1:26 am MST
Could President Trump Get a Nobel Peace Prize If He Solves The North Korean Nuclear Crisis Peacefully?
*Irvin Studdin, South China Morning Post*: *It’s no joke: the North Korean nuclear crisis could get Trump the Nobel Peace Prize* The US president’s unpredictability has pushed the peninsula to the brink of nuclear war, but it’s that same caprice that could save us all from Armageddon. The presidency of Donald Trump has made the dividing line between nuclear war and a Nobel Peace Prize increasingly thin. The very same extreme caprice and disregard for precedent that have amplified the military pressure and posturing on the Korean peninsula over the past year can quickly transform... more »
Commentariat Central
As per reader request, I'm reprinting some of the recent comments I wrote on *New York Times* op-eds and articles that I haven't incorporated into regular posts. Today, Maureen Dowd parodies Donald Trump's reading of "The Snake" at last week's CPAC orgy. In case you didn't know, CPAC is not the mask-gizmo worn by sufferers of sleep apnea. It's the modern version of a KKK rally with no masks needed to hide the bald-faced hate and lies. So anyway, as a little background, Dowd ran in the same celebrity circles as Trump for decades. And it was only natural that when he started to prete... more »
Blue America Endorses Omaha Progressive Kara Eastman
Kara Eastman is the newest Blue America endorsee. She told us that when she was nine, she told her mother that she wanted to save the world; when she was 15, she told her best friend that she was going to a college that would best prepare her to help others (she told Kara that wasn’t smart because she would never make any money). She met her husband, now an associate professor of history at Creighton University, when they were in college together, and they’ve been married for 17 years and chose to raise their daughter in Nebraska, now she's a junior at Central High School in Omaha.... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 25
1984 Iraqis used mustard gas against Iranians to try to turn them back in southern marshes 1984 Iraq began offensive attacking Iran’s ports and oil facilities along with shipping in Persian Gulf 1991 Soviets offered another peace plan and Iraq accepted it 1991 Iraqi SCUD missiles hit US army barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia killed 28 and wounded over 100 Gulf War 1991 US 3rd Inf Div attacked Iraq 26thInf Div and took 299 prisoners 1991 US Task Force 1-37 took HQ of Iraq’s 26thInf Div 1991 Radio Baghdad announced withdrawal from Kuwait 1991 Sec of ... more »
What Are The Consequences Of A 'Bloody Nose' Attack On North Korea?
*Michael O'Hanlon and James Kirchick, The Hill:* *'Bloody nose' attack in Korea would have lasting consequences* Is President Trump really considering a preventive military action of some kind after the Olympic season is over in Korea? National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has just denied that possibility, telling a bipartisan group of senators last week that the administration has no plans to carry out a so-called "bloody nose" attack against North Korea to constrain its nuclear weapons or long-range missile programs. But the idea has been circulating too long to be put to re... more »
South Korea: North Korea Willing To Enter Into Talks With The U.S.
*The Guardian*: *North Korea willing to start direct talks with US, says South Korea* Announcement comes as controversial North Korean general mobbed on visit to Winter Olympics. North Korea is willing to start direct talks with the US, with the move coming as a high-level delegation from Pyongyang, headed by a controversial general, arrived for the Winter Olympics closing ceremony. Pyongyang also said the relationship between the two Koreas and US-North Korean ties should advance in tandem, according to South Korea’s presidential Blue House. The announcement on Sunday comes afte... more »
State Takes Child from Parents Because They Refused to Allow Her to Become Transgender
[image: transgender] Because they wanted their daughter to speak to a therapist instead of undergoing hormone treatment to become transgender, a couple has had their parental rights taken away. The post State Takes Child from Parents Because They Refused to Allow Her to Become Transgender appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Disturbing Video Shows Officer Take Elderly Vet’s Walker, Knock Him Unconscious
[image: walker] A disturbing video is creating a firestorm of debate online as it shows a federal security officer shoving an elderly veteran, who uses a walker to get around, and causing him to smash his head into the concrete. The post Disturbing Video Shows Officer Take Elderly Vet’s Walker, Knock Him Unconscious appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
White House Now Considering Confiscating Guns from “People Considered Dangerous”
[image: dangerous] Who defines "dangerous"? is the question now being asked as the White House ominously mulls over confiscating guns from people it considers to be dangerous. The post White House Now Considering Confiscating Guns from “People Considered Dangerous” appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
The Deadliest School Attack in the US Was Erased from History Because It Wasn’t Done With a Gun
[image: school] The deadliest school massacre ever to take place on US soil has been erased from history as it doesn't fit the narrative of today's school attacks—especially since it was carried out without a gun. The post The Deadliest School Attack in the US Was Erased from History Because It Wasn’t Done With a Gun appeared first on The Free Thought Project .
Hopi Farmers Market Roundtable Discussion
We're hosting a series of Hopi Farmers Market Roundtable Discussions at Hopi Farmers Market on Monday, Feb. 26, 6 to 8 pm, and at the Hopi Wellness Center, on Sunday, March 11, 9 am to 12 pm. We're inviting Farmers, Growers, and local food producers to join us and share your insights! Help us spread the word by sharing with others!
Turkey Claims U.N. Syrian Ceasefire Resolution Does Not Apply To Them And Their Military Offensive In Afrin
Last month Turkey launched a military operation against a Kurdish militia it deems a terror organisation in the western enclave of Afrin in northern Syria *Hurriyet Daily News*: *Turkey welcomes UN call for Syria truce, says Afrin operation will continue* Turkey welcomed on Feb. 25 a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a 30-day truce across Syria to allow aid access and medical evacuation, while adding that the cease-fire would not affect the ongoing “Operation Olive Branch” in Syria’s Afrin district. “We welcome the resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council... more »
Syrian General Responsible For The Current Fighting Near Damascus Is Surrounded By Russian Soldiers (Video)
It is not known if the video was taken before the eastern Ghouta air strikes, or after. (Screen grab) *Al Arabiya*: *VIDEO: Syrian army brigadier speaks to troops flanked by Russian soldiers* A video surfaced showing Brigadier Suheil al-Hassan, known as the Tiger, speaking to Syrian regime troops in Damascus while being guarded by Russian soldiers. The Russian soldiers were standing around al-Hassan dressed in military uniforms, carrying firearms with their hands on the trigger, appearing on high alert. Al-Hassan was also surrounded by members of the Syrian army who were also on... more »
Day 14: This Issue latest guest
Dear friend Mark Roman, woodworker from Solon, Maine, was my latest guest on This Issue. We discuss, of course, the $60 million corporate give-a-way bill for General Dynamics. Mark is one of the leaders in this statewide effort to stop LD 1781. You can send a message to your Maine legislators by clicking *here * The show plays on 16 local public access TV stations across the state.
Climate Kills Wildflower! (False Alarm)
Breathless news out of Colorado Climate warming causes local extinction of Rocky Mountain wildflower species Excerpts below with my bolds. New University of Colorado Boulder-led research has established a causal link between climate warming and the localized extinction of a common Rocky Mountain flowering plant, a result that could serve as a herald of future population declines. […]
The U.N.'s Syrian Ceasefire Is Being Ignored As The Bombings Continue
*Reuters*: *Iran says Damascus suburbs assault to continue after U.N. ceasefire call* BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran said pro-Damascus forces would press ahead with attacks on an insurgent enclave near the Syrian capital, as ground fighting raged on there after a U.N. resolution demanding a 30-day truce across the country. Rebels said they clashed with pro-government forces on Sunday, as rescuers and residents said warplanes struck some towns in the eastern Ghouta pocket. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said air strikes and artillery killed nine people and injured 31 in the eas... more »
Lawyer for Susan Rice explains that Obama Administration was justifiably worried about sharing classified intelligence with the Trump team. Gee, really?
Courtesy of Politico: *A lawyer for President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Susan Rice, told Congress late Friday that the outgoing administration was fearful of sharing classified intelligence with members of the incoming Trump team, especially Rice’s successor, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. * *In a letter to lawmakers, Rice’s lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler, said Rice drafted a Jan. 20, 2017, email to herself on the advice of White House counsel to memorialize the outgoing administration’s reluctance. * *“President Obama and his national security team were justifiably concerned ab... more »
Ward Valley Spiritual Gathering Photos by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone
Photos by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone 20th Annual Ward Valley 'Ground Zerio' Spiritual Gathering Photos by Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone"Today, off Water Road 20 miles from the Colorado River, one hundred people gathered, most were tribal members of the Lower Colorado River Tribes, to renew their inter-generational commitment to protect and defend Ward Valley from becoming a nuclear waste
VIDEO: Syrian Army charge thrower obliterates militant-held block in east Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:50 P.M.) – With the commencement of the long-awaited 2018 East Ghouta offensive by Syrian government forces, the Syrian Army is bringing all of the heaviest firepower assets available in its arsenal to bear against militant groups – among many such weapons is the UR-77 charge thrower. Traditionally, the UR-77 is meant to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army annihilates hair-brained Nusra assault in east Damascus within minutes
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:01 P.M.) – On Saturday afternoon, jihadists of the Al-Qaeda affiliate militia Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (previously and better known as Jabhat al-Nusra) launched a powerful assault against the Syrian Army in Damascus’ East Ghouta region. Information on this attack has only just been released by a source in the military. According to the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Nick Falvo highlights some of the most important proposals in the CCPA's alternative federal budget (parentheticals omitted): *3. Introduce a national pharmacare program. *This proposal would help address the fact that many Canadians simply cannot access prescription medication; it would also result in reduced premiums paid by employers for health benefits for their employees. This initiative would cost the federal government $11.5 billion annually, but would likely save Canadian households and employers almost as much. *4. Address involunta... more »
Ross Ice Shelf Freezing, Not Melting: “It blew our minds.”
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: Guest post by David Middleton Deep Bore Into Antarctica Finds Freezing Ice, Not Melting as Expected Scientists will leave sensors in the hole to better understand the long-term changes in the ice, which may have big implications for global sea level. By Douglas Fox PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 16, 2018…
Retraction Watch is back at full speed. Here’s what you need to do to make sure you’re seeing our content.
Our readers will likely know that the site has been having significant trouble for more than two weeks. Thanks for your patience, your offers to help, and for sticking with us during that time. We’re happy to say that we seem to have identified all of the various issues involved, and have solved them. Some … Continue reading Retraction Watch is back at full speed. Here’s what you need to do to make sure you’re seeing our content.
The U.S. Navy Wants The Colombia-Class Submarine To Be Manufactured And Deployed Earlier Than Planned
The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Alabama, one of the boats the Navy plans to replace with the Columbia-class. USN *Warrior Maven:* *Navy Accelerates New Nuclear Armed Columbia-Class Submarine* The Navy 2019 budget request increases funding for the service's new nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine by $2 billion over this year's amount in what appears to be a clear effort to further accelerate technology development and early production. The request, which marks a substantial move on the part of the Navy and DoD, asks for $3.7 billion in 2019, up from $1.9 billio... more »
Senior Royal Navy Commander Admits To Crashing £1bn Nuclear Submarine During Gibraltar Training Exercise Because He 'Took The Eye Of The Ball'
Commander Justin Codd, 45, pleaded guilty to causing damage to submarine HMS Ambush (above, Commander Codd pictured in 2003) *Daily Mail:* *I saw no ship! How Royal Navy commander crashed a £1.1billion submarine when he ‘took his eye off the ball' * Commander Justin Codd, 45, pleaded guilty to damaging nuclear submarine He was sentenced to forfeiting a year of seniority at Portsmouth Naval Base In 2016 he accidentally crashed the vessel while he was busy teaching students A Royal Navy officer in charge of teaching future commanders how to operate submarines worth £1.1billion took ... more »
Every Passenger Who Boards Air Force One Is Expected To Pay For Food — Even If They Don't Eat
* The best meals in the sky* The elaborate meals served aboard Air Force One are prepared inside a special kitchen at Joint Base Andrews. Each entree is vacuum sealed and frozen on the ground; the cooking process is completed on stoves, ovens and microwaves in the plane’s galley kitchen. The president can order just about any meal he’d like. The only catch: Because there’s no fryer on the plane, the fries served up by Air Force One tend to be a bit soggy. Credit: Pete Souza/The White House *Business Insider: **After a surprise bill, a former Trump administration official discovered ... more »
China Redidivus
*The mountains of Miaoli...* *"'Nay, Éomer, you do not fully understand the mind of Master Wormtongue,' said Gandalf, turning his piercing glance upon him. 'He is bold and cunning. Even now he plays a game with peril and wins a throw. Hours of my precious time he has wasted already. Down, snake!' he said suddenly in a terrible voice. 'Down on your belly! How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price? When all the men were dead, you were to pick your share of the treasure, and take the woman you desire? Too long have you watched her [Eowyn] under your eyelids ... more »
Repeating The Same Mistakes
Political parties, Robin Sears writes, tend to make the same mistakes. That is true of Canada's three major parties -- particularly true when a new generation of leaders takes over. Consider what has happened to the Ontario PC's and other federal parties: The Mike Harris and Tim Hudak generation were shown the door by the Brown team. They may have earned their banishment in terms of successive self-inflicted defeats, but they sliced off nearly two decades of party history and experience all at once. The Liberal Party of Canada went through a decade long civil war as a result of t... more »
Re-Branded and Expanded: Visual Politics and the Implications of Guantanamo’s Make-Over
There is a certain theatre to the Global War on Terror. From the opening sequence of 9/11 to the shock and awe campaign’s projection of American sovereign power through the broadcast of the initial ariel bombardment of Iraq, to the dramatic headline declarations that ‘we got him!’ after an elderly and disheveled Saddam Hussein was […]
Cops Forced to Apologize for School Program That Told Kids Weed Will Give You ‘Man Boobs’
[image: school] Police conducted a school outreach program during which they made up entirely false and dangerous statements about cannabis to scare kids after legalization. The post Cops Forced to Apologize for School Program That Told Kids Weed Will Give You ‘Man Boobs’ appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Breaking: Turkey-led forces on the verge of taking over entire Syrian border in Afrin
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:13 P.M.) – The Turkish Army and proxy militant groups under its control have captured almost the entire Syrian border area that runs throughout the country’s Afrin region following a new wave of effortless advances on Sunday that led to the seizure of seven towns and villages. According to reports, Turkey-led forces have […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Latest map update of East Ghouta battle
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:35 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a big advance in the East Ghouta region, today, capturing several localities from the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam. Led by their elite Tiger Forces and 4th Division, the Syrian Arab Army began the day by capturing the large hilltop of Tal Farzat, which […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Bizarre footage of Saudi-backed fores fighting each other in Yemen
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:20 P.M.) – The Houthi forces released footage on Sunday of Saudi-backed combatants fighting one another in northern Yemen. The bizarre footage was caught on tape by the lurking Houthi fighters, who were heard cheering on the Saudi-backed combatants that were throwing punches at one another. The reason for the fight is unknown. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Kurdish YPG says they are ready to observe ceasefire
Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) said Sunday that they were ready to comply with UN Security Council resolution on the ceasefire in Syria, but retain the right to respond to aggression. “We… declare our welcome and readiness to comply with the UN Security Council resolution to stop hostilities within all enemies, except Daesh terrorists, while […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army enters large district in Harasta after fierce battle with jihadists
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army’s 4th Division launched a big assault inside the the Harasta suburb of the East Ghouta, today, targeting several neighborhoods under the control of the jihadist rebels. Units from the Syrian Army’s 4th Division began today’s assault by storming the entrance of the Al-Ajami District, which has […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish-backed rebels within striking distance of large town in Afrin
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:50 P.M.) – The Turkish-backed rebels had a productive weekend in the Afrin region, as their troops managed to capture several areas from the YPG forces. Led by the Free Syrian Army’s Al-Sham Regiment, the Turkish-backed rebels scored a big advance on Friday, when their troops captured the towns of Abu Kab and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Early voting in Texas sees large turnout for Democrats.
Courtesy of AP: *Democrats in Texas are early voting in large numbers ahead of the first primary elections before the 2018 midterms, stoking party optimism that backlash to President Donald Trump won’t escape the biggest conservative state in the country. * *More Democrats have cast ballots than Republicans since early voting began this week in Texas, according to state election figures released Thursday, and turnout among Democrats is up 46 percent over the last midterm elections in 2014. For Republicans, meanwhile, turnout is basically flat. * *Trump won Texas by 9 points in 20... more »
in which i finally give up my blackberry
Well, I finally did it. I gave up my BlackBerry, and got a Samsung Galaxy phone. Yeah, I know, welcome to the 21st Century. Goodbye, old frenemyI previously only used my phone for talk, text, and organizer functions (calendar, contacts), and still felt -- still *feel* -- that nothing beats the physical keyboard. But now my Nexus mini tablet is dying, and there's no good low-cost replacement. Which means I'm not buying another tablet. Which means I want a phone that knows how to do everything else. And despite what BlackBerry says and the apps it has and its tiny touch screen, when i... more »
Politicians Are Taking Longer To Adapt Than Delta And United Air-- They May Not Get Another Chance
Blue Dog John Barrow (GA) is a putz. He never belonged in Congress and never accomplished anything while he was there. After his Democratic constituents saw the ad above, they abandoned him and he lost his seat, since Republicans int appealed to had their own candidate. Pelosi and the DCCC never gave up on Barrow. When he was finally defeated, the DCCC wasted $2,382,846 trying to save him. Pelosi kicked in another $194,510 from her own SuperPAC. This year, Barrow is back at it-- this time running for Georgia Secretary of State, still pretending to be a Democrat. The outrage over ... more »
Untitled
*A new high point of modern American education: Louisiana Student Investigated For Math Symbol, Classmates Thought It Looked Like A Gun* A discussion among students at Oberlin High School in Oberlin, La., about a mathematical symbol led to a police investigation and a search of one of the student’s homes, according to the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office. On the afternoon of Feb. 20, detectives investigated a report of terroristic threats at the school, where they learned that a student had been completing a math problem that required drawing the square-root sign. Students in the ... more »
Untitled
*Climate Accord Nations Failing, Complaining and Buying Coal* The Paris climate accord, which the U.S. wisely vacated last year, accomplishes nothing in the way of meaningful environmental changes. One huge and inherent roadblock is that other nations are only halfheartedly and haphazardly invested. In fact, aside from the obvious fact that Barack Obama signed onto it unconstitutionally, that was one of conservatives’ biggest gripes against the Obama administration’s obsession with making the U.S. a captive of the agreement. Not only is the accord a misnomer in that it won’t signif... more »
Sunday morning music
Let's go back to classical music, with this performance of an orchestral suite from the opera "Naïs" by French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764). Very pleasant listening from the mid- to late Baroque era. Peter
Colombia: Residents of Barranquilla Started by a Light in the Sky
*Source: Planeta UFO (Argentina) and El Heraldo (Colombia)Date: 22 February 2018* *Colombia: Residents of Barranquilla Started by a Light in the Sky* The case occurred at noon. A video shows onlookers crowding the exterior of a shopping center, looking at the sky. At noon on Thursday, citizens piled outside the entrance to a shopping center to look at a strange light that shone over the downtown Barranquilla for a few minutes. One of the people present at the site took notice when he saw a street vendor looking at the sky. Moments later, the man alerted everyone, saying there w... more »
China proposes to let Xi Jinping extend presidency beyond 2023 per BBC News
Imagine that a US President, one that the BBC hated, proposed changing electoral law allowing him to continue as President. What would be the reaction of the BBC? Outrage, protest and wailing about the iniquity of rewriting the law. However when it's the Chinese President, the reporting is dry and not unsympathetic. 'China's governing Communist Party has proposed removing a clause in the constitution which limits presidencies service to two five-year terms. The move would allow the current President Xi Jinping to remain as leader after he is due to step down.' To be fair I bel... more »
The scales of injustice.
And keep in mind this is the party that constantly brags about its pro-life agenda. I guess lives are only precious while they are in the womb.
Autism’s Caregivers
By the Jameson Children We heard about a doctor who recently made some hurtful comments. He insulted parents who are “anti-vaccine”. He said that those parents hate their kids. What an absurd and unprofessional thing to say! Sadly, we think...
When the hurlyburly’s done...
It was Rob Burley's final *Andrew Marr Show* today. Barring a final burst of Twiiter thunder, lightning and rain, the hurlyburly’s now done but has the battle been lost or won? After, all guess what was just about the very first thing I saw on Twitter this morning? Well, this!: That 'Who not?' was sent to Rob Burley just after his final show ended by the alt-left, BBC-bashing site The Skwawkbox about 10 minutes *after* Andrew Marr had concluded his closing interview with Liam Fox by grilling him about that very thing - the Ben Bradley apology. That went on for nigh on three min... more »
A hard choice
Twitter's suggestions for me the other day. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!
Iranian authorities seize 1.2 tons of narcotics near Afghanistan border
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 P.M.) – The Iranian authorities seized an estimated 1.2 tons of narcotics that were being transported from Afghanistan to the province of Razavi, IRNA reported on Sunday morning. According to the IRNA report, the Iranian authorities seized the narcotics after they forcibly stopped a Peugeot that was attempting to evade the local […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army captures another town in East Ghouta region
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:25 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has captured another town in the East Ghouta region this afternoon, a military source told Al-Masdar News. According to the source, the Syrian Arab Army took control of Hawsh Dawahra after a short battle with the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam. With Jaysh Al-Islam’s withdrawal […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Erdogan vows to ‘break the arms and wings’ of US-backed forces in Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:20 P.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Saturday to “break the arms and wings” of the US-backed forces operating in northern Syria. “They are not aware of the fact that we will break the arms and wings of the structure they have been striving to form and destroy it completely,” […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army begins another offensive in East Ghouta region
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:10 P.M.) – At approximately 10:00 A.M. (Damascus Time) this morning, the Syrian Arab Army kicked off another big offensive in the East Ghouta region. Led by the Tiger Forces and 4th Division, the Syrian Arab Army wasted no time after the 30 day humanitarian ceasefire was announced, launching a big assault on […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army breaks through Islamist lines in East Ghouta, major advance achieved
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began their long-awaited East Ghouta offensive this morning, targeting the southeastern countryside of this farming region in Damascus. Led by the Tiger Forces and 4th Division, the Syrian Arab Army managed to take control of several areas in the East Ghouta after breaking through Jaysh […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russia tried ‘every possible way to avoid’ resolution – Nikki Hailey
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:50 A.M.) – American ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley accused Russia of deliberately stalling the vote on the Syrian resolution, speaking from UN Security Council in New York City, Saturday. “Today Russia has belatedly decided to join the international consensus and accept the need to call for a ceasefire. But only after […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Turkey claims Kurdish PYD leader arrested in Prague
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 A.M.) – The leader of the Kurdish PYD political group, Salih Muslim, was arrested while visiting Prague, Turkish state owned Anadolu Agency alleged this morning. #BREAKING Former co-leader of PYD/PKK terrorist group Salih Muslim arrested in Prague — ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) February 25, 2018 The PYD has not responded to these […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army storms strategic part of East Ghouta
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began their long-awaited East Ghouta offensive this morning, targeting the eastern part of this farming region in Damascus. Led by a plethora of units, the Syrian Arab Army began the assault by storming the Al-Nashabiyah front, where they managed to bypass Jaysh Al-Islam’s defenses and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkey welcomes UN Security Council resolution on Syrian ceasefire
Turkey welcomes the resolution on a ceasefire regime in Syria adopted by the UN Security Council and will further its efforts to reach peace in the war-torn country, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Sunday. “We welcome the UN Security Council resolution in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation across Syria, particularly in Eastern Ghouta, which […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Manafort’s Funeral Related Escape Plan? A Few Obvious Options
Manafort’s father-in-law’s funeral offers multiple obvious escape options and there are certainly more that additional thought and research could turn … Continue reading →
Crime Lord From FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List Seen At Funeral Of Russian Mafia Leader
Source: Crime Russia: https://en.crimerussia.com/organizedcrime/semion-mogilevich-seen-at-funeral-of-solntsevskie-ocg-leader/ “Crime lord from FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list seen at funeral of Russian mafia leader 17:33 / … Continue reading →
US House Intel Democratic Response To Nunes Memo Re FBI-FISA Warrant And Trump Advisor Carter Page
“Intel Committee Ranking Member Schiff Releases Democratic Response Memo Washington, February 24, 2018 Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Adam Schiff … Continue reading →
Local Council By-Elections February 2018
This month saw 52,824 votes cast over 34 local authority (tier one and tier two) contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. 12 council seats changed hands in total. For comparison with January's results, see here. Party Number of Candidates Total Vote % +/- Jan +/- Feb 17 Average/ Contest +/- Seats Conservative 32 19,273 36.5% -13.1% +13.0% 602 0 Labour 31 14,342 27.2% -0.4% +3.9% 463 -1 LibDem 23 10,601 20.1% +6.9% -7.3% 461 +4 UKIP 7 431 ... more »
Sunday Sermonette
*At Last!* Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence announced that she's going to take a year off acting to fix the democracy - to fix all of the little people who have made her wealthy. Think of it as a thank you tour. She's giving back to the low-life riffraff who gave her so much. I hate to say it, but it would be more progressive of her to transition to become a black man during the year-long sabbatical to save the planet. I'm sure that she's cool enough to do both at the same time. *A Purge* I bought a special piece of software to identify Russian bots that may have infected... more »
China Responds to Electric Car Green Fraud
“The revamped subsidy program that took effect Monday grants automakers 24,000 yuan ($3,780) for each electric car with the typical range of 200km to 250km per charge, down from 36,000 yuan.” click here
Chesterton, Lewis, and Metropolitan Anthony
These three are needed in any society that considers itself educated and intelligent; a society that is perhaps even somewhat bored with its feigned omniscience and, like Pilate, shrugs its shoulders and asks: “What is truth?” The post Chesterton, Lewis, and Metropolitan Anthony appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
Sum of all American Fears in Korea: Peace
*February 11, 2018* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - North Korea has been depicted by the Western media as a dangerous rogue state, plotting the nuclear holocaust of America and holding global peace and stability hostage with its irrational aggression. It is the supposed threat North Korea poses to the world that the United States uses to justify its enduring decades-long military presence on the Korean Peninsula. In the recently released 2018 US Department of Defense Nation Defense Strategy, it claims: *North Korea seeks to guarantee regime survival and increased leverage by seeking ... more »
Adam Schiff drops Democrat counter memo dud (Video)
House Intel Democrats release counter memo to Nunes memo. More The post Adam Schiff drops Democrat counter memo dud (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
FBI wants $300 MILLION to prevent election meddling – can’t even prevent crime
FBI couldn't stop the Florida shooter after warnings, yet need $300 Million for Twitter policing More The post FBI wants $300 MILLION to prevent election meddling – can’t even prevent crime appeared first on The Duran.
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* Yeah, right, Mr. Trumpanzee. Those NRA people you praise in your childish single-digit IQ tweets are "Great People," just like those nazis who marched in Charlottesville and so vocally support you and the rest of your sicko party are "very fine people." Only in the minds of the truly demented and insane are merchants of death who attack innocent victims "Great People." But, let's take a deeper look at what's behind this tweet: Trumpanzee has announced that he is strongly in favor of arming the nation's teachers. It's no coincidence that that idea is also the NRA's, whos... more »
Breaking: Syrian Army begins first phase of East Ghouta offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:35 A.M.) – At approximately 8:30 A.M. (Damascus Time), the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) kicked off the first phase of their long-awaited East Ghouta offensive. Led by their 4th Division, the Syrian Arab Army stormed the Al-Nashabiyah area of the East Ghouta, seizing several points around the Air Defense Battalion, while advancing in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army begins amassing forces in Harasta for next East Ghouta offensive
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:50 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has begun amassing forces at the Harasta front in the East Ghouta after a 30 day ceasefire was implemented by in the areas that do not have a Jabhat Al-Nusra and Islamic State (ISIS). According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army’s […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US Coalition should stop ‘occupation attitude’ in Syria – Russian envoy to UN
Russian envoy to the United Nations called on the United States to stop the “occupation” actions, to let the Syrian government recover peaceful life on the territories, freed of terrorists. Russia has urged the US-led anti-terrorist coalition to cease its “occupation attitude” in Syria, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said at the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Turkish-backed rebels capture key military camp near Turkish border
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:15 A.M.) – The Turkish-backed rebels managed to take control of an imperative military camp that is located in the Afrin region of Aleppo this week, forcing the YPG to retreat further towards the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) front-lines. Led by the Free Syrian Army (FSA), the Turkish-backed rebels took control of the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Tweets For Today
High-level North Korean delegation, led by general Kim Yong-chol, arrives in the South for the closing ceremony of Winter Olympics. US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka will also attend the event pic.twitter.com/hu0aw66OJc — TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) February 25, 2018 "If there are to be negotiations, it would seem better to hold them before rather than after #NorthKorea develops an operational ICBM." — @Jim_Dobbins https://t.co/2o45LZMTP1 — RAND Corporation (@RANDCorporation) February 24, 2018 Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said the renegotiation of the 2... more »
Communist coup in Czechoslovakia: 70th anniversary
Today, it has been exactly 70 years since the "Victorious February", as the event was called up to the Velvet Revolution (and Czechs are sort of OK with similar euphemisms, also in the case of the "Protectorate" and "Normalization", so it's still used today, although the tone is usually satirical; but I think that people must understand why such events were terrible even if the demagogically positive language is used, not just when these events are described by some newer, artificially coined, negative phrases!). The event wasn't just one of the three most tragic isolated 20th centu... more »
The U.S. Navy Has A Plan To Make Sea Mines Nearly Obsolete
*Kris Osborn, National Interest:* *The Navy Has a Plan That Could Make Sea Mines Nearly Obsolete* The US Navy plans to deploy fast, high-tech surface drones equipped with advanced wireless technology able to find, attack and ultimately destroy underwater enemy mines, all while operating at safe distance from a larger manned surface host ship such as a Littoral Combat Ship, service officials said. Naval Sea Systems Command is currently working with industry to develop, assess and analyze mine-neutralization technologies for its emerging Mine Countermeasures Unmanned Surface Vehic... more »
If Only the News Told the Truth About Prescription Drugs Like Robin Williams Does in This Video
Robin Williams was always known more for his outrageous antics than his commentary on issues surrounding topics like health and politics, but like most comedians who speak without a filter, he has the ability to absolutely nail it whenever he does. Case in point: the following rant he went on in about prescription drugs and the absurd side effects that come with them. Dozens of comics have offered their own take on drug company side effects but the bit he pulls off at the end is something completely unique, something that is genuinely Robin Williams (like pretty much every he prod... more »
Picture Of The Day
People sit a medical point in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, Syria February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh *WNU Editor*: The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Bombs fall on Syria's Ghouta* (Reuters).
Netanyahu happy with Trump’s embassy move to occupied East Jerusalem (
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:40 A.M.) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his happiness with US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem in a TV address from West Jerusalem, on Saturday. “This is a great moment for the state of Israel. President Trump’s decision to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Air Force Chief of Staff Predicts That We’ll Be Fighting From Space In A Matter Of Years
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein speaks at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium, Orlando, Fla., Feb. 23, 2018. Credit: U.S. Air Force *Space News*: *Air Force Chief Goldfein: ‘We’ll be fighting from space in a matter of years’* *Goldfein: To prepare to fight from space, the Air Force will have to invest in new technology but also in the training of leaders.* ORLANDO, FLA. — Gen. David Goldfein’s speech on Friday represented the strongest rhetoric yet on space warfare as an area that deserves special attention from the U.S. Air Force. Goldfein, the Air Force... more »
Which Member Of Congress Does Putin Love More, Dana Or Devin?
The last time I spoke with Dana Rohrabacher was on a staircase in Pasadena. We were talking about how Ted Lieu, who is helping Democratic candidates for Rohrabacher's Orange County seat hone their messages, was working with him on a bill to legalize marijuana. My friend David was with me and when Rohrabacher started complaining that his back was hurting because he had been surfing earlier, Dave asked, "Where, in the Moscow River?" David and I had recently returned from Moscow and had stayed at at the Baltschug Hotel, right across the Moskva River from the Kremlin, overlooking the B... more »
Some CoArray FORTRAN Notes
Some rough notes on places to start learning about Coarray Fortran and how to use it. Continue reading →
Weekend reads: Automated image duplication detection?; journal editor frustrations; cash for catching errors
We seem to be past the worst of our technical issues, so thanks for your patience with us over the past few weeks. (Some of the fixes came at a cost, so we would be remiss if we did not ask readers to consider a donation to support our work.) The week at Retraction Watch featured … Continue reading Weekend reads: Automated image duplication detection?; journal editor frustrations; cash for catching errors
Prof who just dropped $10M suit against PNAS: “I was expecting them to settle”
Yesterday, Mark Jacobson, a researcher at Stanford University who studies the future of renewable energy, announced he would drop a $10 million defamation suit over a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that was critical of his work. As we reported, the announcement came just two days after the District … Continue reading Prof who just dropped $10M suit against PNAS: “I was expecting them to settle”
Caught Our Notice: Big journal, big correction
Title: Tranexamic Acid in Patients Undergoing Coronary-Artery Surgery What Caught Our Attention: When the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) publishes a correction that is more than a misspelling of a name, we take a look. When NEJM publishes a 500-word correction to the data in a highly cited article, we take notice. This study … Continue reading Caught Our Notice: Big journal, big correction
Stanford prof plans to drop $10m suit against PNAS and critic
A professor who is suing a journal publisher and critic for defamation has announced he plans to drop the case. Yesterday, Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson announced on Twitter that he plans to “voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit” he filed last year in the District of Columbia, in which he alleged he was defamed when the … Continue reading Stanford prof plans to drop $10m suit against PNAS and critic
BMJ journal pulls case report after UK tabloids publish graphic photos
A BMJ journal has retracted a medical case report about a couple in the United Kingdom who were infected by parasitic worms while on a Caribbean cruise. The paper in BMJ Case Reports included graphic photos of the patients’ buttocks, the site of the infection, which were republished within a week by UK tabloids. Specifics … Continue reading BMJ journal pulls case report after UK tabloids publish graphic photos
Psst…Need a PhD thesis? That’ll be $63,000
Many readers may have heard whisper of companies that offer a range of writing services — some more ethical than others. Although some companies offer to edit and polish writing, others can write PhD research proposals, masters’ theses, or even a dissertation. In other words, the students engage in so-called “contract cheating” — paying someone … Continue reading Psst…Need a PhD thesis? That’ll be $63,000
Retracted letter about vaccine safety made potentially “slanderous” claims
Last October, David Hawkes read a letter to the editor that shocked him: It alleged Hawkes and a colleague had lied about their professional affiliations. Hawkes told Retraction Watch that he contacted the journal Toxicology on October 19 to complain that the letter contained “numerous factual errors that could adversely affect our professional standing,” and … Continue reading Retracted letter about vaccine safety made potentially “slanderous” claims
Author: Journal’s unapproved edits distorted my ideas
Researcher Floribert Patrick Endong had been looking forward to seeing his paper in print. Several months after he submitted it to Gender Studies, the journal told him in March that it was online. But when he read it, Endong was disappointed to see some changes he had not approved, which he believed “deformed much of … Continue reading Author: Journal’s unapproved edits distorted my ideas
PNAS asks D.C. court to dismiss $10 million defamation lawsuit
WASHINGTON, DC — Lawyers for the National Academy of Sciences have asked a District of Columbia court to dismiss a $10 million defamation suit brought by a Stanford University professor. Mark Jacobson, an engineering professor at Stanford who has published research about the future of renewable energy, alleged he was defamed in a June 2017 … Continue reading PNAS asks D.C. court to dismiss $10 million defamation lawsuit
Target of $2M recruitment grant falsified several images: ORI
A former NIH postdoc recruited to a tenure-track position last year committed multiple acts of misconduct in two papers, according to the U.S. Office of Research Integrity. According to the new notice, issued by the ORI, Colleen Skau altered results and multiple figures across the papers, published in Cell and PNAS. The misconduct occurred while … Continue reading Target of $2M recruitment grant falsified several images: ORI
The South Korean Army Is Bigger Than The U.S. Army
A South Korean soldier takes part in a combined arms collective training exercise in Pocheon, South Korea September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji. *Kyle Mizokami, National Interest*: *South Korea's Army Has 560,000 Troops Ready to Take on Kim Jong Un * The Republic of Korea Army is a large, powerful land force capable defending the border from North Korean invasion. It’s no accident that the North Korean military has evolved asymmetric means such as long range border artillery, light infantry, infiltration forces, and chemical and radiological units to counter the South’s increasin... more »
North Korea Could Easily Nuke Tokyo (the Largest Urban Area on the Planet)
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Asia* And millions of people would lose their lives. Tokyo has a population of 13.491 million, making it by far the largest city in Japan and home to more than 10 percent of the nation’s population. The greater Tokyo area, home to thirty-seven million, is the largest urban area on the planet. It is also squarely in the crosshairs of North Korea’s nuclear weapons. In the event of nuclear attack, Tokyo could experience enormous destruction the likes of which it hasn’t experienced since World War II. Tokyo became the capital of modern Japan in the late n... more »
The Decline of Cold-War-Era Regimes Could Lead to an International Security Crisis
*Polina Sinovets* *Security, Europe* [image: Russian servicemen equip an Iskander tactical missile system at the Army-2015 international military-technical forum in Kubinka, outside Moscow, Russia, June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin] The decline of international-security regimes is inevitable—in part because the majority of them were created during the Cold War. One of the most visible tendencies of the twenty-first century is the gradual decline of the global international-security regimes. Created in the years of the Cold War, they ensured international stability, provided... more »
Europe Still Doesn't Take Its Own Defense Seriously
*Doug Bandow* *Security, Europe* Berlin plans to leave the defending to Washington—as do most of NATO’s other members. If candidate Donald Trump had one signature position, it was criticizing America’s populous, prosperous allies for leeching off the U.S. military. He even talked about charging them for the Pentagon’s services. But like many other issues, he proved to be more bark than bite. Whether reflecting a lack of belief or attention, he left European policy to his Europhile officials, who told European leaders to ignore the president. “There is a lot more support for cont... more »
Turkey May Try to Build an Unmanned Tank
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Middle East* And that would be a really big deal. Turkey may try to build an unmanned tank. That’s according to Turkish president Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan. Speaking at a meeting at the presidential palace on February 21, ErdoÄŸan declared: “We will carry it a step further [after domestically produced unmanned aerial vehicles] . . . We should reach the ability to produce unmanned tanks as well. We will do it.” ErdoÄŸan’s comments came weeks after five Turkish soldiers were killed in a tank while fighting in Syria’s Afrin district. Ankara has deployed military... more »
The Marine Corps May Finally Get a New Sniper Rifle—Just Not the One They Need
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, North America* And that could be a big problem. The Marine Corps is throwing down cash to test-drive the same compact sniper rifle the Army has pursued in recent months. But while its 7.62mm rounds pack the punch required by scout snipers facing increasingly protected enemies downrange, its effective range falls well short of the sniper systems used by both foreign militaries and militants — a limitation that makes it unclear just what the Corps could do with this new weapon. The Army’s proposed fiscal 2019 budget includes $46.2 millio... more »
A Secret for 40 Years: Navy Jets Secretly Battled Russian Jets in a Siberian Snow Storm
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, Asia* Thanks to North Korea. On the afternoon of November 18, 1952 four sleek jets painted an inky navy blue soared off the deck of the carrier USS Oriskany into a swirling Siberian snow storm gusting over the Sea of Japan. The carrier was part of Task Force 77, a fleet of twenty-five ships which included three carriers used to launch daily airstrikes on North Korean bridges and logistics during the Korean War. Earlier that day, its warplanes had struck the logistical base at Hoeryong, used as a gathering point for supplies received from China and t... more »
Russia Celebrated Defender Of The Fatherland Day Yesterday
*Sputnik:* *10 thousand volleys fired form 15 different sites were ignited to commemorate the Defender of the Fatherland day and Red Army's 100-year anniversary in Moscow.* 30 additional volleys providing the accompanying salute were fired from a different site. Defender of the Fatherland Day commemorates the date in 1918, during the Russian Civil War, when the Red Army conducted its first mass draft. Originally known as Red Army Day, it was renamed Soviet Army and Navy Day in 1949, and given its current title in 2002. *Read more* .... *Update #1:* Russia Marks Red Army's Cent... more »
Which side are you on?
You pick - 43,000 kids in Maine living in poverty or more corporate welfare for a mega-rich General Dynamics - which had $3 billion in profit last year? Who needs help the most? Video by Regis Tremblay
What does the latest 30 day ceasefire in the East Ghouta mean?
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:25 A.M.) – The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Saturday that called for a 30 day ceasefire to immediately be implemented in the East Ghouta region of Damascus. Based on the terms of the resolution, all areas absent of the Islamic State (ISIS) and Jabhat Al-Nusra will be under […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Iran accuses US of aiding ISIS in Syria
The US has been transferring Daesh militants from Syrian cities to outside of the region on a regular basis, which undermines the fight against terrorists, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted, speaking at Tehran University during an event called “the Patterns of Regional Order in the Post-ISIS (Daesh) Era” on Saturday. “The terrorist communication […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto Scraps Plans To Visit The White House After 'Testy' Phone Call With President Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump meets Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto during the their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. Reuters/Carlos Barria *The Hill:* *Mexico's Peña Nieto scraps plan to visit White House following call with Trump on border wall: report* Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has reportedly scrapped his plans to visit the White House after a contentious call with President Trump discussing his proposed border wall. U.S. and Mexican officials familiar with the call told The Washington Post that Peña Nieto and Trump reached a... more »
Is China Ready For A Trade War Against The U.S.?
The People's Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit, January 18, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Hyungwon Kang *Alex Capri, SCMP*: *Is China ready for what US could unleash in trade war?* Tariffs and blocking trade are just parts of the arsenal Washington could deploy – citing ‘national security interests’ – to monitor, control and stop commercial activities. As rumblings of a trade war between Washington and Beijing grow louder, the Trump administration appears ... more »
Help Stop Charter Co-Location at North Hollywood High School
A concerned student at NHHS, Anna Winikow, contacted Schools Matter asking for help. Please sign her petition and share it widely everywhere. Thank you. Stop Charter Co-Location at North Hollywood HS 1,501 SIGNATURES (as of 1:08PM) ASK FAMILY, FRIENDS, ALUMNI TO SIGN: bit.ly/SaveNoHoTo: LAUSD School Board Members LAUSD Superintendent, Local District Superintendent Los Angeles Mayor, City Council Member, Neighborhood Council, CA Senator, CA Assembly Member School Construction Bond Oversight Committee CC: LAUSD Charter Division We strongly oppose the addition of VIP charter school to t... more »
Syria, Turkey, Russia and the Kurds: the struggle for Afrin
Russia tries to broker a diplomatic solution to the Afrin conflict More The post Syria, Turkey, Russia and the Kurds: the struggle for Afrin appeared first on The Duran.
General Kim Yong-chol Will Head North Korea's Delegation To The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (Updated)
North Korea's general reconnaissance bureau head Kim Yong Chol speaks during an emergency briefing for diplomats basing in North Korea, in Pyongyang August 21, 2015, in this photo released by Kyodo. / Reuters *BBC*: *Kim Yong-chol: North Korea's controversial Olympics delegate* General Kim Yong-chol will head North Korea's delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics closing ceremony on 25 February. He is a controversial figure - and his upcoming visit has been met with hostility in South Korea. During his time as military intelligence chief, Gen Kim was accused of masterminding... more »
Florida school shooting survivor reminds his critics that he and his peers will outlive them.
Courtesy of Share Blue: *“The right is claiming that you are being led around by celebrities, by George Soros, by the left,” host Joy Reid said. “Your response?” * *“I’m so sorry for each and every one of them,” Hogg said, before turning to the camera and addressing his attackers directly. “It’s so sad to see how many of you have lost faith in America, because we certainly haven’t, and we’re never going to.” * *“You might as well stop now,” he added, “because we’re going to outlive you.”* Damn, that is kinda gangster. But he's right. These old white assholes can rant and rail... more »
China Condemns New U.S. Sanctions On North Korea
*VOA:* *China Reacts Angrily to New US Sanctions Against North Korea * China responded angrily Saturday to new sanctions the United States imposed on North Korea, maintaining they were counterproductive to efforts to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and long-range missile development programs. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday what he called the "largest ever" set of sanctions against North Korea and threatened a "phase two" if the measures weren't effective. The sanctions target one person, 27 companies and 28 ships registered in China and seven other countries with the int... more »
Is Mobster Sheldon Adelson Paying For The Trumpist Embassy In Jerusalem?
*Bad for the Jews?* As far as I know, Henry Ford never offered to pay for an embassy Berlin. Tokyo Rose never offered to put up the yen to build an American embassy in Tokyo. Nor did Benedict Arnold offer to pay for one in London in 1780. But the Republicans appear to be ready for a whole new theory of outsourcing and the privatization of foreign policy. Early yesterday morning, AP reported that Señor Trumpanzee is considering an offer from Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson to pay for at least part of a new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Lawyers at the State Department are looking i... more »
Prez Buffoonery Reaches New Heights: Teacher Merit Bonuses Based on Marksmanship
Trump promises 'shootings will not happen again' if states give yearly bonuses to 'Armed Educators': After remaining silent most of Saturday, President Donald Trump once again made the pitch to arm school teachers with the promise that it will bring to end school shootings. Writing on Twitter, Trump pushed back against law enforcement officials and educators who want to see no weapons on school campuses at all, saying states should take the lead and give pistol-packing school officials “yearly bonuses.” “Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) …
Can The Truth Be “Racist”?
I’ve been involved in a most curious discussion that brought up some important issues. An online acquaintance of mine, very well educated, a UK citizen working in the Netherlands, claimed that foreigners with Residence Permits should be allowed to vote in local, not national but local, elections where they are residing. That seemed crazy to…
U.S. Congress Has Released The Redacted And Declassified Democratic Memo On DOJ And FBI Alleged Surveillance Abuses
*The Hill*: *House Democrats release intelligence memo defending DOJ, FBI investigation* House Intelligence Committee Democrats have released their memo countering the GOP document that alleged surveillance abuses in the Justice Department (DOJ) and FBI. The 10-page Democratic memo, authored by Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.), the top Democrat on the committee, was made public after President Trump declassified a four-page Republican memo last month alleging that officials at the FBI and DOJ had abused their powers to spy on a Trump campaign official. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor:*... more »
Has Russia Miscalculated In Syria?
Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd R) meet with servicemen as they visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria, Dec. 11, 2017. *Martin Chulov, The Guardian:* *Moscow mired in Syria as Putin’s gameplan risks a deadly ending* *Russian leader’s gamble backing Bashar al-Assad increasingly looks miscalculated* From his spot in the ruins of east Ghouta, Arif Othman sees the current phase of Syria’s war as brutally simple. The longer he holds out against Bashar al-Assad and his allies, the worse it will get – especially at the h... more »
Study: Medieval Climate Change Existed in Africa
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: From the Institute for Hydrography, Geoecology and Climate Sciences comes this paper that is just one more piece of evidence that the Medieval Warm Period was global, and not regional. Mapping Medieval Climate Change in Africa: Continental warming, coastal cooling and shifting rainbelts 1000 years ago Global climate…
Anthropogenic Warmers: Global Warming to Decrease Snow Fall
Originally posted on Sierra Foothill Commentary: The claim: ♦ IPCC TAR (2001): “Milder winter temperatures will decrease heavy snowstorms” ♦ Kunkel et al., 2002: “Surface conditions favorable for heavy lake-effect snow decreased in frequency by 50% and 90% for the HadCM2 and CGCM1 [models], respectively, by the late 21st Century. This reduction [according to models]…
United Nations Votes For A 30-Day Humanitarian Ceasefire In Syria
*DW:* *UN Security Council votes for 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay* The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to approve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. Reports suggest that shortly after the vote, warplanes once again struck the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. UN Security Council votes for 30-day ceasefire in Syria without delay The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to approve a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria. Reports suggest that shortly after the vote, warplanes once again struck the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. *Read more... more »
Randy Quaid
Original here Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced
Kurdish SDF to Pass Control of Manbij to Syrian Army
*It's from an unnamed source- Which is problematic. * *However, if true, it's timely and could indicate that there is a wider agreement to push the USrael backed Kurdish militias east of the Euphrates.. A situation I've long believed and have stated here at the blog, could be tolerated by all parties concerned. * *A move that should not be confused or associated with peace, cessation of hostilities and the exit of Israel or the US.* *Coming right after the passed UN Resolution.. *UN Security Council Approves Syrian Cease-fire/Vasily NebenzyaSputnik: photo from sputnik "Kurdish-led S... more »
Kurdish SDF to hand over Manbij in northern Aleppo to Syrian Army: report
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic forces (SDF) have agreed on the transfer of control over the northeast city of Manbij in the Aleppo province to the Syrian army that will enter the city in the coming days, a Kurdish security source told Sputnik on Saturday. “The agreement was reached, under which the Syrian Arab Republic’s army will […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
New satellite image confirms Su-57 jets in Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 A.M.) – A new satellite image posted by ISI revealed the arrival of the Russian Su-57 fighter jets to the Hmaymim Military Airport on February 23rd. The ISI image specifically revealed the first deployment of two fifth generation Su-57 jets that were rumored to have arrived at the Hmaymim Airport after an […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
UNSC vote cannot be used as pretext for military action – Russian ambassador
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:55 A.M.) – Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said that negotiations were prolonged “to make sure that is not used as a pretext for any military action” speaking after the UNSC meeting in New York, Saturday. “We wanted to make sure that is not used as a pretext for any […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Middle Finger Symphony Theater
** No Tuxedos Required ** Brought To You By *BLUESJUNKY*: Chair of Music - Middle Finger Symphony Music Director
Manafort Indictment Sparks Hunt for Europeans Paid to Lobby
The lobbying by the European political figures — identified in documents as the "Hapsburg Group" — allegedly took place in 2012 and 2013.
On historical perspective
I'll give Roland Priddle this much: he's absolutely right in his impression that the best way to argue for waving through expanded tar sands pipelines without an unbiased review is to pretend that nobody has learned anything about environmental protection, oil or dilbit spills, climate change, or energy industry trends over the past six-plus decades. But I'll suggest that the public interest is probably best served by analysis based in the present rather than 1951.
Former RNC head Michael Steele stunned to learn that he was only hired as the token black.
CPAC communication director Ian Walters said tonight at the Ronald Reagan dinner: “We elected Mike Steele as chairman because he was a black guy, that was the wrong thing to do.” Guests at tables apparently gasped in shock. https://t.co/pRJjNPsM29 — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 24, 2018 Courtesy of The Hill: *Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele said Saturday that a suggestion from a CPAC official that Steele was only chosen to lead the RNC because he is black underscores a tense relationship with race within the GOP. * *"It’s the groupthink that... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, “A Year And A Day”
2002, “A Year And A Day” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7b_avTk38
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Point your telescope toward the high flying constellation Pegasus and you can find this expanse of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies. Centered on NGC 7814, the pretty field of view would almost be covered by a full moon. NGC 7814 is sometimes called the Little Sombrero for its resemblance to the brighter more famous M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. *Click image for larger size.* Both Sombrero and Little Sombrero are spiral galaxies seen edge-on, and both have extensive central bulges cut by a thinner disk with dust lanes in silhouette. In fact, NGC 7814 is some 40 million light-years... more »
"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"
*"8 Things to Remember When Everything Goes Wrong"* by Marc Chernoff “Today, I’m sitting in my hospital bed waiting to have both my breasts removed. But in a strange way I feel like the lucky one. Up until now I have had no health problems. I’m a 69-year-old woman in the last room at the end of the hall before the pediatric division of the hospital begins. Over the past few hours I have watched dozens of cancer patients being wheeled by in wheelchairs and rolling beds. None of these patients could be a day older than 17.” That’s an entry from my grandmother’s journal, dated 9/16/19... more »
"You Have To Play the Cards You Get..."
“Just because fate doesn't deal you the right cards, it doesn't mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.” - Les Brown
"8 Reasons Why You Act Against Your Own Better Judgment"
*"8 Reasons Why You Act Against * *Your Own Better Judgment"* by Mark Sisson "We all make poor choices against our better judgment. It’s kind of what makes us human – the tendency to actively and willfully make decisions that will result in unfavorable outcomes. Sure, the candy bar tastes good, but you know you’ll feel awful after eating it. Yeah, that blog is fun to read, but you know you’d be much happier if you finished that essay for class first. And yet five minutes later, a candy bar wrapper sits, emptied of its contents; your molars house fragments of nougat and sport a caram... more »
"Hard As It May Be..."
“You observe your children or your children’s children, making the same absurd mistakes, heart-rending mistakes often, which you made at their age. And there is nothing you can say or do to prevent it. It’s by observing the young, indeed, that you eventually understand the sort of idiot you yourself were once upon a time- and perhaps still are.” “One can fight evil but against stupidity one is helpless… I have accepted the fact, hard as it may be, that human beings are inclined to behave in ways that would make animals blush. The ironic, the tragic thing is that we often behave in... more »
The Poet: James Broughton, "Quit Your Addiction"
"Quit Your Addiction" “Quit your addiction to sneer and complaint. Try a little flaunt, Call for comrades who bolster your vim and offer you risk. Corral the crones, Goose the nice nellies, Hunt the bear that hugs and the raven that quoths. Stay up all night to devise a new dawn...” - James Broughton, “Little Sermons of the Big Joy”
City planning ‘homeless roundup’ to make themselves pretty for Olympics parade?
There’s hoovervilles all over town but most prominently on the likely route for such a parade. Got to hide that dead and rotting pachyderm in the antechamber. Don’t want the Capitalist “leaders” who make money from killing people overseas and especially in America to have to see the results, in human form, of their greed […]
UN Security Council Approves Syrian Cease-fire/Vasily Nebenzya
*TASS* UN, February 24. /TASS/. During negotiations on a UN Security Council resolution on ceasefire in Syria, Russia sought to prevent the document from becoming a pretext for military action in Syria, *Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, said on Saturday*. *Vasily Nebenzya* *"The reason why we negotiated for so long on this resolution is that we wanted to make sure that it is not used as a pretext for any military action," he said. "We heard some worried comments on that in recent days and including today, some of them very bellicose. And we said it clearly that we won’t let an... more »
The U.S. Is A Corrupt Country-- Now More Than Ever... Is That The Swamp?
The House Ethics Committee still hasn't taken up the very serious charges against ex-Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) and current Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY), who have both engaged in flagrant insider trading while serving on committees that were able to influence the value of sticks they were trading. It's been over a year. A 29-page report from the Office of Congressional Ethics strongly suggests that there was insider trading by both Collins and Price and on July 14, 2017 recommended that the House Ethics Committee pursue a formal investigation. It hasn't. The report reads t... more »
Are Some Instant Pot Cookers Having Meltdowns?
Days after a customer's account spread on social media, the company warned about a product defect affecting specific models.
Breaking: Al-Qaeda almost wiped-out by rival Islamist militant faction in northwest Syria after brutal 4-day annihilation battle
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:05 P.M.) – Al-Qaeda affiliate militia Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (better known as Jabhat al-Nusra), long considered to be the dominate rebel faction among all non-ISIS insurgent groups, is on the verge of being completely wiped-out in northwestern Syria (its traditional stronghold) following four days of constant defeats to rival Islamist militia Jabhat Tahrir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
No, We'll Talk Now
(By *American Zen*’s Mike Flannigan, on loan from Ari) *I*f Dana Loesch, who once had the wisdom to block me on Twitter, didn't get her tires slashed after the NRA Town Hall last week, then it was a miracle. As it was, it was a minor miracle the spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association even had the guts to show her face and answer pointed questions from the same high school students who'd survived the massacre at their school. The virtually non-existent gun control lobby finally had a face and a name in Emma Gonzalez and during the testy exchange at the Town Hall, Loesch ... more »
Quote of the Day: Human progress ...
*"In other classes of animals, the individual ... attains, in the compass of a single life, all the perfection his nature can reach. But in the human kind, the species has a progress as well as the individual. They build in every subsequent age on foundations formerly laid."* ~ Adam Ferguson, from 'An Essay on the History of Civil Society' [Hat tip Human Progress] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.
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