11:32 pm MST
Tweets For Today
#UPDATE Donald Trump's first anniversary as US president is marred by chaos as lawmakers traded bitter recriminations over a government shutdown https://t.co/B80yVzB3II pic.twitter.com/fJFZIwje1R — AFP news agency (@AFP) January 21, 2018 Clashes continue over disputed Honduras election result https://t.co/TP0q0qiJUZ — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 21, 2018 #UPDATE Gunmen kill at least five people and wound eight in an ongoing attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel, as panicked guests are seen climbing over balconies to escape https://t.co/ICNNahZlE3 pic.twitter.com/BMvy... more »
Pentagon Predicts The Government Shutdown Will Increase Weapons Costs
*Business Insider/Reuters:* *Government shutdown predicted to increase weapons costs for the Pentagon* * A US government shutdown is predicted to stall defense contracts and ultimately increase weapons costs. * The potential shutdown could cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the Defense Department, or even billions government-wide in terms of legal disputes over contracts. * The Defense Department has the biggest portion of discretionary spending. A U.S. government shutdown will stall new defense department contracts and ultimately increase the costs of weapons, creating even ... more »
The U.S. Military Is Learning to Love the Stinger Missile—Again
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, * A blast from the past. The FIM-92 Stinger missile was *the* man-portable air defense system of choice for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps (and a handful of action heroes during the 1980s and 90s, plus some Afghan, uh, “freedom fighters”). Since the end of the Cold War, the Department of Defense has drifted away from the infrared homing missile; the Global War on Terror’s emphasis on counterinsurgency tactics led to a decline in funding for short-range air defense systems (SHORAD). But with the Pentagon adopting an increasingly rigid p... more »
China May Have Solved the One Thing That Was Poised to Stop Its Military Rise
*Eugene K. Chow* *Security, Asia* Beijing is now able to make strong jet engines. Chinese engineering has become so advanced that German jet engines could soon get a major boost from China. Officials in China have begun talks to sell sophisticated aerospace technology and manufacturing equipment to Germany for the production of high-performance jet engines. As China moves to rapidly build its commercial and military aviation industry, the nation has made significant engineering breakthroughs, most notably in turbine blades, which convert the heat from fuel combustion into thrus... more »
The Chinese Are on the Verge of Dominating a New Domain: Near Space
*Task and Purpose, Robert Work* *Security, Asia* What will Trump do? In November 2017, the Chinese conducted two flight tests of an operational prototype of a missile known as the DF-17. They represented the first flights of a ballistic missile designed to employ a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). The successful tests marked the end of a concerted — and successful — Chinese effort to exploit and dominate a new operating domain: near space. This domain, little discussed, extends from about 100,000 feet to about 350,000 feet above the surface of the Earth. It’s a novel and tricky a... more »
Russia Just Might Have the Perfect Weapon to Crush 'Swarm' Attacks
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Middle East* They won't know what hit them. Early in the morning of January 6, Russian radars stationed around Latakia, Syria detected no less than thirteen kamikaze drones approaching. Ten of the explosive-laden unmanned vehicles streaked towards Hmeimim airbase, while three others swooped towards the Russian naval base at Tartus. Just a week earlier, Hmeimim had sustained a mortar attack that killed two personnel and likely damaged several aircraft. According to Moscow, electronic-warfare assets allowed them to take control of six of the drones. T... more »
How the Russian Army Saved Leningrad from Hitler
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* Both the Red Army and German Army suffered heavy casualties during winter fighting in 1943–44. The latter half of 1943 had German forces in the east staggering under a series of hammer blows that saw the Soviet Red Army advance hundreds of kilometers westward on the central and southern sectors of the Eastern Front. After the massive battle in the Kursk salient, the Soviets launched their first great summer offensive late in July. In a month and a half, Smolensk, Bryansk, and Kirov had been liberated in the central sector, with German ... more »
Is America's Alliance with Turkey Worth It?
*Ted Galen Carpenter* *Security, Middle East* Ankara’s international conduct now threatens to eliminate the most fundamental basis for considering Turkey a U.S. ally. The most basic feature that the United States should expect from an ally is consistent, reliable behavior that benefits U.S. policy objectives. Ideally, since America regards itself as a champion of democracy and freedom, an ally should embody those values as well, but Washington has never been a stickler for that standard. Indeed, the United States has a sordid history of collaboration with undemocratic, even odiou... more »
Palestine's Outdated Leadership Threatens Its Future
*Mohammed Ayoob* *Security, Middle East* [image: Demonstrators wave Palestinian flags during clashes with Israeli troops, near the border with Israel in the east of Gaza City January 12, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem] The octogenarian Mahmoud Abbas is out of tune with the current thinking among younger Palestinians. On the face of it, it appears absurd that tiny, disarmed and occupied Palestine would threaten to derecognize Israel, the Middle East’s dominant military power and the United States closest ally in the region. However, this is exactly what happened last Monday when the... more »
Picture Of The Day
The S-400 Triumph air defense system deployed in the Russian city of Sevastopol, Crimea. © Sputnik/ Alexey Malgavko *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *This Week in Pictures *(January 13-19).
Because Of The Government Shutdown, U.S. Troops Overseas Will Not Be Sble To Watch The NFL Playoffs
pic.twitter.com/smBBiK8tyK — AFN Broadcasting (@AFNtelevision) January 20, 2018 *Business Insider*: *Overseas troops won't be able to watch the NFL playoffs — and more — because of the government shutdown* * The federal government is currently in a partial shutdown. * Due to the shutdown, the Department of Defense's Armed Forces Network is not operational. * This means military personnel deployed overseas are at risk of not being able to see the NFL playoffs and other programming. Deployed members of the US military rely on a few comforts while away from home — one of those being ... more »
How Do Members Of Congress Get So Rich While They're In Congress (A Full Time Job)?
*Ken Calvert* There are some really, really wealthy members of Congress, most of them-- though not all-- crooks. 7 House members are ungodly rich: *•* Darrell Issa (R-CA)- stealing cars & the starting a car alarm company-- $330,050,015 *•* Jared Polis (D-CO)- internet entrepreneur-- $313,556,22 *•* John Delaney (New Dem-MD)- bankster-- $232,816,089 *•* David Trott (R-MI)- foreclosure and eviction king-- $177,149,145 *•* Vernon Buchanan (R-FL)- used car salesman, offshore insurance and charter jets-- $115,534,558 *•* Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)- married an investment banker-- $100,643,521 *•* ... more »
Deutsche Bank Reportedly Has Evidence That Links President Trump's Son-In-Law Jared Kushner To Suspicious Bank Transactions
U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisor Jared Kushner arrive for a meeting with manufacturing CEOs at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S. February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque *Daily Mail:* *Deutsche Bank 'has evidence Jared Kushner made suspicious transactions and is ready to hand it over to Mueller'* * Deutsche Bank reportedly has evidence linking Kushner to suspect transactions * Bank has shared the information with German regulators, a report on Friday says * Mueller probe has reportedly subpoenaed Deutsche Bank for the records * Kushner, Trump's advisor and s... more »
Facebook and Google Promise Congress They’ll Brainwash You With Their Own Counter Propaganda
By John Vibes Tech giants Facebook, Google and Twitter testified to Congress this week about extremist content appearing on their platforms. In an odd admission,... more »
Can There Be Parallels In Time And History?
Op-Ed by Catherine J. Frompovich For those who don’t know history, it’s said that often they have to repeat it to learn from it. That... more »
Trump’s Policies Are Putting The Screws To Israel
By Janet Phelan The US policies in the Middle East have increasingly exacerbated the tensions in the region, turning it into a cauldron of conflict.... more »
A New Decision to Go to War in Syria
*Paul R. Pillar* *Syria Iran Israel, Middle East* Behind a façade of continuity, the deployment of U.S. armed forces in Syria for the purposes that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described in a speech this week represents a departure from what such forces were originally sent to Syria to do. The Trump administration is having U.S. troops participate indefinitely in someone else’s civil war, for reasons that are quite different from the original stated objective of helping to quash the so-called caliphate of the Islamic State (ISIS). The new reasons do not stand up to scrutiny... more »
Love Saves Lives: Trump Addresses 45th Annual March for Life
[image: love-saves-lives-president-trump-addresses-45th-annual-march-for-life] The world’s largest and most renowned pro-life event left its footprint on the nation’s capitol once again on Friday. The 45th annual March for Life welcomed tens of thousands from all over the country to peacefully protest and recognize the millions of unborn lives senselessly sacrificed at the altar of abortion. Though an occasion for grave reflection, the event typically evokes an energy and excitement in its participants. This year’s gathering was no exception, especially with the mild temperatures an... more »
Trump Plans to Relocate U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem by 2019
[image: trump-plans-to-relocate-u-s-embassy-to-jerusalem-by-2019] President Trump appears to be preparing to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by 2019.
NSA Destroys Evidence That It Pledged It Would Not Destroy
© Dado Ruvic / Reuters *The Politico:* *NSA deleted surveillance data it pledged to preserve* The agency tells a federal judge that it is investigating and 'sincerely regrets its failure.' The National Security Agency destroyed surveillance data it pledged to preserve in connection with pending lawsuits and apparently never took some of the steps it told a federal court it had taken to make sure the information wasn’t destroyed, according to recent court filings. Word of the NSA’s foul-up is emerging just as Congress has extended for six years the legal authority the agency uses ... more »
It’s Even Worse Than You Think”: David Cay Johnston on Trump’s First Year in Office
link: http://youtu.be/bJaTSZnTFcs By DemocracyNow.org:, “It’s Even Worse Than You Think”: David Cay Johnston on Trump’s First Year in Office JANUARY … Continue reading →
Longtime Trump Biographer Fears Trump Might Use Nuclear Weapons
link: http://youtu.be/wW4kUCGK1Xk By DemocracyNow.org: “David Cay Johnston: Trump is Determined to Provoke War to Draw Focus from Racist & Erratic … Continue reading →
Nuclear news – week to 20th January
Originally posted on nuclear-news: The climate of fear. An article by Tony Schwartz, biographer of Donald Trump, describes Trump’s main…
Will The Secret FISA Memo That Allegedly Reveals Wrongdoing By Senior U.S. Government Officials Be Made Public?
*Politico:* *House Republicans clash over secret memo* Republicans say the public needs to see a memo that allegedly shows shocking wrongdoing by senior U.S. law enforcement officials, but one senior Democrat calls it a misleading effort to protect the president. House Republicans are sharply divided over how to handle a classified memo that President Donald Trump’s allies say contains explosive details of misconduct by senior FBI and Justice Department officials. The memo, compiled by House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes and fellow Republicans on the panel, claims th... more »
A New Paradigm for Democratic Government Coming?
The Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. American colonists dressed as native Americans are making clear to the English their contempt for British dirigiste policies. Wikimedia Commons / Nathaniel Currier (1846) There are a very large number of reasons why we might expect a new paradigm for democratic government to arise, as I noted […] The post A New Paradigm for Democratic Government Coming? appeared first on A Divided World.
One Year Report Card
(By *American Zen*’s Mike Flannigan, on loan from Ari) *A*s with disasters such as Kennedy's assassination and 9/11, Americans years hence will be asking themselves in shell-shocked wonderment, "Where were *you* on January 20th 2017?" As the lead picture above shows, we should've taken a clue of what to expect just by looking at Barron Trump's face as he watched the historic transfer of power. To look at him, he'd seemed uncomprehending of the horrors about to unfold as well as of the stupidity and racism that went behind his father's election to the highest office in the land. ... more »
GOP Congressmen: FISA Memo Would Destroy Mueller Probe if Made Public
[image: gop-congressmen-fisa-memo-would-destroy-mueller-probe-if-made-public] On the heels of both houses of Congress reauthorizing section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), it has been reported that an “explosive,” “shocking,” “troubling” and “alarming” four-page memo was made available to members of the House of Representatives* after* they voted to approve that reauthorization. The memo details systemic and routine abuses of FISA — leading many in the House to condemn those abuses and say that the memo should be made available to the public. There are also ... more »
Did the White House Change Outgoing Message on Comment Line to Blame Democrats?
The unprecedented finger-pointing took place amid a government shutdown and looming government worker furloughs.
Real Time returned last night and Bill Maher wasted no time in courting controversy by talking about the #MeToo movement.
Maher is making some very good points here, that I think a number of us have also discussed in the past. The #MeToo movement is overall a very positive thing, but it can render itself completely ineffective if those participating do not exercise a little objectivity.
Former CIA Officer Suspected Of Spying For China May Have Exposed U.S. Spies In Russia
*NBC: **Alleged CIA China turncoat Lee may have compromised U.S. spies in Russia too* The arrest last week of a former CIA officer suspected of spying for China exposed one of the most significant intelligence breaches in American history. But the damage is even worse than first reported, sources familiar with the matter tell NBC News. A secret FBI–CIA task force investigating the case concluded that the Chinese government penetrated the CIA's method of clandestine communication with its spies, using that knowledge to arrest and execute at least 20 CIA informants, according to mu... more »
The NRA-Kremlin-Trump Triangle-- Will Mueller Sort That One Out?
Thursday, McClatchy ran a pretty eye-popping piece by Peter Stone and Greg Gordon, FBI investigating whether Russian money went to NRA to help Trump. The jist of it was that Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of Russia’s central bank-- a Putin crony-- was illegally funneling cash to the Trump campaign via the NRA. [T]he NRA reported spending a record $55 million on the 2016 elections, including $30 million to support Trump-- triple what the group devoted to backing Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race. Most of that was money was spent by an arm of the NRA that... more »
The Left's Long National Nightmare. It's Only Just Begun
* Weapons at the Ready, t**he Military **Insure Barky and Mooshell Depart Washington - January 20, 2017* One of the great pleasures of the last 12 months has been watching the left, from Ivory Towers of Higher Learning to Major Network Organizations and their Late Night Hacks to Lefty bloggers, gleefully make epic fools of themselves. I particularly have enjoyed some websites falling flat on their faces in pathetic attempts at anti-Trump humor, and their inability (or perhaps just outright refusal) to discern the truth. One in particular, a known vile little bunch with an extreme c... more »
Jan.20: The Future is Very Near.
I had just finished some seven hours of writing it when my blog disappeared. I have no idea why. I shall try again - but this may be a short one. _______________________________________________________________ A new Gallup Poll says that Americans trust the standard news media more than web media (like this one.) It's one of those polls that will get a lot of attention - but which really tell us nothing. 1. How many Americans have the ability to judge news media of any sort? 2. How many have never watched any web media at all? 3. The percentage of Americans who trust their commercial m... more »
Russian, U.S. Top Diplomats And Military Chiefs Discuss Syria As Turkey's Military Attacks Kurdish Positions In Northwestern Syria
US State Secretary Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. © Alexander Scherbak/TASS *Xinhua:* *Russian, U.S. top diplomats discuss Syria after Turkish offensive * MOSCOW, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed ensuring stability in northern Syria by phone Saturday, after Turkey started bombing Kurdish forces in Afrin in northern Syria. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov and Tillerson also discussed promoting a peaceful settlement of the Syrian conflict under the auspices of the United... more »
The fake ‘Trump is racist’ issue
CFACT Senior Policy Advisor Paul Driessen reports that, as Barack Obama indicated, some people are living on "a different planet," but that it is Mr. Obama and his ilk who are living in a fantasy world. Most people want lower energy costs, more jobs, more food on the table, and more freedom. They do NOT want the austerity that the radical greens demand.
Science Updates!
*== We are still busy, even while sabotaged ==* Among my messages that get the most buzz, is proclaiming that we need to be militant and proud! This spectacular and near-miraculous, scientific civilization can only be defended by folks who start by admitting it's wonderful. That the incessant campaign to undermine science - and every other fact-using profession - is an existential threat... not just to our nation, civilization and survival... but to something that may even be crucial to our galaxy. Make no mistake, among all of the fact-using professions, science is the one that mo... more »
Booker Responds To Bob Ward’s Letter
By Paul Homewood Last week, Bob Ward, in a self serving letter to the Telegraph, tried to persuade us that several recent extremely cold US winters did not actually happen, in response to an article by Booker about the latest freeze up in New England. Unfortunately, this line of argument had already been challenged […]
Turkish Air Force bombs largest Syrian airbase in northern Aleppo
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 P.M.) – The Turkish Air Force has bombed the largest Syrian airbase in northern Aleppo tonight, marking the first time during the Syrian War that this military installation has been bombed by a foreign entity. According to pro-YPG activists, the Turkish Air Force bombed the Mennagh Airbase near the Afrin Canton, targeting […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian government officially condemns Turkish military operation in Afrin
Earlier on Saturday, Ankara has officially kicked off a military operation codenamed “Olive Branch” against Kurdish forces in the Syrian city of Afrin, and claimed it had notified the Syrian government about it. The Syrian side has reportedly denied receiving any notification. Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Turkey’s move was another violation of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army launches powerful assault in Harasta
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (9:15 P.M.) – Led by the Republican Guard and the 4th Division, Damascus-based Syrian Army units launched a major operation in the Harasta-Erbeen sector of east Damascus. The offensive took off following a barrage of Joulan and UR-77 missile strikes on the targeted area of operations. Infantry units began storming the area […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Afrin targeted by widespread ‘Olive Branch’ bombing raids
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:10 P.M.) – Turkish war planes have launched airstrikes on Kurdish positions in Afrin at 14:00 GMT, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the launch of the military operation dubbed ‘Olive Branch’. The President also declared that the next destination for the Turkish forces would be Syria’s Manbij. Turkey views the People’s […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army capture 10 villages as rebels plunge into full retreat near Abu Duhour
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (9:35 P.M.) – Backed by allies, the Syrian Army took no rest after the conquest of the strategic Abu Duhour Airbase positioned on the border between Aleppo and Idlib provinces. The rapid advance would sweep through ten villages located in the vicinity of the airbase taking by storm the following: Al-Jafra, Mashirft Al-Haj, Mashirfa […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS scores big advance in southern Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANONN (8:55 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS) resumed their offensive in the southern part of Damascus this weekend, targeting the Islamist rebel positions inside the city of Hajar Al-Aswad. ISIS began the assault by storming Jaysh Al-Islam’s positions along Al-Zein Street in Hajar Al-Aswad; this attack resulted in a series of intense clashes […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS Still Has Many Supporters In Syria And Iraq
Syrian fighters celebrate victory over ISIS in Raqqa on Oct. 17. Erik De Castro / Reuters *NBC:* *ISIS still has up to 10,000 loyalists in Syria and Iraq, warn experts* WASHINGTON — The Iraqi government has declared victory over ISIS, and President Donald Trump has taken credit for the Islamic caliphate's collapse. "ISIS is now giving up, they are giving up, there are raising their hands, they are walking off. Nobody has ever seen that before," said the president during an October interview on WMAL's "The Chris Plante Show." But experts both in and outside the U.S. government war... more »
X22 Report, “The Greatest Push To Start WW III Has Just Begun”
X22 Report, “The Greatest Push To Start WW III Has Just Begun” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HbXckz-Xyw
Musical Interlude: Neil H, “The Remembering”
Neil H, “The Remembering” - https://www.youtube.com/
"A Look to the Heavens"; "Only One Of Each Of Us..."
"A gorgeous spiral galaxy some 100 million light-years distant, NGC 1309 lies on the banks of the constellation of the River (Eridanus). NGC 1309 spans about 30,000 light-years, making it about one third the size of our larger Milky Way galaxy. Bluish clusters of young stars and dust lanes are seen to trace out NGC 1309's spiral arms as they wind around an older yellowish star population at its core. *Click image for larger size.* Not just another pretty face-on spiral galaxy, observations of NGC 1309's recent supernova and Cepheid variable stars contribute to the calibration of the... more »
Chet Raymo, “Telling Stories: ‘Real’ Life”
*“Telling Stories: ‘Real’ Life”* by Chet Raymo "If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." - William Blake "I have just finished reading Brian Greene's new book, “The Fabric of the Cosmos”. As with his earlier book, “The Elegant Universe”, he does a damn good job explaining the almost unexplainable - string theory, braneworlds, multiple universes, and all that. None of this stuff has an empirical basis, and is not likely to for the foreseeable future. So does it qualify as science? Well, yes, barely. Because in principle... more »
The Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke, "Do You Remember?"
*"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
"There Is A Theory..."
“There is a theory which states that if ever for any reason anyone discovers what exactly the Universe is for and why it is here it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another that states that this has already happened.” - Douglas Adams
"Quite Insane..."
“Life calls the tune, we dance.” - John Galsworthy “Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” - Angela Monet
“Is the Universe a Simulation?”
*“Is the Universe a Simulation?”* by Edward Frenkel “In Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita,” the protagonist, a writer, burns a manuscript in a moment of despair, only to find out later from the Devil that “manuscripts don’t burn.” While you might appreciate this romantic sentiment, there is of course no reason to think that it is true. Nikolai Gogol apparently burned the second volume of “Dead Souls,” and it has been lost forever. Likewise, if Bulgakov had burned his manuscript, we would have never known “Master and Margarita.” No other author would have written th... more »
What do the Ice Core Bubbles Really Tell Us?
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: Guest Opinion: Dr. Tim Ball At a recent public presentation titled “Whither the Weather” the most frequently asked question popped up once gain. “How do they know the temperatures from thousands of years ago, as in the Antarctic ice record.” I gave the standard answer about layers of…
Congressmen: FISA Memo Exposes Surveillance Abuses, Destroys Mueller Probe, Should Be Made Public
[image: congressmen-fisa-memo-exposes-surveillance-abuses-destroys-mueller-probe-should-be-made-public] On the heels of both houses of Congress reauthorizing section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), it has been reported that an “explosive,” “shocking,” “troubling” and “alarming” four-page memo was made available to members of the House of Representatives* after* they voted to approve that reauthorization. The memo details systemic and routine abuses of FISA — leading many in the House to condemn those abuses and say that the memo should be made available to t... more »
Las Vegas Gunman Was Germophobe, Possibly Bipolar
Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock was a high-stakes gambler on a losing streak, obsessed with cleanliness, possibly bipolar and was having difficulties with his live-in girlfriend.
Did Trump Criticize Obama for a Lack of Leadership During the 2013 Government Shutdown?
Citizen Donald Trump criticized President Barack Obama during the 2013 government shutdown for failing to "get everyone in a room" to "make a deal."
California Governor Denies Parole for Manson Follower Leslie Van Houten
Gov. Brown said in his decision that despite Van Houten saying at her parole hearing that she accepts full responsibility for her crimes, she still lays too much of the blame on Manson,
Now about that #ReleaseTheMemo hashtag that is trending on Twitter.
Courtesy of WaPo: *A document described by House Republicans as a top-secret memo about surveillance “abuse” contains talking points focused on discrediting Fusion GPS, the firm that hired a British ex-spy to compile intelligence reports about alleged connections between President Trump’s associates and the Kremlin, according to people who have read it. * *It suggests that the former spy, Christopher Steele, lied to FBI agents who interviewed him during their probe of the 2016 election and that this purported lie was included in a successful application for a federal court order ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 20, 2018
President Trump and first lady Melania arrive for the state dinner with China's President Xi Jinping and China's first lady Peng Liyuan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst *Robert Delaney, Jodi Xu Klein, and Catherine Wong, South China Morning Post*:* What’s next for China-US ties as President Donald Trump begins year two at the White House?* His flip-flopping approach to relations with Beijing left everyone guessing in 2017, but no one is expecting him to behave any differently in the year ahead A year into US President Donald Trump’s presidency, hi... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Cardiff, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by!
"As Far As We Can Discern..."
"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being." - C. G. Jung
“How to Stop the Negative Voices in Your Head from Ruling Your Life”
*“How to Stop the Negative Voices in Your Head from Ruling Your Life”* By Melanie Greenberg “’Loser! You messed this up again! You should have known better!’ Sound familiar? It’s that know-it-all, bullying, mean-spirited committee in your head. Don’t you wish they would just shut up already? We all have voices inside our heads commenting on our moment-to-moment experiences, the quality of our past decisions, mistakes we could have avoided, and what we should have done differently. For some people, these voices are really mean and make a bad situation infinitely worse. Rather than e... more »
"How to Make Your Opponents Try (and Fail) to Prove a Negative"
*"How to Make Your Opponents Try (and Fail) to Prove a Negative"* by Scott Adams "Sometimes you can prove an alleged event did happen, but you generally can’t prove something did not happen. For example, if police have clear video footage of a crime in progress, several direct witnesses, and DNA evidence too, you can say they proved the defendant did the crime. But if your neighbor says an angel visited him in his bedroom at night, and there were no witnesses or physical traces left behind, you can’t prove it didn’t happen. All you can say for sure is that you don’t have any evidenc... more »
World News Briefs -- January 20, 2018
*DW:* *DW:** Turkey's Erdogan says ground offensive on Syria's Afrin has begun* President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkish forces have begun a new air and ground operation to oust Kurdish militants from Afrin. Turkey accuses the Kurdish militia YPG of being a terror group. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that a military operation against the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin, held by US-backed Kurdish militias, "has de-facto been started on the ground." "This will be followed by Manbij," he added, referring to another Kurdish-controlled Syrian town to the... more »
Can One Family Of Psychotic, Fascist Billionaires Turn 250 Years Of American History On Its Head? Meet The Mercers
Because I was asked to share a dais honoring us both, I've been covering the Mercer family-- dangerous American fascists-- longer than most. I persuaded our hosts to have two seperate ceremonies so I never got a chance to meet Mercer in person, probably a mistake. At the time he was the biggest single donor to the Ted Cruz presidential campaign-- bad enough-- although he soon took over the Trumpanzee circus and started calling all the shots at his campaign through family vassals Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Patrick Caddell, Jeff Sessions and David Bossie, as well three nefariou... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 20, 2018
Russian and Chinese servicemen shake hands during the Russian-Chinese drill "Naval Interaction-2015" at the Klerk testing grounds in Russia's Primorye Territory. © SPUTNIK/ VITALIY ANKOV *SCMP:* *Beijing hits back at US defence strategy and ‘cold war mindset’* *Moscow also criticises Pentagon’s new focus on countering China and Russia, saying it’s a confrontational approach* Beijing and Moscow have criticised the US military’s move to put countering China and Russia at the centre of its latest national defence strategy, with China again hitting back at America’s “cold war and zero-... more »
Here Is How The U.S. Government Shutdown Will Impact The U.S. Military
*Military Times*:* Troops and families: Here are some ways a shutdown could affect you* If you were around in 2013, you’ll remember the many ways the two-week government shutdown that October affected military personnel and their families: Everything from doctor’s appointments to planned relocations to death benefits. Operations that are considered essential to national security will continue during the shutdown. Defense Department officials set those ground rules; the current guidelines weren’t immediately available. But as the Friday night deadline looms for lawmakers to reach ... more »
The NSA Can Identify You By Just Listening To Your Voice
An illustration picture shows the logo of the U.S. National Security Agency on the display of an iPhone in Berlin, June 7, 2013. REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski/Files *The Intercept: **Finding Your Voice* *Forget About Siri and Alexa — When It Comes to Voice Identification, the “NSA Reigns Supreme”* At the height of the Cold War, during the winter of 1980, FBI agents recorded a phone call in which a man arranged a secret meeting with the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C. On the day of his appointment, however, agents were unable to catch sight of the man entering the embassy. At the ti... more »
Tory Cynicism: A Stoke-on-Trent Case Study
On Twitter a few weeks back, Cllr Dan Jellyman, cabinet cloak room attendant on Stoke-on-Trent City Council invited me to sign a petition pushed by fellow Tory councillor and MP for Stoke South, Jack Brereton. The issue concerns the hourly train service that runs from Crewe to Derby. This also happens to be the train I have the pleasure of commuting to work on nearly every day. The problem with the service is not punctuality (which is nearly always good) but the quality of the stock. More often than not the heating is broken or doesn't work properly, and leaky windows are a persist... more »
The Laughable Concept of Washington's Statutory Debt Ceiling
Once again, Washington finds itself dealing with the debt ceiling, an issue that seems to tie up an increasingly polarized Congress that seems to put its own best interests ahead of Main Street America. In this posting, I want to take a look at the concept of the statutory debt limit/debt ceiling and how Congress has dealt with this issue in the past. In recent years, as the federal government has added significantly to the debt through deficit spending, Congress has had to deal with the statutory debt limit on a relatively regular basis. The statutory debt limit applies to nearly... more »
Why Is Illegal Immigration - And Everything Else - Once Again More Important Than Science?
Yesterday, Democrats in the U.S. Senate which, along with the House of Representatives, form the two chambers of Congress, which are one of the three branches of government,(1) refused to fund a "continuing resolution" to essentially keep funding government as is while a long-term budget is negotiated. Once again, there are a few claims that this will mean catastrophe for science funding, but many are now saying shutting down government is necessary and even courageous. Yet this exact same event occurred two, four, five, seven and even 22 years ago and it was framed as reckless and... more »
Shutdown leaves intact subsidized Death but not Life
Military and cops will be killing anybody who opposes them, here and Over There, unimpeded. The bombs from so high up the victims can’t see the planes and the planes will be over the horizon by the time the bombs hit… and the Military will say that no civilians or kids were killed, but when […]
Much anticipated Hope Hicks interview before the House Intelligence Committee postponed.
Courtesy of CNN: *Hope Hicks' highly anticipated testimony before the House Intelligence Committee was abruptly delayed Thursday amid questions about whether the White House communications director would be able to respond to inquiries about topics after the campaign season, four sources told CNN. * *The surprise move came after Steve Bannon refused to answer scores of questions about topics during the transition and his time as President Donald Trump's chief strategist, with Bannon's attorney saying he had been instructed by the White House not to answer those questions over conc... more »
Is a “Do Not Adopt a Pitbull” Ad Airing During the Super Bowl?
It's unlikely that a dog bite attorney's anti-pitbull video will be airing during Super Bowl LII.
Turkish President Erdogan: Military Operations Have Started Against Kurdish Targets In Syria
*CNN:* *Turkish jets hammer Syrian town to oust US-backed Kurdish militia* (CNN)Turkey launched a military operation Saturday targeting Kurdish fighters in the Syrian town of Afrin, Turkish state-run news reported. The incursion, dubbed Operation Olive Branch, is likely to sharpen tensions between Turkey and the United States, which supports and openly arms Kurdish militias fighting ISIS. The operation targeting Kurdish fighters could open up a new frontier in the Syrian conflict, which has gone on for nearly seven years. Ankara has long fought Kurdish unrest in southeastern Turke... more »
Intercontinental Hotel In Afghan Capital Of Kabul Is Under Attack
Ariana News reporter tells an explosion just heard as the hotel is burning in fire. pic.twitter.com/dAnojmznfq — Ariana News (@ArianaNews_) January 20, 2018 *Daily Mail:* *BREAKING NEWS: Four gunmen 'in suicide vests shoot at guests' during attack on Intercontinental Hotel in Afghan capital of Kabul* * Four attackers are believed to be inside the luxury hotel in the Afghan capital * Security forces are fighting the men who are reportedly wearing suicide vests * They were allegedly shooting at guests and have set the fourth floor on fire Four gunmen believed to be wearing suicid... more »
How US Intelligence Failed, The Iraq-Niger Uranium Story
Within the U.S. intelligence community that story that Iraq tried to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger was never very important. It was a considered a secondary claim to other reports that Iraq had restarted its nuclear program. It would later become a huge controversy when it was included in the president’s 2003 State of the Union address, and then Vice President Dick Cheney tried to discredit former Ambassador Joseph Wilson who disputed the story. That embarrassing episode was only the public face of a larger example of the intelligence failure America suffered from in the lead u... more »
This Day In Iraqi History – Jan 20
1948 March by railway workers and students against Anglo-Iraq treaty fired upon by police killing some 1970 failed military coup against Pres Bakr led by ex-Gen Rawi and Col Samarraie backed by Iran 1970 Iran expelled Iraq’s ambassador military attache and four embassy staff over failed coup 1970 Shah of Iran opposed to Baathism’s Pan-Arabism and socialism Moved troops to border after coup leading to war scare 2003 Military Industrialization Commission ordered its director generals to come forward with any info on WMD ... more »
Turkish tanks fire shots towards Kurdish targets in Afrin
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:25 P.M.) – Footage filmed on Saturday captured Turkish armoured vehicles stationed in the southeastern province of Hatay shooting Kurdish targets in the Syrian region of Afrin, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this morning the beginning of a ground operation against Kurdish forces in Syria. According to reports, an estimated number […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
First images from captured Abu Dhuhour Military Airport
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:10 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a major advance in the Idlib Governorate, Saturday, capturing the strategic Abu Dhuhour Military Airport in the eastern part of the province. Led by the Tiger Forces, the Syrian Army was able to capture the airport after seized several towns located just south of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Jaysh Al-Islam claims over 100 Syrian Army soldiers killed in East Ghouta
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:45 P.M.) – Jaysh Al-Islam published an info-graph on Saturday that claimed at least 101 Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers were killed this year in the East Ghouta region of Damascus. In addition to killing an alleged 101 soldiers, Jaysh Al-Islam claimed they captured three military personnel, while damaging three three tanks and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Smoke rises over Afrin as Turkey targets Kurdish positions (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:25 P.M.) – Footage filmed from Turkish border province of Hatay shows smoke billowing above the Syrian city of Afrin on Saturday, as Turkey continues its ground operation against Kurdish forces in Syria. Turkish war planes have launched airstrikes on Kurdish positions in Afrin at 14:00 GMT, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
SDF announces readiness to defend Kurds from Turkish offensive in Syrian Afrin
The Arab-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the United States, on Saturday issued a statement expressing readiness to defend themselves and the Kurdish people against the Turkish military operation near the Syrian town of Afrin. “If attacked, we will have no choice but to defend ourselves and our people, but we state in front […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Russian troops withdraw from Afrin ahead of Turkish invasion
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:45 P.M.) – The Russian military has withdrawn from the Afrin Canton in northwestern Aleppo, government sources reported this afternoon. The Russian troops left their posts near the Mennagh Airport prior to the Turkish Air Force’s heavy bombardment of this area near the Afrin Canton. With the Russian withdrawal, the Turkish military now […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish-backed FSA fighters arrive in Azaz (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces arrived in the district of Azaz near Syria’s border with Turkey on Saturday. The move follows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announcement that Turkey’s bid to remove Kurdish fighters from the city of Afrin was “actively” underway. A Turkish military convoy, including tanks alongside […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russia gives Turkey ‘green light’ to use Syrian airspace: Turkish media
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:10 P.M.) – The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily alleges that Russia has given the Turkish Air Force the green light to use Syrian airspace over the Afrin Canton. If true, then Turkey will have full access of Syrian airspace to bombard several other areas in northern Syria, including Menbeij and Jarabulus. The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey dubs offensive in Afrin “Operation Olive Branch”
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:55 P.M.) – The Turkish Army has officially named its new offensive in the Afrin Canton of Aleppo “Operation Olive Branch.” The operation began this afternoon with the Turkish Air Force heavily bombarding several towns in the Afrin Canton. As a result of this bombardment, the Turkish Air Force destroyed the headquarters of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
What happens when the US M$M goes "rogue"
*US Soldier in Syria June, 2017* *Photo published with Newsweek Story* Ever since Gary Webb, one of the last real journalists in the United States, was "suicided" for breaking the Pulitzer-winning story about CIA running the drug trade in the West...I've seriously wondered...What *WOULD* happen if a mainstream media news outlet decided to publish real (not fake) news again. Well, curiously enough...I found out not too long ago. *Newsweek*, yes Newsweek that used to be a pillar of journalism in the West...that I had a weekly subscription to in the 1970's...recently decided to publ... more »
Mass Numbers Of Venezuelans Are Now Fleeing The Country
The main border crossing links Cucuta in Colombia to San Antonio de Tachira in Venezuela *BBC*:* Colombia says 550,000 Venezuelans have fled to the country* Colombia says the number of Venezuelans fleeing a severe economic crisis to live in Colombia has increased by 62% in the last six months. Migration officials say more than 550,000 Venezuelans are now living in Colombia, mostly illegally. The influx is putting pressure on the government especially in border areas to provide the migrants with food, shelter and medical care. The number of Venezuelans travelling through Colombia ... more »
Thousands of Indigenous Women are gathering on Seattle’s Capitol Hill for a massive march
People are starting to gather at Cal Anderson Park on Seattle’s Capitol Hill for the start of the Women’s March. The official program will start at 10 a.m., but organizers suggested people arrive early to avoid traffic and parking headaches. The march will be led by members of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women group who work to bring awareness to the epidemic of violence against indigenous women in the United States and Canada. The group began with opening prayers by Duwamish tribal member Blake Shelafoe and Duwamish chairwoman Cecile Hansen, who is a descendant of Chief ... more »
Of George Villiers, Charles I, Donald Trump and Andrew Marr
Charles I (l); Charles I (c); Charles I (r) Andrew Marr has a startling piece in the *Evening Standard *headlined 'Basic civility and respect must prevail over the rule of the mob'. In it he argues that we are now approaching the same situation that prevailed in the reign of Charles I in the years leading up to the Civil War thanks to social media. Back then it was inflammatory words on pamphlets and ballads and cartoons and news sheets inciting the mob; now it's inflammatory posts on Twitter and Facebook. Back then it was the Duke of Buckingham; now it's Jo Cox. Fake news then; ... more »
Plants
Becca. Not from Hereford It's not news that *Question Time *audiences are like gardens - i.e. they tend to contain plants - but it remains a fascinating feature of the programme that political parties of all stripes are stilling trying to stack its audiences in their favour, bussing in loyal activists from across the kingdom. The next step happens if and only if 'the plant' is called to speak. Then 'the plant' quickly gets 'outed' on Twitter for being a political insider and *not* just an ordinary member of the public. The viewing public, of course, remains blissfully unaware tha... more »
All Roads Lead to Morecambe
The 'For Sale' sign makes it even funnier Apropos of nothing, just some interesting facts about roads I learned today the way the BBC so often 'learns' things - by reading someone else's article!.... According to the Ordinance Survey Open Names database there are 788,340 roads with a name in Great Britain. Alphabetically, these range from Aachen Way in Halifax to Zurich Gardens in Bramhall. 'Road' is the most common suffix for road names, accounting for some 20% of the them, beating 'Close' at 15%, 'Street' at 10%, 'Lane' at 8%, and 'Avenue' at 6%. The most common road name is 'Hi... more »
Recommendation Time
"How YOU doin'?" Simon Evans, the only right-wing comedian in the BBC Radio 4 village (and, no, unlike Daffyd from *Little Britain*, he's probably not imagining that!), has a new series of *Simon Evans Goes to Market *going out at the moment on Radio 4. It's not your run-of-the-mill, predictable BBC comedy show. I came away having laughed a bit and having learned a lot, this week about the big social media corporations. It was genuinely illuminating. Very good! I'd also like to recommend this week's *The Infinite Monkey Cage* on 'The Secret Life of Birds'. (Forget your 'hatred' of ... more »
The Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us – 2004
By Paul Homewood In 2004, the Pentagon’s experts said climate change was going to destroy us all by 2024: Climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters.. A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The […]
Russia's Political Establishment Is Disappointed With President Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as Russian President Vladimir Putin stands nearby during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017 Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS *TASS:* *Trump becomes major disappointment for Russian political establishment — expert* *The expert said that Russian officials mistakenly thought that the US president’s degree of domestic political authority are comparable to that of his Russian counterpart* MOSCOW, January 20. /TASS/. Russian political decisio... more »
These Are The Ten Battles That Shaped Russia
Napoleon retreating from the burning Moscow. Wikipedia *Brandon Christensen, Real Clear History:* *10 Battles That Shaped Russia* Mother Russia. The largest country in world, by area, is filled with allure, amazing biodiversity, rich history, and beautiful vodka-drinking women. It is also home to about 145 million people that comprise over 150 different ethnic groups, and at least 50 newspapers publish their voice in a language other than Russian. From 1283 to the present-day, Russia has slowly, steadily expanded its initial territory centered at Moscow east, west, north, and south... more »
Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, "Everybody Knows"
Leonard Cohen, "Everybody Knows" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=Lin-a2lTelg
Trump’s First Year in Office Has Been a Can’t-Miss Drama
In his first year in office, Donald Trump proved to be a singular figure, casting aside norms and traditions, fighting with Republicans and Democrats alike and changing how the nation and the presidency are viewed at home and abroad.
Did President Trump Decry Babies Being ‘Born in the Ninth Month’?
The president apparently misspoke while delivering remarks to the 45th March for Life in Washington.
How Plants Sense The World
Plants somehow respond to environmental cues and dangers, especially virulent pathogens, despite a lack of eyes or ears. How is that possible? It's thanks to hundreds of membrane proteins that can sense microbes or other stresses, but only a small portion of these sensing proteins have been studied through classical genetics, and knowledge on how these sensors function by forming complexes with one another is scarce. read more
NATO Commander Wants To Challenge Russia In Both The Baltic And Black Seas
The cruiser USS San Jacinto (near) sails side by side with the Russian destroyer Admiral Chebanenko (far)(Reddit) Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense: *Outgunned Allies Must Contest Baltic, Black Seas: NATO Admiral * WASHINGTON: “When I was an ensign, a lieutenant, we knew we could beat the Russians. It was just a question of time because we were better than them,” NATO’s top admiral said. “I’m not sure we could make that assumption now.” The European allies suffer many shortfalls at sea, said Vice Adm. Clive Johnstone, the Royal Navy officer heading NATO’s Allied Maritime Co... more »
Seven months before he had unprotected sex with an adult film star Donald Trump told Howard Stern he would give Melania a week to lose weight after giving birth.
Courtesy of WaPo: *Seven months before an alleged tryst with porn star Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump told radio host Howard Stern that he would give his pregnant wife, Melania, a couple of days — or maybe a week — to regain her model figure after giving birth. * *“You know, Howard, she’s got the kind of a body and makeup where, about one day after the baby, it’s going to be the same as it was before,” Trump said during an appearance on Stern’s show on Dec. 7, 2005. * *“You’re giving her one day?” Stern asked. * *“One or two,” Trump replied. * *Moments later, the future president ... more »
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