The change to Blogger's Adult Content policy announced previously is not being implemented. Learn more here.
10:28pm MST
10:28pm MST
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Night Light”
Liquid Mind, “Night Light” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5VzYAPBVJc
The Poet: Mary Oliver, “I Worried”
*“I Worried”* by Mary Oliver “ I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction, will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it? Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better? Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless. Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia? Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing. And gave it up. And took my old body and went out into the morning, and sang.”
"A Look to the Heavens"
“It looks like a lunar landscape but this remarkable photograph actually shows our Milky Way and the planet Jupiter in all their glory - viewed from a cave in America's Utah desert. The spiral galaxy, which cannot be seen with the naked eye, was captured by photographer Wally Pacholka using a 35mm camera and 50mm lens on a tripod with a 30-second exposure - long enough to collect the light but not to see the stars moving. *Click image for larger size.* Pacholka, 59, an architect from Long Beach, California, relied on the light of a crescent moon to illuminate the subject and chose the... more »
"Do You Remember?"
"Do you remember still the falling stars that like swift horses through the heavens raced and suddenly leaped across the hurdles of our wishes- do you recall? And we did make so many! For there were countless numbers of stars: each time we looked above we were astounded by the swiftness of their daring play, while in our hearts we felt safe and secure watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate, knowing somehow we had survived their fall." - Rainer Maria Rilke
"No, We Can't Have It All"
*"No, We Can't Have It All"* by "We all face choices. We can have ice caps and polar bears, or we can have automobiles. We can have dams or we can have salmon. We can have irrigated wine from Mendocino and Sonoma counties, or we can have the Russian and Eel Rivers. We can have oil from beneath the oceans, or we can have whales. We can have cardboard boxes or we can have living forests. We can have computers and cancer clusters from the manufacture of those computers, or we can have neither. We can have electricity and a world devastated by mining, or we can have neither (and don'... more »
Chet Raymo, "Free Will?"
*"Free Will?"* by Chet Raymo “In an essay in the 14 May, 2009 issue of “Nature”, German biologist Martin Heisenberg asks the question: "Is free will an illusion?" And he answers: No. We are free, says Heisenberg, if our actions are self-generated, and not mere responses to external stimuli. But how can they be self-generated in a world of cause and effect? As befitting the son of Werner Heisenberg, father of the Uncertainty Principle, Martin invokes the stochastic nature of quantum mechanics. Presumably, randomly firing neurons equal free will. One does not have to be consciously... more »
“Set Yourself Free: Letting Go of Perfection”
*“Set Yourself Free: Letting Go of Perfection”* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM “Life becomes much more interesting once we let go of our quest for perfection and aspire for imperfection instead. It is good to remember that one of our goals in life is to not be perfect. We often lose track of this aspiration. When we make mistakes, we think that we are failing or not measuring up. But if life is about experimenting, experiencing, and learning, then to be imperfect is a prerequisite. Life becomes much more interesting once we let go of our quest for perfection and aspire for imperf... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Addis Ababa, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia. Thanks for stopping by.
"Your Time Is Limited..."
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life and don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” - Steve Jobs
Paulo Coelho, “The Mystery of Discovery”
*“The Mystery of Discovery”* by Paulo Coelho “Tonight, before leaving, I’m going to spend time sorting through the pile of things I never had the patience to put in order. And I will find that a little of my history is there. All the letters, the notes, cuttings and receipts will take on their own life and have strange stories to tell me – about the past and about the future. All the different things in the world, all the roads travelled, all the entrances and exits of my life. I am going to put on a shirt I often wear and, for the first time, I am going to notice how it was made. ... more »
Brawling in Kiev's Rada (Parliament)
These are the cats that Washington wants to send weapons and US military 'trainers' to support in Kiev. A fist fight exploded in the Ukrainian Rada on Tuesday, after Ukraine's Radical Party (nationalists that want to rearm Ukraine with nukes) leader Oleg Lyashko reportedly started an altercation with Sergei Melnychuk, the leader of the Aidar volunteer (Neo-Nazi) battalion. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Vladimir Rybak attempted to stop the fight several times but the conflict continued until parliament was suspended. The fight later spilled out into the Rada's hallways. From what... more »
Fracked Up - U.S. Plans for Control of Ukraine's Natural Gas
Recall that V-P Joe Biden's son Hunter signed on to the board of directors of Ukraine’s largest oil company, Burisma Holdings, at a time that the US is urging Ukraine to develop energy independence from Russia. (You could call it the spoils of war. And you could call it corruption at the highest levels.) “Burisma’s track record of innovations and industry leadership in the field of natural gas means that it can be a strong driver of a strong economy in Ukraine,” Hunter Biden said in a statement. So one reason for the US war in Ukraine is to force the drilling for fracked natural... more »
Father Theodore Hesburgh (1917-2015)
*"Father Ted," president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, in his office at the school's Hesburgh Library in 2012 (see the full photo here)* *I met a blind priest at the airport. Father Ted taught me to take a leap of faith.*Father Theodore Hesburgh, who died Thursday at 97, was no longer Notre Dame’s president by the time I enrolled in 1994, yet he remained a campus legend, instantly recognizable in his crisp black shirt and clerical collar and with his shock of white hair. I knew he’d done important things — advised six presidents, chaired the U.S. Commission on Civil Righ... more »
Rip-off News round-up. Our pick of the last week's media (Thu 5th March)
Bank Bust recession: Incomes return to 2007 levels, but working-age households remain worse off The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said average incomes in 2014-15 are about the same as they were in 2007–08, before the banking crisis triggered a deep recession. The average has been lifted because people over 60 are better off. Their average income is forecast to be 1.8% higher in 2014-15
U.S. Ambassador Lippert Attacked In South Korea
*CNN:* *Ambassador attacked in South Korea* *(CNN) U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert was attacked in Seoul, possibly by more than one person, according to U.S. government sources in the U.S. and South Korea. He is in stable condition, according to a U.S. embassy spokesperson.* *Lippert was injured by a small razor blade, according to Seoul police. His injuries are not life threatening, according to Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman. He received injuries on his right cheek and hand at about 5.42 p.m. ET, according to South Korean police.* *More News On Today's ...more »
“This Just In: Humans Are Bad at Everything That’s Important”
*“This Just In: Humans Are Bad at Everything That’s Important” * by David “When future anthropologists study us, they will learn a lot about what’s important to us by looking at our newspapers. A minority of our news stories cover what’s truly new: scientific discoveries, thriving business startups, or groundbreaking legislation. But most of our news stories are about some human being (or group of human beings) failing, in a very familiar way, to be kind, fair, or honest. Politician caught lying! Violence erupts between Group A and Group B! Company misleads customers for profit! De... more »
"How It Really Is"
What? Something new?
The Economy: “A Bearish Nightmare…”
*“A Bearish Nightmare…”* by Bill Bonner "US stocks fell yesterday. The Dow dropped 85 points, or 0.5%. No biggie. The biggie is still ahead… Our guess is the smart money is selling to the dumb money. The people who take the trouble to figure out what something is really worth are unloading. People who just think they should be “in the stock market” are buying. The “big three” US stock market benchmarks – the S&P 500, the Dow and the Nasdaq – are at near record levels. Why? Because they represent good value for money? Or because they are propped up by near-zero interest rates and ... more »
The Economy: "Staring Down The Barrel of The Worst Financial Cataclysm Ever”
*"Staring Down The Barrel of The Worst Financial Cataclysm Ever”* "Gregory Mannarino contends, “We are staring down the barrel of the worst financial cataclysm that has ever been seen, witnessed or even heard of in human history. There is no way out of this. As hard as I think about this, I cannot envision a scenario that there is no way this will not turn into a financial disaster of epic proportions for every human being on this earth.” For the people that say the economy looks good to them, Mannarino says, “This is the calm before the storm. The Federal Reserve has flooded the sy... more »
The U.S. - Iraq Alliance Against The Islamic State Is Showing Strains
Iraqi soldiers and Shiite militiamen on Tuesday in Salahuddin Province, north of Baghdad. Credit Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters *New York Times*: *Iraqi Campaign to Drive ISIS From Tikrit Reveals Tensions With U.S.* *BAGHDAD — Tensions between Iraq and the United States over how to battle the Islamic State broke into the open on Tuesday, as Iraqi officials declared that they would fight on their own timetable with or without American help, and as United States warplanes conspicuously sat out the biggest Iraqi counteroffensive yet amid concerns over Iran’s prominent role.* *On Monday, ... more »
Untitled
Every letter I type is an encolplida for those that can read between the lines even those who are functionally illiterate realise there is some kind of text event harping just on the Roget side of mine yOU know no matter what I will not have the impact of a single Cesar and that should keep you up at night
The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Tikrit Is Intensifying
*Reuters: Insight*: *From eastern flank, Iran-backed force advances on Tikrit* *(Reuters) - Wearing military fatigues and a white turban, the Shi'ite cleric gave an eve-of-battle address to Iran-backed fighters preparing to attack Islamic State militants in Tikrit, praising them for defending their faith and urging them to fight honorably.* *Seated in front of him in rows, crossed-legged in the grass, were dozens of armed men from Iraq's largest Shi'ite militia, the Badr Organisation, the main element of a force now advancing on Tikrit's eastern flank against the Sunni Muslim Is... more »
The Frankfurt School - Why Modern Art is Rubbish and How Mass Schizophrenia Results
*schizophrenia* ˌskɪtsə(ʊ)ˈfriːnɪə/ *noun* 1. *a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.* - (in general use) *a mentality or approach characterized by inconsistent or contradictory elements.* "Gibraltar's schizophrenia continues to be fed by colonial pride" "While Copernicus convinced us to be... more »
Two Canadian Schools Have Stopped Using Wifi
*Film - *Experts are starting to believe that wifi wireless networks pose a serious health threat especially to children. Here, Mary Garofalo shows the reasons why two Canadian schools have stopped using wifi. The post Two Canadian Schools Have Stopped Using Wifi appeared first on Waking Times.
Editor's Note
Because of time limitations *World News Briefs (Evening Edition)* and *Commentaries, Analysis , and Editorials* will not be posted tonight. They will return tomorrow.
Glenn Scott : METRO | 1,000 march on Texas State Capitol to mark Austin’s ‘Day of the Fallen’
Construction workers and supporters, many from fellow AFL-CIO unions, call for stronger safety and health protections in state with highest death rate. By Glenn Scott | The Rag Blog | March 4, 2015 AUSTIN — “Texas does not have to … finish reading Glenn Scott : *METRO* | 1,000 march on Texas State Capitol to mark Austin’s ‘Day of the Fallen’
Recent Defeats Means That The U.S. No Longer Has Any 'Moderate' Syrian Rebel Allies
Vast: The supplies were seized when the Western-backed moderate rebel group Harakat Hazm recently disbanded and allowed their headquarters to be overrun with jihadis *Daily Mail:* *Thank you America! Syrian rebels taunt the West after capturing US-made weapons - and may split from Al Qaeda to form terror group that could rival ISIS* ** Nusra Front militants seized American weapons and food supplies in Syria* ** Products were provided to the Western-backed rebel group Harakat Hazm* ** But the rebels disbanded last week and their warehouses were overrun * ** Images emerged as Nusra F... more »
The Rebranding Of A Syrian Al Qaeda Linked Rebel Group
Members of al Qaeda's Nusra Front gesture as they drive in a convoy touring villages, which they said they have seized control of from Syrian rebel factions, in the southern countryside of Idlib, December 2, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Khalil Ashawi *(Reuters) - Leaders of Syria's Nusra Front are considering cutting their links with al Qaeda to form a new entity backed by some Gulf states trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, sources said.* *Sources within and close to Nusra said that Qatar, which enjoys good relations with the group, is encouraging the group to go ahead with the ... more »
Wild Bill: What he had to say before Netanyahu's speech...
*spot on.* via: The Right Way *My latest post at Da Tech Guy Blog:* *The desire to inspire…*
The Inevitable Awakening
*Zen Gardner* - Once we become aware of the existence of a fabricated world we thought to be real and that our true nature is anything but what we’ve been told, there’s no turning back. The post The Inevitable Awakening appeared first on Waking Times.
"The Crisis in Energy Education"
Alex Epstein writes: There is a dangerous lack of energy education…. In particular, there is a lack of education about the indispensable benefits provided by fossil fuels. What are the consequences of this, and how do we fix it? That's the topic of my latest Forbes column, "The Crisis in Energy Education": * The fossil fuel industry, as the leading and most misunderstood energy industry, has an obligation and self-interest in educating its employees and the public about energy, yet does a miserable job at it.* From kindergarten through high school through Ph.D. ... more »
Despite Bibi Adulation, How Anti-Semitic Is The Republican Party Base?
Tom Scheich-- killed by GOP anti-semiticism Yesterday, his friends and family buried Missouri Auditor-- and Republican gubernatorial contender-- Tom Schweich, who had shot himself February 26. A few weeks earlier he had announced he was running for governor in 2016, triggering a primary battle with former Missouri House Speaker Catherine Hanaway. Since his death, it has come out that Hanaway backers, primarily Republican Party state chairman John Hancock and a gaggle of Republican Party power broker who ran this nasty ad last week, had started an anti-semitic whispering campaign agai... more »
The Human Energy Field and DNA: How You Choose Your Genes
*Brandon West* - The field of intention, conscious awareness, energy, the universal mind, whatever you choose to call the infinite energy density of the vacuum, the fact remains that the energy of space all around us, is infinite. The post The Human Energy Field and DNA: How You Choose Your Genes appeared first on Waking Times.
Masculinity and Penis Anxiety
"It's not what you've got, but what you do with it." That's the advice I imbibed from reading reams and reams of agony aunt columns as I was growing up. Not because I was seeking advice or reassurance mind (*hung like a hoss*, of course) but because men and boys fraught by their penis size were regular fixtures in Dear Deidre and the like. School, college, adult life, the banter about one's "third leg" is a not infrequent intrusion in conversation (we all have that friend who refuses to call a trip to the restroom anything other than going off to "siphon the python"). All utterly j... more »
Ukraine ready to default? Central Bank raises Interest Rates to 30%
*Market Watch* *If Ukraine defaulted how would the debt to Russia for gas be dealt with?* *Input appreciated :) * The *conflict in the Ukraine is relevant to global investors as it directly affects security in Europe, *which is the home of an economy the size of the U.S. *The trade bans due to conflict-driven sanctions involve many countries and add to the European deflation **( bankers don't want deflation)** at present. *Those trade bans might get wider should the conflict intensify based on the realization that a political solution would not give the rebels and their Russian back... more »
Brain-altering Devices have hit the Mainstream
Definitely early days and little here that i would want to rush out and buy yet. In fact it sounds mostly like a soft toss and a triggering of the placebo effect. Otherwise there is some hope here. We really do not know enough and these tools are so crude anyway. Yet there will be a market and we may well get lucky. This has been attempted continuously for over a century. Thus presuming bunkum is a good beginning for anyone chasing this. . *Brain-altering devices have hit the mainstream* * By Molly McHugh on February 16, 2015* * http://www.dailydot.com/technolog... more »
A Bearish Nightmare…
*Guest post by Bill Bonner* [image: Rubber_band_wallet]Dear Diary, US stocks fell yesterday. The Dow dropped 85 points, or 0.5%. No biggie. The biggie is still ahead… Our guess is the smart money is selling to the dumb money. The people who take the trouble to figure out what something is really worth are unloading. People who just think they should be “in the stock market” are buying. The “big three” US stock market benchmarks – the S&P 500, the Dow and the Nasdaq – are at near record levels. Why? Because they represent good value for money? Or because they are propped up by n... more »
House of Cards Season Three Review
House of Cards is not listed in my top ten TV shows. Seasons three confirms this is a huge oversight. I do not have Orange is the New Black their either and thats on purpose, but House of Cards was dealt by omission. Bottom line the producers who are are allegedly leftist sympathisers make the point that we can love and elect and re elect narcissistic physocpaths till the cows come home. I love Frank Underwood and it would take a pretty good alternative candidate to get me to vote for another. House of Cards reveals with I am sure some very inside information just how government ... more »
Syrian Rebels Launch A Massive Attack Against The Key Intelligence HQ Building In Aleppo
*Reuters:* *Rebels attack Aleppo security building, monitor says dozens killed* (*Reuters) - Insurgents attacked a Syrian government security building in the northern city of Aleppo on Wednesday, bombing it and then launching a ground assault, sources on both sides and a monitoring group said.* *The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 20 members of the security forces and 14 insurgents were killed in the attack on the Air Force Intelligence building.* *Jihadist groups including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and the Muhajireen and Ansar army claimed responsibilit... more »
Supplemental: The mayor has been closing schools!
*WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015 And the New York Times knows where they are:* To state the obvious, so-called race is a major force in all aspects of American life. This is one of the legacies we’ve all been left by our ancestors. That said, we liberals don’t always do a sensational job picking our way through the mess. Tomorrow, we’ll look at some of the ways Patricia Arquette got slammed for her Oscar night remarks. Some of the criticisms dealt with the way she discussed race. For today, consider the way the New York Times tends to talk about race. We were struck by the latest effor... more »
Russia's Ghost Army in Ukraine (3 Videos)
From *VICE News*: *The bitter conflict in Ukraine has cost thousands of lives, but the Russian government has continuously denied sending its soldiers to the frontlines, despite accusations to the contrary from NATO and Western officials.* *VICE News travels to Russia to investigate the mysterious deaths of dozens — possibly hundreds — of active-duty Russian servicemen who are believed to have been killed in Ukraine. Accounts gathered from soldiers' families, human rights workers, and government officials cast doubt on the Kremlin narrative, revealing the unacknowledged sacrifices ... more »
Ukraine Is On The Brink Of Economic Collapse
*CNN*: *Ukraine's economy teeters towards collapse * *Ukraine is on the brink of economic collapse.* *Its central bank raised benchmark interest rates from 19.5% to 30% effective Wednesday. Ukraine's currency, the hryvnia, lost nearly 70% of its value against the dollar in just a year. The GDP shrunk by 7% in 2014. * *And while the war-torn country secured $40 billion international bailout package in February, the chances of a swift recovery are small. * *WNU Editor: *The news keeps on getting worse .... *Ukraine’s fourth largest lender Delta Bank insolvent – national bank* (RT). ... more »
Ukraine Demands The Return Of Crimea For Any Hope of Normalization With Russia
*IBTimes*: *Ukraine demands 'full sovereignty over Crimea' to normalise Russia ties* *Ukraine will not consider normalising ties with Russia unless Moscow returns the Crimea region to Kiev, the Ukrainian foreign minister said on 3 March.* *Speaking during a two-day visit to Japan, Pavlo Klimkin said the Ukraine-Russia border should be completely closed before any settlement to the conflict in eastern Ukraine is reached.* *"There could be no slightest way of normalising or getting back to business in the relations between Ukraine and Russia without returning to status quo and est... more »
6-Year-Old Suspended and "Reeducated" After Pointing Finger Like Gun
Amanda Warren Yet another in a series of crazy "guns that never were" in the school system, where a child must bear harsh punishment. KRDO News of Colorodo reports: A Colorado Springs first-grader was suspended from school after pointing his fingers at a classmate in the shape of a gun. Six-year-old Elijah goes to Stratton Meadows Elementary School. On Monday, he pointed at a classmate in the shape of a gun and said, "You're dead." He received a one-day suspension for "threats against peers." But on top of the strict "zero tolerance" measures that landed him at home for a day of... more »
Ukraine War News Updates -- March 4, 2015
*Deutsche Welle*: *Merkel warns Russia of new sanctions if Ukraine ceasefire violated* *German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Russia to live up to the Ukraine peace agreement it backed in Minsk last month or face tougher sanctions. She said the EU stands ready to impose new measures if needed. * *Merkel told reporters that the immediate task at hand was to stop the bloodletting in eastern Ukraine, where a fragile ceasefire is largely holding despite some violations since the Minsk agreement signed in February.* *She underlined that "if Minsk doesn't work, then the member sta... more »
Russia's Economic Decline Is Accelerating
(Click on Image to Enlarge) *Fuel Fix/Bloomberg*: *How much more economic pain can Vladimir Putin take?* *It’s been a little more than six months since the full brunt of Western sanctions took force against Russia. The punishment, while slow in coming, has proven devastatingly effective—especially when paired with the crash in oil prices.* *Last summer, of course, U.S. and European Union officials had no way of knowing an epic oil selloff was right around the corner. But in hindsight the coordination seems uncanny. Oil prices peaked less than a month before the sanctions were ann... more »
Fast Food Nations: Selling Out To Junk Food, Illness Ad Food Insecurity
Western agribusiness, food processing companies and retail concerns are gaining wider entry into India and through various strategic trade deals are looking to gain a more significant footprint within the country. The Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture (KIA) and the ongoing India-EU free trade agreement talks have raised serious concerns about the stranglehold that transnational corporations could have on the agriculture and food sectors, including the subsequent impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of millions. For example, see this on the dismantling of Indian agriculture, thi... more »
A Head Scarf in a Courtroom?
Right off the top, the idea that a woman can say she's "free" when wearing clothing that meets the requirements of some patriarchal religion's idea of female "modesty" is self-evidently absurd. I can see that there can be some freedom felt by covering-up and not having to conform to, say, North American ideas of physical attractiveness. (That's why I personally welcome the onset of colder weather!) Maybe I'm "mans-plaining" things, but if you don't have a choice in the matter, your clothing choices aren't free. Oh yeah. And I'm one of those "fundamentalist" atheists who thinks reli... more »
Stratfor analysis of Russia's future - The King of Wishful Thinking
NOTE: I have updated my Greencrow Creative Resources Page with some new photos and a wood carving. Enjoy! *The King of Wishful Thinking* *Russia Today has a report on Stratfor's predictions for the next decade...including its predictions regarding its new "enemy du jour", Russia. Read the report. My comments to follow:* *********************************** "American think-tank Stratfor has issued a new 'Decade Forecast,' which says the EU will decay, China will end up in "a communist dictatorship," and Russia will disintegrate...though it hasn't done so yet, despite such predict... more »
The Lee-Rubio Tax Reform
Senators Mike Lee and Marco Rubio announced a bold and attractive tax plan today. I especially appreciate their desire to eliminate the current tax code's bias for debt over equity finance.
Russian President Putin Comments On The Murder Of Russian Politician Boris Nemtsov
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin walls in central Moscow February 23, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin *Reuters:* *Russia's Putin calls Nemtsov's murder political* *(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the murder of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov was a shameful tragedy that carried a political subtext.* *Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was shot dead as he walked with his girlfriend on Friday night near Red Square.... more »
More About That "Centrist" Democratic Counterattack
*Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) making it rain?* *by Gaius Publius* Howie covered this news from *The Hill* — "Centrist Dems ready strike against Warren wing" — in a previous piece, but there he focused mainly on the "centrists" themselves. I'd like to focus on the article. First, though, read the headline from *The Hill*; then consider — this is very good news. The battle between real progressives and Big Money will be engaged, not shunted to the wings, and engaged on our ground, not theirs. Their prime argument? "Democrats will lose if they run progressive candidates. Only 'centrists... more »
Aisha North: A short update on the Gathering
*A short update on the Gathering* March 3, 2015 in Channelings By now, you will all have begun to settle a little bit more into these new tracks that you laid down during that ever so impressive get-together that you staged just a few days ago, and even if the first stages of this new part of your journey may seem to be somewhat shaky for some of you, you will all find yourself steadying into this new rhythm, or rather, vibration. For as you came together and pooled your formidable resources of individual frequencies into this already deep reservoir of light that has been collect... more »
Drachma wouldn't have saved, won't save Greece
Goldman Sachs has argued that the transition of Greece to its new currency won't improve things; on the contrary, it is likely to make things worse. The main problem is that no one would be willing to hold such a new currency so all the meaningful trade would occur in harder, existing currencies. *No, this guy isn't Pythagoras. It's his former boss, Zeus.* I completely agree with that. And unlike many fellow Euroskeptics, I don't really believe that Greece would be doing well or substantially better today (financially) if it had not switched to the euro. In the long run, as long ... more »
World News Briefs -- March 4, 2015
*NBC*: *Netanyahu Fallout: Iran Moves to Dismiss Netanyahu Speech* *TEHRAN, Iran — Iran moved quickly to criticize and dismiss Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress aimed at scuppering a nuclear deal with Tehran.* *Not only were Netanyahu's comments "boring and repetitive," the speech was a "deceitful show and part of the hardliners' political propaganda in Tel Aviv," Marziyeh Afkham, a spokeswoman for Iran's foreign ministry, said Tuesday soon after the speech ended. * *MIDDLE EAST* Islamic State targeted in 12 air strikes* by U.S., coalition: statement...more »
Israel Pushes War with Iran
Robert Kelly says Netanyahu avoids facts and evidence to push conflict to a point where war is the only answer. The Nation Magazine reports: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a difficult election in only two weeks, came to Washington pretending to be deeply alarmed by Iran’s potential for developing a nuclear weapon and saying he is determined to ensure that President Barack Obama’s negotiations with Tehran result in a “better deal” than the one now anticipated (without detailing how that could be done). In fact, Netanyahu had three unstated goals. His first an... more »
March 4: "You f---ing peasants"
"I am going to f---ing kill you. I will f---ing kill everyone on this flight. They are all f---ing peasants. I could get you all fired in five minutes. I know your boss. My father will pay this out. He has before." Then he went really wild, getting violent with the flight crew, and smashing his fist against the fuselage to threaten them. Luckily for the speaker, he wasn't an arab on a flight from Ottawa to Washington. If he had been, he'd now be in a secret prison wondering which torture was coming next. But he isn't an arab, or black, or even hispanic. He's a young, white man. More... more »
In support of opting out of the tests
Sent to the Chicago Tribune, March 4, 2015 Re: "Opting out of PARCC proves murky process for parents, students," March 4 Part of the reason for the growth of the opt-out movement, as noted by the Tribune, is that the tests are too long: We are now testing far more than we have ever done, even though studies have shown that increasing testing does not increase student learning, and there is no evidence that the new tests will help students or teachers. The Tribune also mentions that there are "technological glitches." The new tests are delivered online, which means billions for infras... more »
Cannabis, Consciousness and Common Sense
*Wes Annac* - Anyone who researches cannabis and spirituality will find consistent advice to use it respectfully, in a proper setting and with the proper intentions. The post Cannabis, Consciousness and Common Sense appeared first on Waking Times.
THE CALIBER OF OUR OWN DISCOURSE: Tsunami strikes!
*WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015Interlude—Patricia Arquette swept away:* Do women get paid 77 cents on the dollar, as compared to men, for doing the same work? As far we know, no specialist or expert actually makes that claim. But we liberals love the claim. We often repeat the claim. People end up assuming it’s true. Presumably, that explains why Rachel Maddow stated this claim on Meet the Press in April 2012 (see yesterday's post). And who knows? Ten days ago, Patricia Arquette may have had this claim in mind when she accepted her Oscar as last year’s Best Actress in a Supporting Rol...more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 4, 2015
*Washington Times:* *Lloyd Austin, CENTCOM commander: ‘We are making progress’ in Islamic State fight* *The top military officer in the Middle East told lawmakers Tuesday morning that U.S. forces are making progress in the effort to defeat the Islamic State, but asked them to undo sequestration cuts to give troops more flexibility to respond to crises in battle.Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that the Islamic State is on the defensive in both Iraq and Syria because of U.S. airstrikes that began in August.* *Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- Marc... more »
One Last Look At The Real Economy Before It Implodes - Part 1
Brandon Smith We are only two months into 2015, and it has already proven to be the most volatile year for the economic environment since 2008-2009. We have seen oil markets collapsing by about 50 percent in the span of a few months (just as the Federal Reserve announced the end of QE3, indicating fiat money was used to hide falling demand), the Baltic Dry Index losing 30 percent since the beginning of the year, the Swiss currency surprise, the Greeks threatening EU exit (and now Greek citizens threatening violent protests with the new four-month can-kicking deal), and the effects... more »
China's Defense Budget To Grow 10% in 2015
*Wall Street Journal*: *China to Boost Military Budget by About 10%* *Economic slowdown has little impact on Beijing’s military modernization plans * *BEIJING—China will raise military spending by about 10% this year, a senior Chinese official said on Wednesday, suggesting that an economic slowdown will have limited impact on modernization plans that include new submarines, aircraft carriers and stealth fighter jets.* *Fu Ying, a spokeswoman for the National People’s Congress, told a news conference that the precise figure for the defense budget would be announced on Thursday, th... more »
If You Can't Stop 3D Printed Guns - Print One
Tony Cartalucci *People will inevitably 3D print guns and there is nothing you can do to stop them except prepare society to be mature and responsible enough to handle this new power. * Guns don't kill people, people kill people. And the sort of people that kill range from the mentally unstable and/or the medicated, to political extremists, to criminals, and of course the biggest killer in human history, the government. Unfortunately, a shortage of weapons or the legal inaccessibility of weaponry never seems to be enough to stop such people from harming or killing others - and le... more »
U.S. Defense Chiefs Make The Case For A Bigger Defense Budget
*DoD Buzz:* *Carter Blasts Spending Cuts in His First Budget Pitch to Congress* *New Defense Secretary Ashton Carter pleaded with Congress Tuesday to back President Obama’s proposed fiscal 2016 defense budget that exceeds spending caps by about $38 billion.“I not only welcome your wisdom and experience, I also want your partnership and need your help,” in ending automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, Carter said in his first testimony to Congress on the budget since replacing Chuck Hagel in the Pentagon’s top job.* *WNU Editor*: This is not going to be an easy sell .... t... more »
By my friend, Bernie Keller, a gifted teacher of English!
In the interest of full disclosure, I must tell you that I have corrected and/or edited thousands of essays and research papers, as well as a number of dissertations, in addition to having written a number of essays of my own, and not one of the aforementioned writings employs the current writing style espoused by the common core supporters. In addition, the current method, which asserts that the writer must provide a rebuttal in the introduction or at the beginning of the essay, makes no sense because you don’t rebut anything until there’s been some point that contrasts the poi... more »
The Punishment for Ignoring Obamacare Penalty Might Surprise You
Joshua Krause Now that April 15th is on the horizon, many taxpayers are bracing themselves for the inevitable penalty that will hit them if they don’t sign up for Obamacare. It’s estimated that at least 3 million households may have to pony up 1% of their income, or $95 per adult, if they don’t have insurance; a number which is poised to expand to 2.5% for the 2016 tax year. However, for all its bluster and intimidating language, the Affordable Care Act might not have any teeth. Recently, a tax expert writing for Forbes noticed that Obamacare, while far-reaching and burdensome in ... more »
New Islamic State Fatwa Now Allows Organ Transplantation From Non-Believers
Militant Islamist fighters parade on military vehicles along the streets of northern Raqqa province June 30, 2014. (Reuters) *Sputnik: New ISIL Sharia Rules Allow Organ Transplantation From Non-Believers* *Islamic State (ISIL) Sharia rules allow the organ transplantation from non-believers, according to translated normative documents (fatwas) of Sunni Islamists.MOSCOW, March 4 (Sputnik) — Islamic State (ISIL) Sharia rules imposed on those living in ISIL-controlled areas now allow for organ transplantation from non-believers, the Jihadica portal, which publishes normative docum... more »
The Origins of Daylight Savings and Why it Wrecks Your Health
*Dr. Mercola* - For Americans, it’s that time of the year again—time to move your clocks an hour ahead; losing a precious hour of sleep in the process. The post The Origins of Daylight Savings and Why it Wrecks Your Health appeared first on Waking Times.
Top US General Wants Washington To Arm Ukraine
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst) *Time: **Top U.S. General Says Washington Should Consider Arming Ukraine* *"Putin’s ultimate objective is to fracture NATO," says General Martin DempseyThe U.S. military’s leading general says Washington should now consider providing Ukrainian forces with lethal aid to help combat the nation’s pro-Kremlin insurgency.Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey argued during a Senate hearing on Tuesday that the allegedly Russian-backed rebellion threatens to undo more ... more »
Human Rights Watch Report On Kurdish Abuses In Northern Iraq
Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a reporton February 26, 2015 documenting abuses by the Kurdish security forces against Arab villages in Iraq’s Ninewa province. The group documented cases of limiting movement of Arabs, destroying homes, and warrantless arrests. The press has sporadically reported some of these stories before, but this paper was the most thorough. These examples all showed how the Islamic State has caused deep feelings of mistrust between ethnosectarian groups in Iraq that will take years to overcome. Kurdish forces have limited the freedom of movement of Arabs i... more »
Pushed To The Brink By Confederates, Boehner Finally Guts The Hastert Rule
So Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign rally wasn't the only big event on Capitol Hill yesterday. Early in the morning, Speaker Boehner steeled himself and told his crackpot caucus that-- deal or no deal-- he would allow a vote on a clean Department of Homeland Security spending bill. No blackmail forcing Obama to deport Mexicans; no blackmail forcing Obama to take away healthcare from working families. Many extreme right-wingers were furious-- even beyond the 52 Confederates and teabaggers who scuttled Boehner's "compromise" bill Friday. Boehner told Republicans he just couldn't take t... more »
Cheap Oil Is Sverely Impacting These African Nations
Reuters / David Mdzinarishvili *Peter Dorrie, Real Clear World:* *Where Cheap Oil Is Seriously Bad News* *Crude oil has hit rock-bottom prices, and several African countries are getting the worst of it. Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Chad, Angola and South Sudan are among the most oil-dependent economies in the world.* *At the same time, these countries are facing some of the world’s most intractable security problems, and are relying on their petroleum-funded militaries to an extraordinary degree.* *Nigeria and Chad are battling the Boko Haram insurgency and various other internal an... more »
No Way to Avoid It
In my column on dynamic scoring, I wrote: [A]ccurate dynamic scoring requires more information than congressional proposals typically provide. For example, if a member of Congress proposes a tax cut, a key issue in estimating its effect is how future Congresses will respond to the reduced revenue. This raises important questions for which we have no easy answers. In the coming years, will these Congresses respond quickly to the revenue shortfall, or will they let budget deficits fester? When they act to close the budget gap, will they increase taxes, or will they cut spending? If ... more »
Shut Down AIPAC
A coalition of human rights organizations, led by CODE PINK, organized four days of political action in Washington DC to oppose the policies of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during its annual policy conference. Coined #ShutDownAIPAC, activists hosted a variety of creative events: protests outside the DC Convention Center and Netanyahu’s speech in Congress; events critiquing AIPAC policies; and a lobby day in Congress to call for no more sanctions on Iran.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter Admits That The Pentagon's Mosul Briefing Was A Mistake
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington March 3, 2015. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts *Reuters:* *U.S. military's Mosul briefing inaccurate, misguided, Carter says* *WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. military official who briefed news media about Iraq's upcoming offensive to retake Mosul provided inaccurate information but should never have publicly discussed war plans anyway, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday.Carter's criticism o... more »
Top U.S. Intel Spy Chief And His 12 - Course Meal In North Korea
Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He revealed a secret trip to North Korea to bring back home two Americans who had been detained there. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters *The Guardian*: *US intelligence chief reveals details of secret mission to North Korea* *James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, said he was treated to a 12-course banquet when he visited the isolated country to bring back two jailed Americans, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bae* *US spy chief James Clapper said that when he ... more »
W.H. Petition Against Mandatory Vaccination Reaches 100K Signature Threshold — Will Obama Respond?
Melissa Melton The petition up on WhiteHouse.gov against mandatory vaccinations — the one the White House tried to bury — has, at the time of writing this, reached well over the 100,000 signatures needed by March 6th in order to supposedly garner a response from our president’s administration. The petition is short, sweet, and to the point: *No human being should be FORCED to be vaccinated against their will and/or personal/religious beliefs. I petition against making vaccinations of any kind mandatory. This includes forcing children to be vaccinated to attend public schools, act... more »
#wherehavealltheteachersgone?
BE UPSET NOT ONLY AT HEADLINE BUT HOW THE ARTICLE IS WRITTEN: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/03/03/389282733/where-have-all-the-teachers-gone I wonder. Where is the in depth analysis of the causes briefly referred to in the beginning of the article? Why does it then go off to mention solutions like larger class size? What? Or merit pay? Why wasn't there a deeper look at the anti teacher privatizes? The bashers? The increasingly difficult conditions facing new teachers? The actual movement to create this loss of quality and perhaps questioning teachers to be replaced with follow th... more »
Floridians, Help Us Stop Your State From Outlawing Anonymous Websites
Mitch Stoltz Floridians, we need your help to stop a dangerous anti-anonymity bill. This week, the Florida state legislature is considering a bill that would make it illegal to run any website or service anonymously, if the site fits a vague category of “disseminat[ing]” “commercial” recordings or videos—even the site owner’s own work. Outlawing anonymous speech raises a serious First Amendment problem, and laws like this one have been abused by police and the entertainment industry. The bill, which is moving through Florida House and Senate committees this week, requires anyone ... more »
Congressman Urges Protection for Power Grid Against EMP Attack
Mac Slavo When it comes to an EMP attack, the question remains “when” not “if” the SHTF. Few other scenarios hold as much potential for disaster and disruption to the lives of everyone in society. At a moment’s notice, 300 million Americans could be made instantly desperate – and even likely to die in the aftermath. A single event could easily be enough to take down the power grid and render inoperable all the computers and electronic tools that individuals, businesses, banks and governments all rely upon. Arizona Congressman Trent Franks recently reintroduced a bill intended to ... more »
‘Black Site’ Discovered in Chicago, So Where Else Are American Police Disappearing People?
Nick Bernabe The Chicago Police Department has been caught denying Americans due process; disappearing, torturing, and even killing people in an ominous building called Homan Square. Following a bombshell report published by *The Guardian *last Tuesday and subsequent reporting by independent media, Americans are up in arms over this facility. Activists using the hashtag #Gitmo2Chicago successfully trended across social media over the weekend, reaching millions of unknowing Americans who weren't aware of Homan Square because the mainstream media refuses to talk about it. Then, on... more »
Stock Market Bubble: Wall Street Is Ecstatic As The NASDAQ Closes Above 5000
Michael Snyder Are we at the tail end of the stock market bubble to end all stock market bubbles? Wall Street was full of glee Monday when the Nasdaq closed above 5000 for the first time since the peak of the dotcom bubble in March 2000. And almost everyone in the financial world seems convinced that things are somehow “different” this time around. Even though by almost every objective measure stocks are wildly overpriced right now, and even though there are a whole host of signs that economic trouble is on the horizon, the overwhelming consensus is that this bull market is just... more »
History Is His Enemy
Stephen Harper has always made two claims: 1) that he knows how to manage Canada's economy; and 2) that the Liberals would lead Canada on the road to ruin. Lawrence Martin writes: The Liberals, [Harper] declared, would turn Canada into another debt-drenched Greece. His government had achieved good results “by pursuing sound economic policies, reducing taxes, focused investment, balancing our budget, all of the things the Liberal Party opposes, all of the things the Liberal Party would reverse to give us the kind of result we have in Greece.” But former finance minister Ralph Goo... more »
The Day Patriots Stood Up in the Tyrant’s Court
Gavin Seim What was exposed was what we all knew was happening, but did not want to face. It has never been exposed to the world like this until today. — Around the nation, Kangaroo Courts like this one operate every day. Once people walk through those doors their rights are as worthless as dung and they are silenced in fear of tyrant judges and a system that has nothing whatsoever to do with justice. *What we see here are 1st, 4th, 6th and 14th amendment violations!* But what precipitated all the events in this courtroom is the open defiance of the 1st amendment by Douglas Cou... more »
Scientists Continue Path of Darwinian Evolution for Robots
Source Nicholas West Worldwide neuroscience research conducted under Obama's BRAIN project, as well as similar research sponsored by the European Union exceeds $1 billion combined. The goal is nothing short of decoding the human brain. While there are many embedded initiatives associated with this type of research, the production of artificial intelligence that can rival or even surpass humans is at the forefront. One recent development aims to move beyond mere computational horsepower and incorporate the principles of Darwinian evolution in order to naturalize the process of r... more »
Untitled
*Hate on campus* Jew Hatred is running rampant in America's universities. According to a new report by the Brandeis Center for Human Rights, 54% of all Jewish students, liberals and conservatives, have seen or been subjected to anti Jewish harassment. This is a cancer on our campuses and the Freedom Center is working to cut it out. Our target is the Students for Justice in Palestine, a Jew hating and terrorist loving organization that supports Hamas and the destruction of the Jewish State and the extermination of the Jewish people. As part of my campaign to educate the public ab... more »
7 Creepy Robots Used By The Police State
By ReasonTV Cops use robots to defuse bombs, confront barricaded suspects and rescue victims during disasters. But they also use robots that can see, record and track what you are doing all day long. If you aren't paranoid by the thought of cops knowing your business, watch as Reason TV counts down 7 Creepy Robots for Cops. Visit Reason.com *Get truth delivered to your inbox every week.* Subscribe to GLOBAL POLITICAL AWAKENING by Email
Untitled
*Tests show a fifth monkey exposed to dangerous pathogen that escaped from secure lab at Tulane primate center ~USA Today* *Patient declared Ebola-free after scare at St. Bernard Parish Hospital ~WVUE* *WWNO tries non-traditional Spring Membership Drive *
Informed Choice: Who Supports It?
Anthony Freda Art Catherine J. Frompovich *What is informed choice?* you may be asking. According to the *Massachusetts Health and Human Services *website: Informed choice is *the process of choosing from options based on accurate information and knowledge.* These options are developed by *a partnership consisting of the consumer and the counselor that will empower the consumer to make decisions* resulting in a successful vocational rehabilitation outcome. [CJF emphasis added] According to the *HealthKnowledge* website, there are several aspects to choice, e.g., autonomous cho... more »
Untitled
*An Obama promise that has come true!* *Watch him make the promise here. And people voted for him! The power of a dark skin in a nation brainwashed into guilt by the Left* In contrast to the steep decline in the gasoline price index over the past year (which led to a decline in the overall Consumer Price Index), the seasonally adjusted electricity price index hit an all-time high in January, according to data released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In January, the seasonally adjusted price index for electricity was 212.290. That was up from 210.489 in December, whi... more »
Blogs, posts, web addresses, permalinks, archives,
We often come across bloggers just starting to create blogs, publish posts, etc, but are confused over the terminologies. Google/Blogger has created a good Guide for Beginners which should be a good starting guide to refer to. Whatever, I think it is a good idea to sort out the confusions over terminology. It will be a long winded explanation below but it may help if you refer to the examples (illustrations) below. At any point in the explanations below and you want actual examples to deepen your understanding, refer to examples. Best if you are very new, just initially concentrate... more »
Private Police: Mercenaries for the American Police State
Freda Art John W. Whitehead *“Corporate America is using police forces as their mercenaries.”*—Ray Lewis, Retired Philadelphia Police Captain It’s one thing to know and exercise your rights when a police officer pulls you over, but what rights do you have when a private cop—entrusted with all of the powers of a government cop but not held to the same legal standards—pulls you over and subjects you to a stop-and-frisk or, worse, causes you to “disappear” into a Gitmo-esque detention center not unlike the one employed by Chicago police at Homan Square? For that matter, how do yo... more »
A Buddhist View of Free Will
*Video - *Does free will really exist? Author and Buddhist practitioner B. Alan Wallace discusses free will according to the Buddhist’s point of view. The post A Buddhist View of Free Will appeared first on Waking Times.
18 Leprechaun Trap Ideas
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and what is a better way to celebrate it with your children than trapping a leprechaun? Check out these 18 fabulous traps. Leprechaun Trap Cake by Not Martha. Simple Leprechaun Trap. Leprechaun Trap on The Fickle Pickle. Leprechaun Trap by A Blonde and Three Boys. Leprechaun Trap on About.com Leprechaun Trap on Kruses Doing Their Personal Best. Leprechaun Trap by Creekside Learning. Lego Leprechaun Traps by Brain Power Boy. Leprechaun Trap by Club Chica Circle. Jake's Leprechaun Trap on About.com. Cereal Box Leprechaun Trap by Craft... more »
MENA Report ( March 4 , 2015 ) - Updates on the Regional implications of the ISIS / Iraq and Syria War ...... Libya , Yemen , Afghanistan , Iran also in focus .....
Links..... *US Officials: Netanyahu's Iran Deal 'Impossible'* *ISIS Snipers Slow Iraqi Offensive Against Tikrit* *With Casualties and Desertion, Afghan Military Shrinking Fast* *Iraqi Drive Against Tikrit Reveals Tensions With US* Iran Calls Obama's 10-Year Nuclear Demand 'Unacceptable' Amid Nuclear Dispute, Israel and Iran Face Off Over Past Oil Ties 27 Houthis Killed by al-Qaeda Attacks in Yemen Turkey Delivers Military Aid to Iraq France Skeptical About UN 'Freeze' for Syria As Airstrikes Damage ISIS, It Seeks 'Money, Money, Money' Rival Libyan Forces Carry Out Air Strikes... more »
Turning Up The Heat: Latest Evolution Of Lockheed Martin Laser Weapon System Stops Truck In Field Test
[image: Athena truck test]Lockheed Martin’s 30-kilowatt fiber laser weapon system successfully disabled the engine of a small truck during a recent field test, demonstrating the rapidly evolving precision capability to protect military forces and critical infrastructure. Known as ATHENA, for Advanced Test High Energy Asset, the ground-based prototype system burned through the engine manifold in a matter of seconds from more than a mile away. The truck was mounted on a test platform with its engine and drive train running to simulate an operationally-relevant test scenario. Read more
Overnight Economic News and Views ( Europe and Asia - March 4 , 2015 ) Early Highlights...... Currency movements ( Euro , Turkish lira and Dollar in focus ) , European Data splash ( Output , Business Activity , Services PMI , Business sentiment data ) , Ukraine economic items , Russia and Oil items of note , Greece items of note , Japan Services PMI data , Central Bank moves ( PBOC and RBI in focus ) ... More items of interest to consider !
Evening Tweets..... *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts · 30m30 minutes ago Bundesbank’s Dombret: #Greece must keep reforming to get assistance ~RTRS *Yannis Koutsomitis* @YanniKouts · 5h5 hours ago #Greece has alternative in case there will be no disbursement in March by creditors, says Greek FinMin Varoufakis ~@nstamouli fred walton retweeted *Kathimerini English *@ekathimerini · 3h3 hours ago Emergency intervention by BoG to acquire T-bills http://dlvr.it/8qlw61 fred walton retweeted *Dimitris Delevegos* @DDelevegos · 4h4 hours ago #Greece's minister Valavani fr... more »
Dutch parliament approves first F-35 production order
The Dutch parliament has approved an order for the nation’s first production batch of eight Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs, to be delivered in 2019. “With this decision, we have reached the point of no return in the replacement of the [Lockheed] F-16,” said defence minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on 26 February. The Royal Netherlands Air Force is already operating two F-35As, which were acquired to enable the service to participate in US-led initial operational test and evaluation of the Joint Strike Fighter. In early February, these were moved from Eglin AFB in Florida t... more »
Anti-missile counter-measures system approved for export
[image: ATIRCM]BAE Systems' Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures system, or ATIRCM, detects incoming missiles, tracks their position and then emits a high-energy laser beam to disrupt the incoming weapon's infrared seeker and blind its guidance system. "In today's environment, with the proliferation of surface-to-air missiles, a proven aircraft survivability system to counter advanced threats meets an immediate need," said Bill Staib, director of threat management solutions at BAE Systems. "We are seeing tremendous international interest for this system, which has proven to be... more »
MiG-29K Looking at a Bigger Role in the Indian Navy
[image: MiG-29K Fulcrum]After establishing itself as India’s leading carrier-based fighter aircraft, the MiG-29K is looking at an expanded role as the Navy seeks to increase the number of naval fighter squadrons. "The Indian Navy plans to establish three naval aircraft squadrons that will fly MiG-29K and KUB. Two of the squadrons will be deployed to two aircraft carriers, while the third one will be used for training," General Director of RAC MiG Sergei Korotkov said. The three squadrons of the MiG-29 are expected to be deployed at INS Hansa in Goa, INS Kadamba in Karwar and INS Deg... more »
Russia to Expand International Patrol Flights
[image: Tu-95 Bear]Russia have announced that they will continue to send bomber jets near to EU and NATO airspace, and that the military is to widen the perimeter of its controversial ‘air patrol’ flights. In a video-conference Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoygu addressed leading officials from all branches of the Russian military, and the meeting largely focused on the country’s air force and naval aviation. “Russia’s strategic bomber jets are always stationed on the frontlines of our homeland, completing patrol flyovers in many regions of the world,” Shoygu said, referring to... more »
Crews battle fire on USS Gunston Hall for hours
Sailors and Portsmouth firefighters battled flames on the USS Gunston Hall for more than three hours Tuesday. The fire started in an unmanned storeroom below the ship’s main deck and was noticed around 2 p.m., according to Lt. Michael A. Hatfield with Expeditionary Strike Group 2. The ship’s in-port emergency fire team started to fight the fire immediately, and then the Portsmouth Fire Department was called in. Hatfield said the fire was put out just before 5:30 p.m. Read more
Benjamin Fulford - March 2, 2015: Confusion and chaos at highest levels of G7 governments as revolution begins
*Views below are those of Benjamin Fulford. The man in the video is climbing down a rope made of bed sheets as if he a prisoner escaping from Buckingham palace, he loses his grip and falls from very high to the roof below. -AK* Benjamin Fulford - March 2, 2015: Confusion and chaos at highest levels of G7 governments as revolution begins Monday, March 2, 2015 by Benjamin Fulford There is a dangerous leadership vacuum at the highest levels of power inside the G7 nations as financial collapse looms. There will be economic collapse, mass starvation, anarchy and civil war unless th... more »
Air Force's first C295 aircraft arriving March
[image: CASA C295]The Philippine Air Force's cargo and transportation capability will soon have another boost with the arrival of its first C295 military transport aircraft this month. "Our first C295 will be arriving this March," Defense Undersecretary for Finance Fernando Manalo said in a state news interview Tuesday. The arrival of twin-turbopop tactical plane is five months earlier than expected, with the two other units to follow later this year. Read more
China needs more carriers to secure Indian Ocean routes: PLA hawk
[image: J-15 Flying Shark]China must continue to develop aircraft carriers to maintain the security of its Indian Ocean routes, says People's Liberation Army hawk Yin Zhuo. The 69-year-old rear admiral made the comments Monday, a day before the commencement of the annial "two sessions" of the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. As a member of the CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, Yin said the PLA's continued development of aircraft carriers is imperative given that neighboring countries al... more »
HMS Queen Elizabeth Will Begin Her Sea Trials in 2016
One of the three large warships which will operate the F-35 is the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The ship is being completed and will begin its sea trials next year. It is the largest warship which the United Kingdom has ever built and incorporates several innovations which we will focus on in a later story. Read more
USS Lassen increases interoperability with JMSDF
.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image/*)
[image: USS Lassen (DDG 82)]Arleigh-burke class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) visited Kure to strengthen their close ties with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and collaborate on tactical doctrine and warfighting concepts, Feb. 26-28. During the visit, Lassen and JMSDF JS Ise (DDH 182) hosted warfighter exchange discussions and Lassen hosted a reception on board which included senior leadership from U.S. and Japanese navies. Capt. Shan Byrne, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15 stressed the importance of the U.S.-Japan bilateral alliance, expressed the cre... more »
Navy Again Reduces Scope of Destroyer Modernization, 5 Ships Won’t Receive Any Ballistic Missile Defense Upgrades
[image: USS McCampbell (DDG-85)]Five Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers (DDG-51) will forgo a combat system upgrade that would allow the ships to fight ballistic missile threats as part of a reduction in modernization funding included in the Navy’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget that will save the service $500 million over the next five years, USNI News has learned. Modernization periods for five Flight IIA Burkes — USS Howard (DDG-83); USS McCampbell (DDG-85); USS Mustin (DDG-89); USS Chafee (DDG-90); USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) — will not include the Baseline 9C Aegis Combat ... more »
Sweden Signs Defense Deal With Denmark, Amid Increased Fear Of Russia
[image: Il-20 Coot]Two weeks after signing a war pact with neighboring Finland, Sweden has made a similar deal with another Scandinavian neighbor, Denmark. While the deal is set to be confirmed later in March, Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist stressed that the agreement will not bring neutral Sweden any closer to joining NATO in the face of increased Russian aggression that is worrying Scandinavian nations. “Deepened Nordic bilateral and multilateral cooperation will strengthen the national defense as well as the ability to conduct operations in our immediate area and bey... more »
PLA's Type 094 sub upgrade allows greater missile capacity
[image: Type 094 (Jin) class SSBN]China has begun upgrading its Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, according to the military news website of the country's nationalistic tabloid Global Times, citing a Russian media report. China had originally planned to build five or six of the submarines. US intelligence suggests that in the end they built five. The submarines have a submerged displacement of 11,000 tonnes and should be capable of carrying 12-16 ballistic missiles, according to the report. The original design allowed for 12 missiles, but a few years ago an image ... more »
MoD: Submarine ranges claims 'absolutely not true'
[image: Astute class SSN]The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said claims that a test area in Scotland for Royal Navy submarines has been expanded without consultation are untrue. SNP MSP Dave Thompson said it was his understanding local fishermen had not been consulted on extending the ranges between Raasay and the mainland. Fishing is banned in an area six miles (10km) long and three miles (6km) wide in the Raasay Ranges. Read more
The Paradox of Popping Back in Time
I have enough conforming reports to suspect that wormholes are quite feasible but will demand their own set of rules to use and apply. At the moment, they are simply theoretically possible. I think it will be safe enough to gather past information and that may be attractive to us. Actually disturbing the past deliberately may produce unpleasant surprises in a fussy way. Yet reality may turn out to way more stable than thought. I do think that stepping back or even forward in time instantly makes you in dissonance with that past simply because the two individual n for ... more »
Rome's Military Women Have Been Hiding in Plain Sight
[image: What lovely, long hair you have (Image: Beth Greene)] This makes complete sense of course. The reality of day to day life in all camps means that there is a continuing workload that is best contracted out and most of that would be preferably given to soldier's dependents. After all these are permanent camps. Sheer economic necessity would drive this and all rules would be merely worked around. On the march is a much different story and that usually demands mobility. I am quite sure that the Romans kept their train well controlled and light as possible. At lea... more »
9 Months On, Koch Fears Realized After Town Raised Minimum Wage To $15
It is astonishing just how so many smart folks totally fail to get it. The purpose of a minimum wage is to establish a base to the labor market that can be then defended and not discounted from. Then all discounting is forced into the grey market of the illegals and the volunteers and their like. Even they get a break. Minimum wage needs to be calculated against a reasonable living basket of goods and services that allows an individual to have enough calories to arise in the morning and put in eight hours of light duty at least. He also needs to shower and have a good nig... more »
The How and Why Behind Obama’s Mysterious Rise to the Presidency
I have a more important question. Why are these claims never answered? We are slowly collecting more and more pieces of a serious puzzle and this paints a picture of a tightly trained and brain washed individual who truly lacks critical intellectual skills as well. That would have been too tricky. My deathly concern is that this deadly cliche who have lived their entire lives wrapped up in a political dream will really attempt to seize control through a coup de etat. We have had one already with the killing of Kennedy. This item outlines the edges of a plausible conspiracy ... more »
Secret & unarmed: Top 4 Russian special purpose submarines
[image: KS-129 Orenburg]Everyone is familiar with Russian combat submarines: the formidable Borei-class carrying out military patrols under the Arctic ice, multi-purpose Yasen-class that can even attacking ground targets, and the silent Improved Kilo-class (Varshavyanka), which can detect the enemy at a distance of hundreds of kilometers. All of these submarines have modern weapons and are in full combat readiness. However, the Russian fleet also has unarmed submarines, which are kept under a veil of secrecy. Read more
This chart shows the competition between India and China's submarine fleet
[image: India and China's submarine fleet]China and India, the world's two most populous states, share the world's longest contested land border. The two nations also have the dubious distinction of being the largest weapons importers on earth. Although China and India have attempted to improve relations, the two countries remain locked in a geopolitical struggle for influence. This competition has become especially apparent in Chinese and Indian designs for the Indian Ocean. Both nations are aggressively seeking to expand their projected maritime power in the region, especially ... more »
Abolished Big Bang is all around us
*A rant on the unlimited stupidity of the masses* Three weeks ago, I discussed a media storm following the publication of a lousy article by Ali and Das that was interpreted as a disproof of the big bang theory. Lots of the Czech media joined at that time. However, what I didn't expect was that this insanity was going to continue for weeks. On Monday, when I opened the novinky.cz [translation of the name of the server: news.cz] app on my smartphone, it immediately impressed me by the article called There Has Never Been Any Big Bang, a New Study Claims. Holy cow. There was an easy ... more »
Fundamentally Rotten Economic Foundation (Calculated Destruction of the Liberal Class Right Before That of the Middle Class) Postcard from the End of America (Nasdaq 5,000 Is Different This Time . . . But Not In A Good Way!) Gitmo in Chicago
The Case For Super Glass-Steagall February Stock Buybacks Hit Record - Total $2 Trillion Since 2009 Corporate America’s love affair with itself grows more passionate by the month. Stock buybacks, which along with dividends eat up sums of money equal to almost all the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index’s earnings, vaulted to a record in February, with chief executive officers announcing $104.3
Netanyahu's Speech To Congress Is Full of Fantasies, Shamefully Uses Memory of Holocaust To Prevent Peace Between America and Iran
*Netanyahu's problem is the Palestinian question. His solution is to distract the world by drumming up fear about Iran's peaceful nuclear program. * "But Iran's regime is not merely a Jewish problem, any more than the Nazi regime was merely a Jewish problem. The 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis were but a fraction of the 60 million people killed in World War II. So, too, Iran's regime poses a grave threat, not only to Israel, but also the peace of the entire world. To understand just how dangerous Iran would be with nuclear weapons, we must fully understand the nature of the re... more »
Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Food from the sea
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World! If this is your first visit, please click *HERE* for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far. This post contains great information and I encourag... more »
Another Speech Of Pure Evil: Benyamin Miliewkosky (Netanyahu) Speech To His Minions In The US Congress March 3rd, 2015... My Analysis, And My Ripping It To Shreds
I do feel sick today... I just finished watching and listening to that arch psychotic criminal, Benyamin Miliewkosky, better known by the name 'Netanyahu', speak in front of Israel's slaves in the US Congress... It was a revolting "speech" of pure lies and untruths....It was also remarkable to watch these disgusting inhuman beings that the American people stupidly "elected" to power stand and give this mass murdering freak a multitude of standing ovations..... I could just puke from what I watched... I waited for a news source to come up with a transcript of this most evil creature ... more »
Obama Responds to Netanyahu's Speech to Congress | The New York Times
*People thought Netanyahu reached peak stupidity a couple of years ago at the U.N when he showed off his cartoon bomb, but this man tops himself every year. Will he drum up an excuse and attack Iran without America's blessing to ruin a deal? Maybe. * *Title: Obama Responds to Netanyahu's Speech to Congress | The New York Times. Date Published: March 3, 2015. Description:* President Obama said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel “didn’t offer any viable alternatives” on Iran during his address to Congress.
Roundup - A Converging Pattern of Toxicity from Farm to Clinic to Lab-
* Yup, it's another post on the "Chemical Manipulation of Humanity"* *Roundup - a converging pattern of toxicity from farm to clinic to laboratory* Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji / 25th February 2015 This is long, has multiple links which are accessible in the pdf (scroll down to access that) As scientific evidence grows of the many ways in which glyphosate - pipe-cleaner, herbicide and antibiotic - damages the environment and health, governments and regulators turn a blind eye, writes Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji, and the EU has even raised allowable residue levels. It's time for us all to put ... more »
Formula 1: Pit Stops, 1950 & Today
So there’s now more than four, and they’re not both refuelling, but … [Hat tip Kopu Nitpicker] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
"A Look to the Heavens"
"Only 11 million light-years away, Centaurus A is the closest active galaxy to planet Earth. Spanning over 60,000 light-years, the peculiar elliptical galaxy, also known as NGC 5128, is featured in this sharp color image. Centaurus A is apparently the result of a collision of two otherwise normal galaxies resulting in a fantastic jumble of star clusters and imposing dark dust lanes. *Click image for larger size.* Near the galaxy's center, left over cosmic debris is steadily being consumed by a central black hole with a billion times the mass of the Sun. As in other active galaxies, t... more »
The Poet: Dana Gioia, "Entrance"
*"Entrance"* "Whoever you are: step out of doors tonight, Out of the room that lets you feel secure. Infinity is open to your sight. Whoever you are. With eyes that have forgotten how to see From viewing things already too well-known, Lift up into the dark a huge, black tree And put it in the heavens: tall, alone. And you have made the world and all you see. It ripens like the words still in your mouth. And when at last you comprehend its truth, Then close your eyes and gently set it free." - Dana Gioia
Tom Hayden : It’s time to act against escalation in Iraq and Iran
We must support diplomacy while pointing out there is no military solution. By Tom Hayden | The Rag Blog | January 3, 2014 Peace and justice activists should — at the very least — send messages now to members of … finish reading Tom Hayden : It’s time to act against escalation in Iraq and Iran
Who is the Man in Adam Dew's Video?
The question that is being asked is who is the man in the Adam Dew video? Is there enough of him visible for us to make any sort of guess? I have studied this, compared it to the Richard Dolan video of a man who claimed to have been in Roswell and saw the bodies and to the picture of Eli Benjamin who appears in Tom Carey and Don Schmitt’s *Witness to Roswell* and it seems to be the same man. Benjamin was a member of the 390th Air Service Squadron, which was part of Edwin Easley’s command, meaning that they had the mission of security on the base. The 1395th MP Company was used for ... more »
North Korea Warns The U.S. That They Will Launch A Pre-Emptive Strike 'If Necessary'
North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong (R) arrives with North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations So Se Pyong for his address to the Conference on Disarmament at the U.N. in Geneva March 3, 2015. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse *Reuters:* *North Korea warns U.S. about pre-emptive strike 'if necessary'* *(Reuters) - North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong said on Tuesday that his country had the power to deter an "ever-increasing nuclear threat" by the United States with a pre-emptive strike if necessary.* *His rare speech at the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament drew a rebuke... more »
"The Illusions Of hope..."
"It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and provide for it." - Patrick Henry
Paulo Coelho, "The Chess Game"
*"The Chess Game"* by Paulo Coelho "A young man said to the abbot from the monastery, “I’d actually like to be a monk, but I haven’t learned anything in life. All my father taught me was to play chess, which does not lead to enlightenment. Apart from that, I learned that all games are a sin." “They may be a sin but they can also be a diversion, and who knows, this monastery needs a little of both,” was the reply. The abbot asked for a chessboard, sent for a monk, and told him to play with the young man. But before the game began, he added, “Although we need diversion, we cannot al... more »
After Bibi: Maybe the solution to the Boehner Problem is to consider whether we really, absolutely need a House speaker
*Plus some thoughtier thoughts than Bibi's on Iran* *Okay, I admit I fell crazy mad in love with this "manufactured" image when our colleague Gaius Publius shared it in his pre-speech post yesterday, and I would likely have taken advantage of any remotely contrivable opportunity to recycle it. But that doesn't mean that, post-speech, it isn't still the defining image of Prime Minister Bibi's Iran policy.* *by Ken* So, at last, Prime Minister Bibi has spoken. Sure, it's a national disgrace, but haven't our right-wing brethren been working their chubby butts off to ensure that the U... more »
"Give Us Courage..."
*"Give Us Courage"* "Give us courage, gaiety and the quiet mind. Spare us to our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavors. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving to one another." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Chet Raymo, “Holy Ignorance”
*“Holy Ignorance” * by Chet Raymo “At a press conference in 2002, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld famously explained foreign policy: “There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know." The same can be said of science. The textbooks are full of known knowns. We are quite confident affirming the circulation of the blood, the distance to the Sun, the common descent of animals and plants. I sit h... more »
Egyptian TV Host Ahmed Moussa: The U.S., Turkey, and Qatar Constitute the Axis of Evil
*Title: Egyptian TV Host Ahmed Moussa: The U.S., Turkey, and Qatar Constitute the Axis of Evil. Source: MEMRI TV. Date Published: March 3, 2015. Description: * In a February 16, 2015 address on the Egyptian Sada Al-Balad TV channel, TV host Ahmed Moussa said that the U.S., Turkey, and Qatar constituted the axis of evil, because they were countries that supported terrorism. He left out Saudi Arabia, but 3 of 4 ain't bad.
NSA Whistle-Blower Edward Snowden Wants To Return Return Home
*Reuters:* *Fugitive ex-NSA contractor Snowden seeks to come home: lawyer* *(Reuters) - A Russian lawyer for Edward Snowden said on Tuesday the fugitive former U.S. spy agency contractor who leaked details of the government's mass surveillance programs was working with American and German lawyers to return home.In Washington, U.S. officials said they would welcome Snowden's return to the United States but he would have to face criminal charges which have been filed against him.Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, who has links to the Kremlin, was speaking at a news conference ... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
León, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Thanks for stopping by.
Of Genius and Genuflection—Freddy Kempf's Beethoven
*Guest review by **Lindsay Perigo* "I love sport, so continue to jog religiously and do strength work too. I've also more recently started to work on my swimming as it's something I was never very good at—and I'm still determined to be able to attack any kind of black (ski-)run one day. I think a secret ambition of mine is to do the Ironman one day." So said ace pianist Freddy Kempf in my interview with him in the lead-up to his playing/conducting of the five Beethoven Piano Concertos with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The series is called, "Freddy Kempf's Beethoven." After... more »
Posts
