English: Structure of the United States Department of Defense. Source: DoD Organization and Functions Guidebook, Jan 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: The Pentagon, looking northeast with the Potomac River and Washington Monument in the distance Deutsch: Das Pentagon; Sicht nach Nordosten mit dem Potomac River und Washington Monument im Hintergrund Русский: Пентагон, вид с северо-восточной стороны. На заднем плане река Потомак и Монумент Вашингтона. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Defense Agencies of the United States Department of Defense (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Seal of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Have American Voters Finally Had It With Their Corrupt And Dishonest Political Elites?
The two Beltway party establishments have earned the hatred of the American people. Their self-serving careerist leaders have dragged their parties into the muck and mire. According to the newest Gallup poll only 43% of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party and only 38% have a favorable view of the Republican Party. Another poll I read recently showed that 77% of Americans have contempt for politicians in general. Does anyone think they're honest? How often are elections any more than choosing between the lesser of two evils? Of course, there are some politician... more »
Weapons That Look Like They Are From The Future
*Ranker:* *Weapons that Look Like They're from a Sci-Fi Movie* With an emphasis on versatility, range, and light weight, many modern firearms look nothing like guns of decades past. In fact, some look like they are futuristic weapons sent from centuries ahead of us, with their odd angles, accessories, and rounded edges. Many of these futuristic guns have actually been used in films and TV to depict weapons of the future, though usually with odd bits added on to look like scopes or grenade launchers. A few examples of these sci-fi weapons are the Valmet M-82 submachine gun, used in ... more »
Congress Has Asked The Pentagon To Investigate Casino, Strip Club Expenses
*The Hill:* *Pentagon to investigate casino, strip club expenses* Congress has asked the Pentagon to investigate whether Defense Department employees billed the government for visits to casinos and strip clubs. In a memo released this week, Michael Roark, assistant inspector general at the Pentagon, said his office would begin an audit this month at the behest of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Our objective is to determine whether DoD cardholders who used government travel cards at casinos and adult entertainment establishments for personal use sought or received reimbursem... more »
NY Charter Movement Calls Mayor de Blasio Racist for Not Supporting Apartheid Charters
from the Observer: *“The rhetoric of this ad, and the people and money behind it, are part of the problem,” she said.* *Luis Garden Acosta, the founder of El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice and the father of a child who attended a charter school, said FES was “race-baiting.”* *“‘Race baiting’ like ‘red baiting’, exploiting the values and legitimate concerns of our city’s communities of color, for whatever political purpose, is abhorrent and posits a dangerous and expanding wedge in a city all to segregated by class, color and community,” Mr. Acosta stated, noting that Roberto P... more »
A Sobering 'Tweet' On Chinese Military Capabilities vs. The U.S. Navy
*Hat Tip:* *Eric Palmer Blog*
Certified Christian Counselors and Post Modernism - Toads included
From The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors Membership Covenant God’s goodness allows that secular psychology may provide accurate research and make observations that are helpful in understanding counseling issues. Because unbelievers suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness the efforts of secular psychology at interpreting these observations lead to misunderstanding. Because their observations are distorted by a secular apprehension of life their efforts at counseling ministry will be in competition with biblical counseling. They cannot be integrated with the faith on... more »
"Pope Francis Looked Happier To Be With The Homeless Than With Members Of Congress" (ThinkProgress headline yesterday)
ThinkProgress caption (yesterday): "*Pope Francis greets supporters during a visit to Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C.*" *"The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. . . . We can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking. How is it that the Son of God has no home? Why are we homeless, why don’t we have housing?"* *-- Pope Francis yesterday in Washington, during his visit to aCatholic Charities lunch for the needy, many of them homeless* *by Ken* While I was rummaging around some of the online coverage of Pope Francis's visit yesterday, I stumbled across a re... more »
Armenia - Azerbaijan Tensions Are On The Rise Again
*Voice of America: **Tensions Rise Again Between Armenia, Azerbaijan* The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has expressed concern about an outbreak of violence near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, in which three people died late Thursday. Armenia says three civilians died in shelling and gunfire in villages near the border with Azerbaijan. Government officials said two others were wounded in the shelling and condemned the incident as an "act of provocation" by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan did not answer the accusation directly but said earlier in the day that Azerbaija... more »
There’s something wrong with a game…
… when the running time is nearly a hundred minutes, yet the ball is in play for only a smidgen over twenty-five. [image: image] Unless you think referees *should *be the centre of attention. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Tonight's Movie Is 'The Dogs of War'
*From Wikipedia:* The Dogs of War is a 1980 war film based upon the 1974 novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth, directed by John Irvin. It stars Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger as part of a small, international unit of mercenary soldiers privately hired to depose President Kimba of a fictional "Republic of Zangaro", in Africa, so that a British tycoon can gain mining access to a huge platinum deposit. This movie was filmed on location in Belize City. The title is a phrase from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar written in 1599; the full quotation is "Cry, 'Havoc!',... more »
Musical Interlude: Moody Blues, “The Voice”
Moody Blues, “The Voice” - https://www.youtube.com/
Musical Interlude: Medwyn Goodall, “Eyes of Heaven”
Medwyn Goodall, “Eyes of Heaven” - https://www.youtube.com/
Obama Says US, China Reach Agreement on Cyber-theft
[image: Obama Says US, China Reach Agreement on Cyber-theft] President Obama, coming out of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping where the country’s suspected hacking was expected to factor heavily, announced Friday the two nations have reached a preliminary agreement on cyber-theft — and said he indicated to... Continue reading *“Obama Says US, China Reach Agreement on Cyber-theft”* at *foxnews.com*.
"A Look to the Heavens"
“The universe is filled with galaxies. But to see them astronomers must look out beyond the stars of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. This colorful Hubble Space Telescopic portrait features spiral galaxy NGC 6384, about 80 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus. At that distance, NGC 6384 spans an estimated 150,000 light-years, while the Hubble close-up of the galaxy's central region is about 70,000 light-years wide. * Click image for larger size.* The sharp image shows details in the distant galaxy's blue star clusters and dust lanes along magnifice... more »
Chet Raymo, “The Incredible Potential of Unexpectedness”
*“The Incredible Potential of Unexpectedness”* by Chet Raymo “The Jesuit scientist/mystic Teilhard de Chardin imagined what he called a "noosphere" (from the Greek word for "mind") as the next stage of terrestrial evolution- an envelope of pure human thought embracing the planet. This would be the inevitable result of human progress on a spherical Earth of finite surface area. We rub up against each other. We are stimulated by proximity. Railroads and airplanes extend the range of our interaction. Better still (he wrote), "thanks to the prodigious biological event represented by t... more »
Forget the New World Order, Here’s Who Really Runs the World
*Jake Anderson* - There is an organization that secretly runs the government, but it's not the New World Order. The post Forget the New World Order, Here’s Who Really Runs the World appeared first on Waking Times.
The Poet: Jorge Luis Borges, "Time"
*"Time"* "Time is the substance from which I am made. Time is a river which carries me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger that devours me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire." - Jorge Luis Borges
The Poet: Wendell Berry, "The Peace of Wild Things"
*"The Peace of Wild Things"* "When despair grows in me and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting for their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free." - Wendell Berry
"Why?"
"At last, the answer why. The lesson that had been so hard to find, so difficult to learn, came quick and clear and simple. The reason for problems is to overcome them. Why, that’s the very nature of man, I thought, to press past limits, to prove his freedom. It isn’t the challenge that faces us, that determines who we are and what we are becoming, but the way we meet the challenge, whether we toss a match at the wreck or work our way through it, step by step, to freedom." - Richard Bach, “Nothing by Chance”
"Cognitive Dissonance And the Human Mind"
"Cognitive Dissonance And the Human Mind" by Dan Eden "When “Robbie” the robot was told to shoot a weapon at a man in the movie "Forbidden Planet", his electronic brain sparked and short-circuited. His creator had programmed him to never harm a human and so the conflicting ideas paralyzed him. Human beings often are presented with opposing thoughts also, but our brains have developed a way of resolving these conflicts through a process call cognitive dissonance. We are taught, like “Robbie,” that killing is prohibited — but what about war? And many anti-abortionists support the de... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Umm Al Fahm, Haifa, Israel. Thanks for stopping by.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 25, 2015
*Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post*: *Assad’s position strengthens in Syria with renewed Russian and Iranian support* On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a one-day visit to Russia to attend the unveiling of the new Cathedral Mosque in Moscow, described as one of the largest Muslim prayer halls in Europe. He also met with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, and announced the lofty goal of reaching $100 billion in trade between their two countries by 2023. Russia's importance to Turkey's economy — particularly its energy sector — perhaps shadowed ... more »
Human Sacrifice of over 2000 people in Meca
I said on Monday that I was expecting a big "sacrifice" this week. I was looking for a plane crash, or another huge bomb..... I didn't expect it to be quite this big, or to come from where it did!! I Posted updates on Facebook yesterday morning: "Well there's one sacrifice done. I'm still expecting at least one more......" and the numbers went from 200, to 717 by late afternoon..... then today: over 2000 people Dead, killed on the day of Sacrifice of Eid, IN Meca, during the "Stoning of the Devil" This isn't over yet. As I said: I'm expecting one more - most likely on Saturd... more »
Energetic "Flares" from Galactic Centre
Well... I just tried to sit down and write out my thoughts on this and have realized that there is WAY too much info to write... I'll have to record something on this next week. I've been talking about the use of Chemtrails (and aluminum in vaccines) being used to block energetic particles- or "waves"- from us and our planet for a couple of years now. Lately quite a few new pieces of information about aluminum has really confirmed for me that this is a major piece of the puzzle. As for CERN... well if you're following my comments and posts on Facebook you'll know that I've been d... more »
World News Briefs -- September 25, 2015
Ban Ki-moon, U.N. Secretary-General addresses a plenary meeting of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 at United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York, September 25, 2015.REUTERS/MIKE SEGAR *Reuters:* *World leaders adopt expansive U.N. goals to tackle global woes* UNITED NATIONS (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - World leaders on Friday adopted the most sweeping agenda ever of global goals to combat poverty, inequality and climate change, described by the United Nations secretary-general as "a to-do list for people and planet." Adopted in the shadow of the wor...more »
"All Sins..."
"All sins, of course, deserve to be treated with mercy: we all do what we can, and life is too hard and too cruel for us to condemn anyone for failing in this area. Does anyone know what he himself would do if faced with the worst and how much truth could he bear under such circumstances?" - Andre Comte-Sponville
Pope Francis Addresses UNGA
* Photo Source. * *An excerpt from, "Pope Francis Addresses U.N., Calling for Peace and Environmental Justice" by Somini Sengupta and Jim Yardley, New York Times, September 25, 2015:* A day after making history as the first pontiff to address Congress, Pope Francis on Friday morning issued a sweeping call to the United Nations for peace and environmental justice, as he placed blame for the exploitation of natural resources on “a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity.” Standing before the General Assembly in his first speech here, Francis endorsed United N... more »
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich Explains Why John Boehner Resigned
[image: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich Explains Why John Boehner Resigned] Newt Gingrich served as House speaker from January 1995 to January 1999. He left the job with members of Congress frustrated by his leadership, as is Speaker John Boehner, who announced he would leave Congress at the end of October. Copyright 2015... more »
Adults Who Keep Working Past Retirement Age Stronger, Healthier
[image: older worker - 400] While many Americans face working longer and delaying retirement, it might seem an intuitive next step to assume that chronic disease could become more prevalent in the workplace. But researchers in a new study published in the journal Preventing Chronic... Continue reading *“Adults Who Keep Working Past Retirement Age Stronger, Healthier”* at *theblaze.com*.
"Every Picture Tells A Story"
Very Presidential, indeed... not.
California Drought Is Engineered by Design
*Video Title: California Drought Is Engineered by Design. Source: The Alex Jones Channel. Date Published: September 25, 2015. Description: * Geoengineeringwatch's Dane Wigington reveals how and why the california drought is being orchestrated by design. http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/
Focus on Marriage and Family Unites Catholics with Other Faiths in Philadelphia
[image: Family w small boy] (RNS) It's all-Catholic, all the time as this city awaits the Saturday arrival of Pope Francis, but for one hour Thursday (Sept. 24), representatives from several religions united in support of one thing that concerns them all: the family. The occasion...more »
Pope’s Speech Teaches, Reminds Me of Greater Purpose
[image: Pope to Bishops: Stop Ordering Around the Faithful] I will start this post by saying this is the most you are ever going to hear me talk about my religion and my faith. I try to live it more than speak it. But there were three key pieces... Continue reading *“Pope’s Speech Teaches, Reminds Me of Greater Purpose”* at *coachcal.com*.
Scalia: I ‘Wouldn’t Be Surprised’ if the Supreme Court Outlaws the Death Penalty
[image: Scalia - 400] This historic address to Congress Thursday, Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic church, called for the United States to end the death penalty. If Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is correct, the pontiff may soon get his wish. Speaking at Rhodes College... Continue reading *“Scalia: I ‘Wouldn’t Be Surprised’ if the Supreme Court Outlaws the Death Penalty”* at *foreignpolicy.com*.
The Economy: "One By One the Central Banks Are Losing Control"
*"One By One the Central Banks Are Losing Control"* by Phoenix Capital Research "Since 2008, the Keynesians running global Central Banks had always suggested that there was no problem too great for them to handle. They’d promised to do “whatever it takes,” to maintain the financial system and print the world back to growth. Thus far, we’d seen some pretty aggressive moves. The most aggressive was committed by the Bank of Japan, which announced a single QE program equal to 24% of Japanese GDP in April 2013. However, the SNB was the first Central Bank to actually reach the point at w... more »
How the Media Keeps Us Distracted From Things That Matter
* Media *- Mainstream media exploits human psychology and warps our world by distracting and confusing us. The post How the Media Keeps Us Distracted From Things That Matter appeared first on Waking Times.
Watch John Boehner Explain Why He’s Leaving Congress
[image: John_Boehner - 900] At a press conference Friday afternoon, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, explained why he decided to resign from Congress. Boehner, who will leave office by the end of October, said he's stepping down because Republican turmoil is not good for members... more »
Clerk Kim Davis Switching Parties to Become a Republican
[image: Clerk Kim Davis Switching Parties to Become a Republican] LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, a longtime Democrat, says she is switching to the Republican Party because she feels abandoned by Democrats in her fight against same-sex marriage. Davis made the announcement while in Washington, D.C., to... more »
Exxon's Response to the "Inside Climate News" Report
*Exxon, converting oil to money (source)* *by Gaius Publius* I said earlier that I'd write up Exxon's reply to the (in my mind) blockbuster story broken by *Inside Climate News* this week about what Exxon knew (or strongly suspected and were studying) about climate change and CO2, as far back as 1977. (I say "in my mind" because, I guess predictably, not a ripple in the big mainstream press. But this is Pope Week. Maybe soon?) The main pieces in our coverage are these: - They Knew: Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago - Will... more »
Turkey Will Assist The E.U. On The Refugee Crisis If A 'Safe Zone' Is Created In Syria
Syrian migrants wait at the main bus station in Istanbul, Turkey, September 20. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wrote to EU leaders proposing ideas on how to deal with the refugee crisis this week.Yagiz Karahan/Reuters *Jack Moore, Newsweek*: *Turkey Proposes Syria 'Safe Zone' in Return for Cooperation With EU on Refugee Crisis* Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wrote to EU leaders this week proposing ideas on how to deal with the refugee crisis, including support for a "safe zone" in northern Syria in return for Ankara's cooperation on the issue, according to EU offici... more »
Actually, the UN’s Vision for Lifting Up the World’s Poor Differs Sharply from the Pope’s
[image: Pope Francis Looking Down Praying - 900] Pope Francis, in his speech to the UN, expressed his continuing and deep concern for "reclaiming the environment." To the Holy Father, ecology is no small matter, but is instead a terrible, if not the primary, problem besetting humanity. To stress... more »
Sometimes, we have to get angry
Let's go quickly through the Irving press. Section A news is small town boosterism, and village gossip. As for editorial and commentary, only two of the columns have anything to say. Norbert raises questions about District Education Councils. He doesn't have answers – but at least he raises questions that should have been raised a long time ago. There's also an excellent column by a Law professor at University of Ottawa arguing that Canada should hugely increase its health care spending for refugees. So it should. Quite apart from the obvious requirement of human compassion, we hav... more »
Where is Jesus in the Awakening?
*Zen Gardner* - The awakening is a constantly unfolding convergence of consciousness and it comes through many vectors. The post Where is Jesus in the Awakening? appeared first on Waking Times.
25 Things You Didn’t Know About Baseball
[image: Bryce Harper-400] Bryce Harper is the having the best age-22 season since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941 - and one could make an argument it’s even better. We could do 25 Things You Didn’t Know About Bryce Harper rather easily, frankly,... Continue reading *“25 Things You Didn’t Know About Baseball”* at *sports.yahoo.com*.
Softening the Public for Genetically Modified Babies
[image: Embryos - 900] There has been a flurry of news reports (and here) in favor of a new technology that could edit the genome of human embryos, making changes that would be passed down the generations. More information on the benefits and potential costs of this interesting new... more »
King of Queens Actress and Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini Writing Tell-All Memoir about Scientology
[image: Leah Remini - 400] Actress Leah Remini has never been shy about sharing her opinion, and that will continue in a new book she’ll be writing about her experience with Scientology. Publisher Ballantine Books has announced that the former "King of Queens" star will be releasing a "bold,... Continue reading *“King of Queens Actress and Ex-Scientologist Leah Remini Writing Tell-All Memoir about Scientology”* at *businessinsider.com*.
NDP Candidate Stefan Jonasson Ousted for Stating Opinion- Je Suis Charlie?
*NP* Stefan Jonasson is no longer running in the Manitoba riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley after comments surfaced in which he compared the beliefs of one set of Orthodox Jews to the Taliban. *Jonasson said he was asked by the NDP to step down and agreed to do so.* *“I wish that the party had had the courage and the foresight to believe that my candidacy was worth defending, but they did not,” *he said Thursday night. *Jonasson, a minister,* *posted an article three years ago in which he accused the Haredim — an Orthodox branch of Judaism — of mistreating wom... more »
8,000 Refugees From Iraq And Syria Enter Europe Everyday
*BBC:* *Europe gets 8,000 refugees from Iraq and Syria daily - UN* A daily flow of about 8,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees to Europe is likely to continue, the United Nations warns. The figure came from UN regional coordinator for refugees, Amin Awad, in comments quoted by Reuters news agency. More than 5,000 refugees are arriving daily in Greece. That flow could continue during the winter if the weather remains good and the borders open, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) told the BBC. About half a million migrants - mostly from Syria and other conflict zones in t... more »
Governor Brown, Don’t Sign the Death Warrant for Unhappy People
[image: Coming back to life] Right now, a law hurriedly pushed through the California legislature after multiple defeats sits on the desk of Governor Jerry Brown and awaits his signature. As both a mother and a nurse, I beg Governor Brown to veto it. In 2009, I lost a...more »
Local Council By-Elections September 2015
Party Number of Candidates Total Vote % +/- Aug Average/ contest +/- Aug +/- Seats Conservative 17 9,019 25.2% +11.0% 531 +153 0 Labour 16 10,740 30.1% +1.2% 671 -99 +1 LibDem 13 3,098 8.7% +4.7% 238 +100 0 UKIP 14 2,974 8.3% +4.4% 212 +92 0 Green 9 2,596 7.2% +2.2% 288 +130 -1 SNP* 3 5,337 15.0% -22.8% 1,779 -239 0 PC** 1 509 1.4% +0.9% 509 +330 0 TUSC 2 62 0.2% -0.1% 31 -28 0 Ind*** 7 923 2.6% +0.9% 132 +7 0 Other**** ... more »
Yemen War News Updates -- September 25, 2015
*BBC:* *Yemen conflict: No end in sight, six months on* In an age of 24/7 news coverage, social media and videos going viral, the war in Yemen must rank as one of the most under-reported in recent times, despite a few brave visits by intrepid journalists and film crews. Yemen can be a remote, difficult and dangerous country to cover, and that is in peace time. Now, six months after Saudi-led air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels began on 26 March, the war in Yemen has taken a terrible toll on the Arab world's poorest nation, with both sides accused of committing war cr... more »
The Economy: “If the Economy Surprises Us…”
*“If the Economy Surprises Us…”* by Bill Bonner PARIS – "It’s the smells we like the most. The odors of early autumn on the Paris streets – the first leaves melt on the sidewalks, staining the cement yellow and brown… the chestnuts, too, opening up and pushing out their fruits like fledglings from a nest… the crisp morning air, encouraging pedestrians to pick up their pace and driving idle souls into the warm cafés – how they bring back memories! More on that in a moment (after all… we are here to talk about money, not the sights and sounds of Paris). *Congress Gets a Reprieve: *Y... more »
Is Spain's Catalonia On The Brink Of Independence?
*Sam Edwards, VICE News*:* Catalonia May Vote to Break Away From Spain in Sunday Elections* The world's eyes are on Catalonia as the region prepares for elections that could pave the way toward independence, but which also threaten to plunge Spain into political crisis and create a serious headache for the European Union. Pro-independence parties are expected to narrowly win an absolute majority of seats in the Catalan parliament — a majority they hope will allow them to declare independence from Spain within 18 months. Thus, the elections are being seen as a de-facto referendum o... more »
MAINE: New Film on Battle of Penobscot River Territory
Sunlight Media Collective Releases Documentary on the Battle Over Contested Penobscot River Territory By Sunlight Media Collective Co-Founders Maria Girouard & Meredith DeFrancesco sunlightmediacollective@gmail.com Censored News September 25, 2015 Indian Island, MAINE: On Friday, Sunlight Media Collective released The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory, a documentary
Victims of China’s Religious Liberty ‘Crackdown’ Appeal to Obama. But Will He Help?
[image: Victims of China’s Religious Liberty ‘Crackdown’ Appeal to Obama. But Will He Help?] Earlier this week, as devout American Catholics took to the streets of Washington to celebrate the arrival of Pope Francis, four Chinese human rights activists sat in a small, plain congressional office room on Capitol Hill. There were neither barricades... more »
Why We Need a New Battle for the Bible
[image: Antique gold key sitting on top of an opened bible that is bookmarked] The Bible is at the heart of evangelical theology and ethos. Decades ago, Harold Lindsell, then editor in chief of this magazine, called for a "battle for the Bible." He took to task evangelical institutions whose definition of biblical authority... Continue reading *“Why We Need a New Battle for the Bible”* at *christianitytoday.com*.
Secret Missionaries, Smuggled Bibles: China’s Religious Boom
[image: Religion in China] It’s a choice that a historic number of people in China are making. In the countryside, Christianity seems to be filling a spiritual void, building a greater sense of community, and often providing a local financial boost. It feels more complicated... Continue reading *“Secret Missionaries, Smuggled Bibles: China’s Religious Boom”* at *atlasobscura.com*.
Donald Trump to Christian Voters: ‘I Believe in the Bible’
[image: Donald Trump to Christian Voters: 'I Believe in the Bible'] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Donald Trump recently showed up at a gathering of Iowa conservative Christian voters with a copy of the Bible in hand. “See, I’m better than you thought,” he said. Then came a black-and-white photograph from his confirmation... more »
History of physics as history of our evolving understanding of light
Tonight, the Scientists' Night was celebrated at numerous organizations that popularize science. Pilsen's Techmania Science Center was no exception. However, the events took place at the Pik Gymnasius, the very high school that I had attended 25+ years ago. They had better chairs and the classrooms tend to have some projectors etc. as well but otherwise my feeling was that not much has changed in those 25 years. Because the U.N. turned this year into the International Year of Light, the event was mostly dedicated to light and I was giving a talk about the history of light in physics... more »
O'odham and Dineh Women Seek Sponsors to Cochabamba Climate Conference 2015
Michelle Cook, Dineh (Navajo) and Ofelia Rivas, O'odham, make plans for Cochabamba. Photo Brenda Norrell Sept. 2015 By Brenda Norrell Censored News Sept. 25, 2015 TUCSON -- Tohono O'odham Ofelia Rivas and Dineh Michelle Cook hope to return to Cochabamba, Bolivia, in October and continue the work that they began five years ago when President Evo Morales hosted the World Peoples
Fallout from House Speaker John Boehner’s Resignation
[image: Speaker John Boehner Resigns: the Fallout] House Speaker John Boehner stunned Washington on Friday by announcing that he will step down from his leadership post and resign from Congress by the end of October. The move ends Mr. Boehner's long struggle over goals and tactics with... Continue reading *“Fallout from House Speaker John Boehner’s Resignation”* at *csmonitor.com*.
Iran President In New York City: 'Hopes for Better US Relations'
*Reuters:* *U.S. ties better but 'still a long road to travel': Iran's Rouhani* Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday said ties with the United States had improved, though there was "still a long road to travel" before the two estranged nations could have normal relations. "The situation has certainly changed," Rouhani, in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, told a group of senior editors from media organizations at a nearby hotel. "We can point to the tangibles, the many steps forward, but there is still a long road to travel." He described the historic nuclea... more »
President Obama Greets Chinese President Xi At The White House
*Washington Post:* *President Obama welcomes Chinese leader in White House ceremony* President Obama said Friday that he and Chinese president Xi Jinping agreed on "a common understanding on the way forward" to combat cyberspace theft of U.S. companies' trade secrets, a major point of friction between the two nations, and said that the two leaders asserted that they would not condone such activities. Obama said that China had also agreed to further open up access to its economy, not to devalue its currency, establish ways to avoid miscalculations that might lead to unintended col... more »
‘Miracle’ Premature Baby Born on Cruise Ship, Survives
[image: Preemie - 400] Under normal circumstances, the odds of survival for a baby born at 23 weeks are slim: Around 30 percent, according to some doctors. Just 15 percent, say others. But under the circumstances in which Haiden Morgan was born -- on a cruise ship more than 100... Continue reading *“‘Miracle’ Premature Baby Born on Cruise Ship, Survives”* at *washingtonpost.com*.
Washington And Moscow Contradict Each Other On 'Who Asked Who' To See Who?
*Reuters:* *Kremlin says U.S. distorts truth saying Putin sought to meet Obama* The Kremlin said on Friday that Washington presented a distorted version of events by saying that President Vladimir Putin had sought to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and said it was the U.S. administration that had proposed the talks. Obama and Putin are scheduled to meet on Monday after Putin's address to the United Nations at a time of high tension in Europe and the Middle East. "Details of such preparations are usually not public," Yury Ushakov, the Kremlin adviser, told reporters. *AFP: **Oba...more »
Bye-Bye, Boehner
This morning at the Values Voter Summit, when Marco Rubio announced that Boehner was resigning from the speakership and leaving Congress on October 30, the very right-wing audience broke out into raucous applause that they were getting rid of a mainstream conservative. This is a manifestation of the full-scale civil war being played out inside a truly nihilistic and dysfunctional Republican Party. Boehner and the other Republican leaders couldn't "stop Obama," so they were vilified by the self-serving ad sellers at Hate Talk Radio, the self-serving extremists trying to "crash the... more »
Paiute Steve Melendez 'Pope Francis is no Christian, Enforce Treaties'
"Pope Francis in no more a Christian than was Pope Alexander VI ... To criminalize the landowners and to bestow blessings on the thieves is deeply Satanic ... Stolen property should be returned. It’s the rule of law. Treaties should be enforced." Steve Melendez, Pyramid Lake Paiute, President American Indian Genocide Museum By Steve Melendez, Pyramid Lake Paiute President, American Indian
Donald Trump and the Difference Between Chutzpah and Rudeness
[image: Donald Trump to Christian Voters: 'I Believe in the Bible'] Along with many other Americans, I like someone who shoots straight and doesn't pull punches, someone who will tell it like it is without fear of being politically incorrect. For many Americans, that "someone" is Donald Trump, a man who... more »
College Students Rip Down Pro-Life Flyers, Then Brag on Twitter
[image: Torn Posters Fliers - 900] A group of students at American University labeling themselves the "AU Justice League" have taken credit for ripping down anti-abortion flyers on campus. The campus's College Republicans put the flyers up Wednesday night, and called for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. But by... more »
Top 10 Reasons John Boehner Will Resign From Congress
At an emotional meeting with his fellow Republicans today, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced that at the end of October he will resign his post as House Speaker and from Congress after a quarter century of service. Speaker Boehner will leave a Republican Party fractured and in disarray especially after the 2010 Tea Party takeover with the election of dozens of radically conservative Republicans who'd actively sought after his ouster. The reasons why Mr. Boehner had decided to resign remain murky. So, what were his top 10 reasons for resigning? ------------------------... more »
U.S. Reviewing Withdrawal Plans For Afghanistan. Thousands of U.S. Soldiers May Stay Beyond 2016
U.S. soldiers arrive at the site of a car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 17, 2015. REUTERS/MOHAMMAD ISMAIL *IBTimes:* *US, Allies Considering Keeping Thousands Of Troops In Afghanistan Beyond 2016 Amid Pullback Plans: Report* The U.S. and allied defense officials are considering keeping thousands of American troops in Afghanistan beyond the end of 2016, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The officials are reportedly concerned about the plans of White House to scale back the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Authorities are reviewing new options that include keeping the ... more »
The Fashionable Pope Goes to Washington
[image: Pope Francis in Popemobile_900] Pope Francis has enjoyed a high-spirited welcome in the United States. The infectiously likable pope kissed babies along his parade route in Washington, D.C., and performed a soaringly beautiful mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine there. He is... more »
Transcript: Pope Francis’ Speech to the U.N. General Assembly
[image: Pope Francis5 - 400] The following is the prepared text of Pope Francis's speech to the United Nations General Assembly, delivered Friday in New York. (Follow our liveblog for the latest) Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for your kind words. Once again, following... Continue reading *“Transcript: Pope Francis’ Speech to the U.N. General Assembly”* at *washingtonpost.com*.
Charlie Hebdo Strikes Again- Who Is The Target?
Hebdo Satire- Shaming and Blaming European Christian Society for Israel's Refugees?! OutlookIndia "Welcome to Migrants" reads the headline and under that 'so close to the finish …'. Right next to the drowned toddler is a McDonald's hoarding: Two Children's-Menu for the price of one. And for one long uncomfortable moment, the cartoon grabs you by the collar and spits in your civilised eye. But it doesn't stop there; a second cartoon holds you by your scruff and rubs your face in the very abrasive sands of Juvenalian Satire. *"The Proof that Europe is Christian"* it proclaims. Th... more »
World News Briefs -- September 25, 2015
*VOA:* *At UN, Francis Pleads for Protecting Environment and Poor* In an address to the U.N. General Assembly, Pope Francis exhorted presidents and prime ministers to show leadership in combating climate change and poverty and in protecting refugees fleeing conflicts. The 78-year-old pontiff, speaking Friday morning at the United Nations headquarters in New York, tied "misuse and destruction of the environment" with what he called the "relentless process" of economic and social exclusion of disadvantaged members of society. *MIDDLE EAST* U.S. leads 22 more air strikes *against Is... more »
BLACK KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: A fuller set of Grade 12 scores!
*FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015Part 5—In our view, black gains matter:* For the past several weeks, we’ve been reviewing the annual back-to-school gong-show performed by the mainstream press corps. It happens every autumn! Incompetent, semi-literate journalists roll their eyes and wring their hands about the alleged semi-literacy of the nation’s 9-year-old public school kids. Those scribes! They cherry-pick their statistics and bungle their logic—and they stick to approved elite scripts. This year, we the people been encouraged to enjoy these familiar old tales: *This year’s Dick-an...more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 25, 2015
Russian servisemen drive T-72 main battle tanks during a parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War Two in the Far Eastern city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, September 2. America has said it is "closely monitoring" allegations of a Russian military build up in Syria.Sergei Krasnoukhov/Reuters *Damien Sharkov, Newsweek:* *Q&A: What Military Equipment and Troops Has Russia Sent to Syria?* Alleged sightings of Russian military gear, reports of Russian servicemen being coerced into fighting a secret war abroad accompanied by vehement denials by the Kremlin that Mo...more »
Putin - Obama Meetin Confirmed For New York City This Monday
*The Guardian*: *Obama and Putin's planned UN meeting already rife with miscommunications* Presidential spokesmen in Washington and Moscow provide differing statements over who proposed meeting, what will be discussed and when President Barack Obama will meet the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in New York next week, the White House confirmed on Thursday. But soon after the meeting was announced, apparently contradictory remarks from Washington and Moscow emerged on the encounter’s genesis and purpose. In the US, the White House pre... more »
Exxon's Response to the "Inside Climate News" Report
*Exxon, converting oil to money (source)* *by Gaius Publius* I said earlier that I'd write up Exxon's reply to the (in my mind) blockbuster story broken by *Inside Climate News* this week about what Exxon knew (or strongly suspected and were studying) about climate change and CO2, as far back as 1977. (I say "in my mind" because, I guess predictably, not a ripple in the big mainstream press. But this is Pope Week. Maybe soon?) The main pieces in our coverage are these: - They Knew: Exxon's Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels' Role in Global Warming Decades Ago - Will... more »
The Truth Movement May Hold Critical Answers for Humanity
I am not going to pick up the torch on 9/11 anytime soon except to say that to state that conspiracy is a much over rated deus ex machina made worse by the willingness of agencies to use events to promote short term agendas. Long term planning is terribly difficult to sustain and always has been unless one uses a bottomless money pit to feed the monkey. So most prospective conspiracies die stillborn. Yet true folly is out there and continuous exposure is the only defense. Do the world's elite truly have a plan of action to follow? Trying to keep over extended banks afloat is... more »
Army Helmets Could Soon Feature Bone Conduction Comms
[image: The BAE tech will allow soldiers to wear ear protection while still being able to hear radio communications] This is just the beginning. What i am looking for is someway to place an active mesh mesh either on top of the bone in the skull itself or better yet have such a mesh absorbed into the skull. Such a mesh can be made of carbon nano tubes and it would physically strengthen the skull while supporting a communication system at the least. In time i think that it will become practical; to reinforce all our bones with absorbed carbon nano tubes to provide super... more »
The Circo Dishwasher Has a Handle on Washing Dishes
[image: The Circo manual dishwasher is designed for use on the countertop, as a replacement for the dish-drying rack] This is a very impressive bit of work and is surely needed. The full dishwasher actually is only efficiently used if you build up a full load and for most that means a lot more than one day. Assuming that you can also operate this device with a charge of even boiling water, we suddenly have a handy system allowing for daily cleaning. The dishes likley need to be pretty well cleaned of before put in the device, but that is true anyway. A minute is also far quick... more »
Patient Receives 3D-Printed Titanium Sternum and Rib Cage
[image: 3D printing technology has enabled a replacement sternum and rib cage customized for a specific patient] This is an astonishing piece of work and demonstrates how far 3D printing has gone already. Much more important for all medical applications is that all design can be now readily computerized and standardized in the process. This makes it available to anyone. To date we are still getting over the novelty effect but soon enough this is going to be the go to standard of care. And volume will soon bring costs down dramatically. I also can see deliberate skull replace... more »
Mosquitoes Use 3 Senses to Find and Bite You
[image: "Even if it were possible to hold one's breath indefinitely, another human breathing nearby, or several meters upwind, would create a CO2 plume that could lead mosquitoes close enough to you that they may lock on to your visual signature," researchers say. (Christopher Badzioch/iStock)] We learn that they rely on odor or CO2 for long distance detection of a host. Thus we can presume that breathing down wind and standing upwind of other hosts are good strategies. This also explains why they do go to ground in the face of even a moderate breeze. The plume is already ... more »
Why Is China Really Cutting 300,000 Troops?
[image: Members of the Chinese regime's People's Liberation Army participate in a large-scale military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3. At least 300,000 troops may be cut from the Chinese military. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)] Most likely this is all about cleaning house. Shrinkage could have done this and no one would have taken note. However shrinkage is no way to eliminate undesirables. Thus we have a directed adjustment in which folks can be winkled out. Beyond all that, the size of the army is a refection of the real threat and that happens to be internal unrest. That incl... more »
How Hacking and Espionage Fuel China’s Growth
It never was a secret and add the reality that the West also chose to turn a blind eye to it all. The reason for this is and was simple. China modernized is vastly more valuable to the developed world than a China always backward. It alone can have enough educated manpower to power the rest of the developing world over the next generation. Now though, the developed world is simply innovating forward and China must hugely expand its internal economy. This can not be stolen. In the long view, internal needs will rein in this behavior. * EXCLUSIVE: How Hacking and Espionage Fu... more »
Arctic Sea Ice Heading for One of Lowest Extents on Record
Whatever you may think about the ice cover, what is so far clear is that we have not yet established an uptrend. The loss has been huge but it also seems to have bottomed as well and conditions are so far stable. It is thus fair to say since the precipitous decline which landed us here in 2012 we have held flat. Some navigation remains possible but otherwise ill advised to challenge. Conditions have returned to those of the Medieval warm period. . *Arctic Sea Ice Heading for One of Lowest Extents on Record * *By Tom Yulsman | September 4, 2015 2:47 pm * *http://blogs.discove... more »
New Species of Human Ancestor Discovered in South Africa
Early hominids surely had many divergent lineages that spread into many niches. It is only when an improved version arises that cross breeding swiftly subsumes all the other lineage setting the stage for a different round of variation and the suppression of older lineages. We have been lucky to find this because it is rich enough to become important to understand other variation. At the same time we discover what must be a form of burial customs and that is a bonus I always suspected that burial rites went much further back.. ... *New Species of Human Ancestor Discovered in... more »
What Are Students Learning? Not What Colleges Teach.
The majority of of educational effort has been applied learning the art of passing set exams. This typically involves serious reliance on memory and the maxing out of the short term memory coming into the exam. Far too soon, what is lost is actual mastery of the material itself which may never be achieved. The same holds true for writing skills. These are not difficult to develop, particularly in today's technological environment. Yet what is wrong with asking each student to take the days lecture and the related text and prepare a 500 word synopsis of the materiel. Fiv... more »
The Common Origin of Religions and Theology
Associating symbolism with the passage of life is an old conceit that fills the mind but does not truly direct or instruct one on the proper spiritual path. What is substantive to all religion and all spiritual pathways is communion with the afterlife which we have recently discovered as physically real but scaled at least three orders of magnitude smaller than our third tier atomic existence. Remarkably though the information density is at least three orders of magnitude greater than that same atomic world. The common origin of religion and theology has always been a persona... more »
Perfect Genetic Knowledge
We have been almost oblivious to the rapid expansion of genetic knowledge, mostly because we appreciate just how much there is. Yet we discover here that complete knowledge may well become practical. The tools work and they work well. That was unexpected. We are now heading toward customized therapeutic genetic engineering been available as a leading standard of care. All that is needed is the ability to instruct the astral body and nothing becomes impossible. We are also far closer that we ever had the right to imagine. . . *Perfect genetic knowledge* * by Dawn Field* ... more »
What do they Want?
And why do we not know? We get so involved in the mechanics of distribution and finance that it is terribly easy to forget the needs of the customer or even think to ask. What is important though is that all folks have the exact same ambitions and all need a hand up to make things happen. That means trusting them and that means applying the rule of twelve to effect internal loan management. Capital is no problem at this level once you understand that it is an organizational problem and not a problem belonging to any king. Eighty percent are ready to make things work. We ne... more »
Ceres Bright Spot Close up
This image nicely establishes that we have a fumarole of some sort blowing out a white precipitate. That it is almost unique is a little surprising but then it may simply be the largest. right now it is early days. Yet is is natural as possible and that is a nice gain. A really interesting discovery and it reminds me of certain eruptions reported in the past on the moon.
Gold Copper Alloy Plates Discovered by Archeologists
[image: Archaeologists Discover Golden Plates Believed to Be Linked to Joseph Smith Jr.] I seriously doubt that these are linked directly to Smith, but they are our first serious description of plates been used in this manner. There have been reports including those of Smith claiming such copper plates. And yes it turns out that a copper gold alloy was manufactured during the Bronze Age in the Andes in particular. It had the particular advantage that you could polish such an alloy with a mild plant acid which eroded out the copper and allowed the gold to be finely spre... more »
Hacking the Nervous System
This is extremely important. It is still early days but we have just discovered that by using electrostimulation crudely on the vagus nerve system, it becomes possible to manage inflammation problems including rheumatoid arthritis. This comes completely from the blue as well. The immediate take home is that all organs are managed through the Vagus nerve system and far more extensively than ever imagined. This must lead to a whole range of useful therapies. Better yet we may well be able to produce a protocol that improves tone. Meditation is at least a start in that di... more »
Cultural Memory of the American Holocaust
[image: Chestua-Ruins] The best explanation for the observed holocaust is slaving literally grabbing a whole community and then transporting them to the coast for shipment into the Caribbean. This way we do not have surviving populations struggling to join nearby communities and retaining a cultural memory. We had a native holocaust on the West Coast which eliminated most of approximately 100,000 individuals through three separate waves of infection. Yet a remarkable amount of cultural information was retained by this form of assembly of survivors. Disease was still a factor... more »
Locations of North American Itza Mayas during early 1700s
[image: ItsateBallcourt-1] Some good work here establishing the known Mesoamerican colony lands in the Southeast. Also describes their rapid change out in the face of both native and European threat. We again confirm the existence of the slave ttrade which typically cleaned out entire hamlets. leaving no trace. This is something not well understood. The large centers were spared but likely hundreds of potential penny packets were hopelessly exposed to slaving. This work is slowly filling out the precolonial tapestry which i hope was more stable per se. Yet i will not count ... more »
Delayed effects of Oil Spill Compromise Long-Term Fish Survival
This is important new information and it describes effective chemical retardation. This problem has been observed in humans as well but rarely linked to specific chemical exposure. It is obviously far more deleterious than ever imagined. I am calling the biolgical problem chemical retardation because the symptons are physical retardation even when there is no clear way to measure effects on the nervous system. The retardation remains real and compares to physical symptoms observed in known retardation such as from alcohol toxicity during pregnant. Often the physical symptoms... more »
Paper Tubes Make Stiff Origami Structures
Intriguing, but getting it into a practical solution is going to take time and imagination. We are going to have to do something that is not too exotic to establish what is possible. It is at least another prospective tool. However the world has barely mastered rebar and concrete if the truth were known. So i do not really know were this may go. . * Paper tubes make stiff origami structures * *University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign* *7-Sep-2015* * http://www.feedspot.com/?dadi=1#feed/f_32127/article/2506158687?dd=109270273* *IMAGE: Origami 'zipper tubes' interlocking z... more »
The Green Man
This is an unexpected item today and it acts to pull together a strand of thought that i had been contemplating but not accepted yet. It is an amazing conjecture for those who have not read earlier work here. Yesterday i met with my informant who is able to see spirits and somewhat communicate with. We discussed various things we are investigating when he then reported something totally unexpected that had happened just two days earlier. He had a rare window of free time in front of him so he chose to head over to a location that he frequented. So far so good. Then ... more »
Brain damage During Stroke May Point to Source of Addiction
No one understands the mechanism yet, but it is clear that this brain region must be central. the shift in behavior was huge, particularly considering the lack of targeting rigor. This strongly suggests that a far less damaging protocol may be possible than a stroke. This happens to be real progress and a payoff is completely plausible. Even to the extent of turning off the addiction mechanism which now becomes a possibility rather than a dream. We no longer have no clue. If this also applies to all other addiction pathways then we are really onto something and that much cl... more »
Irish Colonists on the South Atlantic Coast
[image: Duhare-IrishVillage] This is an important addition to our knowledge regarding migrations. Early Medieval Irish established a settlement in the Southeast. We discover deer husbandry at the least which died out in Ireland during this time period. These were clearly robust thriving communities well able to fend of slavers. At the same time a cache is discovered with both Bronze and Iron artifacts. I think that these are unrelated but associated with the much earlier Atlantean world which ended in 1159BC but then petered out slowly after that. That iron is in evidence s... more »
Cocaine Production Plummets After DEA Kicked Out of Bolivia
Simply the application of replacement economics. Add in declining prices and the farmers soon abandon the crop. Take out the criminal market premium and no one will bother much unless they are prepaid. Sort of looks like the tobacco industry. That this protocol needs to apply across the whole drug industry is obvious for all the same reasons. Firstly no illegal drug can be counted as safe. Properly processed, it is likely that they can be made at least predictable. It will alway be a case of use at your own risk. Our task is to reduce the harm. Yet as always, logic never ... more »
O’Reilly: DNC Chairwoman Should Resign over Rubio Attack
[image: Debbie Wasserman Schultz-400] Bill O’Reilly blasted Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, for what he called an “insane” and “vicious and utterly false attack” on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential fundraiser in Texas earlier this week, calling for the... Continue reading *“O’Reilly: DNC Chairwoman Should Resign over Rubio Attack”* at *politico.com*.
Pope Francis Delivers Social-Issues Message to U.N. Audience
[image: Pope Francis4 - 400] Pope Francis saved all his conservative civic and social-issues message for the various heads-of-state gathered at the UN General Assembly in New York. The Pope praised human rights norms that are championed in UN documents -- but then scolded their... Continue reading *“Pope Francis Delivers Social-Issues Message to U.N. Audience”* at *breitbart.com*.
Navy SEALs to Let Women Compete for Combat Jobs
[image: Navy SEAL Training-900] WASHINGTON (AP) -- The commander of the Navy SEALs is recommending that the naval special warfare units be opened to women, but warns that women will have greater risks of injury and the service will be pressured to adjust or... more »
Ted Cruz: GOP Leadership Won’t Fight to End Planned Parenthood’s Federal Funding
[image: Ted Cruz] Sen. Ted Cruz delivered a blistering critique of Republican leadership Thursday, just hours before lawmakers held what he described as a "show vote" attempting to end Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding. The Texas Republican summoned a handful of reporters, including The... more »
50 years later, is it time to retract a retraction by a Nobel prize-winning author?
It’s not often that an article is retracted only to be later proven correct. But that may have happened this past summer in the chemistry literature. In July, a group of researchers recapitulated an experiment largely similar to one that Nobelist Georg Wittig had performed – and subsequently retracted — decades earlier. Their findings suggest Wittig […] The post 50 years later, is it time to retract a retraction by a Nobel prize-winning author? appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Links and Stuff
Pick some juicy links for yourself... because this election is too dull to blog on. *sigh* ___________________ *Daily Links*: - *SWEET*: 106 Japanese school teacher reunites with 1930s Taiwan pupils - *DON'T MISS*: Ian Easton with piece arguing SCS building is about Taiwan - AmCham on Religion and Money in Taiwan - Some lovely images of Taipei here. - Tsai once again affirms her status quo view - Dengue setting new records - Ma continues his policy of irritating allies: Taiwan will not address pork issue in US TIFA talks - Regrettably, AmCham piece regurgi... more »
Ted Cruz Basks in News of John Boehner’s Resignation
[image: Ted Cruz Smile and Wave - 400] Sen. Ted Cruz basked in Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) resignation announcement on Monday, saying that Republicans had failed to deliver on any of their electoral promises under his leadership. Speaking Friday at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, Cruz learned... Continue reading *“Ted Cruz Basks in News of John Boehner’s Resignation”* at *thehill.com*.
Pope Francis and the Paradox of Poverty
[image: PovertyCure Half Planet cmprs_1443192089_173.57.57.10] “It goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of... more »
McCarthy Emerges as Contender to Replace Boehner as House Speaker
[image: Kevin McCarthy-400] U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is the likely leading contender to replace outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, Republican Representative Peter King told Reuters on Friday following Boehner’s resignation announcement. Continue reading *“McCarthy Emerges as Contender to Replace Boehner as House Speaker”* at *reuters.com*.
Pope Speech to U.S. Congress
The Pope's choice of the four Americans to honor was impressive. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton are all great heroes in the long struggle for peace, justice, equality and true liberty in this country. I saw a few of the politicians turning to one another when Francis mentioned Thomas Merton - it looked like they didn't know who he was. At the least his mentioning of these four will likely increase the interest in their lives and work which can only be a plus.
Economic News , Data and Views ( September 25 , 2015 ) ..... Broader Europe In Focus ( VW shares reverse field as news emerges faked test results managed from German offices , UK in the news , Immigration aand Europe capaicity - via Bruegel , Demographics of note , Vanis Varoufakis interview - Austerity as class war , ECB joining EU in getting politic regarding Spain's upcoming Local Election - Catalan in focus again ) ....... Your Morning Greece Updates ( Political , Economic , MOU/ Debt Relief news and data of the day ) .... Asia and Emerging Market Updates ( Brazil , China , Japan , Singapore and Malaysia items of note )
Morning Tweets....... Broader Europe..... *El País in English* @elpaisinenglish Sep 24 How Spain halted the flow of migrants from Mauritania to the Canary Islands http://cort.as/XUxY by @fperegil [image: Embedded image permalink] *Loukia Gyftopoulou* @loukia_g 3m 3 minutes ago It seems Britain's EU referendum may not happen before 2017 after all http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/0 9/22/uk-britain-eu-hammond-idUKKCN0RM2KJ20150922 … *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 2m 2 minutes ago #Cataluña election on Sunday. Pro-independence alliance polling @ ... more »
RIP / YOGI BERRA, 1925-2015
*S**ince I grew up in Boston, in the 1940's and 1950's as a firm Yankee hater and a rabid Red Sox fan ~ Yogi Berra was always the enemy along with Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford and countless other Yankee greats that broke my young heart every baseball season ~ but Yogi was in a class by himself. In some strange way, I felt Yogi did not belong in lofty Yankee pin stripes and his gentle soul and humanness, as revealed by his classic truisms, endeared him to both myself and millions of fans as one of the greatest Yankees and most beloved icons in the game of baseball: Alle... more »
Boehner Resigns: Watch Live... w/Update
posted at 7:18 PDT Update: 7:47 PDT Boehner is a no-show.
Camp of the Saints Seen Mirrored in Pope’s Message
[image: Pope Francis3 - 400] Pope Francis is urging America to throw open her borders to thousands of impoverished migrants, in part to atone for the "sins" of the colonial era. "We must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve... Continue reading *“Camp of the Saints Seen Mirrored in Pope’s Message”* at *breitbart.com*.
The Latest: Thousands Protest in Iran over Saudi Hajj Deaths
[image: Hajj pilgrimmage_900] MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- The latest developments on the crush and trampling to death of hundreds of Muslim pilgrims near a holy site in Saudi Arabia, the worst hajj disaster in a quarter-century (all times local). ___ 4:20 p.m.... more »
John Boehner is Resigning as House Speaker
[image: John Boehner-900] WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a stunning move, House Speaker John Boehner informed fellow Republicans on Friday that he would resign from Congress at the end of October, giving up his top leadership post and his seat in the House in... more »
Speak Out For What You Believe In
Speak out against racists trying to trash refugees or force Muslim women out of niqabs. Speak out against racist ignoramuses trying to insult the First Nations. Stand up for trade unions. Stand up for the environment. Stand up for peace. The ONLY way we will take back the narrative from the "Ford Nations/Donald Trump/stephen harpercons" is to be loud and proud about what we believe in.
McDonald’s Worker Stops Working to Help Customer with Disability Eat
[image: McDonald's random act of kindness_400] A random act of kindness was caught on camera at the McDonald’s in Chicago’s Union Station last week. Destiny Carreno posted a picture of a McDonald’s employee cutting a man’s food and helping him eat on her Facebook page on... Continue reading *“McDonald’s Worker Stops Working to Help Customer with Disability Eat”* at *usatoday.com*.
Mirror image in plant study flagged on PubPeer grows into retraction
A 2010 paper on plant fungus has been retracted after a comment on PubPeer revealed that a study image had been flipped over and reused to represent two different treatments. In May, a commenter pointed out the plants in Figure 2a of the paper in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions “look remarkably similar.” A commenter writing under […] The post Mirror image in plant study flagged on PubPeer grows into retraction appeared first on Retraction Watch.
This post constructively lays out one of the overarching events of our time presented by this blogger’s all-time favorite Asia correspondent, Pepe Escobar, who may look like a hippy but has the smarts of a modern Sherlock Holms. The subjects of this essay in order of their taking place are (1) the continued slaughtering of innocents in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East by the murderous ISIS/ISIL/Daesh, resulting in hundreds of thousands dispossessed individuals and families looking for salvation in Europe, (2) the neocons in Washington have been arming, aiding, and abetting this slaughter in order to bring down the government of Bashar al-Assad, in order to make Syria another U.S. vassal, (3) Pepe’s question is whether or not Obama will finally decide to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, either this Friday or during the UN General Assembly in New York next week, (4) Russia's game changer in Syria includes not only weapons delivery but also actual intervention by the Russian Air Force to fight ISIS/ISIL/Daesh and the Jabhat al-Nusra, a.k.a. Al-Qaeda in Syria. (5) There is a growing European appreciation of such a Russian initiative, and (6) finally, for what it is worth, some of the blogger’s best friends are Russians.
------------------------------ *OpEdNews Op Eds 9/24/2015 at 14:04:23* Live from New York, it's "Putin the Great" *By Pepe Escobar (about the author)* Permalink (Page 1 of 3 pages) Related Topic(s): Great Power Game; Obama; Putin; Sanctions; Shiite; Sunni; Ukraine *View Ratings* opednews.com Headlined to H2 9/24/15 Vladimir Putin (image by YouTube) License DMCA It's the ultimate geopolitical cliffhanger of the season: will US President Barack Obama finally decide to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, either this Friday or during the UN General Assembly next week in... more »
Playboy No More, Trump Courts Christian Right
[image: Donald Trump_900] NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Donald Trump recently showed up at a gathering of Iowa conservative Christian voters with a copy of the Bible in hand. “See, I’m better than you thought,” he said. Then came a black-and-white photograph from his... more »
Rubio Counters Hillary, Proposes Employer Tax Credit for Paid Family Leave
[image: Marco Rubio - flickr] MIAMI (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio wants to give a tax break to employers who give their workers paid family leave. The Florida senator says he will introduce his plan Friday morning when he speaks before the Values...more »
Have We Forgotten Middle Eastern Christians?
[image: Iraqi-child] We have all been overwhelmed by the harrowing pictures and tragic stories of the refugee crisis affecting Europe, individuals no less than governments. I heard on the World Service in the early hours of this morning that the EU, which... Continue reading *“Have We Forgotten Middle Eastern Christians?”* at *catholicherald.co.uk*.
Sherrod Brown And Patrick Murphy Are Not Two Peas In A Pod
Would you trust an organization asking you for contributions if you knew they had endorsed Joe Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln? Council for a Livable World has been around for a long time and they've done some very good work, but they've also asked their followers to contribute to those two and to reactionaries like John Sparkman of Alabama, a racist and a signatory to the Southern Manifesto in opposition to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision *Brown v. Board of Education* and an opponent to the Civil Rights Act of 1957. They also asked for money for Arkansas reactionary David Pryo... more »
Friday Post - Cap and trade
That familiar sounding buzz word that everybody's talking about. To environmentalists it sounds like a slam dunk. To the conservatives backing dirty oil you'd think Armageddon was to start tomorrow. but this may be more a boon to Wall street than either groups. While it would on the face of it force companies to clean up their act by making emissions more expensive it doesn't take into account what happens when a company is forced to buy credits on not just the open market but a secondary market set up complete with derivatives. And once the hedge fund boys step in it's open sea... more »
Who Do You Trust?
There was a lot of sound and fury last night about niqabs. But they are red herrings. The central question in this election is, "Who do you trust?" Michael Harris writes: This week has seen another trainwreck for CPC credibility. How funny is it that the guy who campaigns in sweaters with ‘Canada’ on the back hires an Australian Svengali to fix his campaign? Or touts a public endorsement from an ex-hockey player and de-facto American who can’t even *vote* thanks to his political hero’s changes to the rules? This week, Harper tried to enlist the Terry Fox Foundation in his crusad... more »
Happy birthday Felicity Kendall
Happy birthday Felicity Kendall, 69 today. I believe there's a nice piece of video of Felicity Kendall elsewhere on this blog...
Audit Finds Slipshod Cybersecurity at HealthCare.gov
[image: Cheryl Campbell, senior vice president of CGI, left, looks on as Andy Slavitt, representing QSSI's parent company, testifies during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing with contractors that built the federal government's health care websites on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 in Washington. The troubled rollout of what's known as Obamacare has re-invigorated Republicans who failed in their drive to defund the program by shutting down the government. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)] WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government stored sensitive personal information on millions of health insuranc... more »
Capitalism, the Pope and the Problem of Oversimplification
[image: Pope Francis Congress_400] We agreed with the "God bless America" part. Pope Francis has his politics, and they are, broadly speaking, not our politics. This isn't to say that we disagree with his principles or his goals, which are, in the main, shared... Continue reading *“Capitalism, the Pope and the Problem of Oversimplification”* at *nationalreview.com*.
The Vatican Advisors: An Unholy Alliance with the UN Global Warming Agenda
[image: Pope Francis - 900] In the preparation and promotion of its widely touted encyclical, Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home, the Vatican relied on advisors who can only be described as the most extreme elements in the global warming debate. These climate... Continue reading *“The Vatican Advisors: An Unholy Alliance with the UN Global Warming Agenda”* at *cfact.org*.
After U.N. Speech, Pope Francis Makes Moving 9/11 Memorial Visit
[image: Pope at Ground Zero-900] NEW YORK (AP) -- In a day of both forceful words and eloquent silence, Pope Francis stood before the United Nations on Friday to decry the destruction of the environment through the “selfish and boundless thirst” for profit, then paid...more »
Senate Republicans Debate Using ‘Nuclear Option’ to End Filibusters
[image: Watch Live: Rand Paul Is Now Filibustering The Patriot Act] A debate over ending the Democratic minority's ability to filibuster legislation has broken out among Senate Republicans. "I will tell you there's just a lot of push from a lot of people," one GOP senator speaking on condition of anonymity... Continue reading *“Senate Republicans Debate Using ‘Nuclear Option’ to End Filibusters”* at *nationalreview.com*.
Pope Francis and Abortion in His Speech to Congress: The ‘Pivot’ Heard Round the World
[image: Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. Listening behind the pope are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.] Sept. 24, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) - The timing of Pope Francis' speech to Congress could hardly be seen as anything short of divinely planned - coming on the same day as the Senate is scheduled to vote on whether to defund... Continue reading *“Pope Francis and Abortion in His Speech to Congress: The ‘Pivot’ Heard Round the World”* a... more »
U.S. Air Force Pilots Are Told To Praise The F-35
Air Force F-35s fly in formation over Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Photo: Air Force *David Axe, War Is Boring:* *U.S. Air Force Requires Airmen to Praise Troubled Stealth Fighter* *Public affairs guidance demands F-35 plaudits.* In an eight-page document marked “not for public release,” the U.S. Air Force commands its airmen to say positive things about Lockheed Martin’s problem-prone F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. “Articulate the capabilities of the aircraft and explain it is a capability warfighters must have (explain why we need the F-35),” the self-described public affairs “g... more »
Is Trump Slump Real?
[image: Donald Trump7 - 400] You might have seen new national poll numbers from Fox News, released Wednesday night, that paint a fascinating portrait of the Republican race. Donald Trump, the figures show, remains in first place in the race for the nomination, actually increasing his... Continue reading *“Is Trump Slump Real?”* at *washingtonpost.com*.
Photo-realist art - Ran Ortner - layers of the sea
more than a few months ago, Free Planet featured the photo-realistic oil-pastel sea-scape finger-painting of Zaria Forman. The equally-amazing photo-realistic sea-scape oil-paintings of Ran Ortner is today's topic: what an amazing portfolio. *In 2005 Ortner began to confront his life long intoxication with the ocean. Influenced by the emotional complexity of great old master paintings Ortner began to explore a particular kind of intensity realized through the layering of oil paint. Through his process Ortner holds both the muscular immediacy and the delicacy he experiences in the... more »
Leftie Hell
Will we see more articles called ‘My Leftie Hell” after last night’s Question Time? Probably no-one will bother. They’re resigned to it. Like the ‘Any Questions’ that caused Allison Pearson such grief, Q.T. came from the Cambridge area, and the audience was as surreally leftie as they come. On the panel were: Yanis Varoufakis, Ken Clarke MP, Chris Bryant MP, Suzanne Evans and Julia Hartley-Brewer. The question: “Should we take more refugees than we can cope with?” Note the way the question was phrased. Not ‘should we take in everyone in the whole wide world that fancies an easy... more »
Securitization Forum: The theory gap and securitization as a form of identity politics
This is the ninth contribution in our securitization forum. Scott Watson is Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Victoria, Canada. In their initial post, Jarrod and Eric nicely demonstrate both the incredible influence of the securitization framework and the relative paucity of securitization scholarship among American IR scholars. As they convincingly show, […]
Securitization Forum: Do we need a theory of securitization?
This is the eighth contribution in our securitization forum. Juha A. Vuori is acting Professor of World Politics at the University of Helsinki in Finland. He would like you to order his Critical Security and Chinese Politics (Routledge, 2014) for your library. As we can see from the citation counts put forth by […]
Can China`s J-31 Fighter Match America`s F-35
*Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One:* *China’s Copycat Jet Raises Questions About F-35* *Did the Chinese theft of data on the US fighter jet and other weapons shrink the Pentagon's technical superiority?* New technical specs about China’s new J-31 fighter, a plane designed to rival the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, popped up on a Chinese blog last week. So who has the advantage — the U.S. or China? China’s twin-engine design bears a striking resemblance to the single-jet F-35. Still, the Joint Strike Fighter is expected to fly slightly farther and carry a heavier load of w... more »
5 Year Old New Jersey Girl Died from the MMR Vaccine, Holly’s Law Created by Augustina Ursino
January 18, 1995 – February 4, 2000 5 Year Old New Jersey Girl Died from the MMR Vaccine, Holly’s Law Created by Augustina Ursino VacTruth, 24 September 2015 Robin Stavola is a mother who tragically lost her young daughter, Holly, to the second MMR vaccine dose, which was a requirement for Holly to attend kindergarten in New Jersey. After Holly suffered a severe reaction to the vaccine, leaving her convulsing, brain damaged and on life support, her family was told by the doctors that Holly would remain in a vegetative state and would not recover. Holly’s parents felt... more »
The Biggest Threat To The F-35 Program Is The Pentagon Running Out Of Money To Build These Planes
Source: Lockheed Martin. *James Mugg, The Strategist*: *Jet fighter costs—a complex problem* The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be the most technically advanced fighter jet in the world—and one of the most expensive. If we want to be sure we’re getting our money’s worth, it’s important to understand the factors that determine jet fighter costs. The most recent US Air Force budget estimates a flyaway unit cost for the F-35A of US$92.3 million (2014 dollars) by 2018. Assuming that price to be roughly accurate, the F-35 would still be the second most expensive fighter jet anyone has ... more »
Greg Hunter, “Weekly News Wrap-Up, 9/25/2015”
*“Weekly News Wrap-Up, 9/25/2015”* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com *A comment: T*o prevent unneeded controversy there has never and will never be any religious proselytizing or endorsements on this blog. Your beliefs are your own. This post contains a great deal of religious information and comment. Normally that would never appear here, but in light of the value of Greg Hunter's other information and commentary this video stays. - CP “On his first visit to the U.S., the Pope is acting more like a left wing politician than a messenger of Christ. He has scolded Congress on everythin... more »
Sorry for the undeserved grilling
The Today Programme has issued a grovelling apology to Ms Hadid, having belatedly found out that the figure of 1200 migrant workers killed during the construction of the Qatar stadium applied to the whole of Qatar and not Ms. Hadid’s ‘vagina stadium’. "The ITUC’s figure of 1200 construction deaths which was quoted on this morning’s programme refers to the whole of Qatar, and not specifically to the main World Cup stadium site. We are sorry we didn’t make this clear in this morning’s interview with Dame Zaha Hadid. We are happy to accept there is no evidence of deaths at the main s... more »
EU navies to start capturing smugglers from 7 October
[image: EUnavfor Med]EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said on Thursday (24 September) the EU naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea is to start capturing smugglers from 7 October. "The political decision has been taken, the assets are ready", she said, according to the AFP news agency. "We'll be able to board, search, seize vessels in international waters, [and] suspected smugglers and traffickers apprehended will be transferred to the Italian judicial authorities." Read more
Ukraine Is Losing The War Against Corruption
*The Economist:* *Progress in Ukraine.* *Look west, Maidan* The revolution in Ukraine is being smothered by corruption and special interests. YOU would be forgiven for thinking that the crisis in Ukraine is past its worst. Although the Minsk agreements are honoured in the breach and artillery fire still echoes across the Donbass, there has been little real combat for months. The separatists have given up extending their territory, Russia has given up sending them heavy reinforcements, and Ukraine has given up trying to defeat them. A chance to resolve lingering disagreements will... more »
Northrop Grumman Selected by US Army to Develop New ARL-E Long-Range Radar
[image: DHC-8 Radiant Falcon]Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the U.S. Army to develop the Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced (ARL-E) Long-Range Radar. Under terms of the indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract, Northrop Grumman will develop a synthetic aperture radar (SAR)/ground moving target indicator (GMTI) system for the ARL-E DHC-8. "The Long Range Radar [LRR] is a natural fit into the Northrop Grumman family of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance [ISR] systems and mission solutions," said Steve McCoy, vice president of tactical sensor so... more »
Russia Deploys Advanced Air Defense Tor-M2U to Guard Kuril Islands
[image: Tor-M2U]The Kuril Islands in Russia's Sakhalin Region form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately 1,300 km northeast from Hokkaido, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. On Wednesday, Russia’s Armed Forces stepped up their combat in the area using the latest anti-missile system ‘Tor-M2U’ in the Kuril Islands, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported. Prior to this, for the past six months the soldiers and officers used the air defense system in experimental mode. Read more
$2.7B later, Pentagon defense blimps still grounded
[image: Aerostat (Blimp)]Unknown to most Americans, the Pentagon has spent $2.7 billion developing a system of giant radar-equipped blimps to provide an early warning if the country were ever attacked with cruise missiles, drones or other low-flying weapons. After nearly two decades of disappointment and delay, the system — known as JLENS — had a chance to prove its worth on April 15. That day, a Florida postal worker flew a single-seat, rotary-wing aircraft into the heart of the nation’s capital to dramatize his demand for campaign finance reform. Read more
CZ-6 rocket can launch 20 missiles at once, including DF-5B ICBM
Sunday's successful launch of 20 microsatellites into orbit simultaneously using the Long March 6 carrier rocket indicates that China will now also be able to fire 20 missiles at once using the same technology, reports the Beijing-based Sina Military Network. The Long March 6 — or CZ-6 — carrier rocket was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China's Shanxi province at 7:01am on Sept. 20, setting a new Asian record for the number of satellites launched by a single rocket. Sina Military states that as microsatellites can be switched to warheads, the success... more »
The Hyksos
*"It is no longer thought that the Hyksos rulers... represent the invasion of a conquering horde of Asiatics... they were wandering groups of Semites who had long come to Egypt for trade and other peaceful purposes"* *Jacquetta Hawkes* *The World of the Past (1963, p. 444)* *"By main force they easily seized it without striking a blow; and having overpowered the rulers of the land, they then burned our cities ruthlessly, razed to the ground the temples of gods… Finally, they appointed as king one of their number whose name was Salitis. He had his seat at Memphis, levying tribut... more »
South Korea's $6.7B indigenous fighter jet program at risk, says report
[image: KF-X fighter jet]South Korea's indigenous fighter jet program is not ready for takeoff, because a dispute over the sharing of core U.S. technology is posing problems for the $6.7-billion project. Seoul's presidential Blue House said on Friday local time it is investigating recent reports of technology transfer issues between South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration and U.S. contractor Lockheed Martin, News 1 reported. The Korean Fighter Experimental project is South Korea's plan to replace 120 older planes with new aircraft developed through one of the countr... more »
US Navy tests RQ-20A Puma UAS abroad USS Gonzalez
[image: RQ-20A Puma]The US Navy has successfully tested an unmanned aircraft system aboard its guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) during a composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). The newly tested RQ-20A Puma (Block II) is the latest version of the all-environment unmanned aircraft models. The system is suitable for situations that require enhanced manoeuvrability, such as maritime interdiction and counter-piracy operations. Read more
Russia's New Frigate Enters Atlantic Ocean on Route to Trials
[image: Pproject 22350 frigate ''RFS Admiral Gorshkov'']The Admiral Gorshkov is the first in a series of six Project 22350 frigates to be produced by Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg under contract for the Russian Defense Ministry. "At the moment the frigate, bound for state tests at the Northern Fleet's maritime target range, has passed the straits… connecting the Baltic Sea and the North Sea and entered the north-eastern part of the Atlantic," Matveev said in a statement. The statement added that while passing the straits the crew tested the warship's navigation, communi... more »
SNP Anger Over Plans For Torpedo Range
[image: Spearfish heavyweight torpedo]The Scottish National Party's Ian Blackford is calling for an urgent parliamentary statement from the Defence Secretary over claims the Ministry of Defence is about to double the size of its Scottish torpedo range. Mr Blackford, who the SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber insists the public must be consulted over any changes. The row has erupted after local press in the Highlands carried a "Notice of Proposed New Bylaws for the Inner Sound", despite earlier assurances from the government that local people would be asked about the proposals. Read... more »
These Are The Weapons That Russia Will Use Against The Islamic State
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Fedor Leukhin *Robert Farley. National Interest*:* 5 Russian Weapons of War ISIS Should Fear* While the Soviet Union may be no more, Moscow's forces could give the Islamic State a tough time. As of last week, Russia may have decided to join the fight against ISIS. The deployment of Russian air and ground forces to Syria probably has more to do with the survival of the Assad regime (and by extension, the survival of Russian influence in the Middle East) than it does with stopping the ISIS horror show. Nevertheless, given the threat that ISIS poses to Assad,... more »
Norwegian officials hamper swift cleanup of old Russian nuke sub base
[image: Saida Bay radioactive waste complex]New delays have arisen in a joint project between Moscow and Oslo to rid the Kola Peninsula of 23,000 spent nuclear fuel assemblies from dismantled submarines and 32 tons of radioactive waste parked 50 kilometers from Norway’s far north border. The efforts to fully remediate Andreyeva Bay, a former Russian Naval submarine base, have required decades of delicate diplomacy between Russia and the West, and have been hindered by Russian reluctance many times. But now, the snarl is coming from the Norwegian side, as Gunnar Peder Kjønnøy, govern... more »
Military Photo of the Day: September 25, 2015
[image: Niagara Falls-900] A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Joint Coast Guard Air Station Detroit flies over Niagara Falls. Thank you to all the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard for patrolling and protecting our homeland!
MENA Report ( September 24- 25 , 2015 ) - Syria In Focus ( Notice how suddenly with Europe swamped with refugees , the West has come around to talking with Assad and a political solution to ending the Syrian War ? ) ....... With Eid holiday underway , slower news-flow - Recent updates pertaining to Iraq , Yemen and Libya and related Refugee Crisis to consider !
For those who celebrated , may you have enjoyed a pleasant Eid al-Adha Festival Links..... Syria..... *Syria Claims US-Russia Tacit Deal on Ending War**White House: Next Week's Meeting Proves Putin 'Desperate'* *West, Turkey Warm to the Idea of Talks With Syria's Assad* Syrian Army Uses New Russian Jets to Strike ISIS in Aleppo Unclear if US-Russia Interests Overlap in Syria: Pentagon Israel Military Says It Is Coordinating With Russia on Syria Merkel Says Assad Must Have Role in Syria Talks Assad May Take Part in Syria Transition, Erdogan Says Yemen...... more »
Diesel-electric submarine Vladikavkaz delivered to RF Navy
[image: Project 877 (Kilo) class SSK]The ceremony marking the signing of the delivery/acceptance certificate for the large diesel-electric submarine Vladikavkaz upgraded at Zvezdochka shipyard (United Shipbuilding Corporation) was held yesterday, the shipyard says. The submarine was delivered to the shipyard for repair and modernization in 2008. The state contract for submarine repair was signed in 2011. The workshop phase of the overhaul lasted for two years and a half and included hull, equipment and other system repairs, as well as upgrades to communications, navigation, traffic ... more »
Japan happy to build submarines in Australia if it wins bid for $20bn project
[image: Soryu class SSK]Japan, one of the three bidders for Australia’s $20bn future submarine project, has signalled it is willing to perform construction work in Australia in a development that could ease community concerns about jobs going offshore. The new industry minister, Christopher Pyne, whose South Australian seat had been under threat over the issue, said he was pleased the bidders were detecting the government’s preference to maximise the construction done in Australia. The Coalition had been under political pressure in the key manufacturing state over accusations it wa... more »
Introducing The UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters (AHVID)
UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters (AHVID) Sane Vax, Inc. 15 September 2015 *Who we are – What we do – Why we do it* Authors: Freda Birrell, Chair, UK Association; Steve Hinks, Press Officer, UK Association *Who we are*: Our UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters (AHVID) was established at the beginning of 2015. Families and their daughters from the north of Scotland to the south of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have joined together to give support to each other and raise awareness of the dangers of the HPV vaccines, Cervarix and Gardasil. The p... more »
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus
We just got back from the Circus and it was absolutely incredible! Even after a long day at Comic Con my girls were mesmerized. One of our favorite parts this year was that they handed out light up wrists bands to everybody before the show. The wrist bands would light up in sync to the music. It really added something amazing to the show. I look forward to the human cannonball every show. It is my absolute favorite part. It tickles my 6-year-old pink that the cannonball is a girl. She always cheers extra loud for her! Some of the best parts were the - *Xtreme Sports* display ... more »
Russia, Syria, And Iran Are Using Baghdad To Coordinate Military Operations Against The Islamic State
*FOX News*: *Russians, Syrians and Iranians setting up military coordination cell in Baghdad* EXCLUSIVE: Russian, Syrian and Iranian military commanders have set up a coordination cell in Baghdad in recent days to try to begin working with Iranian-backed Shia militias fighting the Islamic State, Fox News has learned. Western intelligence sources say the coordination cell includes low-level Russian generals. U.S. officials say it is not clear whether the Iraqi government is involved at the moment. Describing the arrival of Russian military personnel in Baghdad, one senior U.S. ... more »
The Arab-Nazi connection
*The special attachment of the Muslims to Germany has deep historical roots* Three days ago, The Frontpage Magazine published Daniel Greenfield's article Germany's refugee quota plan is a 2nd invasion of Eastern Europe which argues that for the first time since the Second World War, Germany is trying to invade Czechia (plus other countries). You may ask: What kind of a German invasion is it if it is the Muslims whom Germany wants to spread all over Europe? The point is that the Muslims identify themselves with the Germans and vice versa. You may have wondered: Why do the migrants in... more »
U.S. Special Forces Are Currently Deployed In 135 Nations
*Nick Turse, Huffington Post/Tom Dispatch*: *U.S. Special Ops Forces Deployed in 135 Nations* You can find them in dusty, sunbaked badlands, moist tropical forests, and the salty spray of third-world littorals. Standing in judgement, buffeted by the rotor wash of a helicopter or sweltering beneath the relentless desert sun, they instruct, yell, and cajole as skinnier men playact under their watchful eyes. In many places, more than their particular brand of camouflage, better boots, and designer gear sets them apart. Their days are scented by stale sweat and gunpowder; their nights ... more »
A Solution to the Government’s VA Problem
[image: Veterans - 900] There is only one guaranteed way to get fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Falsifying records won’t do it. Prescribing obsolete drugs won’t do it. Cutting all manner of corners on health and safety is, at worst, going to get... more »
Trump Hides the Left’s Own Crazies
[image: Trump - Pointing Chipmunk - 900] Last week, Donald J. Trump, a man who increasingly resembles a wayward, red-hatted hot air balloon, released what might be the Trumpiest statement ever uttered in the history of mankind. Strolling with Trump on his eponymous California golf course perched... more »
The Great Pope In The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave
If you're a regular *DWT* reader, you probably already know I turned into a virtual papist when Francis became Pope. If I thought future popes would be like him instead of like the guy he replaced, I'd probably seriously consider converting to Catholicism. Today I even had good feelings towards John Boehner for playing an instrumental role in bringing Pope Francis' message to the American people by way of his address to a joint meeting. I imagine that the far right of the American Catholic Church is stewing today, especially the reactionary overly political archbishops who have b... more »
South Korea Has Put Together A Special Commando Unit To Attack North Korean Nuclear And Missile Assets
(*Click on Image to Enlarge*) Who says it's cold? The soldiers from the south-east Asian country and their fellow marines from Kaneho Bay, Hawaii, dive in the snow as if they were on a beach *Korea Herald*: *Seoul to create special unit to attack N.K. nuke, missile assets* South Korea is seeking to create a special unit in the Army tasked with destroying North Korea’s nuclear weapons, long-range missiles and other strategic assets should an emergency break out, military officials said Wednesday. The brigade-level organization will be installed within the Army’s Special Warfare C... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Balance (Galaxies)”; "A Home Beyond What This World Knows..."
Liquid Mind, “Balance (Galaxies)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKKzFk-FiZM *"A Home Beyond What This World Knows..." * Author Unknown "You can chain my body But you cannot chain my soul. You can enslave my body But you’ll never own my soul. You can whip my body, But you cannot touch my soul. For my soul is mightier than your chains, My soul endures all your blows, My soul is eternal, eternally remains, My soul has a home beyond what this world knows. You can imprison my body, but you cannot jail my soul. You can break my body, But you’ll never break my soul. My soul is free as the ... more »
Obama: The Pope-Exploiter in Chief
[image: President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015.] Normally, the issue of the pope’s infallibility wouldn’t much concern me, but it does get my attention when opportunists attempt to leverage his heft to advance their political agenda. As an evangelical Christian, I don’t subscribe to the view that... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Awakening (Cosmic Sea)”
Liquid Mind, “Awakening (Cosmic Sea)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCa4dpKyzwo
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)”
Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)” - https://www.youtube.com/
"A Look to the Heavens"
“To some, the outline of the open cluster of stars M6 resembles a butterfly. M6, also known as NGC 6405, spans about 20 light-years and lies about 2,000 light years distant. M6 can best be seen in a dark sky with binoculars towards the constellation of Scorpius, coving about as much of the sky as the full moon. * Click image for larger size.* Like other open clusters, M6 is composed predominantly of young blue stars, although the brightest star is nearly orange. M6 is estimated to be about 100 million years old. Determining the distance to clusters like M6 helps astronomers calibrat... more »
Are Iranians Beginning To Dissent Against Their Government?
*USA Today/Global Post:* *Iranians quietly question their government's role in Syria and beyond* TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's decision to sign the Vienna nuclear agreement has opened up a wide discussion on formerly taboo topics. For the first time in years some Iranian intellectuals — both reformists and conservatives — are cautiously raising questions about Iran's foreign policy. Some are criticizing previous government decisions related to the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy, the duration of the Iran-Iraq War and the high cost of Iran's nuclear program. Iran's support for Syria's Pr... more »
Putin on U.S. Withdrawal from the ABM Treaty
Putin answers questions from a UK journalist in relation to Russia's intentions of getting along with the US. The treaty that he refers to in the conversation is the the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty) between the United States and Russia on the limitation of the 'missile defense' systems used in defending areas against ballistic missile-delivered nuclear weapons. George W. Bush unilaterally withdrew the US from the ABM Treaty in 2002. Since that time the Pentagon has been encircling Russia and China with 'missile defense' systems that were once outlawed by the ABM Tre... more »
A Vladimir Putin - Elton John Summit?
*The Guardian: **Putin calls Elton John - this time for real, says Kremlin* *Russian president suggests a meeting, a week after singer was on the end of prank call from someone pretending to be Putin* Vladimir Putin has called Sir Elton John and offered to meet after prank-callers impersonating the Russian president fooled the singer earlier this month. Putin spoke with John by phone on Thursday and asked forgiveness for the pair of famous Russian hoaxers who had previously called John in his name, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Putin called him and said, ‘... more »
Diane Watts, Jihadi Fighter
The election flyer landing on doorsteps in South Surrey-White Rock BC shows the three main party leaders - Justin Trudeau, Tom Mulcair, and an apparent new entry to the race :"YOU WILL NOT FEEL SECURE IN YOUR BEDROOMS". They are featured above a brave pledge by CPC candidate Diane Watts to "fight Jihadist Terrorists at home and abroad." You go, girl. In response to catching flack for "the worst example of politics of fear that I’ve ever seen" as one of her constituents put it, Watts issued a statement : "ISIS has clearly declared Canada as a target for terrorism. We have seen ... more »
Yes, let's give thanks to Pope Francis for trumping Chuanpu,* at least for a while, in the 24/7 news cycle
**Chuanpu* = Trump, "as he is known in Mandarin," according to *The New Yorker*'s Evan Osnos in a Sept. 28 "Comment" piece, "Dinner Talk," on the state visit of People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping *If you'd like to "continue reading," click here.* *"If you read the speech in its entirety -- as I did after watching it being delivered -- you will find something more coherent and substantial: a polite but firm request for the United States to stand up for, and live by, some of the things it claims to represent and, at times, has actually represented."* *-- John Cassidy,... more »
Russian President Putin Reveals What He Admires Most About America
*CBS:* *Putin reveals what he admires most about America* Charlie Rose recently sat down for a one-on-one interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss what the Russian leader thinks of America and how the world views him. Here's a preview of this Sunday's "60 Minutes" report: *Charlie Rose:* You're much talked about in America. There's much conversation, more so than any. *Vladimir Putin*: Maybe they have nothing else to do in America but talk about me. [laughs] *Rose:* No, no, no, or maybe they're curious people? [laughs] Or maybe you're an interesting character? M... more »
Afghans Are Abandoning Their Country
*Voice of America:* *Number of Afghans Seeking to Leave Their Country Rises* ISLAMABAD - The number of Afghans who want to flee their country, citing worsening economic and security conditions, has soared, despite pleas by their leaders to stay and rebuild their nation. Afghan officials say the number of applications for new passports has increased dramatically in recent months, and they are ill-equipped to deal with the pressure. Residents in Kabul witness hundreds of men and women arriving early each morning to line up outside the city’s only passport office. *WNU Editor*: A fr... more »
Who is on the right side of history in Syria?
*The most evil enemies of the peoples of Syria and the Middle East are Political Islam, Israel and America, not Russia. * Who is on the right side of history in Syria? Obama or Putin? Assad or ISIS/Al Qaeda? Only the force of arms will decide that question. To get a better understanding of what awaits Syria in the wake of an Assad exist we have to look at the geopolitics of Syria, and remember recent history in the region. America went against Russia in Afghanistan in the 1980s for malicious, imperialist, and selfish reasons and look at how well that intervention turned out. Afgh... more »
U.S. Ally Saudi Arabia Crucifies Dissidents, Leads UN Human Rights Committee
[image: Saudi cross] For Saudi Arabia, sometimes it's not enough to simply behead a person who has run afoul of the government: On some occasions, there's nothing like crucifixion to make your point: A group of U.N. experts has joined rights groups in... Continue reading *“U.S. Ally Saudi Arabia Crucifies Dissidents, Leads UN Human Rights Committee”* at *theatlantic.com*.
Friday Morning Ramble, 25.09.15
*“If socialism ever earns a final epitaph, it will be this: “Here lies a contrivance engineered by know-it-alls and busybodies who broke eggs with abandon but never, ever created an omelette.”* ~ Larry Reed, ‘Where are the Omelettes?’ “Back in the 90's,” says an idiotic Idiot/Savant, “the then-National government deregulated the building industry, effectively allowing builders to self-regulate.” Well, no they didn’t. But they could. But would they do it well if they did? *LEAKY HOMES, Part 1: The myth of deregulated building* – NOT PC, 2009 *Building: Less Government? More Ma... more »
More Internet Blackouts and social media "glitches"
Facebook had outages today in the US - even made the main stream media "news". On Monday I said that I expect these social media site "blackouts" and "glitches to get worse.... and it has. On Facebook this evening I made this post: CALL OUT: Social Media has gone down several times- Skype globally on Monday and yesterday and today facebook has gone down for short periods. I'm having internet issues in general with outages several times a day- and have to reboot the router? I'm getting reports from all over about internet slow downs and outages- especially for the past two weeks... more »
Double Suicide: The Presidential Campaign of 2015
[image: Hillary Clinton Donald Trump - 900] WASHINGTON -- Meanwhile, on the Democrats’ side: - They are running a presidential campaign decrying wage stagnation, income inequality and widespread economic malaise -- as if they’ve not been in office for the past seven years. - Their leading presidential... more »
(Who's Creating the Stock Market Gyrations?) Who Turned the Stock Market Around at 4:47 A.M. Yesterday Morning? (Justice To Be Investigated for Torture?) High-Profile Whistleblowers Join Forces (Son of 9/11 Victim Arrested for Protesting Exploitation) Threatening Corbyn
(I've been watching Thom Hartmann today on "Free Speech TV" for his commentary on the Pope's speech to the U.S. Congress and it is a "WOW" of a program. Thom is running the bulk of the Pope's speech (as is Amy Goodman on "Democracy Now"). Go watch it. And don't miss the star turn of 5-year-old Sophie Cruz who tells the Pope how important his support is to improve U.S. immigration policy towards
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 24, 2015
*Fabio Rafael Fiallo, The Compass*: *Syria May Be Putin's Afghanistan* The United States and other Western powers have voiced concern over Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to send combat fighters, sophisticated weaponry, and eventually troops to Syria. That concern is legitimate. Russia's authorities haven't hidden their readiness to come to the rescue of a brutal ally - Bashar Assad - who has not hesitated to drop barrel bombs and use chemical weapons against his country's civilian population. Yet no one should be more concerned with Putin's move than Putin himself. Fo... more »
World News Briefs -- September 24, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*CNN: **Pope delivers political message on immigration, tolerance to Congress* Washington (CNN)Pope Francis challenged America Thursday to embrace millions of undocumented immigrants and join a global campaign against climate change and poverty, wading undaunted into the nation's volatile politics in a historic address to Congress. Francis also called for a fairer world economy, the abolition of the death penalty, the protection of ethnic and religious minorities, the outlawing of the global "blood" trade in arms and the protection of the family in a speech sure to please liberal... more »
SUP, Surfing, Spanish Classes and a Visit from Lisa!
OK, I admit, my blog updates have been pathetically few and far between. Going to try and do better with them. It truly makes no sense that when I worked 80 hours a week I kept up better with this blog than I do now not working at all. Pura Vida! Sooooo, my friend, Lisa, came to visit over Labor Day for the second year in a row, this time without her hubby as he did not have the vacation time. She opted to stay with us, which was fun! We had an absolute blast, and Lisa got me to do some things I have been wanting to do since I moved here but have not. First, stand up paddl... more »
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Gallup Poll: Nearly half the population thinks the U.S. government is a threat(redalertpolitics.com)
Two Clues for the GOP(powerlineblog.com)
Sen. Tester to escort Pope Francis to House chambers(mtstandard.com)
Immigration Such a Hot-Button Issue in 2016 Election That a Stunning Percentage Will Only Vote for Candidate They Agree With on the Matter.(ijreview.com)
This tweet shows that no one is happier about Scott Walker's loss than the labor movement(vox.com)
Clinton's Slap at Keystone Shows Her Primary Fears(newser.com)
49% Say US Gov't Threatens Liberty (But There's a Catch)(voicesofliberty.com)
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