9:40 am MST
Try to Think Logically Here - Yes, It's A New Skill, America, But You'll Benefit From It! - They Aren't Trying To Pay Down Debt, They're Locking You Into Theirs Forever
Thinking
logically (and critically) is a skill that the U.S. voter may need to
sharpen rapidly. And in a country where the debate is driven by
Koch-funded denialists, you really need it. But why pay any attention to
what I think? After all, what could I know? I've always thought Paul
Krugman had a very well-defined sense of humor (and a sharp logical
mind).
January 17, 2013
On the
People do not need assault weapons: defense secretary
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta joined the gun control debate on Thursday
when he told troops at a military base in Italy that only soldiers needed
armor-piercing bullets or assault weapons.
Asked by a soldier what President Barack Obama would do to protect school
children from gun violence without infringing Americans' right to own guns,
Panetta said action was needed after the attack on a Connecticut school in
December in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-usa-guns-panetta-idUSBRE90G0PQ20130117
U.S. trade pact offers Cameron a way to sell Europe
Momentum for a trade deal between the United States and European Union is a
challenge to Britons who say London is better off without Brussels and
hands Prime Minister David Cameron a strong argument to resist their
pressure.
Cameron will outline plans to dilute Britain's EU membership on Friday in
Amsterdam in one of the most anticipated speeches on Europe by a British
leader since World War Two. Diplomats in Brussels and business leaders in
the UK fear he could set off a process that ends with Britain quitting the
Union.
Eurosceptics in Britain say the country's future lies in tr... more »
Q Day 7: The WH '16 Dem Field if Clinton Runs
TapirBoy1 asks:
To what extent does an HRC presidential run pre-winnow the field before the
Iowa Caucus?
(Slightly edited for clarity)
That's a great question.
Democratic fields for open nominations have typically been fairly large,
with one big exception: 2000, when only Bill Bradley challenged Al Gore.
2008 was typical, with six plausible nominees running (Obama, Clinton,
Edwards, Dodd, Richardson, Biden). Similarly, in 2004, there were about
seven plausible nominees who made it to Iowa. Democrats typically have done
little winnowing between the "all-in" stage and Iowa; that is,... more »
Massacre of over 100 reported in Syria's Homs
More than 100 people were shot, stabbed or possibly burned to death by
government forces in the Syrian city of Homs, a monitoring group said on
Thursday, and fierce fighting raged across the country.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said women and
children were among the 106 people killed by forces loyal to President
Bashar al-Assad forces who stormed Basatin al-Hasawiya, a poor district on
the edge of Homs, on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE90G09R20130117
NAZIS AND ZIONISTS
Are the top Nazis and top Zionists on the same side?
Are they both part of the feudal elite?
According to Israel Shahak, "Jewish physicians, tax collectors and bailiffs
could be relied upon by a king, nobleman, pope or bishop...
"Jewish rabbis and rich Jews were part of the governing class.
"Together they oppressed the masses, Jew and non-Jewish."
*Makow - Jewish Elite*.
PRINCE WILLIAM IS JEWISH?...
American Ambassador in Berlin William Dodd wrote:
"One evening my wife visited Baron Eberhard von Oppenheim, who lives
splendidly and quietly near us. Many German Nazis were presen... more »
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake CROATIA - 17th January 2013
Magnitude ML 4.2
Region CROATIA
Date time 2013-01-17 13:21:51.0 UTC
Location 43.67 N ; 16.44 E
Depth 2 km
Distances 7 km W Neoric, Croatia
Indonesia: Judge Apologises Over Rape 'Joke'
A senior Indonesian judge who joked that rapists should evade capital
punishment because victims enjoyed the act has apologised.
Muhammad Daming Sunusi - a High Court judge who is running for a Supreme
Court position - made the remarks during a "fit-and-proper test", when
parliament asked whether the country should introduce the death penalty for
rapists.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039315/indonesia-judge-apologises-over-rape-joke
New York 'Mafia' Raid: 30 Arrested By FBI
Thirty alleged New York mobsters have been arrested on suspicion of using
the city's private waste disposal industry as a Mafia front.
The suspects, with nicknames including 'Big Bill' and 'Uncle Sonny', were
held after early-morning FBI raids in the New York and New Jersey areas.
Those arrested, including Carmine 'Papa Smurf' Franco, are thought to have
close ties with the Gambino, Genovese and Lucchese families - three of New
York's largest organised crime families.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039309/new-york-mafia-raid-30-arrested-by-fbi
Gold Find: Novice Prospector Earns Big Bucks
An amateur gold prospector has made the find of a lifetime in southern
Australia, unearthing a nugget worth almost £200,000.
The Y-shaped nugget, which weighed five kilograms or 117 ounces (11 lbs),
was discovered by an unidentified man armed only with a hand-held metal
detector just outside the 'gold rush' town of Ballarat 65 miles from
Melbourne.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039397/gold-find-novice-prospector-earns-big-bucks
'Many Dead' In Strike On Algeria Gas Plant
A number of foreign hostages at a besieged Algerian gas plant have
reportedly been freed in the wake of a military strike which news agencies
say has killed several people.
Mauritania's ANI news agency reported the deaths citing one of the
kidnappers who had earlier taken 41 people captive at the compound near the
border with Libya.
A large explosion has been heard away from the accommodation block at the
remote desert complex, Sky sources said.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039364/many-dead-in-strike-on-algeria-gas-plant
4.3 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE COAST OF ECUADOR - 17th January 2013
Magnitude
4.3
Date-Time
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 13:12:49 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 08:12:49 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
0.649°S, 80.260°W
Depth
41.3 km (25.7 miles)
Region
NEAR THE COAST OF ECUADOR
Distances
14 km (8 miles) N of Tosagua, Ecuador
Breaking: Various people who don’t exist!
*THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013*
*Manti Teo’s tragic girl friend and Maddow’s Beltway press:* As it turns
out, Manti Teo’s tragic doomed girl friend didn’t really exist.
As national news, this story is basically insignificant, although sports
journalists are going to thrash it within an inch of its life. That said,
someone else didn’t exist this week—a whole group of people, in fact.
This *does* involve a significant story. As it turns out, Rachel Maddow’s
“entire Beltway press” didn’t exist this week.
What sorts of conduct has Maddow been attributing to “the Beltway press?”
For start... more »
Second GOP congressman suggests impeachment over executive action for gun control
A second Republican congressman is suggesting that impeachment should be an
option as President Barack Obama takes executive action to enact gun
control measures.
In an interview with Florida’s “The Shark Tank,” Florida Republican Trey
Radel addressed Texas Republican Rep. Steve Stockman’s statement that he
might seek impeachment if Obama goes forward with executive action to bring
about gun control measures.
“All options should be on the table,” Radel responded.
Obama announced 23 executive actions during his Wednesday press conference.
“It is one of those times in our history, ... more »
It's Thursday...
*what's going on. *
White House Dossier: *The Real Problem with Obama’s Gun Control Remarks*
Laughing Conservative: *Another liberal squished on guns*
Angry White Dude: * OBAMA SHOOTS BLANKS ON GUN CONTROL*
* *
Diogenes: * I Ask You My Democrat Friends.....How Does It Feel?*
HancAquam: *Religious Freedom Proclamation: what gets left out?*
Father Z: *Pres. Obama declares – no kidding – “Religious Freedom Day”*
Bunkerville: *3 Supreme Court Cases to Watch: Gay Marriage, Drunk
Driving, and Property Rights:*
Elder of Ziyon: Jew-hatred is the Muslim Brotherhood's official position
' Anyone with eyes knows that Jewish character - wherever and whenever it
is found - is indistinguishable from delinquency, and has never rid itself
of corruption....[Jews] never succeeded to have a normal coexistence and
good relationships with humanity. It is not an exaggeration to say that
they do not cease to be a source of evil and harm to all human societies,
in other words: [Judaism] inherently can not ever be compatible with a
community of human societies.'
That's from the Muslim Brotherhood's website. The 'moderate' Muslim
Brotherhood...
More here -
http://elderofziyon... more »
The Vile Odour Of Corruption Coming From Stephen Harper's Conservative Government ...
*-RCMP Investigate Conservative MP Del Mastro’s election campaign spending
*
*-Conservative Finance Minister Flaherty tried to influence broadcast
regulator's decision on radio licence*
*-Highly partisan letters from Conservative Cabinet Minister Julian Fantino
posted to government website *
Activist Teacher's radical book about racism
Activist
Teacher Denis Rancourt has written a radical ("to the root") book about
racism, now available in both paperback and Kindle:
"Hierarchy and Free Expression in the Fight Against Racism"
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Stairway Press (January 15, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0985994282
ISBN-13: 978-0985994280
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
Recent endorsements include
Sean Carroll, Copenhagen, and consensus
The recently published poll about the interpretations of quantum mechanics
was discussed by Sean Carroll under this dramatic title:
The Most Embarrassing Graph in Modern Physics
I would agree with him that the diverse results of the poll are somewhat
strange and a reason for discouragement but I disagree with everything else
he writes – what the poll means and doesn't mean, why we should be
concerned, and so on. He's clearly a "consensus scientist" and make no
doubts about it, all consensus scientists are hacks or at least sleezy
jellyfish who spend their time by optimizing the solu... more »
The Gains from Trade
A story of how a model employee outsourced his own job.
Threating
R v O'Brien 2013 SCC 2 deals with uttering threats. The Court holds, as is
settled law, that it is not an essential element of threating that the
recipient of the threats uttered by the accused feel intimidated by them or
be shown to have taken them seriously. All that needs to be proven is that
they were *intended by the accused to have that effect. *That said the
Court held the reaction of the person threatened is relevant in context.
The Court holds:
[9] At no point in her reasons did the trial
judge state, as the Crown contends, that she was acqui... more »
Happiness is...
pre-ordering a book, forgetting that you did so, and finding it on your
doorstep after a long day at work.
In case you might wonder just what is canon in Star Wars, the answer is
simple: The Han Solo trilogy by Brian Daley, the three original episodes,
and everything by Timothy Zahn.
These should have been Episodes 1, 2, and 3. Daley had the *Millenium Falcon
* flying sideways through canyons before *The Empire Strikes Back* and
droid armies *way* before the prequels. He also invented the Z-95 Headhunterand captures Han
Solo's character with absolute perfection.
And here's your ... more »
Be Kind, Please Rewind
Southern Man was watching a DVD with a friend a while back and was a little
amused that when the movie was over she hit the high-speed-reverse button
on the remote and backed up to the menu. Southern Man thought she wanted to
watch another part of the movie again, but we didn't. He though no more
about it. But he started paying attention and noted that at the end of
movies she would hit that reverse button before removing the disc.
One day Southern Man dropped in a DVD and noticed that the first thing that
came up was a "resume" option, and the light dawned. Most DVD players will
r... more »
Q Day 6: Midterms
It's still question day around here. Why not? Several good ones I wanted to
get to. Such as this...
Bajsa asks:
Off year elections are as important as years with Presidential elections.
What can Obama do to get his coalition to vote in a mid-term election?
It's a great question, so I wanted to highlight it, but I'm not sure I have
much of an answer. So instead I'll give four answers.
One answer is: not much. It's just a basic truth that different demographic
groups vote at different rates, and that midterms are lower-interest
elections than presidential contests. So you're going to... more »
Untitled
*Deficient levees found across America*
~The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has yet to issue ratings for a little
more than 40 percent of the 2,487 structures, which protect about 10
million people. Of those it has rated, however, 326 levees covering more
than 2,000 miles were found in urgent need of repair.
Read more here:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/17/3186676/ap-impact-deficient-levees-found.html#storylink=cpy
~Editilla Crow'tellas~ Cain Burdeau is on my shit list ya'heard. This
article is actually bogus and he of all Corps "journalists" should know how
biased it appears. Th... more »
And Then There Were Two
Of the original six who were arrested at an Occupy Wall Street planned
action across from the New York Stock Exchange on April 27, 2012, finally
after four prior appearances and continuences and various dismisssals ("the
People" were interminably not prepared), two of us went to trial yesterday.
Here we are with our co-conspirators, OWS jail support, and famous First
Amendment pro bono attorney, Martin Stoler, Esq (the distinguished one in
the stylish beret).
That was outside the courthouse during lunch break, when we still had high
confidence we would be aquitted. After all, the v... more »
This Blog Post Has Been Disabled
Divided Senate considers pact for disability rights
Treaty for disabled rights falls short
An Angry Spring
The Idle No More protests across the country yesterday were the opening
salvo in what is shaping up to be an angry spring. Rest assured that there
will be calls to re-establish law and order. But -- before you join the
crowd of righteous law-abiding citizens -- ask yourself, "Are there times
when the law is an ass?"
In 1960, a student at one of North Carolina's all black universities, led a
sit-in at the lunch counter of a Woolworth's store in Greensboro, North
Carolina. The lunch counter was for white customers only. The student's
name was Jesse Jackson. Jackson clearly broke t... more »
The Authoritarian Science Myth
The image above shows President Dwight Eisenhower swearing in James Killian
as the first science advisor to the US president. Eisenhower rushed through
the ceremony because he wanted to leave on a golf trip to Augusta, Georgia.
Little appreciated is that James Killian, widely celebrated at the best and
most powerful science advisor was not a scientist at all.
Writing in yesterday's New York Times, physicist Laurence Krauss repeats a
common call for scientists to occupy a position more central to political
power:
Scientists’ voices are crucial in the debates over the global challe... more »
The Boston Globe's Fake Photos
*Why bother looking then?*
The surprisingly old art of photo fakery
*
**The Bin Laden fakes are never mentioned.*
Paneurhythmy (ПАНЕВРИТМИЯ) - The First Day of Spring: Sung by Plamena Girginova
*Published on 1 December 2012 by Peter Ganov*
ПАНЕВРИТМИЯ - Студиен запис в БНР
Youtube link: *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9fZdaXdhBA*
ПЪРВИЯТ ДЕН НА ПРОЛЕТТА - БЕИНСА ДУНО - ПАНЕВРИТМИЯ - БНР Студиен запис
Камерен Оркестър "Софийски Солисти" Аранжимент: Петър Ганев, Диригент Петър
Ганев, Солистка: Пламена Гиргинова
Paneurhythmy -* It is a sacred dance created by The Spiritual Master Beinsa
Douno. The music and the movements corespond with the energies of the
Universe.*
*The Song that you will listen to is called , The First Day Of Spring and
sung by Plamena Girginova. Ac... more »
Read Stuff, You Should
Happy Birthday to Muhammad Ali, 71. Lots of great choices today, but
certainly can't go wrong with The Greatest.
And just a little good stuff:
1. Sarah Binder on the Sandy vote and the Hastert rule.
2. The Voteview gang confirm it: the 112th was the most polarized Congress
yet.
3. And a cute White House response to the petition for...impeaching Barack
Obama.
By the way, I think I'm going to extend question day. I only did five
yesterday, and there are lots of good ones remaining. So if you have one
you didn't ask, feel free to post it now, although I can't promise to get
to any... more »
Jake and The Neverland Pirates Birthday Party
Did you just love the my sister's Lego party that I shared last week? I
am back with another one of her parties this week, this one is her Jack and
the Neverland Pirates Party. The invitations are above, pirate maps in a
bottle (IBC bottles to be exact).
The craft involved the kids coloring a Scully the Parrot, made from a
toilet paper roll.
The birthday ship..er...cake.
The snacks all had a water theme, Swedish Fish, Goldfish Crackers and
slices of orange floating on a Jello sea.
The cupcakes. My sister always does cupcakes and a cake for the party,
because cupcakes are ... more »
Can ConservaDem Debbie Halvorson Be Stopped?
Former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson wants back in
"Ex"-Blue Dog Steve Israel is quietly encouraging big money to back
self-described "conservative Democrat" Debbie Halvorson in the primary for
the IL-02 congressional seat that has opened up because of Jesse Jackson
Jr.'s resignation. From Day One Halvorson's strategy to win in the
minority-majority district-- after being soundly rejected by primary voters
last year-- was to hope that lots of African Americans would jump into the
race and split the vote so she could slip in with her pro-corporate agenda.
A new poll, however, doesn't... more »
Saying So Long to Salazar
"Salazar to step down from Interior Department
WASHINGTON — Ken Salazar, the *blunt-spoken lawyer and rancher* who took
over the scandal-ridden Interior Department at the outset of the Obama
administration, said Wednesday that he would *step down* in March to return
to his home in Colorado.
He did not say what he intended to do after leaving Washington, and the
White House gave no hint of who might succeed him.
Salazar’s exit, along with the announced resignation of Lisa P. Jackson,
the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
anticipated departure of Energy Se... more »
Arkansas Sheriff Barricades Town To Conduct "Safety" Checkpoints
*"Papers Please"*
*"There are good people with bad papers; and bad people with good papers." -
Bertolt Brecht*
There is a new Sheriff in town and he is pulling out the back log of
warrants and knocking on doors. The Grant County Sheriff has also kicked
off the year with plans for safety check points.
Normally you hear about a warrant sweep or a safety check point. But
imagine in a town of 500, having both in one day. That was Friday, January
11 and it's still the talk of the town.
Like the saying goes, if you blink you missed it. Leola is a small town
where everyone knows one an... more »
The Boston Globe Needs a Hug
*They ju$t got one*:
November Project members embrace exercise, one another
Hundreds of locals are turning out three times a week at 6:30 a.m. to hug
and socialize before running stadium steps, sprinting up hills, or knocking
out a muscle-searing series of sit-ups and push-ups. The group is called
the November Project.
The one hundred and seventy third weekly "No shit, Sherlock" award
This week's winner is Rand Paul as reported by The Washington Post. Apparently
Rand Paul thinks that:
'President Obama was “arrogant and presumptuous” in saying in recent weeks
that Israel “doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”'
President Obama 'arrogant and presumptuous' - "No shit, Sherlock"
are we seeing the beginning of a global people's revolution?
*"There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear..."*
This week, I attended a talk put on by the International Socialists,
featuring an organizer with OUR Walmart, by Skype from Texas, and a
Toronto-based union activist. Both speakers were terrific and so inspiring,
but although I took copious notes, I'm not posting a summary of the talk.
It was similar to the talk I blogged about here - from greece to chicago to
toronto, workers fighting back against austerity - and an extension to an
article I wrote recently: workers doing it for themselves: fighting the
austerit... more »
A Fresh Start With the Boston Globe
"11-year Globe editor Martin Baron to depart; Will take reins at Washington
Post" by Robert Weisman | Globe Staff, November 14, 2012
Martin Baron’s tenure also was marked by deep cuts that plagued the entire
newspaper industry. Steep losses in print advertising, aggravated by the
global financial crisis that began in 2008, prompted the Globe’s parent,
The New York Times Co., to threaten in 2009 to shut down the Boston paper
unless its labor unions agreed to $20 million in concessions. The paper
survived and regained its financial footing, but has endured several rounds
of buyouts ... more »
NIH Study Links Diet Drinks to Depression by Lisa Garber
NIH Study Links Diet Drinks to Depression
by Lisa Garber
Naural Society, 17 January 2013
A new study by the *National Institutes of Health* has linked diet
beverages with heightened risk of depression in older adults.
Researchers surveyed over 260,000 adults aged 50 to 71 in the United States
on their beverage habits. Ten years later, survey responders were asked if
they had been diagnosed with depression. Of those who reported consuming
four or more daily servings of artificially sweetened soda, iced tea, or
fruit drinks, 31 percent had been diagnosed. Twenty-two percent of regu... more »
Obama Tweets 8-Year-Old's Plea to Rally Support...
The president of the United States tweeted a picture of an 8-year-old's
letter pleading for gun control to rally support for the initiatives he
rolled out today at the White House.
"Dear President Obama," the letter reads. "I think there should be some
changes in the law with guns. It's a free country but I recommend there
needs be a limit with guns. Please don't let people own machine guns or
other powerful guns like that. I think there should be a good reason to get
a gun. I think there should be a limit about how many guns a person can
own. We should learn from what happened at ... more »
Gov. Perry: Using Massacre of Children to Advance Agenda 'Disgusts Me'
Gov. Rick Perry released the following statement regarding President
Obama's executive actions:
"The Vice President's committee was appointed in response to the tragedy at
Newtown, but very few of his recommendations have anything to do with what
happened there.
"Guns require a finger to pull the trigger. The sad young man who did that
in Newtown was clearly haunted by demons and no gun law could have saved
the children in Sandy Hook Elementary from his terror.
"There is evil prowling in the world - it shows up in our movies, video
games and online fascinations, and finds its way ... more »
Florida moves to ban drones from spying on citizens...
A Florida Senate panel says police should be banned from using drones to
spy on citizens.
A bill (SB 92) that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from gathering
evidence or other information flew through the Criminal Justice Committee
with a unanimous vote Tuesday.
It also would ban government agencies from using drones for code
enforcement.
http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2013/01/15/fla-senate-panel-votes-to-ban-spying-with-drones/
Google denies Street View car ran over donkey, adds to intrigue
A scene captured by a Google Street View vehicle in Kweneng, Botswana, that
went viral Monday seems to show the car hitting and possibly killing a
donkey on the road.
The scene is still visible on Google Street View: The Google vehicle
appears to come up upon a standing donkey before knocking it over.
But Google has a different version of the incident and insists the animal
is fine.
"Our Street View teams take the safety of people and donkeys very
seriously," Google said in a statement. "A review of our imagery confirms
that we did not cause any harm to the donkey."
http://www.la... more »
Iran Navy to Deploy to Mediterranean
Iran will deploy a fleet of warships to the Mediterranean Sea, Navy chief
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Wednesday.
“The Navy’s 24th fleet of warships will patrol the north of the Indian
Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, Suez Canal and the
Mediterranean Sea for three months and will even sail as far as
southeastern Asian countries,” Sayyari was quoted by Press TV as saying.
The 23rd fleet of warships will return to the country next week, he added.
http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130116/178824364/Iran_Navy_to_Deploy_to_Mediterranean.html
Nationwide Ammo Shortage -- for Cops!
Police departments nationwide are experiencing ammunition shortages,
according to the online law enforcement resource, PoliceOne.com
Sgt. Chris Forrester of the Greer Police Department in South Carolina told
local TV-news channel WSPA-7:
"It's never easy to get ammo, but since the tragedy in Connecticut, it's
become even more difficult."
Forrester says the department began experiencing problems ordering
ammunition a little less than a month ago. "You'll call and they say 'sorry
we're out,' or 'it's on back order,'" he said.
http://cnsnews.com/blog/gregory-gwyn-williams-jr/nationwid... more »
Malicious virus shuttered U.S. power plant -DHS
A computer virus attacked a turbine control system at a U.S. power company
last fall when a technician unknowingly inserted an infected USB computer
drive into the network, keeping a plant off line for three weeks, according
to a report posted on a U.S. government website.
The Department of Homeland Security report did not identify the plant but
said criminal software, which is used to conduct financial crimes such as
identity theft, was behind the incident.
It was introduced by an employee of a third-party contractor that does
business with the utility, according to the agency.
ht... more »
Dappy Guilty Over Forecourt Fight
N-Dubz frontman Dappy has been found guilty of affray and one assault
offence in connection with a brawl at a petrol station.
The rapper had pleaded not guilty to three assault charges following a
fight in a petrol station in which three men suffered serious facial
injuries.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039323/dappy-found-guilty-over-forecourt-fight
Gun industry thrives in face of ban proposal
The stock prices for Smith & Wesson Holding Co. (SWHC) and Sturm, Ruger &
Co. (RGR) rose about 4%. The stock for Sturm, Ruger has risen 13% in the
month since the shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left
20 children and six educators dead.
Retailers that specialize in guns have also done well. The stock price for
Cabela's (CAB) surged 6% on Wednesday and has gained 20% over the last
month. Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS, Fortune 500) notched up slightly, and
has gained 6% over the month.
Obama issued the call for the assault ban as part of a broad response to
the Newto... more »
Obama calls for research on media in gun violence
Hollywood and the video game industry received scant attention Wednesday
when President Barack Obama unveiled sweeping proposals for curbing gun
violence in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.
The White House pressed most forcefully for a reluctant Congress to pass
universal background checks and bans on military-style assault weapons and
high-capacity ammunition magazines like the ones used in the Sandy Hook
Elementary massacre.
No connection was suggested between bloody entertainment fictions and
real-life violence. Instead, the White House is calling on research on ... more »
Obama using gun issue to advance health law
President Obama is using the national debate over gun violence to push for
further action on his health care law, including insisting on the kind of
mental health coverage states must provide under their Medicaid programs.
Mr. Obama, unveiling his gun proposals Wednesday barely a month after the
deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., will make it clear that his
health law, known as the Affordable Care Act, allows doctors to ask
patients whether they have guns in their homes, and will tell them they are
able to report any threats of violence they hear to police.
The president also... more »
Ed Miliband calls for some powers to be clawed back from the EU (but refuses to promise a referendum)
Labour leader Ed Miliband today dramatically backed David Cameron's call
for powers to be clawed back from Brussels, but refused to give voters a
say in a referendum.
As the war of words escalated ahead of the Prime Minister's long-awaited
Europe speech tomorrow, Mr Miliband warned talk of giving voters a say on a
new deal with the European Union risked taking Britain to the edge of the
'economic cliff'.
But he said negotiations should start now on returning key powers on
regional funding and industrial strategy to Westminster.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263441/Ed-Mil... more »
Greece not out of the woods: finance minister
Greece must resist internal political pressure to slow economic reforms in
a year that will dictate whether it avoids bankruptcy, Finance Minister
Yannis Stournaras told Reuters in an interview.
With EU partners starting to praise Greek efforts to exit its worst crisis
in decades and some economic indicators showing fledgling signs of
recovery, demands are increasing on the government to give up crippling
austerity and reforms.
"What scares me is the big pressure from society, media and parliamentary
deputies from all parties to ease the programme.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2... more »
Spanish debt sale lifts euro, German bonds ease
The euro jumped against the dollar and yen on Thursday and safe-haven
German bond prices fell as signs of strong demand at a Spanish debt auction
lifted sentiment toward riskier assets.
Oil prices also gained, though partly from concerns about supplies being
affected by the upsurge in military activity in Algeria and Mali.
But the main focus was on Spain's success in selling 4.5 billion euros ($6
billion) of new bonds at a lower cost than in the previous auction,
signaling growing confidence among investors in the outlook for the
recession-hit euro area.
http://www.reuters.com/art... more »
Europe: Cable Warns Cameron Over 'Gamble'
Business Secretary Vince Cable will later urge the Prime Minister to avoid
a "dangerous gamble" over the UK's future in the European Union.
Ahead of David Cameron's speech on Britain's position in Europe on Friday,
Mr Cable is to reinforce warnings that he could damage the economic
recovery.
The Prime Minister is expected to pledge to negotiate a new settlement with
the EU and then hold a referendum on the UK's membership during the next
parliament.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039234/europe-cable-warns-cameron-over-gamble
Nigeria Hostage Crisis: '20 Foreigners Escape Gunmen' Attackers at an Alg
Gunmen in a stand-off with Algerian forces at a gas compound have
reportedly demanded safe passage with hostages - amid reports that up to 20
foreigners have now escaped.
Thirty Algerian workers have also fled from Islamist attackers, according
to reports.
Extremists locked in a tense stand-off with Algerian forces surrounding the
base were known to be holding several Britons and other Westerners hostage.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039140/hostage-crisis-15-foreigners-escape-gunmen
Je t'aime moi non plus
Do they love each other or the Citroen SM?
Sven Vath ft Miss Kittin From the gearstick fondling at 3:47, I think it
may be the car - good taste!
EMHN 5: Free Trade and Markets in Healthcare
Our regional network, the Emerging Markets Health Network (EMHN) has
published a new book, hooray!
It was formally launched last week, January 11 at the Indian Institute of
Foreign Trade in Calcutta. Among the major arguments of the book are:
* Free trade is a powerful agent of improved health, via higher incomes and
‘knowledge spillovers’
* Asian governments stand to benefit from enormous savings if they properly
open their health sectors to international trade
* Intellectual property provisions within international trade regimes have
little bearing on access to medicines by th... more »
3D Printed Guns Render Gun Control Moot
*January 17, 2013* (LocalOrg-Tony Cartalucci) - Forbes has recently
published an article about New York Congressman Steve Israel's promise to
ban 3D printed high capacity ammunition magazines. The congressman's
comments come after Defense Distributed, an open source DIY gunsmith group
working to manufacture both guns and their accessories using 3D printing
technology, successfully printed and tested a 30-round AR-15 magazine.
Congressman Israel stated:
“Background checks and gun regulations will do little good if criminals can
print high-capacity magazines at home. 3-D printing is... more »
A weapons guide...
http://twitter.com/edwindearborn/status/291786407465336832/photo/1
More Evidence of March 2011 Fukushima Fallout in the US
Majia's Blog - 7 hours ago
Hat Tip: My friend Clyde Stagner found this information.
From: Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station *(PVNGS)*
Units *1, *2, and *3*
Docket Nos. *STN 50-528/5291530*
Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report 2011
Units in pCi/m3
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1213/ML12138A136.pdf
Elevated levels attributed to Fukushima Fallout page 36 of 79
<img alt=""
src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAiEAAADeCAIAAABkLkc1AAAgAElEQVR4nOydeTxV2/v4d3Oi2zzPdZsVaRAi5RKRzEOGIhSSWUoiY0hmMkfJkKSEUuYx8zEfHBwcHPNwjGdYvz/W73u+vnXrg9St+9nvP85rD2uvvfba+6xnrWc9z7MQgIKCgoKC8mNA/ukCoKCgoKD8... more »
Cameron’s European moment has come – a year late
David Cameron should have given his big Europe speech a year ago. Having
just threatened to veto a new EU treaty, he had proved that he was prepared
to aggressively defend Britain’s interests, and he had reassured those in
his party who worried he wasn’t really serious about Euroscepticism. An
address delivered at that point, which was clear about his vision for
Britain’s role in Europe but vague about how he intended to achieve it,
would have received a fair wind. But there was no follow-up. The veto was
left to stand on its own, unconnected to a broader European policy.
There were... more »
Regulators Around the Globe Ground Boeing 787s
Regulators around the globe on Thursday ordered the grounding of Boeing
787s until they can determine what caused a new type of battery to catch
fire on two planes in recent days.
The directives in Japan, Europe and India follow a Federal Aviation
Administration ruling Wednesday that it was grounding the planes operated
by United States carriers.
The decisions are a result of incidents involving a plane parked in Boston
and one in Japan that was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday
morning after an alarm warning of smoke in the cockpit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18... more »
Amityville: Child found dead and the adult who called 911 is missing in the infamous New York village
Detectives on Long Island, New York are investigating the death of a
4-year-old boy in the village of Amityville, following a reported homicide.
Suffolk County police say the unidentified child was found at a home on
Ketcham Avenue at 4pm Wednesday and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital
Medical Center in West Islip where he was pronounced dead shortly before
6pm.
The circumstances surrounding the death are still unclear. Police are
looking for a man who called 911, but was not in the home at the time they
arrived.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263754/A-new-Amityville-ho... more »
Boeing Dreamliners Grounded By Europe
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has ordered airlines to ground
Boeing's 787 Dreamliners over safety fears after an emergency landing in
Japan.
It follows a decision by the US Federal Aviation Administration and two
Japanese airlines to ground all of their 787s after a sixth problem with
the aircraft in less than two weeks.
The planes will be grounded until the risk of possible battery fires is
addressed, a US official said.
http://news.sky.com/story/1038642/boeing-dreamliners-grounded-by-europe
FBI: No credible threats to inauguration
As law enforcement agencies finalize security preparations for Barack
Obama's second inauguration, an FBI official said Tuesday authorities have
"no credible corroborated threats to any of the activities."
Debra Evans Smith, the FBI's acting assistant director in charge of its
Washington field office, said the FBI will have specialized personnel ready
to go to meet any security challenge.
"We will have our SWAT team, pretty much all of our specialty teams will be
available and on standby to include (weapons specialists), our dive team,
our intelligence team -- working around the clo... more »
Moscow suspends Aleppo consulate
The Russian Consulate General in Syria's largest city has suspended
operations, according to Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
"The operations of the Russian Federation's Consulate General in Aleppo
have been suspended," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, the
news agency reported. "Regarding all issues, contact the consular
department of the Russian Embassy in Damascus."
Russia has refused to support U.N. sanctions against Syria, its longtime
ally.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/15/world/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
China's military hawks take the offensive
It was supposed to be a relaxed evening for a group of senior international
military chiefs. Gathered at Melbourne's Crown Casino, they had changed out
of uniform for dinner and discussion.
China's Lieutenant-General Ren Haiquan took the podium in a room
overlooking the Yarra River last October 29 and began diplomatically
enough. But as he neared the end of his speech, he went on the offensive.
"Some people" had ignored the outcome of World War Two and were challenging
the post-war order, he told counterparts from 15 other nations. It was a
pointed reference to Japan's claim over is... more »
Israeli settlement products need EU ban, says human rights report
The European Union must ban produce from Israeli settlements in the West
Bank from entering its markets in order to cut off "a vital source of
revenue which allows settlements to thrive", says a report by the
Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq.
The trade, estimated by the Israeli government to be worth about $300m
(£185m) a year, is "an essential step in the process of reinforcing and
consolidating the settlement enterprise, while simultaneously ensuring the
viability of the entire settlement strategy", according to the report,
Feasting on the Occupation.
It points out th... more »
Official refuses court order to arrest Pakistan PM
Islamabad: Pakistan's anti-corruption chief refused an order by the
country's top court to arrest the prime minister in a graft case on
Thursday, saying he did not have sufficient evidence.
The government and the Supreme Court have repeatedly clashed over the last
year, and the chief justice's demand on Tuesday that Prime Minister Raja
Pervaiz Ashraf be arrested set the stage for a new round of political
crisis in Pakistan, a key US ally in the fight against Islamic militants
and efforts to stabilize neighboring Afghanistan.
Fasih Bokhari, chief of the National Accountability Bureau... more »
EFN Asia 15: Distortions of Welfare Populism
* (This is my article today in thelobbyist.)
As more countries around the world have abandoned socialism and economic
central and embraced the market economy, their economies have progressed
significantly and poverty has been drastically reduced. This is
particularly true in socialist China and Vietnam, and the former Soviet
republics and Eastern Europe.
One result of the free market economy and economic freedom though, is more
inequality among the people. But this is not mainly due to “the poor being
exploited and downtrodden” but rather the efficient and ambitious were
without li... more »
NRA promises 'fight of the century' over Obama's bold gun control plan
Barack Obama mounted the biggest challenge in two decades to America's
deeply ingrained gun culture on Wednesday, announcing a sweeping set of
proposals to ban automatic weapons, limit magazines to 10 bullets,
introduce universal background checks for all firearms buyers and increase
scrutiny of mental health patients.
At a carefully stage-managed White House press conference a month after the
Sandy Hook school massacre, Obama said the US had waited too long to tackle
gun violence and it was time to act.
Flanked by a group of schoolchildren, Obama said: "This is our first task
as a... more »
Obama extends presidential power in bypassing Congress on gun control
During the past two years as his frustration with a "dysfunctional"
Congress has grown, President Barack Obama has resorted to bypassing the
legislative branch as he did on Wednesday to implement tighter gun control
laws.
"Where they won't act, I will," he said in October 2011 as part of a "We
Can't Wait" campaign he launched 10 months after Republicans took over the
U.S. House of Representatives.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-usa-guns-orders-idUSBRE90G06S20130117
Jakarta floods as monsoon soaks Indonesia
People try to get their scooters through monsoonal floodwaters in Jakarta.
Photograph: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Heavy monsoonal rains have triggered severe flooding across the Indonesian
capital, Jakarta, with many government offices and businesses forced to
closed because staff could not get to work. Authorities said four people
were killed and 20,000 had to evacuate.
Weather officials warned the rains could get worse over the next few days
and media reports said that thousands of people in Jakarta and its
satellite cities had been forced to leave their homes because of the
torrential d... more »
Air India grounds all six Dreamliners
Even as Air India on Thursday grounded all its six Boeing-787 Dreamliner
planes after a global directive by US regulator, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), to stop operations of all the 50 such planes
delivered so far to various airlines, Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh
said no Dreamliner would be allowed to fly till it gets clearance from DGCA
and US aviation regulator.
On Wednesday Japan had grounded 24 Dreamliners owned by two of its
airlines-- ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Japan Airlines. Air India followed
the global directive issued by FFA and decided to ground all six... more »
William Hague admits he doesn't know how many UK hostages are held in Algeria
The Foreign Secretary denounced the “cold-blooded murder” of a Briton at a
gas field in Algeria but said the crisis does not appear to be linked to
the French intervention in Mali. Armed Islamists are holding dozens of
hostages at the gas field - which is jointly-operated by BP - including
nationals from the United States, France, Britain, Norway and Japan.
The hostage-takers said were holding dozens of Westerners including French,
British and Japanese citizens, as well as seven Americans in reprisal for
Algeria's cooperation with the French military intervention in Mali.
http://w... more »
London Victoria Station Evacuated After A Train Catches Fire
A fire on board a train has caused major delays at one of London's busiest
railway stations during morning rush hour.
Smoke was seen pouring from the engine of a Gatwick Express train, forcing
officials to evacuate and close Victoria Station.
Fire crews attended and put out the blaze, which was spotted by a commuter
at around 7am.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039192/station-evacuated-after-a-train-catches-fire
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake TAIWAN - 17th January 2013
Magnitude ML 4.8
Region TAIWAN
Date time 2013-01-17 08:30:42.6 UTC
Location 24.46 N ; 121.90 E
Depth 5 km
Distances 17 km S Suao, Taiwan
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake TONGA REGION - 17th January 2013
Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 07:42:39 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 07:42:39 PM at epicenter
Location
22.166°S, 174.429°W
Depth
18.8 km (11.7 miles)
Region
TONGA REGION
Distances
107 km (66 miles) SSE of `Ohonua, Tonga
Sex is Better on Thursday Linkage: Everything you Need to Know about the Suzanne Moore “Trans Scandal”
Brazilian transexual, feminist anger, the ‘arrival’ of the trans lobby, and
a journalist leaving twitter. Did you get it all this week? In case you
didn’t, here’s the summary (without commentary/opinion for now) with all
the links you need: A few days ago Suzanne Moore (a journalist for the
Guardian) wrote a piece on ‘the
Continue reading
4.1 Magnitude Earthquake OFFSHORE EL SALVADOR - 17th January 2013
Magnitude
4.1
Date-Time
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 07:24:36 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 01:24:36 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
13.226°N, 89.942°W
Depth
71.1 km (44.2 miles)
Region
OFFSHORE EL SALVADOR
Distances
41 km (25 miles) SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador
4.3 Magnitude Earthquake HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN - 17th January 2013
Magnitude
4.3
Date-Time
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 07:02:37 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 11:32:37 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
36.708°N, 71.369°E
Depth
176 km (109.4 miles)
Region
HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
Distances
14 km (8 miles) WNW of Ashkasham, Afghanistan
Algeria troops surround militant hostage-takers
Algerian troops have surrounded a gas facility in the east of the country
where foreign workers are being held hostage by Islamist militants.
The kidnappers occupied the complex at In Amenas on Wednesday, after
killing a Briton and an Algerian in an attack on a bus.
Algeria says some 20 foreign nationals are being held hostage, although the
kidnappers say they have 41.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21054521
Facebook Search a Beginning
Facebook is capable of becoming the richest company on Earth. At least I
know just how to make that happen. I am sure that they will also figure it
out sooner or later. In the meantime an effective search engine using the
system's strengths is a pretty good place to begin. The tool can in time
become a driver to participation.
Remember the time that the computer was dying for lack of a killer app?
This one has dragged everyone into the computer age. Remaining holdouts are
all easy converts today as a machine and a Facebook account and they are
inevitably hooked. So ge... more »
Syria's Christians
The serious problem is that transition from authoritarian regimes to the
demos also unleashes nasty sectarian behavior. All minorities provide easy
targets for newly emerging power centers. The problem is surviving the
process until the demos settles down and power seekers must attract votes.
That is often too long and too dangerous and Christian minorities know that
a simple move will end the problem. The truth is that Christians do have an
option.
Otherwise, Islamic minorities do not and worse, the authoritarian regime
often depended on the minority to enforce their wr... more »
Hot New Russian Rocket Fual
This is one huge jump in efficiency and will certainly be quickly adopted.
No other details are available so there is little to add. The cost is also
compelling and I must reasonably consider this fuel as hotter than straight
hydrogen which is unexpected. It may even be stable although that may be a
challenge.
Yes this is an important development if it lives up to this billing. I am
sure the chemical dynamics will be intriguing.
This will also be welcome to the many present rocket developers. We now
have a way to reach high altitude and high speed as an airbreather and ... more »
Strong Case for Childhood Lead Impairment
Let us make it simple. Lead contamination needs to translate into land
abandonment until the land has been cleansed. Society has a strong case to
insist, as it would in the case of building on a mud flat.
Lead is easy enough to test for at the school level and high counts should
lead to immediate intervention that should include chelation if it can
reduce the lead load.
The profile of brain damage is clear and clearly detrimental to the sound
operation of a civil society. It shifts the bell curve downward into
increasing dominance of what is generally described as bad j... more »
RoboConstructions: Del Mastro and the GeoVote
Dean Del Mastro and his $21,000 personal cheque to Frank Hall at Holinshed
Research Group for voter ID/GOTV services are back in the news tonight as McMaher
reports the RCMP are investigating Steve's hapless parliamentary
secretary/RoboCon pointman for his various 2008 election campaign financing
irregularities and their apparent ham-fisted cover-up.
The details were extensively covered back in June, including
Holinshed's lapsed Feb 2 2010 lawsuit against Del Mastro for not being paid
for providing him with a CIMS-like interactive voter-tracking system called
GeoVote, and... more »
Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan profits rise sharply, yay!
that's how the BBC put it this morning,
*"Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan profits rise sharply,"* [source BBC]
now, let's hear how Max Keiser put it: *THAT'S NOT CAPITALISM, THAT'S FRAUD*
Hidden Camera: Border Patrol removes migrant blankets, food, during freezing temps
Border Patrol Agents Remove Blankets, Humanitarian Supplies from Desert Amid Record Low Temperatures in Southern Arizona
By No More Deaths
January 17, 2013
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Tucson, AZ- A hidden camera video released by Tucson-based humanitarian organization No More Deaths
shows an agent of the U.S. Border Patrol removing clean blankets and
food intended
The Redford Tories’ conundrum: Progressive reason versus Conservative passion
They kissed us once. Will they kiss us again? Alas, in Alberta right now,
there’s no way to be cert- cert- certain. Alison Redford chats with a
typical Alberta voter last spring – although, Alberta politicians and their
supporters may not turn out to be exactly as illustrated. Below: The real
Ms. Redford, Finance Minister ... more »
Short comment non-Aboriginal Canadians losing their shit
Just
a short comment, about non-Aboriginal Canada as it bigots and nutters
froth and stonk about.
These people about the rights the Indians have about hunting and taxes,
or they howl about laziness and drinking. And now they go off about the
blocked roads and uppity voices.
Really, they ought be supporting the Ogichidaakwe Spence and Idle No
More because they are Aboriginals and their allies
The tests will survive, even if school doesn't
The US Department of Education reassures the public about funding: The new
tests
will survive, even if school doesn't.
Press Conference held by the US Department of Education.
Published in Language Magazine, January 2013:
http://languagemagazine.com/?page_id=5627
Dolores Umbridge, Assistant Secretary of Education, US Department of
Education, reassured educators and parents today that the huge budget cuts
mandated by the new budget agreement will not harm our children. "The
essentials, the new tests, will remain intact," she announced. "The
Department of Education is firm on its pla... more »
Photos AIM of Michigan helped shut down Ontario/Detroit Bridge
Idle
No More AIM of Michigan helped shut down the bridge from Windsor,
Ontario to Detroit, MI for 3 hours and created 50 miles of traffic.
Photo via AIM of Twin Cities and AIM Patrol Minneapolis
Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323968304578246341144483954.html
By
PAUL VIEIRA
TORONTO—Canadian native groups staged protests
across Canada
Whapmagoostui First Nation youth are trekking 1100 kms to Ottawa
Whapmagoostui First Nation youth are trekking 1100 kms to Ottawa. Idle No More
The Quest of Wisjinichu-Nishiyuu, Quest For Unity
Summary:
4 Youth under the age of 20 with two guides wish to walk to Ottawa and
arrive in Parliament Hill. This is a strong message to prove to other
First Nations across Canada that the Cree Nation of Quebec are not
sellouts, but keepers of the Language,
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION - 17th January 2013
Magnitude M 4.9
Region HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
Date time 2013-01-17 05:13:23.0 UTC
Location 42.28 N ; 142.81 E
Depth 45 km
Distances 37 km E Shizunai, Japan
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta condemns deadly incident in Algeria as 'terrorist attack' and says U.S. will 'take all necessary steps' to get American hostages back
Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday the U.S. 'will take all
necessary and proper steps' to deal with an Islamist attack on a natural
gas field in southern Algeria that has resulted in Americans and other
foreigners taken hostage.
Panetta would not detail what such steps might be, but he condemned the
incident as 'terrorist attack' and likened it to al-Qaida activities in
Pakistan, Afghanistan and in the United States on 9/11.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263725/Defense-Secretary-Leon-Panetta-condemns-deadly-incident-Algeria-terrorist-attack-says-U-S-necessary-st... more »
Kevin McDougal savagely beaten by gang of thugs armed with tire irons and baseball bats
A tourist from Massachusetts was recovering at a New York City hospital
after being brutally beaten by a gang of seven young men armed with a tire
iron and a baseball bat, police today revealed.
Kevin McCarron, 24, from Andover, was battered and stomped unconscious by
the men after an argument in the trendy Greenwich Village neighborhood of
Manhattan early Sunday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263422/Tourist-24-brutally-beaten-tire-irons-bats-New-York-City-neighborhood.html
5.1 Magnitude Earthquake MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES - 17th January 2013
Magnitude M 5.1
Region MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
Date time 2013-01-17 04:58:15.0 UTC
Location 5.95 N ; 124.81 E
Depth 10 km
Distances 4 km NE Lomuyon, Philippines
'Heinous' bomb attack on Syrian university while students sat exams which killed at least 87 people condemned by UN as a 'war crime'
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned an attack at Aleppo
University in Syria that killed scores of students and warned that the
deliberate targeting of civilians was a war crime.
'Such heinous attacks are unacceptable and must stop immediately. All
combating parties in Syria must abide by their obligations under
international humanitarian law,' Ban said in a statement.
'Deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian targets constitutes a war
crime.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263536/Heinous-bomb-attack-Syrian-university-students-sat-exams-killed-87-people-c... more »
We're ready to stand alone! The speech Mr Cameron SHOULD give on Europe ........But Won't!
Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will deliver a long-awaited speech in which
he’s promised to set out his vision for a new relationship between Britain
and Europe. But will it be just another carefully crafted fudge?
Conservative MEP DANIEL HANNAN imagines what Mr Cameron should say...
Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
There are good reasons for a British leader to say what I am about to say
here in the Netherlands. You are, as we are, a trading people, a maritime
people, a people whose enterprise has touched every continent. We are both
European nations; but we both turn our fac... more »
BC Liberals Reap What They Sow, The Movie Business Crying Game
I would find it almost funny if it wasn`t so tragic, I`m talking about the
movie industry and the latest corporate strategy being deployed..
Corporations and lobbyists pitting countries, states and provinces against
each other, a deliberate distortion, a race to the bottom..
Pat Bell 2 weeks ago on Sean Leslie`s radio show stated(I`m paraphrasing
here)..
*I wish each province would have the same tax rate rather than trying to
lowball one another, let every province fend for themselves with equal
taxation...*
Pat Bell was responding to criticism from the film industry over not ... more »
Serial criminals who avoid jail outnumber the prison population: 90,000 with ten or more convictions escape with slap on wrist
More
than 90,000 burglars, muggers and other serious criminals with ten or
more convictions escaped with a slap on the wrist when they committed
another offence last year.
Incredibly, the number of serial law-breakers who avoided a jail
sentence
in this way is greater than the 83,000 inmates currently behind bars.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263618/Serial-criminals-avoid-jail-outnumber-prison-population-90-000-convictions-escape-slap-wrist.html
Up to 70,000 Romanian and Bulgarian migrants a year ‘will come to Britain’ when controls on EU migrants expire
Up to 70,000 Bulgarians and Romanians will travel to Britain each year when
they finally gain open access to the jobs market, a report claims today.
Almost 29million people from the two countries will be free to work in
Britain from the end of this year when temporary controls on new EU
migrants expire.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263661/Up-70-000-Romanian-Bulgarian-migrants-year-come-Britain.html
Larry Goodman: the multi-millionaire behind firm sneaking horse meat into your supermarket
A multi-millionaire beef supplier dubbed ‘Dirty Larry’ is behind the
company that supplied British supermarkets with horse meat contaminated
burgers.
Larry Goodman, 76, is a director of the ABP Food Group which owns the meat
processors Silvercrest Foods in Dublin and Dalepak Foods in Hambleton,
North Yorkshire.
His family owns a sprawling country home on a 700-acre estate in County
Louth, Ireland and property around Europe including a share in the London
headquarters of Goldman Sachs.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263628/Revealed-Dirty-Larry-multi-millionaire-firm-sneak... more »
Flaming hot metal rained down as people ran for their lives, screaming: The moment ten seconds of terror descended on London
It looked like a scene from a disaster movie.
Debris crashing down to the ground. A helicopter cart-wheeling out of
control. Streets and cars set on fire by burning fuel.
One moment a stream of rush-hour traffic was crawling to work in the
fog.
The next, people ran for their lives, screaming in fear, desperately
trying
to find shelter from what one woman described as 'a meteor shower' of
flaming metal raining down.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263632/Flaming-hot-metal-rained-people-ran-lives-screaming-fear-The-moment-seconds-terror-descended-London.html
Floods paralyze Indonesian capital, heavy rains continue
Heavy monsoonal rains triggered severe flooding in large swathes of the
Indonesian capital Jakarta on Thursday, with many government offices and
businesses forced to closed because staff could not get to work.
Weather officials warned the rains could get worse over the next few days
and media reports said that thousands of people in Jakarta and its
satellite cities had been forced to leave their homes because of the
torrential downpours this week.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-indonesia-floods-idUSBRE90G05Q20130117
Sahara hostage siege turns Mali war global
Islamist fighters have opened an international front in Mali's civil war by
taking dozens of Western hostages at a gas plant in the Algerian desert
just as French troops launched an offensive against rebels in neighboring
Mali.
Nearly 24 hours after gunmen stormed the natural gas pumping site and
workers' housing before dawn on Wednesday, little was certain beyond a
claim by a group calling itself the "Battalion of Blood" that it was
holding 41 foreign nationals, including Americans, Japanese and Europeans,
at Tigantourine, deep in the Sahara.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01... more »
Israeli army 'provoked Palestinian teenager and then shot him'
A Palestinian schoolboy killed by Israeli gunfire near the West Bank
separation barrier had been reacting to insults shouted by soldiers with
loudhailers before he was shot, eyewitnesses have said.
The claim contradicts an account given by the Israeli army, which says
16-year-old Samir Awad was shot after cutting through a section of the
security fence as he tried "infiltrate into Israel".
The teenager died on Tuesday after being shot three times. He was hit from
behind as he was running away from Israeli troops in the village of
Boudrous, according to his family. Doctors at Ramalla... more »
CO-06 Shaping Up As A Pivotal Congressional Race For 2014-- Primary Could Pit Ex-Speaker Andrew Romanoff Against Senate Majority Leader Morgan Carroll
Rep. Su Ryden, Sen. Morgan Carroll, Rep. Rhonda Fields
Memorial Day Ceremony in Aurora
Campaign strategists in both political parties agree that-- all things
being equal-- the most endangered incumbents are the ones who win
reelection with less than 50% of the vote, despite all the advantages of
incumbency. It's usually just a matter of the right opponent coming along
before they're history. Every congressional incumbent in Colorado was
reelected in November, despite President Obama's 51-46% win over Romney in
the closely fought swing state. Obama took 26 counties-- including all the ... more »
Warning high street store closures will double
EXPERTS have warned there could soon be as many as 40,000 empty shops on
Scotland's high streets as the collapse of major chains and retailers shows
no sign of ending.
The decline of top brands continued with DVD rental store Blockbuster
following HMV into administration, with the potential loss of 4190 jobs –
300 of them in Scotland. Last week camera chain Jessops closed its stores.
Now some retail analysts say the number of empty shops could double as
chains and independent stores go out of business without fresh ventures to
replace them.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-n... more »
France, Germany and Italy: Terrorists in Mali must go
Europe's largest powers appeared Wednesday to be united in their goal of
removing al Qaeda-linked militants from the West African nation of Mali,
where Islamist rebels are fighting to overthrow Mali's government.
A quarter-million people have fled Mali -- twice the number who have fled
fighting in Syria -- and stirred international fears that Mali will become
Africa's next haven for terrorists.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/16/world/mali-unrest/
U.S., others ground Boeing Dreamliner indefinitely
Europe, Japan and India on Thursday joined the United States in grounding
Boeing Co's 787, a day after a second incident involving battery failure
caused one of the Dreamliner passenger jets to make an emergency landing.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday it would
temporarily ground Boeing's newest commercial airliner and insisted
airlines would have to demonstrate the lithium ion batteries were safe
before they could resume flying. It gave no details on when that might
happen.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-boeing-dreamliner-idUSBRE90F1N8... more »
Algeria troops 'in face-off' with militant hostage-takers
Algerian troops have surrounded a gas facility in the east of the country
where some 20 foreign workers are being held hostage by Islamist militants.
The kidnappers attacked and occupied the complex at In Amenas on Wednesday,
after killing a Briton and an Algerian.
The captives include British, Japanese, US, French and Norwegian nationals.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21054521
Lassa fever kills three in Benue, Nigeria
AT
least three persons, including a medical doctor, were said to have died
of Lassa fever at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Orduen Abunku, who disclosed this
to
journalists in Makurdi yesterday, said the deceased were referred to the
teaching hospital from another hospital, maintaining that clinical
suspicion indicated that the ailment might be Lassa fever.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=110686:lassa-fever-kills-three-in-benue&catid=1:national&Itemid=559
Family Jailed In Egypt For Becoming Christian and changed their names
A mother and her seven children have been jailed for 15 years in Egypt for
converting back to Christianity.
Nadia Mohamed Ali and her children Mohab, Maged, Sherif, Amira, Amir and
Nancy were sentenced at the criminal court in Beni Suef, 70 miles south of
Cairo.
Another seven people involved in the case were also sentenced to five years
in prison, according to reports.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039122/family-jailed-in-egypt-for-becoming-christian
Manti Te'o 'DUPED' into thinking Twitter girlfriend was real in elaborate prank by cruel 'cast of characters' who made him believe she died nine months into their 'relationship'
The heart-breaking story of a college football star who helped his team
battle to the championship game after his girlfriend died of leukaemia has
been unveiled as a hoax.
The story of linebacker Manti Te'o captured national attention and has been
described as "the inspiring story of the college football season".
http://news.sky.com/story/1039110/college-football-star-in-dead-girlfriend-hoax
Jordan Cobb Missing From Ferry: Police Find Body
Police searching for a missing teenager who leapt from a ferry on his way
to a New Year's Eve party have found a body.
Jordan Cobb is believed to have jumped from the front of the vessel for a
£100 bet.
The 16-year-old was travelling from Plymouth to a party in Torpoint,
Cornwall, with a group of friends.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039085/teen-missing-from-ferry-police-find-body
Boeing Dreamliners Grounded By US and Japan
US federal officials have ordered American airlines to ground Boeing's 787
Dreamliners over safety fears after an emergency landing in Japan.
The decision by the Federal Aviation Administration follows the
announcement by two Japanese airlines that they have grounded all of their
787s after a sixth problem with the aircraft in less than two weeks.
The planes will be grounded until the risk of possible battery fires is
addressed, the US official has said.
http://news.sky.com/story/1038642/boeing-dreamliners-grounded-by-us-and-japan
Horse Meat Burgers: FSA Threatens Legal Action
The UK food watchdog is considering whether legal action should be taken
against companies at the centre of the scandal over horse meat found in
beef burgers.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it would consult relevant local
authorities and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) before making a
decision to take action.
http://news.sky.com/story/1039115/horse-meat-burgers-fsa-threatens-legal-action
Algeria: 'Several Brits Held Hostage, One Killed'
Several Britons have been taken hostage - and one UK national killed - in a
terrorist attack at a gas field in Algeria, according to Sky sources.
An Islamist militant group has claimed to have kidnapped up to 41 foreign
nationals - including seven Americans and an Irishman - in a dawn raid on
the gas facility part-operated by BP, Algerian state oil company Sonatrach,
and Norway's Statoil in Algeria.
It claims to have repelled an attempt by Algerian soldiers to enter the
facility, forcing them to retreat after an exchange of gunfire.
http://news.sky.com/story/1038832/algeria-several... more »
4.5 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN PERU - 17th January 2013
Magnitude
4.5
Date-Time
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 02:04:37 UTC
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 09:04:37 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
15.021°S, 70.871°W
Depth
21.6 km (13.4 miles)
Region
SOUTHERN PERU
Distances
33 km (20 miles) WSW of Ayaviri, Peru
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION - 16th January 2013
Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 23:32:47 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 08:32:47 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
42.313°N, 144.706°E
Depth
25.7 km (16.0 miles)
Region
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
Distances
78 km (48 miles) SSE of Kushiro, Japan
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 16th January 2013
Magnitude
4.2
Date-Time
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 23:25:03 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 09:25:03 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.047°S, 144.715°E
Depth
87.1 km (54.1 miles)
Region
NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
101 km (63 miles) NNE (31°) from Mount Hagen, New Guinea, PNG
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA - 16th January 2013
Magnitude
4.6
Date-Time
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 22:41:35 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 05:41:35 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
11.583°S, 112.464°E
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
Distances
352 km (218 miles) S of Krajan Tambakrejo, Indonesia
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES - 16th January 2013
Magnitude
4.9
Date-Time
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 21:44:48 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 05:44:48 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
6.514°N, 126.536°E
Depth
52 km (32.3 miles)
Region
MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
Distances
43 km (26 miles) ENE of Pondaguitan, Philippines
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 16th January 2013
Magnitude
4.7
Date-Time
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 21:22:40 UTC
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 07:22:40 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
5.780°S, 149.041°E
Depth
149.8 km (93.1 miles)
Region
NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances
74 km (45 miles) NW of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea
Citing academic literature, NRA calls for proliferation of weapons for children of all ages
The Canard “All the fake news that’s fit to print” I feel the need to make
a disclaimer here. If you think I am trying to get a tasteless laugh out of
a tragic situation, you are incorrect. I have made my views about the gun
lobby known here. In light of recent NRA proposals
Continue reading
Bruce Melton : World Bank on Climate: 'Turn Down the Heat'
Glacier
melt. Photo by Dave Appleby / Flickr / Truthout.
Is it really this bad?
World Bank on climate:
'Turn down the heat'
Instead of working on climate pollution emissions reductions, we are now
emitting more than was imagined in the 1998 worst-case scenario.
By Bruce Melton / Truthout / January 17, 2013See Bruce Melton's writing
about climate change on The Rag Blog.
Mega reports on
Here Are The Changes That The Harper Conservatives Hid In Their Huge 'Omnibus Bill' That Spawned 'Idle No More'
One of the first questions that people ask about the *Idle No More
movement*is what the movement is all about. While the historical
injustices
experienced by First Nations are too many to list, activists say the
current government is pushing through a range of new bills that violate
treaty rights.
"Never in history has there been so many bills regarding and impacting
First Nations been pushed through the House of Commons at one time,"
*Idle
No More Bill Breakdown, *a document released by activists, reads. Below
is
an excerpt adapted from the document, outlining the eight bills and
... more »
Zander Still Making Sweet Music
After discord, harmonious encore for Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander, one of Boston’s most prominent classical music figures, is
back leading a youth orchestra. Watching him now, one could find it hard to
imagine that less than a year ago, his four-plus decades at New England
Conservatory came to an ugly end.
*
**Also see: **Boston Globe Lullaby*
*
**Good night, readers. I thought we could just skip the* *bedtime stories,
but if you want me to would you like me to **read you one** I will. *
Iran Navy to Deploy to Mediterranean
Iran will deploy a fleet of warships to the Mediterranean Sea, Navy chief
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Wednesday.
“The Navy’s 24th fleet of warships will patrol the north of the Indian
Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, Suez Canal and the
Mediterranean Sea for three months and will even sail as far as
southeastern Asian countries,” Sayyari was quoted by Press TV as saying.
http://en.rian.ru/military_news/20130116/178824364.html
Rupert Sheldrake - The Rise of Shamanism
"The Shamanic impulse and the Shamanic experience is probably far older
than that of institutional or organized religions. And it's this direct
experience which I think is at the heart of all religion and all religious
insight. And that's the starting point I think for all kinds of religion
and it can be continually renewed through personal experience. And it's
being renewed again today." - Rupert Sheldrake. [5:25 - 5:57 in the video
below].
YouTube Video Description [Channel - heartofthehealer]:
Rupert Sheldrake, one of the worlds most innovative biologists, is best
known for h... more »
Gregg Kalina On Charles Giuliani's Truth Hertz Radio, Wednesday, January 16th, 2013
My friend, Gregg Kalina, also known as Youtube user, "pt1gard", appeared on
Charles Giuliani's Truth Hertz internet radio show this morning
(www.oraclebroadcasting.com), to discuss his latest findings on the Apollo
moon hoax, his book he is writing, and the Sandy Hook hoax. I have the
link to that show right here for everyone to listen for themselves:
http://mp3.oraclebroadcasting.com/Truth_Hertz/Truth_Hertz.2013-01-16_16k.mp3
NTS Notes: Yes, that was me that called in during the first hour of the
show to give my own assertions and views on the entire Sandy Hook shooting
fraud. ... more »
U.S. MILITARY CHIEF CONFIRMS ISRAEL UNABLE TO STRIKE ISRAEL ‘UNILATERALLY’
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said that it would be impossible for
Israel to unilaterally attack Iran. Any such attack would require the full
support of the US. Israel needs America’s resources to supply fuel for such
a raid as well as ordnance, intelligence and back-up support to counter any
Iranian retaliation given that, unlike Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007, Iran
will not accept an attack by Israel on its nuclear facilities lying down.
*Arutz Sheva*, a right-wing Israeli newspaper, reported that former US
military chief Admiral William Fallon has confirmed that Israel w... more »
The Realist Report Hosted By John Friend, For Monday, January 14th, 2013
I want to present the latest edition of the Realist Report over the Truth
Militia Radio Network (www.truthmilitia.com) hosted by John Friend (
www.johnfriendsblog.blogspot.com) for Monday, January 14th, 2013 for
everyone to listen for themselves. On this edition, John has DC Dave
Martin as his special guest, and it is indeed very informative listening...
Here is the link to that show right here:
http://blogtalk.vo.llnwd.net/o23/show/4/265/show_4265967.mp3
NTS Notes: A great show overall, and I am glad to see that Buelahman from
"Buelahman's Revolt" (www.buelahman.wordpress.com) was... more »
Scientists Get Too Honest About Methods on Twitter
Source: Newsy.
By Design: French Mali Invasion Spills into Algeria
*January 17, 2013* (LD-Tony Cartalucci) - Exactly as predicted, the ongoing
French "intervention" in the North African nation of Mali has spilled into
Algeria - the next most likely objective of Western geopolitical interests
in the region since the successful destabilization of Libya in 2011.
In last week's "France Displays Unhinged Hypocrisy as Bombs Fall on Mali"
report, it was stated specifically that:
"As far back as August of 2011, Bruce Riedel out of the corporate-financier
funded think-tank, the Brookings Institution, wrote "Algeria will be next
to fall," where he gleeful... more »
Kayaking Away From the Boston Globe
"Priceline makes a $1.8 billion deal for Kayak" by Katie Johnston and Michael
B. Farrell | Globe Staff, November 08, 2012
Kayak Software Corp., the New England company known for its *quirky office
culture and colorful executives* as well as its speedy travel searches,
will be *acquired* by Priceline.com Inc. *for $1.8 billion* in cash and
stock, the companies said Thursday.
The merger, if approved by shareholders, would join two of the best-known
brands for booking hotels, rental cars, and airline tickets over the
Internet. The deal would help Priceline build its US market, anal... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Where the Stars and Moon Play”
2002, “Where the Stars and Moon Play”
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWa26yCRIlI
"The First Principle..."
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself-
and you are the easiest person to fool."
- Richard P. Feynman
"A Look to the Heavens, With Chet Raymo"
"Now is a good time to go looking for the constellation Fornax, the
Furnace, especially if you are as far south as I am, here on the Tropic of
Cancer. Except there's not much to go looking for. Two or three stars of
the 4th or 5th magnitude, which means you won't see anything at all unless
you have a clear, dark night, just a bare bend in the river Eridanus, which
itself is nothing much to look at. When we peer into Fornax, we are looking
down out of the pancake-shaped Milky Way Galaxy, away from the most
exciting star-rich parts of the sky for visual observers.
But if you have a... more »
President Obama lays down the gun law
[Charles Dharapak photo]
Quite a day at the White House. Our President schooled Congress on how
governance is done. Barack Obama showed some breathtaking leadership in a
presser where he made very clear he is tired of trying to reason with high
stakes grifters who callously misinform gullible people for their own
profit.
Obama even pointedly quoted Ronald Reagan before he laid out his executive
actions to reduce gun violence. Think Progress translates the legalese into
the real world effects of Obama's executive actions. And provides the best
quote:
The President referenced one... more »
Closing the Book on the Boston Globe
*Doing my best catching up*:
"Image drove Red Sox owners, Terry Francona laments; Former Sox manager
says marketing trumped winning" by Peter Abraham | Globe Staff, January
16, 2013
Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner wanted *“sexy” players* to boost
the team’s waning television ratings after its disappointing third-place
finish in 2010, according to former manager Terry Francona, a desire that
led to the acquisition of new stars, huge contracts, and ultimately the *historic
collapse* of September 2011.
The ownership group commissioned a *$100,000 study* by an outside
consu... more »
Mohawk Nation News 'Awakening, 150 Million Murdered Indigenous'
MNN: AWAKENING, 150 MILLION MURDERED INDIGENOUS
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com
Posted on January 16, 2013
MNN: AWAKENING, 150 MILLION MURDERED INDIGENOUS
MNN. Jan. 16, 2013. Calling out from the earth to us Indigenous
people are 150 million of our men, women, children and babies who were
murdered by the white race for our lands.
Did Justice Thomas shed some light on why he may have been such an unappealing hire?
*In court or out, Justice Thomas enjoys a good laugh*: *It's possible that,
as the justice has always insisted, disdain for beneficiaries of
affirmative action made him such a difficult hire coming out of Yale Law
School. Or it's possible that there were other factors.*
*by Ken*
This is why it's so valuable to have media surrogates who patrol their
beats.
I expect that, like me, you heard the story of Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas breaking his famous open-court silence the other day,
allowing his voice to be heard, albeit briefly, for the first time since
2006. And I'll b... more »
"To Endure Oneself..."
"To endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe. You cannot hire a wise man or any other intellect to solve it for you. There's no writ of inquest or calling of witness to provide answers. No servant or disciple can dress the wound. You dress it yourself or continue bleeding for all to see." - Frank Herbert
Posts
