Fort McMurray and the Oil Sands (Photo credit: Gord McKenna)
English: Aerial view of Fort McMurray. (From top to bottom: downtown, Grant MacEwan bridge over the Athabasca River, Thickwood) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: Alberta Hwy 63, North of Fort McMurray. Facing south. Looking down to hill called "Supertest", long 7% grade, hard on heavy bigrigs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Strange but true: With all these outbursts of gun violence, the NRA may not have to bother with recruiting drives
Anyone who says that there is anything unsettled or unknown or unclear about the relation between gun control and gun violence is either lying or ignorant, or both. Many things in our social life are complicated and multivalent; this one is not. Guns do not protect people, or families. Any anecdote that can be mined to claim that they do -- and many of those stories evaporate on probing -- is overwhelmed hundreds of times over by the number of well-documented accidents, suicides, and domestic disputes turned into murderous occasions produced by the presence of a gun at homes. A g... more »
"It Seems To Me..."
“It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas… If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you… On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones.” - Carl Sagan
Cut Off
It's been an interesting past 48 hours here in Wood Buffalo, with nasty weather and deplorable driving conditions. Things got so bad that Highway 63, along with a few other northern roads, were closed to traffic. I recall reading that at one point, police had responded to as many as 60 vehicle mishaps. Considering how many potential hospitalizations that could have potentially been, the decision to close 63 was a smart one and, as McMurray Musings rightly notes, we can't very well bitch about it. While Highway 881 provides a secondary link, it isn't designed to carry great volume... more »
Friday Baseball Post
RIP to two great Hall of Famers, Stan Musial and Earl Weaver. On Musial...I don't have much to say other than the obvious. I've always thought that Albert Pujols was the modern-day comp for him: came into the league hitting, and just never stopped. As good as they come, an obvious inner circle HOFer. Weaver? Great, great, manager. I'm always interested in managerial families. Weaver's first Orioles team produced two great ones: Davey Johnson, who for my money is the best of his generation, and Frank Robinson, who is an underappreciated manager (take a look at what he did with what ... more »
Conflict in the Congo: Geopolitics of Plunder
*January 20, 2013* (excerpt from Nile Bowie's Congo’s M23 conflict: Rebellion or Resource War?) - It must be recognized that Kagame controls a vastly wealthy and mineral-rich area of eastern Congo – an area that has long been integrated into Rwanda’s economy – with total complicity from the United States. As Washington prepares to escalate its military presence throughout the African continent with AFRICOM, the United States Africa Command, what long-term objectives does Uncle Sam have in the Congo, considered the world’s most resource-rich nation? Washington is crusading against C... more »
George Steiner on the incompleteness of life
"We need a renaissance of wonder. We need to renew, in our hearts and in our souls, the deathless dream, the eternal poetry, the perennial sense that life is miracle and magic." - E. Merrill Root. "I had some intuitive sense that in life and in the substance of the world there was a strangeness which would always defy and even mock our attempts at understanding." - George Steiner.
Want a Drink of Water - Grab Your Water ATM Prepay Card
Last week I posted a blog entry where in a video clip the President of Nestle’ talking about the free market. This video is an example (if the close captioning is correct) of the extremist views held by corporations who hold a free market philosophy. Access to water is not your right believing you have a right to water - is an extreme belief Water is a raw material and a "foodstuff" that should be privatized and commercialized. The conclusion I drew from that video was: This video is an example of the extremist free mark... more »
Why are states not required to submit the names of all people who need antipsychotic medication to the NICS?
A story today by John Bentley, Paul Bogosian and Phil Hirschkorn on the CBS News website outlines some of the faults in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, known as NICS, when it comes to reporting the names of mentally ill people. The story does not get into the fact that 40 percent of all gun sales are private transactions, and none of those require any background check at all. Since 1998, when the FBI launched the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, known as NICS, the database has grown to include the names of more than 8.3 million people proh... more »
Sunday Globe Special: Put the Blame on Plame, Boys!
"Pentagon threatens suit against Navy SEAL who wrote bin Laden book" by Elisabeth Bumiller and Julie Bosman | New York Times, September 01, 2012 WASHINGTON — Bissonnette’s lawyer, Robert D. Luskin, represented Karl Rove when Rove, then a top adviser to President George W. Bush, was under investigation for his role in the leak of the name of Valerie Plame Wilson, a former undercover CIA operative. After months of maneuvering between Luskin and the prosecutor in the case, Patrick Fitzgerald, Luskin announced in June 2006 that no charges would be filed against Rove.... It is unclear ... more »
Musical Interlude: Vangelis, “Fields of Coral”
Vangelis, “Fields of Coral” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad1wFWdmZUs
Man Outsources Job to China
This is not Bob. Photo courtesy: Yahoo!News A Verizon case study recently revealed that some people will go to great lengths in order to be able to watch cat videos all day. We first heard about it on TNW. The study documents the scam of a developer, who is referred to as Bob. He worked at a "critical infrastructure" company in the U.S. and started outsourcing his work to China underneath his company's nose, and would only pay those people less than one fifth of his six-figure salary. Here's how it was possible. Bob's company had started letting employees work remotely from home o... more »
WiFi + USB Drive = Your Own Mini-Internet (Freedom)
*Editor's Note: There seems to be some confusion over the concept of the PirateBox. The entire point is not to be connected to the controlled, restricted, & monopolized Internet, and begin using local alternatives leveraging technology to go around draconian laws and regulations. * * * *A PirateBox is the smallest, but easiest way to connect with others locally and wirelessly,as well as anonymously, without connecting at all to the Internet. It is the first step to building larger local mesh networks, and eventually a parallel Internet built using mesh architecture designed, maintain... more »
Shots fired on gun appreciation day
On this date in history, angry Second Amendment absolutists organized a collective action to show solidarity for their cause -- Gun Appreciation Day. A day to show the world they are many. They are strong. They are armed with cash and high-caliber firearms. And they are *not* afraid to use them. Shots were literally fired. So far we know five people were shot accidentally at three different gun shows today. Three of the gunshot victims were at one show, at a safety checkpoint for private sellers. Sounds like something that might happen at a fly-by-night flea market, not so much lik... more »
Sunday Globe Special: Women Hate War
"Women’s military roles slow to evolve; Little interest in front-line action" by Pauline Jelinek | Associated Press, January 06, 2013 WASHINGTON — If or when the Pentagon lets women become infantry troops — the country’s front-line warfighters — how many women will want to? The answer is probably not many.... In fact, the Marines asked women last year to go through its tough infantry officer training to see how they would fare. Only two volunteered and both failed to complete the fall course. None has volunteered for the next course this month. The failure rate for men is roughly ... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“A gaze across a cosmic skyscape, this telescopic mosaic reveals the continuous beauty of things that are. The evocative scene spans some 6 degrees or 12 Full Moons in planet Earth's sky. At the left, folds of red, glowing gas are a small part of an immense, 300 light-year wide arc. Known as Barnard's loop, the structure is too faint to be seen with the eye, shaped by long gone supernova explosions and the winds from massive stars, and still traced by the light of hydrogen atoms. *Click image for larger size. * Barnard's loop lies about 1,500 light-years away roughly centered on ... more »
Chet Raymo, “Backwards Or Forwards”
*“Backwards Or Forwards”* by Chet Raymo “If you wanted to divide humankind into two categories, none might be more relevant to the present state of the world than 1) those who look to the authority of the past, and 2) those who put their hope in the future. In the first category are those who give their conceptual and intellectual allegiance to ancestors, holy books, tradition, or venerable prophets. In the second category are the children of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment. The idea of progress was pretty much an invention of 17th-century Europe. Not that the intell... more »
Why Are Virtually All The News Sources Covering Up Slavery In Mali?
A few days ago I posted about Mali on my travel blog again. I've been covering their civil war on the travel blog because I spent time in the country a few years ago and have been writing about it ever since. Not many Americans had ever even heard of it-- let alone gone there-- until this year. But another old friend of mine, Rick Streicker, who worked as an attorney at Warner Bros when I was there, had also been there and left this post on my Facebook page. The whole race/slavery angle is shockingly evident the minute you set foot in northern Mali even if you haven't read the h... more »
"Remember..."
"Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck." - The Dalai Lama
The Daily "Near You?"
Bolton, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by.
[Video] Going to Tehran: Prospects for U.S.-Iranian Engagement
*Leveretts Discuss Going to Tehran at the Carnegie Council:* "To offer an in-depth presentation of the key drivers underlying *Going to Tehran*, we appeared in New York at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs this week. A transcript and edited video and audio recordings will be available on the Carnegie Council Web site soon. In the meantime, for an unedited video of the event, including both our presentation and the subsequent discussion with the audience, click here." Video streaming by Ustream
The Poet: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, "What If?"
*"What If?"* "What if you slept? And what if, In your sleep You dreamed? And what if, In your dream, You went to heaven And there plucked A strange and Beautiful flower? And what if, When you awoke, You had the flower In your hand? ... Ah, what then?" - Samuel Taylor Coleridge
80 percent of Australia’s Warrumbungle National Park incinerated
[image: Charred trees in the Warrumbungle National Park, 19 January 2013. 80 percent of the heritage listed Warrumbungle National Park near Coonabarabran has been destroyed by the most destructive fire in more than a decade. Photo: Jacky Ghossein] By Tim Barlass 20 January 2013 The impact of the Coonabarabran fires is revealed in a startling new map obtained from the Rural Fire Service. Overlaying the heritage-listed Warrumbungle National Park with the area devastated by fire shows the nature reserve to be almost obliterated. Only a small area in the south-west of the park, the j... more »
Mercury emissions threaten aquatic environments – ‘It was amazing how fast the mercury got into the fish’
[image: Fishing boat in Ilulissat, Greenland, 2 July 2008. Greenlanders are highly exposed to mercury because their diet is almost completely reliant on contaminated marine life. Photo: Kristine Riskær / flickr] By Brian Bienkowski, Environmental Health News 18 January 2013 (Scientific American) – As United Nations delegates end their mercury treaty talks today, scientists warn that ongoing emissions are more of a threat to food webs than the mercury already in the environment. At the same time, climate change is likely to alter food webs and patterns of mercury transport in place...more »
Melt ponds cause Artic sea ice to melt more rapidly – ‘Climate change will permit more sunlight to reach the Arctic Ocean’
[image: Melt pond on Arctic sea ice. Photo: Stefan Hendricks / Alfred Wegener Institute] Bremerhaven, 15 January 2013 (AWI) – The Arctic sea ice has not only declined over the past decade but has also become distinctly thinner and younger. Researchers are now observing mainly thin, first-year ice floes which are extensively covered with melt ponds in the summer months where once metre-thick, multi-year ice used to float. Sea ice physicists at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), have now measured the light transmission through the Arc... more »
Why Mali? France Launches War In Mali In Bid To Secure Resources And Stamp Out National Rights Struggles
With all the news here in Canada and the United States still focused on the aftermath of the fake Sandy Hook elementary school "shooting", there has definitely been much news happening elsewhere. We are seeing a new "War for Resources" opening up in the western African nation of Mali, that has many people scratching their heads, and wondering for themselves... Why Mali? To help answer the "why" for this latest invasion by the criminals in NATO, especially France and the United States, into the impoverished and helpless nation of Mali, I want to turn to the following article that co... more »
"Mars Covered In Oceans Of Water: How The Red Planet Might Have Looked Billions Of Years Ago"
* "Mars Covered In Oceans Of Water: * *How The Red Planet Might Have Looked Billions Of Years Ago"* by Tibi Puiu "Using combined imagery delivered by the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) and recent color channel data, the European Space Agency has recently discovered the vestiges of an ancient river that used to flow through Mars’ highlands. The river is 1,000 miles long and at some points 4 miles wide and 1,000 feet deep. *Click image for larger size.* The images are simply stunning and it’s enough to catch a glimpse for imagination to take care of the rest. A stunn... more »
"Stress..."
"Stress is caused by being ‘here’ but wanting to be ‘there’." - Eckhart Tolle
This Is Outrageous: Kindergarten Student In USA Labeled As "Terrorist Threat" After Toy Bubble Gun Threat (!)
First, I had already informed my readership that I would be taking more time this last week in taking care of personal and family business. It has indeed been a hectic week for me, and therefore little time to do much work in this blog. I want to thank everyone for their continued support and their patience. Everything should be back to normal hopefully by next week..... With the continuing clamp down on American rights and freedoms by the criminals in their own government, we have seen some pretty outrageous acts against American citizens for the most trivial and laughable acti... more »
Incompetent Assassin Gets The Shit Kicked Out of Him
Go *here* to read the story.
What Would You Create If You Had What You Need?
From: Palmi Subject: Hello my belowed lightworker Date: January 19, 2013 9:06:29 AM PST Thank you so much for all your work regarding our new world. I´m not sure what I want to do with this but I somehow felt that I needed to write this to help people better understand what we are going through. I live in Iceland and I sure I am on this planet for a good reason like yourself and that I´m trying to think about how one can contribute to our efforts in getting the message out to the rest of the world and what we should DO in the near future. It´s important for people to start realiz... more »
Grassroots Natives end century of censorship in Indian country
The people bring an end to a century of media control and censorship Six Nations shut down developer Jan. 15. Photo Wesley Elliott By Brenda Norrell Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com TUCSON -- Grassroots First Nations and Native Americans delivered a final blow to a century of censorship in Indian country this week, as they provided their own news coverage. The news that was
Help Ontario wildlife . . .
DALTON'S DASTARDLY DEMONS are at it again. The David Suzuki Foundation has a fine blog, with a post by Jode Roberts, "Driving a hole through Ontario's Endangered Species Act". Seems that some trolls in the Ministry of Natural Resources are proposing that a lot of protection should evaporate. Click on the link to help. Unfortunately, last month the Ministry quietly put out a notice that they
Scotland Avalanche: Four Climbers Killed
Four people have been killed and a woman is seriously hurt after a group of six climbers were caught up in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands. Emergency services were alerted to the accident on Bidean Nam Bian, in Glencoe, at about 2pm and a major search operation involving two mountain rescue teams and police dogs was launched. Northern Constabulary said four people, two men and two women, were found and have since been pronounced dead. http://news.sky.com/story/1040289/scotland-avalanche-four-climbers-killed
President Obama takes a stand for D.C.
I imagine there was a good reason for it once, but this is 2013. It feels like it's long past time for the District of Columbia to have fair representation in Congress and unrestricted self-governance. So I was happy to see President Obama put this plate on his president limo. [Susan Walsh photo/AP] President Obama’s motorcade sported “Taxation Without Representation” license plates for the first time on Saturday. [...] The White House decision earlier this week to use the license plates was considered a victory for D.C. statehood advocates. Obama had avoided using the plates du... more »
OPPT: Individual UCC Filing Templates with Tutorial
Here's a list of individual UCC filing templates as compiled by Paula Humfrey and Desmond Grundy. Desmond has also created a nice concise summary of how to use these documents. I know a lot of you have been asking how to use these documents, and frankly I didn't know what to tell you other than get the questions to people who can answer them. I am not a lawyer. But there are a number of very bright people coming to the fore who are knowledgeable in this area of UCC law. Below is a very good synopsis of what the OPPT has done... *Another reader wrote: *On Jan 18, 2013, at... more »
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake FYR OF MACEDONIA - 19th January 2013
Magnitude M 4.2 Region FYR OF MACEDONIA Date time 2013-01-19 21:49:19.0 UTC Location 40.98 N ; 21.18 E Depth 10 km Distances 8 km S Capari
Adolf Hitler Calls Out the British (Jew) War Mongers, War Criminals and War Profiteers
Just a reminder: I'll be discussing Adolf Hitler, National Socialist Germany, and WWII with Jim Condit, Jr. this Monday at 6pm PST on *The Realist Report with John Friend* on Truth Militia Radio. Be sure to tune in if you can!
How Does Congressional Gerrymandering Manifest Itself? Take Pennsylvania For Example
Pennsylvania has 18 congressional districts and the Republican-controlled legislature carved them up in such a way as to create 5 Democratic seats and 13 Republican seats, despite Pennsylvania having more Democratic voters than Republican voters. Obama took 2,990,274 votes in November (52%) and Romney took 2,680,434 (47%). Obama only won a dozen of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, but he won the big ones with the most population: *•* Philadelphia- 1,526,006 *•* Allegheny- 1,223,348 *•* Montgomery- 799,874 *•* Bucks- 625,249 *•* Delaware- 558,979 *•* Lehigh- 349,497 *•* Luzerne- 320,918... more »
America's Mental Health Epidemic - Assault Rifles
I am a gun owner. I own two rifles. They are both single-shot rifles. One is a hunting rifle although I use it for predator protection. The other is a .22 rifle for plinking down at the local range. I do not own a semi-automatic rifle of any description, which means either a semi-automatic hunting rifle or an assault rifle like an AK-47 or an AR-15, the weapon of choice in American massacres. It's hard to keep track of what weapons are legal in Canada and what are prohibited. Mine are what are called "non-restricted" firearms. As a general rule, handguns and some military-t... more »
"The ‘Busy’ Trap"
*"The ‘Busy’ Trap"* By Tim Kreider “If you live in America in the 21st century you’ve probably had to listen to a lot of people tell you how busy they are. It’s become the default response when you ask anyone how they’re doing: “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.” It is, pretty obviously, a boast disguised as a complaint. And the stock response is a kind of congratulation: “That’s a good problem to have,” or “Better than the opposite.” Notice it isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the I.C.U. or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs who tell you how busy the... more »
Monsignor Meth
Rather refreshing to see a Catholic church sex scandal that isn't about pedophilia. This one is consensual activity between adults all the way. Cross-dressing meth priest liked sex in rectory: The Catholic priest busted for allegedly dealing crystal meth was suspended after church officials discovered he was a cross-dresser who was having sex in the rectory at Bridgeport's St. Augustine Cathedral. [...] In his post-priesthood, Wallin, 61, bought an adult specialty and video store in North Haven called Land of Oz that sells sex toys and X-rated DVDs. Investigators believe the shop h... more »
The Economy: “Ending Up Like The Joneses…”
*“Ending Up Like The Joneses…”* by Simon Black “There’s a funny take on the Fiscal Cliff floating around the Internet that several of our keen subscribers have passed along. Like most things floating around the Internet, though, the details are inaccurate. So I’ve gone back and modified the parody with accurate numbers, and a bit more plot. What follows is 100% accurate based on 2012/2013 data: • 2012 US Tax Revenue: $2,469,000,000,000 • 2012 Federal budget: $3,796,000,000,000 • 2012 Budget deficit: $1,327,000,000,000 • US Federal Debt as of January 18, 2013: $16,4... more »
Thank You Rick Nolan - Exposing Congressional Lack of Work Ethic
I have written about this often on this blog. Maybe - we need to bring back legislators that know how the US Congress is suppose to be. Legislators like recently re-elected Rick Nolan from Minnesota - who tells America how it is. If people choose not to listen to bloggers - maybe they will listen to an actual Congressional member. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Study: Good bacteria in the intestine prevent diabetes,
This new field of medicine is amazing.... Good bacteria in the intestine prevent diabetes, study suggests Seed Newsvine
Satire: "Fox News to Shut Down for Routine Maintenance Monday Morning at 11:30"
*"Fox News to Shut Down for Routine * *Maintenance Monday Morning at 11:30"* by Andy Borowitz NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)— "Fox News Channel announced today that it would shut down for what it called “routine maintenance” Monday morning at 11:30 E.T. Fox News president Roger Ailes explained the timing of the shutdown, which will be the first in the history of the network: “We wanted to pick a time when we were positive nothing would be happening that our viewers would want to see.” Mr. Ailes said that Fox had considered shutting down only once before, exactly four years earl... more »
Farage: UK stuck in shrinking, old-fashioned Europe
Sign this petition to allow UKIP to take part in the 2015 TV election debates: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43153
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE - 19th January 2013
Magnitude M 4.7 Region ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE Date time 2013-01-19 19:20:44.5 UTC Location 23.52 S ; 69.30 W Depth 76 km Distances 112 km E Antofagast, Chile
The Strange Confluence of Right and Left
This is a fascinating glimpse into the chaotic directions of our imploding Empire...with Hedges on conspiracy theorists: "The worse it gets the less people can confront it".
4.4 Magnitude Earthquake WEST CHILE RISE - 19th January 2013
Magnitude M 4.4 Region WEST CHILE RISE Date time 2013-01-19 19:03:25.1 UTC Location 36.99 S ; 96.25 W Depth 10 km Distances 1994 km W Ancud
Syrian opposition in new search for transitional government
Syria's opposition leaders on Saturday launched their second bid to form a transitional government, with their credibility at stake as the country slides deeper into civil war. Agreement among the National Coalition, an umbrella group for the Syrian opposition, could help address international concern about the risk of Syria disintegrating along ethnic and sectarian lines if President Bashar al-Assad falls. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/19/us-syria-crisis-opposition-idUSBRE90I0DZ20130119
Pro-gun rallies across U.S. attack Obama's curbs on firearms
Pro-gun activists plan rallies in 49 states at "high noon" on Saturday to support the right to own firearms they say is under attack from President Barack Obama's proposals to reduce gun violence. The rallies, to be held mostly at state capitals, were being organized by a group called Guns Across America that was launched by Texas airline pilot Eric Reed. The U.S. debate over gun control flared in mid-December when a man killed 20 first graders and six adults in a matter of minutes at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, using an assault rifle. http://www.reuters.com/artic... more »
Banks Sock It to Schilling
*They beat him until he was bloody.... * "Schilling may have to sell ‘bloody sock’" by Todd Wallack | Globe Staff, October 04, 2012 The *bloody sock* that came to symbolize one of Curt Schilling’s *greatest victories* could also play a starring role in one of his *biggest losses*. The former Boston Red Sox pitcher could be *forced to sell* a “bloody sock” he wore while leading the Sox to their first championship in 86 years, *among other cherished items*, to help *pay back millions of dollars in loans* he guaranteed for his failed video game company, 38 Studios. The sock, worn ... more »
What Mattered This Week?
I'll take an easy and obvious one: the GOP retreat on the debt limit. If you thought that was a sure thing all the time, then you may not think it mattered; I thought it was at least a solid possibility they would run right up to it, and do at least a bit of harm to the economy. Democrats admitting they'll vote for the president's nominee for Secretary of Defense? No great surprise there, to me. The real ballgame there has always been whether 60 votes would be required, and if so whether Hagel can get five Republicans. As far as I know from the coverage, we don't know that part of i... more »
Algeria Hostage Crisis: At Least Five Britons Feared Dead
Five British nationals and one UK resident are dead or unaccounted for after the Algerian hostage crisis drew to a bloody end, the Foreign Secretary William Hague has said. Seven hostages were reportedly killed and 16 others freed amid a "final assault" by Algerian special forces on the complex that had been taken over by Islamist militants. The latest fatalities, reported by the Algerian state news agency, are in addition to the reported deaths of 12 detainees and 18 terrorists earlier on in the crisis. http://news.sky.com/story/1040172/algeria-at-least-five-britons-feared-dead
Assassin aims gun at Bulgarian opposition leader's head and pulls the trigger... but victim survives after weapon misfires
Ahmed Dogan, leader of a liberal party which represents the Turkish minority in Bulgaria, survived the astonishing assassination attempt while giving a speech at a conference in the capital Sofia (left). Television footage shows a man storming the stage and aiming a gun at his head. But the weapon misfired and Mr Dogan, 58, escaped unharmed. Security guards and delegates then wrestle the man to the ground and began beating and kicking him. The 25-year-old suspect was led away covered in blood (right). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265002/Ahmed-Dogan-Heart-stopping-moment-...more »
Cape Cod Fraud
*Which one do you think is worse? * "Cape Cod Times reporter admits fabricating sources" by Derek J. Anderson | Globe Correspondent, December 05, 2012 The Cape Cod Times issued an apology to its readers Tuesday after reporting that a *longtime reporter wrote dozens of stories* that included *sources that do not exist*. * **I find I am asking myself that question all the time as I pore over my Boston Globes. Some do in fact seem unbelievable, and the name Jason Blair always comes to mind.* Publisher Peter Meyer and editor Paul Pronovost told readers that reporter Karen Jeffrey, 59... more »
Ukraine's Tymoshenko 'Accused' Of 1996 Murder
The former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been named as a suspect in the murder of a businessman and his wife in 1996. Ukranian authorities have formally notified Tymoshenko that she is suspected of "ordering and organising" the contract-style killing of the couple and two other people. The Prosecutor General's Office said on its website that the murder appeared aimed at eliminating a business rival. http://news.sky.com/story/1040286/ukraines-tymoshenko-accused-of-1996-murder
Scotland Avalanche: One Climber Killed
At least one person has been killed in an avalanche in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Northern Constabulary and mountain rescue teams were alerted to the emergency on Bidean Nam Bain at about 2pm. http://news.sky.com/story/1040289/scotland-avalanche-one-climber-killed
4.8 Magnitude Earthquake CARLSBERG RIDGE - 19th January 2013
Magnitude 4.8 Date-Time Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 16:58:25 UTC Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 09:58:25 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 1.853°S, 68.080°E Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) Region CARLSBERG RIDGE Distances 573 km (356 miles) WSW of Hithadhoo, Maldives
4.2 Magnitude Earthquake IRAN-IRAQ BORDER REGION - 19th January 2013
Magnitude ML 4.2 Region IRAN-IRAQ BORDER REGION Date time 2013-01-19 16:51:43.0 UTC Location 32.09 N ; 46.50 E Depth 100 km Distances 44 km S 'ali al garbi
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA - 19th January 2013
Magnitude 4.6 Date-Time Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 16:48:12 UTC Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 04:48:12 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 52.616°N, 158.782°E Depth 82.8 km (51.5 miles) Region NEAR THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA Distances 42 km (26 miles) SE of Vilyuchinsk, Russia
Warrior Up Resistance Tour, Pine Ridge, Jan. 20, 2013
Warrior Up Resistance Tour Jan 20, 2013 Billie Mills Hall Pine Ridge, South Dakota, 6 pm The Warrior Up Resistance Tour Speakers and Musicians In Defense of Mother Earth Who: Olowan Martinez – Lakota activist Waziyatawin – Dakota scholar and activist T.R. McKenzie – Deep Green Resistance and Latino Activist Queen Sacheen- Coastal Salish Activist
Of Torture And Free Expression
*-by Danny Goldberg* As a long time defender of the rights of artists including controversial ones, I find it intellectually dishonest for champions of *Zero Dark Thirty*to pretend that serious criticism of the film amounts to an assault on free expression. Responding to public statements by actors Ed Asner, Martin Sheen, and David Clennon urging Academy members to refrain from voting for *Zero Dark Thirty,* Columbia Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal said "to punish an artist's right of expression is abhorrent. So it’s “punishing” to merely criticize a film because of its perceived ... more »
Christy Clark, Creekside Style
Alison, doing her thing as only she can do it.
Actually existing news
Here's something you can save for people who insist the Royal Family are a harmless institution. Both the Queen and the Prince of Wales are entitled to veto bills in parliament that might affect the property of the Crown or the Duchies of Lancaster or Cornwall. In recent years the monarch and monarch-to-be have been offered 39 bills for personal approval, one was vetoed (a 1999 bill proposing the transfer of war powers from the executive to parliament was blocked by the Queen). Other bills offered for approval, include the 2004 Civil Partnership Act, the 2004 European Union bill, th... more »
Scotland Avalanche: Three Climbers Missing
Three climbers are missing and a major rescue operation is under way after an avalanche in Glencoe, Scotland. Northern Constabulary and mountain rescue teams were alerted to the emergency on Bidean Nam Bain at about 2pm. One woman, who is said to be seriously injured, has been taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William while a male climber has been found safe and well. http://news.sky.com/story/1040289/scotland-avalanche-three-climbers-missing
Pole Dancing Class To Promote ‘Love Your Library Day’
If just to reinforce the lack of vision and strategy within the UK public library market, the Mayfield Library in Dalkieth, will on ‘Love Your Library Day on 2nd February, stage a free pole-dancing class for the over 16s. The objective is not to loan out 50 Shades of books, but in some warped idea, the Council believe it will persuade more people to use the service. The obvious question is which service? Well it seems the council have some other strange ideas. When it comes to promoting books, reading and libraries they intend to include "booky table tennis" on the day. Booky ta... more »
ALEC Right to Work (for Less) Battle in Missouri Heats Up
First of all – let’s start with a recap of information from a report that was issued a few months ago – about the effect of implementing ALEC policies in your state. (my emphasis) ALEC-Laffer claim that wage suppression policies (anti-union “right-to- work” laws and the lack of a state minimum wage law) lead to greater job creation and prosperity; in actuality, such laws reduce wages and benefits but have little to no effect on job growth (see Chapter 6). These policies entail cutting or eliminating progressive taxes, suppressing wages, and cutting public services. The evidence an... more »
Hi-tech in history - the reality of myths
Link: http://youtu.be/zsYag2amFJc How things could have been done in historical times? Why ignorant people were left to believe in it? How simple means could beat an enemy and the dead could be made to speak? As long as 'phenomena' are used well in the context of their time people * must* believe in them - they have no alternative to finding the truth. In the lore of ancient times so much lies hidden beyond our comprehension. So much lies hidden beyond the 'unknown' for us when false priests speak about climate change, oil supplies, the economy and what appears 'good for us'... See ... more »
Christy Clark's Big Fat Tarsands Fundraisers
Our national media seems pretty exercised about Alberta tarsands bigwigs and political insiders throwing a fundraiser in Calgary for our unelected Premier Christy Clark's Liberals to slag off on the NDP. CBC : Albertans hold fundraiser for BC Liberals G&M : Clark defends out-of-province fundraising for B.C. Liberal candidate FPost : Alberta powerbrokers throw lifeline to B.C. premier as threat of tougher pipeline fight from NDP looms Sun : B.C. Liberals tap Calgary crowd for election funds Edmonton Journal : Alberta Tories helping to raise cash for beleaguered B.C. Liberals . They do ... more »
Recovery After a Diagnosis of Autism?
I think it depends on how you define recovery. What is interesting is that the research cited in this article found that those in the "recovered" group had better social and communication skills than a group of people with a diagnosis of Asperger's. By definition, people with Asperger's have difficulties with social skills. The lack of deficits in social skills by those in the "recovered" group is rather interesting and provocative. Here is the article and some relevant excerpts: Some With Autism Diagnosis Can Overcome Symptoms, Study Finds by Benedict Carey Jan 16, 2013 http://... more »
Default follies: Big papers arrive at the scene of the fire!
*SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2013* *After the flames are extinguished:* Yesterday, it became official. The House GOP will *not* refuse to extend the debt limit next month. In this blog post, Paul Krugman hailed the good news, referring to what was averted: KRUGMAN (1/18/13): And it’s a big deal. Yes, the GOP could come back on the debt ceiling, but that seems unlikely. It could try to make a big deal of the sequester, but that’s a lot more like the fiscal cliff than it is like the debt ceiling: not good, but not *potentially catastrophic...* According to Krugman, we’ve reached the end o... more »
What did the winters look like before global warming?
*Via Shooty, SME.SK* When you kids ask you this question, what will you answer? At night, the temperature in Pilsen will drop to –10 °C again. The snow is everywhere, many roads seem impassable. What is the weather like in your place? A moderate number of Australian respondents could be helpful to improve the atmosphere a little bit. ;-) To see some dramatic snowy pictures from Russia, see Alexander Ač's blog. Today, he thinks that wintry winters are caused by global warming. When the chill and snow is gone, I guess that global warming will be causing warmer winters again.
Slow Saturday Special: For the Love of the Game
*It's why we blog the posts.* "Holding your line" by Joanna Weiss | Globe Columnist, January 19, 2013 You’ve goT to hand it to *Oprah*. She has established herself as *America’s confessor*, which, in a way, makes life easy for her interviewees. Oprah’s *not going to absolve you or coddle you*. She’s going to raise her eyebrows *with majestic skepticism* and *speak grandly, for the nation*.... * **Related: **The Boston Globe's George Bush Book Tour* * **Yeah, she really grilled him!* The substance of his *confession* *isn’t really news*: He doped for years, * lied* about it, and *... more »
Saturday Snippets
Bruce Whitehouse provides a roundup of developments in Mali. John Owen on US decline. He claims that he thought he was doing an interview for a dissident magazine, not a “regime-approved” publication. Yeah, right. We all know John’s in the tank for the Mullahs. Jay Ulfelder argues that the Libyan intervention is not responsible for Continue reading
Snowmageddon and Sociology
The end of the world never came last year, but the way the news media are carrying on you could be forgiven for thinking it's *The Day After Tomorrow*outside. Yes, snow has fallen and Britain is convulsed by paroxysms of crisis. Schools and colleges up and down the land shut, planes and trains were cancelled, and millions of people had an unexpected but welcome long weekend ahead. And, of course, the weather may yet prove a useful foil should poor economic figures require it. The idea of snow as a doom-laden crisis recurs every winter. So what's going on? Why has this notion of 'sno... more »
Globe Drops Puck
How the NHL ended lockout to save its season Early Sunday morning, the NHL and the NHL Players Association declared the 113-day lockout over. *Also see*: Businesses fret over Bruins’ delayed start NHL’s latest lockout is a costly one As NHL lockout drags, no gain for colleges and minors * **BU Hockey Team Sent to Penalty Box* NHL lockout felt beyond Bruins’ ice Businesses cheer news of NHL lockout’s end Lockout drives Bruins ticket prices higher NHL lockout cheapened the brand, again
"OFFICIALS" and their "OFFICIAL STORY"s are crumbling left and right because of the internet
(above: remember when you HAD TO listen to us OFFICIALS? we were the only game in town before the internet got big. that's why we sold out and allowed ourselves to get co-opted. it's harder for us to push bizarre OFFICIAL STORIES now, with the internet.) What is an "OFFICIAL" and what is an "OFFICIAL STORY"? An OFFICIAL is a person connected to or a member of the government or mainstream media. An OFFICIAL STORY is a story the tell about an EVENT that is a game-changing event that affects the country...such as 911, the JFK/RFK/MLK/John Lennon shootings, the Sandy Hook/Batman/Sikh ... more »
jimmy carter: we are calling on all leaders to challenge misogyny
Jimmy Carter: This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries. At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, ge... more »
'We don't do deals with terrorists': State Department REJECTS 'Battalion of Blood' gang offer to swap two U.S. hostages seized in Algeria for jailed extremists
The Obama administration has rejected an offer from militants to release convicted terrorists in exchange for US hostages being held in Algeria, as it is revealed Texas resident Frederick Buttaccio was killed in yesterday's bloody raid. The Associated Press reported this afternoon that Buttaccio died in the hostage standoff as survivors said militants strapped plastic explosives around their necks and described how foreign workers secretly invented disguises to escape their captors. The Al Qaeda-linked kidnappers offered to outrageous swap deal this morning through a Mauritanian ne... more »
School armed guard hired after Sandy Hook leaves his handgun in the bathroom just one week into new job
WNEM TV 5 Michigan education officials admit their newly hired armed security guard left his gun in a charter school bathroom, but they don't see any reason to make an issue out of it. 'It's almost like no harm no foul,' said Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh noting that since none of the children attending kindergarten through eighth grade at the school were injured the incident would not result in criminal charges. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264764/Schools-new-armed-security-guard-leaves-handgun-school-bathroom-just-week-hired.html
Jamie DeWolf: L. Ron Hubbard's Great Grandson slams Scientology as 'dangerous cult'
Jamie DeWolf, the great-grandson of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, has come out with new explosive claims against the church and its controversial founder. And it's not pretty. 'My family sees Scientology as absolute poison,' says Jamie DeWolf. 'It’s a dangerous cult.' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264888/Great-grandson-L-Ron-Hubbard-slams-Scientology-dangerous-cult.html
New York newspaper removes map of handgun owners three days after state passes gun control legislation
A suburban New York newspaper that outraged gun owners by posting the names and addresses of residents with handgun permits removed the information from its website Friday. The Journal News took down the data just three days after the state enacted a gun control law that included privacy provisions for permit holders. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264977/New-York-newspaper-removes-map-handgun-owners-days-state-passes-gun-control-legislation.html
5 year old girl Suspended and Deemed a 'Terrorist Threat' after threatening to 'shoot' friend with pink Hello Kitty bubble gun
A 5-year-old Pennsylvania girl who told another girl she was going to shoot her with a pink toy gun that blows soapy bubbles has been suspended from kindergarten. Her family has hired an attorney to fight the punishment, which initially was 10 days but was reduced to two. Attorney Robin Ficker says Mount Carmel Area School District officials labeled the girl a 'terrorist threat' for the bubble gun remark, made on January 10 as both girls waited for a school bus. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264933/Girl-5-suspended-kindergarten-days-threatening-shoot-friend-pink-Hello-Ki... more »
New Jersey Bed, Bath & Beyond Attack: Tyrik Haynes Charged in the attack which left Kerri Dalton in a critical condition
A woman was brutally stabbed in the chest more than a dozen times while shopping with her infant child at a Bed, Bath & Beyond store on Thursday evening. Tyrik Haynes, 19, was charged with attempted murder in the attack in Middletown, New Jersey on Friday and held on $1 million bail. He had previously been charged with torturing a cat. Haynes allegedly rushed upon Kerri Dalton, 29, with no warning as she pushed her son's stroller through the store. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264793/Woman-stabbed-dozen-times-NJ-Bed-Bath--Beyond-shopping-infant-son.html
U.S. government investment gives flu vaccines a shot in the arm
Fighting the flu may soon get easier. As early as next year, more modern and more effective vaccines will hit the market, thanks to investments by the U.S. government and pharmaceutical companies. And even bigger scientific advances are expected in the next decade, including a "universal" flu vaccine given every five to 10 years that would fight many strains of a virus, making annual shots all but obsolete. Experts say it could take eight to 10 more years of testing before a universal flu vaccine would be ready. Meanwhile, they expect advances that could still incrementally improve... more »
Burned bodies found at besieged Algeria gas plant
Algerian special forces on Saturday found 15 burned bodies at a desert gas plant raided by al Qaeda-linked fighters, two days after the army launched an assault to free hostages being held there by the Islamists, a source familiar with the crisis said. Efforts were underway to identify the bodies, the source told Reuters. It was not clear how they had died. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/19/us-sahara-crisis-idUSBRE90F1JJ20130119
Algeria: 'Hostages Dead' In Final Stand-Off
Seven foreign hostages have been killed by Islamist militants as Algerian special forces stormed a BP gas plant in a final assault, said the country's state news agency. Sixteen other foreign hostages, including two Americans, two Germans and one Portuguese, were freed, a source told the Reuters news agency. http://news.sky.com/story/1040172/algeria-hostages-dead-in-final-stand-off
Ozzy Osbourne Burns Hair In LA House Fire
Ozzy Osbourne has been slightly injured when he tried to put out a fire in the living room of his Beverly Hills mansion. The Black Sabbath rocker received medical treatment at home after he burnt his hair and injured his hand. http://news.sky.com/story/1040195/ozzy-osbourne-burns-hair-in-la-house-fire
Bill Whittle: Something uplifting for the weekend...
*don't give up.*
Pulverizing Spence
Like, Pavlov's dogs, the corporate media have bought the government's line that native Canadians are lazy parasites. Michael Harris writes: Reading the media this week has been like having a picnic on the killing floor of an abattoir. By my count, Chief Spence has been fat-shamed, bitch-slapped, traduced and ridiculed. She has been demonized in a way that other minorities never would be and no one ever should be. Not in this country, nor anyplace else. *The National Post* twisted the facts to fit the prime minister's narrative: The lead of the piece says that Canadians don’t w... more »
Algeria Crisis: 'Sixteen Hostages Freed'
Sixteen foreign hostages being held by Islamist fighters at a BP gas plant in Algeria have reportedly been freed. Those freed include two Americans, two Germans and one Portuguese, a source told the Reuters news agency. It also reported Algerian special forces had killed 11 rebels in a final assault, citing the Algerian state news agency APS. http://news.sky.com/story/1040172/algeria-crisis-sixteen-hostages-freed
5.4 Magnitude Earthquake SAMAR, PHILIPPINES - 19th January 2013
Magnitude 5.4 Date-Time Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 13:48:06 UTC Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 09:48:06 PM at epicenter Location 11.293°N, 125.360°E Depth 81.3 km (50.5 miles) Region SAMAR, PHILIPPINES Distances 38 km (23 miles) E (83°) from Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
Horse meat supplier still operating in the Netherlands with authorities refusing to name and shame the Dutch company
*Same supplier: Fast food giant Burger King was drawn into the row today as it uses the same supplier as supermarkets where burgers were found to contain horse meat* The Dutch meat supplier believed to be responsible for contaminating British burgers with horse meat was still operating last night despite being under investigation. New DNA tests on burgers made at the Silvercrest processing plant in Ireland have confirmed that an imported protein powder used as a filler to help bulk out the burgers caused the contamination. It is understood that the supplier of the powder is based i... more »
UK 'workless households' rate among highest in EU as Britons appear to prefer a life on benefits
Britain's share of households where no one works is among the worst in Europe, shock figures revealed yesterday. The finding suggests that in an economy far more resilient than those of the stricken eurozone, many Britons appear to continue to prefer a life on benefits to work. There may be particular concern over the workless rate among UK single mothers. Only Ireland and tiny Malta among the other 26 EU states have a higher proportion without work. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264873/UK-workless-households-rate-highest-EU-Britons-appear-prefer-life-benefits.html
Ukrainian opposition MP sprayed with green antiseptic as Tymoshenko's trial is delayed after health declines to 'critical' level
A colleague of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko was sprayed with green antiseptic dye as he attended the former prime minister's trial. Ukrainian opposition parliament deputy Arsen Avakov was there to hear Tymoshenko's trial for tax evasion, but ended up coated the in the green ink - the second of two attempts to shower him in dye. According to an Interfax-Ukraine reporter, the politician's face was left dripping with dye on the left, although his eyes were not affected, Kyiv Post reported. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264727/Ukrainian-opposition-MP-... more »
Gerrymandering-- Another Anti-Democracy Tool In The Right-wing Arsenal
At this point you have to either be an unreconstructed Southerner or a Michele Bachmann constituent to not understand that the Republican congressional strategy is to undermine the United States and cause as many people as possible as much pain as they can. House Republicans aren't even hiding it any longer. That's because of gerrymandering. Their districts have been drawn so precisely to exclude anyone who hasn't been brainwashed by Fox, that no matter what normal people think about GOP treachery, the congressmen leading and enabling it can be reelected forever and ever. It doesn... more »
'I have been paid to kill you': Terrifying con email that threatens people with assassination unless they pay £20,000
* EMAIL IN FULL* This is the only way I could contact you for now, I want you to be very careful about this and keep this secret with you until I make out space for us to see. You have no need of knowing who I am or where I am from. I know this may sound very surprising to you but it's the situation. I have been paid some ransom in advance to terminate you with some reasons listed to me by my employer. It's someone I believe you call a friend; I have followed you closely for a while now and have seen that you are innocent of the accusations he levelled against you. Do not contac... more »
Review in Theoria of The Price of Precaution and the Ethics of Risk
My book on the moral basis of the precautionary principle that was published by Springer in 2011, *The Price of Precaution and the Ethics of Risk*, is very favorably reviewed over four pages in the latest issue of the renowned philosophy journal, *Theoria*. To read the entire review, written by Nils Möller, you need access to reach behind the Wiley paywall (e.g. through a university library) or a subscription of your own, and in that case just click here. If you lack this sort of access, clicking the just mentioned link can still let you sample the first page of the four of the revi... more »
Please stand by...
Please stand by. We are experiencing technical difficulties.... getting Linux Mint running on my Benq eee PC. Check this space tomorrow when we return to our regularly scheduled content. In the meantime, contemplate this gorgeous butterfly. Shots like this are why I bought a 100mm macro lens. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums! Delenda est, baby.
Cowardice, deceit and why Dave's not the only one in a fix over Europe
David Cameron’s big speech on Europe may have been postponed, but the dilemma facing all the main political parties — not just the Tories — will continue to intensify. Much of what the PM would have said yesterday had already leaked out and his prepared comments were clearly intended to address widespread public disgust over the EU. For Europe’s economy is sclerotic and failing, its governance is corrupt, and Brussels will have to remove yet more powers from member states if it is going to have a prayer of saving the euro. In Britain, the pressure is growing in the opposite direct...more »
Getting With The Program
So, ... it seems important for me to remind everybody that our political opponents, for the most part, actually believe all the nutty stuff that they say. Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. $3 billion "gravy trains" at Toronto City Hall. Radical left-wing kooks all decided to go into studying the climate in order to concoct the global warming hoax and destroy capitalism and democracy. If we make it difficult to get guns only the criminals will have guns. It's better to make it easy for everyone to get a gun and then the citizenry can have fair gun fights with the criminals who ... more »
Impunity for US government workers using child porn
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If Duncan Addressed the Violence He CAN Do Something About
Imagine if Arne were willing to heed the advice of teachers on what they know most about--the effects of testing! From HuffPo: Duncan On Guns Tests In Schools: Hard To Teach Kids Scared Of Being Killed Failing or Not Graduating By PHILIP ELLIOTT 01/17/13 06:25 PM ET EST [image: AP] [image: Share on Google+] [image: Arne Duncan Guns In Schools] 37 214 0 26 *GET EDUCATION ALERTS:* SIGN UP FOLLOW: Arne Duncan, Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan Gun Control, Arne Duncan Gun Limits, Arne Duncan Gun Restrictions, Arne Duncan Gun Violence,Arne Duncan Guns In Schools, Arne Duncan School Sa... more »
Bill Maher: You Have No Rights Left to Protect with Your Guns
Bill Maher is clearly anti-gun, but he makes several worthwhile points in this video that break political boundaries. He points out how liberals have allowed Obama to strip just as many rights as Bush did, and how conservatives just bought guns while this was going on instead of doing something useful to protect their rights. Now, there are no rights left to defend, he opines. Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter: Delivered by FeedBurner Be the Change! Share this using the tools below. Sharing on Reddit and Newsvine will help the most.
Convicts owe £1.8billion in fines as 'free pass' makes a mockery of the justice system
More than £140million is owed to the taxpayer by criminals who have been kicked out of Britain, lost or who have died. The shambolic management of court fines and compensation orders means foreign criminals have been deported despite owing vast amounts to the taxpayer. The sum is part of a colossal £1.8billion which has not been collected in court fines and compensation orders. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264809/Convicts-owe-1-8bn-fines-free-pass-makes-mockery-justice-system.html
Mali joins list of US ‘terror’ boomerangs
In the long inventory of unintended consequences of America’s “war on terror”, recent events in Mali must count among the most embarrassing boomerangs. The country, which had little strategic value to the US before 9/11, gained some attention for the democratic transition it underwent following a 1992 coup. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a9ebaa02-6191-11e2-9545-00144feab49a.html
Boston Globe Bar Trivia
*I don't drink, thus I don't read: *Nothing frivolous in duel of bar trivia entrepreneurs A trivial pursuit no longer
Florida Deputy Threatens to Shoot Concealed Carry Permit Holder in the Back During Traffic Stop
Joe Wright "Land of the Fee and Home of the Slave" has rarely been more appropriate than the following video from Florida. Citrus County Florida Deputy Andy Cox threatens to shoot concealed carry licensee for lawfully carried handgun & then arrests him for accidental exposure. (Source) According to usacarry.com, the gentleman harassed and terrorized in this video would be subjected to the following fees and conditions in order to obtain and use his permit. Please read the requirements below and determine for yourself if Deputy Andy Cox was correct in his interpretation and tre... more »
Armstrong: HE EVEN LIED -- TO OPRAH?!
"That's the only thing in this whole report that upset me," Armstrong said during the interview. "The accusation and alleged proof that they said I doped [in 2009] is not true. The last time I crossed the line, that line was 2005." "You did not do a blood transfusion in 2009?" Winfrey asked. "No, 2009 and 2010 absolutely not," Armstrong said. Investigators familiar with the case disagree. They said today that Armstrong's blood values at the 2009 race showed clear blood manipulation consistent with two transfusions. Armstrong's red blood cell count suddenly went up at these points, ... more »
Philadelphia subway Attack: Suspect Held By US Police
Police investigating a horrific attack on a woman on the Philadelphia subway have arrested a man. Surveillance video shows the 23-year-old woman being viciously punched and then dragged across the platform. She is then pushed onto the railway track at the station in the city's Chinatown neighbourhood. The attack happened around 3.30pm on Tuesday, after the suspect initially approached the victim and asked for a light. http://news.sky.com/story/1039842/subway-attack-suspect-held-by-us-police
A Positive Definition Of The Apocalypse
Apocalypse (Greek: apokalypsis; "lifting of the veil") is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception. *Source of the poster & text:* *https://www.facebook.com/TFarmacy?group_id=0*
Bank Of Canada Notes Use 'Wrong' Maple Leaf
The Bank of Canada has blundered by using a Norway maple leaf instead of the country's native variety on its new bank notes, plant experts claim. Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre botanist Sean Blaney first highlighted the difference between the leaf on new $20, $50 and $100 and the North American sugar maple. He said: "It's really hard to deny the image is of a Norway maple." http://news.sky.com/story/1040128/bank-of-canada-notes-use-wrong-maple-leaf
Armstrong: 'I Was Given Death Penalty'....Get over yourself, you're a Liar and a Cheat!
Lance Armstrong believes he should be given the opportunity to compete again, saying his life ban feels like a "death penalty". The 41-year-old Texan has confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during all seven of his Tour de France victories. He was stripped of all results from August 1, 1998 and banned from sport for life. http://news.sky.com/story/1040101/lance-armstrong-i-deserve-to-compete-again
Blockbuster Shuts 129 Shops And Slashes Staff
The collapsed DVD and games rental firm Blockbuster is to close 129 of its 528 shops and axe 760 workers in the coming weeks. Some 31 branches have already been put on notice of closure, according to the company's administrators Deloitte. The move means the chain is already planning to close a quarter of its branches and make 18% of its workforce redundant. http://news.sky.com/story/1040176/blockbuster-shuts-129-shops-and-slashes-staff
Te'o Denies Role In Dead Girlfriend Hoax
American college football star Manti Te'o has insisted he played no role in the hoax involving his 'imaginary girlfriend'. In his first interview since the scandal erupted, the Notre Dame linebacker said he was tricked by three people who have confessed they were behind the deception and apologised. But Te’o accepted he did lie to his father about meeting the 'girl' because he was embarrassed they had never met - and to cover that up, he lied to everyone else. http://news.sky.com/story/1040166/manti-teo-denies-role-in-dead-girlfriend-hoax
Algerian Hostage Crisis: Gunmen And Army In 'Stand-Off'
At least 10 Britons remain unaccounted for as Algerian special forces continue to hunt for the remaining al Qaeda-linked militants at a BP gas plant. Foreign Secretary William Hague has chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee and said on Twitter the hostage crisis would "remain our top priority until every British national is accounted for". Around 30 foreigners are still missing after the terrorists stormed the complex on Wednesday and seized hundreds of workers. http://news.sky.com/story/1040172/algeria-hostage-crisis-uks-top-priority
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake KURIL ISLANDS - 19th January 2013
Magnitude 4.6 Date-Time Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 11:15:12 UTC Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10:15:12 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones Location 46.797°N, 152.889°E Depth 58.5 km (36.4 miles) Region KURIL ISLANDS Distances 380 km (236 miles) SE of Vostok, Russia
SELL BOEING? SELL GOOGLE?
Boeing is in big trouble. "The one issue that does give me pause, and about which I should want to know more, is the cracked windscreen, because that could indicate unusual stress in the airframe. "Then you could be talking about a *fundamental design flaw*." *Dreamliner: will it live up to its name?* Google continues to ignore its customers and make enemies. Some people have been experiencing problems while using Google Chrome. Such problems include random crashing. 3 Tips on How to Repair Google Chrome - wikiHow CHROME CRASHING CONSTANTLY - TRIED EVERYTHING ... - 13 Jan 201... more »
The Lies Of Democracy and the Language Of Deceit by Colin Todhunter
Source of picture: http://wiki.gifteconomy.org/Capitalist_Mentality The Lies Of Democracy and the Language Of Deceitby Colin Todhunter Gobal Research Canada, 18 January 2013 *In an increasingly media-driven age, language is everything and is often used by officialdom to tyrannise meaning. With the deaths of millions on its hands since 1945, the US has become the world’s number one terror state. By the 1980s, former CIA man John Stockwell had put the figure at six million. As a recent article has indicated, from mass bombing in Southeast Asia to employing death squads in Sout... more »
Rape cases in New Delhi jump 23 percent in 2012
Rape cases in New Delhi jumped 23 per cent in 2012 from a year earlier, according to official figures, highlighting rising crime against women in the sprawling metropolis. The numbers were released as the trial of five men was set to begin on Monday on accusations of murder, rape and kidnapping over the death last month of a 23-year-old gang-rape victim, whose assault sparked nationwide protests, http://dawn.com/2013/01/19/rape-cases-in-new-delhi-jump-23-percent-in-2012/
Untitled
*Former N.O. Mayor Nagin indicted on 21 charges ~Danny Monteverde, The Advocate* ~The potential penalties in this case are spelled out in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, received by FOX 8 News Friday afternoon: *If convicted of conspiring with others to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud (Count 1), Nagin faces statutory penalties of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. If convicted of accepting a bribes (Count 2-7), Nagin faces statutory penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of s... more »
Dispute Over Islands Escalates, Japan and China Send Fighter Jets to the Scene
The action in the skies over the East China Sea started simply enough. Last week, the Chinese government sent a civilian surveillance plane, a twin propeller aircraft, to fly near the uninhabited islands at the heart of a growing feud between China and Japan. Tokyo, in response, ordered F-15 fighter jets to take a look at what it considered Chinese meddling. The Chinese then sent their own fighters. It was the first time that supersonic Chinese and Japanese military fighters were in the air together since the dispute over the islands erupted last year, significantly increasing the ... more »
Methane levels detected, in the soil under 19 homes in California
Air monitoring tests were conducted today by Santa Maria city staff in all manholes on Sloan Terrace and two other streets, after a report this week of concentrations of field gas (methane) detected in the soil under 19 homes along the 800 and 900 blocks of Sloan Terrace, a neighborhood in the southeast area of the city. The methane most likely resulted from degradation of organic material in over-watered heavily compacted soil, according to experts consulted by the city, city management analyst Mark van de Kamp said in a release. Friday’s tests by utilities department staff detecte... more »
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Man Puts Gun to Politician's Head During Speech(abcnews.go.com)
Accidents at Gun Appreciation Day firearm shows give anti-gun crowd shootings they can appreciate(twitchy.com)
Extreme weather closes northern Alberta highways(cbc.ca)
Highway 63 to remain closed(cbc.ca)
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