10:35pm MDST
Drone Crashes Into Passenger Jet At London Heathrow
A busy passenger jet has been hit by a drone as it came to land at Heathrow Airport in London on Sunday. The object struck the front of a British Airways (BA) plane flying from Geneva, just after lunchtime. The pilot managed to land the plane and bring all 132 passengers to safety at Heathrow Terminal 5 Mirror.co.uk reports: A Met Police spokesman said they were investigating and no arrests had been made. They refused to say whether or not the incident was terror related. The spokesman said: “At approximately 12:50hrs, on Sunday, 17 April, a pilot on an inbound flight into Heathrow... more »
Picture Of The Day
*Angel Opportunity* The Blue Angels lead solo, Navy Lt. Ryan Chamberlain, and opposing solo, Capt. Jeff Kuss, get into position below performer Rob Holland for a photo opportunity during Wings Over South Texas 2016 at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, April 7, 2016. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Cotter
Drone Strikes Passenger Jet While Pilot Prepared To Land At London's Heathrow Aiport
*Daily Mail*:* British Airways Airbus carrying 137 people is struck by a DRONE as pilot prepares to land at Heathrow* * An object hit the front of the plane as it approached Heathrow's Terminal 5 * Pilot aboard flight from Geneva called police to report collision 'with drone' * Police investigation launched but no one arrested as enquiries continue * It's thought item was too small to appear on air traffic control radar screens British Airways Airbus carrying 137 people is struck by a DRONE as pilot prepares to land at Heathrow. An object hit the front of the plane as it approache... more »
Is Bill Clinton's Presence On The Campaign Trail Helping Hillary-- Or Hurting Her?
A day or two ago, Bill Clinton insinuated-- in his snide way-- that Bernie supporters might go on a rampage and shoot every third person on Wall Street, hitting a lot of Clinton attack themes they're always inserting into the zeitgeist about Bernie and his supporters. His wife can't win the presidency-- if the Democrats are stupid enough to nominate her-- without those millions of Bernie supporters... and this kind of attack makes it less likely for more and more of them that they'll take the lesser-of-two-evils bait if she *is* the nominee. Bernie isn't going to support the #Ber... more »
Speeches a Problem? NY Coming Up! (Dan to Afghan?) Even Porn Sites Now Boycott NC (Possibility of a Democratic Wave?) A World War Has Begun
The speeches themselves are an example. Why any politician with presidential ambitions would get within five miles of the people who wrecked most of the economy and stole the rest of it in the 2000s is its own answer. The reason is that politics is money now, and that's where the easy money is. For myself, I think there isn't a damned thing in any of those speeches that should cause HRC a
Hillary Wants to Experiement with the Lives of Poor Children
*Sequester "poor" children in boarding schools?...Again?* by Daun Kauffman @ Lucid Witness Native American students at the boarding school Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pa. in 1884. Hillary Clinton spoke briefly, about a week ago, on a wide range of educational topics with Newsday editors on Long Island. The detailed, public video and transcript are posted HERE. (The “Education” portion of the Newsday video runs from minute 40:40 to minute 51:15). Clinton claimed to support “National Standards” in education and a “Common Core”. She supports “Public Charter ... more »
Are 1,000 British Soldiers About To Be Deployed To Libya To Fight The Islamic State?
*Daily Mail*: *UK could deploy up to 1,000 troops to Libya in bid to fight growing ISIS threat and migrant smuggling crisis* * Defence chiefs will pave the way for British military intervention in Libya * British troops would be part of a 6,000 strong, Italian-led task force * Around 100 British special forces troops are already in Libya helping to protect its current leadership and advising local forces Defence chiefs will pave the way for British military intervention in Libya during high-level talks in Europe in the coming days. Air Vice Marshal Edward Stringer will fly to Rome t... more »
Did The U.S. Cover-Up Saudi Arabia's Role In 9/11
United Airlines Flight 175 flies low toward the South Tower of the World Trade Center, shortly before slamming into the structure. The north tower burns after an earlier attack by a hijacked airliner in New York City, on September 11, 2001. (Reuters/Sean Adair) *Paul Sperry, New York Post*: *How US covered up Saudi role in 9/11* In its report on the still-censored “28 pages” implicating the Saudi government in 9/11, “60 Minutes” last weekend said the Saudi role in the attacks has been “soft-pedaled” to protect America’s delicate alliance with the oil-rich kingdom. That’s quite an ... more »
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel Will Never Give Up The Golan Heights
*Bloomberg*: *Netanyahu Says Israel Will Never Withdraw From Golan Heights* * Israeli leader marks statement with cabinet meeting on plateau * `Time that the international community recognized reality' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said publicly for the first time that Israel will never pull back from the Golan Heights, the strategic plateau it captured from Syria almost 50 years ago. Underlining the message, Netanyahu made the declaration at a weekly cabinet meeting that he convened at Ma’ale Gamla, a Golan settlement, instead of his office building in Jerusalem. “It is time ... more »
Kahlil Gibran, "A Poet's Voice XV, Part Four""
*"A Poet's Voice XV, Part Four""* by Kahlil Gibran “You are my brother, but why are you quarreling with me? Why do you invade my country and try to subjugate me for the sake of pleasing those who are seeking glory and authority? Why do you leave your wife and children and follow Death to the distant land for the sake of those who buy glory with your blood, and high honor with your mother's tears? Is it an honor for a man to kill his brother man? If you deem it an honor, let it be an act of worship, and erect a temple to Cain who slew his brother Abel. Is self-preservation the fir... more »
As the legal system grapples with overseas gangster crimes, the Minister of Justice produces unprofessional KMT screed
*Stop in. Have a drink.* The Taipei Times reported on the bizarre and revealing complaint of Minister of Justice, which she acknowledged, had been written largely by herself.... A statement issued by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) late on Saturday has further fueled conflict between lawmakers and Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay (羅瑩雪), with netizens accusing Luo of treating the ministry’s Web site as her personal Facebook page. The netizens were quite right, in their way, but then so was Luo. “As you all know, cross-strait ties are complicated. It is not like the other side [of t... more »
BREAKING NEWS: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Has Been Impeached
Brazilian congressmen Siba Machado (centre R, red tie) of the ruling Workers Party, and Vitor Valim (centre L) struggle while arguing during the debate leading up to the vote on the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Nilson Bastian, Brazil's Lower House of Congress/Handout via Reuters *Reuters*: *Brazil's Rousseff loses crucial impeachment vote in Congress* Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lost a decisive impeachment vote in the lower house of Congress on Sunday and appeared almost certain to be forced from office in a move that would end... more »
Iranian President Rouhani Vows To Defend Muslim Countries Against Terrorism And Israel
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. (Reuters) *i24 News:* *Iran vows to defend Muslim world against Israel as S-300 missile parts unveiled* *Iran vows to protect Muslim countries who "face danger from terrorism or Zionism"* Iran revealed parts of its new Russian-made S-300 missile defense system during its National Army Day parade on Sunday, as President Hassan Rouhani vowed to defend Muslim countries against terrorism and Israel, the Associated Press reports. According to pictures published by the semi-official ISNA news agency, S-300 missile tubes and the radar equipment were sho... more »
A New Nuclear Arms Race
Topol-M road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile.(RIA Novosti / Syisoev) *New York Times*: *Race for Latest Class of Nuclear Arms Threatens to Revive Cold War* The United States, Russia and China are now aggressively pursuing a new generation of smaller, less destructive nuclear weapons. The buildups threaten to revive a Cold War-era arms race and unsettle the balance of destructive force among nations that has kept the nuclear peace for more than a half-century. It is, in large measure, an old dynamic playing out in new form as an economically declining Russia, a rising Ch... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Concord, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"The What If's..."
"Only worry about what you absolutely know about,' Mr. Worthington said to me, putting my mind back where it belonged. 'That's the key. Worrying about anything else is just a waste of time and emotion. I know that seems obvious but honestly, the more information you have, the less your imagination can run away with you so the secret is to find out as much as you can about what your particular problem is....and you'll be amazed at how this simplifies things. You no longer have to worry about the what ifs." - Kate Lynch
"The Optimism of Uncertainty"
*"The Optimism of Uncertainty"* by Howard Zinn "In this awful world where the efforts of caring people often pale in comparison to what is done by those who have power, how do I manage to stay involved and seemingly happy? I am totally confident not that the world will get better, but that we should not give up the game before all the cards have been played. The metaphor is deliberate; life is a gamble. Not to play is to foreclose any chance of winning. To play, to act, is to create at least a possibility of changing the world. There is a tendency to think that what we see in the ... more »
Will Hillary's Campaign Survive The Mossack Fonseca Panama Papers Scandal?
The very first time I heard about the Mossack Fonseca scandal in Panama, my immediate reaction was, that there with this many elite criminals there are bound to be plenty of Clinton connections. A few days later, we did a post about the contrast between her support for the Panama "free" trade deal which led to the scandal and Bernie's prescient and well documented opposition based on the money laundering Panama is so infamous for. Then came the revelations about the involvement of the crooked lobbying firm closest to the Clintons, the Podesta Group, the head of which, John Podest... more »
Russian Fighter Jet Barrel Rolls US Plane Over Baltic Sea
A Russian SU-27 fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane, barrel-rolling on top of it over the Baltic Sea, according to the US military. But why is the US flying spy missions off the Russian coast? CNN reports: The incident Thursday occurred when a Russian jet “performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers” as it flew within 50 feet of the U.S. aircraft’s wing tip, Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for U.S. European Command, said in a response to a question from CNN. The Russian Su-27 began the barrel roll from the left side of the U.S. RC-135 and w... more »
Oil Meeting In Doha Collapses After Producers Cannot Agree To Freeze Oil Production.
*New York Times*: *Major Oil Exporters Fail to Agree on Production Freeze* DOHA, Qatar — Officials from 18 oil-producing nations failed on Sunday to reach a deal to freeze oil production at current levels. The officials, who represented most of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as Russia, seemed to head into the meeting full of confidence that a deal to stabilize the oil markets could be reached. Instead, the talks dragged into the evening before Qatar’s energy minister, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, told a news conference that the group had been unable t... more »
Make Certain You Arrive at Docking Bay 94 at Least Two Hours Early
"We'll leave as soon as you're ready. Docking bay 94." - Han Solo "To ensure you make it to your gate in time, please plan to arrive at least 2 hours before your flight." - TSA It occurs to me that the Evil Galactic Empire isn't too horrible when it comes to port security. Though when one things about it, in the United States airline security was very minimal until the 1970s, which brought metal detectors into use. Again in the 1980s security increased with the Lockerbie bombings, requiring that the only baggage that could be checked in was baggage that accompanied a passenge... more »
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff On The Brink Of Being Impeached (Live)
*Reuters*: *Brazil impeachment backers take strong lead in Congress vote* Supporters of the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff took a commanding lead in a ballot in the lower house of Congress on Sunday that could hasten the end of 13 years of leftist Workers Party rule in Latin America's biggest economy. With 272 votes cast, 210 members of Congress had voted in favor of Rousseff's impeachment and 62 voted against or abstained. The Datafolha polling group projected Rousseff's defeat. Rousseff's opponents needs votes from 342 of the 513 members of the chamber to sen...more »
Obama Administration to Transfer Nine Guantanamo Terrorists to Saudi Arabia
[image: GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA - OCTOBER 27: U.S. military personnel stand at fenced recreation areas inside the U.S. military prison for 'enemy combatants' on October 27, 2009 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Although U.S. President Barack Obama pledged in his first executive order last January to close the infamous prison within a year's time, the government has been struggling to try the accused terrorists and to transfer them out ahead of the deadline. Military officials at the prison point to improved living standards and state of the art medical treatment available to detainees, but the... more »
The Sickening Hypocrisy of Starbucks and Apple
[image: Tim Cook, Apple] She was only 17 years-old when she died. Her father cut out her tongue and burned her alive. What was her crime, and why did this man kill his own daughter in the most horrific imaginable way? He was a... more »
Nuclear Deal Allows Iran’s Special Forces Leader to Travel and Coordinate With Russian Leaders
[image: Qasem Soleimani, commander of Quds Force of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (IRGC).] The infamous leader of Iran's Quds force flew to Moscow on Friday to discuss furthering military cooperation with Russian military and political leaders. Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was once banned from international travel because his group trains and finances terrorism, is now free... more »
Canadian Prime Minister Awes International Media With Grade-School Knowledge of Physics
[image: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a media availability on the middle class tax cut on December 9, 2015.] The international media fawned over Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his supposedly intelligent remarks at a press conference Friday about quantum computing, which according to many outlets, makes him more than "just a pretty face." But in reality, Trudeau seeded... more »
April 17: Pot-pourri
Ah, Sunday, a day to sleep in without shame. Then, I went through pile of old papers to find one I had forgotten about - though it's kind of important. A small group of Israeli 'businessmen' have, for some time, been buying up large quantities Palestinian land which they sell to Israelis who then use it to creat illegal settlements The paper I discovered is a print-out from Haaretz by Chaim Levinson, dated Feb. 1, 2016. The headline is "Almost all West Bank land deals for illegal settlements forged, investigation finds." It seems that whenever the Israeli government tried to evac... more »
Untitled
*From* *Jenna Orkin* Uber says gave U.S. agencies data on more than 12 million users Children Carry Out One-Fifth of Boko Haram Suicide Attacks: U.N. Report: DNA from beauty products draws interest of the CIA The Plan to Send Featherweight Robotic Spacecraft to the Nearest Star at One-Fifth of the Speed of Light Hungary Issues Sovereign Bonds Denominated In Yuan: Another Nail In US Reserve Currency Status? Police Unleash Teargas After Massive Migrant Brawl Erupts At Paris Train Station Hundreds detained as Indian caste protest turns violent The 'scariest man on earth' says oil ca... more »
Wisconsin Plans to Appeal Right-to-Work Block
[image: Right_to_Work_states] The Wisconsin Department of Justice plans to request Monday that a recent court decision to block a statewide right-to-work law be put on hold. Dane County Circuit Court Judge William Foust ruled Apr. 8 that right-to-work is unconstitutional. Wisconsin Attorney General... more »
Iran's Forgotten Kurds Step Up the Struggle- So The Media Promotion Begins
*Flashback August 07/2015*: *P5+1 is a distraction. Early Seeds of Iranian destabilization cross the Turkish border* The seeds of an Iranian destabilization are being sown- All the while the destruction of Turkey by Kurdish forces is on full display, for those with eyes to see. *Briefly:* There is a pattern of moving the destabilization agenda along: Tunisia to Libya, after Egypt, Libya to Syria, Syria to Turkey- Turkey to Iran- Heading eventually towards the Russian border- The situation is fluid, clearly. One occurrence sets up the next one or two, building off of each situation... more »
Did Bible Verse Predict String of Recent Quakes, Volcano, & Foam?
Many people online are engaging in heated debate over a bible verse that some argue is a direct reference to the recent string of violent earthquakes in Japan and Ecuador, the subsequent volcano eruption, and even the mysterious “earthquake foam” flooding Japanese streets. The bible verse in question is Psalm 46:3, and reads as follows: …Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad th... more »
Infants Bought And Sold At ‘Baby Farm’ Hospital
Police have raided a private hospital in central India where unwanted newborns were sold and swapped for £1,000. The babies, born out of rape or wedlock were being delivered at a private hospital and then sold for adoption police said. Metro reports: Two of the babies have now been rescued by police from the 30-bed Palash Hospital in the Gwalior district. Prateek Kumar, from the ASP crime branch, told Times of India: ‘Three others have been sold to childless couples in Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh’. Police raided the hospital on Saturday night following a tip off about trafficking... more »
U.S. Military Joins Relief Efforts Following Japan Quake That Killed 41+ and Left 180,000 Homeless
[image: People walk near a fallen tree and house damaged by an earthquake in Mashiki, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan Sunday, April 17, 2016. After two nights of earthquakes, flattened houses and triggered major landslides in southern Japan, 91,000 people had evacuated from their homes, according to a Kumamoto prefectural official. (Ryosuke Ozawa/Kyodo News via AP) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT] MINAMIASO, Japan (AP) -- Eleven people remained missing Sunday in southern Japan from two powerful earthquakes that killed at least 41 people, as the U.S military announced it was preparing to join ... more »
Bizarre Foam Covers Japanese Streets After Earthquake
The devastating set of huge earthquakes that struck Japan last week is having an unexplained side effect: copious amounts of a mysterious foam-like substance is covering the streets. According to FOX News: Twitter users began posting photos of the unexplained foam shortly after the tremors receded. 地震で地下から泡は出るわ(福岡天神) ラウンドワン上のピンは落ちてくるわ コンビニの中はグッチャグチャになるわ 大変やな……地震ってあんまり経験してないから気おつけとこ、皆さんもお気をつけて pic.twitter.com/5lQNuyK0Sd — ロキア (@R0KlA) April 15, 2016 Some have speculated that an underground pipe had burst, although the origin is still unclear. 天神が謎の泡、、？ pic.twitter.com/H4YP8KFcWp — TA... more »
British Airways Plane Hit By Drone At Heathrow
A British Airways pilot has reported his plane being struck by an object believed to be a drone as it approached London Heathrow airport on Sunday afternoon, according to the Metropolitan Police. The BBC reports: The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 BST with 132 passengers and five crew on board. After landing, the pilot reported an object – believed to be a drone – had struck the front of the Airbus A320. Aviation police based at Heathrow have launched an investigation. Police said no arrests have been made. If confirmed,... more »
Netanyahu Says Israel Will Never Withdraw From The Golan Heights
The Israeli Prime Minister has said that Tel Aviv will never withdraw from the Golan Heights, an area captured from Syria in 1967. Benjamin Netanyahu claims the strategic plateau bordering Syria has been in Israeli hands “since antiquity” and will forever stay that way. RT reports: While the UN-led peace talks on the future of war-torn Syria take place in Geneva, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the first-ever cabinet meeting on the Golan Heights to declare that Tel Aviv will not take a single step back from the annexed region. “It is time that the international ... more »
Saudi Arabia’s Role in 9/11 ‘Deliberately’ Covered Up At Highest Levels
The “highest levels” of the U.S. government are implicated in covering-up Saudi Arabia’s role in the 9/11 attacks and it’s all to preserve diplomatic relations with the oil-rich Kingdom. The extent of the cover-up goes beyond hiding 28 pages of a congressional report on 9/11 which was released in 2002 according to The New York Post : In its report on the still-censored “28 pages” implicating the Saudi government in 9/11, “60 Minutes” last weekend said the Saudi role in the attacks has been “soft-pedaled” to protect America’s delicate alliance with the oil-rich kingdom. That’s quite ... more »
Poll: Just 6 Percent of Americans Trust the Media, Want Media to Get Their Facts Right
[image: Reading the News, Newspaper, Digital Media, Commute] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Trust in the news media is being eroded by perceptions of inaccuracy and bias, fueled in part by Americans’ skepticism about what they read on social media. Just 6 percent of people say they have a lot... more »
GAIA PORTAL: Upward intentions are realized
*Upward intentions are realized* by ÉirePort Salvage operations have completed. Selections are made, and levels assigned. Gaia's choices are clear to all with ears to hear. Falterings are left behind. Upward intentions are realized. ÉirePort | April 17, 2016 at 08:08 | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/p2sFUY-y3
McDonald's and Labour "Snobbishness"
What kind of company should be allowed to have a corporate stand at Labour Party conference? Should all-comers be taken provided they stump up the readies, or as a minimum are they expected to subscribe to a set of standards around employment relations, trade union recognition, and ethical practices (whatever they are)? I ask because a row is being stoked by the usual moaners about Labour's decision to refuse a stand (worth £30,000) at this year's conference in Liverpool. In a typically dishonest article, *The Sun* says McDonald's have been "banned", and Wes Streeting is called upo... more »
Bernie And Pope Francis
I inadvertently stumbled onto Fox & Friends when I woke up at 4 am Sunday. The producers seemed to have invited some random right-wing priest on to paint a weird picture of Bernie's quick visit to the Vatican. Fox has been asserting all week, Bernie had invited himself to the Vatican-- even as they reported on how a "left-wing bishop," Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, who happens to be a close aide to Pope Francis and the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, had invited him. According to this random dude with a clerical collar, Bernie was staying-- was staying with an ... more »
Keeping tabs on BBC One's News at Six (3)
Day Three of *ITBB*'s survey of the main evening news bulletin on BBC One shows that studies like this - of the Cardiff University kind - can throw up all sorts of questions beyond the pure stats. Take today's stats, from the BBC One News bulletin at 6.30 pm, using the metrics I set up two day ago: *Helpful angles in the opening headlines * *(as there were no opening headlines!)* For Leave:* 0* For Remain: *0* *Direct quotes* From Leave: *39*s From Remain : *21*s *Debunkings* Of Leave claims: *0* Of Remain claims: *0* This changes the *running total* to: *Helpful angles in t... more »
Oil Meeting in Qatar Ends Without Freeze as Iran Absent
[image: Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, center right, arrives at an oil-producers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Oil-producing countries are meeting in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran's last-minute decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement.] DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Oil-rich nations at a Qatar summit failed to reach an agreement Sunday on a production freeze, saying officials needed “more time” to make the decision as Iran stayed home and vowed to keep pumping. The hourslong... more »
Ecuador Earthquake: State of Emergency Declared, At Least 238 Killed
The death toll from a powerful 7.8 earthquake that shook Ecuador’s northwestern coast rose to 238 on Sunday with around 1500 more wounded. The quake was Ecuador’s largest since 1979 and was followed by 130 aftershocks. The quake was felt across northern Peru and southern Colombia, struck at 6:58 local time Saturday evening (2358 GMT) 10,000 troops and 3,500 police are being deployed in the affected areas as rescue operations got under way. The BBC reports: Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has cut short a visit to Italy to fly back and deal with the crisis. He has declared a state o... more »
Musings On Iraq In The News
EKurdrepublished my article on the collapse of Kurdistan’s oil economy. Business Insider also republished my piece on Russia providing intelligence to Iraq on the U.S. invasion plans.
The Ministry of Defence Releases Secret NATO Manual By Accident
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has accidentally released a secret NATO report complete with code words, ciphers, co-ordinates, radio frequencies and a host of other “special instructions” needed for huge war drills currently under way around Scotland. The manual marked “restricted” somehow made its way into the email inboxes of fishermen and ferry operators The Herald Scotland reports: An MoD official mistakenly circulated a manual for planned air operations during major military exercises involving more than a dozen countries. Joint Warrior 161 is currently being played out around ... more »
Health Official: Zika Not Worry Now for Pregnant Women in US
[image: Aedes aegypti mosquito, the species which transmits the dengue virus, chikungunya fever and zika is photographed on March 4, 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.] WASHINGTON (AP) -- A top public health official says there’s been no local transmission of the Zika (ZEE’-kuh) virus in the United States, so any talk about women in the country delaying pregnancy “is not even an issue for discussion... more »
Which Will Happen First: ELE by Nuclear Plants or ELE by Nuclear Arms?
William Broad and David Sanger (April 16, 2016) . Race for Latest Class of Nuclear Arms Threatens to Revive Cold War. The New York Times, http:// www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/science/atom-bomb-nuclear-weapons-hgv-arms-race-russia-china.html?login=email&mtrref=undefined [excerpted] The United States, Russia and China are now aggressively pursuing a new generation of smaller, less destructive nuclear weapons. The buildups threaten to revive a Cold War-era arms race and unsettle the balance of destructive force among nations that has kept the nuclear peace for more than a half-century.
“Optical Illusions Show How We Define 'Normal Reality'”
*“Optical Illusions Show How We Define 'Normal Reality'”* by TED Talks "Editors note: R. Beau Lotto is founder of Lottolab, a hybrid art studio and science lab based in London, England. Lotto gave a popular talk at the TED Global conference in Oxford, England, in July 2009. In the video, Lotto shares some surprising optical illusions - and explains the deep brain science behind them." "Seeing lightness and color are the simplest sensations the brain has. And yet even at this most basic level we never see the light that falls onto our eyes (called the retinal image) or even the rea... more »
"This Is Your Life..."
“This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be. Every time you don't throw yourself down the stairs, that's a choice. Every time you don't crash your car, you re-enlist. If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character... Would you slow down? Or speed up?" - Chuck Palahniuk
"And So..."
"And so when you have lost everything, no more roads, no direction, no fixed signs, no ground, no thoughts able to resist other thoughts, when you are lost, beside yourself, and you continue getting lost, when you become the panicky movement of getting lost, then, that's when, where you are unwoven weft, flesh that lets strangeness come through, defenseless being, without resistance, without batten, without skin, inundated with otherness, it's in these breathless times that writings traverse you, songs of an unheard-of purity flow through you, addressed to no one, they well up, surg... more »
Election 20, Digong Duterte's rape "joke" of the Australian victim
In a campaign rally, Presidential candidate Rodrigo "Digong" Duterte made these statements referring to the Malaysian missionary who was among those hostaged, gang-raped and later murdered by escaping prisoners in Davao City in 1989. The video was posted in youtube. Digong said, *“Nirape nilang lahat ng mga babae so ‘yung unang asolte, kasi nagretreat sila, naiwan yung ginawa nilang cover, ang isa doon yung lay minister na Australyana. Tsk, problema na ito…Pag labas, edi binalot. Tinignan ko yung mukha, tangina parang si… parang artista sa Amerika na maganda,”* *“Putangina, sayang i... more »
Privacy and the Public Eye
Two stories involving press intrusion into the lives of the rich and the powerful. Is this ever justified? Let's have a look at the first story. Well, as much as our friends at the injunction-happy Carter Ruck will let us. As reported everywhere else in the world except England and Wales, a celeb has been caught with their pants down in a threesome behind their spouse's back (apparently) and there are added claims of extra-marital jollies in a £500-a-night hotel. In other words the kind of story that is the gutter press's stock-in-trade, and one bound to linger in the collective me... more »
Alan Waldman : Eleven songs and arias that have impacted my life
Being an atheist, I probably won’t have a funeral, but here’s what you can do to remember me. By Alan Waldman | The Rag Blog | April 17, 2016 I have always detested guns. Recently my friend Tucker Teutsch, 73 … finish reading Alan Waldman : Eleven songs and arias that have impacted my life
a petition to exonerate ethel rosenberg
Of all the outrageously unjust moments in United States history - and dog knows there are many to choose from - the execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg holds a special place in my political underpinnings. It was an event I learned about early on, one that came up in many different contexts throughout my childhood. That was partly because the Rosenbergs were Jewish, and their case was rife with anti-Semitism. It was partly because of my parents' thorough and utter disgust for McCarthyism. And it was partly because my parents had very clear, first-hand memories of the case, the ex... more »
GOP Officials Fight Over Rule Blocking Outside Candidates in an Open Convention
[image: Chairman of the Republican Natonal Committee, Reince Priebus] WASHINGTON (AP) -- In an extraordinary display of internal discord, the chairman of the Republican Party’s rules committee accused top GOP officials Saturday of “a breach of our trust” by improperly trying to impede a proposed change in bylaws that... more »
Sanders Picks up a Few More Delegates at Colorado Convention
[image: Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., spoke at a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bernie Sanders is netting a few extra delegates at Colorado’s Democratic state convention -- though it’s not having a real impact on his chances to win the presidential nomination. Colorado has a multistep process of allocating delegates.... more »
Not-so-live blogging
I don't think you can really claim to be 'live-blogging' something if the programme you're blogging about was first broadcast over nine hours ago, but still... *The Andrew Marr Show*. I had to smile at Andrew Marr's introduction this morning. I'd already seen that novelist Tony Parsons and Emma Barnett of the *Telegraph *were going to be the paper reviewers. Writing about BBC bias, I like to place people politically for these kinds of programme and was aware that Tony Parsons has moved rightwards over the years, but (other than being a BBC *Woman's Hour-*presenting feminist) I w... more »
Infectious yawning
Oh dear. All the lovely English Spring sunshine we've had today, with the daffodils gleaming and the newborn tulips beaming, and children laughing, and power-drills roaring, and all the birds twittering away like a thousand Hugh Sykeses. It's been lovely (if slightly nippy), but* not *so good for blogging. So I'm* still *stuck on *Sunday*. No, must move on, move on... *The Andrew Marr Show. * It seems to be becoming something of a reflex action at the BBC that presenters and reporters feel they* must *begin anything that's going to about the EU referendum by commiserating with w... more »
Mississippi Governor Signs Dismemberment Abortion Ban
[image: speculum abortion] On Friday, Mississippi became the newest state to ban dismemberment abortions, making it the fourth state to ban the popular method of second-trimester abortions. “We’re making Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child,” Governor Phil Bryant said... more »
Sunday Food Porn...
*because it's Sunday.* We try to eat Paleo or Primal around here. That means no grains with wheat being the number one enemy. However, sometimes you need a conveyance for things like tuna salad or egg salad, so the occasional soda cracker was allowed. There's only so many carrot sticks or celery stalks a person can eat, right? Not anymore. I discovered baked cheese crisps. There's lots of recipes around for paleo crackers, usually needing lots of ingredients, and frankly, not always tasting all that great. Almond flour and flax seed is not always very tasty. This project st... more »
Editor's Note
Off to do some chores around the house. Blogging will return this evening.
Trump: "The Bosses Are Picking The People"
When are people going to just be so over the ignorant hogwash that comes spewing out of Trump that they just turn him off completely? "I'm no longer a Cubs fan, by the way, because I think they'll terrible," he told *Fox & Friends* Saturday morning as an aside to the fact that the team's owners, the Ricketts, oppose him. Pure silly childishness. BUT, Trump has managed to stumble onto and mine a real vein of anger and discontent that-- despite the racism, fascism and his bizarre ego-centric campaign-- really does need to be heard and grasped by voters. It's the corruption, stupid--... more »
2016 Tough on Sea Ice Satellites
The last several weeks have been hard on the satellites people like me use most for determining sea ice coverage. We use passive microwave instruments on a number of different satellites. The 'passive' in its name means that it doesn't emit microwaves. It just sits back and collects the emissions from where it's looking. In this, the instrument is rather like our eyes. Different centers use different instruments and different combinations of instruments. The main ones are: SSMI on DMSP F-15, launched on 12 December 1999 (pushing 17 years!) SSMI-S on DMSP F-16, launched 18 Octobe... more »
Earthquake Activity
Netc is showing radiation levels down in the region of the recent earthquake. News media are beginning to report widely on the scale of devastation and the unusual nature of the recent earthquake activity: Frequency of Kyushu quakes highest on record for Japan inland, coastal temblors. The Mainichi, April 17, 2016, http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160417/p2a/00m/0na/017000c The frequency of the earthquakes that have hit Kumamoto Prefecture and surrounding areas is the highest ever observed in Japan for inland or coastal temblors, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on... more »
Is The U.S. Endangering Its Ties With China By Showing Its Military Muscle In The South China Sea?
Straits Times: *US gambles by flexing military muscle in South China Sea* *China may react by taking more aggressive action, some analysts warn* ABOARD THE USS JOHN C. STENNIS (In the South China Sea) • Over the last week in Asia, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has visited two aircraft carriers, revealed new military agreements with India and the Philippines, and generally signalled that the Obama administration has decided to lean more heavily on military power to counter China's territorial ambitions in the region. But the new, muscular approach on display during Mr Carter'... more »
Border Clashes Reported On The Ethiopian - South Sudan Border
*VOA: **Ethiopia Accuses South Sudan Gunmen of Killing 140* Armed groups from South Sudan conducted a cross-border raid, killing more than 140 people and kidnapping many children, Ethiopia's government said Sunday. Ethiopian officials blamed Friday's attack near Gambella on ethnic Murle gunmen. They said women and children were among those killed, and a number of children were abducted and taken back to South Sudan. "The Ethiopian defense force is currently chasing after the perpetrators," Ethiopia communication minister Getachew Reda told The Associated Press Sunday. Reda said ... more »
Transfer of activism
Those in educational circles, particularly on social media, are observing a season of meetings of various professional organizations. We were recently treated to the smiles and reunions of academics at the DC meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). And we are now inundated with the bright, optimistic activism of the Network for Public […]
Has Lady Gaga Really Experienced An Awakening? Nope
*Steven Bancarz* - A video of Lady GaGa complaining about the music industry has fooled the world.
Northerntruthseeker Rant For Sunday, April 17th, 2016
[image: rant-jpeg-b] Sunday, and once again time for my weekly rant...... Yes, it is supposed to be some 4 weeks now into "spring" and it is still well below normal in terms of temperatures and conditions here in central Canada... Again, gosh darn that "Global Warming" and the planet "overheating"... I must have missed that memo... But seriously... I do wonder how anyone with common sense can actually believe Al Gore and his rejects from clown college any longer? Yes, this planet goes through "Climate Change", but it has been doing so for BILLIONS of years, and the recent changes ... more »
Int'l Sign-On Statement to Support U.N. Investigation in Odessa, Ukraine
*Some of the 46 who were burned alive inside the Odessa Trade Union hall* *To add your name, organization, city, state & country please send to globalnet@mindspring.com * *Statement in Support of the May 2 Memorial to be Held in Odessa, Ukraine...Join Call for a United Nations Investigation into the Tragic Events of May 2, 2014* On May 2, 2016, a memorial will be held in Odessa, Ukraine, to honor the memory of scores of prodemocracy activists who were brutally murdered on that date in Odessa two years ago. There is no reason for the City authorities to forbid a peaceful memori... more »
The Church and Apologetics for Youth
[image: youthconference] Several surveys confirm it: fewer of our young are going to church and remaining involved. A recent article by Austin Institute makes the point that while the church is not in immediate trouble, if we do not reach the young... more »
Ecuador Reeling From Massive 7.8 Earthquake
*Reuters*: *Earthquake kills at least 77 in Ecuador, toll expected to rise* Ecuador launched rescue operations on Sunday after its biggest earthquake in decades killed at least 77 people, caused devastation in coastal populations and left an unknown number trapped in ruins. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off Ecuador's Pacific coast on Saturday night and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic in the capital Quito and collapsing buildings in the large commercial city of Guayaquil. Nearly 600 people were injured. Northwestern coastal areas nearest the ... more »
Saudi Arabia Threatens To Dump Their U.S. Assets If 9/11 Bill Is Passed (Update)
*Daily Mail*:* Saudi Arabia threatens to pull $750 billion in U.S. assets if Congress passes bill making its government liable for 9/11-related lawsuits* * The administration has tried to stop Congress from passing the legislation * Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Juberi told Washington lawmakers the country would be forced to sell $750 billion in Treasury securities * The revelations come as President Obama decided whether to declassify 28 pages of sealed 9/11 documents * White House will make a decision by June * Bush and Obama administrations have refused to unseal the documents, ... more »
Further reading
For more on Nick Robinson's *Europe: Them or Us *- in the light of an earlier post here, Did Nick Robinson re-write history? - Kathy Gyngell has written a powerful piece for *News-watch *which sets Nick R's dramatic re-casting of historical reality in a much fuller context: *Them or Us? (Re-Visited)*. The historical detail she outlines about the French 'Frangleterre' proposal that Nick R presented as Churchill's plan provides yet more evidence that the BBC man veered a *long *way from the truth. This, again, was what Nick Robinson told BBC viewers: *There's one interview we haven... more »
Sunday morning - Art gallery - Manuel Martinez
Manuel Martinez is an artist who lives in southern France in a location directly south of Toulouse and directly west of Pamiers - Free Planet loves the blend of the figurative and the graphical in these contemporary large greek-mythology inspired acrylic on canvas paintings.
Sunday morning - Art gallery - Donna Young
Donna Young is an award-winning fine artist working in impressionist oils and pastels. She is represented in galleries nationwide and has been featured in over thirty solo and group exhibitions during her career.
Saudi Arabia Threatens To Crash The Dollar If Congress Exposes Their Role In 9/11 Attacks
Image Credit By Jay Syrmopoulos A bombshell report by the* New York Times* has revealed that Saudi Arabia, the third largest holder of U.S. Treasury bills in the world behind China and Japan, has warned the Obama administration and Congress that they will begin liquidating their U.S. assets if Congress passes a bill allowing for the Saudi government to be held responsible for their role in the terror attacks of 9/11. Make no mistake that this is blackmail, as the Saudis are estimated to hold three-quarters of a trillion dollars in T-bills and the sudden divestment would almost ce... more »
Untitled
*NASA lies and tergiversations* *All the things denied by NASA below have been documented many times -- including on this blog. Amusing, though, when they said "There is far too much focus on surface temperatures". I wonder why they said that? It wouldn't be because they haven't been rising, would it? And what shows warming if global temperatures don't?* In many online forums involving climate change science, the discussions are frequently hijacked by doubters making the same tired, debunked arguments. On Tuesday, NASA was having none of it. When doubters began polluting a t... more »
The Pro-Choicers’ (Justified) Hair-Trigger Paranoia
[image: Pro-Choice Rally Sign Right to Body - 900] Perhaps the most ambitious effort ever to tighten a nation’s abortion laws is taking place in Poland, driven by a popular movement and supported by the ruling party -- and almost no one in elite America seems to have noticed. NARAL... more »
Left Analysts: Clinton Presidency Would Be More Criminal and Murderous Than Anything Trump
Many left analysts from all sectors predict that a Clinton presidency would mean savage wars like nothing nationalist Trump would do. Trump “the Fascist”: Backdoor Backing of a Political Psychopath Named Hilary Clinton April 12th, 2016 James Petras Want Endless War? Love the U.S. Empire? Clinton’s Your Choice February 3, 2016 Marjorie Cohn Hillary Clinton: the Queen of Chaos and the
Hey New Yorkers, Let's Be Honest-- Is There Really Any Difference Between Hillary And Bernie?
Yesterday we talked about how telecomm whores among our political elite passed a bill that could kill net neutrality. Every Republican and 5 wretched, corrupt Democrats-- Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Scott Peters (CA), Jim Costa (CA), Collin Peterson (MN) and Albio Sires (NJ)-- crossed the aisle to vote with the Republicans. Verizon is a major player in federal elections. In the 2014 cycle, their PAC handed out $2,783,015 to congressional candidates, including $30,000 each to the crooked party operations (DCCC, DSCC, NRCC, NRSC) that work to rig the system, as well as to the Blue Dog PA ... more »
Hey Robert Ross, How's that fading independence movement treating ya?
*It's Laiji, one of my favorite places in Taiwan.* Hey, Taiwan history buffs, today (Apr 17) is the anniversary of what important document in Taiwan history? Several years ago I put a note in Google Calendar to remind myself that this month is the 10th anniversary of one of most vapidly pro-KMT, endlessly clueless articles ever published on Taiwan, Robert Ross' immortal Taiwan's Fading Independence Movement. It was published in *Foreign Affairs*, which would publish a hamster writing on international relations in Urdu, provided it was sufficiently anti-Taiwan. Reflect for a moment ... more »
Global Oil Prices May Ride on Oil Producers’ Meeting in Qatar Today
[image: Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy, Oman's oil and gas minister, smiles as he enters an oil-producers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, April 17, 2016. Oil-producing countries are meeting in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran's last-minute decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement.] DOHA, Qatar (AP) -- Oil-producing countries met Sunday in Qatar to discuss a possible freeze of production to counter low global prices, but Iran’s decision to stay home could dilute the impact of any agreement. The attendees, in... more »
Beautiful Churches: Gloucester Cathedral in England
[image: Gloucester Cathedral Main - 900] Gloucester Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship continuously for over 1300 years, since Osric, an Anglo-Saxon prince, founded a religious house here in 678-9 A.D. Historians believe the Benedictine Rule was introduced here early in the 11th century,... more »
This is #StandWithThePersecuted Sunday, But Let’s Do It Every Sunday
[image: Stand With the Persecuted - 900] (Or any day!) Following up on my last blog post, I take to video to encourage individual Christians as well as churches to Stand with the Persecuted. This Sunday, April 17, is "Stand with the Persecuted Sunday," but don't be...more »
Military Photo of the Day: Doolittle Raid, April 1942
[image: Doolittle Raid Take Off - 900] Take off from the deck of the USS HORNET of an Army B-25 on its way to take part in first U.S. air raid on Japan. Doolittle Raid, April 1942. - Wikipedia
Untitled
*Degrees are more necessary than ever before, but the rewards aren’t as great* *Comment from Australia* HAVING a degree has become a basic prerequisite for most careers. Those without a degree are more likely to be disadvantaged in career and economic terms. You could think of this as somewhat like mobile phone ownership. Twenty years ago, those of us without a mobile phone got by just fine — having one was a status symbol. Now, even though the phones are much, much better, having one is nothing special. And those without one will really struggle. Yet widespread participation in ...more »
North Korea Preparing For Another Nuclear Test
*Reuters*: *North Korea's fifth nuclear test seen imminent, increased movements at site: Yonhap* North Korea is likely to conduct its fifth nuclear test in the near future, possibly before its party congress in early May, a media report said on Sunday, citing South Korean government sources based on their reading of activity around the test site. The news of signs indicating the North is readying a nuclear test comes as Pyongyang is gearing up for a ruling Workers Party congress in early May, where leader Kim Jong Un is likely to boast about his achievements in building a weapons... more »
Heavy Fighting Reported Near The Afghan City Of Kunduz
Afghan security forces prepare for battle with the Taliban in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, April 16, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer *VOA:* *Afghan Forces Battle Insurgents Around Kunduz* Afghan officials and insurgent sources said intense fighting is raging near the northern city of Kunduz. An Interior Ministry statement issued Sunday said Afghan forces killed at least 44 Taliban insurgents and wounded many more in overnight clashes around the provincial capital. The fighting erupted Friday after the Taliban staged a major offensive on security outposts around Kunduz in its bid to captur... more »
Iran Displays Its S-300 Missile Defense System At An Army parade In Tehran
*The Telegraph*: *Iran unveils S-300 missile defence system at Army Day parade* Iran used its annual Army Day parade on Sunday to showcase parts of a long-awaited air defence system ordered from Russia, a move likely to irk critics of the arms deal. The S-300 system has been on order since 2007 but Russia postponed the sale three years later after the UN Security Council passed a resolution relating to Iran's nuclear programme. A deal between Iran and six world powers over its nuclear activities which lifted sanctions in January removed the barriers to delivery but the fully ope... more »
Economic News , Data & Views ( April 17 , 2016 ) Overview - Top Items For Sunday ( 1. Doha Oil Producers Meeting In Focus - While Awaiting Continuation Of The Doha Meeting Amid Talk Of Changes to Draft Accord Language Regarding Iran - Consider Current Near Production Levels For Russia And Opec ( With Iran Also Ramping Back Up As Well.) Also Note These Talks Occur With Oil Prices Still Low And Fiscal Pressures In Gulf Countries Very , Very High. 2. IMF Spring Meetings - Greece In Focus , World Growth Slowing As Austerity Seems A Dead Letter In Spring Economic Fashion Season ( Except For Greece Naturally. ) 3. Brazil Impeachment News & Views. 4. Greece Creditor Talks - Set To Possible Take Months , Conditional Austerity Measures Trial Balloon Floated ( 3BN Euros Of Conditional Measures On Top Of 5 BN Austerity Measures - 8.1 BN Euros Total For Austerity Measures Potentially For Greece. 5. Odds & Ends - Ecuador 7.8 Mag Quake Updates , Libya News Of The Day , Syria Peace Talks Updates , Spain Political Tidbits.)
Doha Talks & Current Oil Production Levels ...... *A. Gary Shilling* @agaryshilling 1h 1 hour ago #DohaTalks fail; no surprise to me. I am staying with my forecast of #crudeoil prices falling to $10 to $20/barrel. Down 6% already today *SoberLook.com* @SoberLook 1m 1 minute ago Chart: WTI crude oil futures in response to Doha - *Stalingrad & Poorski* @Stalingrad_Poor 10m 10 minutes ago Crude -7%. Thanks for playing. *Javier Blas* @JavierBlas2 9m 9 minutes ago #BREAKING: $WTI down $2.5 a barrel to $37.84 in NY trading after #DohaTalks collapse http://... more »
Finance Leaders Pledge Effort to Boost Global Growth
[image: German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble, right, speaks with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin at the IMF headquarters in Washington, Friday, April 15, 2016, during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings G-20 photo opportunity.] WASHINGTON (AP) -- Global finance officials are vowing to try to reinvigorate a lackluster global economy and urging governments to embrace free trade and do more to fight tax evasion. Concluding biannual meetings by the world finance leaders, the 189-nation... more »
Weekly Dinner Menu #13
Don't know what to make this week? This meal plan lays out a dinner for each night so you don't have to think about it! Weekly dinner menu hostesses are: [image: Hostess Image] Summer Scraps – Housewife Eclectic – Embellishmints – The Crafty Blog Stalker Liz On Call – Mom’s Messy Miracles – It’s Me Deb CB – Organized Island Sunday Creamy Turkey Noodle Monday Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers Tuesday Soy Sauce and Brown Sugar Salmon Wednesday Bacon Spinach Rigatoni Thursday Triple Cheese Meat and Veggie Lasagna Friday Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps Saturday Oven Fried Chicken ... more »
I Will Raise Your Baby, Queline — Don’t Abort Her
[image: baby hand - 900] This is like nothing I've ever written before. It's an open plea for prayer, an open window into my heart and that of my wife, Sarah, and an open last-ditch effort to reach out to a cherished young Jewish woman... more »
Russia Denies That Its SU-27 Did A Dangerous Fly-By Near A U.S. Air Force Reconnaissance Plane
© Sputnik/ Igor Zarembo *Sputnik*: *Russian MoD Denies Allegations of 'Dangerous' Su-27 Baltic Fly-By* The Russian Defense Ministry has denied media allegations that one of its Su-27s made a 'dangerous' fly-by of a US reconnaissance aircraft, Igor Konashenkov stated. The ministry's spokesman added that on the April 14 the US reconnaissance jet was approaching the Russian border. After a visual contact with the Russian Su-27 it changed its course. *"Western media's allegations of a 'dangerous' fly-by of a Russian Su-27 jet and an American RC-135 in the Baltics are false," the spo... more »
U.S Navy Alarmed By Russian Submarine Buildup
*CNN:* *Top Navy official: Russian sub activity expands to Cold War level* Washington (CNN)Russia is deploying its ballistic missiles and attack submarines in numbers, range and aggression not seen in two decades, according to a top U.S. Navy official. In an exclusive interview, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe told CNN that the buildup reflects an alarming strategic world view. "NATO is viewed as an existential threat to Russia, and in the post-Cold War period, the expansion of NATO eastward closer to Russia and our military capability they view as a very visceral thr... more »
U.S. Army Commissions First 22 Female Officers Into Ground Combat Roles
*Army Times:* *Army approves first 22 female officers for infantry, armor jobs* The Army announced Friday the first 22 women to be commissioned as infantry and armor officers under new rules that open all ground combat jobs to females this year. The move is a major step toward integrating women into so-called ground combat jobs, placing them in leadership roles in occupations that were never open to them. The 22 women are near completion of their officer training and will be commissioned as second lieutenants in coming weeks. They need to successfully complete the specialty scho... more »
Ecuador’s Strongest Earthquake in 36 Years Kills at Least 238, Injures 1500+
[image: People watch a collapsed house in Guayaquil on April 17, 2016. At least 41 people have been killed by the powerful earthquake that struck western Ecuador on Saturday and the toll will likely rise further, the country's Vice President Jorge Glas said.] (Eds: Adds details from videos of quake and rescue effort. Updates death toll to 238.) PEDERNALES, Ecuador (AP) -- Rescuers pulled survivors from rubble Sunday after the strongest earthquake to hit Ecuador in decades flattened buildings and buckled highways along... more »
Obama Administration Admits It Could Have Respected Nuns’ Rights After All
[image: Little Sisters of the Poor - 900] It may have taken five years, numerous regulatory updates, hundreds of legal battles and two trips to the Supreme Court, but the government has finally admitted that, well, maybe it was wrong about the Health and Human Services mandate. In a... more »
When Reagan Almost Won: The 1976 GOP Convention
[image: Ronald Reagan - 900] The magic number needed to capture the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 was 1,130 delegates, and Ronald Reagan was oh so close as the national convention prepared to convene. After losing six straight primaries to President Gerald Ford early in... more »
I agree with Nick
Nick Sutton, editor of *The World at One *and *The World This Weekend*, tweets; Nick Cohen of the *Observer *and *Spectator* replies: Presumably the BBC is happy now @suttonnick — Nick Cohen (@NickCohen4) April 17, 2016
Lithium Batteries – The Cobalt Cliff Is Upon Us
By Paul Homewood h/t Hugh Sharman http://investorintel.com/technology-metals-intel/lithium-ion-batteries-the-cobalt-cliff-is-upon-us/ There is an interesting piece in Investor Intel, looking at Darton Commodities’ recent 2015-2016 Cobalt Market Review: I had a very enlightening conversation on Wednesday morning with the experts at Darton Commodities Limited, a U.K.-based metals trader that specializes in cobalt and serves as […]
Spend It On The Kids
Jerry Diakiw has a terrific idea. If governments are looking for good infrastructure investments, he writes, focus on kids. That's not just a noble sentiment. There's lots of evidence to suggest that it's wise policy: Our new federal government plans to spend billions of dollars on infrastructure projects. But according to James Heckman, Nobel laureate in the economics of human development, infrastructure spending only sees a rate of return of roughly 1 to 2 per cent — while investing in disadvantaged children before they start school has a proven record of yielding an 8 to 10 per... more »
What British Muslims Really Think: The Backlash
The next item on the *Sunday *menu was something that also could have been predicted: the inevitable BBC 'backlash' feature in response to *What British Muslims Really Think*: *The TV documentary that sought to reveal what Muslims really think is accused of perpetuating anti-Muslim prejudice. We'll debate that claim with a Muslim activist and the programme's executive producer. * ...except it didn't turn out to be the usual 'backlash' angle. William Crawley told us that *"newspapers and social media have been awash with criticisms of this programme and of the survey at the heart o... more »
Knights of Malta - Maltese Cross - Elongate Maltese Skulls - Maltese Stone Monuments - Maltese Astrology
*3,000 BC Malta holes-decoration also found on the top surface of the 7,000 BC Goekli Tepe (Turkey) cuboid-headed standing stones* Malta is a tiny island in the mediterranean sea just south of Sicily, at the foot of Italy. This is a stub post to self-explore the seemingly-connected topics of Knights of Malta, Maltese Cross, Elongated Maltese Skulls, Maltese Stone Monuments, Maltese Astrology and megalithic stone masonry and astrological alignment. Is there really a cultural connection of a global nature between the ancient Megalithic sites (and elongated-skull people) of ancient... more »
All singing from the Pope's hymn sheet
The sun came up this morning and, just as inevitably, Radio 4's *Sunday* led with the Pope on Lesbos: *On this week's *Sunday*: From the Vatican to a refugee camp and back. Has Pope Francis changed anyone's mind about opening their borders to migrants?* The 'Pope in Lesbos' story was first discussed with Maristella Tsamatropoulou from the Catholic charity Caritas. She hopes European policies will change as a result of the Pope's visit. And then William Crawley talked to an MEP from Slovakia, a country that has "closed its doors to refugees and migrants". You might have expected ... more »
This Is How The U.S. Marines Fight
*Popular Mechanics: **One Chart That Explains How the U.S. Marines Fight* *More than just naval infantry, the service fights in the air and on land…from the sea.* The U.S. Marine Corps was founded in 1775 to conduct ship to ship fighting and amphibious warfare. In the more than two hundred years since, the Marines have evolved into America's crisis response force. A typical Marine combat unit fields everything from fighter planes to riflemen, from hovercraft to main battle tanks. As a result the Marines can fight the full spectrum of warfare, from lightly armed guerrillas to m... more »
Tweet For Today
AP-GfK poll finds Americans are happy about a lot in their lives. But not government. https://t.co/KYn4qIwjKQ pic.twitter.com/mJtsd8SxwA — AP Politics (@AP_Politics) April 16, 2016
Most U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Are Now Unable To Fly
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com *FOX News:* *Budget cuts leaving Marine Corps aircraft grounded* EXCLUSIVE: Since 1775, the U.S. Marine Corps has prided itself on being “The Few" and "The Proud." But while the Corps takes pride in doing more with less, senior Marine officers are warning that the Corps' aviation service is being stretched to the breaking point. Today, the vast majority of Marine Corps aircraft can’t fly. The reasons behind the grounding of these aircraft include the toll of long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the fight against ISIS and budget cuts precludi... more »
Not forgotten
There's a video report on the BBC website about a new play being staged in Washington, which the accompanying blurb describes - in the BBC's own words - as "both heart-wrenching and life-affirming": Jane O'Brien's interview with Dr Abuelaish contains this question: *Do you think that the Palestinian conflict has become forgotten? * Well, evidently, it hasn't been forgotten by the BBC, has it?
British Scientists Conclude Cancer Is A Modern Man-Made Disease
Scientists at the University of Manchester in the UK have announced that cancer is a modern-day, man-made disease after studying mummies, fossils and classical literature. According to the team of scientists, cancer is fuelled exclusively by the excesses of modern life, and tumors were rare up until very recently when pollution and poor diets became a health concern. Anonhq.com reports: In the study of Egyptian mummies, for example, the researchers found no signs of cancer in many of them—with the exception of one isolated case. Slivers of tissue from hundreds of Egyptian mummies w... more »
Saudi Arabia Warn Of Economic Sanctions If U.S. Publishes 9/11 Secrets
Saudi Arabia have issued a warning to the Obama administration and Congress that it will impose tough economic sanctions on America if they decide to declassify information in the official 9/11 report which implicates the Saudi regime as orchestrating the attacks. The Saudi regime have said they will sell off hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets, if the truth about their role on September 11, 2001, becomes public knowledge. Nytimes.com reports: The Obama administration has lobbied Congress to block the bill’s passage, according to administration officials and co... more »
Jamaica To Legalise Cannabis And Fire The Queen
Jamaica have announced plans to fire Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, and legalize cannabis, in a radical new constitutional amendment. Lawmakers are discussing the plans as part of the new government’s 2016-2017 legislative agenda. The proposals would see the Queen being replaced with a Non-Executive President, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen announced to Parliament on Thursday. Independent.co.uk reports: Jamaican Labour Party leader Andrew Holness scraped a narrow win in general elections in February as voters opted for promises of tax cuts and a higher minimum wage ove... more »
The number of Brits abroad
Regular readers will know that *ITBB *is monitoring *More or Less*'s EU referendum coverage. The first episode of this series debunked the most debunkable of pro-Leave claims (think cabbages) - a claim made by a pro-Leave chap on Twitter and a pro-Leave columnist in a newspaper. The second episode began as if it was debunking a pro-Remain claim but ended up making its own pro-Remain case. This third episode also began by debunking a pro-Remain claim about the number of British expats living in the EU but was difficult to place in terms of pro-Remain or pro-Leave bias as it didn't... more »
Lab Report: Aircraft Dumped ‘Metallic Fibers’ On U.S. Population
A laboratory has confirmed the presence of “metallic fibers” from strange raindrops that were dumped from a military aircraft over populated areas in America. According to Marie Snow and her friend Cori Gunnelsknew, 50 to 60-foot long raindrops, which appeared to be solid in nature, fell from the sky in clusters from three military aircraft that flew overhead. Intellihub.com reports: Using critical thinking skills, Snow and Gunnels, patriots and local residents, decided to collect samples of the fibrous material which was deployed from the three military planes earlier that day, sa... more »
US-Turkey Governments Will Arm ISIS In Syria To Oust Assad
The White House have announced that the Pentagon are prepared to hand over anti-aircraft missiles and other weapons to ISIS and other terrorist organisations in Syria in order to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The American government say that if current negotiations with Syria lead nowhere, they will implement ‘plan B’ and team up with Turkey and arm ‘rebel groups’ to get the job done. Sputniknews.com reports: On Tuesday, a Wall Street Journal headline blared, “U.S. Readies ‘Plan B’ to Army Syrian Rebels: Moderate groups could get antiaircraft weapons if ceasefire collapses... more »
Citizens In Hungary Burn Monsanto GMO Cornfields
Citizens in Hungary have located and destroyed 1000 acres of cornfields that were found to be grown with GMO seeds supplied by Monsanto. In Hungary, GMO seeds are banned along with other GM ingredients. Health-explorer.com reports: According to Upriser, “Almost 1000 acres of maize found to have been ground with genetically modified seeds have been destroyed throughout Hungary, deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development Lajos Bognar said. The GMO maize has been ploughed under, said Lajos Bognar, but pollen has not spread from the maize, he added.” GMO seed checks ta... more »
Government Announce Plans To Spray Seattle With ‘GMO Bacteria’
The Washington State Department of Agriculture have approved a pesticide-bacteria spraying program to be used over Seattle, in an attempt to kill Asian and European gypsy moths. The program, opposed by many residents, will spray a bacteria with pesticide properties called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), the same bacteria gene commonly used in GM crops to kill insects. Eraofwisdom.org reports: According to KOMO: “An area in Vancouver will also be sprayed Saturday, then the states moves onto Kent, Lacey, Gig Harbor, Nisqually and Seattle’s Capitol Hill. This year the WSDA will use a red... more »
Sharon Stone Warns Donald Trump Will Create ‘Another Holocaust’
Sharon Stone has warned that if Donald Trump is elected President of the United States, another Holocaust, similar to the one suffered by the Jews during World War 2, could happen in America. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the actress said, “We have leaders and people who are trying to be leaders who are running campaigns based on fear, and that’s a contagion. It’s horrible. Holocausts have occurred when that fire catches loose”. Breitbart.com reports: Stone, as Breitbart News reported, announced this week that she is backing out of production for a short film in Missi... more »
Helicopter Crashes Near Baltimore/DC Airport Onto Train Tracks
A routine helicopter power-line inspection turned tragic when it crashed onto train tracks near the Baltimore,MD/Washington,D.C. airport causing a fire and delaying rail service. Three people on board were injured, and the crash resulted in delays to Amtrak services between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. According to Reuters: An Amtrak spokeswoman said that by mid-afternoon all service had resumed between the two cities. Airline operations were not affected, airport spokeswoman Whitney Kidd said. The helicopter was flying at low altitude around a power line when it crashed a mile no... more »
Southwest Ejects Iraqi Man From Plane … For Speaking Arabic
In an incredibly disgusting show of racism, Southwest Airlines removed an Iraqi passenger from its plane earlier this month because he was speaking arabic. The man, a student at one of the best universities in the United States – UC Berkley – was visiting L.A. as part of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, an event that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also attended. According to Think Progress: Khairuldeen Makhzoomi, a 26-year-old Iraqi refugee, came to the United States in 2002 when his diplomat father was killed. While on the plane, he called his uncle to tell him about the di... more »
Why Is Canada Experiencing A Massive Spike Of UFO Sightings?
Residents in the city of Quebec, Canada, have reported an unusual rise in UFO sightings recently. According to a 2015 survey conducted by Ufology Research, a huge number of Canadians reported weird skyward spheres, blinding lights in the firmament, and bright orbs that rapidly appear and disappear in the sky. According to the Toronto Sun: The Winnipeg group’s annual report calls Canada “a nation rich in storytelling,” but stresses that studying reports of sightings means combining witness accounts with the search for “objective truth.” Is it something man-made? Is it a figment of o... more »
DMT: Can It Make Clinical Death Longer?
DMT (dimethyltryptamine), which is sometimes referred to as “the spirit molecule“, is known to users to cause extremely profound psychedelic experiences. Now, scientists Ede Frecska and Attila Szabo are proposing some fascinating new experiments with the chemical aimed at allowing the brain to survive for long periods without oxygen. According to Collective Evolution: “Our main tenet is that DMT is involved in the healing and regeneration of cells, it helps the body to survive extreme stress like clinical death,” Frecska wrote on the funding page. “Our group has already provided exp... more »
Joanna Angeli: I AM YOU REACH IT FROM THE HEART
*I've been observing the Facebook postings of this young woman from Norway for some months now. Obviously a starseed. The young people emerging at this moment truly astound me with what they understand naturally. I hope you enjoy this posting which I repost under creative commons permissions. I have reformatted it for readability as if it were a poem, which it is truly... -AK* http://projectfreedomearth.com/2016/04/16/joanna-angeli-reach-th-heart/ *I AM – YOU REACH IT FROM TH HEART* *by JOANNA ANGELI* *I AM – I AM WHO I AM – YOU REACH IT FROM THE HEART* *I AM.* I AM WHO I AM.... more »
Nick Robinson's prediction
An interesting vignette from Nick Robinson's article in today's *Sunday Times*: *A few weeks ago I had the chance to speak to Cameron again about Europe. “I think you’ll probably win the vote,” I said (a prediction I’m now not so certain about), “but you may well lose the party in the process.”*
Ghost Filmed At Hotel That Inspired “The Shining”
A photo shared by Henry Yau of Houston taken at the famous Stanley Hotel in Colorado has gone viral. Henry shared a photograph on his Instagram page which appears to show a ghostly apparition at the infamous location Stephen King’s ‘The Shining‘ was inspired by. GeoBeats News reports: Based on a photo recently shared on Instagram by Henry Yau of Houston, the Estes Park, Colorado place of lodging delivers on its ghostly promises. Believer or not, it’s tough to deny there’s a figure on the staircase in the picture. Yau told GeoBeats, “I wanted to take a panoramic photo of the grand st...more »
Keeping tabs on BBC One's News at Six (2)
Day Two of 'BBC One Evening News Watch' resulted in the following statistics, following Saturday's 5.10 news bulletin: *Helpful angles in the opening headlines * *(as there were no opening headlines!)* For Leave: *0* For Remain: *0* *Direct quotes* From Leave: *21*s From Remain : *23*s *Debunkings* Of Leave claims: *0* Of Remain claims: *0* This changes the *running total* to: *Helpful angles in the opening headlines * For Leave: *0* For Remain: *1* *Direct quotes* From Leave: *52*s From Remain : *1*m *21*s *Debunkings* Of Leave claims: *1* Of Remain claims: *0* The transcript fo... more »
Review Spesifikasi Yamaha NMAX dan Harga Terbaru 2016
Spesifikasi Yamaha NMAX - Jika anda saat ini sedang ingin mengetahui motor terbaru dari pabrikan yamaha berjneis matic, kami rasa membaca ulasan artikel ini langkah yang sangat tepat untuk mengetahui motor matic terbaru yamaha. Karena pada kesempatan ini kami akan mencoba ulas informasi mengenai Spesifikasi Yamaha NMAX Terbaru dan terlengkap. Perlu anda ketahui bahwa Yamaha NMAX merupakan
Picture Of The Day
MiG-29 and Su-27 combat jets of Russia’s Aerospace Forces during the first aerial training of the Russian aviation’s victory parade at Alabino training range outside Moscow on Monday, April 11, 2016. © SPUTNIK/ VLADIMIR ASTAPKOVICH
Is North Korea Back To Producing Plutonium For Its Nuclear Stockpile?
*38 North:* *More Evidence of Possible Reprocessing Campaign at Yongbyon; Progress at Experimental Light Water Reactor* A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr. *Summary* Recent commercial satellite imagery shows new developments at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicating that North Korea has already begun or plans to commence a reprocessing campaign to separate additional plutonium for nuclear weapons. This activity consists of the presence of a loaded railroad flatcar at the Radiochemical Laboratory, excavation alongside the old “Building... more »
Iran Wants To Buy Fighter Jets And Tanks From Russia
Iranian Defense Minister Hassan Dehghan, right, and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu attend a press conference in Tehran in January 2015. (screen capture: AFP) Times of Israel:* Iran aims to buy fighter jets, advanced tanks from Russia* *Defense minister reportedly taking arms shopping list to his meet with Moscow counterpart later this month* Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan is planning to raise the purchase of warplanes and tanks during an upcoming meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow, Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars reported Friday, citing Russian m... more »
Rightwing Nuthouse: “5 Worst Right-Wing Moments This Week: Donald Trump Outdoes Himself”
*“5 Worst Right-Wing Moments This Week: * *Donald Trump Outdoes Himself”* by Janet Allon "While Hillary and Bernie engaged in their most contentious debate, Donald Trump had a quiet week apart from a tantrum about how unfair the whole electoral process is. Ted Cruz said crazy things, but was largely ignored, even by people who paid a lot to come see him talk. The good people of New York will go to the polls on Tuesday, an event with the added benefit of finally ridding the city of the truly annoying presence of Ohio governor John Kasich. Here are some awful right-wing moments this ... more »
2,000 Sets Of State Of The Art Riot Gear Have Been Ordered By A Wary Cleveland As More Republicans Back Out
With crackpot Trumpsters Roger Stone and Alex Jones calling on 5 million Trump fans to show up in Cleveland in July to teach the establishment a lesson, I don't care how much money law enforcement is spending on riot gear, I'm staying away from Cleveland in July. Nor am I the only one who has come to that decision. Plenty of lobbyists will go, but Jeb Bush has already announced that he's staying away. There's a feeling of "anxiety, uncertainty and unease" among Republicans already, many cognizant that Stone has been threatening to report their hotel rooms to the Trump mob if anyo... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Coccon”
2002, “Cocoon” - https://www.youtube.com/
Radiation Readings Back Down in Kyushu Japan
Levels have dropped in that region back to ordinary averages. I wonder if a reactor scram would require subsequent venting of radioactive gas? Or perhaps the plume came from someplace else? Radiation levels are still elevated in the far north area of Japan.
Spiking Radiation Readings in Kyushu Japan
Here are my screenshots from the last few days taken from NETC.com https://www.dropbox.com/s/r8gz15xi6iydyxk/April%2015%20and%2015%202016%20Japan%20Earthquake%20in%20and%20Radiation%20Readings%20from%20Netc.pdf?dl=0 Levels were low until today, although they started trending upwards yesterday, reaching highly elevated levels (relative to normal means) today: *(US Time) April 14, 2016 8:21 (AM)* *(US Time) April 15, 2016 4:30 pm* *(US Time) April 16, 2016 1:24 PM*
Holding 911 Hands
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-04-16/saudi-arabia-threatens-us-it-will-liquidate-its-treasury-holdings-if-congress-passes [image: Dubaibanker's picture] *There is something cooking for sure....* *Obama meeting Saudis this week.* *Saudis met Chinese in Saudi in Jan 2016 and signed a comprehensive strategic partnership.* *Chinese will start gold trading in Yuan on Apr 19, 2016.* *Saudis delivered a message last month about US Treasuries to US.* *Saudis meeting Russians since last July.* *Saudis talking of selling Aramco shares.* *Last week Yellen met Obama secretly.* *Last week Obama ... more »
Heavenletter #5622 Whatever the Future of Your Love...,
*Heavenletter #5622 Whatever the Future of Your Love..., * April 16, 2016 God said: Love arrives in many ways. Sometimes love is just quietly noticed where it always was. Sometimes love rushes in like a thunderous herd of horses galloping out of the West. There are no limits to how love can burst in bloom. Sometimes love does seem to be nothing but a magic trick, and sometimes love blossoms and lasts forever like a burgeoning rose in your heart. Sometimes, the fact alone that you know love exists is enough to put roses in your cheeks. You yourself may not have your heart's desi... more »
7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Ecuador, 28 Dead, Tsunami Predicted
The Ring of Fire is exploding. In the last 72 hours, two devastating earthquakes slammed Japan, causing many to ask if they were a precursor to a major event. Soon after the quakes, a nearby volcano in Japan began spewing smoke. Now, a massive 7.8 magnitude quake has struck Ecuador, with 28 people already confirmed dead. CNN reports: A tsunami threat warning for many nations in the Pacific that followed the quake has been canceled, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The forecast for some coastal areas of Ecuador still calls for the possibility of tsunami waves. At least one pe... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula winds through the emission nebula and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus. Of course, the cosmic elephant's trunk is over 20 light-years long. *Click image for larger size.* This composite was recorded through narrow band filters that transmit the light from ionized hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms in the region. The resulting image highlights the bright swept-back ridges that outline pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas. Such embedded, dark, tendril... more »
Chet Raymo, “Incantations”
*“Incantations”* by Chet Raymo “The other day I took house guests to visit the early ecclesiastical site of Kilmalkedar, just over the hill from our house here in Kerry. There is a mid-12th century Romanesque church, roofless, but with some lovely interior and exterior detail. Other artifacts date back to the 6th century, including a standing stone with ogham script, a sundial that shows the canonical hours, and a large slab cross beautifully fashioned from Old Red Sandstone. I wrote about this site extensively in "Honey From Stone." My favorite thing at Kilmalkedar is a stone now ... more »
Rumi, "Gates Of Light..."
“The way the soul is with the senses and the intellect is like a creek. When desire weeds grow thick, intelligence can’t flow, and the soul creatures stay hidden. But sometimes the reasonable clarity runs so strong it sweeps the clogged stream open. No longer weeping and frustrated, your being grows as powerful as your wantings were before, more so. Laughing and satisfied, the masterful flow lets creations of the soul appear. You look down, and it’s lucid dreaming. The gates made of light swing open. You see in.” - Rumi
“The Mirroring World: We Are like Nature”
*“The Mirroring World: We Are like Nature”* by Madisyn Taylor, DailyOm “As humans our lives are completely intertwined with the cycles and rhythms of nature. Nature is a mirror, inspiring and teaching us, deepening our sense of belonging in the world. Wherever you look, you can see that our patterns and the patterns of the natural world are the same. You can find this resonance in every form, from molecules to plants and animals and to planets. We live our lives according to the same principles as the trees, the mountains, the clouds, and the birds. We begin our lives in the womb,... more »
"The Only Way..."
"If falling into desperation worked to make things better, then I would say, 'Let's all jump into despair.' But it doesn't help. The only way to truly find meaning and fulfillment is to look at the disaster, the pain, the difficulty, and know with complete certainty that good *can* come from this." - Yehuda Berg
The Daily "Near You?"
Baxley, Georgia, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon"
*"10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon"* The truth does not cease to exist when it is ignored. by Marc Chernoff "You know how you can hear something a hundred times in a hundred different ways before it finally gets through to you? The ten truths listed below fall firmly into that category – life lessons that many of us likely learned years ago, and have been reminded of ever since, but for whatever reason, haven’t fully grasped. This, my friends, is my attempt at helping all of us, myself included, “get it” and “remember it” once and for all… *1. The average human... more »
"The Night..."
"The day has been so full of fret and care, and our hearts have been so full of evil and of bitter thoughts, and the world has seemed so hard and wrong to us. Then Night, like some great loving mother, gently lays her hand upon our fevered head, and turns our little tear-stained faces up to hers, and smiles; and though she does not speak, we know what she would say, and lay our hot flushed cheek against her bosom, and the pain is gone. Sometimes, our pain is very deep and real, and we stand before her very silent, because there is no language for our pain, only a moan. Night's hear... more »
The Poet: Theodore Roethke, “The Waking”
*“The Waking”* “I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go. We think by feeling. What is there to know? I hear my being dance from ear to ear. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. Of those so close beside me, which are you? God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there, And learn by going where I have to go. Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how? The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair; I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. Great Nature has another thing to do To you and me, so take the lively ... more »
Draft Of Doha "Oil Freeze" Agreement Has Been Leaked
*TASS:* *Draft agreement in Doha stipulates output "freeze" until October* DOHA, April 17. /TASS/. A draft agreement of the oil producer countries expected to be signed in Doha on April 17 stipulates that the output will be frozen at the level of January 2016 until October, Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev said in an exclusive interview with TASS on Saturday on the eve of a major off-schedule conference of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producing nations. "The draft agreement is not large," Aliyev said. "It is as follows: the states gathering in Doha have reached a conclusion that... more »
"The Point Of It Is..."
"Will we be extinguished? What difference does it make then, the ones of us who had plans, what does it matter the work we've done? The children we've raised?" He looked pointedly at Olhado. "What will it matter then, that you have such a big happy family, if you're all erased in one instant by that… bomb?" "Not one moment of my life with my family has been wasted," said Olhado quietly. "But the point of it is to go on, isn't it? To connect with the future?" "That's one part, yes," said Olhado. "But part of the purpose of it is now, is the moment. And part of it is the web of connec... more »
EU Supports Iranian Demands For The Elimination Of U.S. Banking Restrictions
*BBC:* *EU 'turns page' in relations with Iran* The European Union and Iran have "turned a new page" in their diplomatic relations, the EU's foreign policy chief said on a visit to Tehran. Federica Mogherini said they had agreed to work on closer ties in a number of areas, including the economy, energy, education, migration and transport. The visit follows last year's historic nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. She said the results of their talks would "make a real difference" to the lives of Iranians and Europeans. *Read more* .... *More News On The EU Supporting Iranian D... more »
Venezuela Is Now A Country With No Toilet Paper, Electricity Interruptions, Declining Cable Stations, And Limited International Phone Service (Among Other Things)
*AFP:** In Venezuela, no toilet paper and now lousy phone service* Caracas (AFP) - Things in Venezuela keep finding ways to get worse. Because of acute shortages, people can't find basics like toilet paper. Now, it will be harder to make overseas calls or watch pay TV. The problem is this: the global drop in oil prices has made dollars much more scarce in Venezuela -- which is dependent almost totally on petroleum for hard currency. So local telecoms companies don't have greenbacks to pay international suppliers. President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government controls the currency ... more »
Cuban President Raul Castro Presents A Grim Report On Reforms
*WSJ:* *Castro Offers Tough Appraisal of Cuba’s Slow Progress on Economic Reforms* *Raúl Castro opens Communist Party congress with warning that country must also remain wary of U.S.* President Raúl Castro opened a four-day Communist Party congress Saturday with a tough appraisal of the government’s scarce progress in implementing critical economic reforms, and a warning that Cuba must remain wary of U.S. intentions toward the island despite the recent detente between the two countries. A month after President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Havana during which the U.S. preside... more »
Clinton Pitches Big Minimum Wage Boost While Fundraising in L.A.
[image: DEM 2016 Clinton_perr-1] LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hillary Clinton detoured Saturday from a weekend of big-dollar fundraising in California to pitch her plans to raise the federal minimum wage and refresh her criticism of rival Bernie Sanders in advance of Tuesday’s New York... more »
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London to NYC in just 3.4 hours? A roundtrip will set you back $5,000(arstechnica.com)
Also, Too, Pointless(eschatonblog.com)
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