10:23pm MST
Zemanta
downtrend.com
Black Swan Events in Ukraine
*Black Swan Events* According to Wikipedia....Black Swan events are an *"**event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight."* Another definition can be found here. But a rather good definition I heard years ago is: *to a turkey, Thanksgiving Day is a Black Swan Event. In other words....every day of the year, the turkey is cared for and fed by the turkey farmer. One day...the day before Thanksgiving...there is a mass slaughter of turkeys. Only the turkeys are unaware of the connection.* IM... more »
Is There A 'Secret Iran Strategy'?
President Barack Obama meets with members of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House, January 29, 2010. The President’s chair is marked with a plaque engraved with the date of his inauguration. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) *Michael Doran, Mosaic:* *Obama's Secret Iran Strategy* *The president has long been criticized for his lack of strategic vision. But what if a strategy, centered on Iran, has been in place from the start and consistently followed to this day?* *WNU Editor*: This is a long post .... but well worth the read. And the disturbing part is ..... more »
(Libertarianism. Not. Really.) Gallup CEO Fears He Might “Suddenly Disappear” for Questioning U.S. Jobs Data (Or Is He Just Mad About Obama?)
Just to clear a few "misunderstandings" up (at top levels of the Republican Tank Thinkers). . . . Libertarians likened to Marxists by the Conservatives of the Goldwater Age? At least those guys could read. With comprehension. I'm going light here. Read on for a heightened understanding of how they got into this "dumbed-down" non-conservative miasma. (Read it all at the link above.) The
Poll: Russian Support For Eastern Ukraine Independence Now At 60%
Members of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic drive armoured vehicles, with Saint George slaying the Dragon displayed on a red flag, near Yenakiieve, Donetsk region, Feb. 4, 2015. Maxim Shemetov / Reuters *Moscow Times*: *Most Russians Want Eastern Ukraine to Break Away from Kiev, Poll Shows* *WNU Editor:* I am surprised by these poll numbers .... when the crisis first began most Russians made it very clear that they did not want to be directly involved in Ukraine's conflict ... but since the beginning of this year they are now shifting the other way. I do no... more »
What Will Russia's Response Be If The U.S. Sends Arms to Ukraine
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko (front), Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attend a meeting with high-ranked officials representing Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and the European Union in Minsk, August 26, 2014. REUTERS/Mykola Lazarenko/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout *Stephen Collinson, CNN:* *What will Putin do if U.S. arms Ukraine?* *WNU Editor:* The focus is on what Putin will do if U.S. arms are shipped to Ukraine .... and on that question no one knows for sure on what the reaction will be. But another question ne... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
"An intriguing and beautiful nebula, NGC 3576 drifts through the Sagittarius arm of our spiral Milky Way Galaxy. Within the region, episodes of star formation are thought to contribute to the complex and suggestive shapes. Powerful winds from the nebula's embedded, young, massive stars shape the looping filaments. *Click image for larger size.* The dramatic false-color image also highlights the contributions of hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen, energized by intense ultraviolet radiation, to the nebular glow. But the glow also silhouettes dense clouds of dust and gas. For example, the tw... more »
Chet Raymo, “Spiders In the Mist”
by Chet Raymo “We had a stretch of unusually warm weather recently. This generally meant foggy mornings as I walked to college at dawn. And foggy mornings meant spider webs were relieved of their invisibility by beads of dew. "What refinement of art for a mess of Flies! Nowhere, in the whole animal kingdom, has the need to eat inspired a more cunning industry," wrote Jean Henri Fabre in "The Life of the Spider." He should know. He spent a good part of his life attending to spiders. Fabre made himself the Homer of insects and arachnids, observing their habits with an unfailing ent... more »
The Poet: Wendell Berry, "What We Need Is Here"
by Wendell Berry "Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye, clear. What we need is here."
The U.S. Has Not Kept Its Promises To Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Petro Poreshenko (L) during a bilateral meeting in Kiev, February 5, 2015 (Reuters / Jim Watson) *Josh Rogin, Bloomberg:* *U.S. Hasn't Kept Ukraine Aid Promises* *WNU Editor: *Forget about failing to keep promises on providing military equipment .... the big problem will be when it is time to bail out the Ukraine economy .... an amount that will probably be in the tens of billions just in the first year or two. Faced with these enormous amounts .... do not be surprise if this is a commitment that the U.S. ... more »
"The easiest lie I've ever told": Some thoughts on lies (not dedicated to Brian Williams, at least not particularly)
*DILBERT by Scott Adams* *by Ken* What we have here is, I think, a classic -- or perhaps more-than-classic -- case of overthink on Dilbert's part. It's one thing to *think* about the implications of the Pointy-Headed Boss's sentence-opening "To be perfectly honest. It might even be just barely OK to call him on it, maybe saying, "Oh, so normally you're *not* perfectly honest." Beyond that, however, is overthink, or overkill, or over-*something*. You can play this scene out *in your head* to your heart's content, and you win every time. Do it *for real*, though, and the amazing... more »
The Ukraine Currency Collapsed Today
Valeria Gontareva, the head of Ukraine's Central Bank, said there was “panic” on the market in connection with ongoing fighting with pro-Russian militants in Ukraine’s east. Photo: Reuters *Quartz*: *Ukraine’s currency is plummeting (again, and even further)* *WNU Editor*: On my last trip to see family and friends in Ukraine (2 years ago) .... I decided to leave one bank account active since it would be easier for me to have money already there when I do my return visit to spoil family and friends. I left the equivalent of a few thousand U.S. dollars ... and thought no more of it. ... more »
The Debate To Arm Ukraine Continues (Updated)
*Paul Sonne, WSJ:* *Should U.S. Arm Ukraine? We List the Pros and Cons* *The Debate To Arm Ukraine Continues (Updated)* Calls grow to arm Ukraine, as European leaders scramble for last-ditch peace plan -- FOX News US, Allies Split Over Supplying Arms to Ukraine -- VOA/Reuters Ukraine Crisis: US, European Officials Split Over Sending Arms To Ukraine -- IBTimes US Mulls Course on Ukraine: Diplomacy or Weapons -- ABC News As Kerry visits Kiev, US mulls arming Ukraine -- Al Jazeera Kerry: US Won't 'Close Eyes' to Russian Aggression in Ukraine -- VOA Ukraine conflict tilts U.S. toward arm... more »
“’Black Energy’: Is This The Future Of Cyberwarfare?”
*“’Black Energy’: Is This The Future Of Cyberwarfare?”* by Aaron Ernst “Five years ago, the most sophisticated cyber weapon the world had ever seen ravaged Iran's nuclear program. Allegedly developed by the U.S. and Israel, the complex virus infected the computer system that ran the centrifuges. Slight tweaks to the software caused hundreds of the centrifuges to self-destruct, setting the program back years. The malware was dubbed Stuxnet. Traditionally, foreign governments have used malware to spy and steal. But this was something entirely different. German computer security exper... more »
More Real History Revealed: Criminal US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Campaign To Incite War In Europe - The Secret Polish Documents Revealed!
We have been constantly inundated from birth with the constant lies about our history... One major lie has always been about how the second World War came about.... Many of our so called "history" books still put forward the lie that "Nazi" Germany was fully responsible for the start of World War II by its invasion of Poland on the 1st of September, 1939.... These books have always said that Germany launched that "unprovoked" attack wanting to seize the Polish Corridor and conquer Poland in the process..... I for one have read many of these reports and being a critical thinker, I ha... more »
Ukraine Army Deserters Will Be Shot
Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada meeting.(RIA Novosti / Evgeny Kotenko) *RT*:* Ukrainian parliament passes law allowing army deserters to be shot* *WNU Editor*: If you refuse to join the Ukraine army .... 5 years in jail. If you join the army and run away .... you will be shot. Of the two people that I know who are in parliament ... both of them voted for the law. I only had the chance to talk to one of them today, and he painted a dismal picture on the state of the Ukraine army. As he put it .... *numerous violations of military discipline are now occurring, desertion and heavy drinking a... more »
Failure to cross examine promptly may bar adjournment request
Vista Bahia LP v. Cleaver Crawford LLP, 2015 ONCA 77: [14] The record confirms that the date of the application – July 24, 2014 – was fixed at Heritage's request to accommodate the schedule of Heritage's counsel. The record also reveals that Heritage had indicated its intention to conduct cross-examinations as early as June 21, 2014, some four and one-half weeks before the agreed application hearing date. Yet, Heritage took no steps to cross-examine, even when it learned that CC LLP did not intend to file any affidavit materials on the application. Instead, Heritage simpl... more »
Trying to Flee The Ukraine Town Of Debaltseve
*Vice News:* *Trying to Flee Debaltseve: Russian Roulette* *More News On The Battle For Debaltseve* Escape from Debaltseve: Civilians flee besieged Ukraine town -- BBC Debaltseve residents caught in the crossfire as Ukrainian crisis worsens -- Euronews Civilians Flee East Ukraine Town Debaltseve As Fighting Intensifies -- AP Ban Ki-moon Supports OSCE Call for Civilian Evacuation From Debaltseve -- Sputnik Ukraine: Debaltseve’s residents reaching breaking point -- Amnesty International Dispatch From Debaltseve: Reporter’s Notebook -- NYT Key Rail Hub Of Debaltseve Is Newest Strategic ... more »
Canada First, Political Party Last
Canada First, Political Party Last *Written by Grant G* Maybe I`m naive, foolish or just a bright eyed optimist, thousands of years of history with examples of depravity, mind-numbing ruthlessness and just plain old insanity, has anything changed, struggles for footholds, for life and freedom, battles of the different, religious conflicts for no other reason than a different god, have we learned nothing through time, the only thing that`s changed are the colours of the uniforms and the wording of the message. Vlad the impaler, his victims impaled with tree-sized spears and le... more »
Tennessee Teachers File Federal Lawsuit Against Value-Added Evaluations
Best suggestion for systems like Shelby County Schools, with its new VAM-based teacher pay plan: Get ready to file your briefs. from Nashville Public Radio, WPLN: Tennessee’s largest teachers union is taking another swing at statistics being used to make pay and tenure decisions. In a third federal lawsuit, the union is challenging use of so-called “value-added” scores to evaluate teachers in subjects like art and music, who don’t have test data related to their own students. It’s not just special areas. In fact, most public school teachers in the state don’t have testing data spe... more »
Ukraine War News Updates -- February 5, 2015
*Financial Times*: *Merkel and Hollande fly to Kiev and Moscow* *WNU Editor:* A partial ceasefire appears to have been reached .... *Kiev agrees to create humanitarian corridor for Debaltsevo civilians – militia* (RT) .... I will be surprised if it lasts more than a day. *Ukraine War News Updates -- February 5, 2015* Kiev Accepts Donetsk Proposal on Ceasefire in Debaltseve Area -- Sputnik Ukrainian army command accepts proposals for humanitarian corridor in Debaltsevo -- ITAR-TASS Debaltseve residents caught in the crossfire as Ukrainian crisis worsens -- Euronews Key Rail Hub Of... more »
Scrap the Trident Nuclear Submarine Replacement in UK
Post by Russell Brand.
What the coexistence of QE and deflation reveals about the Western financial system
This is an interesting article- It's a bit older (six months) however it seems to be right on the money! Or perhaps not so much the money, maybe the trouble with 'money' used in an inappropriate fashion. Read it, it will take time, but I guarantee you will find it interesting- Not a money back guarantee, though! Common sense (or rather economic sense) would expect that excessive use of the printing press, especially in the US and Japan, causes inflation – if not hyperinflation given the amount of money injected into the system. And yet, it’s nothing of the kind. Are deflation and the... more »
Court Ruling in Canada against Canada's Private Central Banksters
The Bank of Canada used to be a government lending institution, creating near interest free loans that built much of Canada’s infrastructure during the 50’s and 60’s. In 1974 at the Bank of International Settlements in Basel Switzerland, Trudeau Sr. was convinced by fellow Bilderberg attendees to dismantle this crucial function of the Bank of Canada, and since then we’ve lost sovereign control of our monetary policies and money supply and government debt at all levels has risen dramatically.This court case challenges the disuse of the Bank of Canada to create money for the public ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 5, 2015
*Laura Smith-Spark, CNN: **What's going on in Ukraine?* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 5, 2015* Here’s how you know the war in Ukraine is getting worse -- Dan Peleschuk, Global Post Nato shows signs of battle fatigue in confrontation with ruthless Putin -- Ian Traynor, The Guardian Jordanians turn their minds to revenge after Isis killing of pilot -- Martin Chulov, The Guardian Q&A: Jordan, already attacking IS in Syria, joins Iraq fight -- Vivian Salama, AP Poverty a threat to stability in Jordan, fueling militancy -- Karin Laub and Mohammed Daraghmeh, AP ... more »
The "Burning" Of the "Jordanian Pilot" By CIA/Mossad Run ISIS Is Definitely Bullshit: Rita Katz Is At It Again Fake ISIS Video Exposed (And One Very Important Observation By NTS...)
I have been scouring the internet these last few days, keeping up with all the reports about that absolutely laughable and complete bullshit "video" produced by that Jewess troll named Rita Katz and her very criminal and diabolical SITE group... Anyone that knows about SITE by now is that it is a pure Jewish propaganda organization that produces nothing but reports and "videos" that are nothing but a pack of lies... They were the ones behind the BS "Osama bin Laden" videos that filled the lying mainstream media outlets for the almost full 10 years AFTER he died in the mountains of n... more »
Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood Leader Hamza Mansour Refuses to Acknowledge that ISIS Are Terrorists
The White House worked behind the scenes to put the Muslim Brotherhood into power in Egypt in the aftermath of the revolution in 2011. They were successful for a short bit, when the mania of revolution gripped the country, but they were ultimately rebuffed by the Egyptian people and the Egyptian military leadership who had enough of the Muslim Brotherhood's tricks and deceptions. The Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS are two sides of the same coin. The Muslim Brotherhood is the political face of ISIS terrorism. The Muslim Brotherhood regime in Turkey has sponsored ISIS in Syria since the ... more »
We interrupt politics to bring you a post of utmost importance...
.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image/*)
*keeping cilantro fresh.* If you like fresh cilantro (there are some people who don't - how weird is that?), then you have, no doubt, watched it turn into a slimy mess if left in the plastic bag from the grocery store for more than two days. Several months ago, I took my cilantro and after washing and drying it, stored it in a Pyrex Snapware container. Almost *three *weeks later, most of it was still fresh enough to use. I subsequently did an internet search on storing cilantro, and the most recommended method was putting the stems in a glass of water and putting the whole thing ... more »
Turbulent Times Show Friday, February 6th, At 7PM CST (8EST) ....
Yes, Whitewraithe and I are going to have a Turbulent Times show, this Friday at 7PM Central Standard Time (8PM for those on the American eastern seaboard).... My apologies for the delay in getting a new show going.....Whitewraithe and I have been busy this last week with personal, and business needs... And of course both of us have been suffering on and off with colds, sinus troubles, etc... But now we are both finally up to getting a new show going... Tomorrow's show will cover some current events, AND with the possibility of a surprise guest calling in.... Hopefully everyone wi... more »
Kiev Uses White Phosphorous Again
More war crimes as the desperate Kiev regime tries to hang on..... Overnight into February 5 Donetsk in embattled eastern Ukraine was shelled with phosphorous ammunition. The flashes were clearly seen from downtown over Kievskiy district around midnight. Witnesses filmed the event.
World News Briefs -- February 5, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*Reuters*: *German, French leaders take Ukraine peace plan to Moscow* *MIDDLE EAST* U.S.-led forces target Islamic State *with 12 air strikes in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military*. US moves pilot rescue aircraft *to northern Iraq: official*. Jordan carries out new air strikes* after pilot’s murder*. Jordan launches new airstrikes* after vowing harsh war on IS.* Jordan's King vows *'relentless' war against IS*. Jordan releases leading *al Qaeda mentor: security source*. U.N. plan for local ceasefires *in Syria 'frozen': diplomats*. Baghdad's decade-old curfew *to be lifted*. Baghdad cur... more »
Is there anything useful to be said about the really-not-controversial controversy over children's vaccinations?
*Governor Krispy, arriving with his wife Mary Pat for lunch with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne on Tuesday, was finally a little less talkative.* *by Ken* I've been thinking we really have to say something about the vaccination scandal, but what? We could point out that the pandering to ignorance and hysteria being indulged in by candidates like the GOP's Kris Krispy and Rand Paul is beneath contempt. Really, choosing to pander to right-wing know-nothings on a public-health issue by people who have no excuse for not knowing better . . . well, words fail me. I suppos... more »
Russian TV Is Reporting That An Agreement For A Three Day Ceasefire Has Been Reached
*RT:** Kiev agrees to create humanitarian corridor for Debaltsevo civilians – militia* *WNU Editor:* This is a breaking news story. This story will be updated at 20:00 EST
Theorising the Mortality of Advanced Societies
Yesterday we talked about a specific example of catastrophe. Today I want to discuss something else, so open the *Book of Revelations* and settle down to some heavy doom: we're talking what Mark Carrigan calls the sociology of civilisational collapse. For Mark, what is absent from political discourse and social commentary is a sense of our collective mortality. We are imbued with a sense of our biological finitude (despite the best efforts of some), but "officially" society expects to live forever. Governments and institutions plan for decades in advance. Even the quaint habit of s... more »
Snow and Big Power Dealings
- Our back yard is covered with snow and not many places remain for the plow driver to put more of it. Our wood pile (under the blue tarp) is hard to get to and the shed where we keep the kindling for the wood stove has to be unburied after each plowing. During the last 10 days or so it's been a daily chore for me to reopen the paths. When we moved to Maine in 2003 friends in Florida told me that after 30 years in the 'sunshine state' I'd not last long up in the frigid north. One friend though did acknowledge that I am very stubborn and I am still here ...more »
The World is Made of Language
*Video -* If you know the words that the world is made of - the language of reality and the language of the mind - you can make of it whatever you wish. The post The World is Made of Language appeared first on Waking Times.
“Some Fiend Gave Us A Brain”
“Some Fiend Gave Us A Brain” by David Grayling "Friends, the disappointing mystery of life is revealed towards its end. It is rather a dastardly act I know but it is understandable. If humans knew near the beginning of their lives what they know near the end, then we might’ve ceased to exist long, long ago. Most forms of life get about the business of living their lives without questioning. Some insects have a few days. Some have a few weeks. Other creatures have months and years. They are born, some reach puberty, then they procreate like crazy, and die. Their progeny then continu... more »
Psychology: "The Total Perspective Vortex"
"The Total Perspective Vortex" by Christopher S. Putnam "Most people think of the “mentally disordered” as a delusional lot, holding bizarre and irrational ideas about themselves and the world around them. Isn’t a mental disorder, after all, an impairment or a distortion in thought or perception? This is what we tend to think, and for most of modern psychology’s history, the experts have agreed; realistic perceptions have been considered essential to good mental health. More recently, however, research has arisen that challenges this common-sense notion. In 1988, psychologists Shell... more »
U.S. Moves More Search-and-Rescue Helicopters To Northern Iraq
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com *CNN:* *Official: U.S. Military moved search and rescue assets to Northern Iraq* *Update #1*: U.S. Sends More Search-and-Rescue Helicopters to Northern Iraq -- NYT *Update #2*: US military moving more military assets into Iraq to fight ISIS -- FOX News *WNU Editor: *I guess complaints on the lack of search and rescue assets from the UAE hit home .... *United Arab Emirates Suspended Airstrikes Against The Islamic State After Jordanian Pilot Capture*.
Bill C-51
Bill C-51 is pretty terrifying for a host of reasons, but partly because it represents just how chickenshit the Liberals are of rocking the boat and challenging the Conservatives.Some things to think about. 1. The Conservative government's involvement of Canadian combat forces in every conflict in the Muslim world in turn makes Canada a target. This is the logic of fighting. If you pick a fight
How to Lose a Conference in 4 Days: why we attend the ISA to miss the ISA
I can still remember my first ISA conference. I was a PhD student eager to present early work at the freezing Montreal conference (not the last Montreal, the one before that). I remember being gobsmacked hearing academics talking about how they were booked up with meetings and hadn’t attended a single panel. I thought: What did Continue reading
Listen to Stephen Cohen, professor emeritus of Russian studies and politics at New York University and Princeton University, tell you what is really us going on in Ukraine. Hint: I'ts not what the presstitute mainstream media tells you. Prof. Cohen: "...it’s not only a new Cold War, it’s a proxy war. We’re arming Kiev. Russians are arming the eastern fighters." "Five million people, approximately, live in this area of eastern Ukraine. They’ve lived there for centuries. Their grandfathers, their parents are buried there. Their children go to school there. That is their home. Do they have no humanity or agency? We’ve taken—not I, but the main press in this country is referring to them as 'Putin’s thugs'."
------------------------------ *TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015* Original Here . *Is Ukraine a Proxy Western-Russia War? U.S. Weighs Arming Kiev as Violence Soars* http://youtu.be/PIxjULs46Kk The United Nations has raised the death toll from fighting in eastern Ukraine to more than 5,300 people since last April following the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych one year ago this month. Another 1.5 million people have been displaced. As fighting intensifies, the Obama administration is now considerin... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Thanks for stopping by.
"Why We are Susceptible to Manipulation"
"Why We are Susceptible to Manipulation" by George Washington "Biologists and sociologists tell us that our brains evolved in small groups or tribes. As one example of how profoundly the small-group environment affected our brains, Daily Galaxy points out: Research shows that one of the most powerful ways to stimulate more buying is celebrity endorsement. Neurologists at Erasmus University in Rotterdam report that our ability to weigh desirability and value doesn’t function normally if an item is endorsed by a well-known face. This lights up the brain’s dorsal claudate nucleus, whi... more »
“Societal ‘Stockholm Syndrome?’"
*“Societal ‘Stockholm Syndrome?’"* by web2.iadfw “The term, “Stockholm Syndrome”, was coined in the early 70's to describe the puzzling reactions of four bank employees to their captor. On August 23, 1973, three women and one man were taken hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm. They were held for six days by two ex-convicts who threatened their lives but also showed them kindness. To the world's surprise, all of the hostages strongly resisted the government's efforts to rescue them and were quite eager to defend their captors. Indeed, several months after the hostages w... more »
Did Chinese State-Sponsored Hackers Launch A Massive Cyber-Attack Against U.S. Health Insurer Anthem?
*Bloomberg*: *Chinese State-Sponsored Hackers Suspected in Anthem Attack* *WNU Editor:* The Chinese government angle is worrisome .... but I guess the Chinese feel that there will be no consequences from this attack .... and they are probably right. *More News On The Cyber Attack Against The U.S. Health Insurer Anthem* Hackers steal millions of US health records -- The Australian/WSJ Hackers steal tens of millions of customer records from the US' second-biggest medical insurer -- The Verge Officials see China link in Anthem hack: Report -- CNBC Anthem 'lucky' that employee spotted b... more »
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel: Concerned About Possible Split In NATO
*Reuters: *U.S. defense chief voices fear of north-south NATO divide *Update*: Hagel concerned about possible split in NATO *WNU Editor:* The split is over priorities .... focus on Ukraine/Russia or focus on the growing insecurity situation on the southern and eastern coastlines of the Mediterranean.
“Russia Deploys Nuclear ICBM Launchers On Combat Patrol”
*“Russia Deploys Nuclear ICBM Launchers On Combat Patrol”* by Tyler Durden “Perhaps it is a coincidence that a day before John Kerry's arrival in Kiev (a visit which "coincided" with a 35% devaluation of the local currency) where among other things the US statesman discussed the possibility of official (as opposed to unofficial) deliveries of US "lethal support" to the civil war torn and now hyperinflation country, that Russia decided to put its nuclear ICBMs on combat patrol missions in various Russian regions. Specifically, according to Tass, "About 700 units of military equipment... more »
NATO Chiefs Meet To Respond To The Ukraine Crisis And Russia
*Voice of America*:* NATO Meets to Discuss Strengthening Defenses Near Russia * *More News On Today's NATO Meeting To Respond To The Ukraine Crisis And Russia* Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia -- BBC NATO strengthens forces in eastern Europe against Russia risk -- Reuters NATO to boost eastern defences after Russian 'aggression' -- AFP NATO to boost rapid–reaction force in response to growing threats -- Stars and Stripes NATO due to more than double 'rapid response' force in reaction to Ukraine -- Deuscthe Welle 30,000 troops, 6 rapid units: NATO increas... more »
This Is Insanity: US Pushes For War In Europe (Against Russia!)
I truly am one pissed off blogger these days… We have already seen the insanity of our crooked governments when it comes to further escalating the fraudulent "war on terror" by pushing their latest bullshit video put out by that criminal Jew run SITE group, where a supposed "Jordanian Pilot" was executed by that fraud "ISIS" group by burning him to death… And at the same time, we find the US government escalating their involvement in the "civil war" in Ukraine by now flagrantly arming their crooked regime in Kiev against the civilians living in the eastern provinces….I for one am tr... more »
Transpicuous News Midweek, Feb 4 2015: Crashing Planes, Smoking Documents, Currencies Crashing.... Same ol' Same ol'
Welcome to the Transpicuous News Midweek Report for February 4th, 2015. More crashing planes, more documents going up in smoke, more rockets fired, more currencies crashing, more ridiculous statements by Poroshenko, Obama, Netanyahu, and the rest of team cabal, more idiocy in the main stream media.... you know, just another day in News & Disinfo Land!! http://transpicuousnews.blogspot.com/2015/02/transpicuous-news-midweek-feb-4-2015.html Europe Fractures: France "Prepared To Support Greece" In Debt Renegotiations http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-01/europe-fractures-france-p... more »
HC Unit - Why is Tired Light more fundamentally important than Receding Stars?
*red-shifted light spectra for various celestial bodies* this is a dead simple one to answer, but in answering it I'll alter your understanding of the universe in FORBIDDEN WAYS. Ready, part 1? "HC Unit - Why is Tired Light more fundamentally important than Receding Stars?" that's the title of this blogpost, and the repercussions of the answer are so much more important than ideas posited by the Big Bangists. The light we see from stars in this Big Bang (expanding universe) model was from a star in that position millions of years ago. Since then, it's even further away... and further... more »
Feb. 5: Government is about people.....
Greece is deeply in debt to international banks. The human suffering in that country has been profound - and the malnutrition deadly. But the banks refuse to give easier terms on the debt. Particularly vehement has been Angela Merkel of Germany who takes the toughest of tough lines. (She forgets that her country,in 1945, was forgiven ALL its debts - most of them incurred in killing us. Without that forgiveness for debt, Germany would still be the wasteland it was after the war.) But let the Greeks suffer and die is the word today. Something similar is going on in Ukraine. That count... more »
The War Against Boko Haram Continues
*VOA:* *African Union Hails Military Offensive against Boko Haram * *More News On The War Against Boko Haram* Boko Haram, hit by 3-nation offensive, rampage in Cameroon -- AP 13 Chad troops killed in Boko Haram counter-attack -- AFP Boko Haram kills 13 Chadian military officers in Cameroon -- Al Bawaba Cameroon Says 91 Killed in Boko Haram Attacks -- VOA Boko Haram kills 90 civilians and wounds 500 in Cameroon attacks -- The Guardian Boko Haram militants burn, shoot to death 100 people, wound 500 during attack on Cameroonian border town with Nigeria -- NYDaily news/AP Boko Haram massa... more »
Israeli bank workers accused of defrauding "Holocaust survivor"
Jews are known to be obsessed with pecuniary matters. They are often accused (rightly so) of being cunning and conniving, willing to cheat and deceive others for financial and political gain. In fact, these immoral and unethical behaviors are *condoned by the Talmud*, and are often encouraged by Jewish rabbis (at least when Jews are dealing with non-Jews). Sometimes, Jews defraud and swindle their own kind - even "Holocaust" survivors! *The Times of Israel* reports: Two employees of a Jerusalem bank were arrested on Monday on suspicion that *they had swindled a 97-year-old Holocaust... more »
Life as a woman under Isis: Document reveals for the first time what group really expects from female recruits living in Syria and Iraq per The Independent but the paper doesn't explain one aspect
The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/life-as-a-woman-under-isis-document-reveals-for-the-first-time-what-group-really-expects-from-female-recruits-living-in-syria-and-iraq-10025143.html reports on this ISIS document and includes this: 'Isis has released a manifesto detailing the role of women in the jihadist group - stating it is "legitimate" for girls to be married to fighters at the age of nine and emphasising their role as wives, mothers and homemakers.' Why is it "legitimate" for girls to be married at the age of nine? What is the Islamic preceden... more »
"The Wisdom Of Studs Terkel"
“I thought, if ever there were a time to write a book about hope, it's now.” “Why are we born? We're born eventually to die, of course. But what happens between the time we're born and we die? We're born to live. One is a realist if one hopes.” “The September 11 assault was horrendous. But there's another assault that's taking place. It's an assault upon our intelligence. It's an assault upon our sense of decency as well as upon our faiths too, I believe.” “That's what we're missing. We're missing argument. We're missing debate. We're missing colloquy. We're missing all sorts of th... more »
"Three Blind Men and an Elephant"
"Three Blind Men and an Elephant" An Indian/Chinese Legend "One day, three blind men happened to meet each other and gossiped a long time about many things. Suddenly one of them recalled, "I heard that an elephant is a queer animal. Too bad we're blind and can't see it. "Ah, yes, truly too bad we don't have the good fortune to see the strange animal," another one sighed. The third one, quite annoyed, joined in and said, "See? Forget it! Just to feel it would be great." "Well, that's true. If only there were some way of touching the elephant, we'd be able to know," they all agreed. ... more »
Understanding the Spiritual Causes of Depression
*Open* - Can you believe it, 70% of Americans are on some kind of prescription drug and more than half receive at least two prescriptions? The post Understanding the Spiritual Causes of Depression appeared first on Waking Times.
Illinois's Worst Democratic Congressmember Lands A Key DCCC Position-- Proppin' Up The Blue Dogs
Illinois has more than its share of conservative Democrats in Congress with a tendency to back Republican legislative priorities and to show more sympathy for the desires of Big Business campaign donors than for ordinary working families. According to ProgressivePunch, the 4 Illinois Democrats with the most right-wing voting records-- from bad to worse-- are *•* Tammy Duckworth- 64.91 *•* Dan Lipinski- 59.53 *•* Bill Foster- 55.35 *•* Cheri Bustos- 43.97 Worse yet, 3 of the 4-- scratch Lipinski-- are angling for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Mark Kirk i... more »
Former Acting CIA Director Mike Morrell: ‘There’s No Stomach To Send 100,000 U.S. Troops To Stop The Islamic State'
*Washington Free Beacon*: *Mike Morell: 100,000 Troops Needed to Stop Islamic State, But ‘There’s No Stomach for That’* *WNU Editor:* Mike Morrell is right .... the U.S. public is not interested in getting involved in another major Middle Eastern war.
Rally for Wild Buffalo and Wolves Montana Capitol Feb. 10, 2015
RALLY FOR WILD BUFFALO AND WOLVES AT MONTANA'S CAPITOL Buffalo Field Campaign Joins in Solidarity with Tribal Communities By Stephany Seay, Buffalo Field Campaign Jimmy St. Goddard, Blackfeet Confederacy Nikos Pastos, Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille Censored News HELENA, MONTANA -- Buffalo Field Campaign will support tribal communities at the State Capitol in Helena, Montana
Chief Ribbon Cutter Obama slams Christianity and everyone acts surprised...
*why?* “Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. Unless we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place. Remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. And our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.” Obama at Prayer Breakfast 2/5/2015
IPR and Innovation 20: The GIPC Intellectual Property Index, 2015 Report
The GIPC International IP Index, 3rd Edition, 2015 Report was released yesterday by the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) of the US Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC. Thirty (30) countries were covered (vs. 25 countries in the 2014 Report) and assessed on six IP categories: (1) Patents, Related Rights, and Limitations; (2) Copyrights, Related Rights, and Limitations; (3) Trademarks, Related Rights, and Limitations; (4) Trade Secrets and Market Access; (5) Enforcement; and (6) Membership and Ratification of International Treaties. The highest possible score that a country ... more »
Why Is The U.S. Government Still Classifying Pages Of The 9/11 Report?
*Samuel Oakford, VICE News:* *US Secrecy Slammed After New Claims That Saudi Royals Supported Al Qaeda* *Update:* Claims Against Saudis Cast New Light on Secret Pages of 9/11 Report (NYT) *WNU Editor:* The still-classified 28 page section of the investigation by congressional intelligence committees into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that examines crucial support given the hijackers is rearing its head again .... and justifiably so. I think now is the time to declassify that section of the report ... but I suspect that the intel and information that is in it is still explosive. On ... more »
President Obama At National Prayer Breakfast: Compares Christianity To Islamic State But Separated By A Thousand Years. States Christianity Was Used To Justify Jim Crow And Slavery
*WNU Editor*: President Obama tries to justify and explain his political take on religion. Even going back 1,000 years of Christian history to defend his present stance on radical Islam. This is an unbelievably narrow view on religion .... especially on Christian history. Talk about channeling Reverend Wright. Hearing this I would have walked out of the room .... if I want to be insulted I would prefer to be in a different venue. *Update*: Of course the media focus is elsewhere ....* Obama warns at National Prayer Breakfast of those who use religion to wage war* (Washington Pos... more »
Europe and Asia Financial News and Views - February 5 , 2015 - Greece in Focus - Banks off 23 percent early in today's session ( ECB plays hardball with Greece , yet the German taxpayer at high risk in case of Grexit. Does Greece call the hand overplayed by Germany and ECB or completely fold up their negotiating tent ? ) IMF seeks to limit Ukraine Bailout Share ? China cuts RRR 50 bps - first cut in three years...... Japan's endless QE Sea ( as their ten year JGB now has a higher yield than German ten year Bunds ) ..... Argentina Presidents mocks chinese accent - while in China ?
Tweets..... Greece..... *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 2m 2 minutes ago #ECB grants Bank of #Greece ELA of about €60bn ~Die Welt Schauble - Varoufakis presser - highlights.... *Kathimerini English *@ekathimerini 4m 4 minutes ago #Varoufakis "It's up to Eurogroup to come up with bridging program" #Greece - *Open Europe* @OpenEurope 54s 55 seconds ago #Varoufakis when asked about the conditions in current programme that Greek gov't cannot fulfill: "I could go on forever." - *zerohedge* @zerohedge 6m 6 minutes ago VAROUFAKIS: "WE WILL DO EVERYTH... more »
Ukraine - Russia Situation ( February 2 , 2015 ) -- Focus primarily on Ukraine ......Reviewing battles on the ground in East Ukraine Regions , economic and political situation .....some additional items on Russia
Links...... Anti - War.... *US Mulls Sending Ukraine Missiles, Other Arms* *Ukraine Rebels Hope to Recruit 100,000 Fighters* On Front Lines in Ukraine, Rebels Are Upbeat and Eager to Advance Russia, Ukraine in Indirect Talks Over Key Black Sea Air Corridor Capital . ua Monday, 2 February 2015 - - - Ukrainian PC market dropped to the level of 2005 18:04 - - Ukrgasbank requires UAH 4 bln of additional capital 14:13 - Five troops killed in eastern Ukraine in past 24 hours, - Ukrainian official 09:49 - - Roscosmos stops using Ukraine's Zenit... more »
Europe's Monday - a review of Monday February 2 , 2015 - Focus on Post Election Greece / Syriza steps toward talking to the EU and EZ Countries as it prepares for debt talks ..... Denmark in focus as stealth QE kicks in ( Denmark halts debt sales to protect it peg to euro ) ...... Spain in focus and Podemos items of note..... Additional items ......
Tweets..... Greece..... Odd tidings on Greece's looming negotiation with the Troika ! *zerohedge* @zerohedge · 2h2 hours ago Desperately Seeking BTFDers: Greek Bank Bonds Plummet As ECB Decision Looms http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-0 2/desperately-seeking-btfders-greek-bank-bonds-plummet-ecb-decision-looms … *zerohedge* @zerohedge · 4h4 hours ago Greece Changes Strategy: No Longer Demands Debt Write Off, Proposes Debt Exchange Instead http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-0 2/greece-changes-strategy-no-longer-demands-debt-write-proposes-debt-exchange-instead … *... more »
Financial Wrap for January 31, 2015 - Greece moves forward with its plan to restore itself and shake off austerity and debt bondage , EU resistance clear and Germany forgets history .....Italy elects its new President Serrgio Mattarella .... US Bonds continue their strange and magical journey ....... Keep your eyes on China and the yuan...... 3.6 Trillion in NIRP Bonds ? Keep your eyes on Podemos in Spain !
Tweets...... *zerohedge* @zerohedge 46s 47 seconds ago ECB Threatens Athens With Bank Funding Cutoff If No Deal In One Month: February 28 Is Now D-Day For Greece http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-3 1/ecb-threatens-athens-bank-funding-cutoff-if-no-deal-one-month-february-28-now-d-day- … *zerohedge* [image: View this content on zerohedge's website] ECB Threatens Athens With Bank Funding Cutoff If No Deal In One... Earlier today the ECB's Erikki Liikanen, tired of pleasantries and dealing with what to Europe is a completely incomprehensible and illogical stance, once which ... more »
Russia shocks with interest rate cut , ruble slides past 71 ( January 30 , 2015 ) ...... Greece Leaders start process of meeting compadres in europe , negotiations on the Greece situation just beginning ...... Europe in deflation ...... Germans against Greece debt write-down ........ Italy fails in second attempt to elect President ..... Additional items of note !
Tweets...... *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts 7m 7 minutes ago If Greek govt holds firm with 'dirty exit' from the bailout agreements, I very much doubt the ECB will approve ELA beyond Feb 20. Game on. *Kathimerini English *@ekathimerini 38s 39 seconds ago Greek Finance Ministry cleaners show dichotomy of Tsipras as markets tumble. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_artic les_wsite1_1_30/01/2015_546694 … *zerohedge* @zerohedge 3m 3 minutes ago TREASURIES EXTEND GAINS; 10Y YIELD TOUCHES 1.707% *zerohedge* @zerohedge 21s 21 seconds ago Monte Paschi Falls on Rep... more »
Middle East and North Africa Watch ( January 29 -30 , 2015 ) - Yemen / Iran / Libya / Iraq and Syria Regional war / Lebanon / Jordan / Israel / Saudi Arabia in Focus
Links .... *Syria al-Qaeda Seizes 'Moderate' Rebel Positions* *Uncertainty on ISIS-Jordan Prisoner Swap as Another Deadline Passes* *Simultaneous Attacks Across Egypt's Sinai Kill 27* *Intel Gaps Mount as Yemen Drone War Continues* *New Saudi King Announces Major Govt Shake-Up* *Afghan Soldier Kills Three US Contractors at Kabul Airport* *White House: Taliban Not Terrorists* Tweets..... Yemen..... 1/30/15..... RT retweeted *RT America* @RT_America 6m 6 minutes ago US lacks intelligence to continue waging indiscriminate drone warfare in *Yemen* http://on.rt.com/qaoe4c ... more »
Syrian Rebels Declare Damascus A Military Zone
*BBC:* *Syria conflict: Dozens killed in heavy Damascus fighting* *WNU Editor:* It was always a war zone .... nothing new here. *More News On Syrian Rebels Declaring Damascus A Military Zone* Syria strikes kill 57 after rebel fire on Damascus: monitor -- AFP Rocket attacks on Damascus kill 10 after Islam Army warning -- Daily Mail/Reuters 21 Dead in Damascus as Syrian Forces, Rebels Trade Salvos -- AP Syria strikes kill 57 after rebel fire on Damascus -- i24 News Update: Mortar rounds rain down Damascus as rebels threat more escalation -- Xinhua News Agency
The Economy: Greg Hunter, “Gregory Mannarino: World War III Has Started”
*“Gregory Mannarino: World War III Has Started”* By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com “Analyst and trader Gregory Mannarino says, “We are deeply engaged in an economic war against Russia. This is a collective collusion that is very scary. We just found out the OPEC nations have increased their production of oil despite the fact that we’ve seen crude oil fall 60% or more from its high. Does that make any sense? This should not happen. They are going to increase production when the price is falling off a cliff. OPEC has made it clear for many years now they think $100 a barrel is a fair ... more »
Russian Interview: The roots of ISIS/L run deep in the Pankisi Gorge, Georgia
Pankisi Gorge, Georgia, Western backed Islamists have been covered here at the blog previously. I will relink older posts at then bottom of this post. *RFEurope- US propaganda outfit*- makes news of this interview, for the sole purpose of discrediting the geographic/strategic role of Pankisi Gorge, Georgia in creating a very large stable of NATO backed Islamist fighters. A kind of Islamist french foreign legion. A Gladio B, if you wish? Through numerous western backed proponents of radical Islam hailing from Saudi Arabia & Turkey, the US/UK and Israel connived together, to create ... more »
CRUCIFYING KRISTOF: Killing the pigs among The Others!
*THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015Part 4—A (shining) path appears:* Nicholas Kristof’s recent column about Kevin Green seemed peculiar to us in at least several ways. Most peculiar was the way he savaged “lots of Americans” for their (imagined) reaction to his late friend’s difficult life—an (imagined) reaction which, in fairly obvious ways, would make fairly obvious sense. Kristof told a tragic story as he sketched his late friend’s difficult life. According to Kristof, Green had failed to pay court-ordered child support for his twin sons. This had reached the point where Green had his ... more »
Your Body on Diet Soda
*Infographic -* Sweet, fizzy diet soda may seem like a dieter's dream - but the lack of calories does not outweight many very unpleasant and unhealthy side effects. The post Your Body on Diet Soda appeared first on Waking Times.
Schedule Apache Oak Flat Resistance Feb. 2015
Save Oak Flat PROTEST Office of Senator John McCain Friday February 6, 2015 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM 2201 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ In Solidarity with the call by the Apache Nation to stand in defense of the Sacred Oak Flat, a PROTEST ar Senator John McCain's office in Phoenix is being organized for Friday February 6 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.In an underhanded land swap package
Sask Premier Brad Wall May Use 'Notwithstanding Clause' To Sidestep Supreme Court Decision On Right To Strike ...
*Premier Brad Wall continues to hold firm to the base ideology of a 'businesses over persons' ideologue and says he may invoke the Canadian Constitution's 'notwithstanding clause' to suppress a working persons right to strike in Saskatchewan.* *CBC* *The notwithstanding clause was used previously in Saskatchewan by Wall's former employer, disgraced Conservative Premier Grant Devine.* *"In 1986, the Saskatchewan legislature introduced back-to-work legislation to end a strike by public service employees. The government introduced the legislation based on the grounds it needed to... more »
World News Briefs -- February 5, 2015
*BBC:* *Ukraine crisis: Leaders in new diplomatic push for peace* *MIDDLE EAST* Jordan carries out new air strikes* after pilot’s murder*. Jordan launches new airstrikes* after vowing harsh war on IS.* Jordan's King vows *'relentless' war against IS*. U.N. plan for local ceasefires *in Syria 'frozen': diplomats*. Baghdad's decade-old curfew *to be lifted*. Baghdad curfew ended by *Iraq PM Haider al-Abadi*. Yemen talks continue *despite expired deadline*. Iran’s president accuses* nuclear powers of hypocrisy*. New Saudi King Salman makes early mark,* reshapes policy team*. *ASIA... more »
Gloss over
Gloss over Gloss ober Gloss uber all Gloss nicht mine Gloss take a stand Gloss over Gloss over
Are things better or worse?
They are so much better you could not fit the graph on one page. Yes the middle class faces extintion. But being poor in the future may be a better more sustaniable life style. Serving the 1% may be better than democracy. I am just thinking life in Singapore. It does not matter if the cat is black or white as long as cats have a warm place to sleep.
10 Differences Between Chlidren Who Grew Up in the 70’s vs. Today
*Marco Torres* - Children are being trained and almost indoctrinated into a world where "the norm" is to fear everything and everyone... The post 10 Differences Between Chlidren Who Grew Up in the 70’s vs. Today appeared first on Waking Times.
Researchers Conclude Wireless Radiation Causes Cancer
*Waking Times* - Based on the accumulation of research demonstrating the health effects from wireless radiation, “the debate is over” on wireless. The post Researchers Conclude Wireless Radiation Causes Cancer appeared first on Waking Times.
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 5, 2015
*RT*: *30,000 troops, 6 rapid units: NATO increases military power in Eastern Europe* *Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 5, 2015* Ukraine crisis: Nato to bolster Eastern Europe against Russia -- BBC NATO Reports Russian Military Involvement in Ukraine Reduced to Specialist Roles -- Moscow Times/Reuters UK to Send 1,000 More Troops to Bolster NATO Forces in Eastern Europe -- Sputnik NATO Pledges Support for Ukraine, No Word on Weapons -- WSJ NATO Chief to Meet With Ukrainian President Poroshenko in Munich Saturday -- Sputnik Top NATO general warns of Russian reac... more »
Ready for Hillary: The Bush-Saudi Connection
Now that President Obama and his retinue are safely back from groveling before the Saudi royal family, they can get back to politics as usual.. They can insist (indirectly, through the *New York* *Times*) that not only did the Bush retinue grovel worse, they were even complicit in 9/11. It's been an open secret for years that certain members of the royal family were whisked out of the country in the immediate aftermath of the attacks: the only people permitted to breach the no-fly zone. Open government advocates have long demanded the declassification of a redacted portion of the 9/... more »
Three Sources of Antibiotics That Threaten Human Health
*Dr. Mercola* - Antibiotic overuse is rampant. Inappropriate use and negligent disposal of antibiotics is also a major part of the problem. Three of the primary sources of antibiotics that threaten health are... The post Three Sources of Antibiotics That Threaten Human Health appeared first on Waking Times.
How low can they go? Sports Illustrated cover - A Rule 5 post
That bikini bottom really couldn't reveal any more without revealing too much to be safe for work, could it? Jimmy Fallon reveal the cover of the 2015 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition featuring Hannah Davis.
Daiichi is Looking Terribly Pink for this Time of Day
Jan 31 16:35 and 16:37
Screenshots from Last Few Days
Exceptionally pink glow at Daiichi Time stamp Jan 29 6:41 AM Elevated radiation levels yesterday Levels were actually even higher than this shot earlier (see screenshot from yesterday). Based on the pattern of elevated readings it looked to me if they started in the south and moved northwards. Typically thick emissions from units 2, 3 and 4 here (time stamp Jan 30 23:32). Notice the red area:
Brought to You by the Nuclear Complex....
Screenshots taken this morning. Source of elevated radiation levels unknown. Official response: None. The government of radiation is predicated upon the idea that “low levels” of contamination produced by the nuclear-industrial-military complex pose relatively few, predictable risks to impacted human populations and ecologies. Consequently, using cost-benefit analyses of radiation risks and benefits, government agencies in nuclear nations allow routine contamination by radionuclides, although each nation sets official limits and deploys government bureaucracies to monitor and ... more »
ASD's Mentor, the RSD, Is Near the Bottom in ACT Scores, Even in Louisiana
Mercedes Schneider recently took a brief furlough from plumping Diane Ravitch's pillows and celebrating their many accomplishments to do what Mercedes does best when she is not, otherwise, preoccupied with imagining herself as the next *grande dame* of anti-reformy talk groups. Mercedes provided us with a version of the state's Excel file on all of Louisiana's ACT scores, including the corporate Recovery School District--which is comprised of charters, the majority of which are in New Orleans. The same information is provided here, with a bit more detail. Tennessee, Michigan, and... more »
Iraq National Guard Bill Finally Out Of Cabinet And In Parliament But No Guarantee Of Passage
After months of bickering Iraq’s cabinet finally approved the draft bill on creating a new National Guard. There were deep differences within the Council of Ministers over who would control the Guard, how big it would be, who would pay for it, etc. Many Shiite and Kurdish parties were afraid that the new force would be taken over by insurgents or anti-government tribes. Several major revisions were made to the draft legislation before it was passed onto parliament, but there are still enough differences that there is no guarantee that it will be voted on any time soon. When Prime... more »
The CIA coined the phrase Conspiracy Theory what a surprise
Divide and conquer is the secret of Empires. It works with knowledge as well. If you can maintain confusion, there will be no decision. This worked for tobacco for centuries and now all those folks work on the global warming file, using the same old disinformation plow.
Russian Foreign Ministry: U.S. Delivery of Arms To Ukraine Will Be Seen As A Threat To Russian Security
*Reuters:* *Russia sees security threat if U.S. gives Kiev lethal arms* *WNU Editor*: Shipment of arms to Ukraine will be seen by Russia as a U.S./NATO attempt to not only start a proxy war against Russia, but to also dissolve the Post-Cold War understandings on Russian - European national security concerns. This is an ominous development .... and Russia will respond. *More News On Russian Reports That U.S. Delivery of Arms To Ukraine Will Be Seen As A Threat To Russian Security* Possible US arms supplies to Ukraine threaten Russia's secutiry — Foreign Ministry -- ITAR-TASS Rus... more »
Antisemitic incidents on the rise
Pro Palestinians often protest that the Arabs are being made to suffer for wrongs done, not by them, but by the Nazis. No doubt the original ‘suffering’ was the insult of having Jews as next door neighbours. Lyn Julius writes about the Middle East’s forgotten Jewish refugees from Arab and Muslim countries. If anyone ever tries to tell you that the Palestinians are paying the price for the crimes of others, they’re mistaken. Hitler and the Arabs worked closely. They were buddies. Maybe not a lot of people know that. *“ "Anti-Semitic reactions to the conflict in Israel and Gaza"... more »
"The True History of the Origins of Police"
*Chicago police attacking a Memorial Day picnic of approximately 1000 unarmed strikers and family members at the Republic Steel plant — May 1937. 10 were shot dead, another 30 were wounded, and nearly the same number suffered serious head injuries from police beatings (source)* *by Gaius Publius* I found the following article, posted at Alternet and written by Sam Mitrani, a history professor at the College of DuPage, absolutely fascinating. We've been discussing, in these pages and elsewhere, the behavior of "our" police forces and their frequent mistreatment of citizens, especia... more »
U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry Hold Talks In Ukraine
*Washington Post:* *Kerry holds talks in Ukraine amid bid by European partners to quell fighting* *WNU Editor:* I doubt that U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry is involved in Europe's new peace plan .... that it is a coincidence that he will be in the same city while French leader Hollande and German Chancellor Merkel are arriving with their peace plan. The actual reason why John Kerry is there is to discuss lay the groundwork for shipments of U.S. military aid .... a point that even Ukrainian President Poroshenko has already indicated* that he was expecting*. As to why the German and ... more »
Change the Narrative on Terrorism
Montreal Simon is saying that it's smart politics for Justin Trudeau (whose Liberals are doing most of the water-carrying here) and Thomas Mulcair (who have at least mentioned grave concerns about a lack of oversight) to acquiesce to the harpercons' new "anti-terror" bill and then change it later. This way, they don't fall into harper's trap. Because if they voted against it (it would still pass because of harper's fraudulently arrived at majority) harper would be able to paint them as being "soft on terror." That may or may not be true. I'm not going to dispute Simon's assertion o... more »
Titanium for the cost of Aluminum
Materials are the fabric of our life. Imagine a world where we used aluminium or even steel instead of plastic. Mine once use forever. Well the prospect of Titanium Cars and boats, even ships is the stuff of science fiction.
Jordan Launches Airstrikes Against The Islamic State
*Washington Post*: *Jordan hits Islamic State with airstrikes as king visits family of pilot burned alive* *More News On Jordan Launching Airstrikes Against The Islamic State* Jordan launches new airstrikes on ISIS -- CSM/AP Jordan carries out new air strikes after pilot’s murder -- The Guardian Jordanian jets hit ISIS targets in Syria -- USA Today Jordan planes strike Islamic State after pilot murder: Official -- AFP Jordanian fighter jets strike hard at ISIS, pay tribute to murdered pilot -- FOX News Jordan's King Vows 'Relentless' War Against IS -- VOA
Defending Pete Carroll
Justin Wolfers says that, by the logic of game theory, the losing Superbowl coach does not deserve all the opprobrium he has been getting. I have been thinking the same thing.
Breaking News Ukraine: The Cauldron is closed
*Map of "the Cauldron" in Eastern Ukraine* *Wondering why Kerry is in a flap and going to Europe and why the leaders of France and Germany are going to "present a plan" to Putin on Friday? Well, all you need to do is look the above map to find out.* The above map is courtesy of The Vinyard of The Saker blog...you will NEVER see such a map in the main$tream media. The Ukraine military is the blue and, of course, the pro-Russian militia is in the red. Reminds me of the old joke....the Lone Ranger and Tonto are on horseback riding through the West and Indians appear on the horizon... more »
Top Iran Commander: The 'U.S. Is Begging For A Deal'
Major General Mohammad Reza Naghdi . Flickr *Washington Free Beacon:** Iran: The ‘Americans Are Begging Us for a Deal’* *‘Iran prepares itself for war with global powers’* *WNU Editor:* I would love to be a fly in their conference room when these Iranians discuss issues like this one.
A New Ukrainian Peace Plan? French, German Leaders to Visit Ukraine, Russia
*Reuters*: *German, French leaders to take Ukraine peace plan to Kiev, Moscow* *WNU Editor: *I am not optimistic. This is an attempt to freeze the conflict .... not to look for a political solution. I personally doubt that the pro-Russian rebels are going to accept this status quo .... especially since the momentum is now in their favor, and the U.S. is now openly hinting that they are going to send trainers (who are already there), weapons and arms to Ukraine. *More News On The Latest Ukraine Peace Plan* Ukraine crisis: Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande to fly to Russia - live... more »
Cohen: They are Calling for War with Russia
*STEPHEN COHEN:* What’s happening in Ukraine? Gorbachev had it right. We’re in a new Cold War with Russia. The epicenter of the new Cold War is not in Berlin, like the last one, but it’s right on Russia’s borders, so it’s much more dangerous. You and I have talked about this since February, I think. What I foresaw in February has played out, I regret to say: A political dispute in Ukraine became a Ukrainian civil war. Russia backed one side; the United States and NATO, the other. So it’s not only a new Cold War, it’s a proxy war. We’re arming Kiev. Russians are arming the eastern ... more »
OAIS Blogging Awards: And the Finalists Are….
Thanks to all of you who voted for this year’s OAIS Blogging Awards finalists. We had an amazing pool of nominees again this year in all four categories. We had a record voter turnout — it’s exciting to see the growth in interest in the Duckies in the past three years. It is even more Continue reading
Stephen Houdini
http://www.biography.com/ Like Harry Houdini, Stephen Harper has built his career on illusion. His chief accomplishment has been to convince a significant number of Canadians that he is someone he is not. Along the way, he has sold a number of other illusions. Most important among them is the notion that he a a champion of the little guy. He has told middle class Canadians that he manages the economy for their benefit. Recent events, Geoffrey Hall writes, have exposed the lie behind that claim: Harper’s carefully crafted image presen...more »
Six ans après avoir reçu le Cervarix, ma vie n’est toujours pas normale par Barbara Koci
« Six ans après avoir reçu le Cervarix, ma vie n’est toujours pas normale » Par Barbora Koci, République Tchèque, 23 janvier 2015 Ma grand-mère a fait un cancer du col de l’utérus quand elle avait 50 ans. Elle a maintenant 83 ans. C’est là la raison principale pour laquelle je me suis décidée à faire le vaccin Cervarix. J’avais pensé qu’il me protégerait contre une maladie pas agréable du tout. J’ai tout payé de ma poche. J’avais 16 ans quand on m’a fait la première injection. En tout, j’ai eu 3 injections. Un mois plus tard, je suis devenue vraiment très malade. C’était un peu c... more »
String theory cleverly escapes acausality traps
String theory's forefather Gabriele Veneziano and three equally Italian co-authors submitted an interesting preprint, Regge behavior saves String Theory from causality violations They were intrigued by a Maldacena and 3 pals paper from July 2014 (I encourage all serious readers to get familiar with the names of the co-authors in both papers). All these folks studied the violations of causality in quantum gravity. Causality is the obviously necessary principle saying that the cause must precede its effect. In special relativity, this principle is strengthened. Because it has to be v... more »
Six Years After Cervarix My Life is Still Not Normal by Barbara Koci Novy Jicin
Six years after Cervarix my life is still not normal by Barbora Koci, Novy Jicin Czech Republic Sane Vax Inc., 23 January 2015 My grandma had cervical cancer when she was 50. She is 83 years old now. This was the main reason why I decided to have this vaccine called Cervarix. I believed it would protect me from this unpleasant disease. I paid for it privately. I was 16 at the time of the first inoculation. I had all three shots. A month later I became very ill. It seemed that my immune system was giving up. It all started as flu like symptoms. Three days later I developed high ... more »
Untitled
*GOP Leaders: School Choice a ‘Civil Rights Issue’* In celebration of National School Choice Week at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, GOP leaders came together to tout the benefits of school choice, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) who said that “education ought to be the civil right of the 21st century.” National School Choice Week is an “annual celebration of all the options available to families and children nationwide.” “Education ought to be the civil right of the 21st century – and you have the power to make it happen,” Boehner told students, teachers and parents ... more »
Untitled
*Zurik: What's a million-dollar contract between friends? Ask Sheriff Gusman ~Fox 8 WVUE* *Levee authority plans to ask St. Bernard to reconsider rejection of property tax ~Bob Marshall, The Lens* *Delta Blues Part 3: Better Together ~WWNO* Louisiana's Bird's Foot Delta, *Landsat 7*Louisiana faces the highest rates of sea level rise in the world. As policy and funding debates rage over how to best restore and protect our coastal communities, local leaders also look for allies elsewhere. On the other side of the globe, they've found sympathetic ears in Vietnam. That nation also has a... more »
Untitled
*IPCC Climate Science As A Gestalt Theory Problem* by Dr Tim Ball, Climatologist The proverb that “they can’t see the forest for the trees” means, they are so consumed with detail, they don’t understand the larger situation. This is true of society in general and climatology in particular. gestalt One book that at least addresses part of the problem as it relates to climate, is Essex and McKitrick’s Taken By Storm, in the chapter titled, “Climate Theory Versus Models and Metaphors”. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has exacerbated, amplified and exploited the ... more »
Islamosemitisophobia
You know when the whole class is punished for the misdemeanours of a minority? Well, society’s mischief-maker in chief is always getting others into trouble. The present issue is the Halal debacle. But also, there is the circumcision debate. And the ‘religious practices’ issue. Religious dress. Oh, and racism. Society’s mischief-maker is actually ‘the Muslim’. Now that there are so many of them in Britain, or at least it seems as though there are, and they’re so demanding, Muslim related issues are continually dominating the news. They’re responsible for an emerging tidal wave of... more »
Rip-off News round-up. Our pick of the last week's media (Thu 5th February)
Sports Direct faces multimillion-pound claim from zero-hours contract workers Nearly 300 workers were excluded from the retailer’s generous bonus scheme because they were on zero-hours contracts. The bonus scheme paid out about £160m worth of shares to 2,000 “permanent” workers in 2013. Lawyers acting for the part-time staff sent letters to Sports Direct’s legal team on Friday claiming a
PMQs
I am not a big fan of PMQs as I find the answers (and often the questions) generally over rehearsed and I despair of the obsession with finding the best soundbite. Yesterday's PMQs was no different but even I enjoyed Prime Minister David Camron's quip that 'Bill Somebody's not a person, bill somebody is Labour's policy'.
Musical Interlude: Sultana, “Te Amo” (Madgipsy Remix)
Sultana, “Te Amo” (Madgipsy Remix) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlLl127wcr0 Turn it up! lol...
Where Libraries Are Sited Is As Important As What They Do?
Public Libraries where often built as large standalone buildings in the central Victorian and Edwardian civic centres, many of which remain today. They then spawned local branches with the expansion of the suburbs and even had mobile units to cater for the rural areas. Currently the role and overall library offer is being brought into constant commercial and digital question. Where should they be sited? What should they provide? What is their role in the community? What is difference between local, civic and national Libraries? As UK retail profiles continue to change The Local Da... more »
Boeing Receives Contract to Modernize B-52 with Digital Communications
[image: B-52 Stratofortress]The B-52 Stratofortress bomber was built during the Cold War, but its digital capabilities have entered the 21st century thanks to Boeing’s ongoing Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) upgrade. On Jan. 28, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a full rate production contract to deliver 10 CONECT kits that modernize communication systems for the B-52 bombers today and into the future. Those technology enhancements include full-color LCD displays with real-time intelligence feeds overlaid on moving maps, several communication data links that conn... more »
Thales awarded contract for the Flight Management System software for the modernisation of the US Army’s UH-60V Black Hawk Cockpit
[image: UH-60 Black Hawk]Thales announces that it has been selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation to supply its state of the art Flight Management System software, i-FMS200, which will be embedded in the avionics mission equipment package that Northrop Grumman will provide to upgrade the US Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The upgraded version of the Black Hawk helicopter will be known as UH‑60V. Thales has been working closely with Northrop Grumman Corporation over the past three years to provide a proven, scalable and modular Flight Management System (FMS) software design t... more »
China voices concern over U.S. THAAD on Korean soil
[image: THAAD missile launcher]China's defense minister expressed concern Wednesday over a possible deployment of the United States' advanced missile-defense (MD) system in South Korea, Seoul's defense ministry said. The U.S. has said it is considering deploying a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, an integral part of its MD system, to South Korea, citing evolving threats from North Korea. It is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at a higher altitude in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill method. "Chinese Defense M... more »
New Russian Tor Missile System Preparing to Blast Off
[image: Tor-M2U]Air defense units of Russia’s Eastern Military District stationed in Khabarovsky Territory started getting acquainted with the all-new Tor-M2U missile system which came into service late 2014, the district reported in a statement. "Personnel arrived at the special air defense center in the Krasnodarsky Territory where they will learn how to load the missile system and how to find and recognize targets. The first target practice with the Tor-M2U will be held at a training range of the Kapustin Yar air defense center in Spring 2015," the statement reads. More so, the ... more »
Pakistan Successfully Tests Ra'ad Cruise Missile; Will it Counter India's Nirbhay?
In news that could rattle some nerves on the eastern side of the Pakistani border, Pakistan successfully tested Ra'ad air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) or HatF 8 a couple of days ago. Pakistan has claimed that this cruise missile had a "successful Flight Test" and the missile was "indigenously developed," according to a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The testing of this missile comes after India's successful test of its nuclear-capable canister launch Agni 5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which has a range of more than 5,000 kms. Read more
Nigeria set to lose $466m in arms deal
[image: Su-25 Frogfoot]Whistleblowers in the defence industry are raising the alarm over a massive fraud of $466.5 million about to be executed at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) with some arms dealers, using the United States’ refusal to grant export permit for military hardware to Nigeria as pretext. A letter to the government aroused the suspicion. An arms procurement company wrote that in view of the refusal of the US to give export licence to Nigeria, it had reached an agreement with NAF to substitute the initial order for Cobra AH-IV with alternate attack platform which it claimed... more »
Eurojet continues support of engines on Typhoon fighters
[image: Eurofighter Typhoon]EJ200 engines used on Typhoon aircraft flown by Britain, Italy, Germany and Spain will continue to receive support services from Eurojet. The three-year support contract awarded to Eurojet, the consortium responsible for the EJ200 engine, was issued by the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency and is the sixth Operational Phase contract it has received. "This contract signature marks an important step towards the future, assuring support of the Typhoon fleets for uninterrupted operations and including savings that will underpin confidence in our a... more »
Everything is normal: France on Rafale deal
[image: Dassault Rafale]Putting a brave face despite the multi-billion dollar Rafale fighter jet contract flowing into rough weather, France on Wednesday claimed that everything is going "normal". Interestingly, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will not be raising the issue of the much delayed Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) during his three day-visit beginning tomorrow. "Clearly the defence procurement is not part of the agenda of this visit," said French sources refusing to comment on the Rafale deal. Read more
Navy Investigating Alleged Filming of Women in USS Stennis Bathroom
[image: USS John C. Stennis]The Navy is investigating an incident last week aboard the USS John C. Stennis in which a sailor allegedly filmed female officers inside their bathroom. The aircraft carrier departed its Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton home Jan. 12 for flight qualifications off Southern California. The suspect came aboard with flight crews based there. The alleged incident occurred Thursday night. "I am extremely disappointed in the alleged misconduct by a sailor temporarily embarked aboard our ship," Capt. Mike Wettlaufer, Stennis commanding officer, said in a statement rele... more »
Do you share resources?
[image: Do you share resources?]*Sharing a bath saves water.*This month's Change The World Wednesday theme is "Sharing Resources". To live green, we might share information, products, natural resources, etc. So that got me thinking about all the ways we can use "sharing" to walk gentler on the earth. That's the basis of this survey: Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool. Join us on February 19th for the results.
Kid Against Chemo: 17-year-old is kicking cancer naturally by Alisha “Bee” Forrester Scott
[image: Jared Diaciik]Jared Kid Against Chemo: 17-year-old is kicking cancer naturally By Alisha “Bee” Forrester Scott Green Living AZ, February 2015 Meet Jared, a immunosuppressed teenager from northern Arizona. He received a heart transplant at five months old. He is a bright young man with many close friends. But you will not find Jared in school this year. On July 22, 2014, doctors discovered that his chest had been consumed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Prior to Jared’s diagnosis, his mother Lisa had contracted an unknown health condition that caused her to bleed through... more »
China’s anti-ship missiles YJ-12 and YJ-100 revealed
[image: A photo of YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles carried by the H-6G strategic bomber is circulated online]Photos of China’s supersonic anti-ship missile “YJ-12″ and long-range anti-ship cruise missile “YJ-100″ were recently revealed online. Someone analyzed that the warheads of the “YJ-12″ and “YJ-100″ have strong power. A single missile can paralyze or sink a warship weighing ten thousand tons. Li Li, a military expert, during the China Central Television (CCTV) interview, said both missiles can cause a severe damage to enemy’s large surface combat vessels. Read more
Semi-autonomous aviation controls coming to the fleet
[image: Magic Carpet]They say the most stressful job in the world is landing on an aircraft carrier at night in rough weather. On Thursday, Navy aviation officials are carrying out another round of tests on a control system that promises to take the edge off that sometimes harrowing experience. Meanwhile, showgoers at the Naval Future Force Science and Technology Expo in Washington, D.C., got a chance to sit in a faux cockpit and try out the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's system. Maritime Augmented Guidance with Integrated Controls for Carrier Approach and Recovery Pr... more »
Romania looks to revive Type 22 frigate upgrade programme
[image: Regele Ferdinand]Romania is set to rekindle long-delayed plans for the Phase 2 modernisation of its two Type 22 Batch 2 frigates, the head of the Romanian Navy has revealed. Addressing the IQPC Surface Warships 2015 conference in Genoa on 28 January, Rear Admiral (UH) Alexandru Mirsu, chief of the Romanian Naval Forces Staff, told delegates that the Romanian Navy was now looking to revive the Phase 2 upgrade during the course of 2015. "Our current thinking is to fit a modern combat management system, introduce a 3-D [surveillance] radar," he said, "and then to put some 'ki... more »
Global Wealth Distribution and Raising the Poor from Poverty
Poverty is completely solvable. But it bis not through the agencies that created it in the first place and that is hierarchical administration of credit. Credit needs to be administered through community application of the rule of twelve or some variation thereof. Governments then only need to match funds and with a suitable multiple to encourage internal lending. This is what micro finance stumbled into. Once every community is managing its internal credit the problem of poverty will disappear. Just understanding that the administration of the problem must be made lo... more »
India $100 billion defense upgrade programme and bigger procurement over next ten years
[image: INS Kolkata]India, the second most populous nation in the world, is in the midst of a $100-billion defense upgrade program. India cleared proposals worth nearly $3.5 billion in June. In the last half of 2014, $19 billion in military procurement was approved. India is the world's largest arms importer with the United States recently overtaking Russia as its biggest arms supplier. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has been pushing for greater indigenisation of the military industry as India imports around 70 percent of its defense hardware. Read more
Putin Spending Big On Military Modernization Despite Russia's Economic Woes
[image: RFS Yuri Dolgorukiy]Hundreds of new Russian aircraft, tanks and missiles are rolling off assembly lines. Russian jets roar through European skies under NATO's wary eye. Tens of thousands of troops take part in war games showing off the military's readiness for all-out war. The muscle flexing suggests that Russia's economic woes so far are having no impact on the Kremlin's ambitious military modernization program. Read more
Alibaba Starts Drone Delivery Trails in China
Maybe the optimum size of a printed book in the near future will not be determined by the print economics, but instead will be governed by its weight and dimensions. Delivery of small parcels such as books by drones may be science fiction to many, but it is clearly on the agenda of some today. Last November, Amazon's Prime Air was seeking UK Drone experts in Cambridge to help them test drones to deliver packages on up to 2.3kg (5lb) in weight to customers within 30 minutes of an order being placed. Prime Air adverts for engineers, software developers and scientists were posted on ... more »
Submarine John Warner (SSN 785) Coming to Life at Newport News Shipbuilding
[image: Sailors Prepare First Meal on John Warner]Huntington Ingalls Industries reached another milestone in the life of the company's newest Virginia-class submarine, John Warner (SSN 785), on Monday as the crew began moving aboard and ate its first meal prepared in the ship's galley. The submarine, named after former Senator John Warner, is in the final stages of construction and testing at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division. "The in-service milestone is an important event in the life of the submarine John Warner," said Cmdr. Dan Caldwell, the submarine's prospective comma... more »
Thin 'Bubble' Coatings Could Hide Submarines from Sonar
[image: USS Hampton (SSN-767)]Bubble-filled rubbery coatings may one day help make submarines virtually undetectable to sonar, researchers say. To avoid detection by sonar, military submarines are often covered with sound-absorbing tiles called anechoic coatings. These perforated rubber tiles are typically about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) thick. In the past decade, research has suggested that the same degree of stealth could be provided by much thinner coatings filled with vacant cavities. Read more
A U.S. - Iran Alliance For Stability In Afghanisatan, Iraq, And Afghanistan?
*Breitbart*: *Report: U.S. Prepared To Rely Upon Iran For Regional Stability In Afghanistan, Iraq & Syria* *European officials have reportedly relayed a message to Israeli officials about the Obama administration’s plans concerning the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. The U.S. and Iran are reportedly closing in on a deal that would allow the Ayatollah’s regime to keep the vast majority of its centrifuges running, while also allowing for Iran to be in charge of stabilizing its surrounding region.* *WNU Editor: *The Europeans were the ones who told Israel on what is the curr... more »
Chinese Yuan Crashes, Central Bank Move Coming?
[image: Chinese yuan (L) and U.S. dollar symbols displayed in a shop in Hong Kong. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)] Not unexpected with the fiat based capital boom ending as they always do. Yet i do not really know just how significant all this is. The sheer size of the Chineses economy puts all this into a different realm as we have learned watching China over decades. All instincts turn out to be wrong. Recall that just transitioning the last third of the Chinese completely into the modern economy will still take time and will still expand the Chinese economy. So it s... more »
Loser on the Moon: On Leonard Cohen, Fandom, and Posterity
[image: cohen] A recording artist who can put out an album in his eightieth year and sell well of course hardly needs introduction. Yet it is true that for most of his career, he was discovered rather than sold. I discovered him in 1967. My literature professor included him in his last lecture later that spring of 1968. Then he was a one hit wonder almost, but as a writer for other singers. His singing was utterly different and no one expected much of that. Yet this is all almost fifty years ago already. I accepted him then as a truly great poet and his remarkable achievem... more »
Chinese Leader ‘Grasps Knife Handle,’ Turning It on Foes
[image: Zhou Yongkang, then Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee member in charge of security, delivers a speech at a meeting in Beijing, China, May 18, 2012. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)] In case no one has noticed, we are watching a step by step housecleaning underway in China that is even now tightening its grip slowly on the military itself. Perhaps we will have no more bellicose pronouncements from them. It had to be done and once Xi's hand was forced, he obviously decided it was time to be also thorough. So far so good. Yet it appears that he is a long way fro... more »
Mike Philbin - personal artist/writer statement - 2015 and beyond...
*used to be a real artist* *"Life is like a box of terrorists, you never know which one your government's going to use against you for-PROFIT PATENT-protect reason."* This is not the opening line to anything someone wrote, it's just that way things are. So, what can we do as a race of hierarched upon underslaves and worker ants? Nothing, we just have to take the scalding water of law, "As our societal rank dictates." Unless... we break free of mind prisons and profit wars and vomit dogma. Unless we 'Free Planet' this whole near-molten sphere in space and start afresh, build some l... more »
ECB finally treats Greek junk as junk
For more than four decades, the Greeks disrespected all the basic principles of common sense and sane economic policies. For many years, it has been clear that they have ruined their nation and devoured their future and by helping them to sustain life resembling what they knew when their living standards peaked, one is only delaying the inevitable and does it for increasing costs while making the inevitably coming hard landing even harder. Ten days ago, Greece has elected an über-Marxist bunch of loons. For a formerly capitalist nation, this injury is incompatible with life. Tsipras... more »
UK anti-Semitism hit record level in 2014, report says per BBC News
The BBC manage to report the rise in anti-Semitism in the UK but of course don't mention Muslims even once. There's a clue when the BBC report: 'It said almost half the offenders made reference to Gaza or Palestinians.' But then that could apply to some BBC journalists as much as any anti-Semites. In any case: 'However, it said the number of incidents had already risen significantly in the first six months of the year, before the summer's conflict.' The BBC do find the space to report: 'one far-right activist said he was planning a protest there next month - against "Jewificati... more »
This interview with Paul Craig Roberts provides an excellent history of the neocons in the U.S., beginning with their prosecution by Ronald Reagan, their turning loose by George H. W. Bush, their acceptance by all presidents since then, and finally, when they have become totally insane, they have been given carte blanche by the U.S. government as they prepare to kill us all by provoking a nuclear war with Russia.
------------------------------ http://youtu.be/Il-Bbw6XJVc Russia and the Neocon March to World War 3 with Paul Craig Roberts *The LIP TV* *Published on Jan 30, 2015* The Neocon march to World War III with Russia is explored with retired Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Paul Craig Roberts. How George W. Bush and Dick Cheney managed to embolden the far right towards reckless endangerment of global peace, and how Russia has become the focus of the static is discussed. The possibility of global economic collapse, plus the Reagan administration figure talks about how the politi... more »
A Look At How The Syrian Government Is Using Cybersex To Gain Intel On Syria's Rebels
*Jamie Dettmer, Daily Beast*: * Assad’s Cybersex Strategy Suckers Syrian RebelsSyria’s insurgents (possibly including some from ISIS) have been seduced in chats with “girls” who send malware along with their sexy “selfies.” **WNU Editor:* You better avoid those Russian porn sites.
Here Comes The Debt Bomb
*Ralph Atkins, Financial Times: **Debt mountains spark fears of another crisis* *WNU Editor: *This is going to end badly and it will impact everyone .... the key question is when? *Update:* This is how crazy the situation is becoming (from *Zero Hedge*) .... First, from Bloomberg: *GREEK GOVT WON'T ACCEPT TROIKA REMAINING IN COUNTRY: OFFICIAL* And from Reuters: *EU'S SCHULZ SAYS GREEK GOV'T HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP ITS OBLIGATIONS TO EUROPEAN PARTNERS*
The U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee Supports Arming The Ukrainian Military
*New York Times*: *Defense Nominee Says He Would Consider More U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine* *WNU Editor*: The White House disagrees ....* White House disagrees with Carter on arms to Ukraine* (Washington Times) *More News On The U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee Stating His Support For Arming The Ukrainian Military* Obama's Pentagon nominee suggests support for arming Ukraine -- Reuters Ukraine crisis: Pentagon 'chief' inclined to send weapons -- BBC Nominee to Head Pentagon Backs 'Lethal Aid' to Ukraine -- Voice of America U.S. Defense Nominee Leans Toward Arms for Ukraine in Fight -... more »
Should Ukraine Officially Announce That It Is Now In A State Of War?
Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko sits in the driver's seat of an armoured vehicle in Kiev, January 30, 2015, in this handout courtesy of the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service. Credit: Reuters/Mykola Lazarenko/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuter *Anna Nemtsova, Daily Beast*: *It’s Time to Call Ukraine a War* *With casualties mounting, thousands of volunteers fighting Russian-backed rebels, and troops upset about shoddy treatment and equipment, some say Kiev should declare a state of war and professionalize the fight. * *WNU Editor*: Everyone knows that the... more »
Post-Cold War Caution And Prudence Is Now Coming To An End
Members of the armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic gather near an armoured vehicle destroyed during battles with the Ukrainian armed forces in Vuhlehirsk, Donetsk region, February 4, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov *Pat Buchanan, Real Clear Politics:* *U.S.-Russia Clash in Ukraine?* *Among Cold War presidents, from Truman to Bush I, there was an unwritten rule: Do not challenge Moscow in its Central and Eastern Europe sphere of influence.In crises over Berlin in 1948 and 1961, the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and the Warsaw Pact invasion of Pra... more »
The Debate On Giving Weapons To Ukraine Continues
Pro-Russian rebels drive a mobile anti-aircraft system Strela-10 in Donetsk on Tuesday. Photo: maxim shemetov/Reuters Wall Street Journal: *Russian Hard-Line Stance on Ukraine Prompts U.S. to Reconsider Policy* *As Kerry Heads to Kiev, Obama Administration Reconsiders Lethal Military Aid * *More News And Commentary On Supplying Arms To Ukraine* Pressure to arm Ukraine as war escalates -- The Australian On Military Aid to Ukraine, the Administration Zig-Zags -- WSJ Lawmakers push White House to supply arms to Ukraine -- The Hill Putin’s Invasion Continues To Widen. Let’s Give Ukrain... more »
Reasons for sentence in DeJaeger (Part only)
Erik DeJaeger was posted to Igloolik to do God’s work. He was trained as an Oblate missionary. He was an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church. The parishioners of Igloolik expected their priest to be a doer of good deeds. The reality would be very different. [2] Between 1978 and 1982, Mr. DeJaeger methodically victimized the vulnerable children and youth of his remote arctic parish. He is now to be sentenced for 32 sex related offences. There are 23 individual victims involved, ten females and thirteen males. All the victims are Inuit. The majority of the victims were be... more »
Israel, the psychopathic nation
Check out my new translation of Dr. Laurent Guyénot's article: Israel: The Psychopathic Nation Other recent articles include: Zionists linked to “Charlie Hebdo terrorists’ escape” Airline whistleblower solves 9/11 Press TV interview: Kevin Barrett says Israel lobby obstacle to progress in Iran nuclear talks Another Press TV interview, US military hijacked by Israel since 9/11...Kevin Barrett Press TV 01.15.2014 And if you speak Farsi… Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) interviews Kevin Barrett
Tania Head : 9/11 Survivors and Victims Family Groups
*“The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.” * *― Lenin* *"I am The Walrus"* *― Lennon*
Jeju Activists Coming to Maine
*Thanks to Dan Ellis for making the flyer.*
Adam Curtis - Bitter Lake
*"Events come and go like waves of a fever, leaving us confused and uncertain. Those in power tell stories to help us make sense of the complexity of reality, but those stories are increasingly unconvincing and hollow. This is a film about why those stories have stopped making sense, and how that led us in the West to become a dangerous and destructive force in the world. It is told through the prism of a country at the center of the world: Afghanistan." - Adam Curtis* *“The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.” * *― Lenin* *"I am The Walrus"* * ― Lennon* ... more »
What do you suppose the "fabulous" Aaron Schock is making of the horrific efforts of "Downton Abbey" under-butler Barrow to purge himself of Teh Gay?
*Not looking so well lately is our Thomas (Rob James-Collier)?* *by Ken* Today I took some much-needed time off work, and took advantage of the opportunity to catch up on some matters blog- and non-blog-related. Among the non-blog-related matters, as irony would have it, was a rewatch of Sunday night's *Downton Abbey* episode, which, along with several other of my Sunday-night programs, I was at best half-watching Sunday night while trying to deal with, well, other matters. And as I rewatched the episode, it was hard not to think about the farce-melodrama played out in the new Ray... more »
Obama's New Secretary of War: Ashton Carter on 'Missile Defense'
*Obama's new Secretary of War Ashton Carter visiting a 'missile defense' battery* "Ballistic missiles that threaten the United States, that is one of the reasons that we need to keep our missile defenses and especially our ICBM defenses current, capable and large enough in size to deal with both the perspective Iranian threat and the also very real North Korean ICBM threat." Dr. Ashton Carter Secretary of Defense Nomination Hearing February 4, 2015 Iran and North Korea are the boogy-men used to justify major expenditures on 'missile defense' research, development, testing, and ... more »
Musical Interlude: Deuter, “Loving Touch”
Deuter, “Loving Touch” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo3YZkI0MBo “Don't lose the wonder in your eyes, It's right there when you smile... If we go back for a while, Let me go back for a while, To that magic time...” - Van Morrison
The Pro-Russian Rebel Leader Who Help Start The Ukraine War Speaks Out
Igor Strelkov (left) allegedly is a Russian Military Intelligence colonel, according to Ukraine's Security Service. © Courtesy April 26, 2014 *Stepan Kravchenko, Bloomberg:* *The Rebel Leader Who Makes Putin Look Cautious* *Vladimir Putin’s critics say he went too far on Ukraine. The former Russian agent who helped trigger the conflict says his biggest mistake was not going far enough. * *WNU Editor:* He is not optimistic .... he sees the possibility of a quagmire .... and no feasible way to quickly end the conflict under the current circumstances. I do agree with his analysis th... more »
Resistance Grows to Relay and Rudd in Memphis
At yesterday's "public forum on the Relay debacle at the University of Memphis, President David Rudd stood safely behind his Provost as citizens expressed their concerns over the Hyde-Gates-Walton plan to have the University of Memphis pay an outside contractor $5 million per year to offer an oppressive "urban specific" teacher ed program. A concerned mom from Bartlett, Jennifer Proseus, was there to remind Rudd which way the moral compass points: “I see what happened with privatization of education, and it scares me and makes me mad. . . . Children in low-performing schools need... more »
U.N. Peacekeepers Look Like Attackers
Post by Revolution News.
Ukraine War News Updates -- Febraury 4, 2015
*Reuters*: *Advancing Ukraine rebels appear to capture frontline town* *WNU Editor*: The economy has collapsed. The Ukraine government is broke. The war in the east keeps on escalating and spreading. This is a slow moving train wreck .... and the world's media has now shown up realizing that there is actually a major war underway in Europe. *Ukraine War News Updates -- February 4, 2015* Pro-Russian Rebels Appear to Take Hold of Ukraine Town of Vuhlehirsk -- NBC Fighting For Debaltseve Persists Despite Ukraine Truce Call -- Radio Free Europe Ukraine conflict: Deadly shell hits Do... more »
Untitled
*The Jindal Portrait Flap ~Adrastos, First Draft * *Jindal on BR General ER Closing: “Maybe Poor People Should Take Better Care of Themselves.” ~Tony Swartz, Red Schtick*
Imagine What The Islamic State Would Do If It Managed To Capture A U.S. Pilot
A pair of US F-15E Strike Eagles fly over northern Iraq after conducting airstrikes in Syria. (Reuters) *Michael Daly, Daily Beast*:* What If ISIS Captures a U.S. Pilot?* *With American pilots conducting airstrikes over ISIS territory, one could suffer a mishap and end up in an orange jumpsuit getting beheaded or burned alive.* *WNU Editor:* In our 24/7 news universe .... the coverage will be unprecedented .... and if what happened to Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh should happen in the same way to a U.S. pilot .... the American public will be beyond enraged.
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Beauty and Grace”
2002, “Beauty and Grace” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL8LZHT2Lzo
"A Look to the Heavens"
“From Sagittarius to Carina, the Milky Way Galaxy shines in this dark night sky above planet Earth's lush island paradise of Mangaia. Familiar to denizens of the southern hemisphere, the gorgeous skyscape includes the bulging galactic center at the upper left and bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri just right of center. About 10 kilometers wide, volcanic Mangaia is the southernmost of the Cook Islands. Geologists estimate that at 18 million years old it is the oldest island in the Pacific Ocean. * Click image for larger size.* Of course, the Milky Way is somewhat older, with the gala... more »
Paulo Coelho, "A Little Parenthesis In Eternity..."
"We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity." - Paulo Coelho, "The Alchemist"
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 4, 2015
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a forum dedicated to the civil society in Moscow, January 15, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin *Leon Aron, CNN:* *Facing up to Putin's endgame* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- February 4, 2015* Islamic State: Can its savagery be explained? -- BBC ISIS is Losing in Iraq. But What Happens Next? -- Kenneth M. Pollack, NYT War with Isis: If the Saudis aren't fuelling the militant inferno, who is? -- The Independent Islamic State Goes Official in South Asia -- Arif Rafiq, The Diplomat Concerns Deepen that U.S... more »
Iranian-Backed Militias Grow In Influence In Iraq
*Eli Lake, Bloomberg*: *Inside Iraq's Iranian-Backed Militias* *WNU Editor*: These Iranian-backed militias will only guarantee more Sunni recruits for the Islamic State. *More News On The Growing Role Of Iran In Iraq * Iran's Militias Are Taking Over Iraq's Army -- Eli Lake, Bloomberg Armed with U.S. weapons, infamous militia beating ISIS -- CBS Unchecked militia with murky past fights Islamic State with US weapons: Report -- Yahoo News Concerns Deepen that U.S. Allowing Iranian Takeover of Iraq -- The Tower The price of relying on Tehran-backed militias -- Iranian.com Obama's Pentag... more »
Iraq's Christians Take Up Arms To Fight Against The Islamic State
Many Iraqi Christians displaced by ISIS are volunteering to form a force against the militant group.(Photo courtesy Calvin Isaac) *Wall Street Journal/The Australian:* *Iraqi Christians take up arms against Islamic State * *HUNDREDS of Christian men are picking up rifles for the first time at a former US military facility in the hills of northeast Iraq and training to reclaim their towns from Islamic State militants who stormed the country last year. * *WNU Editor:* Better later than never. *More News On Iraq's Christians Taking Up Arms To Fight Against The Islamic State* Iraqi ... more »
NBC News Anchor Brian Williams Forced To Admit That He Was Not Shot Down In The Iraq War
*Daily Mail:* *Brian Williams forced to admit he was NOT shot down in the Iraq War: NBC anchor apologizes after angry soldiers protest* *NBC news anchor Brian Williams has admitted that he wasn't aboard a helicopter hit and forced down by enemy fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. * *The Nightly News anchor has often repeated the war story over the past 12 years, but now says that it was a 'mistake'.* *WNU Editor*: He only made the admission after the soldiers who were there with him came out in public and protested. Sighhh .... what is it about some of our public figur... more »
A suggested new guideline for selfie-maniacs: Maybe don't do it while you're flying a plane?
*NYT caption:* *"The wreckage of a Cessna 150 near Watkins, Colo., on May 31. Federal regulators have concluded the pilot was most likely taking photographs."* *by Ken* You don't want to get me started again on selfies. As I reckon it, it's been weeks since the subject came up ("Absolutely no selfies to be taken with the rock-star-like Duke of Cambridge -- er, you know, Prince William, the bald guy"), and five months or more since I recall mounting my moral high horse on the subject ("Culture Watch: Are selfie-maniacs propelling a sharp rise in homelessness among black cats?"). It... more »
Bill Whittle: What Liberty Looks Like. Stories of Freedom...
*are we moving away from this?* Powerful!
Zemanta
downtrend.com
During the SOTU address last night, President Barack Obama touted his administration's diplomatic efforts with Iran: Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we've halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between ...
Posts
