10:35 pm MST
The ULTIMATE Harry Potter Party
When my daughter asked for a Harry Potter party, I may have freaked out. I have thrown her Angry Bird parties, a Guardians of the Galaxy party and she finally asked me for a party that I was passionate about when I had the time and energy to devote to it. It got out of control from the very first steps of planning, but the kids had an absolute blast and it was worth every moment. I am really lucky that my husband is a graphic designer, so he was able to make some awesome things for the party that you can download to! Just follow links below to download each thing. The Great Ha... more »
Disposing of an Embarrassing Situation
On 6 January, General Gerasimov. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, announced the decision by President Putin to reduce the size of the Russian expeditionary forces in Syria. The first phase of the drawdown will involve the withdrawal of the aircraft carrier *Admiral Kuznetsov* and its escorts. Colonel General Kartapolov, the commander of Russian forces in Syria said that all combat tasks assigned to the aircraft carrier group have been accomplished. President Putin made the decision on the timing of the force reduction on 29 December. However, last summer, wh... more »
Russia Is Developing Their Own Railgun
*Sputnik:* *Future Weapon and More: What Russia's Railgun Can Really Do* A team of Russian scientists has successfully tested the country's first railgun, which relies on electromagnetic forces rather than explosives or propellant. According to experts at the Institute of High Temperatures’ branch in Shatura, just outside Moscow, the railgun can fire shells at an incredibly fast speed of 3 kilometers per second, which is well enough to cut through any type of armor existing today. During the latest test, a 15 gram plastic cylinder fired by the railgun went through an aluminum plat... more »
Traveling Abroad In The Age Of Trump? Wear Dark Clothes
Roland and I just got back from 3 weeks in Thailand. People there aren’t obsessing over Trump. Thailand, which I started visiting first for holidays, then for business and now for holidays again, is a profoundly pro-American country. But pro-American culturally, not necessarily politically. Without exception, people who mentioned Trump to me, did it humorously— which is pretty much how people I met last summer in Russia also referred to him. (It was different in Azerbaijan, where he is best known for his business relationship with a notorious criminal clan, his partners in the now... more »
Did Former Gen. James Mattis, The President-Elect's Choice For Secretary Of Defense, Threaten To Quit?
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with retired Marine Gen. James Mattis following their meeting at the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar *CNN*: *Mattis, Trump team clashed over Pentagon appointment* Washington (CNN)The Trump transition team clashed with former Gen. James Mattis, the President-elect's choice for secretary of defense, over the transition selecting a secretary of the Army without his input, several sources told CNN. Mattis was angry and threatened to quit if the transition tried to ... more »
Ebrahim Raisi Is The Front Runner To Be Iran's Next 'Supreme Leader'
Ebrahim Raisi has managed to steer clear of Iran’s many factional entanglements and his political standing with Khamenei’s regime is high. Photograph: raisi.org *The Guardian:* *Ebrahim Raisi: the Iranian cleric emerging as a frontrunner for supreme leader* Many believe the custodian of the Islamic Republic’s holiest shrine is being groomed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s inner circle A 56-year-old conservative cleric relatively unknown to the outside world is quietly emerging as a frontrunner to be Iran’s next supreme leader. Ebrahim Raisi is the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, the w... more »
Dept. of State has Duty to Protect Citizens Abroad; Exxon and Boy Scouts Have Failed to Protect People – Tillerson Wrong “Corporate Culture” for Sec. of State
One of the roles of the Dept. of State is “Ensures the protection of the U.S. Government to American citizens, … Continue reading →
“Russia & Exxon Need Each Other” and “Trump is their Matchmaker” says Norwegian NGO
1989 Exxon Valdez Spill As Charles Digges of Norwegian NGO Bellona explains, in 2011 US Secretary of State nominee Rex … Continue reading →
Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires Its First Nuclear-Capable Submarine Missile
With the successful launch of Babur missile, Pakistan completed its nuclear triad. NDTV *Daily Mail:** Pakistan fires its first submarine-launched nuclear missile and boasts it now has a 'credible second strike capability' * * Pakistani missile is named Babur (Urdu for Tiger) and has range of 280 miles * It can carry a nuclear warhead and would allow them to strike back at India * Tension between Pakistan and India has been rising after clashes in Kashmir Pakistan has test-fired its first submarine-launched cruise missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and the country's m... more »
Perceptive and myopic views of our transparent future. Especially police cameras.
Let's veer from either science fiction or politics into our politically science-fictional new world of light. Starting with a reminder that my new anthology (with Stephen Potts) Chasing Shadows, is released this week by Tor Books, featuring contributions by William Gibson, James Gunn, Neal Stephenson, Vernor Vinge and many others, offering stories and insights into a future when light flows almost everywhere. Prepare yourself! This might be a good start. Steve and I will be signing copies, along with Scott Sigler, at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, on January 27! *== Flo... more »
Covert Mind Control Programs and Mass Shootings
*Danny Quest* - The government has a history of programming people to kill. The post Covert Mind Control Programs and Mass Shootings appeared first on Waking Times.
Republican Of The Year Nominee #3: Governors' Edition
*2016 In Review: America Off The Rails, Part 7* *You bet, Maine's Paulie No-Brains is a contender!* *by Noah* It’s not easy to pick the primo nominees for Republican Of The Year. For this installment of *America Off The Rails*, I’ve decided to narrow the field to just republican governors. Still, so many choices, so little time! It’s daunting. Where does one start? How does one judge? Do we go by racism? No. Too easy and too all-encompassing. It’s difficult to get far enough to be a republican candidate for anything if you haven’t at least exhibited some sort of racism to polish y... more »
Alan Waldman : TELEVISION | ‘A Place to Call Home’ is good, soapy Aussie drama series
Upper-class matriarch has prejudices that create conflict for her whole family in small-town ‘50s Oz. By Alan Waldman | The Rag Blog | January 9, 2017 [In his Rag Blog column, Alan Waldman reviews some of his favorite films and … finish reading Alan Waldman : *TELEVISION* | ‘A Place to Call Home’ is good, soapy Aussie drama series
Obama’s Legacy: No Justice For Torture
A key part of President Barack Obama's legacy includes the administration's refusal to prosecute any officials from President George W. Bush's administration for torture. The post Obama’s Legacy: No Justice For Torture appeared first on Shadowproof.
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Society of Dreams”
Liquid Mind, “Society of Dreams” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-pFW2Php5g
"A Look to the Heavens"
“A mere 46 million light-years distant, spiral galaxy NGC 2841 can be found in the northern constellation of Ursa Major. This sharp view of the gorgeous island universe shows off a striking yellow nucleus and galactic disk. Dust lanes, small, pink star-forming regions, and young blue star clusters are embedded in the patchy, tightly wound spiral arms. In contrast, many other spirals exhibit grand, sweeping arms with large star-forming regions. *Click image for larger size.* NGC 2841 has a diameter of over 150,000 light-years, even larger than our own Milky Way, but this close-up Hubb... more »
Joe Bageant, "The Ants of Gaia"
"The Ants of Gaia" by Joe Bageant "The power of population is so superior to the power of the earth to produce subsistence for man, that premature death must in some shape or other visit the human race. The vices of mankind are active and able ministers of depopulation. They are the precursors in the great army of destruction, and often finish the dreadful work themselves. But should they fail in this war of extermination, sickly seasons, epidemics, pestilence, and plague advance in terrific array, and sweep off their thousands and tens of thousands. Should success be still incompl... more »
Chet Raymo, "The Universe Becomes Conscious of Itself"
"The Universe Becomes Conscious of Itself" by Chet Raymo "By now most of us will have seen this spectacular photograph of a dusty star-birthing region of the Carina Nebula, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. I offer a slightly different cropping from what you may have seen in the media or on APOD. Let me add some context. The image shows an area of the sky that you could cover with the intersection of two crossed sewing pins held at arms length. Think about that for a minute. Hold two imaginary crossed pins up against the sky and think of the area covere... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Thanks for stopping by!
On Way to Okinawa
I am at the airport in Taipei now waiting for my flight to Naha, Okinawa where I will meet a large delegation of monks and nuns (and supporters) from the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order. Together we will do peace walks and vigils at various US military bases in Okinawa during the coming week. I've had connection with this Buddhist order since 1987 when the monks came to a major protest I organized at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Over the years I've organized 10 peace walks (five in Florida and five in Maine) and monks and nuns from Nipponzan Myohoji have led all of them. So it wa... more »
Former FBI agent asks Obama to free Leonard Peltier
MEDIA ADVISORY January 09, 2017 Contact: Peter Clark, Co-Director, International Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, (505) 217-3612 or contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info Former FBI agent asks Obama to free Native American activist Leonard Peltier In a letter dated January 3, former agent and charter member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Association (FBIAA) John C.
U.S. Special Forces Carry Out Syrian Raid Deep Inside Islamic State Territory. Multiple ISIS Fighters Killed
Members of the U.S. Army Special Forces provide training for Iraqi fighters from Hashid Shaabi at Makhmur camp in Iraq, Dec. 11, 2016. *Washington Post*: *U.S. troops carry out ground raid against ISIS in Syria* BEIRUT — U.S. Special Operations troops carried out a ground operation in eastern Syria aimed at capturing an Islamic State militant, U.S. officials said Monday. The raid took place Sunday near a small town along the Euphrates River valley, in the vicinity of the city of Deir al-Zour and deep in the heart of Islamic State territory, according to the officials and Syrian act... more »
Ed Felien : Rethinking our revolution: A proposal for a rural strategy
Tuition-free education, universal healthcare, and legalized pot are pieces of the puzzle. By Ed Felien | The Rag Blog | January 9, 2017 MINNEAPOLIS — What happened? Clinton lost Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. She almost lost Minnesota. Why? When … finish reading Ed Felien : Rethinking our revolution: A proposal for a rural strategy
James McEnteer : Why Ecuador is choosing to sabotage its top universities
Above all, it is a move by Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa to consolidate his power. By James McEnteer | The Rag Blog | January 9, 2017 QUITO, Ecuador — On December 13, Ecuador’s National Assembly passed a law compromising the … finish reading James McEnteer : Why Ecuador is choosing to sabotage its top universities
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 9, 2017
U.S. Navy destroyer fires warning shots at Iranian vessels: U.S. officials: https://t.co/RQ7tc2HBtT? pic.twitter.com/Pwzmw1sgCx — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 9, 2017 *Chris Riotta, IBTimes*: *Will Iran Attack The US? Strait Of Hormuz Intensifies As Navy Destroyer Fires Warning Shots Toward Speeding Ships* The USS Mahan, a U.S. Navy destroyer nicknamed "built to fight," fired three warning shots Sunday toward four Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a politically strategic and often disputed strait between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The incident was spurred... more »
Will Theresa May keep her promises on her "Shared Society"
KJ and Fee celebrate Theresa May's Tory u-turn, for the moment... SOURCE The shared society: Prime Minister's speech at the Charity Commission annual meeting For we know what happens when mainstream, centre-ground politics fails. People embrace the fringe – the politics of division and despair. They turn to those who offer easy answers – who claim to understand people’s problems and always
World News Briefs -- January 9, 2017 (Evening Edition)
*Reuters:** Iraq special forces advance in east Mosul, close to linking with army* Iraqi special forces made further advances against Islamic State in Mosul on Monday, pushing militants from another eastern district and edging closer to army units nearby, officers in the city said. The Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) said it was working to seize areas overlooking Mosul University in the city's northeast, after taking over a nearby district. The ground troops and a U.S.-led coalition backing them launched rockets and air strikes against the militants, who responded with mortars an... more »
Westminster's Non-Interest in Northern Ireland
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigns and the Northern Ireland Executive tumbles into chaos, again. Though I suppose it's a measure of progress given the history that it was an old-fashioned political scandal leading up to this, and not something bound up with the entrenched sectarian divide. What we have is a tawdry tale. A tale of money and the most incredible incompetence. While First Minister Arlene Foster held the enterprise portfolio, the Executive introduced the Renewable Heat Scheme, a system of subsidies to encourage the take up of renewable sources of heating. S... more »
Trump’s Trade Catastrophe?
*At the ‘Casey Daily Despatch’* *yesterday**, Bill Bonner talked about President-elect Donald Trump's apparent aversion to free trade. But as Bill explained, free trade isn't the problem… our fake money system is. Today, in this guest post he digs deeper into this serious problem…* ------------------------------ [image: Trade3]It is worse than “voodoo economics,” says former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. It is the “economic equivalent of creationism.” Wait a minute… Larry Summers is wrong about almost everything. Could he be right about this? *“Trade Cheaters”* Summers... more »
Jan. 9: The One-Liner as political programme.
Just a brief look at New Brunswick's propaganda sheet. The commentary page has a column to tell us that we don't have a climate problem. The writer says it's not possible to have a problem because it would cost too much to fix. So there. And who is this expert on the matter? A world-famed scientist? No. Even better. He's a retired executive for five international corporations. Boy! The irving press sure knows how to pick the real authorities. Among the many things this twit has not considered is the fact that climate change is happening. And it will destroy us. He is offering us a c... more »
Energy 88, Letter to ERC re petition by 3 wind companies for higher FIT
This is my letter to the ERC last month. ------------ To: re-twg@erc.gov.ph, twg-re@erc.gov.ph 28 December 2016 Hon. Jose Vicente B. Salazar Chairman Energy Regulatory Commission Pasig City Dear Chairman Salazar, In relation to the ERC invitation for public comments until December 30, 2016 of the petitions by Trans-Asia Renewable Energy Corporation (TAREC), Alternergy Wind One Corporation (AWOC), and Petrowind Energy, Inc. (PWEI) that their FIT rate be raised from P7.40/kWh to P7.93/kWh, may I send the following comments. Please say NO to their petition. Here are the reasons wh... more »
The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Mosul -- News Updates January 9, 2017
*BBC*: *Mosul battle: Iraq gaining momentum against IS* The announcement by the Iraqi military that its forces have reached the Tigris River for the first time in the battle for Mosul marks a significant moment in the 12-week campaign to recapture so-called Islamic State's (IS) last major stronghold in the country. Lieutenant General Abdal-Amir al-Lami, the Iraqi deputy chief of staff for operations, confirmed on 8 January that the Iraqi security forces (ISF) had seized the eastern end of one of the bridges linking the two sides of the city. A solid foothold seems to have been ma... more »
Beyond War
*Steve Taylor* - War seems to be natural to human beings – or at least to male human beings. The post Beyond War appeared first on Waking Times.
Don't Look To The Media To Save Us From Trumpism
I don’t want to presume that everyone remembers— or even ever knew— who John Dean is. He was Nixon’s White House lawyer and became a key witness in the Watergate trials. He’s an author (*Blind Ambition*, *Conservatives Without Conscience*, *Worse Than Watergate*, *Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches*), a columnist and a registered independent. *Blind Ambition* was made into a mini-series and Dean was played by Martin Sheen and Oliver Stone cast David Hyde Pierce in the Dean role in his 1995 film, *Nixon*. Last week, he ... more »
Professor Resigns Due to “Craziness” Over Climate Science
[image: professor-resigns-due-to-craziness-over-climate-science] Dr. Judith Curry, the former chair of the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, announced her resignation from her tenured faculty position in a January 3 post on her blog Climate Etc.
Julian Assange: It’s Not An Intelligence Report (Full Press Conference and Q&A) + Abby Martin on ODNI Report: It’s Insane!
Dandelion Salad Closet Gym Guy on Jan 9, 2017 The entire recording of Julian Assange’s press conference this morning. ‘Not an intelligence report’: WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange slams ODNI RT on Jan 9, 2017 WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange criticized the recent ODNI report describing it as ‘quite embarrassing to the reputations of the US intelligence […]
ALBUQUERQUE Water Protectors Shut Down DAPL Investor Wells Fargo
Videos by Honor the Earth: Water Protectors shut down Wells Fargo Bank in Albuquerque, in protest of investments in the Dakota Access Pipeline, now threatening the Missouri River, and the water source of millions, with an underground crude oil pipeline. Jan. 9, 2016 #BankShutdown in Albuquerque #Divest #NoDAPL #ShutDownUSBank
New Intelligence Report Fails to Prove Russia Behind DNC/Clinton Campaign Leaks
[image: new-intelligence-report-falis-to-prove-russia-behind-dnc-clinton-campaign-leaks] On Friday, the intelligence community followed up on a previous report by issuing “a declassified version of a highly classified assessment that has been provided to the President and to recipients approved by the President.” The new report — entitled “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections” — makes the same bold claims as (and offers no more proof than) the previous Joint Analysis Report (JAR) by DHS and the FBI released in late December.
Woman Quits Her Job And Now Travels The World With Her Dog
Marina Piro decided to quit her highly paid job in order to go on a road trip around the world with her gorgeous rescue dog Odie. Marina, who is originally from Italy but has lived in the north of England for the past five years, will be journeying with her pup in a Renault van, that was specially restored just for their travels, after she realised how difficult it would be to find both public transport and accommodation that met both her and her dog’s needs. ‘I realised that I really wanted to live a different life more true to my values,’ she said. ‘So I gave most of my possess... more »
#TopTen | No. 1: Why Mises “should be awarded an immediate posthumous Nobel Prize indeed, more than one”
*Last year’s most popular post here at New Zealand’s fourth-most read political blog was … a surprising one. A post from October about as far from clickbait as you could get: a noble post about an unlikely hero; a noble post. You might even say it was a post about a Nobel here, or should have been …* ------------------------------ Why Mises “should be awarded an immediate posthumous Nobel Prize indeed, more than one” Tributes by Lawrence Reed and Richard Ebeling *[image: _Mises]* *As the Nobel committee considers who it may name on Monday as this year’s recipient of the The ... more »
Syrian President Assad Ready To Discuss 'Everything' At Peace Talks
*Reuters*: *Syria truce under strain; Assad ready to discuss 'everything' at talks* A Syrian truce brokered by Russia and Turkey was under growing strain on Monday as rebels vowed to respond to government violations and President Bashar al-Assad said the army would retake an important rebel-held area near Damascus. Assad, in comments to French media, also said his government was ready to negotiate on "everything" at peace talks his Russian allies hope to convene in Kazakhstan, including his own position within the framework of the Syrian constitution. But he indicated any new co... more »
Harry Potter Sorting Hats and Printable Ties
I think my absolutely favorite part of my daughter's Harry Potter Birthday party was the sorting of the kids. I made a paper sorting hat for each child filled with either red, blue, green or yellow M&Ms. The kids picked a hat randomly and opened it up to see what house they were. After they were sorted we put a paper tie around their neck that matched their house. They kids LOVED it, it was easily the best part of the party. The hats are really easy to make and only need a few supplies! You will need: - brown construction paper - red, yellow, blue and green candies - ... more »
FBI Arrests Volkswagen Executive Involved In Emissions Scandal
The FBI arrested former Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Schmidt was in charge of emissions compliance for Volkswagen and is believed to have participated in a scheme to fake emissions levels to meet U.S. government requirements for pollution. Volkswagen cheated U.S. emission The post FBI Arrests Volkswagen Executive Involved In Emissions Scandal appeared first on Shadowproof.
VIDEO: Officers Declare Family’s Beloved Pet Deer ‘Illegal’ — Promptly Kill it In Front of Them
[image: deer]After a family nursed an injured baby deer back to health, she refused to leave. So, years later, cops showed up and killed her.
Lakota Jean Roach -- Water Protectors Asked to Urge Clemency for Peltier
Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault, wearing Peltier shirt, with Crow Nation Chairman Darrin Old Coyote at Standing Rock Water Protectors Camp in 2016. Letter and Photos by Jean Roach, Lakota Censored News Dear Water Protectors, Relatives and FriendsLet me introduce myself, my name is Jean Roach, of the Mnicoujou Lakota from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Young People Explain the Side-Effects and Consequences of Taking ADHD Meds
*Alex Pietrowski* - What do young people think about taking ADHD meds? The post Young People Explain the Side-Effects and Consequences of Taking ADHD Meds appeared first on Waking Times.
The Social Psychology of Policy Wonks Like Charles “Often-Wrong” Krauthammer
There are several reasons I could never be a political pundit. Much less one of the ilk of Charles Krauthammer, who has earned the respect of everyone, even those who do not like him very much. To be a political pundit of that grade, cast in the mold of Krauthammer, one must be an intellectual product of the eastern establishment, have a lust for analyzing baseball, and be able to take a strong ideological stance in an argument about politics, which goes beyond any normal person’s ability to win or even finish the argument because it requires real knowledge of the philosophy and h... more »
Information about deductibles!
*MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017The discussions that don't seem to bark:* In this recent post, Kevin Drum describes the state of deductibles under Obamacare. For those who care about such things, his information will be interesting. Based upon cable news air play, that will be virtually no one. Drum says the deductibles aren't as bad as conservatives like to say. Based upon official data, he says, "Only about a fifth [of Obamacare enrollees] had the horror-story $6,000+ deductibles that we hear so much about." He also offers a "guess," a guess which may well be accurate: "My guess is th... more »
When Will A Putin - Trump Meeting Take Place?
Reuters *Sputnik*:* Putin-Trump Meeting Possible Only After President-Elect's Inauguration - Kremlin* A Russia-US top-level meeting could take place only after US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, due January 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told RIA Novosti that a possible meeting between the Russian and US leaders requires thorough preparation. "Not earlier than the president-elect takes office. At least Trump should become president of the United States. Plans will be made after that,... more »
Moscow Reacts To The Recent U.S. Intelligence ODNI Report That Claims Russia Tried To Influence The U.S. Election
U.S.Director of National Intelligence James Clapper,Defense Under secretary for Intelligence Marcel Lettre and National Security Agency Director U.S.Navy Admiral Michael Rogers testify before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on foreign cyber threats, in Washington, January 5,2017. © Reuters *RT*: *‘Witch hunt’: Kremlin slams ODNI report claiming Russia hacked US elections* Moscow has slammed the recent ODNI report which claims Russia hacked the US elections. The Kremlin spokesman said it was “reminiscent of a witch hunt,” adding that Moscow is “tired” of “amateurish” US h... more »
London Students Push to Drop White Philosophers from Curriculum
[image: london-students-push-to-drop-white-philosophers-from-curriculum] Students at the world-renowned University of London School of Oriental and African Studies are demanding that white philosophers be eliminated from the course curriculum.
BREAKING: US Navy ‘Fires Warning Shots’ at Iranian Vessels in Strait of Hormuz
[image: navy]U.S. officials say a Navy ship fired warning shots at four Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Wikileaks Responds To U.S. Intelligence Report On Russia Hacking
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / DPA / Global Look Press *ABC News Online*: *US election Russian hacking report dismissed as 'press release' by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange* WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has denounced last week's US intelligence report on Russian hacking, calling it a politically motivated "press release" that provided no evidence that Russian actors gave the organisation hacked material. In an online news conference, Mr Assange maintained that the report was vague and that US intelligence officials should be embarrassed by the 25-page, declassified document. "T... more »
CawRANT Events #39
*CawRANT Events #39* Good Morning everybody! It's the second Monday of January and time for my first Caw*RANT *Events of the New Year 2017. I haven't done one of these features for some time now...since November 13, 2016. For new readers, Caw*RANT *Events is a feature I try to offer up every second Monday...but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, for whatever reason. I use the feature to *RANT *about issues I haven't enough material to devote a whole post to; issues I've covered ad nauseam and don't want to devote a whole post to; and favourite topics like birds...more ab... more »
NO, MERYL STREEP IS NOT THE REASON JEFF SESSIONS WILL BE APPROVED
BooMan, I'm with you on most things, but not this: I have no problem with Meryl Streep having her say about what she thinks of our incoming president. I think it’s fine that screenwriters for the show *Blackish* decided to use their platform to make an anti-Trump statement, and I see no problem with promoting the show during NFL playoff games. However, when I go look at today’s Memeorandum, I notice that you have to scroll quite a way down the page before you see any articles dedicated to Trump’s nominees to serve in his cabinet. All anyone seems to be talking about are these storie... more »
Is Liberal Democracy an Endangered Species?
[image: is-liberal-democracy-an-endangered-species] Yet why does America's great export, liberal democracy, which appeared to be the future of the West if not of mankind at the Cold War's end, now appear to be a church with a shrinking congregation?
Trump Meets With Ma: One Million U.S. Jobs Over Five Years?
[image: trump-meets-with-ma-one-million-us-jobs-over-five-years] Trump continues to press for new American jobs, this time with the head of Alibaba, a huge online sales company.
“An example for all authors to uphold:” Researcher logs 5 corrections
A scientist in Ireland has corrected five of his papers in a single journal dating back more than a decade, after image-related problems were brought to his attention. Four of the newly corrected papers have a common last and corresponding author: Luke O’Neill of Trinity College Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. O’Neill is also a […] The post “An example for all authors to uphold:” Researcher logs 5 corrections appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Harrabin Gets It Wrong Again!
By Paul Homewood It has not been a very auspicious start to the year for Roger Harrabin. First he is widely mocked for his naive radio broadcast about Donald Trump. Then he is caught out falsely claiming that India is aiming for 40% of its energy from renewables by 2030. He should, of […]
Should journalists call a lie a lie?
*MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017Inquiring minds have asked:* Margaret Sullivan made a "modest proposal" in today's Washington Post. For reasons you can check for yourself, she suggested that journalists should stop using the term "fake news." Sullivan also made a suggestion. On its face, her suggestion seems to make obvious sense. In our view, though, her suggestion isn't especially smart: SULLIVAN (1/9/17): So, here’s a modest proposal for the truth-based community. Let’s get out the hook and pull [the term "fake news"] off stage. Yes: Simply stop using it. *Instead, call a lie a li... more »
Has The White House Been 'Low-Balling' The Total Amount Of Money Paid To Iran Since 2013?
*Washington Free Beacon:* *Iran: U.S. Surrendered More Than $10 Billion in Gold, Cash, Assets* *Obama admin lowballs cost of dealing with Iran* The Obama administration has paid Iran more than $10 billion in gold, cash, and other assets since 2013, according to Iranian officials, who disclosed that the White House has been intentionally deflating the total amount paid to the Islamic Republic. Senior Iranian officials late last week confirmed reports that the total amount of money paid to Iran over the past four years is in excess of $10 billion, a figure that runs counter to offi... more »
"You Are All Stardust..."
"Every atom in your body came from a star that exploded. And, the atoms in your left hand probably came from a different star than your right hand. It really is the most poetic thing I know about physics: You are all stardust. You couldn't be here if stars hadn't exploded, because the elements- the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, iron, all the things that matter for evolution and for life- weren't created at the beginning of time. They were created in the nuclear furnaces of stars, and the only way for them to get into your body is if those stars were kind enough to explode. The stars die... more »
“Try to Imagine Your Own Funeral…”
*“Try to Imagine Your Own Funeral…”* by Bill Bonner ‘210 people were shot in America on the first day of 2017,’ reads a headline on news website Vox. Baltimore did its part… "Shortly after midnight in Ellicott City [a Baltimore suburb], Maryland, a 15-year-old boy broke into the house of a 16-year-old girl and shot her and her 52-year-old mother, killing the girl and injuring the mother. The victims had just returned home from a New Year’s party with relatives." Unreported in the national statistics, one of our Baltimore offices was robbed on New Year’s Day…and an employee was held... more »
"How It Really Is"
Oh, stick around, the fun's just beginning...
Will Obama’s ‘Good War’ in Afghanistan Continue?
[image: will-obama-s-good-war-in-afghanistan-continue] Last week, as the mainstream media continued to obsess over the CIA’s evidence-free claim that the Russians hacked the presidential election, President Obama quietly sent 300 US Marines back into Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.
Man Furious After Cops Issue Him Ticket for Warming Up His Car in His Own Driveway
[image: car]Across the 'land of the free', police are extorting innocent people for everyday actions such as warming up your car in your own driveway.
Close Calls Between U.S. And Russian Jets Over Syria
A Russian Su-35 Flanker fighter shadows U.S. F-15s as they refuel over Syria in September. The photo, taken by a camera on one of the American planes, shows the Russian pilot far closer than the three-mile safety limit set in a 2015 U.S.-Russian agreement. PHOTO: U.S. AIR FORCE *Wall Street Journal:* *U.S. Pilots See Close Calls With Russian Jets Over Syria* As planes share crowded airspace fighting parallel wars, militaries struggle to minimize threat of an accident One night this past fall, a U.S. radar plane flying a routine pattern over Syria picked up a signal from an incomin... more »
U.S. Intelligence Paint As Growing Risk Of Conflicts Between And Within Nations For The Next Five Years
*Reuters:* *U.S. intelligence study warns of growing conflict risk* The risk of conflicts between and within nations will increase over the next five years to levels not seen since the Cold War as global growth slows, the post-World War Two order erodes and anti-globalization fuels nationalism, said a U.S. intelligence report released on Monday. "These trends will converge at an unprecedented pace to make governing and cooperation harder and to change the nature of power – fundamentally altering the global landscape," said "Global Trends: Paradox of Progress," the sixth in a series... more »
Native Americans fight Texas pipeline using 'same model as Standing Rock'
The Two Rivers camp, protesting the Trans-Pecos pipeline, is the latest sign that the Standing Rock movement is inspiring indigenous-led activism across the US Indigenous activists have set up camps in the Texas desert to fight a pipeline project there, the latest sign that the Standing Rock water protector movement is inspiring Native American-led environmental protests across the US. The Two Rivers camp, located south of Marfa near the border, has attracted dozens of demonstrators in its first week to protest the Trans-Pecos pipeline, a 148-mile project on track to transport fr... more »
Predicting 2017: The Rise of Synthetic Intelligence
The transition from one year to the next is always a little uncertain – an uneasy blend of anxiety and optimism, it’s also a time of retrospection, introspection, and even a little tentative prognostication. And since the latter is our stock-in-trade at Futurism, we believe now is the perfect time to look ahead at what […] The post Predicting 2017: The Rise of Synthetic Intelligence appeared first on Futurism.
Haitian who Overthrew Democratically Elected President Aristide and who Backed current President Elect of Haiti FINALLY Arrested for International Narcotics and Money Laundering Conspiracy
Guy Philippe (born February 29, 1968) led the 2004, US, Canadian, and French backed coup d’état that ousted Haiti’s democratically … Continue reading →
Assange Criticizes U.S. Effort To Conflate WikiLeaks Publications With Russian Hacking
Wikileaks urges skepticism toward assertion that publications of DNC and Hillary Clinton campaign emails were connected to alleged Russian hacking. The post Assange Criticizes U.S. Effort To Conflate WikiLeaks Publications With Russian Hacking appeared first on Shadowproof.
WATCH: Protesters in Mexico Kick Feds Out of Town, Storm Buildings As Govt Raises Gas Price
[image: gas]Mainstream media in the US is virtually silent as Mexico is on the verge of full blown revolution over gas price increase.
Xavier Becerra, Radical Pick for California AG, Likely a Shoo-in
[image: xavier-becerra-radical-pick-for-california-ag-likely-a-shoo-in] With his radical background with communist groups and his far-left voting record, California Governor Brown's pick for attorney general, Xavier Becerra, should be a shoo-in.
Best Buy National Repair Techs Routinely Search Customer Devices, Act as "Paid Informers" for FBI
*The Stasi was the "secret police" of communist East Germany. In 1989, about 1% of the population was used as "informers" (source).* *by Gaius Publius* Did you know that Best Buy's central computer repair facility — their so-called "Geek Squad" — contains at least three employees who are also regular informers for the FBI? And that these employees routinely search through computers and other devices that Best Buy customers send in for repair? And when they find something they think the FBI would be interested in, they turn over the information for rewards of up to $500? That's a s... more »
Breaking
#Breaking: Meryl Streep denounced as "Clinton flunky" by Putin flunky. pic.twitter.com/Hr2fZbtCjP — BasementDweller Zero (@jurassicpork59) January 9, 2017
As Americans Freaked Over Russian Fake News, FBI Quietly Released New Clinton Investigation Docs
[image: clinton]As hysteria spreads across the US about the non-existent Russian threat, the FBI quietly released secret documents pertaining to the Clinton investigation.
Who cares what Meryl Streep said?...
*let me repeat that. * Who the hell cares what that women had to say to a bunch of poorly dressed, immoral nobody's patting themselves on the back for being so forward thinking? *Adrienne the Swamp Creature* *Guess what? Some Oregon libtard just called me a swamp creature. I'm honored.* Even MORE Video Evidence Trump Did Not Mock Reporter’s Disability
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*From Jenna Orkin *'It wasn't random': The FBI is offering $20,000 for information on the shooting of a US consular official in Mexico Czech government tells its citizens how to fight terrorists: Shoot them yourselves Society Could Collapse In A Decade, Predicts Math Historian Collapse of Atlantic Ocean Current Could Trigger Icy Apocalypse, Researchers Warn "We Regret The Error": CNN Apologizes To Assange For Pedophilia Accusation, Issues Retraction * Sean Hannity Interviews Assange *The new 12-sided £1 coin will be the most secure coin in the world Daniel Ellsberg hopes Tr... more »
Water Protectors Lock Down, Shut Down, Kelcy Warren's Texas Pipeline
By Greg Harman Deceleration News Water protectors from across Turtle Island just shut down Kelcy Warren's Trans-Pecos Pipeline in Presidio County, Texas. Two locked themselves down beneath excavator; two arrests so far. The camps are alive in Far West Texas. Videos to come via Deceleration . #waterislife Two Rivers Camp - Stop Trans Pecos Pipeline Society of
Kerry: We Watched ISIS Grow; Hacking Intel Report a “Dud”; Syrian Rebels Target Water & Energy
Leaked audio reveals John Kerry admitting US watched ISIS grow; intel chiefs' report on alleged Russian hacking was a "dud;" and more in our global news roundup... The post Kerry: We Watched ISIS Grow; Hacking Intel Report a “Dud”; Syrian Rebels Target Water & Energy appeared first on Shadowproof.
Dear Peer Reviewer: Could you also replicate the experiments? Thanks
As if peer reviewers weren’t overburdened enough, imagine if journals asked them to also independently replicate the experiments they were reviewing? True, replication is a big problem — and always has been. At the November 2016 SpotOn conference in London, UK historian Noah Moxham of the University of St Andrews in Scotland mentioned that, in the past, some peer […] The post Dear Peer Reviewer: Could you also replicate the experiments? Thanks appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Proposed Florida Concealed-carry Bill Could Have Saved Lives
[image: proposed-florida-concealed-carry-bill-could-have-saved-lives] After Fridays' shooting at the Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida State Representative Jake Raburn said "there could have been the potential for people to protect themselves in that situation” if a bill he filed had already been law.
Kind Man Rescues Frozen Bird With His Warm Breath
Nelson Wilson noticed that a house finch was frozen onto a steel fence and used his warm breath to free it A kind man named Nelson Wilson was feeding horses when he saw a house finch frozen onto a steel fence. “On New Year’s morning I noticed a solitary sparrow perched upon the steel fence near the water tank. It is not uncommon for birds to drink from the heated tank. Apparently this unfortunate bird had gotten its feet wet and, while making its exit, had become frozen to the fence in the prevailing near zero Idaho temperatures,” Wilson wrote. “First, I attempted to warm the ... more »
"7 Harsh Realities Of Life Millennials Need To Understand”
*"7 Harsh Realities Of Life Millennials Need To Understand”* by The Libertarian Republic "Millennials. They may not yet be the present, but they’re certainly the future. These young, uninitiated minds will someday soon become our politicians, doctors, scientists, chefs, television producers, fashion designers, manufacturers, and, one would hope, the new proponents of liberty. But are they ready for it? Time after time, particularly on college campuses, millennials have proven to be little more than entitled, spoiled, anti-intellectual brats who place far too much emphasis on feeli... more »
"A Secure Foundation..."
“Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.” – Daniel Kahneman, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” These links might remedy that ignorance... *The How and Why*: "Financial Crisis, Sleepy Dull Masses & Reality Wake-Up Call" *The Resulting What:* "Biased 2017 Forecasts- Debt, Housing and Stock Market (1/2)" "Biased 2017 Forecasts- Civic Decay and Global Disorder (2/2)" Any questions? There *will* be a test on this material, for all of us, soon enough...
"It’s A Retail Apocalypse: Sears, Macy’s And The Limited Are All Closing Stores"
*"It’s A Retail Apocalypse: * *Sears, Macy’s And The Limited Are All Closing Stores"* By Michael Snyder "It has only been two weeks since Christmas, and already we are witnessing a stunning bloodbath of store closings. Macy’s shocked the retail industry by announcing that they will be closing about 100 stores. The downward spiral of Sears hit another landmark when it was announced that another 150 Sears and Kmart stores would be shutting down. And we have just learned that The Limited is immediately closing all stores nationwide. If the U.S. economy is doing just fine, then why are ... more »
Ingen Champagne i dag...
Nå er jeg sliten. Veldig sliten. Dagene går i ett, og tårene sitter alt for løst. Det er egentlig masse hyggelig om dagen; jeg hadde bursdag på lørdag (den ble feiret med å skrive avhandling), og i dag har Anders og jeg vært sammen i to år (det blir feiret med å skrive avhandling). Det blir ikke Champagne i dag, men jeg har fremdeles et lite håp om i morgen...det er uansett begrenset hvor lenge man psykisk orker å være i innspurtsfase, for det tærer på - både meg selv og de (eller den, les: Anders) rundt meg. Heldigis så er det ikke all verden igjen, og jeg må bare satste alt og si a... more »
Media Evil: CBS Portrays White Chicago Torture Victim as Black Teen Assaulted by Whites
[image: media-evil-cbs-portrays-white-chicago-torture-victim-as-black-teen-assaulted-by-whites] In what one commentator called “the single most despicable act of media bias I have ever encountered,” a CBS radio report on the recent Chicago kidnapping/torture incident left listeners with the impression that the victim was a handicapped black teenager — tortured by four white Trump supporters.
WATCH: Cops Raid Charity, Arrest 7 Volunteers for Feeding the Homeless
[image: food]Unfortunately, in the land of the free, handing out food to the homeless has become a revolutionary act and will get you kidnapped and caged.
Mosul Campaign Day 84, Jan 8, 2017
The Iraqi Forces (ISF) continued to advance in east Mosul finally reaching the Tigris River, which bisects the city. The Golden Division attacked the Sukarand Baladiyat neighborhoods in the northeast, and the Sumerand Dumiz areas in the southeast by the 9th Division, Federal Police and Rapid Reaction forces. The ISF was still applying pressure on Kindiin the north, and Wahda, Dumizand Palestine in the south as well. By the end of the day Sadiq, Baladiyat, and Sukar were unofficially declared freed, the residential district of Hadbaa was cleared, and the Tigris River in the south a... more »
INTRODUCING THE GRETA: Exciting new era begins!
*MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017Part 1—Major star vouches for car:* This evening, at 6 PM Eastern, an exciting new era begins on The One True Liberal Channel. Greta Van Susteren debuts tonight as a nightly MSNBC host. She brings her program, On the Record, to The One True Channel, name unchanged, after fourteen years' service at Fox. What will this new program be like? We have no idea. But last Thursday night, a certain unnamed cable star was vouching rather aggressively for Van Susteren's greatness. This big "corporate liberal" cable news star was aggressively selling the car. To watch ... more »
Change from Kelly to Carlson May Give Fox Viewers a New Perspective
[image: change-from-kelly-to-carlson-may-give-fox-viewers-a-new-perspective] The replacement of Megyn Kelly with Tucker Carlson at Fox News Channel (FNC), known for its generally neoconservative political slant, may signal a shift in that image.
The New York Times: The American Dream Is Slipping Away
[image: the-new-york-times-the-american-dream-is-slipping-away] The *New York Times* correctly noted that the American Dream remains intact, but it's getting ragged around the edges. And the* Times* fails to address one of the main reasons why.
Popular ‘God’ Facebook Page Banned for Post About US Spending Too Much on War
[image: god]In an act of astonishing irony, Facebook has suspended the satirical account 'God' — because he dared criticize US military spending.
Radioactive Waste in Japan Proposed as Construction Material
Japan faces unprecedented volumes of radioactive nuclear waste produced by the Fukushima disaster with no storage solution. The waste is often stored in plastic bags that are piled up high, as illustrated in the photo that accompanies this news story from the Mainichi about the Environment Minister's plan to use radioactive waste in construction projects: Nuclear watchdog questions Environment Ministry's plan to reuse radioactive soil. The Mainichi, January 9, 2017 (Mainichi Japan) http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170109/p2a/00m/0na/012000c The Nuclear Regulation Authority (N... more »
World News Briefs -- January 9, 2017
*ABC News Online*: *President Bashar al-Assad ready to negotiate 'everything', vows to take back 'every inch' of Syria* Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his Government is ready to negotiate on "everything" in proposed peace talks in Kazakhstan, but it was not yet clear who would represent the opposition and no date had been set. Mr Assad also said a ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia, his most powerful ally, was being violated and the army would recapture all of Syria, including a rebel-held area near Damascus where a vital water supply had been bombed out of service... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 9, 2017
Members of Iran's revolutionary guard look at a surface to surface missile which is launched during a war game near the city of Qom, about 120 km (75 miles) south of Tehran June 28, 2011. REUTERS/Mehr News Agency/Rauf Mohseni *Reuters:* *Iran to expand military spending, develop missiles* Iranian lawmakers approved plans on Monday to expand military spending to five percent of the budget, including developing the country's long-range missile program which U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to halt. The vote is a boost to Iran's military establishment – the regular army, ... more »
Suicide Bomb Attack Kills Ten Police Officers In Sinai
An Egyptian military vehicle is seen on the highway in northern Sinai, Egypt, in this May 25, 2015 (Photo: Reuters) *AFP:* *Truck bomb kills 9 police in Egypt’s Sinai* A truck bomb attack on an Egyptian security checkpoint in the Sinai Peninsula killed at least nine policemen on Monday, officials and state media said. Police officials said a suicide bomber rammed a truck packed with explosives into the checkpoint in the north Sinai city of El-Arish and gunmen then opened fire on the security post. ISIS’s Egyptian branch in the Sinai Peninsula has carried out several such attacks ... more »
Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. - Sean McElwee offers his take on the crucial failings which have led the U.S. Democrats to their current nadir in which principles and values have been discarded in the pursuit of power they've failed to secure. - Mike Konczal and Marshall Steinbaum highlight the importance of effective government to counterbalance corporate control: If there is one thing that both the Depression and the Great Recession taught us about how the economy works, it is that corporate power is a threat to public well-being—that it extracts its own rents. The eco... more »
Kaepernick Sticks to $1mn Donation Pledge — Sends $50K to Standing Rock Health Clinic
[image: kaepernick]Keeping his Million Dollar Pledge, quarterback Colin Kaepernick just donated $50,000 to the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic Partnership at Standing Rock.
O'Leary
Kevin O'Leary is muttering about entering the Conservative leadership race. Lisa Raitt is trying to head him off at the pass. She'll do us all a favour if she succeeds. Michael Harris writes: Bottom line? O’Leary will flounder in the Smart Tank because he knows squat about Canada and is about as homegrown as a banana. He is a de facto American trying to rewrite the history of the War of 1812. Instead of getting even for the burning of Washington, O’Leary merely wants to muck out Ottawa with a spatula, which is a strange implement of choice for a dragon, right? A tongue of flame,... more »
Pentagon: US Navy Ship Fires Warning Shots At Four Iranian Boats In The Strait Of Hormuz
© Aaron Chase / U.S. Navy / Reuters *Reuters*: *U.S. Navy destroyer fires warning shots at Iranian vessels - U.S. officials* A U.S. Navy destroyer fired three warning shots towards four of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels on Sunday after they closed in at a high rate of speed in the Strait of Hormuz, two U.S. defence officials told Reuters on Monday. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Mahan established radio communication with the boats but they did not respond to requests to slow down and instead continued asking the Mahan question... more »
The Florida Democratic Party-- Rotted
The Democratic Party is corroding from the inside— rotten at its core. Will it survive the corporatist excesses of the Clinton era as a vehicle for the aspirations of America’s working families? Can a party that celebrates "leaders" like Rahm Emanuel, Debbie Wassermann Schultz, Steny Hoyer, Chuck Schumer and Joe Crowley be a home for real people? Writing last week about the *Florida* Democratic Party, our old friend Kartik Krishnaiyer pointed out that the party “has long shared the internal behavior of collapsing businesses, declining empires or nation-states as well as losing spor... more »
Can Russia Afford To Fight In Syria?
Technicians at Syria's Hmeimim airport where Russian aircraft are deployed. © Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti *Russ Read, Daily Caller:** Russia Wants Out Of Syria Because It Can’t Afford To Fight* Russia recently helped facilitate the surrender of Aleppo to its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but its motives may be financial, as opposed to virtuous. Russia’s intervention in Syria is estimated to cost approximately $4 million per day, according to data collected by IHS Jane’s. Russian military forces began bombing Syrian targets around Sept. 30. Since the beginning of it... more »
Can China's Aircraft Carrier Take On The U.S. Navy?
*Dave Majumdar, National Interest*: *Could China's Aircraft Carrier Take on America's Navy?* China’s sole carrier Liaoning is operating in the South China Sea with a full-complement of aircraft along with five escorting vessels for the first time this week. The vessels have been conducting exercises and testing weaponry at sea in a display of Beijing’s growing military might—causing concern amongst China’s neighbors. “The formation, which is on a ‘cross-sea area’ training exercise, involved J-15 fighter jets, as well as several ship-borne helicopters,” the Chinese Defense Ministr... more »
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*Higher education at the precipice* A straight-A student at Kansas State University has boldly proclaimed that the college emperor has no clothes and bidden a public farewell to what he calls a “scam.” This could be a sign of what lies ahead for the left-wing propagandists who have taken over our colleges and universities. An entirely predictable cataclysm awaits the American higher education sector. Having jacked up their prices at roughly triple the rate of inflation for at least five decades, college education is no longer affordable without crippling debt for all but the rich...more »
Intelligence report on "Russian hacking" is embarrassing
I followed the claims that Putin and his evil Russia have somehow lost the elections for Hillary Clinton. Lots of crackpots were spreading these news but days ago, we got the opportunity to read the 25-page U.S. intelligence report about the "Russian hacking", Background to “Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections”: The Analytic Process and Cyber Incident Attribution (PDF, NYT browser) and I have quick read it, too. The U.S. intelligence community is receiving some $80 billion a year, a staggering amount, and this community has basically signed under this... more »
Sniff code
______________________________________________________________ Sorry. Being a bit silly there (Hint: Spoof image) but Brendan O’Neill has written a splendid piece in ‘Jewish Nose News’ *"If slagging off MPs over drinks is a sinister plot, I’ve been behind hundreds"* "Israel certainly didn’t plan anything, so talk of “Israel’s plot” is utterly incorrect — a libel, one might say. This wasn’t a plot; it was an adviser showing off over booze. Watch the video. It’s bravado, banter. If it’s a sinister plot to slag off MPs over drinks, then I’ve been behind h... more »
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*Warming causes cooling -- again* *If warming causes cooling, global warming is an unfalsifiable theory. It is just a religion. But that fazes no Warmist. The report below is an old chestnut. It pops up every few years. Sometimes they claim that the Gulf Stream has already slowed down but that soon gets knocked on the head. In the latest iteration below, the author plays it safe. He makes his predictions for 300 years in the future. No need for us to worry, then. It's all just modelling anyway. You can get anything you want out of modelling -- particularly if you are as c... more »
Pueblo U.S. Veteran Brandee Paisano: Why I, a veteran, joined the fight at Standing Rock
*'I bled in Iraq and you're going to threaten to shoot me on a bridge in North Dakota?' Laguna Pueblo U.S. Veteran Brandee Paisano* Veterans here say there are a number of reasons drawing them in, including standing up for Indigenous people, environmentalism and even seeing an opportunity to put specialized survival skills to use. Brandee Paisano, for one, chokes up when she describes why she is here. She's an Indigenous U.S. navy veteran from the Laguna Pueblo tribe in New Mexico, who was raised by a single father who did two tours in Vietnam. "I signed up to serve my country and... more »
THE NEXT LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD WAS UP AFTER MIDNIGHT TALKING TO A REPORTER ABOUT AN ENTERTAINER'S SPEECH
A lot of people are talking about Meryl Streep's speech at last night's Golden Globe Awards, and a lot of people are talking about Donald Trump's response to that speech -- but I want to make sure that you notice when and how Trump responded, according to *The New York Times*: President-elect Donald J. Trump dismissed Meryl Streep as “a Hillary lover” *early Monday morning* after the actress, in a speech at the Golden Globes award ceremony, denounced him as a bully who disrespected and humiliated others. Mr. Trump, in a brief telephone interview, said he had not seen Ms. Streep’s re... more »
A little more Soft Boycott
I want to return to the soft boycott theme because I think there’s a bit more to it. Stephen Pollard gives a legitimate and very powerful example of the BBC ‘soft-boycotting’ Israel. To recap. The Today Programme made a suitably big deal about a “truly transformative” medical breakthrough on treatment for prostate cancer, leaving its Israeli origins conspicuously absent from the report. This does look deliberate. One might say the BBC is suffering from *prostrate* cancer. (See what I did there?) The BBC won’t risk offending the sensibilities of listeners who might be offended by an ... more »
Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Daniel Neides' Smart Recommendations Create Backlash
NOTE: This story is from The Cleveland Clinic. One of the only allopathic doctors to ever look seriously into why my 3 daughters have autism is at The Cleveland Clinic (many of you know Dr. Marvin Natowicz.) The Clinic was...
Disappointing composition of top-cited 2016 HEP papers
Stephen Hawking celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday, congratulations! Lots of other websites remind you of the basic facts. He's well-known to the physicists primarily for the Hawking radiation of black holes and related insights about black hole thermodynamics; but also for his and Penrose's singularity theorems and other things. He's also revolutionized the popular physics book market. As Hawking mentioned, he has sold more books about physics than Madonna has about sex. The experimental counterpart of this statement isn't quite true. We have observed fewer evaporating black ho... more »
San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick Donates $50,000 to Standing Rock Health Clinic
Half of the funds will pay the salaries of the doctors and nurses at the medical clinic at Standing Rock. Following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest last year standing against the national anthem in the pursuit of racial justice, the football player also pledged to donate US$1,000,000 to various social justice causes over the course of 10 months. Kaepernick announced the month of December’s donations Friday, with the largest portion — US$50,000 — donated to the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic Partnership at the Standing Rock camp, set up in resistance to the con... more »
Cults, Crazies and the Climate
Paris Climate Conference?I believe that the climate changes. We used to call it the weather. Two years ago it was called global warming but because that theory crashed on the rocks of evidence, they changed it to climate change and it has become a weather- cult. (more here - h/t John D.) The "climate change political cult" is largely funded by the United States. And there are about to be a lot of people out of work. There will be no more ratholing of money to the UN and it's shiftless membership of dysfunctional bureaucratic parasites. The corrupt, elite, mainstream media would b... more »
2016 Isn’t to Blame for Deaths, Aging Is.
The year 2016 has been rife with unexpected deaths by some of our most beloved celebrities. Whether it’s Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, comedian Ricky Harris, or pop star George Michael, there has been no shortage of death this year that has left our hearts aching. Many (including myself) have turned this into a meme of sorts, blaming these deaths on the year 2016 itself. http://ieet.org/archive/children-704450_960_720.jpg
The Science of Brain Health and Cognitive Decline
There are two major forms of learning: implicit or explicit or declarative and non-declarative. The simple form of learning, which I studied in Aplysia, which holds true for all invertebrate animals, is learning of perceptual and motor skills. More complex learning involves the hippocampus requires conches participation and it involves learning about people, places and objects….
Newly Formed Crop Circle In the UK Amazes Researchers
This one is clearly a beauty. As i have posted in the past, these images are plausibly produce by humans test firing microwave laser cannons using computers to provide the targeting pattern. The thirty some year history nicely tracks our real wold computer capacity. Add in that we also know that we are using gravity regulated large craft since around 1980 and we have the actual firing and power platform as well. The whole thing is no mystery at all. In the meantime the majority of uninformed scientists continue to dismiss the phenomena as hoaxer produced. A mere on you knees... more »
Secrecy and Mysteries Challenge the Official History of Antarctica
We have several narritives out there that are well written and convincingly described but come up short in terms of technological interfacing with time and place. One of these is the Antarctic narrative and another is the reptilian narrative. Both imply a powerful communication with existing human power and that is where it ends. No convincing whistle blowers to help us along. The German tale was somewhat supported by a 1939 expedition that essentially had to be a good look - see. This immediately became irrelevant with the outbreak of war later in the year. What all the na... more »
Miniature Pottery of Northwest Florida
Except that these small containers were not mixed with larger items and even a pygmy needs larger containers for larger groups to share. It is possible though that the peoples moved often and did not wish to have large items. Thus a drinking mug can do it all. Miniaturization is weight reduction. Yet clay cups are so useful that they will be brought along. Two items are also inconvenient as they will bang together and break. Otherwise these are all usable as personal drinking vessels. . *THE MYSTERIOUS MINIATURE POTTERY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA * *Posted by Richard T... more »
Corey Feldman Exposes Hollywood Pedophilia
This happens to be another environment in which enabling is possible and defense is also easy. That it is very much in place should then be no surprise. Thus we go from a suspicion of excessive sexual opportunity to a likelihood of direct sexual exploitation. There are actually a limited number of potential venues for those driven by unhappy sexual needs that society generally does not accept. We all know of the institutional horrors that are now publicized. Extending that potentially into all institutions is a reasonable expectation that demands careful investig... more »
How To Defeat Facial Recognition Software
An image of a Hyperface pattern, specifically created to contain thousands of facial recognition hits. Photograph: Adam Harvey *The Guardian*: *Anti-surveillance clothing aims to hide wearers from facial recognition* *Hyperface project involves printing patterns on to clothing or textiles that computers interpret as a face, in fightback against intrusive technology* The use of facial recognition software for commercial purposes is becoming more common, but, as Amazon scans faces in its physical shop and Facebook searches photos of users to add tags to, those concerned about their ... more »
The Golden Age of Israeli Science per Biased BBC
This Biased BBC article http://biasedbbc.org/blog/2017/01/08/the-golden-age-of-israeli-science/ is well worth reading, here's a very quotable section: 'Odd how science done by Muslims [though in fact many scientists and scholars were atheists/Christian or Jewish] is 'Muslim' and yet terrorism done by Muslims is not 'Muslim'.'
These U.S. Soldiers Commute To Work - And To War - Each Day.
Drone operators at Holloman Air Force Base in the southwestern state of New Mexico: Modern warfare is as invisible as a thought, deprived of its meaning by distance. Gilles Mingasson/ DER SPIEGEL *BBC*: *The US Air Force's commuter drone warriors* In the past, soldiers went off to war and left their families behind. But drone pilots commute to work - and to war - each day. Vin Ray was given rare access to the only US Air Force base devoted entirely to flying drones, where he discovered the pilots' strange double life. If you're a drone pilot, there's a strong possibility you live i... more »
Quote of the Day: On regulation …
*“Regulation. n. Mandating all market participants to use the same business model as the large incumbents who lobbied for it.”* ~ Keith Weiner . Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with attribution.
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