10:25 pm MST
HTS attempts change image by removing extremist banners (photos)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:00 P.M.) – Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham launched a new campaign this week to remove their extremist banners from the Idlib Governorate. According to reports, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham began removing banners calling for jihad, calling Shiites their enemy, and enforcing the compulsory hijab. Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US delivers laser-guided rockets to Lebanon for air defense
The US Embassy in Lebanon says Washington has delivered laser-guided rockets valued at more than $16 million to the Lebanese army. The rockets delivered on Wednesday are a key component for a fleet of A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft previously delivered. The delivery demonstrates the US government’s “firm and steady commitments” to support the Lebanese […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran supports new offensive to clear jihadists in Idlib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told his Russian and Turkish counterparts on Thursday that supports a new push to clear Idlib of the jihadist forces currently inside the governorate. Rouhani met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this morning and later met with the latter and his Russian Russian counterpart Vladimir […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Tory conference police force admits sharing information on protesters with DWP
Disabled activists have demanded an inquiry after a police force that has patrolled four Conservative party conferences since 2010 admitted sharing information about protesters with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has now become the second police force to admit sharing information about people taking part in protests with DWP, [...]
Ministers block release of ‘no deal Brexit’ social care recruitment plans
Ministers are refusing to release information that would show what extra plans – if any – the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has put in place to deal with an adult social care recruitment crisis in the event of a “no deal Brexit”. With just 43 days until Britain faces the possibility of [...]
MPs hear of ways to save benefit claimants from harm… or even death
Disabled activists and shadow ministers at a parliamentary meeting have been told of ways they could help to reduce the appalling damage caused by the government’s hated “fitness for work” assessment and other social security cuts and reforms. Academics, researchers, politicians and campaigners spoke at yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting (pictured), which was hosted and organised by [...]
User-led sector ‘faces threat of extinction’
User-led organisations across the country are continuing to close, with the sector even facing a “real threat of extinction”, leading networks have warned this week. Those user-led organisations that have found a way to survive are increasingly being side-lined from government consultations and government-funded projects, they said. The National Survivor User Network (NSUN) estimates that [...]
Launch of Neurodivergent Labour ‘could be milestone in fight for rights and equality’
The launch of a new user-led political organisation is set to be a “landmark event” for neurodivergent people in the Labour party. After three years of lobbying, discussions and consultation, disabled party members launched Neurodivergent Labour in central London on Saturday. Janine Booth, co-chair of the TUC disabled workers’ committee, who played a key role [...]
MP speaks of pride at being dyspraxic at launch of Neurodivergent Labour
A disabled MP has spoken of her pride at being able to speak openly about being dyspraxic, after having to hide her diagnosis from employers for years before she entered parliament. Emma Lewell-Buck (pictured) was previously a social worker but was “acutely aware that if there were any job cuts that would come around, it [...]
‘Disability Confident’ Arts Council England’s job stats shame
The Arts Council has admitted that only two per cent of its directors – and just three per cent of its managers – are disabled people, despite having achieved “Disability Confident Employer” status under the government’s discredited disability employment scheme. Arts Council England (ACE) has now become the latest employer to achieve the top two [...]
‘Delight’ over breakthrough on Welsh independent living scheme closure
Disabled campaigners have welcomed measures that aim to address concerns over the imminent closure of the Welsh government’s independent living grant scheme. Julie Morgan, the deputy minister for health and social services, has written to council leaders to ask for an immediate “pause” in the closure programme and its replacement with a system of council-funded [...]
Parents who home educate disabled children ‘scapegoated’ by commissioner
Families forced into home educating their disabled children because of the lack of support from mainstream schools are among parents who are being “scapegoated” by the children’s commissioner, according to a disabled mum and campaigner. Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner for England, published a report last week that calls for action to address the lack [...]
William Barr Confirmed to Attorney General Position, 54-45 Senate Vote…
U.S. Attorney General nominee William Barr has been confirmed by the senate. The vote was 54-45 with three democrats voting to support Barr: Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Doug Jones (AL) and Joe Manchin (WV); with one republican, senator Rand Paul (KY), … Continue reading →
Effort in Arkansas to add nearly 40 medical marijuana conditions falls short
An Arkansas legislative committee shelved an effort to more than triple the conditions that would qualify patients to use medical cannabis, a move that likely would have resulted in a more robust market. The proposal to expand the conditions list from 18 to 57 did not receive a motion to advance out of the House Rules Committee […] Effort in Arkansas to add nearly 40 medical marijuana conditions falls short is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
NBC Report: Be Prepared To Be Disappointed By The Mueller Report
YouTube *NBC:* *You may be disappointed by the Mueller report* *The special counsel operates under rules that severely constrain how much information can be made public.* WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans are waiting for Robert Mueller to give them the final word on whether the Trump campaign conspired with the 2016 Russian election interference effort — and whether their president is under the influence of a foreign adversary. Millions of Americans may be sorely disappointed. Unless Mueller files a detailed indictment charging members of the Trump campaign with conspiring with ... more »
Seattle Snowfall Ahead of Denver This Season
Back-to-back storms have dropped record snow across the Pacific Northwest this month. 14 Feb 2019 – As you can see in the above graphic, snowfall at SeaTac airport has surpassed that at Denver International Airport. It is already the snowiest February on record in Seattle, but now, the normally rainy city can boast of the most snow ... Read moreSeattle Snowfall Ahead of Denver This Season The post Seattle Snowfall Ahead of Denver This Season appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Forget toxic masculinity
2019 may become the year of toxic feminism. We experienced a temper tantrum by the aging Pelosi, the highest elected female in the country, in line for the presidency, refusing Trump his SOTU; then when it finally happens we had to watch a block of white lab coats described variously as abortion assistants to noisy middle school girls' silliness; a Michigan Congress woman called the President a disgusting term; we have Kathy Tran proposing death to fully viable babies in Virginia; and women who cheered late term abortion in New York; and finally yesterday we saw the grossest, most ... more »
Did the City of Denver Legalize Public Urination and Defecation?
Joe the Plumber's web site distorted the facts around a set of criminal justice reforms introduced in Denver in 2017.
Don’t Let Cyber Attribution Debates Tear Apart the NATO Alliance
NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Credit: NATO/Flickr) The United States still struggles to find effective policies for deterring cyberattacks. Suggestions run the gamut from more widespread use of indictments and economic sanctions, despite their lackluster record of success, to less traditional but more risky policies that emphasize the asymmetric advantage America has in conventional military power. Most of the discussion of cyber deterrence focuses on preventing a single catastrophic or cascading cyberattack that would threaten lives (like disruptions to electricity tra... more »
Will Yemen Be Trump’s First Veto?
*Curt Mills* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] A repudiation of the U.S. effort in Yemen passed the House Wednesday, and is expected to pass the Senate. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives issued a stinging rebuke of the White House’s holding pattern in support of the Saudi coalition in Yemen. The vote was the culmination of multiple years of efforts by realists on Capitol Hill and their allies. House Joint Resolution 37 demands the removal U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting Yemen within a month unless: Congress authorizes a later date, or issues a d... more »
The Biggest Threat to a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier: Catching on Fire
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * History tells us why. *At 8:18 the exhaust heat triggered the fifteen-pound warhead of one of the Zuni rockets. The resulting blast ruptured the Phantom’s fuel tank, which poured burning JP-5 jet fuel onto the deck, catching three more Phantoms on fire. Amongst the first victims of the conflagration were two operators of the huffer unit and the F-4 pilot.* A series of collisions involving U.S. Navy destroyers in 2016 and 2017—including two incidents recent tragedies that left sixteen sailors dead—have raised questions as to why the maritime fight... more »
One Tough Tank: Why France's Leclerc Is One of the Best on the Planet
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, Middle East* Why "Little Sparta" loves these tanks in battle. There is a saying in the Pentagon that the United Arab Emirates is "Little Sparta," a phrase repeated by outgoing defense secretary James Mattis. The reason is that Emirati troops are experienced and battle-tested from the war in Yemen, and the oil-rich country has spent its riches on some of the most advanced military hardware in the world. At the forefront is the UAE's armored corps of French-made Leclerc tanks, an innovative machine which for the past 26 years have been a more common ... more »
Proposed Federal Law Will “Garnish Wages” from Paychecks of Student Loan Holders
By Matt Agorist As government subsides continue to flow into colleges across the country, the price of tuition continues to skyrocket, with some rates shooting... more »
President Trump Responds To Former Acting FBI Director McCabe's Admission That There Were Discussions To Remove Him From Office
Disgraced FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe pretends to be a “poor little Angel” when in fact he was a big part of the Crooked Hillary Scandal & the Russia Hoax - a puppet for Leakin’ James Comey. I.G. report on McCabe was devastating. Part of “insurance policy” in case I won.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 14, 2019 ....Many of the top FBI brass were fired, forced to leave, or left. McCabe’s wife received BIG DOLLARS from Clinton people for her campaign - he gave Hillary a pass. McCabe is a disgrace to the FBI and a disgrace to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGA... more »
Americans Continue to Flee to Low-Tax States
By Ryan McMaken According to the most recent Census Bureau data on state-to-state migration flows, 523,000 people moved to California from other states. But at... more »
The snow is over and my hand is healing...
*it's a good day in Idaho.* I've heard a rumor that we broke some snow records with something like 25" in the first two weeks of February. I do know that on our windy day, our road was completely drifted over. Our wonderful snow plow fairy was able to open the road and we are grateful. *Tripping the light fantastic in style*Meantime, I wish I could tell you I suffered a major sprain of my left hand last Monday when I rappelled down the White Cliffs of Dover, but alas - I tripped over my hair dryer cord. How boring! Thinking I had disengaged my huge fluffy slippers with the sequi... more »
Former Acting FBI Director McCabe: There Were Discussions To Remove President Trump From Office
*Daily Mail:* *Former FBI number-two Andy McCabe says he launched Russia investigation after Comey's firing because he worried Trump won 'with the aid of the government of Russia' – and feared the probe would 'vanish' if he got the axe* * McCabe says in a forthcoming book that he formally launched the FBI's Russia probe because he feared he might be fired after James Comey got his pink-slip * Tells '60 Minutes' that he wanted a paper trail in case President Trump let him go or transferred him * Feared the case might 'be closed or vanish in the night without a trace The FBI's forme... more »
National Emergencies: Constitutional and Statutory Restrictions on Presidential Powers
By Cindy Cohn and Shahid Buttar When a president threatens to exercise the power to declare a national emergency, our system of checks and balances... more »
Worldwide Effort To Restrict Everyone’s Right To Travel Is Close To A Reality
By MassPrivateI According to a recently published white paper there is a worldwide effort to restrict the right to travel of everyone. And you will not... more »
Should Jihadi brides be allowed to come ‘home’?
Should Jihadi brides be allowed to come ‘home’? Everyone is talking about “The Three Girls” who ran away to become IS brides, one of whom has resurfaced and now wants to come “home”. Shamima Begum is nine months pregnant and unrepentant. The question is, should she be let back into the UK? The general public thinks no, she made her bed and she must lie on it. The internet says no, overwhelmingly. I’m ambivalent myself because... what if she and her child die or get killed? I don’t like the idea of martyrdom. The very idea is grotesque. The World at One dealt with this news. The ... more »
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." #QotD
Today's Quote of the Day comes from a book by Ronald Wright, summarising author John Steinbeck's whinging that America was still not, yet, a socialist paradise: *"Socialism never took root in America because the poor [there] see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires."* [Hat tip Marsha Enright] . Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with link and attribution.
The Daily "Near You?"
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Thanks for stopping by!
"The Time You Have Left..."
“The life you have left is a gift. Cherish it. Enjoy it now, to the fullest. Do what matters, now.” ~ Leo Babauta
"The Awful Truth..."
“Space I can recover. Time, never.” - Napoleon Bonaparte "Lands can be reconquered, indeed in the course of a battle, a hill or a certain plain might trade hands several times. But missed opportunities? These can never be regained. Moments in time, in culture? They can never be re-made. One can never go back in time to prepare for what they should have prepared for, no one can ever get back critical seconds that were wasted out of fear or ego. Napoleon was brilliant at trading space for time: Sure, you can make these moves, provided you are giving me the time I need to drill my tr... more »
Enough of the 5G Hype
By Ernesto Falcon Wireless carriers are working hard to talk up 5G (Fifth Generation) wireless as the future of broadband. But don’t be fooled—they are... more »
Netanyahu: Israel and Arab Nations Meeting to Advance “Common Interests of War With Iran”
By Jessica Corbett (CD) — A deleted tweet from Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignited fresh fears about his position on Iran, after his official Twitter... more »
World News Briefs -- February 14, 2019
*BBC:* *US-backed Syrian fighters battle to clear final two IS villages* US-backed Syrian fighters are clearing Islamic State (IS) militants from the last two villages the jihadist group controls, military officials say. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance launched an assault at the weekend on Shajalah and Baghuz, near Syria's border with Iraq. The last militants remaining there are reportedly retreating and hiding among the local population. Some have sought to escape among the hundreds of civilians fleeing on foot. *Read more* .... *MIDDLE EAST* ISIS milita... more »
Largest health-care provider in Utah greenlights medical cannabis recommendations
Utah’s biggest health-care provider – Intermountain Healthcare – told its physicians they’re allowed to write medical marijuana recommendations for patients, which could boost the number of potential customers for the state’s upcoming MMJ industry. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the organization’s chief physician executive sent a memo to its network of roughly 1,500 doctors, […] Largest health-care provider in Utah greenlights medical cannabis recommendations is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
"Your Valentine’s Day Required Reading"
*"Your Valentine’s Day Required Reading"* By Bill Bonner "Certainly it was no design of the atoms to place themselves in a particular order, nor did they decide what motions each should have. But atoms were struck with blows in many ways and carried along by their own weight from infinite times up to the present. They have been accustomed to move and to meet in all manner of ways. For this reason, it came to pass that being spread abroad through a vast time and trying every sort of combination and motion, at length those come together that produce great things, like earth and sea a... more »
The Final Version of the EU’s Copyright Directive Is the Worst One Yet
By Cory Doctorow Despite ringing denunciations from small EU tech businesses, giant EU entertainment companies, artists’ groups, technical experts, and human rights experts, and the... more »
'Too late to leave': Fresh emergency warning as air tankers circle Tabulam fire
A major bushfire raging in northern NSW is again declared an emergency as it impacts on isolated regional properties, and firefighters warn it is too late for some residents to leave.
'Leaps and bounds': Number of Indigenous cricketers up 800 per cent
Cricket is catching the attention of more and more Indigenous players and the idol of many up-and-comers is using this opportunity to push for more opportunities which could assist in closing the gap.
A DEFEAT FOR TRICKLE-UP ECONOMICS IN QUEENS
Amazon withdraws: Amazon on Thursday canceled its plans to build an expansive corporate campus in New York City after facing an unexpectedly fierce backlash from some lawmakers and unions, who contended that a tech giant did not deserve nearly $3 billion in government incentives. The company, as part of its extensive search for a new headquarters, had chosen Long Island City, Queens, as one of two winning sites, saying that it would create more than 25,000 jobs in the city. But the agreement to lure Amazon stirred an intense debate about the use of government incentives to entice w... more »
Agenda 21 Alert! Mayor Eric Garcetti Declares Green New Deal in Los Angeles, City to Turn Off the Lights
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, in support of the Green New Deal, announced that Los Angeles will abandon plans to rebuild three natural gas plants, despite concerns the city will suffer acute power shortages. Population control is the end goal.
California Motor Voter Policy Launched Before It Was Ready, But in Time for the Mid-Terms that Favored Democrats
California is one of the worse offenders as the state automatically registers people to vote and gives driver's licenses to non-citizens, including illegal aliens. The DMV has acknowledged making 105,000 registration errors since Motor Voter began on April 23, 2018. Some customers were registered to the wrong party.
Democrats in Iowa Will Allow Party Members to Vote by Phone in Precinct Caucuses for Presidential Nominee
The Democrats are setting up a scam system that they are pushing to go national, following the California model of automatically registering everyone to vote when they get a driver's license, and then adding to the corruption by allowing them to vote from home with their phone.
More Guns, Less Crime: Concealed-carry Permit Holders More Law-abiding Than Police
[image: more-guns-less-crime-concealed-carry-permit-holders-more-law-abiding-than-police] Despite fears by proponents of gun control that more guns means more crime, citizens with concealed-carry permits actually commit crimes at a lower rate than police.
"The Trap of Romantic Love"
*"The Trap of Romantic Love"* by Sofo Archon "*The Search for the Perfect Relationship: *Most people - especially those brought up in the West -have been conditioned to believe that so-called romantic love is the most important pursuit in life and that only the ones who’ve found it are truly happy and fulfilled. From the tender age of one or two, we are told of fairy tales that end with two people of the opposite sex living “happily ever after”. As we age, novels, magazines, pop songs, television, Hollywood scripts, and self-help workshops reinforce the idea that romantic love is t... more »
ABC: Mom sues NY school district for ejecting unvaccinated teens: School is ‘Asking me to go against everything I believe in’
New York mother Marina Williams has taken the Orchard Park School District to court after her two children were removed from class because their vaccines were not up to date. According to Williams, her 13 and 15-year-olds are exempt from vaccinations for religious reasons. They have now been out of school for two months since moving […] The post ABC: Mom sues NY school district for ejecting unvaccinated teens: School is ‘Asking me to go against everything I believe in’ appeared first on Health Nut News.
White House communication director’s wife says we need to bring back childhood diseases because they are proven to fight cancer
Darla Shine, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and former Fox News executive Bill Shine, has some definite opinions about vaccines and recently took to Twitter to address the current fear-mongering about the measles, Tweeting: Here we go LOL #measlesoutbreak on #CNN #Fake #Hysteria The entire Baby Boom population alive […] The post White House communication director’s wife says we need to bring back childhood diseases because they are proven to fight cancer appeared first on Health Nut News.
Indonesia, Australia to sign trade deal in March
bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 Indonesia is to sign a trade and investment partnership deal with Australia in March, Indonesia's trade minister said.
ASEAN – Hong Kong FTA likely to come into force in 2019
bilaterals.org - 10 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 The ASEAN – Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now in its final stage and is hoped to take effect within 2019.
Proposed Federal Law Will ‘Garnish Wages’ from Paychecks of Student Loan Holders
[image: student]Consumer advocacy groups are calling the student loan paycheck deductions "mandatory wage garnishment" and are throwing up red flags.
Al Gore’s Global Warming Deliberate Fraud to Increase Governmental Power
There is a serious question that no one wants to address. How did Al Gore create the global warming scare and earn hundreds of millions of dollars in the process? Before Al Gore, science was worried deeply about what we are experiencing today — global cooling. On April 28, 1975, Newsweek magazine published an article in which … Continue reading "Al Gore’s Global Warming Deliberate Fraud to Increase Governmental Power"
Climate Sophistry at its Best; Cherry Picking Data to Tell a Lie
But why did they choose the 1960s for their start date? The US has excellent temperature records going back the late 19th century, and in fact the 2017 National Climate Assessment showed heat wave data going back to 1900. The 2017 data showed unambiguously that US summers were much hotter prior to 1960, and that … Continue reading "Climate Sophistry at its Best; Cherry Picking Data to Tell a Lie"
Rob Lowe Deletes ‘Chief’ Tweet Mocking Elizabeth Warren After Celebrity Backlash, Then Smacks The Perpetually Offended
I deleted my Elizabeth Warren tweet. It was a joke and some peeps got upset, and that’s never my intention. On the GOOD side: I just got to use the Oxford comma! — Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) February 10, 2019 Observation: many polarizing politicians actually LIKE each other, privately help each other, then publicly stir the … Continue reading "Rob Lowe Deletes ‘Chief’ Tweet Mocking Elizabeth Warren After Celebrity Backlash, Then Smacks The Perpetually Offended"
Huge SJW Victory!!! Amazon is leaving NYC. Bravo Democrats, even Progressive Jeff Bezos won’t put up with your crap
Amazon cancels plans for NYC headquarters (Source) Please Like, Share, Subscribe, Re-Blog and Comment
Iran, Russia & Turkey Committed to Syria's Sovereignty- Terror Attack in Iran
*The terror attack that took place against Iran, on the eve of the Sochi summit, was a clear message to Iran. Sent via proxies for the regional remakers, including the Sunni Muslim Kurds- To believe anything else is just silly. It's blatantly obvious and has been stated repeatedly that sights are set on Iran.* Rouhani- Putin- Erdogan *1-Full Text of the Statement issued after the meetings below:* *Iran, Russia and Turkey on Thursday emphasized strong and continued commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to ... more »
A Look at Drug Testing in The Workplace
Medical content reviewed by Dr. Richard Koffler, MD, Board Certified Physiatrist The stigma around marijuana use, both medical and recreational, is slowly dwindling as states... more »
Concert Recommendation -- Lady Gaga Jazz and Piano
I am not a Lady Gaga fan. I could probably name a few of her songs if you put a gun to my head -- Poker face, uh that one in A Star is Born, uh, something something Romance. And I was actually a tad resentful of even going -- we were in Las Vegas […]
Megan McArdle on Why We Will Never Have High-Speed Rail in the US
Megan McArdle has a great WaPo article and tweet storm on high-speed rail in the US. In it she focuses on issues of distance and infrastructure barriers we have. One thing she left out is that the US rail system is optimized for freight, vs. European and Japanese systems that are optimized for passengers (it […]
The Deeper Reason for Drug Ads On Television
*Jon Rappoport* - The ads are a good investment. As a bribe.
Is it Too Late for Non-Violent Means to Restore American Liberty?
*John W. Whitehead* - Don’t wait to push back until you’re the last one standing.
Medium Is The Message: Ilhan Omar, Social Media, And Making News
Democratic US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) set off a firestorm on Sunday with a one-line Tweet on a third rail topic. The aftermath continues four days later. Canadian philosopher and public intellectual Marshal McLuhan famously observed that "the medium is the message." How is messaging changing with the advent of such radically different mediums? Is news/reality accelerating? Ludwig von Mises Institute President Jeff Deist joins the discussion...in today's Liberty Report:
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 14, 2019
Reuters *David Axe, National Interest:* *U.S. Pacific Command Boss: the Chinese Military Is the 'Principal Threat'* China's new ships, planes and missiles enable an aggressive foreign policy. China is fielding a wide range of highly-capable weapon systems that could threaten U.S. interests in the Pacific region. That was the stark warning from U.S. Navy admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in his testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 12, 2019. "Over the last 20 years, Beijing has undertaken a massive effort to grow and ... more »
Free Download: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, "The Gulag Archipelago"
“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? During the life of any heart this line keeps changing place; sometimes it is squeezed one way by exuberant evil and sometimes it shifts to allow enough space for good to flourish. One and the same human being is, at various ages, under various circumstances, a totally different human being. ... more »
HARARI'S DISSENT: At times, Harari's assessments are dark!
*THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019How accurate are those assessments?* Professor Harari's best-selling book is a *major* best-seller. We refer to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, which currently sits at number 1 on the relevant New York Times list. It's been a best-seller round the world since it first appeared in 2011. Beyond that, its current American paperback edition carries a blurb by Barack Obama. Even more dispositively, a complimentary blurb by Bill Gates sits atop the front cover! As part of a much longer assessment, Obama is quoted saying the book is "interesting and p... more »
UKC Extra Time: Transgender ID Politics vs Transhumanist Ideology
*21WIRE.TV* | A special segment available each week for members at 21WIRE.TV.
Caribbean Spring: Haitians Revolt Against Their US Puppet Leader
*21WIRE* | As a result of a deadly crackdown, protests are expected to continue government tries to contain a rapidly deteriorating situation.
White House “Special Operations Team” Takes on Vaccines?
The Pro-Vax Squads Are Running Scared… “AntiVax” Controls the Argument – Worldwide… By Kent Heckenlively, JD Before today I was genuinely confused as to whether Donald Trump would eventually attack vaccines as he had done so magnificently as a presidential candidate and private citizen. On the one hand we’ve had other politicians (John McCain, Chris … Continue reading White House “Special Operations Team” Takes on Vaccines? The post White House “Special Operations Team” Takes on Vaccines? appeared first on BolenReport.
Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School Ready for Rio 2019 Carnival
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the early hours of Monday, March 4th, samba school G.R.E.S. Imperatriz Leopoldinense will compete in the Grupo Especial with their parade scheduled to begin at 2:40 AM. The group will present their ‘samba enredo’ (thematic samba composition) entitled, ‘E aí, me dá um dinheiro […] The post Imperatriz Leopoldinense Samba School Ready for Rio 2019 Carnival appeared first on The Rio Times.
Was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Once Fired from Hot Dog on a Stick?
Many opponents of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have decided to focus on fictitious criticisms.
Amazon Dumps NYC Headquarters and Its Promised 25,000 Jobs
Amazon says it will not be building a new headquarters in New York, a stunning reversal after a yearlong search.
The Role Technology Can Play in Fighting Climate Change and Deforestation
Global Issues News Headlines - 11 hours ago
PARAMARIBO, Feb 14 (IPS) - At 51, Roberto Wong Loi Sing has spent nearly half of his life working in the field of engineering. But as he spends his days designing more efficient stormwater management systems, or water purification systems, for instance, the child in him comes alive as he combines his skills to find "win-win" solutions for the environment. Read the full story, “The Role Technology Can Play in Fighting Climate Change and Deforestation”, on globalissues.org →
Rapa Nui’s Stone Statues and Marine Resources Face Threats from Climate Change
Global Issues News Headlines - 11 hours ago
HANGA ROA, Chile, Feb 14 (IPS) - Social activists and local authorities in Rapa Nui or Easter Island are calling for urgent action to address rising sea temperatures, declining rainfall, and rising tides that threaten their fishing resources and their Moais, the mysterious volcanic stone monoliths. Read the full story, “Rapa Nui’s Stone Statues and Marine Resources Face Threats from Climate Change”, on globalissues.org →
"Is It Too Late For Non-Violent Means To Restore American Liberty?"
*"Is It Too Late For Non-Violent Means To Restore American Liberty?"* by John W. Whitehead *“*There’s absolutely no evidence to support the statement that [America is] the greatest country in the world. We’re 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, 3rd in median household income, number 4 in labor force and number 4 in exports. We lead the world in only three categories: number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real and defense spending, where we spend more than the next 26 countri... more »
Certain Iranian Assets: The International Court of Justice Splits the Difference Between the United States and Iran
Interior of the International Court of Justice in the Hague (Source: New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage) On Feb. 13, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down its decision on the U.S. preliminary objections in *Certain Iranian Assets (Iran v. United States)*. Iran brought this case against the United States in 2016, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in *Bank Markazi v. Peterson*. In *Peterson*, the court sanctioned the turnover of about $1.75 billion in Central Bank of Iran assets to satisfy U.S. court judgments in favor of terrorism victims under th... more »
A Mass Strike: For The Benefit of Mankind
A Mass Strike: For The Benefit of Mankind Video of A Mass Strike: For The Benefit of Mankind As Percy Bysshe Shelley concluded his _Defense of Poetry,_ “Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world...” Lyndon LaRouche, who passed away on Tuesday, February 12, dedicated his life to awakening in his fellow man "the power of communicating and receiving intense and impassioned conceptions respecting man and nature." Today, we dedicate ourselves anew to bring to reality the big ideas for which history will honor him. In the words of Percy Shelley: "Drive my dead thoughts over... more »
The Green New Deal: Doubling Down on Failure and Distracting US from This Core Problem
As the world is being pummeled by social and environmental crises, civilization is becoming starkly divided between a comfortable upper class and a massive underclass of disposable people. This is the consequence of creating a society where the vast majority of the resources are controlled by the rich. For just one example of the dynamic I’m describing, during last November’s California fires, the wealthy and well-off were able to escape the crisis easily. But for many… The post The Green New Deal: Doubling Down on Failure and Distracting US from This Core Problem appeared first o... more »
Germany Pulls Rank on Macron and American Energy Blackmail
Why France’s Macron, at the last minute, attempted to undermine the project by placing stiffer regulations is a curious question. The post Germany Pulls Rank on Macron and American Energy Blackmail appeared first on The Duran.
Russia Readies Own Web To Survive Global Internet Shutdown
Russia is simultaneously building a mass censorship system similar to that seen in China. The post Russia Readies Own Web To Survive Global Internet Shutdown appeared first on The Duran.
Natural Resources Defense Council Includes Health Risks as a Reason to Care About 5G Installation
By B.N. Frank Just because cell phone and wireless WiFi technology seems to be everywhere doesn’t mean exposure to it is safe for humans, animals,... more »
LGU bureaucratism, Guimaras restrictions on mango harvest and selling
An Iloilo-based American friend, Bruce Hall, posted this photo in my fb wall the other day with this note: *"Nonoy, as I departed Guimaras yesterday, I saw this sign at the ferry terminal, very prominently displayed. One cannot harvest one's own mangoes without government approval, even if they are damaged from a typhoon!* *Even with government approval, you are forbidden to harvest your mangoes when you want and in the quantity you want. Do you think that you can see 600kgs of pickled mangos? Too bad, the government forbids you!* *Were the mangos damaged in some way? Too bad you ca... more »
Is The F-35 One Of The 5 Worst Fighter Jets Ever Made?
Image: Lockheed Martin. *Dave Majumdar, National Interest*:* The F-35 Is One of the 5 Worst Fighter Jets Ever Made* *We break down the worst of the worst. * The F-35 is a case of massive over ambition to develop one base airframe that can be adapted to replace half-dozen specialized jets. The result is an expensive jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. The United States has built many great fighters over the years. The P-51 Mustang, the F4U Corsair, F-86 Sabre, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-22 are among the best warplanes this country has ever produced. This art... more »
California Nightmare: Over Half Of The People Living In The State Wish They Could Leave
By Michael Snyder This just shows what can happen when you let crazy people run a state for several decades. In the 1960s and 1970s,...more »
"What Caused the Recession of 2019-2021?"
*"What Caused the Recession of 2019-2021?"* by Charles Hugh Smith "As I discussed in "We're Overdue for a Sell-Everything/No-Fed-Rescue Recession", recessions have a proximate cause and a structural cause. The proximate cause is often a spike in energy costs (1973, 1990) or a financial crisis triggered by excesses of speculation and debt (2000 and 2008) or inflation (1980). Structural causes are imbalances that build up over time: imbalances in trade or currency flows, capital investment, debt, speculation, labor compensation, wealth-income inequality, energy supply and consumption... more »
Does Russia View Its Role In The Afghan War In The !980s With Pride
*WNU Editor:* According to the AP, Russians now view with pride their involvement in the Afghan war in the 1980s .... *30 years on, Russia views Afghan war with pride* (Vladimir Isachenkov, AP). There is a move in Russia to rewrite history on the Soviet Union's invasion and then occupation of Afghanistan from 1979 - 1989, but those who remember the war are not buying it. Ten years of warfare destroyed the country, littered it with more landmines than any other country, and left 15,000 Soviet soldiers dead, and almost a million Afghans casualties.
America Shouldn’t Turn Its Back on Afghan Civilians
*Jerrod A. Laber* *Security, Middle East* [image: Reuters] Washington is right to withdraw forces, but it needs to also let in Afghan refugees. Light is finally appearing at the end of an eighteen-year-long tunnel, as there are reports that the Afghanistan war, or at least the United States’ involvement in it, could soon come to an end. U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has said that a peace deal has been agreed to in principle between America and the Taliban. In exchange for a full pullout of American troops, the Taliban has pledged to not allow Afghanistan to become a safe haven for ... more »
North Macedonia: A Name Agreement in the Age of Nationalism?
*Valbona Zeneli* *Security, Europe* [image: Reuters] The end of the name dispute between Skopje and Athens is victory for NATO but also for the European Union. NATO kept its promise to keep the door open. Since yesterday, the small country in the Western Balkans, North Macedonia was formally invited to become its thirtieth member. This historical decision bears tremendous importance for the Republic of North Macedonia and its Euro-Atlantic path, for the future of the Western Balkans, but also for NATO itself and the strained transatlantic relations. The accession protocol signed... more »
Get Ready for a Real Estate Rumble and a Border Wall
*Harvey Sapolsky* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] This is the creative real estate deal that will fund Trump's beautiful border wall. One of the two keys to good real estate deals is location, location, location. The other is having an eager seller. President Donald Trump is probably too busy fighting with congressional Democrats over his promise to build a wall on our Southern border to have noticed that there is a good real estate deal to be made that easily will pay for the wall, perhaps even getting Mexican or Chinese buyers to hand over the needed cash. The eager sell... more »
Who Benefits from the Rift Between Germany and America?
*Maximilian Terhalle* *Security, Eurasia* [image: Reuters] Angela Merkel is widening the transatlantic gap even further and needlessly playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands. The United States has just determined the treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF), mainly so because the aggressive impulse of Russia’s revisionist strategy has not diminished in recent years. At the same time, the predictable outcry in Berlin about American escalatory policies and a new nuclear arms race merely reveals a lack of strategic finesse as to how to confront Russia’s frighteningly clear plans to ... more »
Russia's 6th Generation Fighter Might Be Able to Find and Kill an F-22 or F-35
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * This is why. *All thanks to a new radar system. * Russia’s future sixth-generation fighter well as its next generation unmanned aircraft could be equipped with what is described as a “radio-photonic radar.” If the Russians succeed in developing such systems, Moscow would be in possession of a sensor with far greater range and resolution—high enough to develop a three dimensional image of an airborne target—than anything currently in operation around the world. Potentially, such a radar system could allow the Russians to develop a weapons quality tr... more »
NATO's Crazy Plan to Sink Russia's Submarines: Magnet Bombs?
*Steve Weintz* *Security, * Would this have worked? *The floppy-magnets worked exactly as intended, but they were simply too messy to train with to be practical on a large scale. It seems NATO deployed them only a few times.* At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union had so many hundreds of deadly submarines at sea that Western war planners willing to try almost any possible countermeasure, however goofy sounding. Some seemingly crazy ideas proved actually worthwhile, such as the underwater Sound Surveillance System—a vast chain of seafloor microphones that patiently lis... more »
This Is the 1 Big Mistake China Hopes the U.S. Navy Will Make
*Ben Ho Wan Beng* *Security, * This submarine might not be replaced--and it would be a huge blow to the Navy. *No more SSGNs? * How best could the United States metaphorically “kick down” the anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) “door” of a near-peer adversary during a conflict? This has been an idée fixe for American defense planners during recent years, in view of the rising A2/AD capabilities of strategic competitors such as China. There seem to be no clear answers to this question. *(This first appeared back in 2016.)* What is quite unanimous, however, in the defense community... more »
China Could Shoot Down an F-35 or F-22 If This Works
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * The ability track... *This could be real...* *State-run Chinese media* is claiming that the People’s Liberation Army has been able to track the U.S. Air Force’s Lockheed Martin *F-22 Raptor* stealth fighters over the East China Sea. While the Chinese report might be easily dismissed as propaganda—it is not beyond the realm of possibility. In fact—it’s very possible that China can track the Raptor. Stealth is not a cloak of invisibility, after all. Stealth technology simply delays detection and tracking. *(This first appeared in 2016.)* First off, i... more »
Too Much Money Sloshing Around Without Strict Regulation Corrupts Democracy-- Always
The Trump Regime has been working to rig the campaign finance rules in preparation for his reelection efforts; more on that below. It has also ordered the gutting of the task forces protecting elections from foreign meddling. At an earlier time in history, a leader like Trump would have been dragged out of his palace and lynched... or guillotined. We don't do that any more. Betsy Woodruff wrote yesterday that "Two teams of federal officials assembled to fight foreign election interference are being dramatically downsized, according to three current and former Department of Homelan... more »
Thanks to Helen Smith @instapundit For Helping To Promote My Company's Labor Model
She highlighted a new Amazon book called Live Camp Work: How to make money while living in an RV & travel full-time, plus 1000+ employers who hire RVers. I have not read it yet but I just bought it and may post a review. Our company hires about 350 RVers every year.
John Bolton's Three State Middle East Solution
While we all know about John Bolton's extreme views on Iran, we rarely get a glimpse into his mindset when it comes to Israel. Fortunately, thanks to the ever-remembering internet, a speech that the Trump Administration's current National Security Advisor gave after accepting the Guardian of Zion Award from Bar-Ilan University's Ingeborg Rennet Center for Jerusalem Studies. Let's open by looking at the press release from Bar-Ilan touting its award to Mr. Bolton: The Ingeborg Rennet Center for Jerusalem Studies was founded in 1995 by two American Jewish Community leaders, Ingebor... more »
Green New Deal Making Dems Squeal
[image: green-new-deal-making-dems-squeal] It’s easy to be idealistic when you don’t have to live with your ideals. But the Democrats will have to live with their Green New Deal ideals now at least a little bit, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that the Senate will schedule a vote on the plan.
Report: Covington Kids Innocent, “Native American Elder” Phillips Won’t Talk
[image: report-covington-kids-innocent-native-american-elder-phillips-won-t-talk] A report from Greater Cincinnati Investigations shows that little if any of what the media or left-wing celebrities and politicians said about the Covington Cathlic High School boys was true.
“Citizen-organized” Constitutional Convention Proposed
[image: citizen-organized-constitutional-convention-proposed] A long-time member of the Deep State has proposed a “citizen-organized” convention to restructure our government.
One of the biggest winter health risks, not the flu
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs seasonally, typically ramping up in the fall and winter months and disappearing come spring. It’s been estimated that as many as 20 percent of Americans are affected by SAD each winter. What differentiates SAD from regular depression is that a full remission occurs in […] The post One of the biggest winter health risks, not the flu appeared first on Health Nut News.
More than 50% of US infants have cow’s milk allergy
Research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting (ACAAI) at the end of last year estimated that more than half of children aged 1 year and younger in the U.S. are allergic to cow’s milk. The research also suggested that as children age, the percentage of those with cow’s milk […] The post More than 50% of US infants have cow’s milk allergy appeared first on Health Nut News.
The Fallacy of NOT Seeing Race
Over the last two weeks I’ve listened to friends, pundits and scholars debate the implications of discovering yearbook photos of Virginia’s Governor and Attorney General proudly wearing Blackface. These revelations are more complicated than dismissing them as youthful indiscretions that were simply apropos of the time. Blackface, whether donned by jazz singer Al Jolson in the past or college students at a Halloween party, is deeply rooted in the longstanding American tradition of reinforcing the boundaries of belonging. Blackface isn’t simply a costume. It represents an intentional ... more »
Iranian President Rouhani Blames The U.S. And Its Allies For Yesterday's Suicide Bomb Attack That Killed Dozens Of Revolutionary Guards
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) after their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, December 20, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo *Reuters:* *Iran's Rouhani blames U.S., Israel for attack on elite Guards: TV* DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blamed the United States and its regional allies on Thursday for a suicide bombing in southeastern Iran that killed 27 members of the country’s elite Revolutionary Guards, Iranian state TV reported. The force said on Wednesday a suicide ... more »
Did ISIS Hide A Mountain Of Gold And Cash In Eastern Syria?
#Raqqa the new coins that #ISIS say it will deal with it soon #Syria #IS #ISIL pic.twitter.com/7IdBNQuaOE — Abu Ibrahim Raqqawi (@raqqa_mcr) June 22, 2015 *VOA:* *Rights Group: IS Could Be Hiding Gold in E. Syria * WASHINGTON — As Islamic State faces pressure in its final stronghold in Syria's Deir el-Zour province, the group could be hiding a mountain of gold it smuggled out of other Syrian provinces and neighboring Iraq, a rights group told VOA on Wednesday. Rami Abdulrahman, head of the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), told VOA that it had confirmation fr... more »
PM Mahdi Launches Latest Anti-Corruption Initiative In Iraq
(Iraqi Parliament) At the end of January 2019 Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi announced his new anti-graft campaign. That focused around a new Supreme Anti-Corruption Council. Every Iraqi administration since 2005 has said that it would stand up to theft and stealing, but they have done little to actually combat it. Mahdi’s effort is likely to go the same way. PM Mahdi signed an order to initiate the new Anti-Corruption Council. It is to speed up the legal process to fight corruption, invite the parliament and cabinet to discuss anti-graft measures, make officials disclose their f... more »
This Day In Iraqi History - Feb 14
1949 Communist Chairman Farhad hanged by PM Said to try to squash opposition protests (Musings On Iraq book review *Red Star Over Iraq, Iraqi Communism Before Saddam*) (Musings On Iraq Interviewwith Prof Johan Franzen on the history of the Iraqi Communist Party) 1958 Iraq and Jordan announced Arab Federation in response to Egypt and Syria’s United Arab Republic Kuwait asked to join but said no 1983 Sec of State Shultz met with Iraq’s For Min Hammadi who asked for expanded trade deals 1984 Iran Op Kheibar began with diversionary attack northeast of Khorramshahr Iran southern front 1... more »
Year After Parkland Massacre, 17 Victims Remembered
"We don't need (the anniversary) to remind us what happened. We live with it every day," said businessman Andrew Pollack, whose 18-year-old daughter Meadow died in the attack.
Wife Says Chicago Officer Assaulted in Connecticut Prison
"He never should have been in the general population," said Jason Van Dyke's wife, Tiffany Van Dyke.
Border Security Brawl Seems Near a Serene Resolution
The bipartisan measure contains money for improved surveillance equipment, more customs agents and humanitarian aid for detained immigrants. The overall bill also provides $330 billion to finance dozens of federal agencies for the rest of the year.
Pence Urges Europe to Quit Iran Deal, Back US Sanctions
Vice President Pence was especially critical of Britain, France and Germany for unveiling a new financial mechanism that U.S. officials believe is intended to keep the nuclear deal alive by evading American sanctions.
Russia, Turkey, Iran Leaders Meet In Sochi For Talks On Syria's Future
*RFE:* *Russia, Turkey, Iran Leaders To Meet In Sochi For Talks On Syria's Future * Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on his Turkish and Iranian counterparts to continue working together "actively and consistently" on plans to stabilize war-torn Syria after a U.S. troop withdrawal that has been announced by President Donald Trump. Putin made the remarks on February 14 in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi where he is hosting talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iranian President Hassan Rohani. The summit began with a bilateral meeting between Pu... more »
Cop Sentenced to Just 6 Years for Murdering Teen Boy Beaten By Inmates After 4 Hours in Prison
[image: murder]Former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke who murdered Laquan McDonald, was placed in general population this week where inmates apparently recognized and then beat him.
WATCH: ‘Don’t Shoot Him!’: Cops Disobey Sgt, Shoot Two Unarmed Men and Get Away With It
[image: shoot]A man was sleeping in the passenger seat of a van when two officers disobeyed their sergeant and began shooting him.
Stealth isn't a universal military panacea
A recent article highlights the very important fact that stealth in military aircraft isn't the be-all and end-all of existence. The commander of Sweden’s air force, Mats Helgesson, recently made the bold statement that his country’s Saab Gripen E fighter could beat Russia’s formidable fleet of Sukhoi jets with none of the expensive stealth technology the US relies on. *Saab Gripen (image courtesy of Wikipedia - click it for a larger view)* “Gripen, especially the E-model, is designed to kill Sukhois. There we have a black belt,” Helgesson told Yle at a presentation in Finland, ... more »
Rio Nightlife Guide for Thursday, February 14, 2019
We have the top three picks for this Thursday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. PARTY: Pré-Carnaval Samba Independente dos Bons Costumes @ Fundição Progresso (Lapa) – Every Thursday the famous Lapa landmark of Fundição Progresso hosts ‘Samba Independente dos Bons Costumes,’ and this Thursday, […] The post Rio Nightlife Guide for Thursday, February 14, 2019 appeared first on The Rio Times.
40 Indian Security Forces Killed In Suicide Kashmir Bomb Attack
*Al Jazeera*:* Indian security forces killed in Kashmir blast* Car fitted with explosives rams into bus carrying paramilitary forces in Awantipora in Indian-administered Kashmir. At least 40 Indian paramilitary personnel have been killed and several others wounded after a car filled with explosives rammed into a military convoy in Indian-administered Kashmir. In one of the worst attacks to hit India's armed forces in nearly three years, the car rammed into one of the buses carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Awantipora in the disputed Himalayan region. *Read... more »
China Won’t Mix Russia With US Ties
Quite obviously, Beijing will never mix its respective relationships with Russia and the US, especially by teaming up with Moscow to challenge Washington. The US remains the most important partnership for China. Equally, the same can be said for Moscow as well — although from a different perspective of security and strategic stability. The post China Won’t Mix Russia With US Ties appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
Germany Pushes Back on Trump: Cold War U.S. ‘Nuclear Shield’ Deal Now in Jeopardy
*21WIRE* | If this situation plays out to its end, it could derail Washington's 70 year-old grand strategy which provides for the collective defense of Europe.
As Mueller investigation wraps up, US and EU hit Russia with more sanctions (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 83. The post As Mueller investigation wraps up, US and EU hit Russia with more sanctions (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Is Tulsi Gabbard for Real? America Is Ready for a Genuine Peace Candidate
What Tulsi Gabbard is accomplishing might be measured by the enemies that are already gathering and are out to get her. The post Is Tulsi Gabbard for Real? America Is Ready for a Genuine Peace Candidate appeared first on The Duran.
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin The World Oil Market and U.S. Policy: Background and Select Issues for Congress, updated February 4, 2019 Last 5 Years: World Hotter Than at Any Time in 120,000 Years Trump To Use Executive Order To Allocate More Funds To Wall, Avoiding Shutdown The Renewable Revolution Has A Lithium Problem France's Airstrike In Chad Draws It Deeper Into African "Mission Creep"Insect Apocalypse: The Global Food Chain Faces Major Extinction Event And Scientists Don't Know WhyCalifornia Governor Pulls Plug On Statewide High-Speed Rail Project Fed Warns Dollar "Might Not Retain Its ... more »
Joan doesn’t agree with today’s philosophy of reading—guest blogger Joan Turrentine (former teacher)
“Recent educational philosophy has been that it doesn't matter WHAT children read as long as they DO read. I am glad I grew up and went to school in a day when schools believed that it matters WHAT students read. My mind and memory are full of quality literature, classic poetry, thought-provoking stories and poems. I became familiar with and developed a useful and precise vocabulary and a familiarity with proper English language syntax. I observed in countless realistic situations (in reading assignments) how real people act and how people interact with other people and build happ... more »
Just in time for the Green New Deal
"California’s new governor, the prim and grim Gavin Newsom, announced that the project [bullet train] would be taken off its $650-million-a-month life-support apparatus and euthanized. The end of the project leaves Californians with no way to travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco except a 90-minute, $149 flight." Kevin Williamson, Feb. 13 https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/california-bullet-train-boondoggle-central-planning/?
Russia shuts down Turkey’s planned safe zone: ‘Need approval from Damascus’
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:20 P.M.) – Russia informed the Ankara that any planned safe zone in northern Syria must be approved by Damascus, the Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. “The question of the presence of a military contingent acting on the authority of a third country on the territory of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
US will not withdraw troops from Afghanistan without allies: Defense Sec.
The United States will not carry out a unilateral reduction of its troops in Afghanistan, acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said at a news conference after a meeting of ministers from the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) in Brussels on Thursday. “There will be no unilateral troop reduction, it will be coordinated,” he told […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Russian Army patrol enters Turkish-held area near Manbij (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – For the first time during this eight-year-long conflict, the Russian Army has entered a Turkish military zone in northern Syria. According to Russia Today’s Arabic language channel, the Russian military police began conducting patrols in the Turkish-held areas around the strategi city of Manbij. Later in the day, Turkish military […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Netanyahu hails talks as ‘pivotal turning point’ in Arab attitudes to Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised yesterday’s talks as a “pivotal turning point” in Arab attitudes towards Iran as world leaders and foreign ministers arrived at the second day of a US-led Middle East conference in Warsaw on Thursday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among the first to arrive, followed by Polish Foreign […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Dozens of Houthi fighters killed in Saudi airstrike on training camp (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:20 P.M.) – Dozens of Houthi fighters were killed in the Dhamar District last month when a Saudi Coalition warplane bombed their training camp in the Dawran area. In a new video released on Thursday, the Saudi Coalition showed how they managed to kill dozens of Houthi fighters at this training camp in the Dhamar […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkey is doing everything possible to prevent attacks on Russian airbase: Erdogan
Turkey is doing everything possible to prevent militant attacks on the Russian military base in Syria’s Hmeymim, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday. “We are making all efforts to prevent any attacks on Russia’s Hmeymim military base. Our military agencies act in a coordinated way”, Erdogan said before starting talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian authorities foil smuggling of precious artifacts to Saudi Arabia (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The Syrian authorities foiled a smuggling operation in the southern part of the Daraa Governorate this week. According to the Sputnik News Agency, the Syrian authorities an attempt to smuggle hundreds of precious artifacts from Syria to Saudi Arabia via Jordan. The operation reportedly took place inside the Daraa Governorate […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Erdogan and Rouhani meet ahead of Syria talks in Sochi (video)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a bilateral meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of Russia-Turkey-Iran summit on the Syrian settlement, in Sochi on Thursday. Later the two leaders will join Russian President Vladimir Putin for trilateral talks on the long-term settlement of the Syrian crisis. Video credit: Ruptly Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Green Costs Partly Responsible For Increased Energy Price Cap
By Paul Homewood Last week, OFGEM announced that the price cap on energy bills would be going up in April: From 1 April, the levels of the default tariff price cap will increase by £117 and pre-payment meter cap by £106 to reflect higher costs Customers on default deals are still better […]
Offshore Wind Costs–Facts v Propaganda
By Paul Homewood https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2017/10/06/gwpf-lodges-asa-complaint-over-false-claims-in-offshore-wind-campaign/ How often do we hear claims that the cost of offshore wind has halved? I often see it argued in comment threads in the Telegraph and elsewhere, and it is hardly surprising given the barrage of misinformation fed to the public by official sources, the media and the renewable lobby. […]
Not feeling the love
News 1. Can we even discuss improving snow-clearing standards? In her latest column, Erica Butler looks at how implementation of the city’s Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) keeps sliding down the list of priorities. Butler takes as an example Councillor Shawn Cleary’s seemingly reasonable request “for a report assessing the costs and benefits of tightening up […]
“Paving the streets with gold”: Why Halifax council turned down a look into raising standards for sidewalk snow-clearing
One of the more telling moments of budget season in Halifax was not even a part of city council’s official budget discussion. At a regular council meeting on January 29, Councillor Shawn Cleary asked for a report assessing the costs and benefits of tightening up the standards for snow-clearing in Halifax. His fellow councillors, seemingly […]
Forget the Stealth F-22 or J-20: China Has Some Serious Plans for a 6th Generation Fighter
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Asia* Why is Beijing rushing into a sixth-generation project when the dust has barely settled on their current flagship? With China’s flagship fifth-generation fighter fresh off the production line, is Beijing already looking beyond the J-20? A recent *Global Times* report sheds light on the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) research and development strategy over the coming decades. “China will not fall behind in the global race toward sixth-generation fighter jets and is expected to build its own next-generation fighter jets by 2035,” reads ... more »
I Went to an F-35 Stealth Fighter 'Factory': Here's What I Saw
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * An amazing site. (Ft. Worth, Texas) -- Filled with stacks of fuselage panels, engine components and a wide assortment of pipes, electronics and avionics, the spralling F-35 construction facility in Ft. Worth, Texas, resembles a small city filled with engineers, mechanics, electricians and airplanes at various stages of construction. While some stations include vertically-hanging airplane wings, rudders, pipes and intricate collections of wires running through the fuselage, others contain little more than an assortment of seemingly disconnected small ... more »
It's About Quebec
When you work through the sound and fury, Alan Freeman writes, the SNC-Lavalin Affair is all about Quebec: SNC-Lavalin is one of those homegrown success stories. Its predecessor firm built the Manic 5 dam for Hydro-Quebec. After merging with Lavalin, it built the James Bay hydro project, Highway 407 near Toronto and Vancouver’s Canada Line plus many big projects abroad. It’s currently building the new federally-owned Champlain Bridge across the St. Lawrence River. The Quebec desire to protect corporate “jewels” like SNC extends to these companies even when they screw up. Bombardie... more »
Names of wines, cheeses hold back Australia-EU free trade deal
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 Progress on a free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union has been interrupted by the names of cheeses and wines.
Free Trade Agreement top of mind in EU meeting
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 A New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement was top of mind in discussions between Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor and the EU's Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.
SA-UK post-Brexit deal just about finalised
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 SA's negotiations with the UK to ensure that a trade agreement is in place in the event that it exits the EU without a deal is 99% complete, trade and industry director-general Lionel October said.
Nouvelle-Calédonie et Vanuatu dans un accord de libre-échange
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 Les gouvernements calédonien et vanuatais s'engagent dans un accord de libre-échange, facilitateur du développement des affaires entre les deux pays.
Comoros and Samoa join trade and development agreements with the European Union
bilaterals.org - 14 hours ago
14-Feb-2019 The island states Comoros and Samoa have joined the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the group of countries from their respective regions. The EU now has 40 trade agreements in place with 72 countries.
Untitled
*CHINA SHOULD USE INFORMATION TO FORCE THE GLOBALISTS TO FLEE THEIR FURIOUS VICTIMS ON IBERIAN AIRLINES AS UK MPS STAGE NEW REBELLION AGAINST AN ENGINEERED BREXIT DISASTER.* *FACTS IN MY CASE DELTA 15 218 AT LARISA COURT ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF THE DEATH STAR FOR GEORGE SOROS, THE QUEEN, TRUMP, AND MERKEL* *WILL PERSUADE US AND UK ARMIES NOT TO FIGHT CHINA BUT AN ENEMY CLOSER AT HAND* *PROVE GLOBALISTS ARE TRYING TO WIPE THEM ALL OUT WITH RISKY EPIDEMIC VACCINES AND LOOT THEM AND KILL THE SINGLE JOURNALISTS WARNING THEM* *The EU seems to be threatening Ireland if it does not set u... more »
Why blackface?
Michael Millner, Associate Professor of English and American Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
The public was shocked by the blackface image on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's yearbook page. But if blackface is now taboo, there was a time when it played a big role in American culture.
Prince Philip escapes charges over Sandringham car crash
Just In - 15 hours ago
The 97-year-old Duke, who recently confirmed the end of his time behind the wheel, will not face charges in connection with a crash that left two injured earlier this year.
Emergency warning for Jurien Bay fire downgraded
Just In - 15 hours ago
Authorities downgrade an emergency warning for a blaze burning in and around Drovers Cave National Park, in the northern part of Jurien Bay in Western Australia's Wheatbelt.
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. - Chris Jackson presents a new Ipsos survey showing that the majority of American workers face stress issues at work. And Arthur White-Crumley reports on a spate of injuries at Evraz' Regina steel mill. - Rob Ferguson reports on Doug Ford's attempt to ram through major health care restructuring (including a focus on privatization) without allowing the public a chance to fight back. And Elianna Lev talks to Danyaal Raza about the predictable harm from privatizing health care services. - Meanwhile, Sherri Brown weighs in on Ford's appalling de... more »
Tsipras tries his tricks again, Greek Orthodox clergy say OXI
*Greek Orthodox priests have rightly rejected a plan to pay them functionaries of the Church of Greece, not as civil servants, put to them by Alexis Tsipras' government.* *"Functionaries" could denote the status of a private sector employee to be hired and fired by the Globalist Archbishop Ieronymos. An assessment or evaluation could be used as a pretext to fire 90%.* *http://www.ekathimerini.com/237632/article/ekathimerini/news/govt-church-still-at-odds-on-priest-pay-status* *Tsipras is now in government illegally using bribed law makers and has no more authority.* *In my view, th... more »
Repeat after me MSNBC: “No collusion” between Trump and Russia (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 82. The post Repeat after me MSNBC: “No collusion” between Trump and Russia (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Extreme Fraud In The National Climate Assessment
When the National Climate Assessment was released last fall, a massive barrage of hysterical propaganda came with it – like this article in The Atlantic saying we are all going to burn up, based on an increase in US heat … Continue reading →
CHINA'S EXPORTS GREW 9% IN JANUARY, FIND NEW MARKETS BESIDE USA, TRYING TO PROVOKE A WAR
*Two US warships sailded close to disputed islands in the South China Sea on Monday and the UK government is sending its new aircraft carier The Queen Elizabeth.* *But China would be wise to ignore these provocations and focus on its economic and national security interests. It holds all the economic trump cards in trade talks with the Globalists in the USA.* *It can sit back and watch as the USA and UK collapse financially and politically from within and the Globalists are ousted by a decompartmentalized public.* *https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/10/politics/us-ships-south-china-s... more »
Australian Daily Electrical Power Generation Data – Wednesday 13th February 2019
TonyfromOz at Australian Daily Electrical Power Generation Data – Thursday 14th February 2019 – PA Pundits – International - 15 hours ago
By Anton Lang ~ This Post details the daily power consumption data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link. Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click on […]
Poland confirms asylum for Norwegian mother
Two days ago, Polish media informed us that Ms Silje Garmo, a Norwegian mother, has been given the final paperwork to prove that she's been granted the political asylum in the Central European country. Norway is a wonderful and rich country. The term "Quisling" has also become a generic synonym for a Nazi collaborationist, after a Norwegian Second World War puppet Vidkun Quisling. The most notorious Nazi-style body that is semi-integrated into the government structures and that survived is Barnevernet, modeled after the Nazi Lebensborn, an entity removing children from an incredib... more »
ON THE WALL, TRUMP'S A LOSER -- BUT HIS BASE DOESN'T THINK SO
In *The New York Times,* Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman describe an administration that's trying to limit its losses: *Trump Puts Best Face on Border Deal, as Aides Try to Assuage an Angry Right* In pursuit of a wall, President Trump ran into one. A single-minded drive to force Congress to finance his signature campaign promise has left Mr. Trump right back where he started, this time seeking a way to climb over the political barrier in his way after trying to charge through it did not work. As he inched closer to reluctantly accepting a bipartisan spending compromise without the... more »
U.S. Demands EU Allies To Leave Iran Nuclear Deal
*DW*: *Poland, US hold controversial Middle East conference in Warsaw* The US is seeking allies in central and eastern Europe, teaming up with Poland for a Middle East conference in Warsaw. Ahead of the event, expat Iranians protested the regime in Tehran. Monika Sieradzka from Warsaw. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo struck a chord in Poland this week when he said that the US had steered clear of the region for too long, leaving Russia to fill that "void." Warsaw sees Washington as a guarantor of security in the region. The Polish government is proud to have purchased 20 US-made... more »
International Entities Want to Exclude Vale From UN Global Pact Group
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – International human rights and environmental organizations urged the United Nations this week to exclude Vale from the Global Pact initiative, the world’s largest corporate social responsibility network, with more than nine thousand companies. According to these entities the disaster of the Feijão Mine at […] The post International Entities Want to Exclude Vale From UN Global Pact Group appeared first on The Rio Times.
Taliban Announces U.S. Negotionating Team That Includes The 5 Gitmo Detainees That Were Released For U.S. Solder Bowe Bergdahl
Stanikzai will head the Taliban team, which includes five former Guantanamo Bay inmates released in 2014 [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] *Al Jazeera*:* Taliban name negotiating team before new talks with US* *The team includes captive Anas Haqqani, whose elder brother is deputy Taliban leader and head of the Haqqani network.* The Taliban has named a 14-member team of negotiators, including five former Guantanamo Bay inmates and a high-profile jailed leader, for the second round of talks with the United States. With the move announced on Tuesday, the group has pushed for the release of An... more »
We are judged by how we treat the children
This sign at the school lunch room reminds me of the story about Sitting Bull, the Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance to US Army efforts to exterminate the native population. He was killed by Indian agency police on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation during an attempt to arrest him, at a time when authorities feared that he would join the Ghost Dance movement that some believed would revive the Lakota nation. *Sitting Bull around 1883* Prior to his death Sitting Bull was a performer with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show that toured east coast citi... more »
Speedbumps on the Road to Curriculum's Golden Age
Among the recent shifts in reform thought is one to a focus on curriculum and content, and I don't hate it. One of the hugely screwed up features of the last two decades has been the content-stripped focus on hollow skills. Reading is not a set of skills that can somehow be taught and practiced in a content-free vacuum, but that's what we've been trying to do for most of the 21st century, so far. So this piece by Robert Pondiscio on the Fordham's blog is a welcome addition to the ongoing conversation about education. Pondiscio has been a rich content guy all along, and it's good to ... more »
A reviewer stole a manuscript and published it himself. But you wouldn’t know it from this retraction notice.
Fish off someone else’s peer review! So writes (in somewhat different words) Mina Mehregan, a mechanical engineer at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran. Mehregan and a colleague recently discovered that they’d been victimized by a group of unscrupulous reviewers who used the pretext of a long turnaround time to publish a hijacked version of … Continue reading A reviewer stole a manuscript and published it himself. But you wouldn’t know it from this retraction notice.
City of Sonora to sue California over statewide marijuana delivery policy
The city of Sonora, in central California, plans to file suit against the state Bureau of Cannabis Control over a policy adopted last year that allows commercial cannabis to be delivered anywhere in the state, regardless of local bans on MJ commerce. According to the Union Democrat, the Sonora City Council voted 5-0 to proceed […] City of Sonora to sue California over statewide marijuana delivery policy is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Craft cannabis firm Flow Kana closes record $125 million funding round
California-based marijuana producer and distributor Flow Kana closed a $125 million funding round – which appears to be the largest private funding round for a cannabis company in the United States. The previous record was held by Acreage Holdings that closed a $119 million raise in July 2018. Flow Kana’s latest funding round was led by […] Craft cannabis firm Flow Kana closes record $125 million funding round is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Aurora’s European marijuana production center expects first sales in mid-2019
The first “saleable” harvest from Canadian cannabis giant Aurora’s Nordic 1 facility in Denmark is expected to be ready by the end of first quarter 2019, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing released alongside its quarterly earnings this week. Products would be available the following quarter. Aurora is one of the Canadian cannabis firms […] Aurora’s European marijuana production center expects first sales in mid-2019 is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
After string of successes, multistate cannabis firm MedMen forced to confront adversity
In November, California-based cannabis retailer MedMen began advertising for a crisis management planning manager. According to the job posting, the position was intended to support the company’s “employees and business units in building, sustaining and improving MedMen’s capability to prepare for, mitigate against, respond to and recover from all hazards.” In hindsight, the posting seemed […] After string of successes, multistate cannabis firm MedMen forced to confront adversity is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepren... more »
How Badly Are Democratic Leaders In Congress Alienating The Voters Who Put Them In Power?
No one elected Hoyer and Pelosi king and queen of anything, let along of the House Democratic caucus. Their innate, across-the-board, status quo, establishment perspective-- especially Hoyer's-- holds the Democrats in the House back and saddles America with no-can-do policies on virtually *everything* to the left of Pay-Go... meaning everything. You can imagine how freaked out they are about having to contend with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her band of allies. Fox News was only too happy to report that "a brash batch of freshmen Democrats including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez... more »
Exposure to Chemical in Roundup Increases Risk of Cancer – New Review
Exposure to glyphosate — the world’s most widely used, broad-spectrum herbicide and the primary ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup — increases the risk of some cancers by more than 40 percent, according to new research from the University of Washington. Various reviews and international assessments have come to different conclusions about whether glyphosate leads to cancer in […] The post Exposure to Chemical in Roundup Increases Risk of Cancer – New Review appeared first on Sustainable Pulse.
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*British Education Secretary sets out vision for character and resilience* *Sounds worthy but this is just a distraction from the failure of many British schoolchildren to reach basic academic goals. If you look busy, people might think you are achieving things. Teaching character in British State schools is a bit of a laugh. It's more of a "Lord of the Flies" environment in many school playgrounds* Character and resilience are as crucial to young people’s future success as academic qualifications, Education Secretary Damian Hinds said today. Addressing the Church of England Fo... more »
For those who have family with mental health issues
This young lady is the daughter of a friend. Not sure of her age, but she’s about 19-20. I spent some time with her about 7 years ago when she was in middle school—such a sweet, beautiful child. We have been praying for her and her mother. Recently she had some serious problems, and today posted this: “Hi all, I just thought I would share with you what 2019 has held for me so far. I’ve been through some stuff I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. I’ll start with my most recent “adventure”. I’ve struggled with mental health issues for just about as long as I can remember, whether ... more »
Who knew what when? Theodore McCarrick
“More than sixty years after his priestly ordination, nearly five decades after he began sexually abusing young men and boys, more than four decades after his episcopal consecration, and at least nineteen years after his preying on seminarians was first reported to the Vatican, Theodore McCarrick is – we are told – on the verge of being removed from the clerical state” In this era of either hyper-vigilance over a joke or a yearbook 35 years old, contrasted with a casual accepting attitude toward homosexuality, the church will be conflicted over what to do. So far, the oversight ... more »
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*NOT Headed For World Without Insects - Decline Study Is Very Patchy & Limited* By Robert Walker Please don’t be scared by this, it is just the journalists hyping things up again. It does not mean what it seems to mean from the headlines. Insects can’t vanish and we will continue to be able to grow our crops and do agriculture. The study itself involves a lot of extrapolation on inadequate data, not their fault, it is just that there hasn’t been that much research done on insect populations for them to draw on. The number of studies they found, 73, is not a lot for the whole worl... more »
Sinking Feeling: The U.S. Navy Is Losing Its Submarine Advantage to China
*David Axe* *Security, * And that could mean big trouble for Taiwan. It's getting easier for Chinese submarines to operate in the shallow water of the Taiwan Strait, and harder for American submarines to deploy in sufficient numbers to hunt down the Chinese boats. That could pose a serious problem in the event of war between China and Taiwan. As of early 2019, the United States still possessed what U.S. Navy admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, *described* as an "asymmetric advantage" in undersea warfare. But China was adding submarines to its f... more »
U.S. Pacific Command Boss: the Chinese Military Is the 'Principal Threat'
*David Axe* *Security, Asia* China's new ships, planes and missiles enable an aggressive foreign policy. China is fielding a wide range of highly-capable weapon systems that could threaten U.S. interests in the Pacific region. That was the stark warning from U.S. Navy admiral Philip Davidson, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in *his testimony* before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 12, 2019. "Over the last 20 years, Beijing has undertaken a massive effort to grow and modernize the People’s Liberation Army," Davidson explained in his written statemen... more »
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