday was an exciting day! After following the BICEP2 announcement via Twitter, I had to board a transcontinental flight, so I had 5 uninterrupted hours to think about what it all meant. Without Internet access or references, and having not thought seriously about inflation for decades, I wanted to reconstruct a few scraps of knowledge needed to interpret the implications of \(r\sim 0.2\). I did what any physicist would have done … I der... more »
The Realist Report - Gilad Atzmon: Jewish identity politics
On this edition of *The Realist Report*, we'll be joined by the internationally renowned author, philosopher and musician *Gilad Atzmon*. Gilad and I will be discussing his book *The Wandering Who* and Jewish identity politics. You can download the mp3 for this program *here*, or visit *The Realist Report* on BlogTalkRadio to subscribe via iTunes and view past programs. Below are relevant links for this program: - *Gilad Atzmon* - YouTube - *HOLOCAUST DAY – THE TIME IS RIPE FOR A JEWISH APOLOGY* - Gilad Atzmon - *Once PC Is Gone and Truth Prevails, Shoa Panic Is Detected*
CNN praised for obsessive plane coverage!
*MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 * *Wemple Blog gone wild:* Let’s start with a good word for the Washington Post’s Eric Wemple. Yesterday, on The Wemple Blog, Wemple was willing to poke fun at himself for his earlier performance on CNN’s Reliable Sources. That said, we think Wemple’s presentations on CNN made amazingly little sense. To watch the entire segment, click here. But people, here’s what happened: Needless to say or perhaps to his credit, CNN’s Brian Stelter was discussing his network’s wraparound coverage of Malaysian flight 370. To his credit, Stelter was willing to consider th... more »
The Fatal Flaw of the Common Core Standards
Originally posted on The Indignant Teacher: The following as a copy of an article posted tonight by Diane Ravitch…it speaks volumes, and should be shared far and wide. The Fatal Flaw of the Common Core StandardsPosted: 03/24/2014 9:16 am EDT Updated: 03/24/2014 9:59 am EDT Print ArticleShare157Tweet192Email31Comment20 MORE: Éducation Common Core Standards Bill Gates Common…
Gay and Muslim
When the BBC censored the debate about gays and Islam on the BBC3 programme entitled ‘Free Speech’ so as not to embarrass their hosts for the night, a Birmingham mosque, it sparked off considerable outrage. “Oh, the irony,” said everyone. “A programme entitled Free Speech ! Silenced by the BBC at the behest of the Muslims!” The next day the issue was discussed on the Today programme. Dr. Naseem b.1924 *A censorship row has broken out over the BBC Three programme Free Speech, after the Birmingham Central Mosque – where the show was being filmed – requested that the topic of being ga... more »
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*Call your legislators today! Sen.Heitmeier: 504-361-6356 Sen.Smith 985-764-9122 Sen.Smith-Buffington 318-687-4820 * [image: http://gogreenarmy.com/] *
The G.E. Loophole-- Bankrupting America To Make G.E. Executives Richer, Part II
Please go back one post and read Part I, where we began our look at the tax extenders (i.e., corporate loopholes) bill the Senate Finance Committee is getting ready to sneak through and present as a *fait acompli*, an incredible transpartisan exercise in Beltway corruption. The one sentence summary: corrupted senators from both parties are about to help General Electric continue to avoid paying taxes-- so that G.E. continues to help finance their own political careers-- by secreting away profits offshore to avoid paying federal taxes. The *NY Times* report in that post, by the way,... more »
“Profoundly exploitative and intrusive"
I don’t know whether Mishal Husain was trying to replicate the plaudits she received for the famous “Malala’ interview, aired on her debut appearance on Today. It seemed so to me. Interestingly, a quick look at Twitter shows that many people agree that this time she got it wrong. “Profoundly exploitative and intrusive” said Tim Walker. “Unpleasant and exploitative” “Bring back Brian Redhead” said Eddie Arthur. “Interviewer sounded cold and indifferent, was hard to listen to” said Soweto Kinch. Apart from the fact that Mishal has a harsh voice, which sounds cold and indifferent m... more »
Kid do not play the lottery
Sad that the kids are so aloof they don not play the lottery. Snowpiercer makes a statement that maybe the masses can understand. Personally we all live life in a balance and thank God there is no rule book we can understand. When it come to the planet, we got Tony Robbins as chief of plan. This kind of thinking will all end horribly. Maybe thats the collective wisdom of the youth. How sad our future thinks we can not change society. I do not believe that. Look kids look over there at Sweden. But the message is not received, Its a race between science and reason. I just got to thin... more »
Canada Is Jewish Occupied Territory: Idiot Canadian Prime Minister States That He Will Support Israel Even If It Hurts Canada Politically (!)
Canada is now nothing more that one of Israel's whores... That is a sad statement to make about this nation that I was once proud of, but now I see how Jews have come to dominate this nation much like they have done to the once great United States of America. Our government here in Ottawa is now nothing more than Yes men for criminal Jewish and Israeli interests,and every single one of the so called "elected" officials sitting in Parliament will do everything to please their Jewish masters, even at the expense of the Canadian people who were stupid enough to elect them to public off... more »
Conditions v. Outcomes: More on What’s Wrong with Teacher Education (and Accountability)? pt. 2
Conditions v. Outcomes: More on What’s Wrong with Teacher Education (and Accountability)? pt. 2. via Conditions v. Outcomes: More on What’s Wrong with Teacher Education (and Accountability)? pt. 2.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Not Class Warfare, Optimal Taxation
Today's column by Paul Krugman is classic Paul: It takes a policy favored by the right, attributes the most vile motives to those who advance the policy, and ignores all the reasonable arguments in favor of it. In this case, the issue is the reduction in capital taxes during the George W. Bush administration. Paul says that the goal here was "defending the oligarchy's interests." Really? As Paul well knows, there is a large literature in economicssuggesting that an optimal tax system imposes much lower taxes on capital income than on wage income (or consumption). I can personally a... more »
“Grit”: Demanding Superhuman from African Americans, Impoverished
“Grit”: Demanding Superhuman from African Americans, Impoverished. via “Grit”: Demanding Superhuman from African Americans, Impoverished.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Japan's Plutonium Stockpiles
Interesting news from yesterday about Japan's plutonium stockpiles: M. D. Shear & D. E. Sanger (2014, March 23). Japan to Let U.S. Assume Control of Nuclear Cache. The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/asia/japan-to-let-us-assume-control-of-nuclear-cache.html?emc=edit_th_20140324&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=32962000&_r=0 THE HAGUE — Japan will announce Monday that it will turn over to Washington more than 700 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium and a large quantity of highly enriched uranium, a decades-old research stockpile that is large enough to build dozens of n... more »
TEACH THE JOURNALISTS WELL: You might say he’s a dreamer!
*MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014 * *Part 1—De Blasio misreads the press:* If the New York Times is reporting correctly, you might say the mayor’s a dreamer! On the front page of today’s “New York Edition,” Javier Hernandez reports that Mayor de Blasio “struck a conciliatory tone” toward “advocates of charter schools” in a speech yesterday morning. In our own hard-copy Times, a mind-reading headline says this: “With Eye Toward Polls, de Blasio Softens Tone on Charter Schools.” (According to the Times web site, Hernandez’s report does *not* appear on the front page of the “National Edition... more »
Maryland Has Some of the Best Public School Protection Laws in the Nation
AP has a piece in WaPo that pretend that two most voracious advocacy groups for corporate welfare charters represent research groups: Center for Education Reform and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. In pointing out that CER's charter welfare queen, Jeanne Allen, has labeled Maryland among the worst states, then you can be sure that Maryland is one of the best in advancing public education: FREDERICK, Md. — Maryland’s charter school laws are among the worst in the nation, according to two studies released this year. The Washington-based Center for Education Reform... more »
A Vingette
Around 1993, when I was in my late-twenties, I lived in Toronto for a summer. Unemployed. One day, I'm walking on Bloor, somewhere west of Bathurst Street, when a woman approached me. She was a tiny thing. Kind of cute. Early-thirties I'd say. She mumbled something to me. I asked: "Excuse me?" She said a little louder: "Do you have a cigarette?" I don't smoke, so of course I said "No. Sorry." She mumbled something else. I said "Excuse me?" She said a little louder "Do you want a blow-job?" It's testimony to what a kill-joy I am that in my mind's eye all I could see were cold sores e... more »
Aborted babies incinerated to heat UK hospitals - the NHS truly is 'the envy of the world'
'The bodies of thousands of aborted and miscarried babies were incinerated as clinical waste, with some even used to heat hospitals, an investigation has found. Ten NHS trusts have admitted burning foetal remains alongside other rubbish while two others used the bodies in ‘waste-to-energy’ plants which generate power for heat.”' The NHS truly is 'the envy of the world' More here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10717566/Aborted-babies-incinerated-to-heat-UK-hospitals.htmlbut not very likely on the BBC.
United Nations Releases New Official Unemployment Numbers For Iraq
The United Nations recently released a new set of official unemployment statistics for Iraq. The national rate was at 11.3%. Just over half the country’s eighteen provinces had a lower jobless rate than that. A bigger problem was that less than half the population was involved in the work force. This was especially true for women who are still handicapped by cultural and religious mores that have kept the vast majority of them at home. Another issue is that services are the largest job type meaning that Iraq is not producing much. With such a large and young population Iraq needs... more »
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*Louisiana plantation tours skittish on slavery history ~Terry L. Jones, The Advocate* *'12 Years A Slave' author's death still a mystery ~AP, via WWLTV* *Online monitoring to replace meter readers, among major system upgrades planned by Sewerage and Water Board ~Della Hassell, Mid-City Messenger* *Alaska company awarded a $7,954,440 federal levee-rebuilding contract in Plaquemines Parish* *Misinformation Spreads in War of Words Over Gulf Red Snapper Allocation ~Gulf Seafood Institute* *Trombone Shorty inspires students at Battle of the Bands ~Meg Gatto, WVUE*
Libya Updates March 23 , 2014 -- Three Years After Gaddafi, Libya Is Imploding Into Chaos and Violence Its government has no real power; militias are ever more entrenched, and now the state itself is under threat ......
Catharsis Ours - 23 hours ago
Three Years After Gaddafi, Libya Is Imploding Into Chaos and Violence Its government has no real power; militias are ever more entrenched, and now the state itself is under threat BY PATRICK COCKBURN • MARCH 16, 2014 • 1,200 WORDS • 4 COMMENTS The Libyan former prime minister Ali Zeidan fled last week after parliament voted him out of office. A North Korean-flagged oil tanker, the Morning Glory, illegally picked up a cargo of crude from rebels in the east of the country and sailed safely away, despite a government minister’s threat that the vessel would be “turned into a pile of meta... more »
Giveaway: $100 Deseret Book Giftcard, Scentsy Warmer and More!
[image: LDS General Conference & Easter Giveaway]*Design by AshLee Winterrose of Mama Bear Designery* General Conference and Easter will both be here before we know it and I couldn’t think of a better time to team up with thirteen of my favorite bloggers to host a fantastic multiple gift giveaway! Who is excited about $100 to Deseret Book and over $250 worth of amazing products? For this giveaway, we each chose some of our favorite General Conference and Easter-themed items to give back to our readers, just to say thanks for all of the encouragement, comments, and time that you take ... more »
Whither The NDP?
Murray Dobbin writes that our political system is ill equipped to deal with crises: Our political system's greatest flaw is not the first-past-the-post voting system. It is the fact that it is gravely ill-equipped to deal with crises with which it has no experience. We have muddled through for decades tinkering with the perversity of capitalism. But capitalism has long since entered the cancer stage, as Canadian philosopher John McMurtry so prophetically described in his 1999 book (now updated), *The Cancer Stage of Capitalism*. It is no longer capable of recognizing the crisis i... more »
The G.E. Loophole-- Bankrupting America To Make G.E. Executives Richer, Part I
On April 2, the Senate Finance Committee is planning to renew 55 major tax breaks worth $700 billion over 10 years, which is mostly to the benefit of the corporations like General Electic, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, which underwrite the political careers of our political elite in general and the members of the Senate Finance Committee in particular. They will move the tax extender package, which guarantees that some of these mega-corporations and crooked Wall Street banks will continue to rake in billions of dollars in profits every year while paying a far lower tax rate than fa... more »
More LY links + MOFA Letter
Busy today, but my friend Sean Su is live in the LY in English ADDED -- Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Tainan, all DPP-ruled, are withdrawing their police officers from the protest in Taipei. Dafydd Fell compares the student occupation of the legislature with the totally bogus red ant protests against Chen Shui-bian. It's hard for me to resist snark here. The last paragraph contains an interesting observation. List of links to good stuff in Chinese I'll add more as they flow into my inbox.... *FOR DISCUSSION*: Was the big winner from yesterday's police attack on the protesters the LY occu... more »
Labour manifesto 'should include thing about killing all the rich people'
'As polls showed the Conservatives closing the gap, left-leaning think tanks told Miliband to be ‘more straightforward’ about threatening Britain’s wealthiest with firing squads. In an open letter published in the Guardian, they said: “Go on, just do it. Everybody hates rich people, so it’ll be really popular.“ Also, promise to make all the nice things cheaper. Dead millionaires and cheap nice things. That’s how you win elections.”' I think this is satire but with the Labour party who can tell... More her http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/labour-manifesto... more »
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*Children born to older fathers 'are more likely to be ugly'... but may also live longer* *This is just the impressions of two very small groups of people* Older fathers have uglier children, researchers have claimed after linking age to genetic mutations. The finding comes weeks after leading scientists reported children born to men over the age of 45 run a higher risk of having autism and psychiatric disorders. With age, sperm-producing cells do not copy a man's DNA as effectively, leading to genetic mutations. Martin Fielder, an anthropologist at Vienna University, told the S... more »
That Wayne Rooney goal against West Ham this weekend
Yes it was a great long-range volley, up there with David Beckham's of a few years back, but was it any better than this volleyed goal scored against Manchester United with Peter Schmeichel in goal? That was Matt LeTissier scoring of course. If the goals are comparable, could you imaging Wayne Rooney or David Beckham managing anything like this in the 'numbers round' on TV's Countdown? Le God rules on the pitch and in the Countdown studio!
War watch March 24 , 2014 --- Afghanistan - Election Monitors Flee Afghanistan After Hotel Attack NDI, OSCE Withdraw Just Two Weeks Ahead of Vote ..... Iraq - Clashes Spread to Eastern Iraq ; 98 Killed, 34 Wounded ....... Syria - Fighting in Beirut: Syria Rivals Square Off One Killed, 10 Wounded
Taliban winning their game of pre- election intimidation..... Election Monitors Flee Afghanistan After Hotel AttackNDI, OSCE Withdraw Just Two Weeks Ahead of Vote by Jason Ditz, March 23, 2014 Print This | Share This Last week’s attack on a Kabul luxury hotel, which left nine people killed, have also led two of the three international election monitor groups to withdraw their delegations from Afghanistan, just two weeks ahead of the election. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have both withdrawn their teams aft... more »
Ukraine situation updates March 24 , 2014 -- US sanctions on Russian Bank fallout and hype over state of play in Ukraine and Russia threat beyond Crimea in focus --- Russian Bank Impacted By US Sanctions Hit By Mini Bank Run Over The Weekend -- SMP Bank said on Monday around 9 billion roubles ($248 million) had been withdrawn by depositors since U.S. sanctions were announced last week.
Catharsis Ours - 1 day ago
Late afternoon /evening news items..... http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-24/ukraine-leader-new-leaked-recording-8-million-russians-ukraine-must-be-killed-nuclea Ukraine Leader In New Leaked Recording: 8 Million Russians In Ukraine "Must Be Killed With Nuclear Weapons" [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/24/2014 13:48 -0400 - Ukraine inShare5 While the NSA is busy justifying its spying of every American its existenc thanks to famous Moscow resident Edward Snowden, its Russian counterparts have been busy intercepting even more phone Ukrainia... more »
As Simple As Possible, But No Simpler
*[This is from an article in the December 2013 issue of CowManagement]* Albert Einstein is frequently credited with saying that “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” While the composer Roger Sessions appears to be the actual author of this quote, it accurately captures the sentiment of a statement that Einstein did make describing the role of true scientists as they state hypotheses for testing. “It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surre... more »
What Proof Do You Require?
*I was out in the hills alone praying and a being appeared as if by magic and said,* *“I am God.”* *I said, “Prove it.”* *“I just appeared to you out of nowhere. Is that not proof?”* *“It’s true that you appeared out of nowhere, but how is that proof of anything except that you appeared out of nowhere?”* *“How about if I turn into a flame, or levitate or change form, or make those rocks talk, or some other miracle, would that convince you?”* *“It would convince me that you can do those things, but not that you are anything but a knowledgeable and powerful being.” *“What defin... more »
US Forsakes Gay Saudi Diplomat: A Story of Western Hypocrisy
*March 24, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - While human right crusades are dominated by headlines involving the “homophobic” Russian government and tales of homosexuals being strung up across Iran, there is a larger, more sinister violator of human rights operating right within an intentional, self-imposed media blackhole created by the West. That violator is Saudi Arabia, who not only has outlawed homosexuality, but reserves execution as punishment if caught. The Guardian’s Brian Whitaker, when not coddling and covering up for terrorists in Syria, is apologizing for Saudi Arabia’s ... more »
John Hagee Denies Jesus as the Messiah
*(poor little Israel . . they can do no wrong, right?. . . as a whole, they rejected Jesus then, and for the most part, now . . and they have used people like John Hagee to form the Christian Zionist movement, which is very, very prevalent in the US . . Hagee probably defends even the Jews who said "His blood be on us, and on our children." in Matthew 27:25 . . . )* Hagee says that "the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as the Messiah," that, "Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah," and that, "Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah." These... more »
But why is England the only place to 'escape' to?
This BBC piece shows the desperate lengths that people will go to in order to get to the UK. Whilst the article tells us that: 'Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said there had been an "increase" in people trying to get into the UK through the channel ports. This was mainly due to conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, he explained.' It does seem odd that these people are desperately trying to get to the UK (for which you can read England or most likely London) not from Syria or Egypt or 'Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Eritrea' but from France. They've already escaped fr... more »
Ascension Blue Chronicles - part #6 of 7 from Mission Ignition
*Ascension Blue Chronicles - part #6 of 7* *2014.03.21 --- * We stand upon the shores where time does not exist But within three blinks of an eye in 2017 Upon the wings of the morning we shall arrive And our presence shall be felt Upon our entry we shall light the night sky Brighter than a million suns For the dark night shall tremble And the mighty wind shall rush up to greet us In that moment our daughter the Earth Shall break her waters and give Bearth For we are here to be her handmaidens To deliver her in her hour of need You are to be born angels of destiny The bridge between mat... more »
Alan Guth and inflation
Alan Guth of MIT is one of the nine well-deserved inaugural winners of the Milner Prize. He has received $2,999,988 because Milner failed to pay the banking fees (Alan Guth was generous enough not to have sued Yuri Milner for that so far). As far as I know, Alan Guth is the only winner of a prize greater than the Nobel prize who has ever regularly attended a course of mine. ;-) *I have taken many pictures of Alan Guth, this is the fuzziest one but I think it's funny to see a young Italian physicist showing a finger to Alan Guth in the New York Subway during our trip to a May 2005... more »
20 Calming or Invigorating Mini Meditations You Can Practice Every Day by Margarita Tartakovsky
20 Calming or Invigorating Mini Meditations You Can Practice Every Day by Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. No matter how hectic or stressful our days are, whether we’re sitting at our desks or waiting in line, we have the opportunity to pause and adjust our perspective. We have the opportunity to be kinder — both to ourselves and others. We have the opportunity to relax and slow down. And we have the opportunity to refocus. Even if it’s for a minute or two. In her book *Self-Meditation: 3,299 Mantras, Tips, Quotes and Koans for Peace and Serenity *, bestselling author Barb... more »
100% RELIANT ON RUSSIAN GAS
Search Results The UK's biggest gas company Centrica will start importing Russian gas from October 2014, Reuters reports. *UK to start directly buying Russian gas* (Thanks to dognamedblue for the link) Europe needs Russia's gas! Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania rely 100% on Russian gas. Gas reliance on Russia is 93% in Slovakia, 83% in Poland, 81% in Hungary, 66% in the Czech Republic and 61% in Austria. Ukraine's prime monster, Arse Yatsenyuk, says Russia could use energy as a 'new nuclear weapon'. *Europe - gas dependence on Russia*, Who gains if European countries sw... more »
California Call To Action: Meet In Sacramento On March 26, 2014
[image: Foto] CALIFORNIA Action Alert from Label GMOs: California's Grassroots GE Food Labeling Bill SB1381 Introduced by Senator Noreen Evans *RALLY & HEARING on NORTH CAPITOL STEPS BE HERE, BE HEARD!! WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 2014* *RALLY – North Capitol Steps (L St & 11th St) 11:30am - 1:00pm just before Hearing. *HEARING – 1:30pm - 4:30pm in HEALTH COMMITTEE HEARING ROOM 4203 Michael Hansen of Consumers Union, Rebecca Specter of Center For Food Safety and Susan Lang of Moms Across America, will be speakers at press conference and hearing. We need to pack the rally and pack the ... more »
“10 Lunacies From the Right-Wing Fringe This Week"
*“10 Lunacies From the Right-Wing Fringe This Week:* *Women Want Malls, Not Equal Pay Edition”* By Janet Allon “While Neil deGrasse Tyson has the creationists all in a tizzy, the right has quietly amped up its war on women, and this week, it seemed Republicans have trotted out some of their women as cover. Michelle, Sarah, watch out. You’ve got some competition. *1. Minnesota Rep. Andrea Kieffer: Equal pay equals women whining. *The word "equality" is a lightning rod for Republicans. They don’t like it. They don’t believe in it. People are not equal, and equal pay for equal work j... more »
Do All Republicans Eat Goat Penis? No, Just The Rich Ones
Republicans want to elect a delusional convicted sex offender governor You may have missed the charming story out of England last week by Bobby Viteri, Eating Goat Penis With America's One Percent (at the Waldorf Astoria in New York). Among those in attendance: His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck of Bhutan, stratosphere jumper Felix Baumgartner and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. Prepared by Gene Rurka, the chairman of the club’s exotics committee, on the basis of availability and market price, the food was impressive and revolting. The reception rooms, poorly lit by reddish heat ... more »
Do you need aspirin for that headache?
Have you ever seen one of those commercials which advertise drugs "guaranteed" to cure whatever ails you? They sympathize with our pain and tell us that the use of their product will help us lead a pain-free, productive life. Taking the medicine is always easy ... just pop a pill and, like magic, we are smiling. [image: A headache can be cured without aspirin.]*A headache is trying to* *tell you something.*The problem is, popping a pill for instant relief often prevents us from looking at the cause of our discomfort. It can cover up, rather than cure, a problem. Am I saying that we ... more »
Untitled
*Unsettling “Settled Science”* I was making a Costco run with my friend George on Friday, and the subject of the weather came up. It was a nice day, relatively speaking, but Saturday was going to be nicer – nearly 70 degrees. This was a nice change of pace from the polar vortexes and dump trucks full of snow we’ve been hit with here in Maryland for the past three months. Then I looked at my iPhone and noted the forecast calls for another possible large snowstorm Tuesday. George said that seemed a little far away to predict such things with any certainty, and he’s right. Considering... more »
Erdogan Shuts Down Twitter, Then Shoots Down Syrian Plane In Syrian Airspace
*No bird is safe from Erdogan's deadly grasp.* An excerpt from, *"Turkish fighter jets shoot down Syrian warplane in border zone"* by Glen Johnson and Nabih Bulos, LA Times, March 23: Turkish fighter jets shot down a Syrian warplane Sunday in an embattled border zone, and Turkey and Syria each insisted the plane was in their airspace when it was downed. The downing was the latest border clash between onetime allies who have turned on one another because of Syria's 3-year-old civil war. Turkey has sided with the opposition in that conflict, angering the government of Syrian Presid... more »
CSOs and State 19: UP Maroons and UP Alumni
As a University of the Philippines (UP) alumni myself, I find this story disturbing, but also inspiring. This should spur other alumni and sympathetic individuals to act on their own -- the spirit of civil society -- to help the UP Fighting Maroons. Written and posted by a friend in his facebook wall last Saturday, reposted by interaksyon yesterday and so far was shared 1,500+, reposting here too. ------------ *Nowhere to go but UP: musings of a hopeful Maroon fan* …Our Maroons took the championship in '86 in the same year our countrymen won back their freedom. I don't know if it w... more »
TFA Truth Tour Starts Tomorrow
Teach for America regularly spends more on recruiting than it does on educating the young neophytes who are dumped into the most challenging classrooms after 5 weeks of basic indoctrination. USAS begins a 15 campus tour tomorrow to get the truth and stop TFA's corporate predators on campus. *By Robert Ascherman and Karen Li* Starting tomorrow, USAS is launching the next stage in our campaignto fight back against corporate robber barons of education reform on our campuses: the Teach for America Truth Tour. The tour will visit 15 campuses to expose the truth about TFA: not only does... more »
Is Something Huge About To Happen? For The First Time In History, The Criminal State Of Israel Closes ALL Of Its Embassies And Consulates Worldwide!
The world has been teetering on the verge of total economic collapse and possible world war for quite sometime now, and we know that the present economic system is headed to ruination thanks to the Jews and their criminal Usury financial system. Throughout history, any nation that has ever adopted such a horrific system of crushing debt has always collapsed. We are about to watch history repeat itself again. But just before the collapse happens, we can be sure that the criminals responsible for the world's demise would make sure that their minions and followers are protected and t... more »
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