Wednesday, January 28, 2015

28 Jan - Blogs I'm Following II

10:21pm MST

China's Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles Are Taking Aim At U.S. And Allied Ships

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 minutes ago
*Jeremy Bender, Business Insider*: *These Weapons Could Be China's Most Threatening Military Advancement For The US* *WNU Editor:* Hmmmm .... the Chinese seem to know who their enemy is .... the above video is a simulated Chinese cruise missile attack and it shows what appears to be a U.S. Aegis cruiser being blown up.

Secret Tapes Reveal A Senior Democrat And Top Pentagon Officials Were Against Then Sec. of State Clinton's Rush To War In Libya

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
*Washington Times:* Exclusive: Secret tapes undermine Hillary Clinton on Libyan war *Joint Chiefs, key lawmaker held own talks with Moammar Gadhafi regime* *WNU Editor*: This is an explosive account on U.S. involvement to the run-up in Libya's civil war .... and while no one else is reporting on this story, I suspect that in the next few days others will pick up on this story .... and will raise even more questions. As to the Washington Times post itself ... it is a long read .... but it is well worth it .... and it shows how U.S. foreign policy was conducted during the run-up to ... more »

Cuban Leader Raoul Castro Demands That Before Restoration Of Relations The U.S. Must Pay Compensation For Economic Damages, Lift The Embargo, And Return Guantanamo Bay

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
Cuba's President Raul Castro speaks during the opening ceremony of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit in San Antonio de Belen province of Heredia January 28, 2015. (Reuters/Costa Rica Presidency) *WSJ/AP:* *U.S. Must Return Guantanamo for Normal Relations With Cuba, Raúl Castro Says* *WNU Editor*: Something tells me that the White House never though about the possibility that Cuba may have a list of demands that must be met before any restoration of ties .... that all that they saw was a "bold announcement" that would make President Obama appear as... more »

When it Comes To Ukraine, Who Is Russian President Putin Listening To?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
*Fred Weir, CSM:* *'Putin's brain' says he doesn't have Putin's ear. Do we know who does?* *WNU Editor:* When it comes to Ukraine these are the key men that Putin is listening to right now .... Russian Prime Minister Medvedev, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, head of the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev, Russia's finance minister Anton Siluanov, and Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov. Within the military it is Russian armed forces Chief-of-Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu. And as to what they are telling him .... I have no clue .... ... more »

What is Noah thinking? Part 2

Kenneth Thomas at Middle Class Political Economist - 1 hour ago
Noah Smith has replied to my recent post criticizing his use of median household income to measure middle class living standards. He raises some interesting questions, but some of them still leave me scratching my head. Smith writes: I don't understand the idea that "households have had to" compensate for lower weekly wages (also the choice of weekly over hourly wages continues to mystify me, since long workweeks suck, but OK). Of course, no one literally had to compensate for the fact that their wages were falling, but people do prefer to maintain (if not improve!) their current l... more »

Greece may be first head-on challenge to Eurozone austerity

Kenneth Thomas at Middle Class Political Economist - 1 hour ago
Yesterday Greece elected a new anti-austerity party, Syriza, to lead its next government. New prime minister Alexis Tsipras has pledged to end the austerity measures forced on Greece in the wake of the world financial crisis. Syriza is two votes shy of a majority in the Greek parliament, and announced a coalition last night with a right-wing Euroskeptic party, the Independent Greeks. Syriza campaigned on a platform of ending the austerity measures and renegotiating its debt with the so-called "troika" of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, and the European Union.... more »

No, everything is far from all right between "Big Bill" de Blasio and "Boy Andrew" Cuomo

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 2 hours ago
*-- cover by Bruce McCall: "Moving Day"* [Click to enlarge] *"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."* *-- Sun-tzu* *"There's no goniff like a left-wing goniff."* *-- Calvin Trillin repertory kibbitzer Harold the Committed* *by Ken* Since this is a New York story, I thought it would be a good time to present the February 2 *New Yorker* cover commemorating the magazine's historic decamping from Times Square to Manhattan's nether regions and the new World Trade Center tower. (We eavesdropped recently on cartoon editor Bob Mankoff's grapplings with the great relocation.) A... more »

Rip-off News round-up. Our pick of the last week's media (Thu 29th January)

Hari at Ripped-off Britons - 2 hours ago
Tax crackdown on the rich: HMRC Affluent Unit nets an extra £137m HMRC's Affluent Unit covering UK residents on annual incomes over £150,000 - or wealth over £1m - raised £137.2m in tax, up from £85.7m in 2013. The Affluent Unit, set up in 2011, doubled in size in 2013 with the recruitment of an additional 100 tax inspectors. About 500,000 UK residents fall into its remit. Also, HMRC's

Quote of the Day:

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 2 hours ago
*‘There is no longer a set of social democratic ideas that will work. Keynesianism is intellectually dead. With Trade Unions no incomes policy will ever work. With our State industries productivity will always be abysmal. Nobody… has the faintest idea how to redistribute income; the tax and benefit system is too complex and arbitrary to yield a simple progressive result free from major anomalies. Social democratic theory is just plain wrong…’* - economist John Vaizey – former Keynesian, former social democrat, a Labour Party lord -- in a letter to *The Times*, 1980, stating... more »

Ukraine War News Updates -- January 28, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
*Voice of America:* *Ukrainian Military Leader Vows No Letup Against Rebels * *WNU Editor*: I first mentioned it a few weeks ago .... but today it is official .... with the restart of the war my usual sources near the fighting have all dried up .... and the usual independent sources for news that I trust have significantly curtailed their reporting on what is happening in eastern Ukraine. There is Russian and Ukrainian news services .... and social media .... but knowing for sure on what is accurate or what is propaganda .... that is becoming harder and harder to differentiate wit... more »

West's Agri-Giants Snap Up Ukraine

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 3 hours ago
By Frederic Mousseau OAKLAND, United States - At the same time as the United States, Canada and the European Union announced a set of new sanctions against Russia in mid-December last year, Ukraine received $350 million in US military aid, coming on top of a $1 billion aid package approved by the US Congress in March 2014. Western governments' further involvement in the Ukraine conflict signals their confidence in the cabinet appointed by the new government earlier in December 2014. This new government is unique given that three of its most important ministries were granted to fo... more »

29 years ago: "go with throttle up"

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 3 hours ago
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on Tuesday, January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States, at 11:38 a.m. EST (16:38 UTC). Disintegration of the entire vehicle began after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster (SRB) failed at liftoff. The O-ring failure caused a breach in the SRB joint it sealed, allowing pressurized hot gas from within the solid rocket motor to reac... more »

(Middle Class Terminated (Finally!))  Goldman-Sacked, Trojan-Hearsed Greece Ready To Rise or Die In Euro Chains? (Sleeper Cells Historical Lies)

Mr. Union-Buster Goes to Washington? Scott Walker Forms Committee for 2016 Run Wisconsin governor makes first big step toward seeking the presidency. Why his chances may be better than you think And now ex-Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, joins ex-Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Paul Craig Roberts, as a truth-teller (a truthie?) about the power games being played on American citizens by

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 28, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
*Daily Star editorial:* *Don’t invite disaster: Israel - Hezbollah conflict* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 28, 2015* Hezbollah strikes back at Israel: Why escalation is not inevitable -- Christa Case Bryant & Nicholas Blanford, CSM Isis hostage crisis: Jordan's fear of internal strife is behind decision to release of bomber Sajida al-Rishawi -- Lina Khatib, The Independent Deal for ISIS Hostages in Limbo -- Christopher Dickey & Jake Adelstein, Daily Beast US uses Kobane defeat in 'counter-message' against Islamic State. Can it work? -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM ... more »

21 Delicious Popcorn Recipes

Debra Hawkins at Housewife Eclectic - 4 hours ago
There is nothing better than a delicious popcorn recipe. I know when I make chocolate popcorn, I have to put it away or I can eat the whole recipe myself. Yum. Here are some amazing popcorn recipes that I want to try! Birthday Cake Popcorn Mix from Loves Bakes Good Cakes. White Chocolate Popcorn by Housewife Eclectic. Cinnamon Kettle Corn by From This Kitchen Table. Frosted Cake Batter Caramel Corn by Jasey's Crazy Daisy. Candy Coated Popcorn by An Affair From The Heart. Duck Fat Paprika Popcorn by Honey and Birch. Salty and Sweet Hot Chocolate Popcorn by Scattered Thoughts of a ... more »

Turbulent Times Show …. FINALLY!!!!!

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 4 hours ago
Yes, Whitewraithe and I did a show on Blogtalk radio tonight at 7pm CST.. 8 PM for those on the American right coast and for those still recovering from the latest bout of "Global Warming"… It went over pretty good, but it was only one hour long... We are still learning to master these shows and eventually they will be up to two hours in length... Here is the link for the show that we just concluded tonight: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/turbulenttimes/2015/01/29/turbulent-times-12815--episode-2 Thanks for all for your patience, and I will inform everyone hopefully with enough not... more »

RMA: From back when abolition wasn’t just a pipe dream… [updated]

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 4 hours ago
*“Every law that was ever written opened up a new way to graft.”* - Robert Heinlein, 1949 *“Landscape consultants, registered arborists, architects, environmental consultants, iwi consultants, lawyers, planners … the number of snouts in the trough is huge, and all with a vested interest in retaining current practices under the [Resource Management] Act. These parasites will continue to proliferate and raise costs to all until the Act is abolished.” *- Peter Cresswell, 1996 Last weekend I stumbled across a few things back from the days before the Resource Management Act ... more »

On w/ Jeff Rense of Rense Radio

The Realist Report at The Realist Report - 5 hours ago
Last night, I was a guest on *The Jeff Rense Program* on the *Rense Radio Network*. We discussed the 70th anniversary of the "liberation of Auschwitz," *the fake "Holocaust" narrative of WWII*, efforts to *criminalize "anti-Semitism" on an international level*, and organized Jewry's power and influence in Western society. You can download the entire program *here*.

Post Number 28,000: Fukushima Update: "Study: Global Consequences 'From Fukushima-like Nuclear Disaster'”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 5 hours ago
*Study: "Global Consequences From Fukushima-like Nuclear Disaster” * Many nations at risk of ‘great exposure’ — Transport of hot particles to US was especially effective during worst releases after reactor explosions — Radioactivity confined ‘close to surface’ due to seasonal factors By ENENews “Whither is humanity?" cried the Madman. “I will tell you. We have killed it. We are its murderers! But how could we do this? Are we not plunging continually? How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?” - Friedrich Nietzsche, “The Parable Of The Madman” T. Christoudias and... more »

PM Alexis Tsipras tells first cabinet meeting: 'Greece will not default'

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 5 hours ago
*Photo Source: AFP.* *Title: PM Alexis Tsipras tells first cabinet meeting: 'Greece will not default'. Source: euronews. Date Published: January 28, 2015. Description:* Fresh from success in Sunday's general election, Greece's new Prime Minster Alexis Tsipras has chaired his first cabinet meeting - setting out the priorities for his anti-bailout government. Firmly opposed to the austerity imposed on Greece by its EU and IMF creditors, he pledged to negotiate a viable and fair solution, confounding predictions of doom.

World News Briefs -- January 27, 2015 (Evening Edition)

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
*Voice of America:* *Israel, Hezbollah Violence Flares in Golan Heights* *MIDDLE EAST* Netanyahu: Those behind deadly* border attack will pay the price*. Two Israeli soldiers, U.N. peacekeeper killed *in Israel-Hezbollah violence*. Antitank missile hits Israeli military vehicle* along Lebanese border*. Israel shells Lebanon after military vehicle *hit by missile near border*. Israel shells Lebanon after* Hezbollah strike on army convoy*. Hezbollah claims responsibility for *missile attack on Israeli vehicle*. U.S. says air strikes pound *Islamic State targets near Kobani, Syria*.... more »

Syriza's Interesting Allies

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 6 hours ago
By their friends shall ye know them? This old adage has got some folks feeling a bit uncomfortable as the new Syriza government apparently cosies up to Mother Russia. This is by no means a new thing. Last year Alexis Tsipras provided Putin's interventions in Ukraine with some political cover. Interesting friends of Syriza are by no means confined to the Kremlin, however. Someone else saying warm words is Peter Spence, economics correspondent for *The Telegraph*. And today out comes an establishment someone else to give Syriza's message succour: Mark Carney of the Bank of England ha... more »

Buffoon Watch: Steve King's Greatest Hits

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 6 hours ago
*He can't be for real, can he? Alas, all too real.* *by Noah* There are two Steve Kings of at least some renown in our society. One is Stephen King, the world-famous writer of horror. The other is Rep. Steven King of Iowa. He is a monster for real. Rep. Steven King has a special talent for articulating what the Republican Party stands for. That talent has led to his prominence in the party. Tim Moran, a former Iowa GOP State Central Committee member thinks King should run for senator, saying the Republican Party might find it ". . . refreshing to have Steve King at the top of a ti... more »

Canada's Spy Agency Tracks All File-Sharing Websites Worldwide

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
*CBC*:* CSE tracks millions of downloads daily: Snowden documents* *Global sites for sharing movies, photos, music targeted in mass anti-terror surveillance* *WNU Editor:* I live in Canada .... and I am not surprised by this revelation. As everyone knows this blog covers conflicts/terrorism/wars/and defense related issues .... and yes .... I sometimes wonder if the "powers that be" are snooping on the work and research that I do for this blog (I am always assuming that they do). But as my lawyer told me years ago .... if you do nothing wrong and you are innocent .... there is no r... more »

Sacred Geometry ~ The Geometry of Consciousness

WTStaff at Waking Times - 6 hours ago
*Video - *The Geometry of Consciousness. Ever since I was struck with the realization that all things were connected, Sacred Geometry has been a gateway to a new awareness of the world in my life. The post Sacred Geometry ~ The Geometry of Consciousness appeared first on Waking Times.

Did you hear the one about the novelist and the PM? [updated]

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 6 hours ago
Does everyone just feel obliged to speak up when a Booker Prize-winning novelist disparages a PM, or when a PM answers back? Aren’t they both entitled to talk? Did any of the commentariat really have something to say? Or did they just feel the need to open their mouth -- and had no other target, or targets, on which to lash their tongue? So those opposed to the PM targeted the prize-winner. And those in his favour targeted her. And no-one in the end was any the wiser about anything much at all, least of all about any of the subjects raised by the prize-winner, or in the PM’s re... more »

Txtr RIP?

Martyn Daniels at Brave New World - 7 hours ago
Provisional administrator Christian Köhler-Ma has been appointed to German ebook service provider Txtr. Txtr provided ebook solutions to retailers such as Foyles, device makers and mobile operators such as Deutsche Telecom. They developed a large international repository of ebooks which they serviced through a cloud based white label ebookstore and a comprehensive set of apps. Their service was based on Adobe ACS4 DRM and they sold ereaders based on eink technology. At the time Foyles pinned its flag on Txtr in 2012, Sam Husain, CEO said, “Our new eBook store and apps, ‘Foyles power... more »

The Tesla Mystique

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 7 hours ago
*George B. Trinkaus* - Tesla was a humanitarian idealist consumed by a passion to save the world from poverty and war, and a superhumun inventor who had the uncanny to visualize the operation of machines in his head. The post The Tesla Mystique appeared first on Waking Times.

Boko Haram Releases A Video Of Child Soldiers Being Trained

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
Nigerian terror group Boko Haram is training child soldiers how to use semi-automatic weapons and has released images of their latest recruits armed with AK-47's *Daily Mail*: *Ten-year-olds armed to the teeth and trained to kill in the name of Islam: Boko Haram release images of their child soldiers being trained in Nigeria* * Terrorists were said to be kidnapping children to use during their attacks * Pictures emerge days after Boko Haram snatched 30 children from a village * The terrorists are said to have killed at least 10,000 people in 2014 * Their attacks have been likened to... more »

Boko Haram Continue Their Rampage Across Northern Nigeria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
*CNN*: *Boko Haram strikes again: 'They slaughter people like animals'* *WNU Editor:* No one is Boko Haram .... and even the Governors within the affected region are demanding foreign intervention since the Nigerian army has proven itself to be totally ineffective against Boko Haram. *More News On Boko Haram Continuing Their Rampage Across Northern Nigeria* Boko Haram raids kill scores in Nigeria ahead of elections, reports of people being 'slaughtered like animals' -- ABC News (Australia)/Reuters Boko Haram Rampages Through Villages In Northeast Nigeria -- AP Boko Haram violence se... more »

Russia Counters US Big Lies With Hard Truth

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 7 hours ago
**I have been extremely busy the last few days with a lot of work related issues and some family issues to take care of...I am therefore doing my best in trying to put up new articles here when I do find the time... Thanks for your patience...* By now, the reports of US and NATO forces DIRECTLY involved in the civil war in Ukraine has reached everyone and even the Jew spew mainstream media can no longer avoid this issue... The facts are simple that NATO and the US are definitely in defiance of international law and have sent their armed thugs into Ukraine to fight against the innoce... more »

Musical Interlude: Suzanne Ciani, "Anthem"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
Suzanne Ciani, "Anthem" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnCl1zWYl6k

Musical Interlude: Marvin Gaye, “Inner City Blues”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
Marvin Gaye, “Inner City Blues” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI9SKuCIMpc

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
“What powers are being wielded in the Wizard Nebula? Gravitation strong enough to form stars, and stellar winds and radiations powerful enough to create and dissolve towers of gas. Located only 8,000 light years away, the Wizard nebula, pictured above, surrounds developing open star cluster NGC 7380. Visually, the interplay of stars, gas, and dust has created a shape that appears to some like a fictional medieval sorcerer. *Click image for larger size.* The active star forming region spans 100 about light years, making it appear larger than the angular extent of the Moon. The Wizard ... more »

Black Elk, "Earth Prayer"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*"Earth Prayer"* by Black Elk “Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice. You lived first, and you are older than all need, older than all prayer. All things belong to you - the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings of the air, and all green things that live. You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other. You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things. ․ Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice... more »

"A Gathering of the Tribe"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
"A Gathering of the Tribe" by Charles Eisenstein "Once upon a time a great tribe of people lived in a world far away from ours. Whether far away in space, or in time, or even outside of time, we do not know. They lived in a state of enchantment and joy that few of us today dare to believe could exist, except in those exceptional peak experiences when we glimpse the true potential of life and mind. One day the shaman of the tribe called a meeting. They gathered around him, and he spoke very solemnly. "My friends," he said, "there is a world that needs our help. It is called Earth, a... more »

"All Is Not Lost..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names." - Elbert Hubbard

This Didn't Sit Right With Me

thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 8 hours ago
For the record, I think that Hamas is no worse than the Israeli Defense Force. Hamas's charter calls for the destruction of the state of Israel. Whereas the IDF is simply the enforcing arm of Israel's unstated, but demonstrable intent to destroy Palestine. Furthermore, the pronouncements of an anti-democratic terrorist such as stephen harper carry no moral weight with me. Finally though, I want to state that I am a militant atheist. I hate all religion and wish it would disappear. But I was trapped in a coffee-shop today, with only the *Toronto Sun* to read. I read this story, and... more »

Bertrand Russell, "Three Passions"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*"Three Passions" * "Three passions have governed my life: The longings for love, the search for knowledge, And unbearable pity for the suffering of humankind. Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness. In the union of love I have seen In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined. With equal passion I have sought knowledge. I have wished to understand the hearts of people. I have wished to know why the stars shine. Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens, But always pity brought me back to earth; Cries of pain reverberated in m... more »

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
Poplar Bluff, Missouri, USA. Thanks for stopping by.

The Poet: William Stafford, "You Reading This, Be Ready"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*"You Reading This, Be Ready"* "Starting here, what do you want to remember? How sunlight creeps along a shining floor? What scent of old wood hovers, what softened sound from outside fills the air? Will you ever bring a better gift for the world than the breathing respect that you carry wherever you go right now? Are you waiting for time to show you some better thoughts? When you turn around, starting here, lift this new glimpse that you found; carry into evening all that you want from this day. This interval you spent reading or hearing this, keep it for life. What can anyone give yo... more »

"The Line..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
“The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. Even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained; and even in the best of all hearts, there remains a small corner of evil. It is impossible to expel evil from the world in its entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person.” - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The Islamic State Has Set Up Their Own `Sniper Battalion`

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
The IS' Ninawa division published photos of fighters in its sniper battalion. pic.twitter.com/PDYQiDm5v2 — SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) January 27, 2015 *Daily Mail: **Islamic State sniper: ISIS sets up sharp-shooter battalion inspired by infamous Iraqi killer who took out 40 Americans in Baghdad* * Islamic State reveals its own 'sniper battalion' on social media accounts * Militants step up propaganda battle after American Sniper film released * One unit is allegedly continuing the legacy of infamous 'Juba the Sniper' - and a similar sniper is featured as Chris Kyle's rival i... more »

Jan. 28: How we got here..

Graeme Decarie at The Moncton Times@Transcript - Good and Bad - 9 hours ago
News media rarely tell us why things happen. When they reported on the Paris shootings, the stories began with the shootings. They covered a few days. That was it. The result was shock, sorrow, anger (and, on some sides, glee) from people who had not the faintest understanding of why it happened. Nor do the news media have enough knowledgeable people - or time - to explain why it happened. In fact, commentators and op ed writers frequently gain popularity by simply expressing the uninformed public outrage - and so making things worse. As a result, the whole world is now in a crisis ... more »

I Will Sully the GOP No More Forever

jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 9 hours ago
Blogger Andrew Sullivan to retire from #writing so he can spend more time being Walter White. pic.twitter.com/BhutsyOsWk — KindleintheWind (@KindleindaWind) January 28, 2015 D r i f t g l a s s will no doubt be rending his sackcloth garments while covered in ashes. Yes, the Atlantic's venerable editor-in-chief, Andrew Sullivan, is retiring from blogging. Let's hope he's more diligent about that decision than I've been over the years. By the way, this is an interesting juxtaposition when the news broke on Twitter a few minutes ago: Sullivan, a semi-fixture on Bill Maher'... more »

Value of Greece dropped by 15% in 3 days, 50% in 10 months

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 9 hours ago
Bloomberg's page about the Athens Stock Exchange informs us about the significant changes in the Greek market in the wake of the catastrophic elections three days ago. The main index has dropped from 1,300+ in March 2014 and 840+ on January 23rd, 2015 to 711 today. The total damages of the elections on the capitalization of the companies exceed the total effect of all Greco-Persian wars by many orders of magnitude. The Greek banks were doing worse, of course. They dropped by almost 70% in the recent year and by almost 40% years since the elections. Thankfully, the markets are beha... more »

An Analysis On The Fallout From The Islamic State's Defeat At Kobane

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Richard Hall, USA Today/Global Post:* *How the Islamic State was halted in Kobani* *WNU Editor*: The victory at Kobane is a symbolic victory .... but it is also a sign that the battle against the Islamic State will be long and bloody. *A Look At The Fallout From The Islamic State's Defeat At Kobane* A small victory in Syria is no reason to celebrate as the Islamic State gets stronger -- Washington Post editorial IS suffers 'devastating' blows but biggest fighting still ahead -- AFP Despite Losses in Kobane and Diyala, ISIS Looks to Expand Its Reach -- The Tower ISIS Still Strong ... more »

Why shouldn't America have the best danged gov't the Koch Bros. and their billionaire buds can buy us?

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 10 hours ago
*Plus "Smelly Shelly" Silver update (see below)* *Chucky Koch, the brains of the Koch Bros. (little bro Davy, whom we see below, would be more like the sexy front guy), is seen here in 2012 in his office in Wichita.* *"In 2014, Democrats made a concerted effort to make the Kochs into bogeymen. Then-Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) routinely used Senate floor speeches to castigate them. Democratic groups ran TV and radio ads tying the Kochs to GOP candidates and presenting them as polluters and job outsourcers who were out of touch with the middle class." 'The oi... more »

A Look At Kobane After Islamic State Forces Were Driven Out

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Daily Mail:* *Flags that show Isis has gone: Fighters celebrate planting Syrian and Kurdish banners above Kobane after jihadis are driven out* * Local fighters marked victory by raising symbolic flags on the hill where Islamic State's black banner had flown * Children return to the streets of Kobane after fanatical militants are driven out of their home town * Kobane is in pieces following the four-month long battle against IS and constant air-strikes on militants' positions * People's Protection Units, a Kurdish militia group, are now trawling through rubble to dismantle bombs le... more »

Angelina Jolie: 'Iraq And Syria Worse Than Ever Before'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Angelina Jolie, New York Times:* *A New Level of Refugee Suffering* *Angelina Jolie on the Syrians and Iraqis Who Can’t Go Home* *More News On Angelina Jolie's Visit To The Refugee Camps In Iraq* Angelina Jolie: Iraq, Syria worse than ever before -- MSNBC Angelina Jolie left 'speechless' by visit to Iraqi refugee camp -- CBC Angelina Jolie Left ‘Speechless’ After Visit to Iraqi Refugee Camp -- Time Angelina Jolie: 'I Have Seen Nothing Like the Suffering I'm Witnessing Now' in Refugee Camps -- People

Desperate Liberal Vote-wrangling on Holocaust Memorial Day

Spike EP at News Spike - 10 hours ago
*Name Five, Nick.*

Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know – Nikola Tesla

WTStaff at Waking Times - 10 hours ago
*Video - *When impoverished inventor Nikola Tesla died in New York City, the U.S. government confiscated his notes. Why? Were they trying to steal his technology? Did they ever relinquish the notes? Tune in to this episode to find out. The post Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know – Nikola Tesla appeared first on Waking Times.

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 10 hours ago
*China’s Louisiana Purchase: Who’s building a methanol plant on the bayou? ~Al Jazeera* *What right do you have to have an opinion about anything? ~Library Chronicles* *Other cities in the south look to New Orleans’ new anti-capitalism smoking ordinance ~Alex Woodward, Gambit* *Public Belt RR is not for sale, chairman say ~Jeff Adelson, New Orleans Advocate * *Amid lower oil prices, energy company Sasol delays plans for Louisiana gas-to-liquid plant ~Kevin McGill* *What are your plans for 2015, City Park?* *Bo Dollis funeral and visitation details announce ~Will Coviello * *Kre... more »

‘Regulatory Cooperation’ And The TTIP: Opening The Floodgates Even Further For Corporate Plunder

Colin Todhunter at East by Northwest - 11 hours ago
RINF 28/1/2015 A new leak concerning the talks around the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) indicates that the floodgates could be opened even further for corporate influence. The leak has been analysed by the corporate watchdogs CEO and LobbyControl and shows that* corporate influence on EU and US policies might dramatically increase via the chapter on so-called ‘regulatory cooperation’.* The leak of the EU draft negotiating proposal dated January 23rd makes unmistakably clear that the EU is seeking a very ambitious chapter that strengthens the role of busines... more »

Litvinenko

Spike EP at News Spike - 11 hours ago
*Officials had previously said he tested positive for traces of polonium-210.* *However, his friend Paolo Guzzanti told the BBC that doctors had told Mr Scaramella he was going to die.* Mr Scaramella was one of the last people to meet Mr Litvinenko, a Russian former spy, before his death last month, which is being linked to the discovery of polonium-210. *Mr Litvinenko's wife Marina is also said to have been "very slightly contaminated" but is not ill.* *The polonium trail: - Key locations* *The trail of radioactive contamination following the murder of former Russian agent ... more »

US "Fighting"Terror Group with Fictional Leaders

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 11 hours ago
US claims to be waging war against "Islamic State" whose various "al-Baghdadi" leaders do not exist. *January 29, 2015* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - In 2007, the New York Times revealed that long-vilified "Islamic State" leader Abdullah Rashid al-Baghdadi did not exist, and that the creation of this fictional character was a ruse to obfuscate the role of foreigners in the creation and perpetuation of "Al Qaeda in Iraq." *Image: The "Mandarin" from Ironman 3. Art imitating life, or lifeimitating art as ISIS and its leadership are revealed as fictional? *In an article titled, "Leade... more »

Only Two Days Left to Vote

Jon Western at Duck of Minerva - 11 hours ago
Get your ballots in soon. We are in the home stretch for the voting for the 2015 OAIS Blogging Awards (The Duckies). Voting closes on Friday, Jan. 30 at 5:00pm EST. All ballots must be submitted by then. We’ve had a record number of votes and all four categories are very tight. Once all the Continue reading

Will Rudd Hold Open Meetings on Corporate Teacher Training Plans at UofM?

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 11 hours ago
On January 14, University of Memphis president, David Rudd, attended a faculty meeting to provide some answers regarding the plan to create a teacher education caste system inside the College of Education. (See previous stories here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.) The plan provides for $5 million per year of public money going to pay corporate know-nothings from Relay Graduate School of Education to provide temp professors and Doug Lemov's "pedagogical content" to train 3 year temps to become total compliance teacher-guards in the corporate charter chain gangs in Me... more »

The Word on Kiev Streets

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 11 hours ago
What do Kiev locals think about President Poroshenko's recent call for more war mobilization in Ukraine? Ukraine is broke and the US-EU are funding the war. How much more *$$$* should be poured down this rat hole?

Harper lied and unnecessarily Canadian Soldiers will die

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 11 hours ago
Harper has gone cowboy in Iraq. Canada is the only country with troops on the front line. The question is why? Our allies including the USA say there is no need for the risk. What is Harper trying to prove? He doe not care about soldiers lives? They are just political props, human wedges for him to use?

SELMA ON OUR MINDS: A representation of Mrs. King!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 12 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 Part 5—The lives of our saints and our prophets:* One scene in Selma made us think that some Muslims may have it right. In the scene in question, Coretta Scott King confronts Dr. King about marital infidelity. Working from memory, the scene goes something like this: Mrs. King has received an audiotape from the FBI. It includes recordings of Dr. King having sex with other women. Emotionally, Mrs. King asks Dr. King if he loves her. Portrayed like a bit of a cornered rat, Dr. King says yes, he does. Mrs. King then asks Dr. King if he loves any of the ot... more »

“Being Alone”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 12 hours ago
*“Being Alone”* by Cognitive Dissonance “The habitually blind are always so certain of their perfect vision they must gather in groups to recite their ignorance to each other in order to dispel the stench of denial. If I say it often enough, and then hear it repeated by all those around me, it must be true. It is said the greatest pleasure experienced by the ignorant is the endorphin rush received from hearing their words repeated to others by others as if it were the gospel. Each time a lie is repeated a little of the grime is removed until finally it stands reformed into a truth ... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 12 hours ago
*Obama Administration Moves to Block Drilling in Parts of Alaska* *Interior Department Plans to Designate Nearly 13 Million Acres in Refuge as Wilderness* The Obama administration is moving this week to designate areas of Alaska off limits to oil and natural gas drilling in its latest effort to bolster its environmental legacy. The Interior Department announced on Sunday that it was proposing to preserve as wilderness nearly 13 million acres of land in the 19.8 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including 1.5 million acres of coastal plains that is believed to have ric... more »

5 Things You’re Not Being Told About Fukushima

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 13 hours ago
*Dr. Edward Group* - While you may have heard information about Fukushima in the news, there are some stories the mainstream media isn’t covering. The post 5 Things You’re Not Being Told About Fukushima appeared first on Waking Times.

Jordan Willing To Make A Deal With the Islamic State To Swap Terrorist For Captured Pilot. Fate Of Japanese Hostage Unknown

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Has a deal been struck with ISIS to exchange suicide bomber for hostages? Jordanian state TV says it is willing to swap terrorist for pilot after Japanese minister says journalist will be free 'within hours'* * Kenji Goto and pilot Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh threatened with execution today * Jordan has agreed to release Iraqi terrorist Sajida al-Rishawi for their pilot * Efforts to release Mr Goto uncertain after Tokyo give conflicting accounts * Mr Goto's mother pleads with Japan leader Shinzo Abe to take action * Al-Rishawi sentenced to death for involvement in a 2005 terro... more »

SUPER DEFLATEGATE BOWL / SEAHAWKS WILL PREVAIL

Allen L Roland, Ph.D at Allen L Roland's Weblog - 13 hours ago
*The Patriots are building a Public Relations moat around Tom Brady in deflategate similar to the one around his new 20 million dollar castle but it won't keep the NFL from fining the Patriots for playing loose with the rules or, for that matter, the Seattle Seahawks from storming the walls and bringing Brady and the Patriots back to earth: Allen L Roland, Ph.D* *It is obvious to me that Brady knew the balls were deflated (as suggested by John Madden and Troy Aikman) and elected either to go along with the illegal balls or suggested the rules violation.* Mark Leibovich, New Yor... more »

An Indisputable Database for Chemtrail Deniers

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 13 hours ago
*Catherine J. Frompovich* - With all the documentation, which represents not even one-tenth of what’s probably out there, who do you think are the conspiracy theorists? The post An Indisputable Database for Chemtrail Deniers appeared first on Waking Times.

Your $$ at Work

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 13 hours ago
Discretionary spending is those federal tax* $$$* that Congress votes to put in one category or the other.

Use of rejected alibi to show guilt

James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 13 hours ago
R v Avalak, 2015 NUCJ 04: 1. [33] The Crown asks that I go further and find that the accused fabricated an alibi and that such a fabrication should be taken as consciousness of guilt. In my view, the law does not allow me to do so in this case. The law on alibi evidence is set out concisely in the following quotation from the Supreme Court of Canada in R v Hibbert, [2002] 2 SCR 445, 163 CCC (3rd) 129, at para 67 of the CanLII reported decision: Before turning to the application of the proviso in light of the above, it may be useful to summarize br... more »

Islamic State Shifting Car Bombs To Assaults On Government Forces In Iraq

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
Iraq has witnessed a dramatic drop in car bombs in recent weeks. There was a two year low in the number of vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) successfully detonated in December. One major reason is that the Islamic State (IS) has been using VBIEDs more and more as part of tactical assaults upon pro-government forces. Many of these case are either not reported or the bombs are destroyed before reaching their target. January 2015 provide a perfect example in this shift in the use of car bombs in Iraq. More than half of the successful car bombs in January 2015 were u... more »

New Research Reveals the Real Causes of Depression

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 14 hours ago
*Dr. Mercola* - Contrary to popular belief, depression is not likely caused by unbalanced brain chemicals; however there are a number of other biological factors that appear to be highly significant. The post New Research Reveals the Real Causes of Depression appeared first on Waking Times.

Dollar Duopoly

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 14 hours ago
Why even bother pretending any more that we have a representative democracy? Sure, we're still allowed to vote, and we're even allowed to vent out loud every once in a while. But when you read stuff like this, as commenter Ste-vo says, all you can do is stare in mute disbelief: *The political network overseen by the conservative billionaires Charles G. and David H. Koch plans to spend close to $900 million on the 2016 campaign, an unparalleled effort by coordinated outside groups to shape a presidential election that is already on track to be the most expensive in history.* *The sp... more »

Israel And Hezbollah Exchange Fire On The Lebanese Border

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*CNN:* *Two Israeli soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack near Lebanon, military says* *WNU Editor*: This is the biggest attack on Israeli forces by Hezbollah since the 34-day war in 2006. If the past is any indication .... this conflict can blow up very quickly. *More News On Israel And Hezbollah Exchanging Fire On The Lebanese Border* Israeli soldiers, UN peacekeeper killed as Hezbollah attacks convoy -- Globe and Mail/Reuters/AP Hezbollah ambush kills at least 2 Israeli soldiers -- Daily Star UN peacekeeper, 2 IDF soldiers killed: Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire -- RT Two soldiers... more »

"She hears the voices no one else hears"

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 14 hours ago
*DOONESBURY by G. B. Trudeau (Jan. 18)* [*Click to enlarge*] *by Gaius Publius* I wanted to point out this nice Mike Lux piece, at Huffington Post and elsewhere, because it makes an important point. It's also an obvious point, but the obvious often goes unnoticed. The buzz and eager interest in an Elizabeth Warren presidency is not about Warren herself. It's about what she offers at this historical moment. Lux (my emphasis): It seems like just about everyone these days is talking about Elizabeth Warren. I saw Jay Leno- not a very political guy or especially progressive- the oth... more »

No change

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
I don’t suppose everyone will have watched all the Holocaust memorial programmes as assiduously as we have (chez Sue) There are several reasons why I felt compelled to watch every one. First, I wanted to know as much as possible about this unique historical event out of curiosity about ‘man’s inhumanity to man‘ and so on. Also, I couldn’t help switching on my - what’s the equivalent of ‘gaydar’ - you know, the antennae that twitches at the whiff of anti-Israel propaganda. Thirdly, I wondered how the BBC’s coverage would stack up in comparison to ITV / Channel 4’s. One thing I did... more »

Hezbollah retaliates for Israeli first strike- Missile hits IDF convoy

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 14 hours ago
*Israel has launched a ground invasion into Lebanon* A UN peacekeeper was also killed in southern Lebanon, in an incident likely related to the border flare-up. Briefly! A missile fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah group struck an Israeli military convoy on Wednesday, an apparent retaliation for a deadly airstrike attributed to Israel that killed six Hezbollah fighters in Syria earlier this month. Israel reported unspecified casualties from the attack, and its military said it responded with aerial and ground attacks into Lebanon, including at least 50 artillery shells according to... more »

Sly Stone To Finally Get Paid

Martyn Daniels at Brave New World - 14 hours ago
The music industry history is littered with artists who claim they were duped into bad contracts and not paid a fair amount. There are many that claim that the internet is making things worse. There are those whose work fails to earn out and find themselves locked into a perpetual agreement. There are those who establish themselves only to find that the contract doesn’t reflect the change and is inequitable. Van Morrison claims he never earned a cent for writing and recording 'Brown Eyed Girl' and even penned a song, 'The Big Royalty Check' to vent his anger in later years. Howev... more »

When They Cower In Abject Fear

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
http://www.mirror.co.uk/ Tomorrow, we're told, the Harper government will introduce its new anti-terror legislation. Recent events have proved to be the undoing of the Harperian economy. So a diversion is in order. If they won't vote on your economic record, perhaps they'll vote for you out of fear. And if they do that, Clive Doucet and Joe Ingram write, the terrorists will have won: The terrorists understand the power of the front page and are using it with apparent success – forcing their anger, rejection and violence to the top of ... more »

The Universe

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
"Some people say life is hard. It is not. Some people say it's easy. It is not. Some say it's lonely, tricky, or a test. It is not. Life is only a reflection of whatever you say." "What say you?" The Universe "Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!" - www.tut.com

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago

World News Briefs -- January 27, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*BBC*: *Israel fires shells into Lebanon after attack on troops* *MIDDLE EAST* Antitank missile hits Israeli military vehicle* along Lebanese border*. Israel shells Lebanon after military vehicle *hit by missile near border*. Israel shells Lebanon after* Hezbollah strike on army convoy*. Hezbollah claims responsibility for *missile attack on Israeli vehicle*. U.S. says air strikes pound *Islamic State targets near Kobani, Syria*. Syrian opposition figures meet *with Assad representatives in Moscow*. Syria Kurds return *to 'destroyed' Kobane*. France, Germany, Britain *to meet Ira... more »

"I Will Gladly Change..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
"If anyone can show, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought or deed I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which has never harmed anyone. It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance which does harm." - Marcus Aurelius

More Evidence of US-NATO Coup in Kiev

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 15 hours ago
Ukrainian Deputy Oleg Tsarov: US to stage a civil war in Ukraine! This was November 20, 2013 right before Maidan began in Kiev which led to the present chaos and war in Ukraine. He refers to TechCamp - info available about it *here*. Clear evidence that the US-NATO was indeed planning the coup d'etat in Ukraine and for a civil war that would give Washington the chance to draw Russia into military conflict. This kind of stuff is illegal under international law but since when does the US corporate dominated government give a damn about the rule of law? The US is into creating cha... more »

The Economy: "Remember 2008?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*"Remember 2008?"* by Karl Denninger "Remember, folks, it's all contained. Bear Stearns. Bank collapses, markets dive, then recover. They recover a lot, in fact- the rally is fast and furious, and "everyone" believes that the economy is fine, subprime will not do anything bad to the economy as a whole nor the banks, and it'll be ok. How'd that work out? The same warnings we had then we have now- in durables, consumer confidence and other in-your-face knowledge being willfully and intentionally ignored and lied about, such as the claimed "gains" in employment.* Bubbles inflate wh... more »

The One Percent, Updated

Greg Mankiw at Greg Mankiw's Blog - 15 hours ago
Piketty and Saez have updated their famous one-percent graph to 2013. It is above. (Click on graphic to enlarge.) One thing that commentators sometimes fail to notice is that the big increase in the one percent's income share came between 1980 and 2000. Since 2000, it has fluctuated but without much of a trend. Why, then, are we all talking about income inequality only now? I am not sure. One hypothesis is that we don't worry about inequality when everyone is doing well. Another hypothesis is that we now have a president with a political ideology that sees inequality as especiall... more »

“Freedom, Where Are You? Not in America or Europe”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 15 hours ago
*“Freedom, Where Are You? Not in America or Europe”* by Paul Craig Roberts “When the former Goldman Sachs executive who runs the European Central Bank (ECB) announced that he was going to print 720 billion euros annually with which to purchase bad debts from the politically connected big banks, the euro sank and the stock market and Swiss franc shot up. As in the US, quantitative easing (QE) serves to enrich the already rich. It has no other purpose. The well-heeled financial institutions that bought up the troubled sovereign debt of Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain at low prices... more »

Objectively and Pragmatically Sliding into the Abyss

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 15 hours ago
[image: random_6] *This little wooden building was the most fascinating thing I saw in Lukang today. What was it for?* "Objective" is one of the most important words in political discourse in Taiwan society. When it is deployed, it is a signal that the speaker demands that you kowtow to power. It came out this week in the furor over the salami slicing strategy that China is working up to deploy against Taiwan, little by little slicing away at its sovereignty. In that case, China says it is happy to talk about the new airline routes in the Strait, but doesn't appear to want to alter ... more »

More on Israel's twin hits on Syria- IAF and Shelling

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 15 hours ago
Israeli war planes striking Syria- Presently!- Right now! Second strike in 24 hours *The overall focus of the warmongering media is 'retaliation by Israel'- This is a non credible meme. It can not, should not, be believed- Period. The attack launched by Israel yesterday against Syria was planned and executed by Israel- not retaliatory. (Read yesterday's post- linked above for the explanation of the fact!) * *McClatchy News* - *Israeli aircraft struck Syrian government artillery positions early Wednesday* as tensions mounted along the Israeli-held Golan Heights* a week ... more »

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 28, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
An aerial photo shows Chinese marine surveillance ships Haijian No. 49 (front) and Haijian No.50 cruising in the East China Sea, as the islands known as the Senkaku isles in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China are seen in the background. *China Topix:* *China Silently Building Up Military Muscle on Land and Sea* *Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 28, 2015* These Weapons Could Be China's Most Threatening Military Advancement For The US -- Business Insider Japan Military Drill Packs Festive Firepower -- WSJ South Korean Aegis destroyers could be object of defense by... more »

Balancing Act Important For Democracy

Rural at Democracy Under Fire - 16 hours ago
*A guest artile by Jared Milne* I’m currently reading Brent Rathgeber’s excellent book “Irresponsible Government: the Decline of Parliamentary Democracy in Canada”, which describes the methods that Canadian prime ministers have used to consolidate power in the Prime Minister’s Office, and force their Members of Parliament to follow all of their directions. MPs are now expected to only obey the prime minister, instead of keeping him and his Cabinet accountable the way Canada’s system of responsible government has traditionally required. Many Canadians have been increasingly turned o... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 16 hours ago
*Kline Speaks on Education Reform at the American Enterprise Institute * *John Paul Kline, Jr. is a member of the Republican Party and serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce* At an event hosted by AEI three years ago, I spoke about the failure of U.S. schools to teach our children what they need to know to thrive in the 21st century economy. I described the state of the American education system as “sobering.” As I look back, those words described the situation rather mildly. I wish I could say things have started to turn around, but they hav... more »

Europe Morning Watch ( January 28 , 2015 ) - Greece dumps austerity measures and pivots to Russia - bluff or just two countries with common adversaries amid pressures from markets ? Markets in Greece under another day of huge pressures , Russia reserves continue to dwindle - note test of its proposed national payment system starts in February , Ukraine still on the edge of default , USD strength continues ....

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 16 hours ago
Tweets...... *zerohedge* ‏@zerohedge 19m 19 minutes ago UKRAINE SAID TO HIRE LAZARD TO HELP RESTRUCTURE DEBT: REUTERS *Kyiv Post* @KyivPost · 3h3 hours ago US provides up to $3 billion in loan guarantees to #Ukraine on top of last year $1 billion US-backed eurobond, #Lew http://bit.ly/18tspam *zerohedge* @zerohedge · 3m3 minutes ago Greece Begins The Great Pivot Toward Russia http://www. zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-27/greece-begins-great-pivot-toward-russia … Ten days ago, before the smashing success of Greece's anti-austerity party, Syriza, we noted that Russia ga... more »

China Announces That Its Next Military Parade Will Be To 'Frighten' Japan

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*Shannon Tiezzi, The Diplomat:* *China's Military Parade: A Warning to Japan and the US * *China’s military parade is not only meant to “intimidate” Japan — it’s a signal to the U.S. as well.* *WNU Editor:* I suspect that the Chinese will not only successfully frighten Japan .... but they will also frighten everyone else .... including some in the U.S.. *More News On China Announcing That Its Next Military Parade Will Be To 'Frighten' Japan* China to hold first military parade dedicated to WWII victory -- Xinhuanet China plans military parade -- Global Times Report: China To Hold... more »

China Builds A Military Base Near The Disputed Islands Of Japan

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
The military buildup on Nanji was first disclosed by Japan’s Kyodo News Service last month. Kyodo, quoting Chinese sources, said a landing strip was being built. *Zachary Keck, National Interest*: *Confirmed: China Is Building a Military Base Near Japan* *Update #1:* Photos Show China Military Buildup on Island Near Senkakus -- Washington Free Beacon *Update #2:* Imagery shows heliport on China's Nanji Islands -- IHS Jane's 360 *WNU Editor:* There are a number of coastal Chinese military bases in Fujian province facing Taiwan (I should know I visited one as a guest in the mid 198... more »

The holographic Da Vinci code and quantum error correction

Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 17 hours ago
Since the wrong 2012 papers, I have been encouraging Dr Polchinski, tear down this firewall! He's an exceptional physicist who has done cool things and can do many more so the earlier he can escape from the firewall, or extinguish it, the better. Finally, there is a fun paper about the holographic code co-authored by Polchinski that doesn't mention the firewall and it is pretty cool and, in my opinion, at least morally correct: Bulk-Boundary Duality, Gauge Invariance, and Quantum Error Correction by Mintun, Polchinski, Rosenhaus (Santa Barbara). Their primary question is how to re... more »

Will This Be The U.S. Air Force's Top-Secret New Stealth Bomber?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 18 hours ago
*David Axe, War Is Boring:* *Northrop Grumman Teased Us With Its New Stealth Bomber* *WNU Editor:* There is nothing to see. They are just being a "tease".

“Beaten Dogs”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 18 hours ago
*“Beaten Dogs”* by CoyotePrime “And so, the audit of the Federal Reserve was released in September, 2013... $16 TRILLION dollars of YOUR money, now in 2015 at least $23 TRILLION, “lent” at 0% interest not only to the Too-Big-To-Fail American megabanks, who then charge YOU 24% interest, but trillions of dollars to many foreign banks as well. When was the last time YOU received a 0% loan? Slowly but surely, the truth of how savagely we, the People, have been financially raped, over and over again, is coming out, and as it does, a tiny minority of our population secretly shudders in h... more »

Ex FBI Agent's Open Letter to Eric Holder!

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
This has had to be said for some time. There is nothing worse than a true believer ideologue in office. Judgement, or more properly, common judgement simply goes out the window. In this case it has resulted in obvious miscues that were easily avoided by the simple expedient of begging off until sufficient data was on your desk and outright ignoring early press stories. That my friend is the thin line between appearing competent and playing the fool. Obama himself is a paid up member of the naive left that has gone out and drunk heavily of the Koolaid and is typically f... more »

Woolly Mammoth Cloning Attempt Revives Ethical Debate

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
I do not think that this is anytime soon. however we have the entire Mammoth genome and that opens the door to progressively changing a modern elephant into a mammoth by successive genetic change outs. After all that is what appears to have happened to produce them in the first place. If we can master this technique, then it will become possible to do the same with almost all other extinct animals with even scant DNA as we are finding in fossils. Thus recovering all recent extinction events becomes practical. We will have to develop secure refugio for all these recovered b... more »

Massive 'Underground City' Discovered in Cappadoci

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
The good news is that this appears to be Byzantium in terms of time and place. Now we need to discover just when they started the building process itself. That it is not unique tells us that they served a practical purpose likely for defense and may have been surprisingly effective. After all having hidden sally ports all over the battle field needed for siege works is a pretty good trick and likely to pay off hugely. What is amazing is that we have no record of all this type of engineering. Whatever the story is, it made for an effective defense in depth that was kept sec... more »

A War Between Two Worlds

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 18 hours ago
The modern world has tried hard to shift to a culture that eschews radical belief systems or at least accepts those that it tolerates on a live and let live basis. Perhaps we have forgotten that. After all both Nazism and Communism were aggressively suppressed because they were unable to accept such equality at all. We also clearly understand that we are the better off for it. The truth is that our radicals come to us. It it through counter attack that modernism expands. At worst it secures the loyalty of its supporters. It provides a little fraying around the ed... more »

The Departure Of Hamas Leader Khaled Meshal From Qatar Is Revealing A Growing Egypt-Saudi Alliance

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 19 hours ago
Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal at a news conference in Tehran, Iran, 2008. Photo: wiki commons *Taylor Luck, CSM*: *In Hamas leader’s exit from Qatar, signs of growing Saudi-Egyptian influence* *With the strengthening of an Egyptian-Saudi axis in the Gulf that is hostile to the Muslim Brotherhood, Qatar could no longer serve as a base of political operations for Hamas leader Khaled Meshal.* *WNU Editor*: The challenges that both countries (Egypt and Saudi Arabia) face are the same (Syria, rise of Iran, Yemen, radical Islam, growing opposition movements, etc.) .... so naturally the po... more »

Maybe Harris Should Drink Some Costa Coffee?

Martyn Daniels at Brave New World - 19 hours ago
What is more important and best for books, a group of intellectuals sitting round a table, or on a couch, talking about a book, or a good adaptation on film which clearly references the works, or a short story competition that stimulates thousands? Best-selling author and chairman of the Costa Book Awards judging panel, Robert Harris, obviously thinks the couch and in announcing the £30,000 Costa Book of the Year, used his speech to criticise the BBC and its approach to books. He yearned back to the good old days when audiences grappled with Robert Robertson and Melvyn Bragg, oft... more »

Brazil Hopes to Ink Pantsir-S1 Air Defense Deal With Russia by Mid-2015

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: Pantsir-S1]Brazil and Russia could sign a contract on the delivery of Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to the Latin American country as early as in the first half of 2015, Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Antonio José Vallim Guerreiro said on Wednesday. “We hope very much that the contract will be signed this semester because the discussions are very advanced… Signing the contract is going to be a very important achievement,” Guerreiro said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti. The potential arms purchase by Brazil, which includes three Pantsir-S1 batteries of up ... more »

Ghostrider’s Big Gun: AC-130J Gets 105 ASAP; Laser Later

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: An AC-130U’s 105 mm cannon]Sometimes smart bombs aren’t the smart choice. Sometimes you just need a big bad flying gun. That’s why the aging AC-130 gunship is still revered by ground troops for its ability to fire a 105mm cannon — a weapon normally mounted on light tanks. That’s why the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, decided the new model, the AC-130J Ghostrider, had to have the 105 instead of relying on missiles. And that’s why Heithold will fight to slow the rate at which older AC-130s are retiring. Read more

Military parade tradition stretches back to founding of PRC

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
While China’s military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be the first of its kind, the country has held 14 military parades since the founding of the People' s Republic of China, to celebrate National Day. From 1949 to 1959, China staged a military parade every National Day. They featured soldiers in marching formations and military hardware, such as tanks, missiles and fighter jets flying overhead. But the tradition changed in 1960, when the government decided to only hold the ceremony every 10 years, in an effort to scale down the military.... more »

The one hundred and ninety seventh weekly "No shit, Sherlock" award

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 20 hours ago
I haven't posted a No Shit Sherlock post for a while, I may be becoming a little forgetful. However this Telegraph report this Telegraph report entitled 'Ballot-rigging risk' in Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities' was chockfull of No Shit Sherlock lines. Here's just one: 'The report found some voters felt that postal voting was ''intrinsically unsafe'' and there were also concerns about the ease with which electoral ''personation'' could take place due an ''informal approach'' to proxy voting.' No shit, Sherlock

Fwd: [Not a sheep] Fwd: Broad sorry for minimum wage tweet per BBC sport

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 20 hours ago
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Not a sheep Date: 28 January 2015 at 08:29 Subject: [Not a sheep] Fwd: Broad sorry for minimum wage tweet per BBC sport To: notasheepmaybeagoat@googlemail.com The BBC report http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/31011948 that England cricketer Stuart Broad is sorry for tweeting that: > "I've heard if you earn minimum wage in England you're in the top 10% > earners in the world. #stay #humble." > > Oddly the BBC don't say whether what Stuart Broad tweeted was true or not. > That's the trouble with the BBC,... more »

Boeing awarded Indonesian Apache contract

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: AH-64E Apache]The US government has formally awarded Boeing a contract to build eight AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for Indonesia. The Department of Defense says in a statement that the “firm-fixed-price” foreign military sales (FMS) contract is valued at $296 million. The helicopters will be built in Mesa, Arizona, and are expected to be completed by February 2018. US defence secretary Chuck Hagel announced the sale of eight Apaches to Indonesia in August 2013. Read more

Fighter jet falls on biker in Rajasthan

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Crashed MiG-27]A MiG-27 fighter jet crashed in Rajasthan's Barmer on Tuesday and a part of it fell on a passing motorcyclist. Twenty-six-year-old Loon Singh was on his way to a village to distribute invitation cards of his wedding when the jet crashed around 3 pm. Singh had a miraculous escape though he suffered burns and injuries on his hand. His bike was completely burnt. Read more

Leidos Prototype Maritime System Completes First Self-Guided Voyage

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: ACTUV]Leidos, a national security, health, and engineering solutions company, announced today that its prototype maritime autonomy system for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)'s Anti-Submarine Warfare Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program recently completed its first self-guided voyage between Gulfport and Pascagoula, Mississippi. The prototype maritime autonomy system was installed on a 42-foot work boat that served as a surrogate vessel to test sensor, maneuvering, and mission functions of the prototype ACTUV vessel. ACTUV seeks to develop ... more »

Hamas Spokesman Warns That If They Do Not Get Money They Will Then Become Terrorists

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 20 hours ago
Not extremists (Reuters) *Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic:* *Hamas Warns: Give Us Money Or We'll Become Terrorists* *WNU Editor:* "Give us money or else" .... not exactly my preferred way of asking international donors to give me assistance ... but it appears that for some in Hamas this makes perfect sense. But it looks like funding problems are becoming a bigger problem for Hamas than what is being reported ....* Report: Hamas Desperate to Renew Talks With Israel After PA, UN Funding Slow*s (Algemeiner). My prediction .... after last years war everyone is reluctant to give Hamas ... more »

Marines receive first F-35C Lightning II carrier variant

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: F-35C Lightning II]The first F-35C Lightning II, carrier variant, for the U.S. Marine Corps touched-down on the flight line here, Jan. 13, from the Lockheed Martin plant in Fort Worth, Texas, to begin training in support of carrier-based operations. U.S. Marine Lt. Col. J.T. Ryan, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 detachment commander and F-35 pilot, delivered the new F-35C to Strike Fighter Squadron 101, the Navy's only F-35 fleet replacement squadron. This aircraft is the first of five Marine Corps F-35Cs that will be delivered to VFA-101 on Eglin. Marine F-35 pilots pri... more »

South Korean Aegis destroyers could be object of defense by Japanese navy

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: KDX-III destroyer]The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are currently discussing the idea of including a provision about protecting South Korean Aegis destroyers in a revised version of the Self-Defense Forces Law, which will be submitted to the regular session of the Japanese Diet, newspaper reports indicate. South Korea uses the Aegis destroyers to monitor ballistic missile launches by North Korea. “The Japanese government notified the ruling party of its plan to include a clause that would allow the Japan Self-Defense Forces to defend the ... more »

Broad sorry for minimum wage tweet per BBC Sport

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 20 hours ago
The BBC report that England cricketer Stuart Broad is sorry for tweeting that: > "I've heard if you earn minimum wage in England you're in the top 10% > earners in the world. #stay #humble." > Oddly the BBC don't say whether what Stuart Broad tweeted was true or not. That's the trouble with the BBC, they really aren't interested in facts, preferring the censorship of views that they and the other politically correct zealots deem to be 'offensive'.

The Taiwanese Navy's Newest Ship: The Panshih

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Panshih AOR]Eager to moderate the threat it faces from an increasingly sophisticated China, Taiwan has been investing heavily in modernizing its naval capabilities. As part of that effort, Taipei recently welcomed a U.S. Senate decision to approve the sale of four Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates for its navy. While Taiwan purchases a considerable amount of military hardware from the United States, it also has a vibrant indigenous defense industry. Read more

Ukraine Arms Embargo Could Delay Delivery of Russian Frigates

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Admiral Gorshkov (Project 22350)]The Ukrainian military equipment embargo to Russia could cause delays in the construction of the Russian Navy’s new class of frigates and slow a planned modernization effort of Russia’s northern fleet, according to a Monday report in Jane’s Defence Weekly. Russia’s 4,500 ton Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates (Project 22350) is powered – in part – by two M90FR gas turbines built by with Ukrainian manufacturer Zorya-Mashproekt. With the embargo in place the task has shifted to Russian manufacturer NPO Saturn without the aid of the Ukrainians. R... more »

Pentagon wants $350b nuclear upgrade to deter aggressive Russia, China

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Pentagon wants $350b for upgrades]The Pentagon is asking for $350 billion to upgrade its nuclear deterrent capability to handle growing aggression from Russia. “Russia and U.S. cooperation has ground to a halt,” retired Navy Admiral William Fallon told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Updating aged nuclear deterrent capabilities, he said, “should be a top consideration.” Fallon, who retired in 2008 after commanding U.S. Central Command, is part of a week-long visit by defense leaders to Congress to push funding for the Pentagon before the federal budget is re... more »

Malaysia Eyes Submarine Base Expansion Near South China Sea

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
RMN Kota Kinabalu On January 25, Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced that Malaysia would look to equip its naval base close to the South China Sea with an air defense system. Hishammuddin made the announcement during a visit to the base, known as the RMN Kota Kinabalu, as part of a three-day working trip to the country’s east to examine its military preparedness. He said that the base required an advanced air defense system to ensure its protection. The need to enhance the base’s defenses is understandable. The RMN Kota Kinabalu is the only base with the facil... more »

Vietnam’s 5th Russian-built submarine to begin trial run this May

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: HQ-186 Khanh Hoa]The fifth of the six Kilo-class submarines that Vietnam has agreed to buy from Russia is scheduled for a trial run this May, according to the manufacturer, the Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg. The submarine codenamed HQ-186 Khanh Hoa is a Project 636.1 diesel-electric submarines. It was launched at the Admiralty Shipyards on December 28, 2014. The first two subs, HQ-182 Hanoi and HQ-183 Ho Chi Minh City, arrived in Vietnam in January and March of 2014. Read more

Former Vice Chief Of Staff Of The U.S. Army: al-Qaeda Has ‘Grown Fourfold In The Last Five Years’

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
*PJ Media*: *General Tells Senators al-Qaeda Has ‘Grown Fourfold in Last Five Years’* *WNU Editor*: With the exception of FOX News and a few blogs .... no one is covering this incredibly important story. But the best part of Gen Keane's (Ret.) testimony today was the following .... .... *“U.S. policymakers choose to ignore the very harsh realities of the rise of radical Islam. In my view, we became paralyzed by the fear of adverse consequences in the Middle East after fighting two wars. Moreover, as we sit here this morning, in the face of radical Islam, U.S. policymakers refuse... more »

US navy looks at next generation SSNX submarines and 200 mile range torpedoes

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: USS North Carolina (SSN-777)]The U.S. Navy is starting early preparation work to design a new nuclear attack submarine to replace the Virginia-class boats (SSN-774) in the 2030s. The new attack boat would become operational in 2044 after the last Block VII Virginias are built. Nine years to identify, design and demonstrate the new technologies the new attack boat will need. Johnson said that he has formed a small team to work on a five-year plan to begin to do some of that work. The team will consult with industry and will identify the threat environment and technologies the... more »

SYRIZA

Spike EP at News Spike - 22 hours ago
*If you owe the bank £1000, they own your ass.* *If you owe the bank £500 Billion - their ass is yours...* *And "SYRIZA" is Greek for "E.U. Reap What You Sow"* *ORGANISE - You are called-upon to aspire and work towards The Good...* *"...if Greece falls and is removed from the eurozone - the eurozone will collapse. We said from the beginning the eurozone is in danger, the euro is in danger, but it isn't in danger from Syriza... it is in danger from the very policies of austerity"* *- Euclid Tsakalotos, SYRIZA* *"Greece must have assistance if it is to become a self-supporting and... more »

"What Do They Know? Why Are So Many Of The Super Wealthy Preparing Bug Out Locations?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 22 hours ago
*"What Do They Know? * *Why Are So Many Of The Super Wealthy Preparing Bug Out Locations?"* By Michael Snyder "A lot of ultra-rich people are quietly preparing to “bug out” when the time comes. They are buying survival properties, they are buying farms in far away countries and they are buying deep underground bunkers. In fact, a prominent insider at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland says that “very powerful people are telling us they’re scared” and he shocked his audience when he revealed that he knows “hedge fund managers all over the world who are buying airstrips an... more »

Former Top U.S. Generals: Current U.S. Policy Makes ISIS, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan Wars Unwinnable

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, left, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. *U.S. News And World Report:* *Absence of White House Strategy Makes ISIS, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan Wars Unwinnable* *Victory in military campaigns against the Islamic State group, the Taliban, the Haqqanis and others means nothing without concrete plans, retired top commanders say.* *Update #1:* Retired generals: U.S. set for failure in Iraq and Syria without clear strategy -- Washington Post *Update #2:* Former U.S. Military Leaders Outline Extremist Threat -- USNI ... more »

A Tale of Two Houses: Sisi Mourns House of Saud, Obama Scorns House of Netanyahu

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 23 hours ago
*Photo: A needless murder by Egyptian police of a female socialist activist on the anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. The Sisi regime only buries itself with such brutal acts.* *An excerpt from, "Egypt Cancels Revolution Fete to Mourn Saudi King who derailed Revolution" by Juan Cole, January 26, 2015:* In a great irony, the Egyptian government attempted to cancel the commemoration of the January 25 revolution four years ago, on the grounds that the late King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia needed to be mourned. The Saudis played a sinister behind-the-scenes role in undermining buddin... more »

A U.S. Intelligence Employee Was Responsible For This Weeks Drone Crash At The White House

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Wall Street Journal*: *U.S. Intelligence Employee Crashed Drone on White House Grounds* *WNU Editor:* The punishment can be severe .... "Federal law bans flying drones or model aircraft over Washington, D.C., for security reasons. Violators of the ban face up to a year in prison". *More News On A U.S. Intelligence Employee Being Responsible For This Weeks Drone Crash At The White House* White House Drone Crash Described as a U.S. Worker’s Drunken Lark -- New York Times Spy agency employee was flying drone that crashed at White House -- Reuters Man Who Crashed Drone at White Hous... more »

Kosovo Rocked By Riots And Sectarian Tensions

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Reuters: **Police, protesters fight running battles in Kosovo* *WNU Editor*: Kosovo is poor and corrupt .... made worse by sectarian tensions. If it was not for the presence of a 5,000-strong NATO peacekeeping force backed by hundreds of EU police officers stationed in Kosovo to encourage the rule of law .... the entire country would now be engulfed in warfare and ethnic cleansing. *More News On The Growing Unrest In Kosovo* Kosovo Police Use Tear Gas to Clear Anti-Gov't Protesters -- AP Kosovo police clash with crowd at protest over minister -- BBC Police and protesters clash in ... more »

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - What do you see?

Small Footprints at Reduce Footprints - 1 day ago
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far. This post contains great information and I encourage ... more »

David Bentley Hart - Christianity and Its Fashionable Enemies

Saman Mohammadi at The Excavator - 1 day ago
*David Bentley Hart - The Beauty of The Infinite: The Aesthetics of Christian Truth (2004).* *Title: David Bentley Hart - Christianity and Its Fashionable Enemies. Source: ObjectiveBob. Date Published: March 6, 2013. Description:* David Bentley Hart is an Eastern Orthodox theologian, philosopher, and patristics scholar. Hart was educated at the University of Maryland, the University of Cambridge and the University of Virginia. He has taught at the University of Virginia, the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), Duke Divinity School, and Loyola College in Maryland. Archbishop of C... more »

Stop the Big Polluter Agenda - Take Action!: NRDC's Save BioGems

rc at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago
Will you help stop the #BigPolluterAgenda? Please send your message to the President: http://on.nrdc.org/1BuDD85 @NRDC (twitter) Stop the Big Polluter Agenda - Take Action!: NRDC's Save BioGems

buddha truth

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago
We will all get old We will all get sick And we will all die

Draft Dodging And Evasion Is Becoming A Growing Problem For The Ukraine Government

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*ITAR-TASS:** Ukrainians grow unwilling to serve in the army — media* *WNU Editor:* The above report is from Russia .... and even though Russian media coverage is biased against the Ukraine government .... this report is very accurate. Even among my own family in Ukraine .... all of the sons of my cousins who are of military age left the country last summer .... they all expected the fighting to intensify and they also all expected the introduction of conscription by the Ukraine government ... and they have been proven right. In the coming weeks and months I expect draft dodging ... more »

Notes on the blizzard that wasn't -- at least not right where we are

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
*"We'd love to come, but the weathermongers have paralyzed us with fear."* Well, I stayed up a good part of the night waiting for the blizzard that didn’t come. And then, at about 3 A.M., the forecast was downgraded to overcast with a chance of flurries. The kid in me was disappointed, but the part that passes for an adult was really happy that I didn’t have to shovel my driveway. I don’t fault de Blasio, Cuomo, or Christie for their abundance of caution, but enough already with the exuberant weathernoia of the television forecasters. Also, memo to the forecasters in their hermet... more »

Ukraine War News Updates -- January 27, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Kyiv Post: **Ukraine hides devastating losses as Russia-backed fighters surge forward* *WNU Editor*: Full scale war has returned to eastern Ukraine ... and the casualty rates among the civilian and military populations have skyrocketed. I do not see any hope of peace talks and/or a truce being agreed upon or discussed at any time in the near future. *Ukraine War News Updates -- January 27, 2015* Ukraine rebels say government forces pushed back near Donetsk -- Reuters Ukraine rebels pursue offensive in worst fighting since September -- Euronews Ukraine army units retreating to pre... more »

An Ebola Marshall Plan?: How to Stop Ebola and Salvage the Health System in Sierra Leone

Megan MacKenzie at Duck of Minerva - 1 day ago
This is a guest post by Dehunge Shiaka, a gender expert in Sierra Leone. This is post #3 of a series he has written on the impacts of Ebola in Sierra Leone (post 1, post 2). How can we ensure that when Ebola ends, Sierra Leone’s medical infrastructure and economy doesn’t disintegrate with it? Yesterday Continue reading

Nigeria: Unraveling the Mystery of Boko Haram

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 1 day ago
*January 28, 2015 *(Eric Draitser - Counterpunch) The most entertaining mysteries are the ones with compelling protagonists, enigmatic and often surreptitious antagonists, and surprising or shocking conclusions. Indeed, without these essential elements, one is unlikely to read the story at all. However, when it comes to politics and geopolitics, somehow our mass media storytellers – the scores of journalists, military and counter-terrorism ‘experts,’ and establishment mouthpieces – fail to even point us in the right direction. Not only do they not follow the threads of the story, the... more »

Untitled

New Orleans Ladder at New Orleans Ladder - 1 day ago
*This General Rescued New Orleans—Now He Wants to Save the World ~Kevin Knodell*

The Mysterious Civilization of the Olmecs

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 1 day ago
It is additionally related that the Olmecs came originally from an island to the North called Atzlan as well. Since crossing from even the American Mainland and the Mississippi delta by sea meets that description and the known existence of such a named city close by the copper fields of lake Superior, it is easy to assign this to a remnant of the Atlantean world ended in 1159 BC. We can assume ample earlier contact as well, but now also reflect that this was an ideal refugia and that the establishment was itself never driven by copper itself. It is important to understand t... more »