11:10pm MDST
Why Baghdad's Strategy To Protect Ramadi Was Doomed To Fail
Alaa Al-Marjani/Reuters *Jacob Siegel Michael Pregent, Daily Beast:* *Why Does Baghdad Let ISIS Keep Winning?* *Ramadi may have fallen to ISIS on Sunday, but the city has been under attack for over a year. Sectarian politics kept the government from defending it—and could empower ISIS further.* *The road to Baghdad runs through Ramadi. So why hasn’t the Iraqi government done more to reinforce the city, which has been under siege from ISIS forces since early 2014, even before the fall of Mosul?* *The answer is politics: Ramadi is predominantly Sunni, and powerful elements of Baghd... more »
A Look At The Military Strategy That The Islamic State Employed In Conquering Ramadi
*New York Times*:* ISIS Fighters Seized Advantage in Iraq Attack by Striking During Sandstorm* *WASHINGTON — Islamic State fighters used a sandstorm to help seize a critical military advantage in the early hours of the terrorist group’s attack on the provincial Iraqi capital of Ramadi last week, helping to set in motion an assault that forced Iraqi security forces to flee, current and former American officials said Monday.* *The sandstorm delayed American warplanes and kept them from launching airstrikes to help the Iraqi forces, as the Islamic State fighters evidently anticipate... more »
Islamic State Celebrate Their Ramadi Victory
Da'ish convoy in Rutbah, W. #Anbar province, celebrating events in Ramadi. Begs the question, where's the coalition? pic.twitter.com/hIMO5cszF4 — حيدر سومري (@IraqiSecurity) May 18, 2015 *WNU Editor:* Click on a picture to enlarge it. The bottom video is from Mosul. Hat Tip to Gateway Pundit for* the above tweet*.
Is The White House Strategy To Defeat The Islamic State Unraveling?
Iraqi security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists in the eastern part of Ramadi in Anbar province, May 14, 2015. Reuters/Stringer *Bloomberg*: *Islamic State Victory Threatens to Unravel Obama’s Iraq Strategy* *Islamic State’s seizure of the Iraqi city of Ramadi threatens to unravel President Barack Obama’s strategy for defeating the Sunni extremist group without sending U.S. ground troops back to Iraq.* *Ramadi’s fall, two days after a U.S. general said Islamic State was “losing” in Iraq, is the militants’ biggest success since they swept... more »
Guest Post - Linoleum Could Be the Best Flooring for an Environmentally Sustainable Home
Linoleum As a home builder, I know that choosing your flooring can be one of the hardest parts of decorating the interior of your home. The first step is to choose what type of flooring that you want –tile, carpet, or a beautiful hardwood. Many home owners choose linoleum flooring for the desirable sustainable qualities and modern appeal. [image: Linoleum Could Be the Best Flooring for an Environmentally Sustainable Home] Linoleum is made from linseed oil, rosin (from pine trees), wood flour, limestone, pigments and jute. Linseed oil is obtained from flax, and is the most essent... more »
U.S. War Games on Russia's Southern Border
The United States and Georgia have started a two-week military exercise in the southern Caucasus Republic on Monday. For Russia the presence of US troops a few kilometers from its border is a provocation, just as is a US promise of the NATO membership to Georgia. Some 600 US and Georgian soldiers are participating in the exercise, for which the US redeployed the entire motor brigade and 14 M2 Bradley tanks from its base in Bulgaria. It's so clear to me what the US is doing right now. Dropping lots of weapons and US troops along Russian borders. Sending US 'diplomats' to Europe a...more »
Lamar W. Hankins : Move to Amend vs. the Supreme Court
We must put corporations in their place and acknowledge that money is a commodity, not speech. By Lamar W. Hankins | The Rag Blog | May 19, 2015 For five years, ever since the illogical and corporatist Supreme Court decision … finish reading Lamar W. Hankins : Move to Amend vs. the Supreme Court
Musical Interlude: Juzzie Smith, “Bluesberry Jam”
Awesome one man blues band Juzzie Smith, “Bluesberry Jam” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vikmUQZpGQ
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Is this what will become of our Milky Way Galaxy? Perhaps if we collide with the Andromeda Galaxy in a few billion years, it might. Pictured below is NGC 7252, a jumble of stars created by a huge collision between two large galaxies. The collision will take hundreds of millions of years and so is effectively caught frozen in time in the above image. The resulting pandemonium has been dubbed the Atoms-for-Peace galaxy because of its similarity to a cartoon of a large atom. *Click image for larger size.* The above image was taken recently by the MPG/ESO 2.2 meter telescope in Chile. ... more »
"We Are Stardust..."
"In a sense, human flesh is made of stardust… Every atom in the human body, excluding only the primordial hydrogen atoms, was fashioned in stars that formed, grew old and exploded most violently before the Sun and the Earth came into being. The explosions scattered the heavy elements as a fine dust through space. By the time it made the Sun, the primordial gas of the Milky Way was sufficiently enriched with heavier elements for rocky planets like the Earth to form. And from the rocks atoms escaped for eventual incorporation in living things: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and ...more »
"Human Existence: Our Story in One Minute"
*"Human Existence: Our Story in One Minute"* “Could you tell the story of human existence in a minute? This thrilling video culls together multiple teasing snippets in an attempt to do just that. And sets it to music. Briefly depicted, from start to finish, is an artistic animation of the Big Bang, a trip across the early universe, the formation of the Earth and Moon, the emergence of multi-celled life and plants, the rise of reptiles and dinosaurs, a devastating meteor strike, the rise of mammals and humans, and finally the rise of modern civilization. The minute movie ends with a... more »
Chet Raymo, “Charybdis”
*“Charybdis”* by Chet Raymo "To my mind, there is no more spiritually fulfilling experience than lying on one's back under a crystal clear late-summer sky unpolluted by artificial light and seeing the Milky Way arching across the dome of night from Sagittarius in the south to Cassiopeia in the north. Those of you who live in the southern hemisphere will have a different perspective, including a loftier view of the brilliant luminosity near the galactic center in Sagittarius, but you know what I mean. One has a sense of falling into infinity, of becoming a born-again child of cosmic ... more »
A Robin Hood Tax Would Be A Major Initiative Of The Bernie Sanders Administration
Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Chile, Finland all provide free college educations for qualified students. That's socially very healthy and encourages an egalitarian society. Free college education for all Americans shouldn't be looked at as a unicorn and, in fact, Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in the Senate this morning that would do just that-- and more. A companion bill, H.R.1464, by Keith Ellison was promptly bottled up in the House Ways and Means Committee by committee chair Paul Ryan. Sanders wants to use a Robin Hood tax to finance free college in public univer... more »
"Mad Men" Watch: A wistful but fond farewell to all our friends -- and what it was like watching the finale as part of an audience
I've posted a piece on last night's *Mad Men* finale, and the experience of watching it as part of an audience of enthusiasts, on my Sunday Classics blog. -- *Ken* #
Heartbreaking Confession of US Soldier Deployed in Iraq
*Video -* Is the Western world oblivious to the reality of the situation in the Middle East? This US soldier shares his experiences during the "war on terror" in Iraq. The post Heartbreaking Confession of US Soldier Deployed in Iraq appeared first on Waking Times.
“Living With the Contradictions: A Human Potential Visionary Talks About Our Infinite Potential and How We Also Block Progress”
*“Living With the Contradictions: A Human Potential Visionary* * Talks About Our Infinite Potential and How We Also Block Progress”* By Charles Eisenstein "Last week I sat down for a telephone conversation with Joseph Chilton Pearce, an author who has had a big influence not only on my work, but on the way I have raised my children. He alerted me early on to the damage that hospital birthing, day care, television, and modern schooling do to the developing brain. A World War Two veteran, he could be considered one of the elders of the human potential movement, although he brings to it... more »
Quote of the day: “What more could a parent want for his child?"
[image: istock-montessori] “Through a Montessori education, a child comes to realise that he lives in an orderly universe and that he can understand and succeed if he tries. He learns the value of being observant and exerting effort, the importance of forming accurate concepts of the things he encounters, the joy of writing and reading, and the fascinating nature and practicality of maths. Through a Montessori education, the child takes the first crucial steps on the road to becoming an independent, self-sustaining, life-loving adult. What more could a parent want for his child?" ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Redfield, South Dakota, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
"What Does Harm..."
“If any man is able to show me and prove to me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change, for I seek the truth, by which no man was ever injured. It is only persistence in self delusion and ignorance that does harm.” - Marcus Aurelius
Paulo Coelho, “Change and Renewal”
*“Change and Renewal”* by Paulo Coelho “When winter arrives, the trees must sigh in sadness as they see their leaves falling. They say: ‘We will never be like we were before.’ Of course. Or still, what is the meaning of renewing oneself? The next leaves will have their own nature, they pertain to a new summer that approaches and which will never be like the one that passed. Living means changing– and the seasons repeat these lessons to us every year. Changing means going through a period of depression: we still don’t know the new and we have to forget everything we used to know. Bu... more »
"Why Are You Waiting?"
"If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?" ~ Stephen Levine
Fukushima: Outline of a Catastrophe
Excellent outline and visualization of the Fukushima Disaster http://afaz.at/fuku_engl.html
"Rightwing Nuthouse: 5 Right-Wing Idiocies This Week"
*“5 Right-Wing Idiocies This Week: * *O’Reilly Claims He’s Never Mean; Shows Clips of Mean Things He’s Said”* by Janet Allon *“1. Obama talks about poverty; Fox News: Stop being mean to us! *For some reason we cannot quite determine, Fox Newsians seem to forget that television is something that is saved. Archives and video clips of yesteryear, or just last week, can easily be located. So saying something, then denying that you said it, is not going to work in this medium. This week, President Obama spoke at Georgetown University in nuanced depth about poverty in America. He talked ... more »
Many of Labour’s sought after voters are already of the “left”. Many more are of the “left behind”
The Tory majority hides what happened when you count individual votes. The Tory rise of 0.8% was less (apart from the LibDems, of course!) than any of the other major parties. UKIP were up by 9.5%, followed by the SNP at 3.1% and the Greens at 2.8%. Even the Labour vote rose by 1.5%. The Big Question is how many of UKIP's votes were for its rightist policies and how many for its leftist,
Midday Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind II: Slow World”
Liquid Mind, “Liquid Mind II: Slow World” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJneKrKbWTQ
Speaking proper
Friends doing professional voice training tell me they’re required to recite an old Gilbert & Sullivan lyric for practice. They might enjoy a modern update of the lyrics: ‘The Very Model of a Modern Monetary Economist’ *I’m very well acquainted… with matters mathematical, I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical, About binomial theorem I’m teeming with a lot o’ news, With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse. I’m very good at integral and differential calculus; I know the scientific names of beings animalculous: In short, in matters vegetab... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 18, 2015
President Barack Obama hosts a working session of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council at Camp David in Maryland, May 14, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque *Kim Ghattas, BBC*: *Why Saudi Arabia has lost faith in the US* *One key sentence in President Barack Obama's press conference at Camp David last week clearly illustrates the gulf between Washington and its allies on the Arabian Peninsula when it comes to Iran.* *"We gave [our allies] our best analysis of the enormous needs that Iran has internally and the commitment that Iran has made to its people in terms of shoring up its ec... more »
Agri Econ 20, On NFA-BOC Campaign for Expensive Rice
For consumers, cheap is preferred to expensive, more is preferred to less, it's a no brainer. For many Filipinos, they want cheap rice. And cheap rice is readily available from our neighbors Vietnam and Thailand, and soon, Cambodia, Laos, possibly Myanmar. Nature, not politics and governments, determines who has better resources for growing rice. (1) Rice land area, Thailand for instance has almost 3x that of PH's. (2) Exposure to strong typhoons, TH and VN get perhaps only 5 storms a year vs. PH's 20, of which half make actual landfalls and cause direct damages; (3) Irrigation, the... more »
A Simple Kitchen Gadget Becomes The Tongs of Death...
*your helpful garden tip for the week.* *Quack grass*Who doesn't have the problem of different types of grass invading their flower garden? If the grass gets entangled in the flower plants, there is no way to get it out. The worst ones are those that grow by way of underground runners, i.e., couch grass or quack grass. Sometimes, manually pulling it can make it worse. Obviously, you can't spray it with glyphosate (RoundUp) without killing the good plant. Before we go any further, allow me to clear up some things about herbicides. The world is at war with Monsanto, the creators ... more »
World News Briefs -- May 18, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*Reuters*:* Shi'ite forces move in on Iraqi city taken by Islamic State* *A column of 3,000 Shi'ite militia fighters arrived at a military base near Ramadi on Monday as Baghdad moved to retake the western Iraqi city that fell to Islamic State militants at the weekend in the biggest defeat for the government since mid-2014.Setting the stage for renewed fighting over the city, Islamic State militants advanced in armored vehicles from Ramadi toward the base where the Shi'ite paramilitaries were massing for a counter-offensive, witnesses and a military officer said.Warplanes in the... more »
Notes on the Labour Leadership Contest
There's one thing to be said for political leadership contests. It's the one time politicians are honest about each other. It's also an occasion for an airing of views, of setting one's stall out in public about the strategies and policies that are likely to capture the imagination, and get party and country out of the holes they're in. Unfortunately, so far at least, the Labour leadership contest falls short of this ideal-typical notion of what a contest should look like. Having scanned numerous discussions in the last week amid the compulsory Ed Miliband obituaries, professional... more »
“Government of the Rich, by the Rich and for the Rich"
*“Government of the Rich, by the Rich and for the Rich"* By John W. Whitehead “Everywhere, “time is winding up,” in the words of one of our spirituals, “corruption in the land, people take a stand, time is winding up.”—Martin Luther King Jr. "We now live in a two-tiered system of governance. There are two sets of laws: one set for the government and its corporate allies, and another set for you and me. The laws which apply to the majority of the population allow the government to do things like sending SWAT teams crashing through your door in the middle of the night, rectally probi... more »
2016 Clown Car Alert
Republican strategists are pondering the supposed diversity of their 2016 presidential field, but the superficial diversity doesn't hide the divisiveness-- which is what they should really be pondering. "Republicans," asserted Phil Rucker and Jenna Johnson in yesterday's *Washington Post*, "think they must soften their image and expand their appeal in particular to women and Latino voters." That hasn't been working out, and just last week congressional Republicans voted to further interfere with women's Choice and to prevent Latino immigrants from serving in the armed forces. Jeb... more »
Indigenous activists to confront Shell in Hague and London to halt Arctic drilling
Seatte: Shell's oil rig bound for the Arctic surrounded! ‘Shell No!’ Indigenous activists to confront Shell to end Arctic drilling at shareholder meetings in Netherlands and London By Indigenous Environmental Network The delegation will attend the Shell Annual General Meeting at the Hague on Tuesday, May 19th, 9:00am GMT at the Circustheater, Circusstraat 4, 2586 CW The Hague.
How GDP Metrics Distort Our View of the Economy
*Everyone thinks that GDP measures all of a country’s economic activity. But everyone who thinks that would be wrong … **Guest post by Christopher Casey* [image: Mirrors] GDP purports to measure economic activity while largely divorcing itself from the quality, profitability, depth, breadth, improvement, advancement, and rationalization of goods and services provided. For example, even if a ship — built at great expense — cruised without passengers, fished without success, or ferried without cargo; it nevertheless contributed to GDP. Profitable for investors or stranded in the ... more »
"Where Is King Henry Now That We Need Him?"
"In this year, before Christmas, King Henry sent from Normandy to England, and commanded that all the moneyers that were in England should be deprived of their members; that was the right hand of each, and their testicles beneath. That was because the man that had a pound could not buy for a penny at a market. And the bishop Roger of Salisbury sent over all England, and commanded them all that they should come to Winchester at Christmas. When they came thither they were taken one by one, and each deprived of the right hand and the testicles beneath. All this was done within the twel... more »
The Economy: "So What Can We Do?"
*"So What Can We Do?"* by Martin Armstrong "This Sovereign Debt Crisis is the nature of the beast we face. Understanding that crisis is half the battle, for after the business cycle turns, there will be a lot of finger pointing, but you can bet it will never be pointing at government. The country does not matter, as the people are the same. The audience last night in Warsaw was articulate, understood, and the made it known that they too distrust government. It really matters, not our nationality. People never start wars, only governments, who are not the people. Private debt never... more »
The Crisis In Burundi -- News Updates May 18, 2015
*Voice of America:* *Protests Resume in Burundi Capital After Failed Coup * *BUJUMBURA - Protesters took to the streets of the capital in Burundi Monday for the first time since a failed coup attempt against the president last week. Military forces took a stronger, leading role in keeping a damper on demonstrations against the government.* *Gathering in the same quarters of the city where they demonstrated for the past four weeks, protesters said President Pierre Nkurunziza's plan to run again violates the law.* *In past protests, demonstrators threw stones at the police from behi... more »
Where to SPLURGE and Where to SAVE at Disneyland
In preparation for our latest trip to Disneyland I read just about every article I could find. I found so many great tips, but almost all of them talked about how to save every single penny. While we wanted an affordable trip, we also wanted to find a couple of items on which to splurge. I talked to family members and past cast members and found some amazing things to spend our money on and make the magic go farther. There are also places that we worked to save every penny. Here is my list of where to SPLURGE and where to SAVE while you are at Disneyland. Where to Splurge *The Bi... more »
Tensions Rising In The South China Sea
*FOX News*: *US, China refuse to budge over South China Sea activity* *China and the U.S. did not budge Saturday over Beijing’s assertive development in the disputed territories of the South China Sea, with Foreign Minister Wang Ji politely but pointedly dismissing Washington’s push for a diplomatic solution to ease the tensions.* *Wang and Secretary of State John Kerry stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve the highly-contested claims in the waterway. But neither diplomat showed any sign of giving ground over Chinese land reclamation projects that have alarmed the U.S. an... more »
May 18: Apologies
A few days ago, my computer passed on and went to a better place. So I missed a few days. So let's just take a quick look in the Times and Transcript. for Saturday and Monday. There isn't much to look at, and I'd like to have time for another topic. Saturday - banner headline. "Province sets major projects funding policy". Skip it. The policy is so vague and general, it means nothing." Editorial and Commentary - the editorial is about policing costs. So is Brent Mazerolle's commentary. Both say pretty much the same thing. Why? Lazy editing? People on that staff don't talk to each ot... more »
U.S. Lawmakers Demand Freedom for Mexican Hunger Striker
U.S. Lawmakers Demand Freedom for Mexican Hunger Striker By Frontera NorteSur Two U.S. lawmakers from the state of Washington have joined a renewed international chorus demanding the release of an imprisoned community police commander in Mexico. Congressman Adam Smith and Senator Patty Murphy appealed on the Obama administration last week to intervene on behalf of Nestora Salgado, who
Simon Johnson: Warren Is Right; Fast Track Is a Threat to Dodd-Frank
*Obama’s Presidential Library as envisaged by the Chicago firm HOK. Like Star Fleet Academy, but with corporate funding (discussed here).* *by Gaius Publius* Barack Obama wants TPP, the "next NAFTA" treaty, to pass, and he wants it very badly. As a result, he's been very snippy — calculatedly so, according to Matt Taibbi — with his progressive opponents, and especially with Elizabeth Warren, a strong TPP critic. One charge Warren has made is that passing Fast Track (formally called Trade Promotion Authority, or TPA), would pose a danger to Dodd-Frank regulation of Wall Street ba... more »
Using Psychedelic Experiences as Tools for Spirituality
*Video - *Jason Silva expresses his thoughts about Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies and the benefits of drugs and psychedelic experiences. The post Using Psychedelic Experiences as Tools for Spirituality appeared first on Waking Times.
In the Shadow of the Shapeshifters
*In the Shadow of the Shapeshifters* *By Scott Corrales © 2015* “Myths are, in fact...neither primitive nor untrue,” writes the Rev. Stephen Furrer. “They are, rather, a kind of poetry that helps us make sense of the world and our place in it.” A charming thought if we are dealing with the myths that give us undines and fairies, sylphs and other creatures of a benign or positive disposition. Most of our myths, however, are cast in a different mold: giant hairy creatures, sea and lake serpents, and more disturbing: humans who become monsters, whether as the result of a curse, as wa... more »
Iran Is Using Its Navy To Project Power And Influence In The Region
Small Iranian military motorboats ride in the wake of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Adak in the Strait of Hormuz in this still image taken from January 6, 2012 video footage. Reuters/U.S. Department of Defense/Handout *Reuters*:* Iran uses maritime confrontations to project power in Gulf* *Iran is using its sea power in the Gulf to show it will not be cowed by Washington's newly assertive Arab allies, prompting critics to accuse Tehran of destabilizing the region.* *Iranian ships fired shots at a Singapore-flagged tanker which it said damaged an Iranian oil platform, causing the vessel ... more »
Göbekli Tepe: The Burying Of An Ancient Megalithic Site
*Dr. Rita Louise* - No written record exists attesting to the grandeur of Göbekli Tepe. There are no stories, myths or legends referring to it. The site and its inhabitants have been forgotten, lost in time. The post Göbekli Tepe: The Burying Of An Ancient Megalithic Site appeared first on Waking Times.
5 Reasons Why Anarchy Would an Improvement in Human Governance
*Gary ‘Z’ McGee* - Anarchists are crazy enough to think they can change the world, which is precisely why they will. The post 5 Reasons Why Anarchy Would an Improvement in Human Governance appeared first on Waking Times.
5 Signs the California Drought Could Get Worse
*Anastasia Pantsios* - California is entering its fourth year of drought and it appears to be getting much worse. The post 5 Signs the California Drought Could Get Worse appeared first on Waking Times.
Supplemental: And now for a little light explication!
*MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 Quoting Freud, the trouble with jokes:* In truth, Chapter 42 of Melville’s most famous book *isn’t* called “The dumbness of the whale.” We wrote that in this morning’s report. In reality, Chapter 42 is called “The *whiteness* of the whale.” You can check it out via this link, which we repeat. We thought the phrase was famous. We offered our headline for the week—THE DUMBNESS OF THE WHALE—as a *cri de coeur* (a “cry of the dog”). Also as a bit of an exasperation-fueled joke. This was our thinking: When Melville described the whiteness of the whale, he was ...more »
Iranian Aid Ship Approaches Yemen Despite A Saudi Blockade
*Time*: *Iran Challenges U.S. and Saudi Arabia by Sending Aid Ship to Rebels in Yemen* *A Saudi-led coalition is trying to defeat an insurrection against the Yemeni government that they believe is partly funded by Iran* *An Iranian aid ship has entered the Gulf of Aden in a direct challenge to Saudi Arabia and the United State’s blockade of Yemeni ports, Iranian media has reported.* *The Iran Shahed is carrying 2,500 tons of aid and is bound for the port of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Shiite Houthi rebels. The ship was chartered by the Red Crescent Society of Iran and it... more »
Talk at UNAC Conference
Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, speaking at the United National Antiwar Coalition Meeting in New Jersey on May 9.
NATO's Strategy To Combat The Islamic State Is To Sing 'We Are The World'
*New York Times*: *NATO Officials Sing ‘We Are the World’ at Summit in Turkey* *In a scene captured on video by a Turkish news agency, a group of NATO foreign ministers and European officials performed a rousing, after-dinner version of “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single, after a summit meeting in the resort town of Antalya on Wednesday.* *Video taken from a report by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency showed the foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece — Mevlut Cavusoglu and Nikos Kotzias — swaying arm in arm and singing the line, “There’s a choice we’re making — we’re sa...more »
With An Eye On Afghanistan Russian Soldiers Carry Out Military Exercises in Tajikistan
*Sputnik: **CSTO Rapid Reaction Forces Carry Out Military Exercises in Tajikistan* *CSTO holds military exercises of its rapid reaction forces on Sunday in Tajikistan.* *MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) holds military exercises of its rapid reaction forces on Sunday in Tajikistan, CSTO said in a statement.* *"Military contingents at the Harbmaydon site in the south of the country exercise units’ coordination, as well as the practical skills with elements of live firing," the statement reads.* *Update:* Russia Flexes Central Asia Military Migh... more »
Russia Has Closed NATO's Transport Corridor To Afghanistan
*Moscow Times:* *Russia Closes NATO's Transport Corridor to Afghanistan* *Russia has closed a transport corridor that had allowed NATO militaries to deliver supplies to Afghanistan through Russian territory, according to a decree signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and published on a government website Monday.* *The pathway through Russia had been a symbol of Russia-U.S. cooperation amid otherwise frosty relations between the two former Cold War rivals.* *Moscow's decision to close the transport corridor, which NATO used extensively to supply its decade-long deployment in Afg... more »
Biker Wars In The U.S.?
*Reuters:* *Nearly 200 arrested in deadly Texas biker gang shootout* *Nearly 200 people were arrested on Monday a shootout between rival motorcycle gangs a day earlier where nine people were killed and 18 injured at a restaurant that law enforcement called a horrific crime scene.* *The bikers from at least five rival gangs attacked each other with guns, knives, brass knuckles, clubs and motorcycle chains at a Twin Peaks Sports Bar and Grill in the central Texas city of Waco. No bystanders or police were injured, police said.* *When the bikers began shooting, officers moved in, som... more »
6 Surprising Facts About Microbes In Your Gut
*Karen Foster* - Researchers have long suggested a link between the gut-brain axis and neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, depression, and eating disorders. The post 6 Surprising Facts About Microbes In Your Gut appeared first on Waking Times.
MNN: INDIAN DETAIL: FROM 'PRO BONO' TO 'PRO SE'
. http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2015/05/17/indian-detail-from-pro-bono-to-pro-se/
CIA whistleblower Robert David Steele - False Flag Economists - State Funded Terror?
"The *MORAL HAZARD* has become the de-facto business plan of all major economies. It's a vacuum of ethics," explains Max Keiser about Wall Street and City of London in this stunning and revelatory interview with ex-CIA-whistleblower Robert David Steel, author of the 'Open Source Everything Manifesto'. Look, Free Planet realises that there are psy-op 'stories within stories' and admittedly Steele's old job was to 'live or write or promote/manage such stories within stories' and it's a potential Activist Trap gone live mission. But for now, let's concentrate on what this guy is actual... more »
Canada's National Newspaper
Elizabeth Renzetti of The Globe and Mail asks "Why are we trading liberty for security?" In return I ask her: Why are you still working for the corporate shill Phillip Crawley? As far as I'm concerned, Ms. Renzetti, you don't have the right to ask the question let alone attempt any of the facile answers that would be acceptable to the man who signs your paycheque. No one who works for the
World News Briefs -- May 18, 2015
*Reuters*: *Shi'ite forces move in on Iraqi city taken by Islamic State* *A column of 3,000 Shi'ite militia fighters arrived at a military base near Ramadi on Monday as Baghdad moved to retake the western Iraqi city that has fallen to Islamic State militants in the biggest defeat for the government since mid-2014.Setting the stage for renewed fighting over the city, Islamic State militants advanced in armored vehicles from Ramadi towards the base where the Shi'ite paramilitaries were massing for a counter-offensive, witnesses and a military officer said.At the same time, U.S.-... more »
Dineh Jeneda Benally Rocks the White House
Dineh rocker Jeneda Benally rocked the White House. Jeneda is the community representative for Flagstaff for the Museum of Northern Arizona. She is accepting the National Medal from Institute of Museum and Library Services for the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Sy Hersh’s Limited Hangout: Framing Saudi Arabia for Destruction/Destabilization
*I've wanted to get this post up since I left the comment below here:* PennyMay 12, 2015 at 3:59 AM I put this comment at MoA Not sure if it posted- that place is funny sometimes- funny as in strange re: the Sy Hersh piece. "Is someone trying to apply pressure on him." Him being Salman and Saudi Arabia *Or...has this story been created to further demonize Saudi Arabia- for when the tide turns. And Saudi Arabia becomes a less favoured nation.* *Along the same line of what we have seen the last little while with Turkey-* *The death of Bin Laden was necessary for the creation of ISIS* It'... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 18, 2015
*The Telegraph:* *Mapped: Just how many incursions into Nato airspace has Russian military made?* *RAF Typhoons were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers off northern Scotland on Wednesday, in the latest in a series of provocative operations by the country's air force.* *As tensions between Nato and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing Nato airspace - and submarine activity probing its waters. * *The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year and Nato members ... more »
Political Ramifications Of The Fall Of Iraq’s Ramadi
Over the weekend the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi fell to the Islamic State (IS). The group had been gaining ground in the city for months, and was finally able to take the government center and then rout the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). This was a major defeat for Prime Minister Haider Abadi who had talked about retaking the province just a few weeks ago after the victory in Tikrit. Now the Hashd al-Shaabi has been mobilized to try to retake the area. Abadi and the United States had tried to keep the Hashd out fearing they might create a backlash amongst the population, but ... more »
Greece Under Siege: The EU Trap?
The Grexit. Will it happen? Is it possible? The writer of this oped presents a case in which the EU traps Greece within it's structure and by virtue of it's edicts forces Greece's Syriza government to deliver more misery to the Greek people. (I beg to differ, there are always ways around the banking tyranny) *How Greece will be trapped inside the euro* Once again, Greece seems to have slipped the financial noose. *By drawing on its holdings in an International Monetary Fund reserve account, it was able to repay €750 million ($851 million) — ironically to the IMF itself — just as t... more »
Beverly Baker Moore : METRO EVENT | Wake Up*Dead Men
Bruce Jackson will be joined by the ‘San Antonio Four’ at La Peña’s opening of his Texas prison photography retrospective. By Beverly Baker Moore | The Rag Blog | May 18, 2015 Event: ‘Wake*Up, Dead Men: A Retrospective of Bruce … finish reading Beverly Baker Moore : *METRO EVENT* | Wake Up*Dead Men
White House Restricts Military Gear To Local Police
*Washington Post*: *Obama administration bans some military-style assault gear from local police departments* *The Obama administration announced Monday it will ban federal transfers of certain types of military-style gear to local police departments, as the president seeks to respond to a spate of incidents that has frayed trust in communities across the country.* *The banned items are tracked armored vehicles, bayonets, grenade launchers, ammunition of .50-caliber or higher and some types of camouflage uniforms, according to a report released by a White House working group that... more »
Blue America Endorses Russ Feingold
If there was one race that indicated that the 2010 midterm GOP sweep was a sign of the end times, it was the fact that Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold had been unseated by a Tea Partying cretin by the name of Ron Johnson. The plastics manufacturer bought himself the seat with nearly $9 million of his own fortune and many millions in outside PAC money. One would have thought that a grown man building a statue of Ayn Rand and running on the *Atlas Shrugged* platform would have put them off, but like all the winning Tea Partiers that year, his dishonest claim that Feingold’s vote for... more »
After The Fall Of Ramadi Is Baghdad Next?
*Daily Mail: **Prepare for the Battle of Baghdad: ISIS have Iraqi capital surrounded and 'utter carnage' could ensue within weeks after taking key city of Ramadi 60 miles away, warn experts* * * WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT * ISIS has 'surrounded' Iraqi capital and wants 'all-out war' with militia there * Battle between terror group and Shia fighters there would be 'utter carnage' * Islamic State seized strategic city of Ramadi just 60 miles west of Baghdad * Also fighting security forces to the north and 'has supporters around city'ISIS could march on the Iraqi city of Bagh... more »
Pentagon Now Admitting That The Islamic State 'Has The Advantage'
*FOX News:* *Pentagon admits terror group 'has the advantage'* *ISIS overran the beleaguered Iraqi army to take control of the key city of Ramadi Sunday, killing an estimated 500 soldiers and civilians, sending thousands of residents fleeing for their lives and grabbing up U.S.-issued arms left behind as the embattled nation's fighters fled, witnesses reported.* *The takeover followed a three-day siege that began with a wave of ISIS car bombs and which dealt a devastating blow to the Baghdad government and the U.S. forces providing logistical support. On Monday, Shia militias co... more »
THE DUMBNESS OF THE WHALE: What Herman Melville so memorably said!
*MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015Part 1—The New York Times, all at sea:* In the famous forty-second chapter of his longest, most famous book, Herman Melville had his famous narrator, Ishmael, explain a famous obsession. Above all else, Ishmael explains, it was the *dumbness* of the whale which had him spellbound—“appalled.” All last week, we thought of the passage we show you below as we followed the coverage of the consensus scandal which was quickly and dumbly christened “Deflategate:” MELVILLE (1851): *Aside from those more obvious considerations touching Moby Dick, which could not but oc... more »
Oliver Heaviside: 165th birthday
Oliver Heaviside was born in London on May 18th, 1850. He was short, a redhead, and a sufferer from poor hearing due to scarlet fever in his childhood. Due to the limited support from his parents and the hostility of the institutionalized science towards him, he has never received any PhD and almost no credit. But he was the Gentleman we must thank to for many discoveries and inventions related to electromagnetism and for the modern notation he introduced. Although his family moved to a better part of Camden, this top 1% student couldn't have been supported after he was 16 so he... more »
Iranian Backed Shiite Militias Gather Near The Iraqi City Of Ramadi
*The Guardian:* *Iraqi militias head to Anbar after fall of provincial capital to Isis* *Iraqi defence ministry says reinforcements on the way after Islamic State claims full control over RamadiIraqi militias have begun mobilising towards the predominantly Sunni Anbar province in a belated effort to push back against Islamic State, which seized the region’s capital city on Sunday.“We invite our people in Anbar to remain steadfast and hold their ground as reinforcements from your brothers in Hashd al-Shaabi are coming,” the Iraqi defence ministry said. The Hashd is a conglomera... more »
Musical Interlude: Logos, “Cheminement”
Logos, “Cheminement” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOuXP8aVWHU
Captured Russian Soldier 'Admits' To Spying In Eastern Ukraine
*Reuters*: *Ukraine says it will prosecute captured Russian soldiers for 'terrorist' acts* *Ukraine on Monday accused two Russian servicemen it said it had captured of being part of a special forces group that had killed and wounded Ukrainian servicemen in fighting in its eastern regions and said they would be prosecuted for "terrorist acts".* *The Ukrainians seized on the capture of the two Russians, both wounded, to boost their accusations of direct Russian military involvement in the separatist conflict despite a ceasefire signed in February. But Russia denied any role there.*... more »
C-51 Hearings Continuing
This should be nauseating. A harpercon backbencher, LaVar Payne of Medicine Hat is going to ask questions: *Mr. LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat, CPC): * I'd like to thank Minister MacKay and Minister Blaney and their officials for coming. Certainly this is a very important piece of legislation and Canadians expect their government to protect our citizens as well as make sure that Canada is safe and secure. Minister Blaney, if you would like to go ahead and make that quote, I'd be more than happy to hear it. Remember folks, that "conservatives" have killed more Canadians, throug... more »
President Obama And The Fall Of Ramadi
Iraqi security forces defend their headquarters against attacks by Islamic State extremists in the eastern part of Ramadi in Anbar province, May 14, 2015. Reuters/Stringer *Max Boot, Commentary*: *Focus on Obama’s Terrible Iraq Blunder* *I remember walking down the ruined streets of Ramadi in the spring of 2007. The vista resembled pictures of Berlin in 1945: ruined buildings everywhere, water bubbling in the streets from water mains damaged by too many explosions. But what was most remarkable was not the evidence of violence but, rather, the fact that no insurgents were shooting a... more »
Untitled
*York school changes American flag policy after demonstration* YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- Controversy at a York High School prompted a demonstration of patriotism. York Comprehensive High School student Peyton Robinson was not happy after being told to remove his American flag from the back of his truck. Robinson posted this comment on his Instagram account: "I've been told by 2 administrators at my school this morning that I can't have an American Flag on my truck because other people have complained about it. Well let me tell you something, I have every right to fly an American flag....more »
Richler On Stephen Harper
https://www.linkedin.com/ The late Mordecai Richler saw through the phoneys who inhabited the Canadian landscape. He had no patience for narrow nationalism -- whether English or French. He particularly loathed French Canadian nationalism, which he believed was rooted in old totems and religious sophistry. His son Noah has inherited his father's sensibilities. For Noah Richler, Stephen Harper's narrow fear mongering has the same smell as Maurice Duplessis' paranoia of two generations ago. He writes in *The New Statesman*: Fear of ...more »
Economic News , Data and Views ( May 18 , 2015 ) - After Denying A Plan B For Greece - IMF Discussed Cyprus Like Plan for Greece , Additional Items Of The Morning Touching On Greece , Bonds , Broader Europe and Asia highlights !
Tweet..... Greece..... *fred walton* @fredwalton216 18s 18 seconds ago fred walton retweeted Manos Giakoumis EC proposal also provides funding for GR in June ! fred walton added, *Manos Giakoumis* @ManosGiakoumis #*Greece* to receive last tranche of €1.8 bln, 2014 SMP income of €1.9 bln plus 2015 SMP within June, acc to #*EC* proposal (via @*tovimagr*) *fred walton* @fredwalton216 1m 1 minute ago fred walton retweeted Manos Giakoumis EC Proposals on GR Situation on primary surplus ( 2015/2016 , 2017-2018 ) , Fiscal measures of 5BN ! fred walton added, *Manos Giak... more »
Integrating Night Vision/Thermal Targeting Goggles For U.S. Troops
BAE Systems *FOX News*: *High-tech military goggles combine night vision, thermal imaging* *BAE Systems is developing state-of-the-art goggles for the U.S. Army that combine night vision and thermal imaging technology.* *The Army has awarded the defense technology specialist a five-year contract worth up to $434 million for the system, which will give soldiers faster and more accurate targeting. The tech will work in all weather and lighting conditions, according to BAE.* *A BAE spokesman told FoxNews.com that the high-tech goggles are expected to be in the hands of servicememb... more »
Untitled
*The attention-seekers and people-haters never stop* Two Greenie organizations, the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Population Media Center have got together to commission and publish a set of magnificent color photos which display scenes said be of environmental degradation. Needless to say, various newspapers and others have grabbed this free artwork and reprinted it. But the text accompanying the pictures is systematically dishonest. As usual, Greenies can only make their case by lying. I am not going to do a systematic fisking of such a large body of work but I will offer a ... more »
Prevent Eye Disease with this Juice for Healthy Eyes
*Meme - *Here's a safe, all-natural juice that can help prevent eye disease and keep your eyesight sharp. The post Prevent Eye Disease with this Juice for Healthy Eyes appeared first on Waking Times.
Farooq Murad of the Muslim Council of Britain twists and wriggles in his interview with Andrew Neil but I think his true views are clear
Another good interview by Andrew Neil who really does try to pin the Muslim Council of Britai's Farooq Murad down. Farooq Murad is good at evading answering straight questions quite well but not well enough.
£3 and you can vote for the next Labour leader...
Sky News (@SkyNews) tweeted at 10:09 AM on Mon, May 18, 2015: Harriet Harman says "anyone" can vote for the new Labour leader (so long as they pay £3) http://t.co/CBNoI7Afaq http://t.co/nxCCkONme6 (https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/600226721401475074) Fun times ahead.
U.S. Army And Air Force Drone Pilots Are Overworked, Understaffed And Under-Trained
Drone operators at Holloman Air Force Base in the southwestern state of New Mexico: Modern warfare is as invisible as a thought, deprived of its meaning by distance. Gilles Mingasson/ DER SPIEGEL *Fiscal Times*:* Undertrained US Drone Pilots Put War Effort at Risk* *The U.S. military is allowing pilots who haven’t fully completed their training to fly predator drones over Yemen and Pakistan—potentially putting innocent people on the ground at risk if something goes wrong. * *An alarming new report by the Government Accountability Office found that drone pilots in the Army and Air F... more »
Ian Curtis dance dance dance to the radio
https://youtu.be/_4pScqkaa6Y Joy Division - Transmission If you want to understand Ian Curtis and Joy Division then watch the film Closer. Not the crap relationships film starring Jude Law, the one about Ian Curtis directed by Anton Corbijn.
Ian Curtis died 35 years ago today
https://youtu.be/1EdUjlawLJM Joy Division - Atmosphere Ian Curtis had a voice that I can hear so easily in my head. Some of Joy Division was challenging, some melodic but all is worth a listen.
Something else to worry about on your next flight...
https://youtu.be/djuUVuSevyU
Osprey Aircraft Crash In Hawaii Kills One Marine Injures 21
*FOX News*:* One Marine killed, 21 others hospitalized after Osprey aircraft's hard landing in Hawaii* *One Marine was killed and 21 others were hospitalized Sunday after an Osprey aircraft made a hard landing in Hawaii, causing a fire that sent dark smoke billowing into the sky. * *The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit said the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey, which can take off and land like a helicopter but has wings to fly like an airplane, had a "hard-landing mishap" at approximately 11:40 a.m. local time. * *Officials didn't provide details about the conditions of the injured Marines... more »
U.S. Raid Into Syria Far More Bloodier Than Reported (Updated)
*AFP*: *US raid in Syria killed 32 IS members, including 4 leaders: monitor* *Beirut (AFP) - A US special forces raid in eastern Syria killed 32 members of the Islamic State jihadist group, including four leaders, a monitoring group said Sunday.* *"The US operation killed 32 members of IS, among them four officials, including IS oil chief Abu Sayyaf, the deputy IS defence minister, and an IS communications official," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.* *US officials have said "about a dozen" people were killed in the operation on Friday night... more »
Review - "We Are The Destroyers" by D.K.Lindler
A good story can entertain while delivering an important lesson. Unlike instructional books, fiction often reaches us on an emotional level and, when that happens, we tend to remember both the book and the message. [image: Review - "We Are The Destroyers" by D.K.Lindler] I was invited to read *We Are The Destroyers* by D.K.Lindler. The Scenario This is the story of a dying planet. Over consumption and environmental abuse have caused food shortages; so, to feed a rapidly growing population, synthetic foods are created. While these fake foods solve the hunger problem, they cause seriou... more »
A Prayer For Ukraine, Yemen, And All The Other Countries That Are Under The Stress of War
*Title: Eastern Orthodox Christian Call to Prayer "Come Let us Worship" Chant. Source: AlveusLacuna. Date Published: November 28, 2011. Description:* English Translation: Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, Our King and our God. Save us O Son of God, who art risen from the dead As we chant to Thee: Allelluia.
Social “justice”?
How often have you heard someone from the commentariat say “we should be judged by how we treat the poor/the children/the disadvantaged/he least advantaged/the under-privileged/the differently abled/the at-risk/the insert-favourite-allegedly-downtrodden-class.” The class being so treated (or *mis*treated, it’s alleged) generally has the great virtue that it hasn’t asked the commentator to talk for them. (And by “we” this group with the stolen virtue mean everyone who pays taxes, which often excludes themselves. And by “judged” they mean if “we” don’t cough up then we don’t care.... more »
Islamic State 'Withdraws' From The Ancient Syrian City Of Palmyra. Heavy Casualties Reported On Both Sides
*BBC: **Syria conflict: IS 'withdraws' from ancient Palmyra* *Islamic State militants have been pushed back from the ancient Syrian site of Palmyra, officials and a monitoring group say.* *Militants seized part of the town of Tadmur on Saturday, which is located on a strategic east-west route next to Palmyra's World Heritage-listed ruins.* *Nearly 300 have reportedly died in four days of fighting.* *Meanwhile, the number of militants reported killed in a rare US ground raid in Syria on Saturday rose to 32.* *The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, sa... more »
Seattle Indigenous Kayaks Block Shell Arctic Drilling Rig
Update Monday, May 18, 2015 .
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