11:00 pm MDT
Weekend reads: Stem cell trial halted; Nazi doctors in the literature; is it OK to cite a paper you haven’t read?
Before we present this week’s Weekend Reads, a question: Do you enjoy our weekly roundup? If so, we could really use your help. Would you consider a tax-deductible donation to support Weekend Reads, and our daily work? Thanks in advance. The week at Retraction Watch featured the story of how an editor solved a mystery about … Continue reading Weekend reads: Stem cell trial halted; Nazi doctors in the literature; is it OK to cite a paper you haven’t read?
How It Really Is"
The fun just *never* ends, don'tcha know?
"As Overdose Deaths Soar To Record Highs, FDA Approves New Painkiller That's 1,000X More Powerful Than Morphine"
*"As Overdose Deaths Soar To Record Highs,* * FDA Approves New Painkiller That's 1,000X More Powerful Than Morphine"* by Tyler Durden "Purdue Pharma and other pioneers of powerful opioid painkillers probably felt a twinge of regret on Friday when the FDA approved a powerful new opioid painkiller that's *10 times stronger than fentanyl* - the deadly synthetic opioid that's been blamed for the record number of drug overdose deaths recorded in 2017 - and *1,000 times more powerful than morphine*, ignoring the objections of lawmakers and its own advisory committee in the process. Aft... more »
There’s never been a fag paper between us.
Diane Abbott spoke passionately, almost eloquently, on the Today Programme yesterday about the police’s somewhat confusing approach to hate speech and hate crime following Sara Thornton’s and Cressida Dick’s much-lauded announcement about the subject. ”Focus on violent crimes rather than misogyny.” - and, oddly “there’s never been a fag paper between us.” When you’ve erased that image from your brain let’s consider what the much-maligned Diane was trying to explain. At one point she defined 'hate crime', to John Humphrys’s obvious consternation, as “being shouted at in the stree... more »
California Hit By 39 Earthquakes Within 24 Hours As Scientists Warn Of “Movement Along The San Andreas Fault”
By Michael Snyder A series of large earthquakes has rattled California over the last 24 hours, and scientists are telling us that the shaking was... more »
"Omega: The Rest of 2018"
*"Omega: The Rest of 2018"* by Tim Knight "The future ain't what it used to be." - Yogi Berra "In the middle of last month, I offered up the post "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" in an effort to lay out what I thought were some possible paths for the market. Out of an infinity of possibilities, I described four possible pathways, and the most bearish of them all, "Delta", unfolded beautifully. Here was the prediction at the time. When the market started falling, I was tormented by the prospect that it was just another January 29-February 9 blip. That is, a tease for the bears which would si...more »
My doggie has been rock and rollin'...
*and it only cost us $1500.00* Arrrrrrrrgh! My doggie, Frankie, erupted in screams of pain yesterday about 5pm. He'd been acting off for a few days, and I had been watching him closely. He was rushed to the vet, x-rayed, and it was determined that somehow he swallowed a rock. Frankie is a 12 lb dog and after emergency surgery, the vets office was surprised he could have even swallowed such a large (for him) rock. This was not a nice little rounded off rock. This was a rock comprised of many right angles and sharp points. He was transferred to the emergency hospital after surge... more »
Despite Israel
Monkey Brains, writing on the Open Thread, has spotted an absolute BBC 'classic' - a BBC video report posted on the BBC News website about a plucky female Palestinian entrepreneur in a hijab making the best of it, despite those pesky Israelis: There are some stories that tick all the boxes, and then there are some stories that tick all the boxes AND give the BBC an orgasm. This is one such : - Female TICK - Female entrepreneur TICK - Ethnic minority TICK - Islam TICK - Hijab TICK - Palestinian TICK - Israel as warmonger TICK - Israel blockading Gaza TICK - Gaza TICK - Destruction ... more »
A bet on the Geegees.
What is the BBC saying about Saudi Arabia, arms sales and the grizzly murder of the man they call a 'dissident journalist' who we eventually discovered was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. (How do you pronounce Khashoggi?- Is it hard ‘K” or soft ‘H’ - aitch not haitch - and is there supposed to be a hard ‘G’ followed by a soft ‘g’ rather than two soft gees? It’s quite a difficult word to enunciate effortlessly, but hat’s off to the announcers that have mastered a smooth 'Hashog-jee.' From a position of sheer ignorance, I instinctively feel that’s the best bet (and good luck wi... more »
Saudis Pound Yemen After US Officials Demand ‘Immediate Ceasefire’
By Jason Ditz (ANTIWAR.COM) — Earlier this week, Defense Secretary James Mattis called for an immediate ceasefire in Yemen. In the course of this, he demanded an... more »
Hidden History: Ancient Map suggests the "Eye of Africa/Eye of the Sahara" might also be the Lost City of Atlantis
*New theory of location of the* *"Lost City of Atlantis"* Browsing the Internet yesterday, I "stumbled upon" a video on thetruthseeker which has caused me to re-examine some of my long held views. In the video above, a young man "Jimmy" connects the dots between ancient history and the geological mystery that is "The Eye of Africa". The theory he has come up with is that the "Eye of Africa or Eye of the Sahara" formally known as the *Richat Structure* may have been the location of the ancient "Lost City of Atlantis". Here is the ancient map of the then known world, which has been... more »
The Creator Writings: I Am
Two of the most powerful words you will utter are, “I am”.
Cannabis and PTSD: What Does the Clinical Research Say?
PTSD sufferers often find relief in cannabis.
How Your Brainwaves Create & Shape Your Reality
The state of our brainwaves, or state of being, has a monumental impact on the reality we experience around us. It not only affects how we perceive something, but the actual reality we co-create.
Free Speech Is About The Search For Truth, Not A Benevolence To Others
By Brenden Labrum You don’t have to look far to find clear manifestations of the current degradation of our basic natural right previously known as free... more »
Fetishising Palestinian extremists
I’ve been out of the country, and have missed most of the last couple of week’s domestic news. However, one morning on internet radio I caught a Palestinian speaker decrying the “Israelisation of Palestine”, and perpetuating the falsehood that “The Jews” are interlopers on “our land”. Unchallenged, of course, by the interviewer. I can’t be bothered to go off in the pointless pursuit of a link, but it reminded of the Tamimi clan’s extensive publicity tour, where they’re busily perpetuating the same “our land” theme. Ignorance of history is so widespread that one is resigned to th... more »
Rats deserting the sinking ship?
Rob's next line-up for *Politics Live*? "The sewer of social media, when a reporter merely reports that police have launched a criminal inquiry into allegations of anti-Semitic hate crimes among Labour Party members". So tweeted the BBC's Chris Mason yesterday. (I like Chris. Nerdy and nice - and there's nothing wrong with that). The tweet from the Corbyn supporter which provoked Chris's Twitter outburst (it contained an insult, sweary language and a wildly conspiratorial assertion in less than 140 characters) did indeed arise from the sewer, with half a dozen rats holding their w... more »
President Trump MAGA Rally, Belgrade Montana – 2:30pm EST Livestream…
President Donald Trump holds the first of two MAGA rallies today in Belgrade, Montana. The Montana Rally is campaigning for U.S. Senate candidate Matt Rosendale and incumbent U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte. Anticipated start time is 1230pm MST / 2:30pm EST. … Continue reading →
Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. - Peter Gowan discusses UK Labour's plans for a more democratic and participatory economy. And Alex Ballingall reports on Jagmeet Singh's plan to prohibit the use of "bearer shares" which conceal the ownership of corporate wealth. - Linda McQuaig rightly criticizes Doug Ford's moves to make work more precarious and take away hard-won minimum wage increases and personal protections. Erika Shaker and Chandra Pasma study the spread of precarious work within Canadian universities. And Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports on some progress for workers on... more »
A Modest Suggestion: Fixing Honduras et. al.
A Modest Suggestion on how to fix the Central American immigration "problem". Continue reading →
Containing Northern Pulp’s mess
The numbers are staggering. Over the past 51 years, the bleached kraft pulp mill on Abercrombie Point in Pictou County has piped about 1.25 trillion litres of toxic effluent into Boat Harbour.[1] That’s enough to fill about half a million Olympic-size swimming pools, or a pipeline one metre in diameter stretching about 1.6 million kilometres, […]
Drones again - and a nasty terrorism threat
It seems small unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are again in the news - and not in a good way. U.S. Border Patrol agents based in San Diego have spotted 15 drones flying between Tijuana, Mexico, and Southern California over the past 12 months, according to new data provided to the Washington Examiner. Not one of the drone operators involved in those incidents was prosecuted for using an unmanned aerial system, or drone, around the international border, which is protected air space. From Oct. 1, 2016, through Sept. 30, 2017, the same border sector reported two known incidents. ... more »
Surveillance Targets Deserve Answers About Mysterious Wiretaps
By EFF New Information Could Get to the Bottom of Riverside’s Massive Wiretap Campaign Riverside, CA – Two individuals with no criminal record—one of whom... more »
If Voters Pass Marijuana Initiatives $2 Billion Could Be Generated In Just Four States
By Aaron Kesel According to a report, the medical and recreational marijuana markets in four states could generate an estimated more than $2 billion in... more »
Changing The Dynamics Of Law In India With The Arrival Of Artificial Intelligence And Robotics
By Adithya Anil Variath Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not an uncommon term, especially to followers of global governance and fintech. The term “Artificial Intelligence” was... more »
Putting Lipstick On a Neoliberal Pig
This "cure" for the chronic electoral failures of a Democratic Party in thrall to the oligarchy sounds even worse than the disease: *It seems to me that the Democrats’ story has to be built around the simple idea of investing in middle- and working-class people. Not “spending,” but “investing.” Spending sounds profligate; investing sounds prudent.* *This is not to be done for reasons of “fairness.” That’s an absolutely vital point. Liberals reflexively want to make economic arguments about fairness. But this persuades only liberals. People who aren’t liberals — three-quarters of ... more »
These 5 Nations Make the Best Ammo in the World
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * [image: By DVIDSHUB - Flickr: 4th Tank Battalion trains with Moroccan counterparts during African Lion 2011 [Image 1 of 8], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17181031] Russia? China? America? Tank ammunition is not easy to manufacture. Modern tanks require ammo that is made to withstand immense pressure while also maintaining very high accuracy. This presents challenges for all types of rounds, although modern Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition is the hardest to manufacture due to the very ha... more »
Why the U.S. Military Won't Give Up Its Cluster Bombs
*Daniel R. DePetris* *Security, * [image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce/7414273458/in/photolist-oxZQJE-cib6c1-a94HQt-kjBjzi-iECZkm-cP9n9u-eSy6jC-a3J2iu-aVkXMg-a97x61-ciccpG-a94JAz] As long as other nations like Russia and China refuse to become a state party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the United States will resist the pressure to do so. War is a terrible thing. Innocent men, women and children regrettably but inevitably lose their lives in the course of hostilities, and millions of people could very lose their homes, businesses and indeed their families. ... more »
"After All..."
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain." - William James
Fukushima Update Nov. 3, 2018: 17,989.05 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow
*"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”* - Shiva *Updated Nov. 3, 2018: Fukushima Equals 17,989.05 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow; There is No Place On Earth to Escape the Rad: *The 3 melted-through cores of the destroyed reactors, now melted together into a single "corium" totaling over *600 tons*, at Fukushima *daily* release the radioactive equivalent of 6.45 Hiroshima bombs directly into the atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean. As of Nov. 3, 2018 - 2,789 days since the disaster began - this equals the detonation of *17,989.05 *Hiroshima atomic bombs and it is stil... more »
New evidence pot may harm the teen brain
https://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2018-10-evidence-pot-teen-brain.html Advertisements
‘Dead Butt Syndrome’ Is A Real Thing. Here’s How To Tell If You Have It.
https://m.huffingtonpost.in/entry/dead-butt-syndrome_us_5bd7319ce4b0a8f17efa83ed
6 steps to take control of your diabetes.
https://medium.com/span/6-steps-to-take-control-of-your-diabetes-e8fe9343f3ae
Erectile dysfunction and diabetes – Dr. Anupam Ghose
http://anupamghose.com/2018/11/03/erectile-dysfunction-and-diabetes/
Could It Be the Sugar?
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/903927?src=soc_tw_181105_mscpedt_news_mdscp_sugar&faf=1
Babies Born at Home Have More Diverse, Beneficial Bacteria, Study Finds
https://blogs.mercola.com/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2018/11/03/babies-born-at-home-have-more-diverse-beneficial-bacteria-study-finds.aspx?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=twittermercola_blog&utm_campaign=20181103_babies-born-at-home-have-more-diverse-beneficial-bacteria-study-finds
Redefining the Role of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in the Modern Era of Active Surveillance in Small Cell Lung Cancer.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2707226?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social_jamaonc&utm_term=1864229893&utm_content=followers-article_engagement-text&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=59037535
Investigation Discovery.
https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/?sf201461180=1
You should get the flu shot—even if it won’t keep you from getting sick.
https://www.popsci.com/you-should-get-flu-shot?con=TrueAnthem&dom=fb&lnk=TA&src=SOC&utm_campaign=&utm_content=5bddb0fa04d301468c6ad5d9&utm_medium=&utm_source=
‘The most intellectual creature to ever walk Earth is destroying its only home’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/03/the-most-intellectual-creature-to-ever-walk-earth-is-destroying-its-only-home
Cybersecurity Risks are Existential II
In September I wrote an essay arguing that cyber attacks are existential risks, which I recommend reading because the sourcing is particularly interesting: Majia's Blog: Cyber Attacks are Existential Risks I noted that the US is actually more vulnerable to cyber attacks than many other nation-states because of networked interdependencies across the grid. An extended power outage would cause significant and potentially existential threats for nuclear plants because they must continuously cool very hot fuel for years to avoid fire in the zirconium encased fissile fuel. Back-up gene... more »
Dmitry Orlov, "The 5 Stages of Economic Collapse"
*"The 5 Stages of Economic Collapse"* - Dmitry Orlov "Elizabeth Kübler-Ross defined the five stages of coming to terms with grief and tragedy as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, and applied it quite successfully to various forms of catastrophic personal loss, such as death of a loved one, sudden end to one's career, and so forth. Several thinkers, notably James Howard Kunstler and, more recently John Michael Greer, have pointed out that the Kübler-Ross model is also quite terrifyingly accurate in reflecting the process by which society as a whole (or at least... more »
Oh For a thousand tongues to sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9kw3cILpg We recently sang this in church—but to a more familiar tune by C.G. Glaser (1828). Since Charles Wesley wrote it in 1739, I wondered what music had been used in the intervening 90 years. Perhaps this one, but the YouTube didn’t give information on the music. Additional information from the web: “ Lowell Mason’s (1792-1872) arrangement of the Carl G. Gläser (1784-1829) tune AZMON is used with “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” in the *UM Hymnal*. Gläser was a German composer and contemporary of Beethoven. Though Charles Wesley’s text h... more »
THE LOBBY - USA
*Child Sex Trafficking - The CIA, Deep State and Satanism* ... British-backed bombing raids destroy UK aid
Nov. 3: There'll be blue birds over.....
...The white cliffs of Dover. Tomorrow just you wait and see. There'll be love and laughter And peace ever after Tomorrow when the world is free.... This child can still hear the magnificent voice of Vera Lynn as she sang that to our soldiers in world war 2. As November 11 approaches, think of those words. I'll come back to them on that day. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-midterms-race-border-1.4888533 _______________________________________________________________ Here's a story that the newspapers of New Brunswick have almost entirely ignored. And hiding a tragedy of this sca... more »
Complete map of Syrian War – November 2018
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The Syrian War is nearing its eighth year and the conflict itself is still far from over. With the Syrian government in control of most of the country, including the large provinces of Damascus and Homs, the war has now shifted to the country’s borders where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran starts domestic fighter jet production as US sanctions hit
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – Iran’s Defence Minister inaugurated the production of domestically designed fighter jets in Tehran on Saturday, a day after the US announced the reinstatement of sanctions on the country. “Soon the necessary number of this aircraft will be produced. And it will be put at the service of the Air Force and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Breaking: Syrian Army launches powerful attack near Turkish military post
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a new attack against the jihadist rebels in northwestern Syria this afternoon, a military source told Al-Masdar News. According to the military source, the Syrian Arab Army launched a fresh attack on the jihadist defenses in the Al-Ghaab Plain of southwest Idlib. In particular, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US soldier killed in ‘apparent insider attack’ in Kabul – NATO
The soldier was killed during an assault just a month after another US serviceman died in combat in Afghanistan and two weeks after an insider attack in the province of Herat that caused the death of a NATO-led Resolute Support mission soldier. One US soldier was killed and one was injured during an “apparent insider […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
New map of southeast Syria after ISIS scores big advance
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:20 P.M.) – One week ago, the Islamic State (ISIS) launched a big attack against the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the southeastern region of Syria. The Islamic State managed to score a big advance during this attack, resulting in the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from several towns near the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran’s Qassem Soleimani mimics Trump’s sanctions photo on his Instagram
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 P.M.) – The commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani posted a photo on his Instagram in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions threat. Mimicking Trump’s sanction photo, Soleimani posted an image on his Instagram with the message “I WILL STAND AGAINST YOU”. Soleimani’s picture was posted in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Is 'Beyond Today' tomorrow? (Probably not)
Having written about it last weekend I thought I ought to at least sample *Beyond Today - *the podcast offshoot of the *Today *programme aimed at a younger, newer audience. So I tried Thursday's edition 'What's up with WhatsApp?', presented by Matthew Price. Was it something new and exciting? Well, except for Matthew going for that younger audience by speaking slower and asking some stupid-sounding questions which he obviously already knew the answer to (won't da youth find that a bit patronising?), it didn't seem* that *much different to the rest of the BBC's current affairs outp... more »
A Republican Could Never Win In The Oakland-Berkeley-Richmond District, So They Recruited And Financed A Corporate Democrat, Self-Styled Buffy The Bernie Slayer
23% of registered voters in California's 15th Assembly district declined to state a party preference. 66% are Democrats. 6% are Republicans. Most of the district is Berkeley, Richmond and Oakland, along with smaller communities like Albany, Emeryville, Piedmont, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, El Sobrante and Kensington. Trump managed to pull 7% of the vote there. The demographic make-up is a great mix: *•* White- 39.4% *•* Latino- 21.7% *•* Asian- 19.9% *•* Black- 16.3% This year the primary for the open seat (incumbent Tony Thurmond is a candidate for State Superinte... more »
Review Shaping the Plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom, The Role of Military Intelligence Assessments
*Review Hooker, Gregory, Shaping the Plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom, The Role of Military Intelligence Assessments, Washington DC: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 2005* Gregory Hooker was an intelligence analyst at the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) who was involved in the planning of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. *Shaping the Plan for Operation Iraqi Freedom* goes through that process and what the Americans got right and wrong. It is a short, concise and very informative book on how civilians at the Pentagon hindered strategizing for the invasion, and how the militar... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Nov 3
1918 British troops took Mosul city from Ottomans after WW1 armistice (Musings On Iraq article on how Mosul province became part of Iraq) 1920 UK Foreign Office official suggested US Standard Oil be allowed oil rights in Iraq to not allow Turkish Petroleum Company a monopoly and faster development 1920 Gertrude Bell said Shiites were complaining about not being represented in cabinet but dismissed them as being mostly Persians (Musings On Iraq book review of *Gertrude Bell And Iraq*) 1932 Naj Shawkat became premier of Iraq 1955 Pakistan joined Iraq, Turkey, England, Iran security... more »
The Devil is in the Data
Oliver J. Kim For the Symposium on The Law And Policy Of AI, Robotics, and Telemedicine In Health Care. At various points in our nation’s health history, a new technological advance is hyped as the silver bullet for our healthcare system. Of course, it is an axiom of law and public policy that the speed at which technology advances, vastly outpaces the law—that’s why we are coming together for this conference. Without legal, policy, and ethical guidelines to balance innovation, these breakthroughs may lead to unforeseen or even negative consequences for our society in our efforts ... more »
Treble Tribal Trouble: A Review of Ben Cobley’s The Tribe
Tobias Langdon reviews a new book on Jewish power that touches upon a taboo topic: how whites are discouraged from asserting or even defending themselves
5 Things You Might Not Know About Russia's Killer Tanks
*Charlie Gao* *Security, * [image: Reuters] Attention, U.S. Army. Russia’s T-72s, T-80s and T-90s may appear very similar. They all have three man crews, autoloaders, a smoothbore 125mm gun and relatively low weight and profiles relative to Western tanks. But the designs of these tanks go a lot further than the simple appearance. A lot of small features contribute to the survivability and lethality of these fighting machines. Here are five features of Russian tanks you may not have known about. *1. “Ainet” advanced fire control system* Making a high explosive shell explode in mi... more »
A Huge Floating Drydock Sank and Nearly took Russia’s Only Aircraft Carrier with It
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * Officially, Moscow has assured the world that the refit of the Kuznetsov remains ‘on schedule’ after the PD-50 accident. On October 30, Russia’s sole remaining aircraft carrier, the *Admiral Kuznetsov,* lay nested inside PD-50—a huge 330-meter long and 79-meter tall floating drydock currently moored off the Roslyakovo dockyard near the city of Murmansk. That morning, the dock suddenly began tilting to one side, causing personnel to scramble for safety. One of its tall, seventy ton cranes smashed into the *Kuznetsov*’s hull near the waterline, teari... more »
VIDEO: What Happens if Washington, D.C. Was Attacked with a Nuclear Weapon
*Harry J. Kazianis* *Security, * Could a terrorist group or nation-state clandestinely build and strike the United States with a nuclear weapon? *So, what could be the next “failure of imagination”? * The present national security environment America faces today is loaded with challenges as far as the eye can see—but it might just be the dangers we don’t see coming or fail to see, those that are so difficult to imagine, so gut wrenching and horrific to even contemplate, that a future calamity someday might take us by surprise and do the most harm of all. *(This first appeared in...more »
The Boeing F-15C Eagle Is Undefeated in Battle (104 to 0). But Retirement Is Coming.
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * Why? *At the end of the day, if it were not for the maintenance and sustainment costs coupled with the need to pay from structural repairs, it would likely be worth it to keep the F-15C in service. * The venerable Boeing F-15C Eagle has long been hailed as the world’s greatest air superiority fighter given its lopsided combat record of 104 kills to zero losses, however, the aging jet is likely near the end of its operational life. Nonetheless, it remains a potent fighter even as it likely heads toward retirement. *(This first appeared several month... more »
How the Air Force Transformed the B-1 from a Nuclear Bomber to an ISIS Killer
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * A bomber designed to dodge Soviet surface-to-air missiles and interceptors found its niche battling Taliban and ISIS insurgents. Huge yet surprisingly sleek and agile, the U.S. Air Force’s B-1 Lancer strategic bombers—popularly dubbed “Bones” for B-ONE—circles over battlefields in Syria and Afghanistan like angels of death dispensing GPS-guided bombs from on high. Yet the B-1 started out as an over-priced nuclear bomber that was arguably obsolete by the time it entered service. Thus, a bomber designed to dodge Soviet surface-to-air missiles and in... more »
In the Midst of Crisis, FDA Approves Opioid Drug 10X Stronger than Fentanyl Funded by DoD
[image: opioid] A new opioid drug which is 1,000 times stronger than morphine and funded by the Department of Defense, was just approved by the FDA. The post In the Midst of Crisis, FDA Approves Opioid Drug 10X Stronger than Fentanyl Funded by DoD appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Caravan exposes Democrat’s contempt for American middle class (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 11. The post Caravan exposes Democrat’s contempt for American middle class (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Erdogan accuses ‘highest level’ Saudi officials of ordering Khashoggi murder
Turkey's Erdogan tell Washington Post: "We know the order to kill Khashoggi came from highest level of Saudi government." The post Erdogan accuses ‘highest level’ Saudi officials of ordering Khashoggi murder appeared first on The Duran.
“Swift And Severe”: Trump Administration Readies Its Best Hackers For Cyberattack Against Russia
U.S. military hackers have been given the go-ahead to gain access to Russian cyber systems in case of midterm election 'meddling'. The post “Swift And Severe”: Trump Administration Readies Its Best Hackers For Cyberattack Against Russia appeared first on The Duran.
Moscow Initiates De-dollarization: India To Pay For S-400 Systems In Rubles
The S-400 contract will be settled in rubles. The post Moscow Initiates De-dollarization: India To Pay For S-400 Systems In Rubles appeared first on The Duran.
Saudi Air Force unleashes massive attack on Yemeni capital after US calls for 30 day ceasefire
So much for Mike Pompeo's warning to Saudi Arabia... The post Saudi Air Force unleashes massive attack on Yemeni capital after US calls for 30 day ceasefire appeared first on The Duran.
Kamal's New Thing: 'Explaining Journalism'
*The Saturday transcript is fast becoming a weekend tradition here at Is the BBC biased?, so please draw up a chair, put on your fez and dressing gown, set aside your copy of 'In Defence of Political Correctness' by Yasmin Alibhai Brown, pour yourself a large glass of port, take out your finest cigar, and we'll begin....* *Newswatch, 2 November 2018: * *Interview with Kamal Ahmed* Steady ladies! *Samira Ahmed*: This week's Budget was the last for Kamal Ahmed as the BBC's Economics Editor. On Thursday he started a new job as Editorial Director for BBC News and he is with me now. We... more »
Fourth Coolest October On Record In Arizona
Phoenix Sonoran Preserve November 2, 2018 Afternoon temperatures in Arizona were fourth coolest on record last month, seven degrees below normal and fifteen degrees cooler than 1950. It was also the wettest October on record in Phoenix. The Latest: Heavy … Continue reading →
Global Warming And Global Cooling Have Identical Symptoms
In the 1970’s, climate experts used this jet stream pattern to prove global cooling. Now they use it to prove global warming. USA TODAY Weather Giant ‘waves’ in the sky are wreaking havoc on our weather
WHY ISN'T TRUMP WALKING AWAY WITH THE MIDTERMS?
Near the end of his latest column, Bret Stephens writes: Democrats should be walking away with the midterms. This comes several paragraphs after he writes: On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported the fastest rate of annual wage hikes in almost a decade, depriving Democrats of one of their few strong arguments about the true state of the economy. Unemployment is at its lowest rate since Vince Lombardi coached his last game in December 1969. The North American Free Trade Agreement has been saved with minor modifications and a new name. Oh, and: The Islamic State is largely defeat... more »
BREAKING: Lazy invidious generalization!
*SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2018Perhaps not the greatest idea:* Andrew Sullivan was brought up to believe that you shouldn't make sweeping negative generalizations about whole classes of people. We know that because Sullivan says so in his latest end-of-week essay for New York magazine. Scroll down to his second topic: SULLIVAN (11/2/18): *At what point is it legitimate to make sweeping negative generalizations about whole classes of people?* I was brought up to believe the answer to that was never. But I’m beginning to feel painfully naïve about that. In a way, we were brought up t... more »
On Philosophy and Philosophizing
I think that it is possible for an unwise man to be a philosopher, but only a man of wisdom is capable of philosophizing. Arthur Schopenhauer was a very wise man. I find his wisdom to be more inspiring and impressive than his philosophy. Here are three excerpts from R. J. Hollingdale’s translation of Schopenhauer’s aphorisms in *Arthur Schopenhauer: Essays and Aphorisms* (Section, “On Philosophy and the Intellect”; Pages: 117-118): Schopenhauer on the two main requirements for philosophizing: The two main requirements for philosophizing are: firstly, to have the courage not to k... more »
The IPCC’s Attempt to Move the Goalposts for Climate Change
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently issued a new report concerning the impacts of global warming of 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, the goal of the Paris “Treaty.” In doing so, they changed the basic definition of how to measure climate by mixing existing and non-existing temperature data. This surely constitutes […]
Russia Can Help Secure Saudi Interests Within The US-Run Yemeni Peace Process
Russian-Saudi relations are currently at their best-ever level in history, while Russia also enjoys excellent ties with the UAE and Yemen, so it’s sensible to see it play a neutral mediating role within the forthcoming UN-brokered talks, especially considering that the country is also a member of the Security Council. The post Russia Can Help Secure Saudi Interests Within The US-Run Yemeni Peace Process appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
Supremes Kick Kids Lawsuit Down the Road
Last night the US Supreme justices refused the federal government’s petition to end the Oregon district court case. The media headlines will say this action allows the case to start, but that is not what happened. The real story concerns procedural hurdles and comes from Scotusblog, not from the green industry PR department (when […]
Do Not Waste One More Second
Do not waste one more second of your time on this earth, for the insects are all dying, and the ice caps are vanishing, and the oceans are filling with plastic. This could all be gone very soon, so don’t waste it. Don’t take any […]
EU Slams Re-Imposition of US Sanctions on Iran
PressTV Published on Nov 2, 2018 The US decision to re-impose economic sanctions against Iran has drawn a barrage of criticism from Tehran and other signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Iranian foreign minister said Washington, despite its illegal anti-Tehran sanctions, has failed to achieve its goals. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comments on the […]
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From Jenna Orkin 4900 Migrants to Europe Go Missing LA Typhus Zone The Pentagon reportedly has a secret plan to launch a cyberattack on Russia if it messes with the midterms Sneaky devils. Russia And China Are Apparently Both Under The Impression That War With The US Is Coming... DoD Official Urges Taiwan To Buy More Weapons In Fear Of "Cross-Strait Invasion" By ChinaRussia, India And Iran To Cooperate On New Trade Route Alternative To Suez Canal Finland carried out raids on what may have been secret Russian military island hideouts 'Migrant Caravan' Members Sue Trump Over 'Shocki... more »
Wheels In Motion for “Western Friendly” MBS Replacement As an "exiled" Prince Returns
*So, much going on. I'm playing catch up.* *In breaking news this morning it was reported that Turkey has asked the US, again, to stop supporting YPG/PKK in Syria.* - Turkey calls on the US, Again, To Terminate Engagement with YPG/PKK *Personally speaking, it's doubtful the US will stop engaging the Kurdish thugs because they don't want peace in Syria, nor in the region. That said, let's catch up on fresh news regarding the ongoing regime change operation in Saudi Arabia:* *RT: ‘Wheels in motion to replace MBS with someone compatible with West,’ * *In my world this would be d... more »
REVEALED: FBI’s Bogus Counter-Terrorism Racket, Throwing Innocent People in Prison
*Trevor Aaronson* | The FBI is responsible for more terrorism plots in the United States than any other organization
(VIDEO) How to Spot Russian Interference in US Midterm Elections
*#ICYMI* | Remember: if you see something, say something... more »
Things Will Get Mean
Relations between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are on a downward slope. Susan Delacourt writes: While it’s more the rule than the exception to have opposing parties in power at Queen’s Park and on Parliament Hill, relations between the Ford and Trudeau governments appear to be particularly raw, and especially so this week. On Tuesday, federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer visited Queen’s Park and was warmly greeted by the premier as the “next prime minister of Canada” — a development that would come, Ford said at a photo op in his office, after voter... more »
Orlando Testing Facial Recognition Technology Provided Free by Amazon
[image: orlando-testing-facial-recognition-technology-provided-free-by-amazon] The city of Orlando, Florida, is testing facial recognition technology developed by Amazon and provided to the police of that city free of charge.
How Does a Republican Become a “Racist”? By Winning, Says Trump
[image: how-does-a-republican-become-a-racist-by-winning-says-trump] Today we can perhaps say that racism charges are the last refuge of a scoundrel. They’re also now usually the first tactic of one. President Trump alluded to this very idea Thursday, saying that “the word ‘racist’ is used about every Republican that’s winning.”
Editor's Note
I am busy for the entire weekend. Blogging will be sporadic.
Deng Xiaoping’s Son Urges Restraint In China's Foreign Policy
Deng Pufang, the eldest son of Deng Xiaoping. AFP *SCMP:* *Deng Xiaoping’s son urges China to ‘know its place’ and not be ‘overbearing’* * Deng Pufang says the economic and cultural changes introduced by his father 40 years ago are ‘irreversible’ * Comments in unpublished speech to disabled group offer counterweight to current assertive foreign policy An influential son of Deng Xiaoping, the former Chinese leader who steered the country towards decades of economic growth, urged his government to “keep a sober mind” and “know its place”, delivering a counterpoint to Beijing’s incre... more »
For IFS's Sake
I agree with Charles Moore: All through Tuesday, the BBC led with the news that the Institute for Fiscal Studies — ‘expert’, ‘independent’, ‘respected’ etc etc — thought Philip Hammond’s Budget was ‘a bit of a gamble’. One has nothing much against the IFS, but why is this news? Why is it not treated the same way as the Institute of Economic Affairs on the free-market right or of the Institute for Public Policy Research on the Blairite left — as a body whose views are probably worth hearing, but only as one among many? Behind the IFS’s exaggerated prominence is a false idea that it... more »
The M1A2 Abrams Is The Tank Of The Future
*Dan Goure* *Security, Americas* [image: By Sgt. Kimberly Browne - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1020819, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42550663] It is clear that there are numerous options available to the Army to enhance the performance of the M1A2 Abrams before there is any need to consider a brand new design for a main battle tank. In 2013, a year before Russia seized Crimea and invaded its sovereign neighbor, Ukraine, the United States came within months of shuttering the last plant in the Western Hemisphere capable of building main battle t... more »
The Armada: This Were the Ships Spain Hoped to Use to Crush England
*Warfare History Network, Eric Niderost* *Security, Europe* [image: By Unknown - http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/an-isle-of-wight-fleet-review-of-a-very-different-kind-83124.aspx, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=284027] And we break them all down. The Armada campaign marked the beginning of a new age in naval warfare. Before this time, naval encounters were essentially land battles fought at sea. Ships were designed to close with an enemy, then grapple as soon as was feasible. Once the two vessels were locked in a deadly embrace, soldiers would fig... more »
Swarm Killer: Raytheon's Mobile Laser Defense Is Sci-Fi on the Battlefield
*Tiago Machado* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/39073214885/sizes/l] But will it actually make it to the battlefield? On October 10, Raytheon released its High-Energy Mission Scenarios marketing vid where it lays out its vision for networked laser defenses, but how early Raytheon can deliver—if at all—remains to be seen. The CGI marketing piece introduces us to its multi-spectral targeting system; a laser system miniaturized enough to be mounted on a small buggy. The video shows the system protecting convoys and bases from unmanne... more »
Battleship Sinks Submarine: How HMS Dreadnought Rammed and Sunk a U-Boat During World War I
*Robert Farley* *Security, Europe* [image: By Unknown, Bain news service - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.17494.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright] After a chase that lasted only a few minutes—and almost involved a collision between Dreadnought and Temeraire—the former rammed U-29 and cut the submarine in half. U-29 sank almost immediately, taking all hands. How many British dreadnoughts did German submarines sink in World War I? ... more »
The B-52's Massive Weapons Upgrade Is Already Doing Major Damage on the Battlefield.
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, Middle East* [image: By Robert Frola - Flickr, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32400387] Not good for America's enemies. The B-52 Stratofortress may be old enough to buy a senior ticket at the movies, but the legendary long-range strategic bomber is still pushing the envelope: On Dec. 12, Resolute Support commander Brig. Gen. Lance Bunch announced that a B-52 conducting bombing sorties out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, dropped the most precision munitions ever deployed from the airframe during a combat mission, an ... more »
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*Men of Notre Dame University Request Porn Filter: Three Reasons for Concern* At first glance, it seems to be a very positive initiative on the part of those at Notre Dame University. Over one thousand male students, faculty and staff have signed a petition asking that “the University implement a filter to make pornography inaccessible on the Notre Dame Wi-Fi networks.” Finally, some sanity seems to be taking hold in Catholic higher education. An even more positive fact is that the majority of the signers are young male students who are requesting this censorship. They are demand... more »
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*U.S. Oil Production Allows America to Crack Down on Iran* Yet again, we have witnessed a heinous display of the anti-Semitism that has plagued the Jewish community throughout history. America cannot sit silently and allow anti-Semitism to prevail, be it domestically or internationally. While the act of terror in Pittsburgh was that of a domestic white supremacist, anti-Semitism remains a global issue. Iran perpetuates the virulent rhetoric that has fueled this global scourge, and its rogue actions pose a threat to the United States and its allies. Anti-Semitism is not solely a Je... more »
Impact is Imminent: Getting Into Gold, Getting Out of the Euro (and Dollar)
*Patrick Henningsen* | European countries following lead of Russia and China getting back into physical gold, but where does this leave the euro?
Erdogan says Assad killed 1 million of his citizens, Syrians will determine his future
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 P.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again slammed his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al-Assad while speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on October 27th. During the press conference, Erdogan said Assad had killed nearly one million of his own citizens, which is a figure he has referenced on a […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Trouble in paradise: Jihadist rivals clash again in west Aleppo as situation deteriorates
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:45 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels are once against at each other’s throats in western Aleppo as the situation deteriorates just days after a ceasefire was announced. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), Harakat Nouriddeen Al-Zinki attacked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions inside the west Aleppo town of Kafr Naseh. “The […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russia claims White Helmets are part of Al-Nusra
Moscow has evidence proving that the White Helmets are directly linked to the Jabhat al-Nusra terror group (outlawed in Russia), the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. “It is no secret that this agency was active only in areas not controlled by the [Syrian] government and did not avoid contacts with terrorists […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US Coalition unleashes largest attack on eastern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:15 P.M.) – The U.S. Coalition unleashed their largest attack on eastern Syria this month after taking a brief hiatus due to the Turkish assault on the cities of Kobani (var. ‘Ayn Al-‘Arab) and Tal Al-Abyad. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the U.S. Coalition heavily bombarded the southeastern countryside […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran launches mass production of Kowsar interceptor jet – defense minister
Iran’s Air Force has possesses about a few dozen strike aircraft, either Russian planes or US models obtained before the 1979 Iranian revolution. Iran has started the mass production of a fourth-generation domestically-manufactured interceptor jet in a major step toward the renovation of its Air Force, state television reported. “Soon the needed number of this […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Jihadist rebels launch powerful attack near strategic airport in east Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:45 A.M.) – The jihadist rebels launched a new attack in eastern Idlib this weekend after suffering heavy personnel losses at the hands of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Led by their Jaysh Abu Bakr Al-Sadiq faction, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham launched a fresh attack on the Syrian Arab Army’s positions near the strategic […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Khashoggi murder ‘horrendous’ but Iran is bigger problem – Netanyahu (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 A.M.) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that while the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul was “horrendous,” stability in Saudi Arabia is vital to global security. He made the statement during the Craiova Forum held alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his Greek and Romanian […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US-led coalition begin holding joint patrols in northern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 A.M.) – US forces began holding patrols along the Syrian-Turkish border, footage filmed on Friday shows. US military personnel and armoured vehicles can be seen patrolling the area near the northern Syrian city of Kobane. In a statement released by the Combined Joint Task Force of Operation Inherent Resolve, British Maj. General Christopher […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Things I have noticed—guest blogger Jim
Things I have noticed recently: Just read that 4,153,237 people got married last year; not to cause any trouble but shouldn't that be an even number? Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool I gave him a glass of water. KEEP GOING I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car. If I had a dollar for every girl that found me unattractive, they would eventually find me attractive. I find it ironic that the colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom until th... more »
First you're the target market, then you're the problem
I'm cynically amused by an apparent pull-back in the granting of easy credit to consumers. Capital One Financial Corp. and Discover Financial Services said last week they have become more cautious in how they’re handling credit limits. The two lenders said they don’t currently see signs of deterioration in consumers’ ability to pay their debts but do question how much longer the economic recovery will last. “In so many ways, one can’t help but be struck by…just how good the economy [at] this point is,” Capital One Chief Executive Richard Fairbank said on the company’s earnings cal... more »
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