11:43 pm MST
A Look At China's Version Of The Blackhawk Helicopter
Z-20 helicopter in flight. Via Chinese Internet. *Popular Mechanics*: *Meet China's Blackhawk Helicopter, the 'Copyhawk'* *The Harbin Z-20 looks like the Blackhawk, and that's no coincidence.* Two prototypes of China's new Z-20 medium transport helicopter recently surfaced in Tibet, resulting in new photos of the illusive helicopter. Like other Chinese helicopter designs, the Z-20 was developed from Western exports sold to the country before the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy students in 1989. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor*: It is a close copy.
Reginald Kann's 1909 Formosa, Japan's First Colony: the land and her peoples
I know you don't have enough to read, so I took a few minutes and Google-translated Reginald Kann's Formosa, de eerste kolonie van Japan: De Aarde en haar Volken, 1909, *Formosa, Japan's First Colony: the land and her peoples.* There doesn't seem to be much in English on him, but Kann was a war correspondent (fought in the Boer War) who covered campaigns in Cuba, Morocco, Europe, the Far East and later, WWI. In between he wrote of his travels in the area. I have placed the text below the READ MORE line. The photos may be found at the original link. I. Arrival at Formosa-Taïhokoe... more »
Picture Of The Day
Participants in the Petrograd 2017 interactive historical reenactment staged in St. Petersburg, Russia, on November 5 to mark the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution. © Sputnik/ Alexey Danichev *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *This Week in Pictures (November 4-10)* (Sputnik)
UK MP JOHN WOODCOCK WANTS PUBLIC TO PAY FOR NEW CANCER FACTORY, AKA NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATION
John Woodcock MP has announced that he wants the public to pay for a new cancer factory in Cumbria. The…
U.S. Army Lifts Ban On Recruits With Histories Of Mental Illness, Drug Abuse And Self-Mutilation
*USA Today:* *Army lifts ban on waivers for recruits with history of some mental health issues* WASHINGTON – People with a history of “self-mutilation,” bipolar disorder, depression and drug and alcohol abuse can now seek waivers to join the Army under an unannounced policy enacted in August, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY. The decision to open Army recruiting to those with mental health conditions comes as the service faces the challenging goal of recruiting 80,000 new soldiers through September 2018. To meet last year's goal of 69,000, the Army accepted more recrui... more »
Iraq: Terrified crowds run for their lives as earthquake rocks Erbil
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 A.M.) – Scores of people were seen running for their lives in Erbil’s Tablo Mall as the earthquake rocked the city, Sunday. The earthquake has reportedly killed several people in Iraq and at least 120 across the border in Iran. The US Geological Survey measured a magnitude of the earthquake of 7.3, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army scores big advance towards Albukamal, 30 km liberated
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a large-scale advance inside the southeastern countryside of the Deir Ezzor, Sunday, pushing their way along the strategic Mayadeen-Albukamal Road. Led by the Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army attacked the Islamic State’s (ISIS) positions southeast of Al-Mayadeen, liberating several villages and hilltops after […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Saudi Arabia calls for emergency Arab League meeting over ‘Iran’s interference’
The tensions in the Middle East have exacerbated recently, as the Saudi forces intercepted a missile fired from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia on Sunday demanded an emergency meeting of foreign ministers of the Arab League over Iran’s “interference” in domestic affairs of the region’s countries, Sky News Arabia reported. Bahrain and the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Too Late For Republican Elected Officials To Batten Down The Hatches And Ride Out The Storm
Republican politicians who are disgusted with Trump and want to distance themselves from him and from Bannon and from that whole neo-fascist wing of the party. Maybe be heartened to see Trump's favorability ratings continue to crater. But, unfortunately for them, what they're seeing, primarily, are independents being turned off to Trump, not Republicans. It's his party now and it will be so into the foreseeable future-- at least until 2020. They'll get their asses kicked in 2018 but it won't matter much as the party establishment moves into the minority-- in the House for sure and ... more »
Pentagon Sends More Troops To Afghanistan Than Previously Announced
*Task & Purpose:* *The DoD Is Sending More Troops To Afghanistan Than Previously Announced* Since President Donald Trump first announced his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan in August with a vow to focus on “killing terrorists” rather than “nation building,” it has remained unclear exactly how many U.S. forces will be involved in that effort. Now a clearer picture is beginning to emerge: the Associated Press reports that the number of U.S. military personnel could reach nearly 16,000 in 2018, more than what the Department of Defense had previously projected and almost double... more »
Can the EU regain its international climate policy leadership lost in Copenhagen?
This is a guest post from Axel Michaelowa from the University of Zurich. He is also the lead author of the chapter on international agreements in the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This is the second in the series from our Bonn panel on leadership in the climate regime. For over a decade, […]
Leadership in the Climate Regime without the US Federal Government
I am just back from the climate negotiations in Bonn where I organized a side event at the German Development Institute (DIE). The event was co-sponsored by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). These are my opening and closing remarks from the session. In subsequent days, I’ll post additional interventions from some of […]
The U.S. Navy New Missile Sub Will Now Cost $7.2 Billion
The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama, one of the boats the Navy plans to replace with the Columbia-class. USN *The Warzone/The Drive*: *Navy Trims New Missile Sub Cost to $7.2B, But Struggles to Keep Existing Subs Operational* The service is looking to build three subs a year, or more, but more than a dozen boats sit idle waiting for repairs. The U.S. Navy says it had gotten the average cost of each of its future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, down to almost $7.2 billion and that the project is on schedule. The latter point is especially i... more »
Patriotism, Taxes, and Trump
Robert Reich - 4 hours ago
Selling the Trump-Republican tax plan should be awkward for an administration that has made... more »
Is The U.S. And India Building An 'Aircraft Carrier' Alliance?
Image: Wikimedia Commons. *Zachary Keck, National Interest:* *Are America and India Building an 'Aircraft Carrier' Alliance?* America appears ready to provide a significant boost to India’s future aircraft carrier. According to Indian media reports, the United States and India have entered the final stages of a negotiation for Washington to equip Delhi’s future aircraft carrier with a state-of-the-art electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). Ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month, an eleven member U.S. delegation led by Rear ... more »
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, "Velvet Morning"
Liquid Mind, "Velvet Morning" Liquid Mind ® is the name used by Los Angeles composer and producer Chuck Wild of the best-selling Liquid Mind relaxation music albums. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp3BuiupOrc&feature=related
Judge Calls for Mediation in Maryland Legal Case
A federal judge has appointed a "special master" to help craft a plan to resolve a longstanding battle over whether historically Black colleges and universities in Maryland were denied the chance to attract students of other races because academic programs at HBCUs were duplicated by traditionally White institutions.
New Report Offers Best Financial Practices for Colleges’ Roles in Student Success
College affordability and a clear understanding of financial aid are among the biggest challenges low-income students pursuing a higher education face. Education experts say that colleges and universities can play a larger role in increasing student success by changing their financial aid practices, according to a new report.
Kennesaw State Embroiled in Controversy over Security of Election Data
Judging strictly by how the Center for Election Systems at Kennesaw State University is described on its official website, everything is peachy when it comes to the fact that the center is charged by the Secretary of State with ensuring the integrity voting systems throughout Georgia. “The Center maintains an arms-length working relationship with the […]
Two Things That Were Never Going To Mesh: Trump And Intelligence
Were Trump national security chief Michael Flynn and his crackpot son, Michael Flynn Jr, going to break into Fethullah Gulen's heavily guarded compound in Stroudsburg, kill all the guards, and put a bag over Gulen's head and bundle him off in a private jet to the tiny island where Billy Hayes of *Midnight Express* fame was put? All to collect $15 million from Turkey's fascist dictator, Recep Tayyip Erdogan? Sounds far-fetched even for Trump's 3 Stooges kakistocracy. But... it *was* Murdoch's stuffy *Wall Street Journal* that broke the story of how the 2 Flynn's were to be paid mi... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“NGC 253 is not only one of the brightest spiral galaxies visible, it is also one of the dustiest. Discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel in the constellation of Sculptor, NGC 253 lies only about ten million light-years distant. *Click image for larger size.* NGC 253 is the largest member of the Sculptor Group of Galaxies, the nearest group to our own Local Group of Galaxies. The dense dark dust accompanies a high star formation rate, giving NGC 253 the designation of starburst galaxy. Visible in the above photograph is the active central nucleus, also known to be a bright source o... more »
"A Little Parenthesis In Eternity...:
*Do you remember?* "Do you remember still the falling stars that like swift horses through the heavens raced and suddenly leaped across the hurdles of our wishes- do you recall? And we did make so many! For there were countless numbers of stars: each time we looked above we were astounded by the swiftness of their daring play, while in our hearts we felt safe and secure watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate, knowing somehow we had survived their fall." - Rainer Maria Rilke “We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of Infinity... more »
"The Way You Carry It..."
"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." - Lena Horne
Chet Raymo, “To Love The Darkness”
*“To Love The Darkness”* by Chet Raymo "You darkness, that I come from, I love you more than all the fires that fence in the world, for the fire makes a circle of light for everyone, and then no one outside learns of you. But the darkness pulls in everything: shapes and fires, animals and myself, how easily it gathers them! - powers and people - and it is possible a great energy is moving near me. I have faith in nights." "I have long pondered these verses by the poet Rainer Maria Rilke (here translated by Robert Bly). I think I first ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Umm Al Fahm, Haifa, Israel. Thanks for stopping by!
Here Is The Video And Images Of Three U.S. Supercarriers In Formation In The Western Pacific That You've Been Waiting For
*The War Zone/The Drive*: *These Are The Images Of Three U.S. Supercarriers In Formation You've Been Waiting For* *It may be a long time before you get to see something like this again.* Three U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are operating alongside one another in the Western Pacific through November 14th, 2017. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), USS Nimitz (CVN-68), and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), along with the Japanese helicopter carrier Ise and its destroyer escorts, are training to work cooperatively as a single punishing force. You can read all about this exercise and i... more »
China Announces A Technology Breakthrough To Be Able To Quickly Lauch Its Jets From Its Aircrtaft Carriers
*South China Morning Post*:* Breakthrough to power most advanced jet launch system on China’s second home-grown aircraft carrier* Military chiefs have given green light for new integrated propulsion system capable of powering electromagnetic catapults, experts say A technological breakthrough in naval propulsion will enable China’s second home-grown aircraft carrier to use the world’s most advanced jet launch system without having to resort to nuclear power, overcoming a huge hurdle in the vessel’s development, military sources said. The development of the integrated propulsion sy... more »
US Demand for RT FARA Registration 'Sounds Like Desperation' - Daniel McAdams
[image: undefined] The US Department of Justice has demanded that Russia's broadcaster RT America should get registered under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by Monday, November 13. Daniel McAdams, the executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, has explained that it is being done for political purposes. *Sputnik: What do you make of the move against RT? What do you see as the underlying motive for the US actions?* *Daniel McAdams*: It is the ongoing Russian hysteria. We have the government, the police that have the right to tell us what sta... more »
"What's He To Do Then?"
"You've seed how things goes in the world o' men. You've knowed men to be low-down and mean. You've seed ol' Death at his tricks... Ever' man wants life to be a fine thing, and a easy. 'Tis fine, boy, powerful fine, but 'tain't easy. Life knocks a man down and he gits up and it knocks him down agin. I've been uneasy all my life... I've wanted life to be easy for you. Easier'n 'twas for me. A man's heart aches, seein' his young uns face the world. Knowin' they got to get their guts tore out, the way his was tore. I wanted to spare you, long as I could. I wanted you to frolic with you... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "A Walk"
*"A Walk"* "My eyes already touch the sunny hill. going far ahead of the road I have begun. So we are grasped by what we cannot grasp; it has inner light, even from a distance- and changes us, even if we do not reach it, into something else, which, hardly sensing it, we already are; a gesture waves us on answering our own wave... but what we feel is the wind in our faces." - Rainer Maria Rilke
"We Are Left Alone, Staring Into The Abyss..."
“We work in the dark. We do what we can to battle with the evil that would otherwise destroy us. But, a man’s fate is defined as not a choice but a calling. Yet sometimes the weight of this burden causes us to falter, breaching the fragile fortress of our mind, allowing the monsters without to turn within and we are left alone, staring into the abyss… into the laughing face of madness.” - “Fox Mulder”, “The X-Files”
Former DNI James Clapper makes it clear that when he said there was no evidence of Trump colluding with Russia, he did NOT know about many of the things that have been revealed since he made the statement.
(I am focused on only one portion of this interview with James Clapper and John Brennan, but there is much more to learn by watching the entire clip.) Courtesy of Business Insider: *Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told CNN on Sunday that he did not know about the meeting top Trump campaign advisers took with a Russian lawyer last year at Trump Tower to obtain dirt on Hillary Clinton when he said in January that he had seen no evidence of collusion between the campaign and Moscow. * *Clapper was also not aware that a foreign policy adviser to the campaign, ... more »
The U.S. Air Force Is Getting the F-35 Ready to Crush Russia or China's Air Defenses
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Some very special training. *While the Air Force aims to prepare for the unlikely contingency of a potential engagement with near-peer rivals such as Russia or China, Air Force planners recognize that there is much more concern about having to confront an adversary which has purchased air-defense technology from the Russians or Chinese. Air Force F-35 developers emphasize that, while there is no particular conflict expected with any given specific country, the service wants to be ready for any contingency.* The Air Force F-35 is using “open air” range... more »
Russia Had a Plan to Build the Ultimate Battlecruiser
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, * The Stalingrad class would have made a fearsome line of vessels. The Soviet navy was not in great shape at the onset of the German invasion on June 22, 1941. Stalin had decimated the ranks of the naval officer corps, which greatly complicated planning, and the invasion forced many warship projects to a halt. The Soviets envisioned one of these projects, the Kronshtadt-class battlecruiser, to be faster than Germany’s Bismarck-class battleship and more powerful than the Scharnhorst. Alas, the demands of the war saw that the Kronshtadt was never buil... more »
China's Military Has a Discipline Problem. Here Is How Xi Jinping Is Trying to Fix It.
*Joel Wuthnow, Phillip Saunders* *Security, Asia* [image: Military troops march during a welcoming ceremony for U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing] Instilling discipline is critical to the PLA’s ability to achieve progress in its current cycle of reform and modernization. Among the most notable developments of China’s recently-completed 19th Party Congress was the reshuffling of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which exercises overall administrative and operational control over the two-million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Changes to both the individuals and o... more »
How Russia Could Divide NATO and Win a War
*Michael Cecire* *Security, Europe* [image: Russian Army members take part in a rehearsal for a military parade at the Red Square in Moscow] Countering provocations or pressure by adversary states like Russia should be formulated on Western strengths, and not dictated by the adversary. In September, Russia and Belarus launched the Zapad 2017 military exercises, which saw a snap mobilization of thousands of troops on Europe’s doorstep, stoking fresh fears of renewed Russian aggression. Understandably, the exercises have added fresh urgency to discussions among NATO members about ... more »
Russia May Make Another Power Play in South America
*W. Alejandro Sanchez* *Security, Latin America* [image: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a reception on the National Unity Day at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia] And it's not Venezuela this time. Russian president Vladimir Putin will travel to Bolivia to attend the fourth Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit, which will take place on November 20–24. This is President Putin’s first trip to the landlocked nation, and while Russia-Bolivia relations are not as researched and discussed as Moscow’s relations with Nicaragua or Venezuela, they are nevertheless wo... more »
How to Lose a Special Operations War in Africa
*Jonathan Marshall* *Security, Africa* [image: Nigerien soldiers stand guard at the border with Nigeria in Diffa, Niger] Trump, who long ago forgot his promise to pull back from costly military interventions abroad, is doubling down on Obama’s strategy. If national-security reporters are ever replaced by robots writing boilerplate stories, blame it on the fact that U.S. military policy has become so predictable and repetitive. Consider this *New York Times* story from 2011: “The Central Intelligence Agency is building a secret air base in the Middle East to serve as a launching ... more »
The Dangers of Challenging Iran to a Foreign Policy Fight
*Sina Toossi* *Security, Middle East* [image: An Iranian soldier stands guard in front of a picture of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the anniversary ceremony of Iran's Islamic Revolution in Behesht Zahra cemetery] Donald Trump’s recently laid out Iran policy presages full-spectrum confrontation with the Islamic Republic. The pursuit of a U.S.-led security order in the Middle East has been a drain on American blood and treasure for over half a century. Despite the outsized attention U.S. strategists have given the region, America’s interventions have serve... more »
Who Swallows North Korea after Its Collapse?
*Doug Bandow* *Security, Asia* What if stiffer sanctions, presumably ruthlessly enforced by the People’s Republic of China, led to serious unrest and upheaval in the North? Mile by mile and person by person, North Korea is the most destabilizing nation on earth. The small, poor and isolated country is building nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles. Americans who once felt invulnerable are worrying about the possibility of nuclear war. While most everyone agrees that something must be done about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, there is no consensus on what to do... more »
Planet Politics and International Relations
This is a guest post from Hannes Peltonen, Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Tampere The State of the Discipline International Politics/Relations (IR) has allegedly failed, a claim publicized periodically. Barry Buzan and Richard Little began this millennium by highlighting the discipline’s intellectual failure in the journal Millennium. More recently, an influential 2013 forum […]
Bahrain blames Iran for ‘terrorist sabotage’ of their oil pipeline – video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 P.M.) – A huge oil pipeline explosion seared the skies over Buri in northern Bahrain on Friday. The Bahraini government has decried the blast as ‘terrorist sabotage’ linked to Iran, which is a charge which the Iranian government denies. Bahraini authorities confirmed that residents had been evacuated and firefighters were able to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Large number of Syrian Army reinforcements pour into Albukamal countryside
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 P.M.) – A large number of reinforcements from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) have arrived in the Deir Ezzor Governorate, a military source told Al-Masdar News tonight. According to the military source, the reinforcements will help the Tiger Forces and 4th Division liberate the remaining territory located between the two cities of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Hariri will return to Lebanon soon
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 P.M.) – On Sunday night, former Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, conducted his first interview from Saudi Arabia since his resignation from his political post. Hariri spoke to his news network, Future TV, on Sunday evening to discuss his resignation and his abrupt departure from Lebanon on Saturday, November 4th. “My resignation […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Ten reportedly killed in US-led Coalition shelling of village in eastern Syria
A residential area of the village on the Iraqi-Syrian border and an ambulance vehicle with people inside were hit by the shelling that took place on Saturday, the Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported. The US-led international coalition tasked with fighting the terrorist group Daesh carried out airstrikes on a village near the Iraqi border […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Saudi Arabia Calls For An Emergency Arab League Meeting Over 'Iran's Interference'
Saudi Arabia on Sunday urged the Arab League to hold an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to curb Iran's intervention in the Mideast region. (Xinhua Photo) *Daily Sabah:* *Arab League to hold snap meeting on Iran at Saudi request* The Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting next Sunday at the request of Saudi Arabia to discuss "violations" committed by Iran in the region, according to an official memorandum seen Sunday. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates supported the Saudi request, which was also approved by Djibouti, the current chair of the Arab League. *Read m... more »
U.S. Military Team In Niger Investigating The Attack That Killed 4 U.S. Soldiers
Speculation has abounded in the US media, but the Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the ambush as well as the nature of the mission. AFP *The Hill:* *On-site joint military team to investigate Niger attack: report* The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has dispatched a joint military team to investigate the Niger terrorist attack last month that left four American and four Nigerian soldiers dead, the Associated Press reported Sunday. The U.S. and Niger militaries will interview residents around the village of Tongo Tongo and look into the circumsta... more »
Citations Needed, Episode 15: The Real Estate Page as Colonial Dispatch
Real Estate sections of local papers and magazines feature mostly fun, breezy profiles of the super rich buying up apartments, buildings, and houses or remodeling the ones they already own. Harmless escapist fun? Maybe. But how we write about real estate often reveals casually racist and colonial attitudes that are rarely, if ever, examined. Gentrification of American cities is often, if
Atheism and the Texas Church Shooter
[image: atheism-and-the-texas-church-shooter] “If God does not exist, everything is permitted,” wrote Fyodor Dostoevsky in *The Brothers Karamazov*. Mentioning this in association with Devin Patrick Kelley, the militant atheist who on Sunday, November 5, perpetrated the worst church shooting in U.S. history, is bound to raises hackles.
Is President Trump 'Old' And North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un 'Short And Fat'?
Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2017 *The Guardian/AP/Reuters:* *Trump says he'd never call Kim 'short and fat' in response to 'old' barb* US president tweets he tries ‘so hard to be his friend’ in a year spent trading escalating threats with the North Korean leader The US president, Donald Trump, said in a tweet on Sunday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had insulted him by calling hi... more »
We Oppose Navy Bombing the Oceans!
Incredible moving testimonies by the people in Hawaii opposing US Navy plans to bomb the hell out of the oceans killing massive amounts of sea life..... Activist Russell Wray writes about this video: I just finished watching the whole thing. There were some pretty great comments being made, some that were knock your socks off great, but, as several of the commenters stated, the whole thing is just a big show, a mere formality that the Navy is required by law to engage in, even if its just running through the outward motions. In fact, its pure illusion, as the Navy has zero inten... more »
More Holiday Madness
S’funny what people get up to on their hols. Colluding with foreign governments, drug-smuggling, trying to bring down the Ayatollahs’ government while slapping on the suntan lotion. They’re all at it. As Craig has rightly pointed out, Alan at Biased-BBC recalls a time - it seems like a lifetime, but it’s only about ten days ago - when no-one saw anything provocative in someone taking some holiday-time-out to do a spot of teaching. One minute it was a harmless-sounding sideline during a family visit, next minute it was a pretext for the mad mullahs to up the ante and double up on t... more »
Jeff Bezos' Latest Swindle
I admit, I'm a little late to the Halloween Party. I say Halloween because this Night of Long Knives against indie authors quietly took place on Halloween night. Here's what happened. Apparently, some avaricious executive douchebags sitting in an office in Amazon's HQ in Seattle got a bright idea- They didn't feel like being cut out of a significant source of revenue through the Createspace estore. Now, as anyone who knows anything about today's publishing, Createspace is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon, which means they can pretty much change whatever the fuck they wa... more »
The New Season of Curse of Oak Island Begins
Oak Island, of course. Well, the new season is off and I wasn’t disappointed. By that I mean that the same sort of hyperbole that has inflected the first seasons has returned. We have overblown hype and then the big letdown. We are told, almost from the beginning of this new episode, that storms during the winter have battered Oak Island and done damage. The road that lead around the perimeter of the island has been eroded to the point of nonexistence and that will prevent them from getting the big equipment in to location of the old Money Pit. We see parts of the road that look li... more »
Sarcasm, passive aggression and the BBC
Donald Trump's sarcastic tweet about the big-boned North Korean god-dictator... ...has been described by Sky News, quite rightly, as "sarcastic". (It's the sort of thing I'm rather prone to too). BBC News, however, calls it "passive aggressive" - which, surely, isn't quite *le mot juste *here. Both terms however - "passive aggressive" and "sarcastic" - fit neatly together in a new article on the BBC News website tonight by BBC reporter Aleem Maqbool: The whole thing is quite breathtaking (so please keep your inhalers close at hand before you read it). Seriously, please read... more »
John Podesta met with smear firm Fusion GPS after the “Trump Dossier” was published
John Podesta previously testified that he did not know who paid for the fake news dossier. More The post John Podesta met with smear firm Fusion GPS after the “Trump Dossier” was published appeared first on The Duran.
Lebanon's Prime Minister-in-limbo, Saad Hariri Vows That He Will Return To Lebanon In The Coming Days
*ABC News: **Lebanon's PM Saad Hariri vows return to nation 'very soon' amid doubts over his freedom* Lebanon's Prime Minister-in-limbo, Saad Hariri, has broken his silence more than a week after he announced his shock resignation from the Saudi Arabian capital. He attempted to dismiss reports he has been held by his Saudi patrons under some form of duress and foreshadowed greater confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said he was "completely free" in Saudi Arabia and could leave any time he wished. But hours before the interview went to air, Lebanon's President Michel ... more »
Healthcare? "Who Actually Is Reviewing All Those Preauthorization Requests?"
*"Who Actually Is Reviewing All Those Preauthorization Requests?"* by Milton Packer MD "Several months ago, I was invited to give a presentation about heart failure to a group of physicians who meet every month for a lunch meeting. Don't worry. No company sponsored the talk, and I did not receive any payment. I accepted the invitation, because it seemed like to good thing to do. However, the audience was a bit unusual for me. Among the 25 physicians in the room, nearly all were in their 70s and 80s. All were retired, and none were actively involved in patient care. I guess that expl... more »
It appears that not even Fox News can continue to provide cover for Roy Moore.
Courtesy of Newsweek: *On Friday night, Sean Hannity opened his prime time Fox News program by playing an audio recording of his interview, conducted on his radio show the day before, with former Alabama chief justice Roy S. Moore, now running for a Senate seat from that state. Hannity then turned to a panel of three pundits, asking them whether Moore sufficiently defended himself against the damning allegations of child molestation and sexual misconduct that surfaced in The Washington Post the day before.* *“You ended his candidacy,” declared Geraldo Rivera, citing Moore’s inab... more »
Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan Rejects ‘Moderate Islam’. Labels It As An Attempt By The West To Weaken Islam
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. © AFP *RT:* *Erdogan rejects ‘moderate Islam’ as a Western tool to weaken Muslims * The idea of ‘moderate Islam’ was invented by the West and is being used to weaken the ancient religion, Turkey’s President Recep Erdogan has said in reference to Saudi Arabia’s reforms, while also lashing out at the EU’s “discrimination” of Muslims. Last month, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, vowed to restore “moderate” Islam to the kingdom considered to be "home" of the religion. The Gulf monarchy currently follows a Salafist or Wahha... more »
X22 Report, “The Economy Declined Further And Nobody Noticed, Get Prepared”
X22 Report, “The Economy Declined Further And Nobody Noticed, Get Prepared” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG7UGk3alUg
US Military aims at the Mosquito PLAGUE in Puerto Rico
Since Hurricane Maria slammed into and devastated the Island of Puerto Rico, municipalities have been reporting “an alarming increase in mosquitoes.” So, in order to combat the plague, the Health Department announced that spraying will begin in the coming days, thanks to help from the U.S. Department of Defense.RELATED STORY: Beekeeper’s Bees Die Right After Aerial
Photobiomodulation shows great promise for athletes, chronic pain syndromes and more
By Dr. Mercola Light is perhaps one of the most underappreciated healing agents available. James Carroll, an expert in light as therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, has the ambitious goal of making photobiomodulation a first-line therapy for 100 diseases in 100 countries, by the time he’s 100 years old — which is about 45 years
Children who inhaled this essential oil for 30 days significantly improved their ADHD
By Dr. Mercola About 11 percent of U.S. children (or 6.4 million) have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by a pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity that interferes with learning, daily functioning and relationships. Rates have been increasing by about 5 percent a year. Among very young children (2 to 5
The Illusion of Choice in the Taproom
*-by Austin Frerick,candidate for Congress, IA-03* We’re living in a golden age for craft breweries. Data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau show the number of U.S. breweries grew from 398 in 2007 to 5,766 in 2015. Craft breweries are a great example of innovative new small businesses challenging monopolistic incumbents. More than 98% of all breweries are locally owned small businesses. These are the type of businesses that grow our local economies. But the beer monopolies are clever. Anheuser-Busch InBev and MolsonCoors sell 71% of all beer in the USA, which leaves very little... more »
Trouble with Twitter Tribbles
Veering wildly off-topic (even though our blog's sub-heading allows us to go as 'off-topic' as we like), why does my Twitter feed keep on recommending William Shatner for me to follow in my 'Who to follow' suggestions?
Greg Hunter, “Moment of Implosion Coming”
Gregory Mannarino, “Moment of Implosion Coming” Trader/analyst Gregory Mannarino says,"We are now under an umbrella of debt, which can only get worse. It can never be paid back. It keeps getting bigger and bigger. There is going to be a moment of implosion when the debt based economic model cannot function anymore. Then everything grinds to a halt. That’s it, it’s party over.” Mannarino also says don’t expect the Fed or any other central bank to come in and blow another bubble when this one pops. Mannarino warns, “This time the Fed cannot do anything. There can be no bailout, ther... more »
Chevening "Scholarships" and Modern Day Imperialism
*November 13, 2017* (Joseph Thomas - NEO) - In 1983 the British government created Chevening as an international award scheme aimed at developing what it calls "global leaders." It is funded and directed by the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and includes both scholarships and fellowships for individuals selected by British embassies around the world. The Chevening website itself states: *Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network exten... more »
AIM West Conference Nov. 20 -- 21, 2017
AIM-WEST hosts the annual American Indian Movement (AIM) West Coast Summit/Conference When: Monday and Tuesday, November 20-21, 2017. Where: 2969 Mission/26th Street, San Francisco Time: 10 am to 6 pm daily. opening prayer/close Why: From Alaska to Big Mountain to Standing Rock, We are Still Strong! The public is welcome. Webcast on Earthcycles.net Dennis Banks Memorial
Leaks From The N.S.A. Has Damaged Morale Within The Agency, Slowed Intelligence Operations, And Its Tools Are Now Being Used Worldwide In Attacks On Civilians And Businesses
*Image f*rom Al Jazeera *New York Times*: *Security Breach and Spilled Secrets Have Shaken the N.S.A. to Its Core * *A serial leak of the agency’s cyberweapons has damaged morale, slowed intelligence operations and resulted in hacking attacks on businesses and civilians worldwide.* WASHINGTON — Jake Williams awoke last April in an Orlando, Fla., hotel where he was leading a training session. Checking Twitter, the cybersecurity expert was dismayed to discover that he had been thrust into the middle of one of the worst security debacles ever to befall American intelligence. Mr. Wi... more »
DC to Honor Famous Crack Head With Statue
This is just another reason the District of Columbia should never be considered for statehood. In this day and age where American historical figures are being torn down, their reputations as well as monuments, the irony should not be lost on anyone that the District of Columbia is about to erect a statue to a crack head and convicted felon, two time corrupt former mayor of DC, Marion"the bitch set me up"Barry. "Nearly 3 years after Marion Barry’s death, a bronze statue of the legendary former D.C. mayor is taking shape, and *photos released* this week provide a sneak peak at what ... more »
Bad Bear 'Walking for the Salmon' Photos, Seattle to San Francisco 2017
. Bad Bear 'Walking for the Salmon' Photos, Seattle to San Francisco 2017 Western Shoshone Carl Bad Bear Sampson is on the Walk for the Salmon, Seattle to San Francisco. "We did 60 miles today, walking and running in groups," Bad Bear said after they passed alongside the Rogue River, Siskiyou National Forest, on Oregon's coastline. Thank you Bad Bear for
Was an Aquarium Employee Emasculated After a Sexual Assault on an Octopus?
A lurid report about an aquatic animal encounter gone wrong was fake news.
Intense footage of Syrian Army troops battling ISIS near Albukamal
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued military operations on Saturday around the region of Albukamal, the last position of the so-called Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in the Deir Ezzor province. SAA operations around Albukamal were in full force to fully liberate the area from IS. The Islamic State was […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Lebanese President calls for Beirut marathon to become Hariri solidarity protest
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:15 P.M.) – Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for the country’s annual Beirut marathon to become a sports protest in solidarity with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a call for his return, in an announcement made on Saturday from the Lebanese presidential palace in Beirut. Aoun called on participants of the annual […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army keeps advancing towards Idlib, new town captured
BEIRUT, LEBANN (9:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their offensive in the northeastern countryside of the Hama Governorate, Sunday, targeting Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s last positions near the Idlib provincial border. Following their big advance on Saturday, the Syrian Arab Army’s Qalamoun Shield forces attacked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions at the town of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Aid convoy enters rebel stronghold as per de-escalation deal
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (9:30 P.M.) – Trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered the rebel heartland of Douma as per an agreement with the Syrian government. The operation was supervised by the UN’s Red Cross and Red Crescent. According to informed sources, 26 trucks loaded with basic needs, vaccines and medicine have made it to Jaish al-Islam-controlled […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
‘Syrian regime wants me dead’ – Saad Hariri from Saudi Arabia
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:10 P.M.) – In his first interview from Saudi Arabia since his resignation, Saad Hariri told Future TV his reasons for leaving Lebanon abruptly. “My resignation was in Lebanon’s best interest,” Hariri began. The former prime minister would then tell Future TV that he will return to Lebanon and that he is not […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS turns former US base in Iraq into gruesome mass grave
Iraqi authorities have revealed that several mass graves containing the remains of at least 400 civilians executed by Daesh (ISIS) have been found at a former US military facility in the country’s Kirkuk Governorate. “We are now standing at al-Bakara base, that was once a headquarters for US troops before being a site for IS […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Jihadist offensive in northern Hama takes disastrous turn
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:00 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-Izza launched an offensive on Sunday to retake the northern Hama villages they lost to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) earlier in the week. Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-Izza attacked the villages of Baleel and Al-Zafghriyah in northern Hama, hoping […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Thousands of Syrians return home after successful ceasefires around the country: Russian MoD
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that the negotiations on joining ceasefire regime continued with field commanders of the armed opposition in the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, and Quneitra. Meanwhile, Russian military officials also reported that one more settlement in Syria’s Homs province has joined the ceasefire regime in the war-torn country […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iraqi military enforcement reaches Iraq-Turkey border
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:50 P.M.) – Iraqi military enforcement arrived to the region of the Iraq-Turkey border, near the northwestern city of Faysh Khabur, on Sunday. Heavily armed troops were seen deployed along the border, standing in close proximity to artillery and posted on vehicles displaying the Iraqi flag. The Iraqi Armed Forces took control of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army attempts to secure Albukamal countryside before storming city – video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) recently lost the imperative border-city of Albukamal after a large counter-attack by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS). Since losing Albukamal, the Syrian Arab Army has launched a new attack that is focused on retaking the large area controlled by the Islamic State outside the city. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Robert Mueller investigation now shifting attention to Donald Trump.
Courtesy of the Daily Beast: *Sam Clovis, co-chairman of President Donald Trump’s election campaign, has reportedly been questioned over whether Trump and his top aides’ knew the extent of his campaign team’s contacts with Russia during last year’s election. One source cited by Reuters has described Clovis as “another domino” to fall after former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts late last month. Investigators are now trying to piece together how far up the chain of command such Russia contacts went, a... more »
Nazanin
Alan at *Biased BBC* has ferreted out a 1st November report from the *Independent* that, in the light of everything that's followed on the Boris/Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe story, makes for fascinating reading. It shows how *un*controversial and widely-welcomed Mr Johnson's remarks were until, a few days later, they suddenly became controversial and widely-reviled. The game-changer was an Iranian judicial decision (if it can be dignified with such a term) to bring her back to court on the basis of Boris's remarks. Partisans here are getting fired up, and - weirdly - Brexit seems... more »
U.S. And Russia Commit To Expelling Iranian Forces From The Israeli-Syrian Border
IDF tanks are seen along the Golan Heights border with Syria. (photo credit:REUTERS) *Jerusalem Post*: *US, Russia commit to expelling Iranian forces from Israeli-Syrian border* Israeli officials have repeatedly voiced concerns over the growing Iranian presence on its borders and the smuggling of sophisticated weaponry to Hezbollah from Tehran to Lebanon via Syria. Russia has committed to expelling Iranian-backed forces from the border with Israel on the Golan Heights as part of a ceasefire agreement in southern Syria signed with the United States and Jordan. According to a sen... more »
Quote of the Day: "No political system can establish universal rationality by law, but..."
*"No political system can establish universal rationality by law (or by force). But capitalism is the only system that functions in a way that rewards rationality and penalises all forms of irrationality, including racism."* ~ Ayn Rand, from her 1963 article 'Racism' Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.
Even More Lies Progressives Tell To Themselves!
A progressive regarding the world. Be careful what you buy from him! (c) Can Stock Photo / ezumeimages In my last essay I was only able to cover two of the major subsidiary lies progressives tell to both themselves and to others. By subsidiary I mean the falsehoods are told to buttress progressives’ ability to […] The post Even More Lies Progressives Tell To Themselves! appeared first on A Divided World.
Corey Haim’s Mother Names the Man She Said Sexually Assaulted Her Son
[image: corey haim]After Dominick Brascia accused Charlie Sheen of molesting Corey Haim when he was 13, Haim's mother is now claiming she witnessed Brascia abusing her son.
SOMETIMES THE FOX NEWS HYPOCRITES MAKE IT TOO EASY
On Fox News this weekend, Jeanine Pirro implied that we should dismiss allegations of child molestation against Roy Moore because the events in question weren't recent: To vindicate of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore ... Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro invoked the it-was-a-long-time-ago defense. While Pirro did not outright accuse the *Washington Post* report of being false, she did defend Moore in a number of roundabout ways. “Right now, it’s 40 years later. I doubt there could be a charge filed here. The guy has been investigated a million times, Roy Moore, apparently more th... more »
Mark Mardell goes too far
It always amazes me how Mark Mardell has managed to get away with years of biased broadcasting without ever getting his comeuppance. (No offence!) Today, however, the effluent may have finally hit the apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation. Yes, he went too far even for Radio 4 audiences, who famously know their punk. On today's *The World this Weekend*, Mark described The Clash as "probably the most important punk band ever". Oh dear! "No, that was The Sex Pistols", went up a cry which shook the world. This is the biggest bias ... more »
Anatomy of a purge: MBS’s actions, Saudi Arabia’s crisis, and its coming collapse
Understanding the man and the reasons behind the Saudi purge More The post Anatomy of a purge: MBS’s actions, Saudi Arabia’s crisis, and its coming collapse appeared first on The Duran.
Understanding the Libya disaster will lead to a resolution in North Korea
Libya: The forgotten reason why North Korea desperately wants nuclear weapons. More The post Understanding the Libya disaster will lead to a resolution in North Korea appeared first on The Duran.
Science of the Whole: Integrating Matter & Spirit
*Chris Thomson* - Science today is a double-edged sword. The post Science of the Whole: Integrating Matter & Spirit appeared first on Waking Times.
Game-Changing Study: Epigenetic Memories are Passed Down 14 Successive Generations
*GMI Reporter* - Until recently, it was believed that our genes dictate our destiny. The post Game-Changing Study: Epigenetic Memories are Passed Down 14 Successive Generations appeared first on Waking Times.
Hubris and Nemesis
A Sunday in late 2017 wouldn't be a Sunday in late 2017 if the politics wasn't dominated by more Tory infighting and backbiting. Characteristically the Prime Minister is nowhere to be seen (has anyone spotted her of late?), instead the Tory travails now turn upon the return of the Boris Johnson/Michael Gove double act. Yes, they're back. The lust for power now trumps even public betrayal and humiliation. I'm left wondering who's going to knife who first, but I digress. Since May brought Gove back into the cabinet in what can only be described as an act of desperation, the two have ... more »
Who Owns the U.S. Debt?
[image: who-owns-the-u-s-debt] Once again, the federal government is spending more money that it raises and is placing the people of the United States in danger of permanent indebtedness.
"Nobody said it would be his hard"
This past week saw Radio 4 broadcast the second series of former BBC Brussels correspondent Chris Morris's *Brexit: A Guide for the Perplexed*. I found the last series to be heavily anti-Brexit biased - as you can read *here *- so I'll admit that I wasn't expecting something particularly neutral or particularly nutritious (mentally-speaking) this time round either. And, yes, this series followed on - in more ways than one - from the last one. But if you really want to study BBC bias in action then please listen to the episode on immigration. If there's one subject guaranteed ... more »
Russian President Putin Remarks On The Mueller's Investigation Of Paul Manafort
Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva *The Hill:* *Putin denies connection to Manafort, Wilbur Ross* Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday denied any connections between his country and President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, claiming that such ties are false rumors being propagated by the U.S. leader's political opponents. During a briefing at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vietnam, Putin also dismissed reports that C... more »
"IF It Proves True" Is A Very Disingenuous Trope Republicans Are Using To Protect Their Own Asses
The Democrats were going to win big in the 2006 midterms. An anti-Bush/anti-GOP wave had been building in intensity and reach for months. In the end, the Republicans lost a net of 30 seats, and although the DCCC elected mostly Blue Dogs and New Dems from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party who were never going to be able to hold their seats-- they've pretty much all been subsequently defeated-- among the GOP scumbags who were defeated were real villains like Dick Pombo (R-CA), Jim Ryun (R-KS), Charles Taylor (R-NC), J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), John Sweeney (R-NY), Curt Weldon (R... more »
Putting up the Christmas tree conundrum...
*how early is too early?* My mother always told us the story of her childhood when there was no sign of Christmas in her home until Christmas day. Her and her siblings were not permitted to come downstairs on Christmas morning until my grandma put a Christmas record on the gramophone and called for them. The tree would be up and and decorated with real candles blazing, wrapped gifts, and a fabulous Christmas breakfast. Seriously - how do you put real candles on a Christmas tree? Anyhoo, there was an article at Daily Mail today about people putting their trees as early as *August*... more »
Donald Trump kinda sorta tries to walk back his statement of belief in Vladimir Putin when he says he did not interfere in the 2016 election.
Courtesy of Reuters: *At a news conference in Vietnam, Trump distanced himself from remarks he made on Saturday in which he suggested he believed Putin when he said there had been no Russian meddling in the election that took him to the White House. * *The comments had drawn criticism at home because U.S. intelligence agencies have long since concluded there was Russian meddling. * *“As to whether I believe it or not, I’m with our agencies, especially as currently constituted,” Trump said at a news conference with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. * *“As currently led, by fi... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 12
1914 British forces in Fao launched reconnaissance in force near Salhan, Basra 1927 Kurdish MP Rowanduzi said Shiites and Kurds both opposed govt conscription 1963 Baath founder Aflaq went to Iraq to solve internal Baath dispute Led to removal of most leaders of 63 coup and rise of Arif within military 1968 68 coup member Nasir al-Hani special adv to Pres Bakr assassinated 1997 UN Resolution 1137 demanded Iraq allow full and unhindered weapons inspections 1997 Wall St Journal OpEd by David Wurmser called for US supporting INC and revolt in Iraq 1998 Iraq Amb to UN told military ... more »
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