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Large landing ship Saratov joins Russian Navy's task force in Mediterranean
Is The Russian Navy On The Verge Of Collapse?
*David Axe, War Is Boring:* *The Russian Navy Is on the Verge of Collapse* *Big ships age out and Moscow can’t replace them* *WNU Editor*: The Soviet/Russian navy has always been on the bottom of the priority list for the Kremlin when it came to spending money on the military. What has not helped the situation is the decline and moth-balling of Russia's military industrial base .... shipyards included .... so even if the money is allocated to rebuild the Russian navy .... it lacks the infrastructure and facilities to make it happen. The focus will instead be on submarines and coas... more »
The Russian Military 'Shows-Off' Its Cyborg Biker
*Sam Frizell, Time:* *Watch the Russian Military Present Putin With a Cyborg Biker* *WNU Editor*: You gotta be kidding me .... a cyborg biker?!?!?!? But on a serious note .... Russia is developing and spending monies "big time" on developing robot platforms for it's military .... *Russia Wants Autonomous Fighting Robots, and Lots of Them* (Popular Mechanics) *More News On The Russian Military Version Of A 'Cyborg Biker'* Combat Robot-Avatar Revealed to Russian President Putin -- Sputnik Russian Robot Warrior Drives In A Circle In Front Of Putin -- Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Scien... more »
The Yemen Crisis: Some Ground Truths [January 2010]
*Photo: U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, May 2014. Source: AFP.* *Photo: Houthi fighters outside the presidential palace in Sanaa, Yemen, January 2015. Source: AP.* *Title: The Yemen Crisis: Some Ground Truths. Source: UChannel. Date Published: February 1, 2010. Description:* Ambassador Barbara Bodine, former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen and Diplomat-in-Residence at the Woodrow Wilson School, and Gregory Johnsen, a Ph.D. candidate in Near Eastern studies at Princeton University and a former Fulbright fellow in Yemen Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and Internationa... more »
James McEnteer : Dog days in Quito
Terrified by the noise of the fireworks, Suki had panicked and bolted over the fence and down the street. By James McEnteer | The Rag Blog | January 21, 2015 QUITO, Equador — Our dog ran away on New Year’s … finish reading James McEnteer : Dog days in Quito
Russian President Putin Vows To Continue Building Up The Military
© Sputnik/ Alexei Druzhinin *Reuters:* *Putin Says Russia Must Strengthen Army to Defend Itself* *Update: *Russia to strengthen armed forces to tackle challenges from outside: Putin -- Xinhuanet *WNU Editor:* I get nervous when I hear a Russian President say the following .... *Putin Says US Military Spending Incomparably Higher Than Russia's (Sputnik)* .... what he is implying is that Russia is not spending enough. In the past when the Kremlin was given a choice between "guns and butter" .... they always took the guns .... and it appears that Putin has decided to continue that tr... more »
U.S. - Cuba Talks To Begin On Wednesday
*Reuters*: *Cuba wants off U.S. terrorism list before restoring normal ties* *WNU Editor: *I have only been to Cuba once (16 years ago) .... flew in from Montreal and I stayed there for one week in February. It is the worst vacation that I ever took .... and I vowed never to go back to Cuba again. It is a very poor country .... depressing in every-way ... and if poverty is your thing while you stay in a somewhat adequate hotel insulated from the outside .... then this is the place for you. As for these U.S. - Cuban talks .... the only ones who are excited are the media (of course),... more »
Musical Interlude: Dan Fogelberg, “Nether Lands”
Dan Fogelberg, “Nether Lands” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePrQFaB50w0
"A Look to the Heavens"
“It looks like a lunar landscape but this remarkable photograph actually shows our Milky Way and the planet Jupiter in all their glory - viewed from a cave in America's Utah desert. The spiral galaxy, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, was captured by photographer Wally Pacholka using a 35mm camera and 50mm lens on a tripod with a 30-second exposure - long enough to collect the light but not to see the stars moving. *Click image for larger size.* Pacholka, 59, an architect from Long Beach, California, relied on the light of a crescent moon to illuminate the subject and chose th... more »
Chet Raymo, "The Ogre And Us"
* "The Ogre And Us"* by Chet Raymo "A passage from H. G. Wells' “Outline of History”, 1920: “We know very little of the appearance of Neanderthal man, but this... seems to suggest an extreme hairiness, an ugliness, or a repulsive strangeness in his appearance over and above his low forehead, his beetle brows, his ape neck, and his inferior stature... Says Sir Harry Johnston, in a survey of the rise or modern man in his Views and Reviews: "The dim racial remembrance of such gorilla-like monsters, with cunning brains, shambling gait, hairy bodies, strong teeth, and possibly cannibal... more »
“The World As An Introvert: 13 Rules for Being Alone and Being Happy About It”
*“The World As An Introvert: * *13 Rules for Being Alone and Being Happy About It”* by Tyler Tervooren “It seems today- at least in the U.S.- there must be something wrong with you if you're alone. We praise the extroverts- those who know how to handle themselves in a crowd, the ones with vast network of friends. We think working in groups and on teams is the only way to find the answer to a problem. That two heads are better than one. That collaboration is the only way of the future. But the truth is almost half of the world doesn't agree. I don't feel that way. Sometimes, the ... more »
"Justice Ginsburg explains everything you need to know about religious liberty in two sentences" (Ian Millhiser)
*Plus: Justice Nino daydreams about mandatory polygamy* *"Unlike the exemption this Court approved in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., accommodating petitioner's religious belief in this case would not detrimentally affect others who do not share petitioner's belief. On that understanding, I join the Court's opinion."* *-- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, rulingwith a unanimous Court today in *Holt v. Hobbs *by Ken* The case itself, this *Holt v. Hobbs*, turned out to be so simple constitutionally that not only was the Supreme Court's verdict unanimous, but even dim... more »
Ukraine Is Claiming That Its Forces Are Under Attack From Russian Troops
*BBC:* *Ukraine accuses Russian troops of attacking its forces* *WNU Editor:* The situation in Ukraine is unraveling .... *Ukrainian leader cuts short Davos visit as situation 'worsens*' (AFP). *More News On The Ukraine Conflict* Ukraine Accuses Russia of Sending More Troops and Artillery to Aid Rebels -- New York Times Ukraine Says Russian Troops Join Separatists in New Assaults -- Bloomberg Ukraine says its forces come under attack from Russian troops -- Reuters 'Russian forces' attack Ukraine troops in separatist east -- AFP Kyiv Says Russian Military Attacked Its Forces Inside Ea...more »
No tits out for the wowsers
It’s no tits out for the wowsers, and now none for Sun readers either thanks to the wowsers. This morning, Britain’s sun newspaper published its last Page Three girl getting her gear off – ending a publishing tradition that goes back before sex was invented in Britain. And according to *The Herald* ( so it must be true) “Page 3 girls have led the backlash against *The Sun*'s decision to end its topless tradition, claiming the move has been "dictated by comfy-shoe-wearing no-bra-wearing man-haters.” Model Rhian Sugden, 28, criticised at the move, suggesting it was "only a matter ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 20, 2015
*Dan Murphy, CSM:* *Yemen's almost coup a sign of more trouble to come* *A Houthi rebel leader stopped short of deposing his rival after his forces sacked the presidential palace today in Yemen's capital.* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 20, 2015* What's Going On In Yemen? -- Yemen Online Should nations just pay ISIS ransom? -- Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider, CNN How Turkey misread the Kurds -- Cale Salih & Aaron Stein, Al Jazeera Qunaitra raid revives fears of Lebanese-Israeli war -- Antoine Ghattas Saab, Daily Star China's scramble for Africa -- Richard Ja... more »
World News Briefs -- January 20, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*Al Jazeera:* *Houthis take over Yemen presidential palace* *UN discusses power struggle as Shia fighters, overcoming resistance from president's loyalists, tighten grip on Sanaa.* *MIDDLE EAST* Clashes hit Yemen capital again as *Houthis pursue political gains*. Shiite militiamen seize *Yemen presidential palace*. Syria conflict: Strike on *IS-held village kills dozens*. ISIL attacks home of *key Iraqi tribal leader*. Nearly 20 more air strikes *target Islamic State: U.S. coalitio*n. Militias undermine Iraqi army, *says Sadr*. Israeli security source: We didn't know Iranian ge... more »
Jan. 20: Enough of Robert the Cat...
Today Times and Transcript has what I think is its third edition with a front page story and photo of Robert the Cat. Even my cat is bored by it. This is the kind of trivia you see in a newspaper whose main function it to put an end to all thought and to all interest in whatever might be happening in the real world. Robert, the next time I see you, I hope it will be on a bun at a church breakfast. For Jan 19 section A there really is no news except for more and more about what we already knew about the Bourque shootings. The editorial is still pimping for gas development. That leav... more »
Jonah Raskin : INTERVIEW | Author and teacher Peter Richardson dissects California themes, memes
In his last two books, Richardson offers potent narratives about California in the era of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, Bob Scheer and Warren Hinckle. By Jonah Raskin | The Rag Blog | January 20, 2015 ∗ Jonah Raskin is … finish reading Jonah Raskin : *INTERVIEW* | Author and teacher Peter Richardson dissects California themes, memes
The Poet: Theodore Roethke, "In a Dark Time"
*"In a Dark Time"* by Theodore Roethke "In a dark time, the eye begins to see, I meet my shadow in the deepening shade; I hear my echo in the echoing wood- A lord of nature weeping to a tree. I live between the heron and the wren, Beasts of the hill and serpents of the den. What’s madness but nobility of soul At odds with circumstance? The day’s on fire! I know the purity of pure despair, My shadow pinned against a sweating wall. That place among the rocks- is it a cave, Or winding path? The edge is what I have. A steady storm of correspondences! A night flowing with birds, a ragg... more »
What you won’t hear in Obama’s State of the Union address tonight [updated]
Cunningly timed to be delivered at a similar time to Nick Smith’s savage slashing of cautious tinkering with the RMA, U.S. President Obama’s State of the Union speech (or perhaps it’s the other way around) will tell tall tales and many myths. Here are 11 facts you won’t hear: 1. Today’s young Americans … are the first generation to be poorer than their parents. 2. They will also pay all their lives into a retirement system than won't be there for them when they get there. 3. Young Americans indebt themselves more than anyone else on the planet to attend unive... more »
Russia and Russians: A delightfully witty history of a country comprising one sixth of the earth, the people who have lived there for centuries, and how they are adjusting to life without the West.
------------------------------ TUESDAY, JANUARY, 15, 2015 Original Here Peculiarities of Russian National Character ← *Ancient Slavic god Zimnik: a squat old man, long hair the color of snow, wears a white coat, always barefoot. Carries an iron staff, one swing with which instantly freezes everything solid. Can summon snowstorms, ice storms and blizzards. Goes around taking whatever he likes, especially children who misbehave.* Recent events, such as the overthrow of ... more »
Are Mushrooms the Solution to the Worldwide Bee Colony Collapse?
*Jefferey Jaxen* - The intricate matrix of mushroom mycelium under our feet represents rebirth, rejuvenation, and regeneration. The post Are Mushrooms the Solution to the Worldwide Bee Colony Collapse? appeared first on Waking Times.
Counting on the Media: A Reply to Mack and Pinker
It’s always nice to read good news. And it’s nice to read evidence-based arguments in the popular press. Over the holiday, Andrew Mack and Steven Pinker offered a little of each over the holidays in their article “The World Is Not Falling Apart.” Therein, they marshal of human security indicators upon indicators – number of rapes Continue reading
Tales Of The (Gentrification) City: Tom Heyman And Deirdre White
By Denise Sullivan "People who don't live here don't get it," says singer-songwriter and guitarist Tom Heyman. "Everyone I know is waiting for the other shoe to drop, all the time. All my renter friends, me and my wife, we live in constant fear." One of thousands of musicians who migrated to the West Coast in search of better weather and better fortune in the music business, Heyman arrived to San Francisco in January of 1998 and slid in easily to the local guitar and roots music scene headquartered at the Makeout Room on 22nd and Mission Streets. Martin Rapalski's bar (and atten... more »
BREAKING: Two U.S. Navy Warships Have Positioned Themselves Off The Coast Of Yemen To Evacuate The U.S. Embassy
*CNN:* *Pentagon in position to evacuate U.S. Embassy in Yemen* *Update*: US Senator Dianne Feinstein .... the Democratic vice-chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence .... is now demanding the immediate evacuation of the U.S. embassy .... *Feinstein: Evacuate Yemen Embassy Now* (Josh Rogin, Bloomberg). *WNU Editor*: Shiite radical rebels backed by Iran have violently taken control of the capital city .... it does not take a security specialists to know that the U.S. embassy is probably under threat right now. But here is an easy prediction .... with President Obama...more »
Road to Cannabis Legalization in America
*Video - *Here's a short documentary explaining the reasons why the road to cannabis legalization in America is a long and winding one. The post Road to Cannabis Legalization in America appeared first on Waking Times.
Crikey, NZ is expensive
It’s not just housing in New Zealand that’s expensive. It’s, well, it’s nearly everything. Despite incomes here being less than stellar, our cost of living is world class. Certainly top ten. [image: image] Mind you, at least the cost of living is not as high as those socialist paradises of Scandinavia and South America. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Truly nothing to do with Islam
Pat Condell nails it. [Hat tip Suzuki Samurai] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
What’s to Blame for Our Dying Planet?
*Catherine J. Frompovich* - Every day, commonplace humans who live, work, and try to make ends meet are being blamed for ruining Planet Earth. Why? The post What’s to Blame for Our Dying Planet? appeared first on Waking Times.
Untitled
*Ranking Saints needs: No. 1 cornerback ~Mike Triplett, ESPN*
Untitled
*Bo Dollis dies at 71 ~Will Coviello, Gambit * *Big Chief Bo Dollis Becomes an Ancestor ~NOLA DEFENDER* *Bo Dollis, longtime Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians, has died ~Allison Fensterstock* *Construction to resume on North Rampart streetcar line ~N.O. Advocate * *Louisiana Reel Festival ~Daily Reveille*
Has U.S. Strategy To Combat Terrorism In Yemen Failed?
*Mark Thompson, Time:* *As Yemen’s Government Falls, So May a U.S. Strategy for Fighting Terror* *Previous Post:* Iran Backed Houti Rebels Storm Yemen's Presidential Palace Amid Coup Fears *WNU Editor:* Launching numerous drone strikes and conducting special operations as well as spending hundreds of millions of dollars supporting our allies and friends in Yemen .... the U.S. strategy to combat terrorism has produced the following .... Iran will now have a toehold in Yemen by openly supporting the Houti rebels, and Al Qaeda (with their affiliate groups) will have a safe haven in ... more »
The Rooster's Mistake
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ Since coming to office, Alan Freeman writes, Stephen Harper has had an incredible run of good luck: The Liberals had bequeathed the Tories a sound fiscal situation and a string of surpluses, so much so that in its early years, the Harperites could cut taxes and still boost spending on their favourite causes like the military, with seemingly no consequences. They also inherited a well-regulated banking system and an earlier ban on bank mergers that meant no Canadian bank was big enough to swagger on the ... more »
We Were Born To Create
*Zen Gardner* - Creation is continual. Everything is constantly evolving and changing. Nothing is static no matter how solid or set things appear. The post We Were Born To Create appeared first on Waking Times.
Rumble on the Mountain: A Celebration of Water
Support the water defenders on Jan. 24, 2015 in Flagstaff, Arizona!
Center for Biological Diversity's Statement: Obama's State of Union Address
E-mail this pageMore press releases For Immediate Release, January 20, 2015 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Center for Biological Diversity's Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address WASHINGTON— Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity, released the following statement ahead of President
Israeli General: Iran And Hezbollah Are Planning A Joint Invasion Of Northern Israel
*Daily Mail*: *Iran and Hezbollah are planning 'imminent' joint invasion of Israel's northern Galilee region according to 'high level intelligence'* * Israel carried out airstrike on convoy in Syria on Sunday killing 11 people * Among them were commanders from Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah * Today Israeli general warns they were likely planning attack on Galilee * Israel moving troops to region after Tehran warned of 'crushing response' *Update:* Are Israel and Hizbollah on the brink of war? -- Raphael D. Marcus, King's College London/The Telegraph *WNU Editor*: Questions and specula... more »
Israel On High Alert For Retaliatory Attacks After Military Strike On Hezbollah Fighters And Iranian General
Hezbollah members and supporters carry the coffin of Lebanon's Hezbollah commander Mohamad Issa, known as Abu Issa, during his funeral in Arab-Salim on Jan. 20. Photo by Ali Hashisho/Reuters *Jerusalem Post:* *IDF closes road near Lebanon, bracing for possible reprisal by Hezbollah* *WNU Editor:* It appears that this was the reason for this weekend's Israeli missile strike .... *Israelis kill Iranian general plotting missile base* (The Times). *More News On Israel Being On High Alert After This Weekends Airstrikes That Killed Hezbollah Commanders And An Iranian General* Israel o... more »
Western Security Chiefs Are Blaming NSA Leaker Edward Snowden For Al Qaeda's Latest YouTube Guide For Jihadists
Guide: The seven and half minute video released by a media platform for Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups, provides detailed graphics on how terrorists can avoid detection *Daily Mail*: *Al Qaeda's YouTube guide for jihadists: Security chiefs spooked over terror video that proves extremists are using leaks from US spy Edward Snowden to evade justice* * Terror group issued tutorial video based on what they learned from Ed Snowden disclosures * British and US intelligence chiefs have warned Snowden's 'betrayal' would play into the hands of terrorists * Video is seven and a half minu... more »
Islamic State To Launch A 24/7 Web Video Channel
*Vocativ*: *The Islamic State Is Starting A TV Channel* *WNU Editor:* This web site is not going to be online for long. *More News On The Islamic State Preparing To Launch A 24/7 Web Video Channel* Mysterious ‘Islamic State TV channel’ appears online -- Washington Post Teasers for ‘ISIS TV Channel’ Taken Down Before First Broadcast -- Newsweek Isis to launch first 24-hour online TV channel featuring British hostage John Cantlie and flagship show 'Time to Recruit' -- The Independent Islamic State planning 24-hr television channel: Reports -- Today Reports: Islamic State plans TV chan...more »
27 Facts That Show How The Middle Class Has Fared Under 6 Years Of Barack Obama
Michael Snyder During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening, Barack Obama is going to promise to make life better for middle class families. Of course he has also promised to do this during all of his other State of the Union addresses, but apparently he still believes that there are people out there that are buying what he is selling. Each January, he gets up there and tells us how the economy is “turning around” and to believe that much brighter days are right around the corner. And yet things just continue to get even worse for the middle class. The numbers that ... more »
Social Services To Family: ''Get Flu Shots Or We’re Taking Your Baby''
Mac Slavo The Washington Department of Social and Health Services is about to change the very nature of who is or is not responsible for making life-changing decisions for your children. Whether you agree with yearly flu vaccines or not, the following report from Tacoma, Washington should scare the hell out of you because if the government moves forward with their threats then every child in America will effectively become a ward of the state. A state bureaucracy is threatening a mother with removal of an infant unless her entire family subjects themselves to flu shots. This is th... more »
He can’t sing, but he answers back well, AKA: How to talk to a politician when a politician’s listening
Pommy shadow “culture minister” and would-be culture warrior Chris Bryant, MP, attacked what he thought would be an easy target, James Blunt, as an example of “privilege” dominating “the arts.” Blunt, who can barely write a song strong enough to defend itself, nonetheless penned a self-aware response that could be a model to how to address a politician. Dear Chris Bryant MP, You classist gimp. I happened to go to a boarding school. No one helped me at boarding school to get into the music business. I bought my first guitar with money I saved from holiday jobs (sandwich packing... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Abilene, Texas, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
John Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath" (Excerpts)
"The Grapes of Wrath" (Excerpts) by John Steinbeck "They breathe profits; they eat the interest on money. If they don't get it, they die the way you die without air, without side-meat." "The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it." "It ain't that big. The whole United States ain't that big. It ain't that big. It ain't big enough. There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest men. For hunger and fat." "And the great owners, who m... more »
Satire: “Richest One Per Cent Disappointed to Possess Only Half of World’s Wealth”
*“Richest One Per Cent Disappointed to * *Possess Only Half of World’s Wealth”* by Andy Borowitz DAVOS (The Borowitz Report)— “A new Oxfam report indicating that the wealthiest one per cent possesses about half of the world’s wealth has left the richest people in the world “reeling with disappointment,” a leading billionaire said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum, the hedge-fund owner Harland Dorrinson said, “I think I speak for a lot of my fellow billionaires when I say I thought we were doing a good deal better... more »
Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
Since having my baby 9 months ago, I have come to absolutely love my Crockpot. My baby is a morning person for sure and so all my best hours are in the morning. Around dinner time she gets really fussy and I am suddenly standing in my kitchen with a screaming baby, wondering how I am possibly going to get dinner on the table. My slow cooker has solved that for me. I make dinner in the morning when she is happy and then I am not stressed when dinner time rolls around and we still have something to eat. This cheesy chicken and broccoli dinner was definitely a hit in our house, it t... more »
Mordechai Vanunu
Mordechai Vanunu (born 13 October 1954), also known as John Crossman, is a former Israeli nuclear technician who, citing his opposition to weapons of mass destruction, revealed details of Israel's nuclear weapons program to the British press in 1986. He was subsequently lured to Italy by a Mossad agent, where he was drugged and abducted by Israeli intelligence agents. He was transported to Israel and ultimately convicted in a trial that was held behind closed doors. Vanunu spent 18 years in prison, including more than 11 in solitary confinement. Released from prison in 2004, he be... more »
Untitled
*K-12 Education settles for Empty Curriculum* *I taught myself for Senior High School. It was easy to do. I just brought a copy of the syllabus -- a slim volume that listed what we had to learn. So I learnt it and passed the final exam that was all you had to do in those days. I cannot see how I would be able to do that nowadays. It's all just waffle* Throughout most of the past century, the big shift in education has always been away from traditional academic subjects and toward faux-subjects and PC attitudes. Circa 1800, Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia Academy offered: Rea... more »
Iraqi Farmers Within The Islamic State's 'Caliphate' Are Now Predicting Hunger
A member of the Kurdish security forces walks with his weapon outside of a wheat silo in the Makhmur district southeast of Mosul January 8, 2015. Credit: REUTERS/Azad Lashkari *Maggie Fick, Reuters:* *Special Report: For Islamic State, wheat season sows seeds of discontent* *WNU Editor:* Stalin starved Ukraine in the 1930s .... it did not impact his ability to rule. The same can be said about other countries .... Mao's China, North Korea, etc. .... all of these countries faced starvation .... but it did not impact their rule. The same can now be said about the Islamic State .... s... more »
ALF 3: Photos with Friends, Kathmandu Conference
More photos here during the 3rd Asia Liberty Forum (ALF) held at Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu, Nepal, last January 8-10, 2015. Charu Chadha of Media 9 in Kathmandu, publisher of Business 360 monthly magazine of which I am one of their columnists, sent me today our group photo. From left: Casey Lartigue of Freedom Factory Ltd. (Seoul, S. Korea), Charu, me, Cong Minh Nguyen (doimoi.org, Hanoi, Vietnam). Casey represented Dr. Chung-ho Kim, President of Freedom Factory, who was with us in the small group roundtable discussion on "The Constitution of Liberty in Asia" held in Phuket, ... more »
Islamic State Demands A $200 Million Ransom For Two Japanese Hostages
*Washington Post*: *Islamic State demands $200 million ransom for two Japanese hostages* *WNU Editor*: Japans options on this case are very simple. A military rescue is not going to happen .... so for Japan it is "pay some money or not". My prediction .... they are not going to pay $200 million .... they are going to pay only a few million. *More News On The Islamic State Demanding A $200 Million Ransom For Two Japanese Hostages* Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Islamic State 'hostages' vow -- BBC Islamic State group threatens to kill 2 Japanese hostages -- AP Islamic State threatens two Ja...more »
Not just "noise"
Letter to the Editor, Published in Reading Today (IRA), Jan/Feb, 2015 In response to the NovDec cover story, "Beyond the noise." Concerns about the Common Core are not just "noise." It is a bad solution for a nonexistent problem. Our problem is not a lack of standards, but our unacceptably high rate of poverty. Poverty has a devastating impact on school achievement. When scholars control for the effect of poverty, American students' test scores are at the top of the world. The Common Core does nothing to protect children from the effects of poverty. Instead, it spends billions on unn... more »
(Kareem Remembers MLK with Perfect Vision) NeoCons Endanger Planet (Hebbadabbado Update) Ivy League’s Meritocracy Lie: How Harvard and Yale Cook the Books for the 1 Percent
I'm thinking that Kareem would be a powerful political candidate and inestimable force for good government. Others agree. Why I Have Mixed Feelings About MLK Day By Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, TIME 19 January 15 have mixed emotions about Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For me, it’s a time of hopeful celebration — but also of cautionary vigilance. I celebrate an extraordinary man of courage and
The Singapore Vertical Farms that Herald an Agricultural Revolution
*Video - *In Singapore, Sky Greens offers an efficient vertical farming system that is more productive, economical and less abresive to the environment and climate when compared to industrial farming. The post The Singapore Vertical Farms that Herald an Agricultural Revolution appeared first on Waking Times.
Iraq PM: Islamic State Leader al-Baghdadi Wounded In An Airstrike
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, has been wounded in Al-Qa’im. (File photo: Reuters) *IBTimes:* *ISIS Leader Baghdadi Injured, 'Survival a Miracle': Iraqi PM* *WNU Editor:* Talk and speculation on the death/being wounded/etc. of the Islamic State leader has been ongoing *since last year*. Bottom line .... we do not know the severity of his injuries .... or even if he was wounded. My guess is that he is OK and in command .... because if he was dead .... such a secret cannot be kept for long .... at most .... 24 hours. *More Ne... more »
Iran Backed Houti Rebels Storm Yemen's Presidential Palace Amid Coup Fears
*CNN:* *Yemen minister says presidential palace seized as fighting flares again in Sanaa* *WNU Editor:* So much for President Obama's claim last year that *Yemen is a model to duplicate* in the war against the Islamic State. *More News On Houti Rebels Seizing The Presidential Palace In Yemen* Yemen Presidential Residence and Palace Attacked, Raising Fears of a Coup -- NYT Rebel coup under way in Yemen, army commander says -- AP Shiite rebels shell Yemen president's home, take over palace -- AP Shiite militiamen seize Yemen presidential palace -- France 24 Militiamen Seize Yemen Pres... more »
Progressives And The Democratic Party-- A Match Made In Hell?
The party's over... "It's always 'Groundhog Day' for Democratic leaders who can't adjust, can't organize and can't win. Let's dump them." That sounds like pretty standard fare for *DWT* but it comes from a *Salon* post by Bill Curry, a White House counselor to President Clinton and a two-time Democratic nominee for governor of Connecticut. His warning is clear as a bell and, alas, falling on deaf ears: "As a wise man once said, never underestimate the capacity of an entire social order to commit suicide. The Democratic Party’s old order is doing it now. It may seem strange but make n... more »
World News Briefs -- January 20, 2015
*CNN:* *ISIS threatens to kill 2 Japanese hostages unless Tokyo pays $200 million* *MIDDLE EAST* Shiite militiamen seize *Yemen presidential palace*. Nearly 20 more air strikes *target Islamic State: U.S. coalitio*n. Militias undermine Iraqi army, *says Sadr*. Israeli security source: We didn't know Iranian general *was at site of Syria strike*. Iran promises ‘crushing response’* to Israeli strike*. Israel on high alert for possible Hezbollah retaliation *after strikes on fighters*. Turkey arrests dozens suspected* of eavesdropping on president*. Palestinian citizens of Israe... more »
SELMA ON THEIR MINDS: Our tribe's only trick!
*TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2015Part 2—Some David Carr talk:* We pseudo-liberals know exactly one trick. We know the trick about race! Sunday, at the hapless new Salon, Jenny Kutner turned our trick in a comical way about the way Selma got snubbed: KUTNER (1/18/15): “Saturday Night Live” decided to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a bit early this week in Saturday’s cold open—and the show even managed to work in a nod to *the overwhelmingly snubbed film about the civil rights activist, Selma.* Kutner was working from mandated script—a script in which Selma got “snubbed” in last we... more »
Nahko Bear (Medicine for the People) ღ Aloha Ke Akua
I was first introduced to this song by my friend Mux about 4 months ago- and while I loved it, it wasn't until today that I stumbled across a version of the song with the lyrics to go along with it. THIS is our journey right now! I am posting the version of this song with the lyrics, but also the original version of the proper video as it is very beautiful. love d *Lyrics to Aloha Ke Akua* Lend your ear, lend your hands lend your movement anything you can. Come to teach, come to be taught. Come in the likeness, in the image of God. Cause you can be like that. With all that h... more »
Charging orders available only where solicitor's work leads to funds recovered
Karrys v. Karrys, 2015 ONCA 17: [13] Counsel submits that on a proper analysis all the settlement proceeds should be found to be inextricably intertwined with the legal work the solicitors performed. The agreement settled all of the ongoing litigation and that the manner in which the parties to the settlement chose to characterize the payments for their purposes should not be taken into account in interpreting the charging orders. The respondent should not be allowed to avoid the effect of the charging orders by earmarking part of the settlement proceeds as relating only to ot... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 20, 2015
*Stars and Stripes**: Terrorism, cybersecurity likely to supersede military topics in State of the Union* *Troops, vets hope budget cuts, health care issues are addressed.* *Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 20, 2015* Intelligence chief: 'Unbelievable amount of data' coming after Paris attacks -- The Hill Anti-IS Coalition ‘Degrading’ Militants in Iraq, Syria -- Sputnik Iran Increases Military Presence Along Border with Iraq -- The Tower Russian Defense Minister in Iran for Arms Pact Talks -- Washington Free Beacon Russian military base in Armenia to be staffed by... more »
Propaganda Under the Influence
Usually when we talk about State of the Union drinking games, we bet on how many times President Obama will utter such words as *middle class* and *grit* and *folks* during his annual song of himself. This year we come to find out that not only has the Temp Emp not even written the speech himself, the designated populist theme is so phony that the designated hack had to go on an all-night drinking binge before he could pull it off. The speechwriter actually admits to one snort of pricey single malt Scotch over the course of his nocturnal writing marathon. That story is as old as the... more »
Ravitch Surrenders to Another Generation of High Stakes Tests
I posted yesterday on the head-spinning news that has placed the majority of one-time ostensible opponents of high stakes testing on the side of corporate education reformists who, of course, support another generation of the same racist and classist tests that have been used to divide and colonize public schools for the poor, and to impose another generation of "broken windows" schooling. What has sent AFT, NEA, and NPE scurrying into the tent of Arne Duncan and Lamar Alexander was an offer an keep high stakes testing, once in 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. This morning Ravitch posted her of... more »
Is Russia And Iran Forming A Military Alliance?
*IBTimes*: *Russia, Iran Expand Military Ties With New Deal To 'Confront' The US* *WNU Editor:* I guess all is forgiven since the defense ministers did not mention the controversy over a 2007 contract to deliver the Russian S-300 air-defense system to Iran .... weapon systems that Russia did not supply over objections by the United States and Israel. *More News On Russia And Iran Agreeing To Develop Closer Military Ties* Russia, Iran sign military cooperation deal -- Military Times/AP Russia, Iran Sign Military Cooperation Deal -- Radio Free Europe Russia And Iran Just Got Even Cl... more »
Untitled
*The Energy Deniers* We hear it all the time from the liberal left: those of us who legitimately question man’s impact on alleged global warming and call out the scandal plagued, phony facts used to support their hypothetical theories, are routinely labeled as, “Climate Deniers.” Well, I have new term in 2015 for our friends on the left: “Energy Deniers.” In 2015, the “Energy Deniers” in the White House, the EPA, and the U.S. Senate are out in force. Our misguided President, along with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and EPA Director Gina McCarthy, are elbowing each other for face... more »
Badr Organization A View Into Iraq’s Violent Past And Present
The Badr Organization is the oldest of Iraq’s militias, and is currently taking the lead in the fighting in the country. It was the creation of the Iranian government during the Iran-Iraq War as the armed wing of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), and has kept up those ties with Tehran since then. After the overthrow of Saddam, Badr attempted to seize power, carried out assassinations of former regime members, and then started the sectarian attacks upon Sunnis in retaliation for the insurgency. Eventually it broke from ISCI, and became a major ally of Prime Minister Nour... more »
Norway's theft of two Czech boys is a shocking story
The image of Norway in Czechia has dramatically deteriorated and may be compared to that of Afghanistan or the ISIS right now, except that we don't care about the latter two so much. Two boys stolen from their Czech parents are the reason. Most compatriots including your humble correspondent endorse an invasion of the special units of the Czech army that would kill the members of "Barnevernet" (which translates as "The Pedophiles" to Greek and the institution is the Norwegian counterpart of Lebensborn in Germany up to 1945), a child kidnapping ring that operates legally at many pla... more »
Financial Fiasco: even the sharks are hiding
The financial Doom and Gloomers, whom everyone has loved to make fun of and call "conspiracy theorists", have been vindicated over the past week. As I discussed on Sunday's Transpicuous News update, the Global economy got tossed on on it's head.... headfirst into a 6 foot deep hole. The blood is in the water..... yet even the sharks are hiding, afraid to look at the bodies that are floating to the surface. Many of the main stream media's so called reports of this past weeks financial blood bath have pointed fingers at Hedge funds as making up the largest portion of the bodies ....... more »
One People Roundtable Discussion with Lily Earth- video
One People Round Table Jan 20 – 2015 *Today we welcomed back Lily Earth to discuss the energetic shift that took place at the new year and the birth of the ‘human warrior’, as a stage in our healing process. * 20 January 2015 Good afternoon everyone! Here is the recording of last night's One People Round Table Discussion. We had a great conversation with Lily Earth, and discussed many aspects of the "New Age" paradigm of putting the people back to sleep, and the various aspects of the "Warrior" spirit that has emerged from this awakening to the truth of the dream time slumber of "... more »
Curse of Oak Island - An Expanded History Final Installment
(*Blogger's Note:* Early postings about this follow. The entire article is more than 12,000 words and should contain a good history of Oak Island.) As of today, the big dig has not taken place. The Triton Alliance has had to postpone their plans a number of times. Some of it has had to do with financing, but part of it has to do with the credibility of the story. After all, there is no solid proof that anything of value is in the Money Pit. Theories about it abound. Some believe it is pirate gold, some believe it was treasure from Europe, some believe it is the lost original manuscr... more »
Canada Is Most Definitely Jewish Occupied Territory: THIS Is A New Low, Even For Canada!
I am truly disgusted to be a Canadian these days... Right now, we have that homosexual Canadian Foreign Minister, John Baird, over in Israel groveling openly to his Jewish masters and honestly sucking and swallowing as much as he can..... It is disgusting to see that fool and Israel-firster sit there and absolutely bow down to his Jewish masters and pledge his undying allegiance to that criminal and psychotic state.. That is bad enough, but I have more disgusting news to report here... Right now, I want to present a great article that comes courtesy of the website: Desert Peace, at ... more »
Ranking Machine Guns
*Stephen Gutowski, Washington Free Beacon*: *Machine Guns Ranked* *WNU Editor:* The above video ranks the top ten. The Washington Free Beacon article ranks the popular top 4.
U.S. General: If You Praise the A-10 You Are Committing Treason
Image credit: U.S. Air Force *Defense Tech*: *The Arizona Daily Independent* *WNU Editor:* I suspect that these lawmakers will strongly disagree .... *McCain, other US lawmakers, vow to save A-10 'Warthog' aircraft* (Reuters). Maj. Gen. James Post can also (probably) kiss his hopes of getting a third star good-bye. Meanwhile in the real world .... *A-10 Performing 11 Percent of Anti-ISIS Sorties* (Defense News), while insurgents have made these planes high priority targets .... *U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft face the threat of Man Portable Air Defense Systems in Iraq *(The Aviatio... more »
Nanny State Billboards…Cuz the Government Is Your Mommy!
*Truthstream Media * What a sad testament to our society that there are more billboards on the side of the road from the government reminding us to have basic common sense than there are companies trying to sell us crap. *Idiocracy,* anyone? *Aaron Dykes and Melissa Melton created TruthstreamMedia.com, where this first appeared, as an outlet to examine the news, uncover the deceptions, pierce through the fabric of illusions, know the real enemy, unshackle from the system, and begin to imagine the path towards taking back our lives, one step at a time, so that one day we might t... more »
How to Reclaim Liberty Once Lost
Runaway Slave *Note: Substitute your state for Kentucky. It's all the same struggle.* Can we reclaim liberty? Is it even possible, so far down the road? John Adams said, “Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” We must act as though he were wrong. What can we do? Clearly voting does not matter. Even with Congress’ abysmal approval rating, the same derelicts are re-elected time after time. While we were sleeping, they changed the rules to favor themselves. We can’t stop them at the voting booth unless we all rise as one and they know it. Why would they stop on their own? They have a... more »
Et tu Poland? Putin Excluded from Holocaust Commemorations
*January 20, 2015* (Ulson Gunnar - NEO) - Glancing at the headlines one might believe Russian President Vladimir Putin had inappropriately decided not to attend Holocaust commemorations in Poland. In one breathtaking display of misinformation, Reuters would report in its article Putin will not attend Holocaust commemorations in Poland that, *"Sources told Reuters on Monday that Putin was unlikely to join world leaders gathering at the site of the Auschwitz death camp because distrust caused by the conflict in Ukraine has cast a pall on arrangements."* In reality, The Russian leade... more »
Economic War, BRICS, and the Power of Self-Sufficiency
*January 20, 2015 *(Ulson Gunner - NEO) - The toughest, most resilient people as both individuals and as societies all generally have one thing in common - self-sufficiency. This by no means suggests isolationism, but rather the ability to survive, even thrive through one's own work using resources at their own disposal. As a principle, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and individualism defined young nations like the United States, catapulting it upon the world stage as a global leader after spending time racked in debt and in England's shadow. By establishing its own industry, it... more »
Page 3 is Dead
At long last Page 3, *The Sun's* long-running big-breasted totem is to be shelved ... and replaced with scantily clad young women covering up that little bit more. A victory? I suppose it is one, of sorts. It's clearly a pay off for the No More Page 3 campaign. I wonder if the rest of the left will emulate its example and realise that taking a hectoring, berating tone is not always the best way of going about things? However, when Uncle Rupert said Page 3 was old-fashioned, the writing was on the wall. There are a couple of things about this that need noting. First of all, the dirt... more »
The Return Of Blue Dog Chris Carney?
In the 2006 midterms Blue America made a ghastly mistake. We allowed ourselves be be taken in my a bold-faced liar and fast-talking charlatan running for Congress in northeast Pennsylvania. Although we were warned that Carney, a former employee of Douglas Feith in the Bush White House, was untrustworthy, we endorsed him and helped him raise money and develop strategies against against Republican incumbent Don Sherwood. (We did not know at the time that he had worked as an "interrogator" at Guantanamo.) During our endorsement interview he portrayed himself as a progressive and vowe... more »
Johnny Hazard : The turbulence in Mexico continues
Omama blames drug dealers for what happened to the students at Ayotzinapa, but Mexican protesters still say, ‘Fue el estado: it was the government.’ By Johnny Hazard | The Rag Blog | January 20, 2015 Parents confront the army before … finish reading Johnny Hazard : The turbulence in Mexico continues
Parents of capitol bombing suspect accuse FBI of illegal setup
By RT The parents of a 20-year-old Ohio man recently accused of plotting to bomb the US capitol are accusing the FBI of coercing their son into the terroristic plan. A litany of cases in which federal authorities find susceptible individuals and then push them into illegal plans exist, but in most terrorism prosecutions, little information about law enforcement’s role is never made publicly available. Could this be another example of the FBI entrapping a citizen? Visit BenSwann.com *RELATED ARTICLE* *FBI Thwarts Terror Plot on Capitol (That They Planned)* *Get truth delivered... more »
Vast experiments on humans: a forgotten document
Image source Jon Rappoport People are unaware of the vast scope of human experimentation in America. Here are just a few examples: The entire field of psychiatry, which offers 300 so-called mental disorders for diagnosis and drugging, is a pseudoscience, because none of those mental disorders has a defining physical diagnostic test. No blood test, no urine test, no brain scan, no genetic assay. The entire area of biotech manipulation of food crops, in which genes from one species are inserted into another; the FDA originally approved GMO crops on the basis that it was the bi... more »
Swiss Shocker Triggers Gigantic Losses For Banks, Hedge Funds And Currency Traders
Michael Snyder The absolutely stunning decision by the Swiss National Bank to decouple from the euro has triggered billions of dollars worth of losses all over the globe. Citigroup and Deutsche Bank both say that their losses were somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 million dollars, a major hedge fund that had 830 million dollars in assets at the end of December has been forced to shut down, and several major global currency trading firms have announced that they are now insolvent. And these are just the losses that we know about so far. It will be many months before the full ... more »
New Computer Guided Rifle is Accurate UP TO A MILE!
Joshua Krause Since 2011, the Austin-based arms manufacturer known as TrackingPoint, has been making high-end precision guided rifles. These are nothing like the firearms that you or I grew up with. Each weapon is mounted with a digital scope that runs on Linux, and includes several sensors that measure range, wind velocity and direction, target size, temperature, and barometric pressure. All these numbers are crunched by the on-board computer, which then displays the spot you need to aim for. The scope even follows the target as it moves, and when you pull the trigger the rifle ... more »
My Liberty Movement Suicide Security Pledge
Brandon Smith I woke up this morning to the very disturbing and saddening news that a Liberty Movement colleague, David Crowley, had been found dead in his Minnesota home along with his wife and 5-year-old daughter. Mainstream media outlets, without any apparent evidence or backing from local police and coroner reports, have immediately injected the notion of “murder-suicide”, suggesting that Crowley was somehow unstable, and that he had murdered his own family and then took his own life. MSM articles showcase Crowley in tactical attire and holding firearms (most of which were pr... more »
"Gray State" Film Family Killed, Labeled ''Murder-Suicide'' - Dead for Weeks
Amanda Warren David Crowley, aged 29, had headed up a small crew for an ongoing full-feature and highly anticipated production called *Gray State.* The project had been in the works for over four years. A description excerpt from the film's website, which raised over $61,000 from fans: The world reels with the turmoil of war, geological disaster, and economic collapse, while Americans continue to submerge themselves in illusions of safety and immunity. While rights are sold for security, the federal government, swollen with power, begins a systematic takeover of liberty in order ... more »
American Sniper: Pure Propaganda for the Idiocracy
By Lionel *American Sniper* is perfect propaganda. Packaged and delivered as part of the age-old connection and information delivery system between Hollywood and the government. And with Clint Eastwood at the helm, the fellow who fetishized Dirty Harry and drove home the phallic sub-memes of the magnum and “Make my day,” I mean this is perfect. Throw into the mix Michael Moore decrying the horrors of sniping, by sniping oddly enough, and you have to marvel at the beauty of the setup. Visit LionelMedia.com *Get truth delivered to your inbox every week.* Subscribe to GLOBAL POLIT...more »
The Fraudulent Nature of the Pharmaceutical Investment Industry
*Dr. Rath Health Foundation - *Some people may say that the pharmaceutical industry cannot be that bad. However, it is very easy to show why this industry has such a detrimental effect on millions of human lives. The post The Fraudulent Nature of the Pharmaceutical Investment Industry appeared first on Waking Times.
Sunlight Does Not Cause Skin Cancer
*Marco Torres* - Exposure to ultraviolet B radiation in sunlight provides the mechanism for more than 90% of the vitamin D production in most individuals. The post Sunlight Does Not Cause Skin Cancer appeared first on Waking Times.
Tuesday Links Too
*Water drops on the flower of a sensitive plant.* No time for blogging, with finals to prepare. Enjoy some links. __________________ *Daily Links*: - Sworn in as Chairman of the KMT, one of Eric Chu's first acts is firing the Zhongshan Council set up by President and former Chairman Ma Ying-jeou to bypass the Central Standing Committee, and returning to the Central Standing Committee structure. Chu says he'll run things in his own style. - China's growth misses target, lowest in 24 years. How will this affect Taiwan's economy? - The illegal structure proble... more »
Edward Snowden Leaks: Britain`s GCHQ Stores Journalists’ Emails And Data
*The Guardian:* *GCHQ captured emails of journalists from top international media* *• Snowden files reveal emails of BBC, NY Times and more• Agency includes investigative journalists on ‘threat’ list• Editors call on Cameron to act against snooping on media* *WNU Editor: *What makes me surprised by these revelations is the complete lack of outrage from the U.S. journalist community. Even though this intelligence scooping operation was being done in Britain by their own intelligence agency .... U.S. journalists were also swept in by this surveillance/intelligence operation .... ... more »
Prof Collins explains string theory
Prof Emeritus Walter Lewin has been an excellent physics instructor who loved to include truly physical demonstrations of certain principles, laws, and concepts. *After you understand string theory, don't forget about inertia, either. ;-)* When the SJWs fired him and tried to erase him from the history of the Universe, a vacuum was created at MIT. The sensible people at MIT were thinking about a way to fill this vacuum. After many meetings, the committee decided to hire a new string theory professor who is especially good at teaching, someone like Barton Zwiebach #2 but someo... more »
Edward Snowden Leaks: NSA Arming US For Future Conflicts With Digital Weapons
(*Click on Image to Enlarge*) The National Security Agency intelligence service isn't just trying to achieve mass surveillance of Internet communication. The digital spies of the Five Eyes alliance want more. Documents from the archive of Edward Snowden indicate they are planning for wars of the future in which the Internet will play a critical role, with the aim of being able to use the net to paralyze computer networks and, by doing so, potentially all the infrastructure they control. This slide is from an NSA presentation on its Quantumtheory program. *Spiegel Online:* *The Dig... more »
ISIS execute 13 football fans for watching Iraq play Jordan on TV
The Mail reports http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2917071/ISIS-execute-13-football-fans-firing-squad-watching-Iraq-play-Jordan-TV-Islamist-controlled-Mosul.html that: ' ISIS militants have executed 13 teenage boys for watching the Asian Cup football match between Iraq and Jordan last week. The young football fans had been caught watching the game on television in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which is controlled by the Islamic State. The teenagers were rounded up and publicly executed by a firing squad using machine guns, anti-ISIS activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Sile... more »
Banning Page 3 today, dancing kids tomorrow?
' Saudi Arabia's top Islamic cleric has called on parents not to let their little daughters dance in front of men as the Gulf Kingdom's religious police threatened to punish those responsible for allowing little girls to dance during a local festival. A film showing a group of little Saudi girls dancing on stage in front of men during the annual 'Spring festival' in the central town of Buraidah on Friday triggered criticism by many scholars and viewers after it went viral on social networks and local newspapers. "Don't teach your little daughters dancing and allow them to dance in... more »
“The Beginning of the End of the $100 TRILLION Bond Bubble”
*“The Beginning of the End of the $100 TRILLION Bond Bubble”* by Phoenix Capital Research “The big story in the world is the bond bubble. For over 30 years, sovereign nations, particularly in the West have been buying votes by offering social payments in the form of welfare, Medicare, social security, and the like. The ridiculousness of this should not be lost on anyone. Politicians, in order to be elected, promise to allocate taxpayer funds on social programs that will benefit said taxpayers down the road (we’re simply talking about social spending, not infrastructure or other cost... more »
South Korea To Develop Spy Satellites This Year, And Surface-To-Air L-SAM Missiles
[image: Spy satellite]South Korea is set to develop new military reconnaissance satellites this year and the first five units will be deployed by 2022, the country’s military officials announced Monday. The latest developments are part of broader efforts by the government to boost the country’s defense capabilities to better deal with growing security threats from North Korea. The new project is part of the South Korean defense ministry’s policy goals for this year, which focus on forming “a creative defense system” with a greater use of advanced information technology, Yonhap News... more »
Pakistan occupies top slot in Google's list of most porn-searching countries per The Times of India
The Times of India reports http://www.timesofindia.com/world/pakistan/Pak-occupies-top-slot-in-Googles-list-of-most-porn-searching-countries/articleshow/45941072.cms that: 'Pakistan tops the list of most porn-searching countries and leads the way in porn searches for animals like pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and snakes, according to the data released by Google. The data also showed that six of the top eight porn-searching countries were Muslim states with Egypt ranking second in the list followed by Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Turkey at numbers four, five, seven and eight, respe... more »
EID's ICCS6 to Equip Belgian, Dutch and Portuguese Frigates
[image: M-class FFG]The navies of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal will upgrade some of their surface ships with the latest version (the sixth) of the Integrated Communications Control System, produced by Portuguese communications specialist EID. Under the M-class frigates user group memorandum of understanding (MoU), a contract with a maximum value of EUR15 million is to be awarded by the Portuguese Government for the supply of 10 ICCS6 systems. For this purpose, the three navies set up a joint working arrangement. Five systems will be installed on board Portuguese ships: two... more »
Germany to discuss A400M delivery problems with Airbus-source
[image: Luftwaffe A400M]German Deputy Defence Minister Katrin Suder will meet Bernhard Gerwert, the head of Airbus' Defence and Space division, on Monday to discuss an expected delay in deliveries of A400M military transport plane, a security source told Reuters. The source said that during a meeting with European defence equipment agency OCCAR on Friday, Airbus had acknowledged it was facing delivery problems and presented options to solve the issue. The source added that other A400M clients had been affected by the delivery problems. Read more
Agni-V missile to be test-fired on January 31
[image: Agni-V ICBM]India's strategic missile, Agni-V, will be test-fired from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast, on January 31. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has developed the missile, will launch it from a canister mounted on a road-mobile launcher, which is a TATRA truck. A gas generator at the bottom of the canister will push the 17-metre long, 50-tonne Agni-V out of the canister. Read more
Russian Armed Forces to Adopt Hypersonic Missiles on Mass Scale
[image: Russian hypersonic missile]The Russian Armed Forces will receive hypersonic missiles on mass scale in about 15 to 25 years, with the first prototypes to be created by 2020, CEO of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation Boris Obnosov said in an interview with the "Defense of Russia" magazine. "I think that the program will unfold as early as in the next decade, and the transition to the hypersonic [missiles] is a matter of the 2030s-2040s," Obnosov said. He explained that the main difficulty in developing missiles able to fly significantly faster than the speed of sound was ... more »
Fokker signs F-35 wing component production agreement with Lockheed
[image: F-35C Lightning II]Fokker has signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin for the production of additional wing components for the next batches of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft. Under the terms of agreement, the company will the manufacture flaperons and outboard leading edge flaps (OLEF) for the ninth and tenth low rate initial production batches of the fifth-generation fighter. The flaperons are critical for the controllability of the aircraft. They are 3m-long flaps on the aircraft's wing trailing edges, while the OLEF are flaps on the wing leading edges. ... more »
More questions about F-35 performance
[image: F-35 Engine fire]Flawed software will hobble the first of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighters to be called combat-ready, limiting the plane’s ability to drop bombs, share data with other aircraft and track enemy radar, Tony Capaccio of Bloomberg news service writes. He noted that finding is from the Defense Department’s chief weapons tester found. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to declare its version of the F-35 (different from the version Canada hopes to buy) ready for limited combat as soon as July, according to the Bloomberg report. Read more
Saab and Damen Team for Walrus Future Submarine Replacement Programme
[image: Walrus class SSK]Swedish defence and security company Saab is teaming with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group to explore future opportunities in the international submarine market. The companies have signed an exclusive teaming agreement to work together in pursuit of the potential Walrus-class submarine replacement programme for the Netherlands. In addition to this project, Saab and Damen will also explore ways in which they might bid jointly on other submarine procurement programmes. Read more
Do We Plan Our Lives Before We Are Born?
This discusses what is known about life planning before we are born. It appears way more extensive than i expected. Again we now understand the physicality of the spirit and that it is also evolving with the assistance of spirits that are further advanced. This embeds a duality combined with the notion of Soul as the perfect pattern. The spirit has free will striving to achieve a more perfect expression of existence in resonance with its Soul. This induces the pattern described below. I also suspect that advanced animal souls can be promoted to the human form and that plau... more »
Share Saudi Arabia Faces Challenges in the New Year
I do not think anyone anywhere in the Middle East feels comfortable at all. All those chickens are now coming home to roost. To start with, we are watching the beginning of the end for oil itself. All these propped up authoritarian states will have their financial lifeline simply disappear. This cash gas allowed them all to be eccentric at best and fools at worst. None of them have a planned happy ending when that happens. Recall that if i were provided a large line of capital to go as fast as possible, I could turn over all our rolling stock inside of several years. Even ... more »
Lofa: Legendary Ogre
Once again it is not a bear and it is not bigfoot either. It is fleet of foot and it stinks. This then is another candidate for a giant sloth. We get little information here except it is certainly in he right country and it is fast. We should have anticipated just that and confirmation is welcome. At least every witness made himself scarce and id do recommend just that. . *Lofa: Legendary Ogre * * Friday, January 02, 2015 * * http://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2015/01/lofa-legendary-ogre.html* *According to native legend, the Lofa was a Bigfoot-like creature that lived in No... more »
Cyber Attack: China Rejects Allegations of F-35 Technology Theft from Australian Defence Force
[image: RAAF F-35 Lightning II]China flatly denied that the hack attack that reportedly pilfered mountain of information about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter technology, specifically the units designed for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), had originated from Beijing. China called the accusations as baseless and unfair. "The so-called evidence that has been used to launch groundless accusations against China is completely unjustified," Reuters quoted a Chinese foreign ministry representative as saying. The same spokesman insisted that the cyber-attack in question, which reportedly... more »
Beijing ‘never paid’ for aircraft carrier, report says
[image: Liaoning CV16]The Chinese businessman who bought an unfinished Soviet-era vessel that became his country’s first aircraft carrier was never paid back the $120 million it cost him by Beijing, he was quoted as saying Tuesday. Entrepreneur Xu Zengping paid Ukraine a $20 million fee for the Varyag, which was eventually commissioned into the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy as the Liaoning, but the price ballooned once towing it to China — a process that was delayed for years — and other costs were included. A former PLA basketball player, he was chosen to negotiate the acquis... more »
Providing Engineering, Integration Support for U.S. Navy's Most Advanced Weapon System
[image: Aegis Ashore site]The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a five-year contract to provide critical system engineering, integration, and testing expertise for the Aegis Combat System on board surface ships. The initial award is valued at $23 million with the total value of the five-year contract estimated at $120 million. “Our Aegis system engineering experts have been working side by side with sailors for more than 40 years to modernize and strengthen the U.S. Navy’s fleet of Aegis-equipped surface ships,” said DeEtte Gray, president of BAE Systems’ Intelligence & Security sec... more »
China angry over U.S. sales of warships to Taiwan
These Perry-class frigates may be around 30 years old and due to be decommissioned by the US Navy, but Taiwan still wants them to replace its aging fleet of Knox-class vessels, which are around 50 years old. Taiwan's Navy says it plans to buy two of the guided missile frigates initially. But Beijing protested the U.S. decision to sell the frigates to Taiwan. Source
Edward Snowden Leaks: The Chinese Military Is Spying On The Air Refueling Schedules For US Pacific Command
Several Carrier Air Wing 14 F/A-18 Hornets from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan await refueling with a British Royal Air Force L-1011 tanker aircraft in southern Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2008. The Hornets provide support to coalition forces on the ground. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Erik Etz *Sam Roggeveen, The Interpreter*: *China cyberspies target more than just F-35* *WNU Editor:* In every conflict since World War II the U.S. has dominated air space .... a critical component of this domination has been its tanker fleet and its ability to supply U.S. fighters and bombers with fue... more »
Missing Positrons
I constructing a theoretical model for Dark Matter which represents 98% of the actual matter in every galaxy i was confronted with an obvious imbalance between electrons and positrons on Earth. Since either will be neutralized on binding to a dark matter element, the question becomes why is Earth electron rich. I now think this is a function of matter itself which leaves a net positive charge. This is enough to force positrons out into space at least and possibly much further. These positrons will also be generally bound to dark matter elements. Thus all gravity wells n... more »
Barrow MP blasts 'overblown' claims on Trident costs
[image: Successor class SSBN]An MP has hit back after criticism of a reported £261m increase in spending on the Trident Successor programme. Parties including the Green Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru have spoken out after revelations that spending on Britain’s nuclear deterrent system will increase this year, before the project is next voted on in 2016. Much of the increase is set to be invested in BAE Systems in Barrow. Read more
Edward Snowden Leaks: Chinese Hackers Stole F-35 Plans
*Sydney Morning Herald:* *China stole plans for a new fighter plane, spy documents have revealed* *WNU Editor:* The Chinese are not the only ones who want the blueprints for the F-35 .... *Engineer accused of stealing F-35 blueprints for Iran* (Sydney Morning Herald) *More News On Edward Snowden`s Latest Leak That Reveals Chinese Hackers Were Successful In Stealing The F-35 PlanséBlueprints* Snowden Reveals More Bad News for the $400 Billion F-35 -- Epoch Times China stole F-35 blueprints from Lockheed, Snowden data appears to show -- Japan Times Chinese spies 'stole plans for JSF... more »
What the BBC's Arab Editor thinks
Another striking catch from *Biased BBC'*s DB on Twitter: Netanyahu's relentless call for Jews of the world to immigrate to #Israel gives ammunition to extremist ideologies in the region — Bassam Andari (@Bassamandari) January 18, 2015 And there's more: #Israel maintains that it is a democratic state. Why is it concerned about the Palestinians joining the #ICC? — Bassam Andari (@Bassamandari) January 3, 2015 Which military training manual suggests that if civilians are used as human shields it's fine to wipe them out? #Gaza #justasking — Bassam Andari (@Bassamandari) July 20, 2014 ... more »
Not very 'subliminal'
It looks as if the *Biased BBC *blog remains down this morning, but when it's up again please check out DB's extensive selection of re-tweets from the Twitter account of Radio 4's newly-appointed Head of Comedy, Sioned Wiliam. She seems to share the politics of most Radio 4 comedians. She certainly doesn't seem to be a UKIP supporter. On the subject of which... I was listening to Radio 4 yesterday evening and very much enjoyed a fascinating David Aaronovitch documentary on the history of 'subliminal advertising' scares, as well as the linked edition of *The Infinite Monkey Cage... more »
"27 Facts That Show How The Middle Class Has Fared Under 6 Years Of Barack Obama"
by Michael Snyder “During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening, Barack Obama is going to promise to make life better for middle class families. Of course he has also promised to do this during all of his other State of the Union addresses, but apparently he still believes that there are people out there that are buying what he is selling. Each January, he gets up there and tells us how the economy is “turning around” and to believe that much brighter days are right around the corner. And yet things just continue to get even worse for the middle class. The numbers that y... more »
Danny Cohen on the rise of anti-Semitism
Danny Cohen, the BBC's head of television, speaking at the launch of a season of programme's commemorating the 70th anniversary off the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkeanau, has made some noteworthy comments about the renewed rise of anti-Semitism. Quoted in the *Telegraph, *he said: Today, we witness the murder of Jewish citizens in France and Belgium, the desperate search for refuge of the Yazidis in the face of the ISIS onslaught and the continuing threats to the Christian community in Iraq and elsewhere. All around us we continue to feel the dark shadow of genocidal, religiou... more »
Green To Not So Green
So "dry" season in Costa Rica supposedly starts in mid-November and continues to mid-May. This has not really been the case this year. We had rain going into like mid-late December and then it stopped. Until this week there it has poured four days. Not the entire day, but for a couple hours. Which i guess is weird for dry season. My plants like it, so I am cool with it! Speaking of plants, I have started planting some seeds to grow some of our own veggies. I know NOTHING about this, so we will see how it goes. I am so far growing garlic, bell peppers, leeks and radishes. P... more »
Picture Of The Day
*NANGARHAR ARRIVAL* U.S. Army Spc. John Gilbert, left, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Bentley, center, commander of Train, Advise, Assist Command East, and U.S. Army 1st Lt. Steven Sanders depart a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Jan. 6, 2015. Gilbert and Sanders are assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Train, Advise, Assist Command East. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jarrod Morris
Top U.S. General In Afghanistan: 'We Could Extend The Mission'
Gen. John Campbell, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, expects a very violent summer season. (Photo: Army) *Michelle Tan, Army Times*: *4-star in Afghanistan: We could extend mission* WNU Editor: It appears that he is not only laying the groundwork to extend the mission .... but to keep the same level of U.S. forces (or more) in Afghanistan. In the meantime .... the political crisis (and gridlock) in the Afghan government continues .... *Afghan leader in cabinet setback as nominee quits, others in doubt* (Reuters).
PBS: Clashes raise fears of power vacuum in vulnerable Yemen
*An excerpt from, "McCain slams Obama 'success story' in Yemen" The Hill, January 19, 2015:* "The government's fall could risk the United States's ability to continue its counterterrorism efforts against al Qaeda and the Arabian Peninsula, which is seen as al Qaeda's most dangerous affiliate. Obama touted Yemen in September as an example of a counterterrorism success story and a model for the U.S.-led war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria." *Title: Clashes raise fears of power vacuum in vulnerable Yemen. Source: PBS NewsHour. Date Published: January 19, 2015. Descripti... more »
Food Watch: Next up from the Cronut™ man: a six-course dessert tasting menu paired with cocktails
*No, there won't be any Cronuts™ at Dominique Ansel's new café in Manhattan's West Village, but there will be an after-hours chef's table with a six-course dessert tasting menu paired with cocktails.* *"A sample tasting menu presented to Community Board 2 last week would start with a dish titled 'Bread and Butter,' made from yeast ice cream and brown butter mousse, paired with a 'milkshake' cocktail of mezcal, lemon blossom, honey and egg whites."* *-- from "Dominique Ansel Plans Tasting Menu PairingCocktails and Desserts," on DNAinfo New York* *by Ken* *CB2's district*Alas for t... more »
Guest Post - Recycling Cell Phones – GreenBuyback – Be Green | Get Green
According to the Electronics *Take Back Coalition*, consumers purchased 1.8 billion cell phones in 2013. 125 million of those phones are iPhones alone. It is anticipated that the US will increase purchases of cell phones to a projected 1.96 billion in 2015. These are tremendous numbers and are consistently trending upwards. There is a major concern for the amount of potential e-waste this could create if consumers are throwing these phones away after they upgrade to a new phone. What happens if cell phones end up in a landfill? Cell phones and accessories contain heavy metals such a... more »
Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. (The Solid Nonpareil: Mark Twain)
So much has been said in the last 46-plus years about the importance of remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his life's accomplishments, that it seems almost beside the point to mention how shocked and awed he'd be at the destruction of our democratic governments today by internal elements, and yet totally on point. Having been attacked for his beliefs, Paul Craig Roberts speaks from
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, "Night Light"
Liquid Mind, "Night Light" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5VzYAPBVJc
Here Comes The Currency Wars
*Edward Harrison, Foreign Policy*: *What the Wild Swiss Franc Appreciation Really Means* *Currency wars are coming. Will the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate moves make it worse?* *WNU Editor:* A sobering analysis on how key nations .... by politically manipulating the value of their currencies.... are creating an economic/monetary environment that will not be sustainable in the foreseeable future. Read it all.
Dying Pacific Ocean?
*Marine defaunation: Animal loss in the global ocean.* *Science 16 January 2015: Vol. 347 no. 6219 DOI: 10.1126/science.1255641 * Review Douglas J. McCauleyMalinL. PinskyStephen R. PalumbiJames A. EstesFrancis H. JoyceRobert R. Warner [excerpted] Wildlife populations in the oceans have been badly damaged by human activity…. Human dependency on marine wildlife and the linked fate of marine and terrestrial fauna necessitate that we act quickly to slow the advance of marine defaunation…. Three lessons emerge when comparing the marine and terrestrial defaunation experiences: (i) ... more »
German Journalist Embeded With Islamic State Fighters: 'They Want To Kill Hundreds Of Millions In A 'Religious Cleansing'
*Breitbart*: *German Embed Reporter: ISIS Plans On Killing ‘Hundreds of Millions’ in ‘Religious Cleansing’* *Update #1:* Interview with German 'Islamic State' fighter surfaces -- Deutsche Welle *Update #2:* Watch A Rare Interview With A German Jihadi In Iraq -- Huffington Post *WNU Editor*: And according to this "German journalist" .... it is all George Bush's fault .... *“ISIL is the baby of George W Bush”* (Euronews).
Vote Now for the 2015 (The Duckies) IR Blogging Awards
It’s time to vote! We are asking readers to vote for the finalists in each category. ONce we have finalists for each category, a panel of judges that includes previous years’ winners and permanent contributors at Duck of Minerva will select this year’s award winners in each category. The winners will be announced at the Continue reading
An Analysis On The Impact Of Falling Oil Prices On Venezuela, Russia, And Iran
*Jackson Diehl, Washington Post*:* Falling oil prices hit Venezuela, Iran and Russia hard * *WNU Editor*: I am not complaining .... I heat using oil, and I am banking about $250/delivery when compared to last year. But there are geopolitical consequences, and we are seeing that fallout from countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. *More News On The Impact Of Falling Oil Prices* Russia Braces for Widening Deficit as Oil Plunge Starves Budget -- Bloomberg Moody's downgrades Russia amid oil slide -- Deutsche Welle Iran sees no OPEC shift toward a cut, says oil industry could withst...more »
Canadian Soldiers Involved In The First Ground Battle Between Western Troops And The Islamic State
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) provides Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) with military training. Now the forces have also been involved in combat. Photo: CANSOFCOM, DND. *IBTimes*: *Canadian Special Forces Confront ISIS In First Ground Battle Between Western Troops And Militant Group* *WNU Editor:* Apparently Canadian troops are more actively involved in the fight against the Islamic State than what is being reported .... *Canadian special forces guiding missile strikes in Iraq* (Globe and Mail) *More News On Canadian Soldiers Being Involved In The First Ground B... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 19, 2015
*Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY:* *Davos arrives as world on verge of nervous breakdown* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 19, 2015* What Is the Point of Davos? -- Iain Martin, Telegraph Israel Kills Iran’s Favorite (Terrorist) Son -- Iran Wire/Daily Beast Playing with fire on Israel's northern front -- Alex Fishman, YNet News Peer pressure not propaganda crucial to IS recruitment: experts -- Michael Holden and Kate Kelland, Reuters Q&A: Yemen power struggle threatens anti-al-Qaida campaign -- Maggie Michael, AP Pakistan: No More ‘Good Taliban’? -- Kunwar Khuldune Sh... more »
Curse of Oak Island - An Expanded History Part V
(*Blogger's Note:* Early postings about this follow. The entire article is more than 12,000 words and should contain a good history of Oak Island.) *The Money Pit Claims Additional Victims* Nothing more was accomplished until 1959 when Bob Restall moved to the island. He had fallen under the spell during a chance visit several years earlier. Although his financing was always small, he was convinced that he would be the one to succeed. With his family, wife Mildred, and his sons, he moved to the island, living in a couple of shacks that had no indoor plumbing, running water, and for... more »
Snowden's and Greenwald's Latest Bombshells
Excerpt from The Guardian, by James Ball, referring to UK and US spying on journalists spied on by US and UK, latest Snowden leaks: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/19/gchq-intercepted-emails-journalists-ny-times-bbc-guardian-le-monde-reuters-nbc-washington-post Also in the news: Greenwald interview with CIA agent in prison for exposing US torture: Former CIA agent John Kiriakous,
Ground Zero Protest
Ground Zero Center for Non-violence Action: Memorial on the Death of Planet Earth. January 17, 2015 at Trident Naval Base Bangor.
2014 Deadliest Year In Iraq Since Civil War Period
MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 1 day ago
Unsurprisingly 2014 ended as one of the deadliest years since the civil war period of 2005-2008 in Iraq. Violence was high in the first half of the year, and then exploded during the summer offensive. Fortunately, by the winter attacks were going down as the Iraqi forces rallied and started to retake lost territory. Musings On Iraq counted 10,209 security incidents during the year. That averaged out to 27.9 per day. 2014 was a year of two halves however. From January to June there were an average of 31.8 attacks per day with over 900 incidents each month. In July there was 937, bu... more »
Then and Now: Kappanzan
I was trawling through the East Asia Image Collection at Lafayette again when I found this shot of Kappanzan. That's the well known tourist site of Jiaobanshan. The Taoyuan County government website on the area, now a tourist area, is here. On Facebook the East Asia Image Collection describes its Kappanzan collection: Kappanzan/Jiaobanshan entered Japanese colonial history as a hotly contested battleground in the war for precious timber in Taiwan's interior. By the 1930s, it was accessible to tourists and visiting government officials by push-cart rail, and was appointed with comfo... more »
America's First Very Gay President?
The other day, I noticed one of the polling firms had included Lindsey Graham in their sample. He polled 0%. Yesterday I also noticed that far right firebrand Joe "You Lie" Wilson endorsed Graham for president. Odd. Republicans in South Carolina don't even like him that much. He only polled 56.4% in last years's GOP primary and on election day the other South Carolina senator, Tim Scott won 749,266 votes (61.2%) and Governor Nikki Haley won 689,319 votes (56.0%) while Lindsey struggled to get to 665,605 (54.5%) from the exact same pool of voters. But on *Meet the Press* yesterday ... more »
We have a whole socity that buys who would I like to fuck overall
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When the plumber shows up at the wedding it gets messy You know what most of us can not afford to drift between failed relationships My partner is not perfect though I truly believe compared to me close I expect the same evaluation from anyone who loves someone the most Love is a village Love is what makes us post Love is ever thing and as a Kinky Institute Study reveals the Philippines are where you will find love hits you the most Not going down on the Pines these people I know a little bit they are smart they are attractive and the only reason they are down is as usual the gove... more »
World News Briefs -- January 19, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*Kyiv Post*: *Severe fights go on near Donetsk airport, more Russian troops reportedly enter Ukraine* *MIDDLE EAST* Houthi rebels and *Yemeni soldiers clash in Sana’a*. Fiercest fighting *in months besets Sana’a*. U.N. saw drones over Syria *before Israel strike in breach of truce*. Iran general died in *'Israeli strike' in Syrian Golan*. Iranian general, son of ex-Hezbollah leader, killed in *Israeli airstrike in Syria.* Israel on alert for possible Hezbollah retaliation* to Golan Heights missile strike.* 35 killed in Syrian military plane crash, *al-Qaida claims credit.* Kob... more »
Did Iran Assassinate Argentinian Prosecutor Alberto Nisman?
*Christopher Dickey, Daily Beast:* *Did Iran Murder Argentina’s Crusading Prosecutor Alberto Nisman?* *Update: *Officials: No sign of others in Argentine prosecutor death -- Washington Post/AP *WNU Editor:* This story is being covered extensively in South America .... and the optics for the Argentinian government are just horrible now. My prediction .... this is a cloud that is going to be over the heads of the Argentinian government for a very long time .... and questions on Iran's role (if any) will only persist.
"A Look to the Heavens"
"The most distant object easily visible to the eye is M31, the great “Andromeda Galaxy some two and a half million light-years away. But without a telescope, even this immense spiral galaxy - spanning over 200,000 light years - appears as a faint, nebulous cloud in the constellation Andromeda. In contrast, details of a bright yellow nucleus and dark winding dust lanes, are revealed in this digital telescopic image. Narrow band image data recording emission from hydrogen atoms, shows off the reddish star-forming regions dotting gorgeous blue spiral arms and young star clusters. *C... more »
Kahlil Gibran, "A Poet's Voice"
“You are my brother, but why are you quarreling with me? Why do you invade my country and try to subjugate me for the sake of pleasing those who are seeking glory and authority? Why do you leave your wife and children and follow Death to the distant land for the sake of those who buy glory with your blood, and high honor with your mother's tears? Is it an honor for a man to kill his brother man? If you deem it an honor, let it be an act of worship, and erect a temple to Cain who slew his brother Abel. Is self-preservation the first law of Nature? Why, then, does Greed urge you to... more »
"The Transparent Self"
"We begin life with the world presenting itself to us as it is. Someone – our parents, teachers, analysts – hypnotizes us to 'see' the world and construe it in the 'right' way. These others label the world, attach names and give voices to the beings and events in it, so that thereafter, we cannot read the world in any other language or hear it saying other things to us. The task is to break the hypnotic spell, so that we become undeaf, unblind, and multilingual, thereby letting the world speak to us in new voices and write all its possible meaning in the new book of our existence. ... more »
"Whatever Your Fate Is..."
"Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment- not discouragement- you will find the strength there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures, followed by wreckage, were the incident... more »
Paulo Coelho, "Walking the Path"
"Walking the Path" by Paulo Coelho "I reckon that it takes about three minutes to read my text. Well, according to statistics, in that same short period of time 300 people will die and another 620 will be born. It takes me perhaps half an hour to write a text: here I sit, concentrating on my computer, books piled up beside me, ideas in my head, the scenery passing by outside my window. Everything seems perfectly normal all around me; and yet, during these thirty minutes, 3,000 people have died and 6,200 have just seen the light of the world for the first time. Where are all those ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Vestaburg, Michigan, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
“Self-Compassion: The Most Important Life Skill?”
*“Self-Compassion: The Most Important Life Skill?”* by Robin Nixon “A charming animated baby, Kristin Neff's son Rowan retreated into himself as a toddler, losing his few words and becoming prone to inexplicable screaming fits. There are numerous ways Neff could have reacted to Rowan's 2004 diagnosis of autism. She could have buried her emotions, become despondent or immediately found something to blame. But Neff, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, was in the midst of pioneering psychological research on self-compassion. And her findings suddenly proved in...more »
"Our Best..."
"That the situation appears hopeless should not prevent us from doing our best." - Aldo Leopold
"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"
*"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"* by Marc Chernoff “The best way out is always through.” - Robert Frost “Today, I’m sitting in my hospital bed waiting to have both my breasts removed. But in a strange way I feel like the lucky one. Up until now I have had no health problems. I’m a 69-year-old woman in the last room at the end of the hall before the pediatric division of the hospital begins. Over the past few hours I have watched dozens of cancer patients being wheeled by in wheelchairs and rolling beds. None of these patients could be a day older than 17.” That’... more »
Some In Hollywood Are Waging 'War' Against The Movie 'American Sniper'
Anger: Michael Moore took to Twitter with his views on snipers the day after American Sniper came out *Daily Mail*:* 'They are cowards not heroes': Michael Moore slams 'military assassins' as Oscar-tipped movie American Sniper storms box office* * Documentary maker Michael Moore said snipers 'shoot you in the back' * Said that he was taught that snipers were 'cowards' and 'not heroes' * Tweets came a day after Clint Eastwood's film American Sniper came out * Movie starring Bradley Cooper is a biopic of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle * He was credited with most confirmed kills in American milita... more »
Middle East Politics Rears Its Ugly Head At The Miss Universe Pageant
Miss Israel, Doron Matalon, posted this picture with Miss Lebanon, Saly Griege, Miss Slovenia and Miss Japan. Many in Lebanon are calling for the removal of Griege from the Miss Universe pageant because of her contact with Matalon. Instagram/Screengrab *Daily Mail:* *Miss Lebanon claims Israeli beauty queen 'jumped in' and photobombed her in controversial selfie at Miss Universe contest as she faces calls to be stripped of title* * Miss Lebanon Saly Greige forced to apologise for selfie with Miss Israel * The group selfie was taken by Miss Israel, who posted it on social media * Mis... more »
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From around the inter-tubes: It seems painfully obvious to me that Russian efforts to intimidate Finland will tend to push Helsinki in NATO's direction, but mileage may vary. A brief from Dmitry Gorenburg on the future of the Russian Navy. I suppose we shouldn't have let Loomis invest all of the donations in ...
from RT : A new Russian advanced stealth submarine, dubbed a "black hole" by NATO for its ability to be undetectable, has begun preparations for deep water tests. However, it must first make a 4,630km journey to the Barents Sea in Russia's north. "The crew of the electric diesel submarine Rostov on ...
Russian Navy gets new-generation intelligence ship TASS News Agency MOSCOW, January, 14. /TASS/. The first Project-18280 intelligence ship Yury Ivanov has been signed over to the Russian Navy, spokesman for the St. Petersburg-based Severnaya Verf shipyard told TASS on Wednesday. "The vessel has already been signed over to the Navy - the acceptance ...
Moscow, Russia (Sputnik) Dec 24, 2014 Russia's third Borey-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Vladimir Monomakh, was officially inducted in the Russian Navy on Friday, the Sevmash shipyard reported. "The ceremony of raising the Russian Navy colors on the Vladimir Monomakh submarine on Friday, December 19, at Sevmash," the ...Large landing ship Saratov joins Russian Navy's task force in Mediterranean
The Black Sea Fleet's large landing ship Saratov has reunited with the Russian Navy's task force in the Mediterranean Sea, a source in the Navy Staff told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday. "The large landing ship Saratov and the lifting and mooring ship KIL-158 of the Black Sea Fleet passed through Black Sea ...
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