11:45 pm MDT
“Analysts” Say that Russia May Be Helping Catalonia Secessionists But the “Analysts” Miss Important Points
The “analysts” have caught up to what this blog said over a week ago but they miss important points: The … Continue reading →
Picture Of The Day
A Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber and missile carrier during in-flight refueling while on its mission to strike terrorist facilities in Syria with KhA-101 cruise missiles on September 26, 2017. © Sputnik/ Press service of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *This Week in Pictures (September 23-29)* (Sputnik)
Nuclear Organization Maps Out The Fallout From A North Korean Nuclear Explosion Over The Pacific Ocean
In response to inquiries: Rough simulation (Sept15-29) of #radio-isotope cloud from hypothetical atmospheric burst over Pacific: #CTBT #IMS pic.twitter.com/361ZBkoUy7 — Lassina Zerbo (@SinaZerbo) September 28, 2017 *Daily Mail:* *How a huge radioactive cloud could spread towards Asia and the US if North Korea carries out a nuclear explosion over the Pacific Ocean* * Graphic shows possible spread of 'atmospheric burst' from North Korean nuke * It reveals path of potential 'radio-isotope cloud' from a blast in the Pacific Ocean * Simulation released by the Comprehensive Nuclear Tes... more »
Russia In Secret Talks With North Korea
Covert mission: Members of the North Korean delegation leave after the talks at the Russian foreign ministry venue in Moscow on Friday *Daily Mail:* *Russia is ready to work together with North Korea to find a 'peaceful resolution' to nuclear missile crisis, Moscow says* * Russian and North Korean representatives met in Moscow on Friday * Moscow said it had made it clear to Pyongyang that it is ready to mediate * Foreign Ministry said it wants to find 'peaceful' solution to nuclear missile crisis Moscow is prepared to work with Pyongyang to try to find a peaceful resolution to the N... more »
U.S. Air Strikes In Libya Were Conducted Under President Trump's New Rules That Permit The Military To Conduct Lethal Operations Outside Of A Designated War Zone
*Paul D. Shinkman, US News and World Report*:* In Libya Strike, Military Shows New Lethal Powers Under Trump* The White House has slowly rolled back Obama-era restrictions on drone strikes, shown for the first time in a deadly strike against Islamic State group fighters. U.S. forces in Africa this week staged what would have been an otherwise unremarkable attack against Islamic State extremists but for one key detail: The operation was the first to rely on authorities granted under the Trump administration that allow the military to conduct lethal strikes outside a designated war... more »
U.S. Army Now Responsible For Recovery Operations In Puerto Rico
*Daily Beast*: *U.S. Army Takes Over Massive Mission to Save Puerto Rico* *More than a week after Hurricane Maria, the response is finally being federalized as the island struggles to distribute supplies and restore power.* SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—The U.S. Army will take over recovery operations in Puerto Rico, Col. Jorge Santini of Puerto Rico's National Guard state command told The Daily Beast. The announcement is expected Thursday afternoon. U.S. Northern Command appointed Army Brig. Gen. Richard Kim on Wednesday to oversee operations. The Army will oversee every facet of the ma... more »
“I Thought I Was Middle Class”
*“I Thought I Was Middle Class”* by James Quinn “The best way to teach your kids about taxes is by eating 30% of their ice cream.” – Bill Murray "When I saw that slimy tentacle of the Goldman Sachs vampire squid, Gary Cohn, bloviating about Trump’s tax plan and how it was going to do wonders for the middle class, I knew I was probably going to get screwed again. And after perusing the outline of their plan, it is certain I will be getting screwed once again from my beloved government. I know everyone’s tax situation is different, but I’m just a hard working middle aged white man ... more »
Referendums threaten undemocracy
So the referendum in Catalonia is unconstitutional? A vote for Kurdish sovereignty is illegal? A collective initiative can be UNILATERAL?! These complaints don’t sound very democratic… Communities wanting the right to self determination is the point of governments from the people’s point of view. Rulers only care about taxes and fealty, but have to sell […]
It Begins: Feds Demand Facebook Hand Over Info on Anti-Trump Users
By James Holbrooks Through a trio of search warrants, the Department of Justice (DoJ) is demanding Facebook hand over the personal information of potentially 6,000 of its... more »
Stanford’s Facial Recognition Algorithm Can Determine Sexual Orientation With Up To 91% Accuracy
By Vin Armani New Stanford study shows that a facial recognition algorithm can correctly determine whether people are straight or gay with up to 91%... more »
"Trump’s '1500-Word Airball' Tax Plan"
*"Trump’s '1500-Word Airball' Tax Plan"* by David Stockman "The Donald’s strong point isn’t his grasp of policy detail. The nine page bare-bones outline released this week is nothing more than an aspirational air ball that lacks virtually every policy detail needed to assess its impact and to price out its cost. It promises to shrink the code to three rates (12%, 25%, 35%), for example. But it doesn’t say boo about where the brackets begin and end compared to current law. Needless to say, a taxpayer with $50,000 of taxable income who is on the 15% marginal bracket today might wish ... more »
CUFF The Blue Dogs, CUFF The New Dems-- The Democratic Party Doesn't Need A Republican Wing
*Blue Dogs and New Dems are, by nature, addicted to corruption* A Democratic operative texted me yesterday that he could smell another conservative shill the DCCC was preparing to unleash, Joshua Welle. "It's like he just rolled down the conveyor belt at DCCC shitty candidate factory they have in the basement at 430 South Capitol St." Let me guess, I replied, another centrist veteran? "Bingo!" Welle is the 3rd Democrat who wants to take on moderate Republican Chris Smith-- moderate on everything but Choice, which he opposes... with hysteria. NJ-04 may have been relatively swingy but... more »
Saudi Arabia Must Prepare for the Post-Petroleum Order
*Mark P. Lagon * *Politics, Middle East* [image: Saudi officials wait to receive leaders attending the Summit of South American-Arab Countries in Riyadh] The jury is out on how far Mohammed bin Salman will go in steering reforms to liberate the innovation and productivity of younger Saudis. Precisely because women and human-rights activists in Saudi Arabia have highlighted its past proscription as a symbol, the royal decree granting Saudi women the right to drive is no small matter. And it surprisingly comes as the Saudi government has been enthusiastically embraced by a U.S. p... more »
These 2 Technologies Could Give the Allies an Edge on the Korean Peninsula
*John Allen, Michael O'Hanlon* *Security, Asia* [image: Members of People's Security Council take part an anti-U.S. rally in Pyongyang] Directed energy and automated miniaturized systems could put the ball back in Washington's court. The United States and South Korea are increasingly in a mutual-hostage relationship with North Korea. It is important that President Donald Trump bear this fact in mind as he addresses the acute crisis on the peninsula; fundamentally, there are no great military options today, and a combination of economic sanctions with diplomacy offers the best hop... more »
Why Is Qatar Building a Massive Air Force?
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Middle East* Any idea? The tiny Gulf nation of Qatar has launched a massive buildup of air power for an unclear purpose. The latest development in this saga came in September, when British Defense Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon and Qatari Defense Secretary Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah signed a Letter of Intent for Doha to purchase twenty-four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from London. That came on the heels of Qatar announcing a deal to purchase thirty-six Boeing F-15 Qatar Advanced-variant Eagles from the United States for a reported $12 billion.... more »
The U.S. Army Is about to Receive Beefed up M1A2 Abrams Battle Tanks
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, Middle East* Get ready Russia and China. The Army is on track to receive its first prototypes of the upgraded M1A2 Abrams tank by the end of September, the branch’s PEO Ground Combat Systems office told Scout Warrior on Sept. 14, with plans to start fielding the souped-up new model downrange by fiscal year 2020. The M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3 (SEP v3), produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, is designed to offer a major upgrade to the weapons, protection and electronics systems of the storied M1 and M1A1 Abrams main b... more »
The F-15K Slam Eagle: How South Korea Would Strike North Korea in a War
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Asia* One powerful jet. On September 13, 2017 the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) test-fired a Taurus cruise missile in response to a North Korean ballistic missile test. In this video, you can see as an F-15K launch the boxy weapon, which plunges straight through the roof of a practice target, penetrating into the ground below before its main warhead detonates. For decades, the South Korean military has had to prepare for a conflict in which its cities, especially the capital of Seoul, would be on the receiving end of a North Korean artillery, ... more »
In 1987, North Korea Tried to Destroy the Olympics
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Asia* By taking down a jetliner. Near midnight on November 28, 1987, a young woman and an older man board a 707 airliner on the tarmac of Baghdad International Airport. South Korea Flight 858 is bound for Seoul with layovers on Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. The couple seats itself on seats 7B and 7C, pausing to stuff a bag in the overhead compartment. Most of the 104 passengers are South Korean construction and oil workers returning home after years working on projects in Iraq. But the young lady’s passport indicates that she is a Japanese woman named Mayum... more »
S-400, New Cruise Missiles and More: How Russia's Military Is Back in a Big Way
*Nicholas J. Myers* *Security, Europe* And the Zapad excercise proves it. As the Russians are going home from Zapad-2017 (even as a Russian Spetsnaz regiment begins the next joint exercise in Belarus), we can take a look at some of the interesting trends demonstrated in the exercise. Of considerable interest are the military technologies used. Russia has spent considerable resources rearming with precision and next-generation weapons, extolling how this high-tech investment bolsters the economy. While many systems have been adopted in the Russian Armed Forces in the past decade,... more »
The Trump Administration Throws An Additional $3.7 Billion To Late, Over Budget, Vogtle Nuclear Reactors for a Total of $12 Billion in Loan Guarantees (For Which the US Taxpayer is Liable)
New Vogtle reactors as saved from Google Earth in Oct. 2014 New Vogtle Reactors as saved from Google Earth 29 … Continue reading →
Sadly, not the weirdest moment in my newspaper career (Spoiler alert: Charges were stayed)
*Newspaper pleads not guilty* RED DEER, Alta. (CP) — The Red Deer Advocate has pleaded not guilty to incitement to commit a criminal offence, a charge that resulted from a controversy over abstract metal sculptures one resident described as “piles of rusted out snowplow blades.” The Advocate was charged last month under a rarely used section of the Criminal Code as a result of a column June 30. The trial begins Feb. 5 in provincial court. The column, by freelance writer Ian Coleman, suggested someone load a 12-gauge shotgun with double-0 buckshot and shoot one of the sculptures... more »
Geostorm – Hollywood Introduces Weaponized Weather and Geoengineering to a Dumbed Down Public
*Buck Rogers* - Predictive programming meets current events and conspiracy theory. The post Geostorm – Hollywood Introduces Weaponized Weather and Geoengineering to a Dumbed Down Public appeared first on Waking Times.
The New York Times Makes Another Attempt to Normalize Pedophilia
Ryan Cristián - This is not the first time the NYT has pleaded the case for pedophiles. The post The New York Times Makes Another Attempt to Normalize Pedophilia appeared first on Waking Times.
The Constitution Is As Racist As The Flag And Anthem That Celebrate It
Content Multimedia - 4 hours ago
By Thomas Lindsay
Why Is The DCCC Greasing The Way For Gil Cisneros To Buy A Congressional District He Doesn't Live In?
Lottery winner and "ex"-Republican Gil Cisneros wants more than just his $266 million lottery winnings and his $10 million mansion in tony Newport Coast. He wants the word "Congressman" in front of his name. *Fancy*! But his bought-and-paid-for "friends" at the DCCC told him they already have a candidate in his district (CA-48) and directed him to run in a completely unrelated district-- a solid middle and working class district (CA-39)-- that has no private beaches for $10 million mansions. Worse yet, that's a district with some candidates who are far more competent and qualified ... more »
The Trump Administration Throws An Additional $3.7 Billion To Late, Over Budget, Vogtle Nuclear Reactors for a Total of $11 Billion in Loan Guarantees (For Which the US Taxpayer is Liable)
New Vogtle reactors as saved from Google Earth in Oct. 2014 New Vogtle Reactors as saved from Google Earth 29 … Continue reading →
DOJ seeking information concerning anti-Trump Facebook users.
Courtesy of Law Newz: *The ACLU-DC is trying to stop three search warrants that’d let the Department of Justice snoop around protesters’ Facebook accounts over Inauguration Day protests. They filed in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday, saying the government’s demands violate the Fourth Amendment because they are so broad, and threatening First Amendment speech. These warrants ask for too much information not directly relevant to the federal probe, argues the ACLU. This includes information on the plaintiffs’ friends, associates, and the approximately 6000 individuals who just “like... more »
More post-hurricane "lessons learned"
Yesterday I put up a post titled "Lessons learned from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria". I've continued to receive reports from correspondents, so I've added some more "lessons learned" to it. If you'd like to read them, click on the link above to the original post, and scroll down until you find this heading: *6. More lessons learned: Friday, September 29, 2017.* I won't say "Enjoy!", because it's not a fun subject, but there's a lot to be learned from the experiences (and mistakes) of others. Peter
Tonight's Movie Is 'Beach Red'
*WNU Editor:* Before "Saving Private Ryan" there was this film (the first 30 minutes of the film).
Omidyar, The Intercept & Impact Investing
from Wrench in the Gears September 29, 2017 I wouldn’t expect an expose on ed-tech to come out of *The Intercept* any time soon, despite the solid work they have done on Google and their deep knowledge of online surveillance and ties between Silicon Valley and government officials. Read on to find out why. I’m always looking for opportunities to raise awareness around ed-tech and digital curriculum. So when the Free Library of Philadelphia announced an author event with *The Intercept* founding editor Jeremy Scahill interviewing Edward Snowden via remote link, I bought a ticket ri... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, and Editorials -- September 29, 2017
U.S. Air Force Photo by SrA Jacob Skovo *Crispin Rovere, RCD*: *North Korea: The Inevitability of War* This July I outlined the case for war against North Korea, contingent on the failure of diplomacy and Kim Jong-Un’s continued march towards a long-range nuclear ICBM capability. Six weeks on North Korea has tested an ICBM, fired two missiles over Japan, and detonated a hydrogen bomb. Events are unfolding as predicted. The strategic arguments are exhaustively interrogated in the four-part debate between myself and Dr. David Santoro (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4). The analysis re... more »
The Age Of AI Sex Robots Is Nigh
This has been a long time coming, but finally the time is upon us. Sex dolls are nothing new, they have been largely associated(rightly or wrongly) with Stag Nights within western culture or lonely seedy old men. However, as with the normalisation of pornography, sex toys and orgies the Sex Doll has been brought out … The post The Age Of AI Sex Robots Is Nigh appeared first on OYE Alternative News.
U.S. Cares Nought for Its Citizens - Watch Out Puerto Rico! And VI and Guam!!! (Merkel and Hillary Out? Not Far Enough!) Germany Out of the EU? (Senate Refuses to Stop Endless War) Venezuela Stops Accepting $$$ (Shut Up Jamie Dimon!) J.P. Passes (Dems A Joke?) Seth Rich Never Going Away (Bannon Still Skunking) Exotic "New" Trump Plague? (SMASH the Duopoly!)
Imagine, if you will, how much money has been taken off the table of jobs-creation to pay for these "stars." Who said there were no good jobs being created? Cree Dangles Millions in Incentives for Its New CEONaomi Klein strikes again. Or is it just that U.S. "leadership" can only get their policies passed during "manufactured" crises? Or will today's natural ones suffice for those no longer
He can throw his white hood in the air!
To the tune of Love is All Around, Lyrics by Sonny Curtis (Theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show: ♬Who can turn the right on with his bile? Who can take a sunny day, and turn it into a big stinking pile? … Continue reading →
"Margin Calls Explained"
"Margin Calls Explained" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABVbSlmPSU
X22 Report, “If The Economy Has Recovered Why Did This Just Happen?”
X22 Report, “If The Economy Has Recovered Why Did This Just Happen?” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lSrKLamls *Related followup report:* X22 Report, “Is The Cabal Planning A Global Take Down Of The Financial System?” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEffhV0AQgc
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price Resigns
Price had come under criticism after his use of charter flights at public expense.
Attorney General Demands Respect for Free Speech at Universities
[image: attorney-general-demands-respect-for-free-speech-at-universities] Faced with increasingly violent Marxist revolutionaries styling themselves “Antifa,” along with legions of useful idiots who might genuinely believe their phony narrative, conservatives and non-statists on college campuses across America have been in many cases literally terrorized into silence. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is working to change that.
DOJ Files Suit Against Company for Allegedly Not Hiring Americans
[image: doj-files-suit-against-company-for-allegedly-not-hiring-americans] The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Crop Production Services Inc., headquartered in Colorado, for allegedly discriminating against U.S. workers.
Movement to Boycott NFL November 12 Growing
[image: movement-to-boycott-nfl-november-12-growing] A Facebook group calling for a November 12 boycott of the NFL has already attracted thousands of commitments to do just that.
World News Briefs -- September 29, 2017
An Iraqi Airways plane is seen at the Erbil International Airport in Erbil, Iraq September 29, 2017. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari *Reuters:* *Last flight departs as Iraq imposes ban for Kurdish independence vote* ERBIL, Iraq/ANKARA (Reuters) - The last international flight left Erbil airport on Friday as the Baghdad government imposed an air ban on Iraqi Kurdistan in retaliation for an independence vote that has drawn widespread opposition from foreign powers. Iraq's Kurds overwhelmingly backed independence in Monday's referendum, defying neighboring countries, which fear the vote could ... more »
All US will look like Puerto Rico--if US doesn't stop outrageous military spending overseas
*US Secretary of Defense James Mattis* Press TV has a thought provoking analysis on its website this morning. This report ties in with what I said in my last post suggesting the *US's neglect of Puerto Rico is a "symptom of Imperial decline*". An American professor, Dennis Etler, says that the US government believes it needs to spend all its taxpayer funding on military hardware and forces...in order to protect its global hegemony...not from foreign aggressors, but from *economic* competition! Read what Etler has to say and the insane numbers that are being bandied around as "lo... more »
Musical Interlude: Logos, “Fraternite Angelique”
Logos, “Fraternite Angelique” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgTMyHXRHFM
"A Look to the Heavens"
“NGC 660 is featured in this cosmic snapshot, a sharp composite of broad and narrow band filter image data from the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea. Over 20 million light-years away and swimming within the boundaries of the constellation Pisces, NGC 660's peculiar appearance marks it as a polar ring galaxy. A rare galaxy type, polar ring galaxies have a substantial population of stars, gas, and dust orbiting in rings nearly perpendicular to the plane of the galactic disk. *Click image for larger size.* The bizarre-looking configuration could have been caused by the chance captur... 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 »
Chet Raymo, "Matters of Life and Death"
*"Matters of Life and Death"* by Chet Raymo "For the past few days I've passed this poor bedraggled creature on the sidewalk. I cannot help but think of that essay in Lewis Thomas' "The Lives of a Cell" called "Death In the Open." How rare it is, he writes, to see a dead wild animal. He mentions squirrels in particular. They teem in his backyard, he says, all year long, but he has never seen, anywhere, a dead squirrel. It is always a queer shock, part a sudden upwelling of grief, part unaccountable amazement. It is simply astounding to see a dead animal on the highway. The outrage... more »
"The Legend Of The Thorn Bird"
“There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the price of great pain… or so sa... more »
Free Download: Rainer Maria Rilke, “Letters to a Young Poet”
“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” - Rainer Maria Rilke Freely download “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke here: - https://kbachuntitled.files.wordpress.com/ - http://www.carrothers.com/rilke8.htm
The Daily "Near You?"
Burbank, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"Live A Good Life..."
"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. I am not afraid." - Marcus Aurelius
Local Council By-Elections September 2017
This month saw 51,321 votes cast over 32 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. 15(!) council seats changed hands in total. For comparison with August's results, see here. Party Number of Candidates Total Vote % +/- Aug +/- Sept 16 Average/ Contest +/- Seats Conservative 32 14,074 27.4% -11.1% -2.3% 440 -7 Labour 30 18,824 36.7% -4.2% +9.8% 627 +3 LibDem 25 5,041 9.8% -3.3% -12.0% 202 +1 UKIP ... more »
BREAKING: Trump’s Health Secretary Tom Price resigns
He was accused of spending too much public money on travel. More The post BREAKING: Trump’s Health Secretary Tom Price resigns appeared first on The Duran.
Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico slams response by FEMA, and begs for help.
The above comes after Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz responded with this after the acting head of Homeland Security suggested that what was happening in Puerto Rico was a "good news story." “Dammit, this is not a good news story” It’s “a ‘people are dying’ story”: San Juan mayor slams acting DHS secretary https://t.co/q2mR2utu7k pic.twitter.com/GBx8K1hTW8 — CNN (@CNN) September 29, 2017 This is actually starting to look very muhc like Bush's completely ineffective response to Katrina, and this could be a defining moment in the Trump presidency. P.S. The Mayor will be on with Rachel Maddo... more »
Protester Kneeling At The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier In Arlington National Cemetery?
*Snopes*:* Did a Protester Kneel During a Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?* *A viral photograph shows a man kneeling and recording a video at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but it's unclear whether he was also protesting.* Amid intensifying public debate about the right of NFL players and others to protest against police brutality and social injustice, a photograph emerged online in late September 2017 appearing to show a young black man kneeling at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The web site America’s Freedom Fighters wrote: An an... more »
"Desperate Courage..."
“Desperate courage makes One a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
Six Reasons Why American Corporations Shouldn’t Get a Tax...
Robert Reich - 8 hours ago
* Six Reasons Why American Corporations Shouldn’t Get a Tax Cut* Trump and Republicans are trying to sell you the idea that American corporations need a tax cut in order to be competitive. That’s rubbish. Here are 6 reasons why: *First, American corporations don’t need it in order to be competitive internationally*. After tax credits and deductions, their effective tax rate is just about the same as paid by corporations in most of our major trading partners, according to the U.S. Treasury. *Second, American corporations are making more money than ever.* Their after-tax profits a... more »
Political Turmoil In China?
Sun Zhengcai, then Chongqing Communist Party secretary, is shown attending a meeiting of a top political advisory body in Beijing in March 2016. Photo: Jason Lee/REUTERS *Wall Street Journal:* *China Expels Party Official Once Seen as Potential Successor to Xi Jinping* *Politburo moves quickly to evict Sun Zhengcai ahead of Communist Party Congress.* BEIJING—China’s Communist Party expelled a senior official over alleged corruption and abuses of power just weeks before a pivotal conclave where President Xi Jinping plans to bolster his authority. State media said Friday’s expulsi... more »
U.S. Orders Half Of Its Embassy Staff To Return Home From Cuba. Also Issues A Travel Advisory
*New York Times: **U.S. to Pull More Diplomats Out of Cuba After Attacks* WASHINGTON — The State Department announced on Friday that it is pulling more than half of its staff out of the American embassy in Havana in the wake of mysterious attacks that have injured 21 people associated with the embassy. Some of those attacked have suffered significant injuries, with symptoms including hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, balance and visual problems, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping. But despite an intensive investigation by the F.B.I., the cause and perpe... more »
Accused NSA Leaker Reality Winner Calls America 'The Worst Thing To Happe On The Planet'
*USA Today:* *Accused NSA leaker called America 'the worst thing to happen on the planet'* A woman suspected of leaking U.S. secrets to a news organization claimed she stuffed a classified report into her pantyhose and walked out of a National Security Agency office in Georgia, mainly because she hates America "like three times a day." Reality Winner, 25, told FBI agents she was disappointed in her job as a government contractor, court records show. “Yeah, I screwed up royally,” Winner, told the agents in a transcript that makes public the details of her confession, which prosecu... more »
What Would Trigger A War Between NATO And Russia
*Wyn Bowen & Ivanka Barzashka, Conversation:* *What would it take to trigger war between Russia and NATO? Just a spark* This September in Europe was a tense month of military posturing and preparations. Sweden recently began a three-week war game, its largest since the Cold War. Even as it did so, across the Baltic Sea, Russian and Belarusian forces concluded the Zapad military exercises – which NATO officials called “serious preparations for a big war”. Major war games such as these bring a risk of real conflict. But neither the Russian invasion that Russia’s neighbours fear, nor ... more »
Can Congress Legislate An End To The Carnage In Yemen? 4 Members Are Trying
Wednesday evening, Democrats Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Marc Pocan (D-WI) have teamed up with Republicans Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Walter Jones (R-NC) to introduce a resolution (H.R. 81) that would halt U.S. military assistance to the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen on grounds that Congress has never approved the American role in the war. The bill requires the removal of U.S. forces from the war in Yemen unless and until Congress votes to authorize the American assistance, something Ryan has refused to allow to be voted on for over two years. Hawaii's Kaniela Ing, the most progressive membe... more »
2017 Economic Class Series on LaRouche's Method—New Paradigm of Economics or Death by Geopolitics?
Megan Beets Jason Ross Benjamin Deniston PDF: [image: PDF icon] 20170928-econ-series-2017-leaflet.pdf The United States stands, undecided, before a historical cross road: will we choose to join China and other nations in the largest economic development projects ever undertaken by mankind, or will we collapse along with current, failed paradigm of economic and geopolitical thought? The long-term economic breakdown in the United States must be reversed: - Standard of Living Collapse: since 1978, average food costs have increased by 250%, housing by 380%, medical care by 600%, a... more »
The NFL’s Disregard and Disrespect of the Flag
[image: the-nfl-s-disregard-and-disrespect-of-the-flag] Even though many National Football League players, plus some coaches and owners, have championed Colin Kaepernick’s insult to the nation’s flag, he is no hero.
Not a Single Shooting Following Campus-carry Freedom in Texas Last Year
[image: not-a-single-shooting-following-campus-carry-freedom-in-texas-last-year] Somehow, more than 53,000 students attending Texas public universities have managed to make it through the first year of concealed-carry on campus without murdering each other.
Wood-burning stoves face ban in pollution crackdown in London
By Paul Homewood Tangled webs!! Wood burning is set to be banned in some urban areas to reduce air pollution under proposed restrictions that would be the strongest in Europe. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, is seeking powers to prohibit all burning of wood in parts of the capital with […]
Stunned photographer takes picture of deer with a backside that looks just like an Owl
The hilarious shots show the stag turning to face photographer, Paul Taylor, with some extraordinary markings on his backside - which remarkably look just like an owl. The 51-year-old, from Bewerley, North Yorkshire, was visiting Studley Royal Deer Park with his brother. The pair were hoping to catch a good deer rutting picture opportunity when they spotted the unusual looking Sika deer. He said: 'This is my favourite capture due to the posture of the stag and the markings on its rear end. 'It almost seems to be conscious of it and one could be forgiven for feeling that it is ir... more »
Ron Paul discusses how ‘Russiagate’ is being used to stifle AMERICAN free speech
Ron Paul is concerned with American government interference in the Constitutional protection of free speech. More The post Ron Paul discusses how ‘Russiagate’ is being used to stifle AMERICAN free speech appeared first on The Duran.
"The Wile-E-Coyote Market"
*"The Wile-E-Coyote Market"* by Karl Denninger "Debt doesn't matter - right up until it does. So goes the chestnut. In actual practice, however, it's much worse: Increasing debt tends to make equity valuations go up right until it matters, then it makes them crash. There is exactly zero attention being paid to this. But the truth of it is found in every recent, and in fact all the nasty historical drawdowns in the market. Let's just go through a few of the really bad ones, specifically: 1873 1929 2000 and 2008 All of them shared the same basic paradigm. In 1873 it was long-term ra... more »
Forget this Spin Too: Solar PV is not on the Brink of Being Subsidy Free
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood ? ? You may have read press reports the other day about the first “subsidy free” solar farm, which was officially opened two days ago. ? ? For instance: Britain’s first solar farm to operate without a direct subsidy opens today and…
Quote of the Week: The cost of daring to write about climate
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: Matt Ridley: “I’ve written about many controversial issues during my career,” Ridley said. “Never, have I ever experienced anything like what happens when you write about climate, which is a systematic and organized attempt to blacken your name rather than your arguments, and to try to pressure any outlet…
Coverup? FBI, DOJ Refuse To Comply With Congressional 'Trump Dossier' Subpoena
[image: undefined] In what looks like a naked coverup meant to obscure the fact that the Department of Justice's decision to launch a criminal investigation into possible Russia-Trump collusion was based on a lie, Reuters reports that the DOJ and FBI are resisting a Congressional subpoena from to turn over documents that would reveal details about how the infamous "Trump dossier" factored into their decision to launch said investigation. Despite receiving the subpoena from US Intel Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, the FBI is steadfastly refusing to turn over the documents because th... more »
Dissonance: When Cult of Personalities Gets in the Way of Understanding
[image: undefined] You know what gets in the way of progress? Dogma. When people are wedded to ideologies, society atrophies and ideas become non-existent. Voltaire once said, “it is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.” Truer words have rarely been spoken; it’s as though America has morphed into a society of Jim Jones cultists. Personalities the Kool-Aid and politics the cyanide; we keep swallowing poison only to complain of migraines after we get bludgeoned by policies our political idols implement once they get to DC. The sheer masochism of it all would be comical... more »
'US in Grip of Anti-Russia Hysteria, Worse Than Days of Salem Witch Trials'
[image: undefined] The whole "Russia thing" is due to the neocons who are looking for another Cold War because it is very profitable for them, Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute, told RT. Twitter has published a report on how the company battled against alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election and also mentioned RT. In the report, Twitter revealed confidential information to the US Senate on RT's advertising outlay. The company claims over a thousand tweets, "definitely - or potentially - targeted the US market." RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita S... more »
Judge Rules Black Lives Matter, Hashtag Cannot be Sued
An anonymous Baton Rouge officer's attempt to sue DeRay Mckesson, Black Lives Matter, and the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag proved unsuccessful.
Germany moving more to the right is good
Last Sunday night, September 24, I joined Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) officials and other friends in watching WAHL2017 live on tv, Germany's Bundestag/Parliamentary elections, at the German Club in Makati City. The event was jointly organized by the four German political foundations in Manila -- Konrad Adenauer (KAF, affiliated with CDU), Hans Seidell (HSF, also affiliated with CDU/CSU), Friedrich Ebertt (FES, affiliated with SPD), and FNF (affiliated with FDP). Hours before the official start of elections in Germany, this was among the forecasted results. http:... more »
Criminal defendant Ref Rodriguez, an introduction
Corporate charter school mogul Refugio “Ref” Rodriguez has been in the news lately. First, for his being elected President of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education. Second, he is facing criminal charges of three felony counts, including conspiracy and perjury, and 25 misdemeanor counts of assumed name contribution. Who is this rising star of the California Charter Schools Association? How did he end up on LAUSD’s board despite having never attended, nor worked at a public school? Why are these charges no surprise to Los Angeles public education activi... more »
Trump's Measured Response to Cuba
*Curt Mills* *Politics, Latin America* [image: A vintage car driver checks his back lights as he waits for tourists in Havana, Cuba] U.S.-Cuba relations are once more in turmoil. As the State Department announced Friday it was cutting its embassy staff in Cuba down to emergency levels -- following the recent, mysterious sonic wave attacks on U.S. personnel -- a budding consensus of sorts seems to be developing: the reaction out of Washington could have been worse. As it is, it’s also fully unclear if Havana had a hand in the recent events. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated... more »
Twitter may have been even more damaging to our democracy in 2016 than Facebook.
Courtesy of the New York Times: *For three weeks, a harsh spotlight has been trained on Facebook over its disclosure that Russians used fake pages and ads, designed to look like the work of American activists, to spread inflammatory messages during and since the presidential campaign. * *But there is evidence that Twitter may have been used even more extensively than Facebook in the Russian influence campaign last year. In addition to Russia-linked Twitter accounts that posed as Americans, the platform was also used for large-scale automated messaging, using “bot” accounts to spre... more »
Sept. 29: Nuclear war. It's now or never for the U.S.
(A reader has warned me that the web sites I list do not open up when readers click on them. Actually, they do; but it is a little awkward. Readers have to mouse over the title so it turns blue, then click on it with the right side of the mouse. A box will then appear below with several options. Click on the one that says "Go to http".) Now that I've been warned about this, I hope to find out an easier way to do this. So I'll shall be contacting one of my grandchildren who is sure to understand this modern world OF computers much better than I do. __________________________________... more »
Open Letter To President Donald Trump In Defense of Columbus
*by Liliana Gorini, Chairwoman, Movisol* President Donald Trump The White House Washington, D.C. Mr. President: As an Italian citizen and chairwoman of Movisol, Lyndon LaRouche’s movement in Italy, I call on you to intervene in defense of Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day. The same people who are out to destroy the U.S. Presidency, led by Wall Street speculator George Soros (who destroyed the Italian lira in 1992), are also trying to eradicate history and culture not only in the United States, but internationally. Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, his Italian collaborator Paolo del ... more »
Friday Webcast
Video of y2y4rA-N6RU Join us at 2:00 pm eastern for our weekly Friday Webcast, with your host Matthew Ogden and special guest, EIR's Will Wertz.
UKIP GETS LEADER FROM MI6?
*Spooky David Petraeus and spooky Henry Bolton in Afghanistan.* In September 2017, the right-wing UK political party called *UKIP* got a new leader - *Henry Bolton*. Henry Bolton is a former Liberal-Democrat. *Henry Bolton, who has extensive experience as a military intelligence officer and counter-terrorism expert* Henry Bolton was in military intelligence, and some might suggest that he is still working for the security services. Henry Bolton is married to Tatiana Smurova, from Russia. dailymail. Henry Bolton is strongly pro-Israel. ~~
BWorld 153, Property rights, trademarks and consumer protection
* This is my article in BusinessWorld last September 18, 2017. Private property rights that people and businesses enjoy are among the cornerstones of a free and dynamic society. People have exclusive rights on what to do with their private properties — use them, sell, rent out, or donate. However, when rights to private property — both physical and intangible assets — are unprotected, society can quickly degenerate into disorder. As a result, consumers will be unable to recognize which among manufacturers and service providers are trustworthy and which are suspicious. Measuring th... more »
HAS TAKING A KNEE OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS?
At Vox, a history professor named Louis Moore writes despairingly about the most recent round of NFL anthem protests: Last Sunday, in the largest single-day athlete protest in American sports history, players across the league linked arms and took a knee during the national anthem. But it was a toothless gesture. ... Billionaire team owners who had donated to Trump’s campaign joined in. The symbol of taking a knee came to mean something else — unity, anger toward Trump, free speech. Kaepernick’s bold statement against systemic racism had been co-opted.... The beauty and brilliance ... more »
Mining 54, Ralph Abainza on water table and Gina Lopez
I am reposting a short discussion about water table by a friend, 4th year BS Geology student in UP Diliman, Ralph Abainza. He posted this in his fb wall and I shared it in my wall. The illustration I got from the water.usgs.gov that he cited among his sources below. Good paper, Ralph. ------------ *AN OPEN LETTER OF APPEAL TO STOP FAKE NEWS ABOUT GEOLOGY* September 23, 2017 Dear Ms. Gina Lopez, can you please stop spreading FAKE NEWS, especially about my beloved field of study, Geology? Can you please use proper scientific references rather than emotions? It is very hard for me to a... more »
Natural Treatment Remedies for Sore Throat
Most of us have had a sore throat at some point in our lives. The irritation and pain can make it hard to swallow. Throat pain is a primary symptom of a sore throat. Symptoms may also include dryness, swollen glands and hoarseness. What Causes Sore Throat? Many things can cause a sore throat. Some […] The post Natural Treatment Remedies for Sore Throat appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.
Natural Treatment Remedies for Weight Gain
If you are taking in more excess calories and not as active as you used to be, take comfort in the fact you are not alone. That’s right, you are not alone on the train with millions of overweight and obese people on the way to serious sickness. As we get older, maintaining a normal […] The post Natural Treatment Remedies for Weight Gain appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.
Natural Treatment Remedies for Weakness
Do you feel like you lack muscle strength? Do you feel like you need to make an extra effort to move your arms or legs? These symptoms are signs of weakness. Sometimes, weakness goes with fatigue. The two together make getting through your day very difficult. But you are not alone. Weakness is one of […] The post Natural Treatment Remedies for Weakness appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.
Natural Treatment Remedies for Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are enlarged veins, often twisted, near the surface of the skin. They are most common in women, and often on the legs and ankles. Varicose veins aren’t dangerous, although they can cause pain and discomfort in some people. They are typically a cosmetic issue. Some women feel they are unsightly and want to […] The post Natural Treatment Remedies for Varicose Veins appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.
Wiz Khalifa Just Hijacked an MLB Game to Provide a Real Solution to Racist Policing
[image: khalifa]While NFL players are taking a knee against racist policing, Wiz Khalifa promoted a viable solution during a Major League Baseball game.
Vietnam Shows How They Clean Up Corrupt Banking System as Banker Sentenced to DEATH for Fraud
[image: banker]As bankers loot trillions from US citizens and face no consequences, Vietnam shows they have a strict punishment for corruption—death.
YouTube Now Deleting Coalition Strike Footage While Jihadist Propaganda Floods Internet
[image: youtube]YouTube is deleting the much-needed public record of footage from the war on terror while allowing ISIS propaganda to run rife.
Organic Food Leads To Surge In Manure Methane Emissions
The realization that livestock like cows are ruminants - and produce a lot of methane while chewing - was a real boon to vegetarian activists because they got to say curbing meat would mean less global warming. Methane has 23X the warming power of the more popular CO2 in climate change estimates but it drastically shorter in duration. Still, that is enough. When natural gas caused American CO2 emissions from energy to plummet back to early 1990s levels, solar and wind lobbyists and their environmental allies claimed that methane, which they had endorses as an alternative to coal for... more »
Fukushima Daiichi Still Looks BAD; TEPCO Reports Contaminated Water Leak
Ever since the latest 6.0 earthquake (see The Mainichi for Account), Fukushima Daiichi has not looked very good, especially around reactors 2 and 3: More screenshots here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/02ydw9mltyofc46/September%2030%202017%20High%20Emissions.pdf?dl=0 I don't know how the last earthquake increased emissions. TEPCO is reporting a contaminated water leak. I have a theory that TEPCO reports miscellaneous, trivial events in a substitution policy deployed after significant plant setbacks. I speculate that rather than reporting the "true" bad news, TEPCO fabricates a pala... more »
Misinfluencers, Inc.: How Fake News Is Reaching Millions Using Verified Facebook Accounts
We tracked 29 fake domains that post to verified celebrity pages through an unknown mechanism. Here is what we found.
This Is the U.S. Military's Tank-Killer Missile That Russia Fears Most
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * And China, too. *When Russia provided military support to separatists in Ukraine, columns of Russian tanks were instrumental in turning back Ukrainian Army offensives and seizing government strongpoints, notably the Donetsk International Airport in January 2015. For hawks like Senator John McCain pushing for the United States to provide direct military aid to Ukraine, Javelin missiles were cited as a key weapon system that might have reversed the Ukrainian Army’s fortunes on the battlefield—and one far more practical to put into action than a mai... more »
Doofus Of The Day #979
A tip o' the hat to Diogenes' Middle Finger for spotting this pseudo-scientific idiocy. Playful urination practices – from seeing how high you can pee to games such as Peeball (where men compete using their urine to destroy a ball placed in a urinal) – may give boys an advantage over girls when it comes to physics. * . . .* Like many parents of small (and not-so-small) boys, two of us (KW and DL) have observed the great delight young males take in urination, a process by which they produce and direct a visible projectile arc. The fact that boys (and men) play with their ability t... more »
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price offers to pay a fraction of the taxpayer money he wasted on private planes. Update!
Courtesy of ABC News: *Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price said Thursday that he regrets his numerous trips aboard private aircraft and pledged to reimburse the government for the cost of his seat, a promise that will only cover a fraction of the estimated costs, according to a source familiar with the plan. * *In a statement, Price said that he "regret[s] the concerns that [his official travel] has raised regarding the use of taxpayer dollars" and that he "will write a personal check to the U.S. Treasury for the expenses of my travel on private charter planes." * ...more »
Journal adds concern notice to paper by psychologist Jens Förster
A social psychology journal has added an expression of concern to a paper by prominent social psychologist Jens Förster, whose work has been subject to much scrutiny. This is the latest in a long-running saga involving Förster. The 2012 paper in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology had been flagged by a 2015 report describing […] The post Journal adds concern notice to paper by psychologist Jens Förster appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Michelle Obama: Tasteless, rude, and condescending...
*as she insults the women who voted for Trump.* When I'm insulted I always look to see who's doing the insulting. In this case, Michelle Obama, the worthless ex-first "lady", who holds up Beyonce as a role model for her daughters, is not a worthy insulter. Why don't these people just go away? Get over it Michelle. Maybe get a hobby. And encourage Hillary and the pencil neck you married to do the same. *On Sale at Amazon:* Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote + Echo Dot *Save $30.00* No cable? No problem. Over 108K reviews with 88% five and four star. *Great Christmas G... more »
Beyonce Sings ‘Mi Gente’ Remix in Spanish for Relief Efforts
Beyonce released a surprise single in Spanish, English and French to raise money for victims of hurricanes in the Caribbean and earthquakes in Mexico.
Stampede on Crowded Indian Pedestrian Bridge Leaves 22 Dead
A stampede broke out on a crowded pedestrian bridge connecting railway stations in Mumbai during a morning rush, killing at least 22 people and injuring 32.
Solidarity-- Inside Wisconsin And Between Wisconsin And Florida
Today's big news in the WI-01 congressional race between Randy Bryce and Paul Ryan was about an extraordinary endorsement from neighboring congressmember, Mark Pocan for Bryce. So why is that extraordinary? Well, Mark is a very good congressmember who have long been known-- both in the state legislature and in Congress-- throughout southeast Wisconsin for standing up and fighting hard for the legitimate interests of working families. In fact, when Ryan refused to meet with constituents, Pocan went and did them in Ryan's district. He's the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive ... more »
What natural disasters should teach us
By Steven Lyazi I express my deepest sympathies to the people in the Caribbean and United States who have been impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The loss of life was tragic but has thankfully been much lower than in many previous storms. Buildings are stronger, people get warned in time to get out, […]
U.S. V-22 Osprey Has Crashed In Syria
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey soars through the skies over Hokkaido, Japan, August 18, 2017, in support of Northern Viper 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez) *USNI News*: *V-22 Osprey Suffers ‘Hard Landing’ in Syria, Two Service Members Injured* This post will be updated as new information becomes available. A V-22 has gone down in Syria, injuring two service member sometime on Thursday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. The V-22 that was operating in support of the ongoing Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS forces suffered a... more »
In Order For U.S. Missile Defense To Work Against North Korean Missiles, The Interceptions Will Need To Occur Over Russia
Depiction of ground based interceptor fired against an ICBM launched from North Korea. Joshua Pollack *Patrick Tucker, Defense One:* *If North Korea Fires an ICBM, the US Might Have to Shoot It Down Over Russia* *Missile-defense physics may require interceptors to fly into ‘the teeth of the Russian early warning net.’* If Pyongyang fires a missile at the United States, its most-likely trajectory would take it over the North Pole. A U.S. attempt to shoot down that missile would probably occur within Russian radar space — and possibly over Russia itself. “It’s something we’re aware ... more »
Protesting Trump's Navy Secretary Visit to BIW
Four of us were at Bath Iron Works this morning for 90 minutes while Trump's Navy Secretary Richard Spencer visited the shipyard along with Maine's Congressional delegation. Jason Rawn, Don Kimball, Peter Morgan and I held banners and signs. About 11:30 am a police escort (flashing lights and sirens) sped past us with the Navy Secretary and the Maine politicians so we were certainly seen by them. We counted the positives (waves, honks, peace signs) and negatives (fingers) from cars going by while there and it came out to 22 on the plus side and only two on the negative. So this ... more »
DYING PLANETS: We know what she did last summer!
*FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017Part 4—Actually, long before that:* Is a river a person? More specifically, could the Monongahela River sue someone in court? In Wednesday morning's New York Times, Julie Turkewitz wrote a full-length news report about these intriguing questions. Her report appeared on the first page of the newspaper's National section. Inevitably, Turkewitz quoted a Republican politician—Montana's Senator Daines—saying how crazy this idea was, and a Democratic politician—Colorado's Govewrnor Hickenlooper—who was refusing to comment. She also quoted a Harvard professor... more »
2017.09.29: michaelmas
It’s michaelmas again, so happy michaelmas to you, and best of luck with slaying the dragons within and without. As it is michaelmas, it’s also autumn; the air is crisp, the daylight is soft, the nights are dark again. You can see the stars again, though just barely (or not at all) if you live … Continue reading 2017.09.29: michaelmas →
Did an NFL Player Burn an American Flag in a Locker Room?
A doctored photograph purportedly showed a member of the Seattle Seahawks setting a U.S. flag on fire.
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