The EPA was directed to set standards for radioactive materials under Reorganization Plan No. 3 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Viewed from the west, Three Mile Island currently uses only one nuclear generating station, TMI-1, which is on the left. TMI-2, to the right, has not been used since the accident. Note that this is a pre-accident photo taken when TMI-2 was in operation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
History of the use of nuclear power (top) and the number of active nuclear power plants (bottom). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)10:30pm MDST
Final Clean Power Plan Drops Support for Existing Nuclear Plants
The final version of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan does not include aid to existing nuclear power plants at risk of closing because they can’t compete with cheaper natural gas and renewables—a list that includes some of the nation’s most controversial reactors, including Indian Point and Three Mile Island. In the draft version, EPA had proposed allowing states to count 6 percent of existing nuclear generation toward their clean energy goals, a provision designed to rescue the 6 percent of nuclear capacity considered at risk. “On further consideration, we believe it is inappropri... more »
Ibbitson and Harper
John Ibbitson has an interesting take on the birth of the current prime minister. Reading through it, I can't help but think of Harper's personality being identical to those of the assorted black-shirted school shooters in the US. Ostracised by choice or group-think from their peers, nursing a pathological grudge against them, directionless. A feeling of alienation that finally culminates in a
Disenfranchisement
Losing your right to vote in your own country's election, when that country is Canada...there are no words. He's finally gone to the GG and picked his fight with the electorate. Those of you still with votes, please do your utmost to evict him "from office, right out of the country, and into the deep blue sea if possible."
Why Watches Are Important In Russia
Dmitry Peskov, left, and the Richard Mille RM 52-01 *Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg*: *Where Did Putin's Spokesman Get a $620,000 Watch?* Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russia's president, is known for a level of cynicism that sometimes surpasses even that of his boss, Vladimir Putin. Last weekend, though, Peskov inspired more soap opera than fear or loathing, as attention focused on his $600,000 watch and lavish wedding to a champion figure skater. Presidential press secretaries are celebrities regardless of the country whose leader they serve: "You're mentioned in talk shows an... more »
Meet the Senators Who Voted to Fund Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Harvesting Business
A radical pro-abortion minority of the Senate just voted to continue forcing you to fund Planned Parenthood’s abortion and baby harvesting business. A radical pro-abortion minority of the Senate just voted to continue forcing you to fund Planned Parenthood’s abortion... The post Meet the Senators Who Voted to Fund Planned Parenthood’s Abortion Harvesting Business appeared first on The Stream.
The Balance Of Power Is Shifting In The Middle East
*Peter Van Buren, Real Clear World/Tom Dispatch:** The Balance of Power in the Middle East Just Changed* Don't sweat the details of the July nuclear accord between the United States and Iran. What matters is that the calculus of power in the Middle East just changed in significant ways. Washington and Tehran announced their nuclear agreement on July 14th and yes, some of the details are still classified. Of course the Obama administration negotiated alongside China, Russia, Great Britain, France, and Germany, which means Iran and five other governments must approve the detailed 15... more »
Hey, GOP presidential candidates, just asking: "What makes any of you think you're remotely qualified to be the leader of the Free World?"
*by Ken* Howie wrote earlier today about the, er, "qualifications" of GOP "presidential candidate" Carly Fiorina -- as well as those of GOP "presidential front-runner" Donald Trump. So I couldn't help but throw in yesterday's *Doonesbury*. *DOONESBURY by G. B. Trudeau* [*Click to enlarge.*] But in my own mind, I can't shake the question Mike D hears the mythical moderator ask the three "amateur" candidates: "What makes any of you think you're remotely qualified to be the leader of the Free World?" Except that, again in my mind, the same question applies to the entire field o... more »
TMoE Now Has "Look Inside" Feature
Why it took 2 years for this to happen, I have no idea.
Support EPATA
from Susan Ohanian: The EPATA and ARN lists were created and are maintained by Eric Crump as a service to us all. It isn't a totally free lunch. Eric pays for the server. We should contribute to pay for the server. Please do your part and send Eric a donation: Interversity c/o Eric Crump 1361 Olive Rd. Homewood IL 60430-2409
Musical Interlude: Adiemus, “In Caelum Fero”
Adiemus, “In Caelum Fero” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dc-tRfKjuQ&feature=related
"A Look to the Heavens"
"What surrounds the florid Rosette nebula? To better picture this area of the sky, the famous flowery emission nebula on the far right has been captured recently in a deep and dramatic wide field image that features several other sky highlights. Designated NGC 2237, the center of the Rosette nebula is populated by the bright blue stars of open cluster NGC 2244, whose winds and energetic light are evacuating the nebula's center. Below the famous flower, a symbol of Valentine's Day, is a column of dust and gas that appears like a rose's stem but extends hundreds of light years. *Click... more »
The Poet: Theodore Roethke, "The Waking"
*"The Waking"* "I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go. We think by feeling. What is there to know? I hear my being dance from ear to ear. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. Of those so close beside me, which are you? God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there, And learn by going where I have to go. Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how? The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair; I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. Great Nature has another thing to do To you and me, so take the lively ... more »
"Overachieving and Overreaching: A Sign of Imbalance"
*"Overachieving and Overreaching: A Sign of Imbalance"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOm "Sometimes when we don't feel good enough, we create imbalance by overachieving or needing to be the best at something. Overachievers are people who have achieved but still feel the need to do more, creating an imbalance in their lives. People who exhibit this behavior may be trying to compensate for feelings of insecurity and doubts about their worth. They may be chasing unresolved issues from their past into the present, or they might not be looking at their lives as a whole, but judging thems... more »
Who Will Make the First Presidential Debate Cut?
The first major debate between the Republican presidential candidates will only feature the 10 candidates polling the best in the five most recent polls that Fox News chooses. Second tier candidates will be invited to participate in a less high-profile... The post Who Will Make the First Presidential Debate Cut? appeared first on The Stream.
Chet Raymo, “The Burden of Thinking”
*“The Burden of Thinking”* by Chet Raymo “Let me speak for gray. Not black or white. Good or evil. Truth or falsity. Yes or no. Let me speak for maybe. Sort of. More or less. I think so. I am reluctant to speak for gray for fear of being considered wishy-washy. Indecisive. Unprincipled. But lately it seems as if we are surrounded on every side by zealots, and it's not a pretty sight. We are surrounded by people who are so certain of their Truth that they are willing to strap bombs to their chests and walk into crowded pizza parlors. Or fly airplanes into towers. Or bomb abortion cl... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan. Thanks for stopping by.
"Contradictions..."
"Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong." - Ayn Rand
Is Jordan Next For The Islamic State?
*Kevin Sullivan, the Compass/Real Clear World:* *The Caliphate Inches Closer to Jordan* Rumors have been circulating in recent days that the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade -- a Syrian rebel group that gained notoriety in March 2013 when it kidnapped, and subsequently released, 21 Filipino UN workers -- is readying to declare its own emirate, or wilayat, in the Syrian city of Daraa, one of the group's strongholds. The word emirate evokes all kinds of images and assumptions, but the motivations behind Yarmouk's potential push for autonomy may be rooted in very terrestrial and parochial in... more »
Thierry Meyssan On Erdoğan's End Game
*This fool has stepped in it now. May God have mercy on him.* *An excerpt from, "Clinton, Juppé, Erdoğan, Daesh and the PKK" by Thierry Meyssan, Voltaire Network, August 3, 2015: * By one of those turn-arounds of which the Near East has the secret, Israël and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement in order to oppose President Erdoğan’s folly, and also, surreptitiously, to help the PKK, despite its Marxist identity. Furthermore, Israël has already contacted the traditional enemies of Turkey, Alexis Tsípras’ Greece, and Níkos Anastasiádis’ Cyprus. Let there be no mistake - Recep Tayy... more »
It's Game Time
What is coming up now is balance. What is being felt here is essence. What is happening today is a return to center; the place from which manifestation begins. It is true that creation is a constant force. What we’ve come to appreciate is the ability to skew direction of that force with suggestion, with ideas, with systems, with advertising and primarily with emotion. Today we begin actual comprehension of our potential. This is not the same as understanding. Understanding is STANDING – UNDER. There is no one standing over you, giving you truth. You are beneath no system, n... more »
Taliban Fighters Are In Disarray With The Death Of Their Leader
Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons *Wall Street Journal:* *Taliban Leadership Rift Seeps Down to Fighters* Power struggle sows confusion in the field, raises concerns about potential defections to Islamic State KABUL—A power struggle has emerged within Afghanistan’s Taliban following the death of their supreme commander, causing confusion among foot soldiers and sowing fears that some might defect to Islamic State. Just a few people within the Taliban knew of Mullah Mohammad Omar’s death until it was revealed with certainty last week, first by the Afghan g... more »
Golden Rule is Back on the Seas
CBS News 8 - San Diego, CA News Station - KFMB Channel 8 A recently restored, historic peace boat arrived in San Diego, California Sunday to take part in the Veterans for Peace 30th Annual National Convention. The Golden Rule arrived at Shelter Island after traveling down the coast from Eureka. The boat is most famously known for being used as a tool to stop international nuclear weapons testing in 1958. Now, crew members hope the boat can have the same effect again. Over the next 10 years, the Golden Rule is scheduled to sail around the United States, passing along its message of ...more »
Untitled
*Heroes of the Recovery ~Laura Claveri, New Orleans Magazine*
Jerusalem Palestinians Seek Israeli Citizenship
“I declare I will be a loyal citizen of the state of Israel,” reads the oath that must be sworn by all naturalized Israeli citizens. Increasingly, they are words being uttered by Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from... The post Jerusalem Palestinians Seek Israeli Citizenship appeared first on The Stream.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- August 3, 2015
A man holds up a sign as he and several thousand other protesters demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square, July 22, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar *Robert Morgenthau, Reuters*: *Forgotten flaw in Iran nuclear deal: It lets killers go free* President Barack Obama has in good faith negotiated an agreement with Iran that would end a broad range of economic sanctions on Iran, in return for Iran’s promise to scale back its efforts to build a nuclear bomb. I believe that Congress’s support of the agreement would be a very serious mistake. I find persuasi... more »
Untitled
*Planned Parenthood - Gulf Coast responds after state ends Medicaid contract ~WDSU* *Bobby Jindal Could Save Louisiana and His Legacy, But He Won’t ~CenLamar*
US Expands Airstrikes and War on Syria- Period.
*Caught wind of this ‘news’ early today. *This move has ZERO to do with supporting the alleged US trained rebels. *The expansion of air over flights has EVERYTHING to do with the US expanding the war on Syria- *That’s it. In a nutshell. The US has taken it’s illusory velvet glove off to begin striking Syria, harder, slaughtering more civilians then ever before. *Digression: The casualty count so far from US airstrikes sits at 459 claimed by Airwars, of course, that number is denied by the US and is likely too low anyway.* This growing air campaign was planned by the US & company... more »
Global Network Delegation to Okinawa
Just prior to our Global Network conference in Kyoto, Japan a delegation of our folks went to Okinawa for a couple days to show solidarity with the protests (going on for more than 4,000 days) against the US construction of a new Marine base. The base at Henoko will include two aircraft runways that extend out into pristine Oura Bay that is home to precious coral and endangered sea mammals. There are multiple US military bases on Okinawa and the people (from the grassroots all the way up to town mayors and the governor of the island) are in a state of revolt demanding the bases... more »
Colorado Theater Shooter’s Jury Keeps Execution as Option as Sentencing Advances
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — Jurors in the Colorado theater shooting trial declined to rule out the death penalty Monday as they move toward sentencing James Holmes, finding his defense failed to persuade them to show him mercy. The decision clears... The post Colorado Theater Shooter’s Jury Keeps Execution as Option as Sentencing Advances appeared first on The Stream.
Who is Donald Trump Hiring? Foreign Workers
Donald Trump is staking his run for U.S. president in part on a vow to protect American jobs. But this month, one of his companies, the elite Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Florida, applied to import 70 foreign workers to serve... The post Who is Donald Trump Hiring? Foreign Workers appeared first on The Stream.
Life Inside a Benedictine Abbey
MOUNT ANGEL — Morning comes softly here. There are no cars, no sirens, no trash trucks, no dogs. Only a hundred chattering birds and the swish of a monk’s tunic. The air and earth are blue, and Mount Angel Abbey... The post Life Inside a Benedictine Abbey appeared first on The Stream.
Royals GM: Character Key to Team’s Turnaround
Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore was headed off the field during 2012 spring training when a Royals minor league coach approached him. “Dayton,” the coach said, “God asked me to tell you something.” “Sure, what do you have,... The post Royals GM: Character Key to Team’s Turnaround appeared first on The Stream.
Candidate Files Complaint Over Debate Exclusion
The final lineup for Thursday’s debate is nearly set, as well as the five o’clock “pregame show” with the poorly performing candidates, and Mark Everson is objecting to the fact that he doesn’t seem to be included at all. In... The post Candidate Files Complaint Over Debate Exclusion appeared first on The Stream.
Stephen Harper, Like The Zebra, Striped For Life( A Preview of Stephen Harper`s Upcoming Political Thrashing)
*Written by Grant G* Perplexed, not sure if Canada`s mainstream media believes the longest election campaign in Canadian history(11 weeks plus) is a historic chance to sell newspapers, sell advertising or even tell the journalistic truth, from what I have seen early on, you can forget about the media searching out truth.. To begin with the laughable premise mainstream media is flogging, that being this 11 week election campaign gives Stephen Harper`s team the edge, in both terms and the ability to silence third party advertisers warning of Harper`s past, present and probably f... more »
World News Briefs -- August 3, 2015 (Evening Edition)
*Reuters*: *Special Report: State Department watered down human trafficking report* In the weeks leading up to a critical annual U.S. report on human trafficking that publicly shames the world’s worst offenders, human rights experts at the State Department concluded that trafficking conditions hadn’t improved in Malaysia and Cuba. And in China, they found, things had grown worse. The State Department’s senior political staff saw it differently — and they prevailed. *MIDDLE EAST* U.S., allies stage 29 air strikes *against Islamic State: statement.* US begins armed *drone flights... more »
The Decline — and Fall? — of Religious Freedom in America
Religious freedom in America is under threat, and the battle is already in progress. For the most part, the burden of the struggle has been borne by Christians. America’s Jews, living safely behind the front lines, have paid little heed.... The post The Decline — and Fall? — of Religious Freedom in America appeared first on The Stream.
IRS Commissioner Vows Not to Target Christian Colleges Opposed to Gay Marriage ‘At This Time’
The Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service vowed in a Senate hearing this week that the federal agency will not strip Christian colleges and universities of their tax-exempt statuses should those institutions refuse to update school policies to be more... The post IRS Commissioner Vows Not to Target Christian Colleges Opposed to Gay Marriage ‘At This Time’ appeared first on The Stream.
Catholic Bishops to Senate: Stop Funding Planned Parenthood
Stop funding Planned Parenthood, the nation’s Catholic bishops told the Senate today. The attempt to de-fund the nation’s largest abortion provider failed late Monday afternoon, getting only 53 of the 60 votes it needed to proceed. Speaking for his peers, Sean Cardinal... The post Catholic Bishops to Senate: Stop Funding Planned Parenthood appeared first on The Stream.
No free trade, just a 15% hike
So instead of a free trade deal that takes tariffs of every item that comes into this country wholesale, this government is instead about to announce a deal whereby a 15% tax will be added to everything that comes in retail – onto everything you and I buy offshore. *The threshold for paying GST on foreign products bought online could be cut to $20 or even zero, **Prime Minister John Key says**.* You think back to John Key’s signature phrase of the election and in the absence of anything actually special to note you start to wonder ... is *this* the sort of thing he meant when he ... more »
Central Florida Building and Construction Trades Council Endorses Grayson For U.S. Senate
Democratic Party political boss and throwback Chuck Schumer has no primary and no viable Republican opponent for reelection next year. So he has plenty of time to sit on the phone calling progressive donors and threatening them for backing Alan Grayson in his Democratic primary battle against Schumer's conservative puppet, New Dem/"ex"-Republican Patrick Murphy, who has just spent 3 years in Congress voting to back Boehner's and Wall Street's agenda. Almost everyone I know from the Democracy Alliance has gotten at least one slimy phone call from Schumer demanding they not back Gra... more »
Ex-Broadcaster Sues Fox Sports, Says He Was Fired for Support of Traditional Marriage
DALLAS (AP) — Former college football television analyst Craig James on Monday filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against Fox Sports that contends he was fired because he had expressed opposition to gay marriage during a failed run for the U.S.... The post Ex-Broadcaster Sues Fox Sports, Says He Was Fired for Support of Traditional Marriage appeared first on The Stream.
Washington Post Challenges Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Service in the Air Force Reserve
The Washington Post has a new piece up tonight going after GOP presidential candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham and accusing him of receiving “special treatment” while serving in the Air Force reserve. Special treatment that allegedly resulted in promotions Graham didn’t earn.... The post *Washington Post* Challenges Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Service in the Air Force Reserve appeared first on The Stream.
Cartoon: ‘Mission Impossible’
The post Cartoon: ‘Mission Impossible’ appeared first on The Stream.
A Surge In Airspace Violations Is Now Happening Worldwide (Russia Is Being Blamed For 85% Of Violations)
*The Guardian:** Nato reports surge in jet interceptions as Russia tensions increase* *In Europe, over the Aegean and in the Asia-Pacific region, interceptions are ‘almost routine’ but the sheer volume of incidents risks escalation.* World powers are reporting surges in airspace violations and instances where aircraft are scrambled to intercept foreign jets, amid a sharp rise in geopolitical tensions in Europe and Asia. Nato member aircraft were forced to conduct more than 500 scrambles over Europe in 2014 – a fourfold increase on the previous year. Nearly 85% of these were to in... more »
Russia`s War Against Islamic Radicals In The Caucasus Is Heating Up
*UPI*: *Russia says security forces kill 14 Islamists in North Caucasus* *Jihadis from the North Caucasus region have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in recent months, making their way to fight in Syria and Iraq.* MOSCOW, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Russia's National Antiterror Committee (NAK) said security forces killed eight Islamic State militants Sunday, and six other Islamist rebels on Monday. Both incidents occurred in the Northern Caucasus region. "According to information available to the security services, the militants killed in [Sunday's] operation had recently pledged allegian... more »
Indrâgnî – The Ancient Plasma Weapon in the Rig Veda
*V. Susan Ferguson* - The ancient Sanskrit texts speak of a super weapon that destroyed 90 cities by heat. The post Indrâgnî – The Ancient Plasma Weapon in the Rig Veda appeared first on Waking Times.
2016 Presidential Debate Schedule: Dates, Times, Moderators and Topics
First presidential candidates’ debate between GOP candidates Date: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 Time: 5 p.m. EDT Host: Fox News and Facebook Moderator: Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum Format: The undercard debate will feature presidential candidates not in the top 10... The post 2016 Presidential Debate Schedule: Dates, Times, Moderators and Topics appeared first on The Stream.
Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood and Racism
ERIC METAXAS (Breakpoint Radio) — Given all the grisly and disturbing news we’ve been getting about Planned Parenthood — which is the nation’s largest provider of abortion, and presumably, the body parts of unborn babies — would it surprise you... The post Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood and Racism appeared first on The Stream.
August 3: http://www.canadianprogressiveworld.com/2015/07/30/wikileaks-reveals-cbc-and-canada-post-may-be-sold-under-tpp-agreement/
The post in my title is a about a letter obtained by WikiLeaks. It shows that Harper is preparing to sell Canada Post and CBC to private buyers - something that may be incorporated into the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership. And so we would lose the only reliable news agency in North America. And we will have just about all of our radio and TV to match the abysmal standards of the Irving press. Nor will it save money. These deals never do. Private ownership is more expensive for us because its only motive is profit. As well, we will lose even more as most of those profits escape our ... more »
North Korea-Made Weapons Are Being Traded In The Middle East Despite Heavy U.S. And U.N. Sanctions
*Photo:* Visitors walk past replicas of a North Korean Scud-B missile (R) and South Korean Hawk surface-to-air missiles (L) at the Korean War Memorial in Seoul. (Jung Yeon-Je, AFP) *UPI:* *Report: North Korea supplying missiles to Yemen rebels* North Korea-made weapons are being traded in the Middle East despite heavy U.S. and U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. SEOUL, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- South Korea intelligence said scud missiles launched from Yemen into Saudi Arabia in June were of North Korean origin. The missiles identified in the attacks against Saudi Arabia were the same as the S... more »
Report: Saudi And Gulf State Soldiers Poor Into Aden
Saudi Arabia has been leading a series of airstrikes against the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi militants since March 26. Above, a Saudi soldier fired a mortar at the Saudi border with Yemen on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters *AFP:* *'Hundreds' of Gulf Arab troops enter Yemen's liberated Aden* Aden (AFP) - Hundreds of Gulf Arab troops from the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have entered the southern port of Aden, a military source told AFP on Monday. The source said the troops arrived in Yemen's second city on Sunday with tanks and armoured vehicles. He gave no furthe... more »
The Roundtable Discussion: No More nicey nicey, time to tell it like it is!
The time for kid gloves, political correctness and worrying about bruised feelings and "triggering" people is well and truly over. No more nicey nicey. No more sugar coating. No more mincing words. It's time for the cold harsh reality of what the fuck is going on right now. Tonight Lisa and I will be joined by Lily Earth and ohhhhhh boy! We have a lot to say. Tonights menu of topics will include Mind Control, "AI", Programming and Rituals, the use of auto suggestion and blatant programming by Hollywood, and ..... the Savior Meme. This will not be a lovey dovey, feel... more »
Yemen War News Updates -- August 3, 2015
*Reuters:* *Pro-Hadi fighters, Houthis battle over Yemen's largest military base* Fighters loyal to Yemen's deposed president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by Saudi-led air strikes, battled Houthi forces inside the country's largest military base on Monday, pro-Hadi commanders said. They said the recapture of the al-Anad base would open the road north to the city of Taiz, where Iranian-allied Houthi militias have been locked in combat with local fighters siding with Hadi. *WNU Editor: *It looks like the Houthi rebels are now wanting peace talks .... *Yemen's Houthis ready for po... more »
Schools teaching 'pro-Palestinian extremist agenda’ per Telegraph
Nothing in this article surprises me. The NUT like much of the British left, including the BBC, is irretrievably anti Israel. One line caught my eye though: 'Images in the pack's appendix feature a Palestinian child who has been "assaulted by settlers" and the video contains a reference to "Jews" as opposed to "Israelis"' Jews not Israelis, hmm they need Lyse Doucet to correct their 'mistranslation'. Original article here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11779570/Schools-teaching-pro-Palestinian-extremist-agenda.html
Corruption Continues To Plague The Chinese Military
*Reuters:* *Chinese military paper warns a corrupt army does not win wars* The Chinese military's official newspaper warned on Sunday that a corrupt army would not win wars, three days after the government announced a former senior officer would be prosecuted for graft. Serving and retired Chinese military officers as well as state media have questioned whether China's armed forces are too corrupt to fight and win a war. President Xi Jinping has made weeding out corruption in the armed forces a top goal and several senior officers have been felled, including two of China's most s... more »
Quote of the Day: On progress, and reaction …
*“If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactio... more »
U.S. Police Chiefs Meet to Discuss Crime Surge
Big city police chiefs will meet in Washington on Monday to discuss how to deal with surging crime in the United States, especially homicides, organizers said. The meeting of Major Cities Chiefs Association is aimed at devising strategies and examining... The post U.S. Police Chiefs Meet to Discuss Crime Surge appeared first on The Stream.
Why Most Jet Engines are Almost Incapable of Producing Condensation Trails
*Video - *Here's a message about the greatest lie ever perpetrated and propagated is the lie of the persistent condensation trail. The post Why Most Jet Engines are Almost Incapable of Producing Condensation Trails appeared first on Waking Times.
At least one-third of top science journals lack a retraction policy — a big improvement
More than one third — 35% — of the world’s top-ranked science journals that responded to a survey don’t have a retraction policy, according to a new study. And that’s a dramatic improvement over findings of a similar study a little more than a decade ago. For the new paper, “Retraction policies of top scientific […] The post At least one-third of top science journals lack a retraction policy — a big improvement appeared first on Retraction Watch.
HPV Vaccine Mandated for All Rhode Island Middle School Students
*Heather Callaghan* - This blatant removal of civil liberties cannot be considered acceptable. The post HPV Vaccine Mandated for All Rhode Island Middle School Students appeared first on Waking Times.
Italy Cracks Mafia ‘Sheep Code’ to Arrest Godfather’s Henchmen
Italian police on Monday arrested 11 suspects linked to the fugitive head of the Sicilian Mafia, including a former boss who ran a secret message system for the mobster using a sheep-based code. Matteo Messina Denaro, 53, who has been... The post Italy Cracks Mafia ‘Sheep Code’ to Arrest Godfather’s Henchmen appeared first on The Stream.
The Economy: “Why It’s Not Time to Dance on Gold’s Grave”
*“Why It’s Not Time to Dance on Gold’s Grave”* by Bill Bonner PARIS – “Today, help comes from an unexpected direction – Alan Greenspan! After so many years of mumbly-dumbly gobbledygook and credit-pumping folderol (much of the blame for the credit crisis of 2008 can be sent to his inbox), we had forgotten about Greenspan’s earlier oeuvre. Yes… before he became a public servant he might have passed for an honest man. And his 1966 essay “Gold and Economic Freedom” is a classic. It helps explain how this credit bubble finally ends. (Thanks to Pater Tenebrarum at David Stockman’s Contr... more »
Senate Democrats Block Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate blocked a Republican drive Monday to terminate federal funds for Planned Parenthood, setting the stage for the GOP to try again this fall amid higher stakes — a potential government shutdown that could echo into... The post Senate Democrats Block Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood appeared first on The Stream.
Hillary Clinton: 99 Percent of Charitable Contributions Went to Her Foundation from 2007-2014
Hillary Clinton late Friday afternoon released her 2007-2014 tax returns, showing that she and Bill reported $139.1 million in adjusted gross income, paid $43.9 million in taxes (a 31.6% tax rate), and made $15 million (10.8% of their AGI) of... The post Hillary Clinton: 99 Percent of Charitable Contributions Went to Her Foundation from 2007-2014 appeared first on The Stream.
Quantum mechanical theories aren't children of classical theories
In the "quantum foundations" category of blog posts, I have often discussed the thoroughly misguided and debunked *philosophical* misconceptions about the quantum character of reality – the opinion that the intrinsically probabilistic quantum mechanical framework is just an illusion that may be ignored and that a basically classical i.e. objective and/or deterministic set of laws of physics underlies all of reality. People who love to write or shout the nonsense that there is something incomplete if not embarrassing about quantum mechanics are deluded. They typically think that they... more »
How Trump Has Foiled The Campaigns of A New Jersey Governor And A Texas Senator To Capture The GOP's Ralph Kramden Vote
Chris Christie had hoped to ride his patented loutish behavior to the Republican nomination. An advocate of violence and threats towards women teachers seemed to think he would come off as charming to the kind of people who found Jackie Gleason's 1950's era Ralph Kramden charming. (Note: Although *The Honeymooners* went as high as #2 in the ratings, it only lasted one year-- October 1, 1955 till September 22, 1956, 39 episodes-- before people grew sick of the misogyny-- "One of these days... POW!!! Right in the kisser!" and "BANG, ZOOM! Straight to the moon!"-- and of Kramden's b... more »
Forteana: An Argentinean Springheel Jack?
*Forteana: An Argentinean Springheel Jack?* *By Gustavo Fernández - Instituto Planificador de Encuentros Cercanos* [*A note to INEXPLICATA readers: Our older followers will recall articles by our good friend and colleague Gustavo Fernández on a variety of subjects involving UFOs and the paranormal. He is among the few researchers who can claim having had a close encounter – strike that: an up-close-and-personal encounter – with a paranormal entity, delivering a well-aimed martial arts blow against it and plunging his hand into the entity, feeling the coldness of its substance. Her... more »
China Demands No Talk Of South China Sea At Upcoming ASEAN Meeting
Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015. REUTERS/U.S. NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS *Reuters*: *China wants no talk of South China Sea at upcoming ASEAN meeting* Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said on Monday the disputed South China Sea should not be discussed at a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Liu, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the 48th... more »
Russia Pulls UN Cover Off MH17 Propaganda
*August 4, 2015* (Ulson Gunnar - NEO) - Russia's veto of the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution regarding the Malaysia Airlines MH17 disaster over Ukraine a year ago has garnered immediate condemnation across the West. Predictably, Russia has been decried as obstructing justice with language intentionally used to further heap guilt upon Moscow... which might perhaps be why Moscow itself had no faith in a UNSC resolution regarding MH17 to begin with. In the wake of the veto, the BBC would report condemnation from the US to Europe to Australia, a familiar trife... more »
Chinese Report: China's Military Needs To Aim For Air Control Over Western Pacific
PLA fighters taking part in a display at the Zhuhai air show last year. The think tank report says China's military needs to develop new weaponry including an unmanned attack aircraft. Photo: AFP *South China Morning Post:* *China’s military needs to ‘upgrade weaponry, extend surveillance in western Pacific’* Official report calls for wider projection of power, listing the US, Japan, Taiwan, India and Vietnam as airspace 'threats' until 2030. China’s air force needs to broaden its air surveillance and attack capabilities in the western Pacific including the area near Japan to ensur... more »
World News Briefs -- August 3, 2015
*Reuters:* *Greek stocks plunge, banks hammered, after five-week crisis shut down* Greece's stock market closed with heavy losses on Monday after a five-week shutdown brought on by fears the country was about to be dumped from the euro zone. Bank shares fell 30 percent before loss-limits kicked in to stop investors selling any more. The main Athens stock index .ATG ended down 16.2 percent, recovering slightly after plunging nearly 23 percent at the open. It was the worst daily performance since at least 1985 when modern records began, including a 15 percent fall when Wall Street... more »
Congress Telling Colleges How to Handle Campus Rape: The Blind Leading the Blind
“The price of a college education should never be the risk of a sexual assault,” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told a Senate hearing Wednesday. Too many colleges don’t treat rape, she observed, as “the violent felony that it actually is.”... The post Congress Telling Colleges How to Handle Campus Rape: The Blind Leading the Blind appeared first on The Stream.
Texas’ Attorney General Charged with Securities Fraud
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton turned himself in Monday to face charges that he misled investors and didn’t disclose money he made for referring financial clients as part of his private business before becoming the state’s... The post Texas’ Attorney General Charged with Securities Fraud appeared first on The Stream.
Cartoon: ‘The Obama Recovery’
The post Cartoon: ‘The Obama Recovery’ appeared first on The Stream.
There's an old saying, "What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," often stated as "Do unto others as you wish to be done for you." In the present case the U.S. government and its operative, the Washington Post, cry unfare that the Russian govenment has recently made laws to prevent foreign powers from embedding themselves as innocent Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) teaching democracy, whereas their real mission description has been to convince the Russian people to overthrow the present govenment and replace it with one of their agents of U.S. hegemony. When caught The Washington Post descended into the depths of neoconservative propaganda – willfully misleading its readers on matters of grave importance – apparently knowing no bounds as was demonstrated with two deceptive articles regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin and why his government is cracking down on "foreign agents".
------------------------------ Independent Investigative Journalism Since 1995 *Why Russia Shut Down NED Fronts * July 30, 2015 Original Here *Exclusive:* The neocon-flagship Washington Post fired a propaganda broadside at President Putin for shutting down the Russian activities of the National Endowment for Democracy, but left out key facts like NED’s U.S. government... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 3, 2015
A pair of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles fly over northern Iraq after conducting airstrikes in Syria, in this U.S. Air Force handout photo taken early in the morning of September 23, 2014. (Reuters/U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Matthew) The Hill: *Report: ISIS no weaker after a year of airstrikes* American intelligence agencies believe that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is no weaker in the year since the U.S. began its bombing campaign, the Associated Press reports. "We've seen no meaningful degradation in their numbers," an anonymous defense official told the AP,... more »
Was It Always President Obama's Goal To Shrink The U.S. Military?
*Mark Moyar, Wall Street Journal*: *How Obama Shrank the Military* *He’s used the budget sequester to accomplish what looks to have been his political goal from the start.* News last month of the U.S. Army’s decision to cut 40,000 active-duty soldiers, shrinking to 450,000 by 2017, drew fusillades inside the Beltway. Sen. John McCain assailed “another dangerous consequence of budget-driven strategy.” Adam Smith, ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, fumed: “Sequestration and the Budget Control Act, which are responsible for slashing the defense budget, exist beca... more »
Labour MPs and Political Leadership
What is the relationship between a Labour Member of Parliament and their Constituency Labour Party? It's a good question as different people have very different ideas. MPs aren't delegates of their local parties, there are no means by which they can be mandated to vote this way or that. Would a good MP nonetheless seek to reflect their members' concerns? Or should it be the other way round? Should MPs be considered the nominal leader of their CLP? John Forrester, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North between 1966 and 1987 was the sort of MP who was very *hands-on*. He busied himsel... more »
Former Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson Speaks: ‘Everyone Is So Quick to Jump on Race’
Almost exactly one year ago, on August 9, 2014, Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed black man, during an altercation. Still in hiding after the St. Louis community erupted in riots, looting and protests... The post Former Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson Speaks: ‘Everyone Is So Quick to Jump on Race’ appeared first on The Stream.
The Big Government War on Marijuana Users is a Myth
A currently hip cause is to rail against sentencing pot smokers to jail time. It sounds good considering alcohol is legal, smoking pot is not considered harmful to others, and our jails are already overcrowded, straining taxpayers’ wallets. The only... The post The Big Government War on Marijuana Users is a Myth appeared first on The Stream.
New Mexico Governor on Church Blasts: Keep Worshiping
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — The governor told southern New Mexico residents to keep attending houses of worship after small explosions outside two churches put parishioners on edge. Gov. Susana Martinez promised that the “coward” will be caught, telling reporters... The post New Mexico Governor on Church Blasts: Keep Worshiping appeared first on The Stream.
Food Irradiation: Why It is Harmful to Your Health and Energy
*Pao L. Chang* - Does irradiated food sound like something you would want to eat? The post Food Irradiation: Why It is Harmful to Your Health and Energy appeared first on Waking Times.
Anbar Operation And Turkey’s Bombing Of Kurdistan Leads To Jump In Casualties In Iraq
July 2015 saw a jump in casualties in Iraq. That was due to two events. First, Baghdad finally launched its operation to recapture Anbar province from the Islamic State. The government flooded the media with propaganda limiting casualty reports, but a little glimpse into what the offensive was costing slipped through. Second, Turkey also began bombing and shelling the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Kurdistan, and claimed it hit hundreds of the group’s fighters. It wasn’t possible to determine whether that was hype from Ankara or not. Either way, the reported number of dead and wo... more »
GOP Gets Ready to Rumble
Since the start of the year, 17 Republicans have announced their intention to run for president. They’ve logged more than a million miles across the early states and held more than 100 town halls between them. Combined, they’ve raised $302... The post GOP Gets Ready to Rumble appeared first on The Stream.
Navy Official: Not Ruling Out Charging Service Member Who Fired on Chattanooga Shooter
A Navy official told Fox News that punishing a lieutenant commander who used an unauthorized weapon to fire back at the Chattanooga gunman who shot and killed five service members could not be “completely ruled out,” and two high-profile former... The post Navy Official: Not Ruling Out Charging Service Member Who Fired on Chattanooga Shooter appeared first on The Stream.
IOC Ready to Act if Olympic Medals Affected by Doping
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The IOC will take action against any Olympic athletes if they are found guilty of the latest doping allegations rocking the sport of track and field, IOC President Thomas Bach said Monday. Bach said it... The post IOC Ready to Act if Olympic Medals Affected by Doping appeared first on The Stream.
Will Starbucks CEO Run Against Hillary Clinton?
Howard Schultz, the chairman and CEO of Starbucks, is being urged to challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Schultz, 62, is getting encouragement from supporters because they believe “the time is right for someone who’s not a political... The post Will Starbucks CEO Run Against Hillary Clinton? appeared first on The Stream.
Intriguing Film
I strongly recommend this very interesting film: Zero Point: The Story of Mark McCandlish and the Fluxliner: https://vimeo.com/133170463 I have no idea whether it is true or not but it is a very intriguing story.
Afghan Taliban Militants Forced To Pledge Allegiance To The New Leadership
The Taliban published footage on their website that appeared to show members pledging allegiance to Mullah Mansour BBC: *Taliban members 'pledge allegiance' amid leadership rift* The Afghan Taliban have released a video which they say shows members of the group pledging allegiance to the new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. The footage is seen as an attempt to bolster support for Mullah Mansour, whose appointment has been questioned by some senior Taliban members. It comes as the family of former head Mullah Omar say they have not endorsed Mullah Mansour as the new leader. He was na... more »
Report: U.S. Led Air-Strikes Against The Islamic State Has Killed Hundreds Of Civilians
Smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach *The Guardian*: *Hundreds of civilians killed in US-led air strikes on Isis targets – report* Airwars project details ‘credible reports’ of at least 459 non-combatant deaths, including 100 children, in 52 air strikes. The air campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has killed more than 450 civilians, according to a new report, even thou... more »
Islamic State Woos Kurdish Attackers in Turkey- Damage Control Extraordinaire
Coming hot on the heels of SAS/ISIS damage control*: SAS dress as ISIS fighters in undercover war on jihadis- Humour?!* Today we see the Wall Street Journal is engaging in the Kurds/ ISIS spin/damage control. *Damage control defined for clarification:** measures taken to offset or minimize damage to reputation, credibility, or public image.* *Why might damage control be necessary at this time? * The short answer is because their have *been 2*, *yes 2,* *suicide bombings* that took place in Turkey- both linked to Kurds affiliated with ISIS. Then there is also the problem of how it i... more »
Defund Planned Parenthood? Not So Easy
Republicans may find that defunding Planned Parenthood is harder than it looks. Even if they manage to overcome the political obstacles — big ones like a Democratic filibuster, a presidential veto, or a battle royal over shutting down the government... The post Defund Planned Parenthood? Not So Easy appeared first on The Stream .
Manhunt Underway for Suspect in Memphis Officer’s Fatal Shooting
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A manhunt was underway Monday for a suspect who police say fatally shot a Memphis officer after he interrupted a drug deal involving a small amount of marijuana that would have resulted in just a misdemeanor... The post Manhunt Underway for Suspect in Memphis Officer’s Fatal Shooting appeared first on The Stream.
Republican Hopefuls Prep for Debate … and Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidates dismissed the dominance of Donald Trump in early primary polling, scrambling to position themselves days before their first debate. While candidates and their teams have spent hours privately strategizing how best to tackle the... The post Republican Hopefuls Prep for Debate … and Trump appeared first on The Stream.
“Unethical behavior” breaks crystallography paper
A 2011 paper about the crystal structure of a transcription regulator has been pulled by Molecules and Cells for “unethical behavior by the authors.” Unfortunately, we can’t say much more than that, because the notice doesn’t, either: This article has been retracted due to unethical behavior by the authors. We got a little bit more […] The post “Unethical behavior” breaks crystallography paper appeared first on Retraction Watch.
Healthcare: “But It's Damn Profitable!”
*“But It's Damn Profitable!”* by Karl Denninger “Yet another "see, I told you so"...* "An important new medical study finds that chemotherapy does not extend life for end-stage, terminal cancer patients. What's more, those who received chemotherapy treatment near the end of their disease had a worse quality of life than those who didn't." Got that one? If you have a terminal cancer diagnosis- that is, you have a metastatic or otherwise inoperable cancer chemo not only fails to extend your life it damages the quality of life in the time you have left. Why would anyone go through su... more »
Jeb Bush Unveils Immigration Reform Plan
MIAMI (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is outlining a six-point strategy to bolster security at the nation’s border and overhaul its immigration laws. The former Florida governor said Monday that finding a solution to the status of people... The post Jeb Bush Unveils Immigration Reform Plan appeared first on The Stream.
How Not to Pass a Carbon Tax
As long-time readers of this blog know, I have long advocated greater use of Pigovian taxes, such as taxes on carbon emissions. Such taxes can correct incentives by aligning private and social costs, and the revenue from such taxes can be used to reduce other, distortionary taxes. Skeptics of Pigovian taxes on the right sometimes argue that such taxes are good in principle but in practice the left will co-opt them and, rather than using the revenue to reduce other taxes, will use it to fund ever larger government. Sadly, that point of view is getting some support in Washington stat... more »
Kowtowing to Planned Parenthood
A team of a team of undercover freelance investigative journalists called the Center for Medical Progress has been making life miserable for abortion provider Planned Parenthood over the past few weeks. It has released four videos in which senior figures... The post Kowtowing to Planned Parenthood appeared first on The Stream.
Companies Giving to Planned Parenthood Sometimes Reject Religious Charities
As The Daily Signal and 2nd Vote have revealed, corporate America is a major source of revenue for Planned Parenthood. While less than the half-billion in taxpayer dollars Planned Parenthood receives annually, corporate contributions made up a healthy piece of... The post Companies Giving to Planned Parenthood Sometimes Reject Religious Charities appeared first on The Stream.
Supplemental: Salon’s professor class does it again!
*MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015This time, concerning Thursday’s debate:* The new Salon seems to have an unending supply of delusional ranking professors. Yesterday, Professor Richardson spoke up concerning this Thursday night’s debate. She’s a history professor at Boston College. Below, you see the way she started and ended her piece: PROFESSOR RICHARDSON (8/2/15): Fox News will air the first Republican presidential debates this week, choosing 10 out of 17 current candidates according to unspecified polls and *permitting each candidate just one minute to answer questions.* Donald Trump w... more »
Stephen Harper 'Gaming The System' Says Former Chief Of Elections Canada
The former head of Elections Canada says Prime Minister Stephen Harper is "gaming the system" with an early election call and the result is parties with less money are politically disadvantaged. "What it does is completely distort everything we've ever fought for, everything we've established as rules," Jean-Pierre Kingsley said in an interview on CBC Radio's *The House*. "What should be happening right now is very simple — the prime minister should not call the election. He should wait for the 37 days to count towards the 19th of October, political parties should stop advertising... more »
Would A GOP White House Offer Failed Businesswoman Carly Fiorina A Cabinet Post? How About An Ambassadorship?
The elites who make up the Republican Party Establishment have good reason to fear Donald Trump. After all, Mitt Romney was just one of many, many Republicans who gave Trump credibility when it appeared to help their own cause. He had been widely quoted saying, "There are some things that you just can’t imagine happening in your life. This is one of them. Being in Donald Trump’s magnificent hotel and having his endorsement is a delight. I am so honored and pleased." That played right into Trump's lifelong strategy of building himself up and putting himself in position to play the ... more »
Dozens Killed By Syrian War-Plane Crash In Idlib Province
*IBTimes*: *Syrian Warplane Crashes In Idlib, Killing At Least 27, Injuring Several People: Reports* At least 27 people have been killed and dozens wounded after a Syrian army fighter jet crashed into a marketplace in the Syrian town of Ariha in Idlib province, Reuters reported, citing residents and witnesses. The report added that most of those dead were civilians on the ground. "The plane had dropped a bomb on the main Bazaar street at low altitude only seconds before it crashed," Ghazal Abdullah, a resident who was close to the incident, told Reuters. The U.K.-based Syrian Obs... more »
New $300,000 grant marks the fifth anniversary of Retraction Watch
Five years ago today, we wrote our first post, “Why write a blog about retractions?” And although every year since has been terrific, this year we have the most to celebrate so far. Here are some highlights: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded us a $400,000 grant to create a comprehensive database of retractions, […] The post New $300,000 grant marks the fifth anniversary of Retraction Watch appeared first on Retraction Watch.
The Right Way to Deal with Hypocrisy in the Church
Without a doubt, we — the church and its congregants — have hurt our witness to the world with our hypocrisy, thereby undercutting our moral and spiritual authority. Why should people listen to us if we preach one thing and do... The post The Right Way to Deal with Hypocrisy in the Church appeared first on The Stream.
Inside the Koch Brothers’ GOP Presidential Audition Confab
2016 candidates convene to audition before some of the GOP’s top donors. Dana Point, Calif. — Imagine paradise, and the image you conjure in your head is probably something like the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort here in Southern California,... The post Inside the Koch Brothers’ GOP Presidential Audition Confab appeared first on The Stream.
President Obama Approves The Use Of US Air Power To Defend Pentagon-Trained Syrian Rebels
*CNN*:* Syrian rebels backed by the U.S. will have air cover, source says* (CNN)Syrian rebels backed by the United States will now have air cover if they come under attack after President Barack Obama signed off on the decision, a senior administration official confirms to CNN on Sunday. The official said "this has been months in the making." This comes after the United States conducted airstrikes last week to protect two groups after they came under attack: U.S.-trained rebels and the U.S.-affiliated rebels of the 30th division. U.S. aircraft came in after the attack on a compoun... more »
Sung to the tune of everyone hurts (everyone is an Ahole, and Canada has the biggest one ever)
Mother Teresa was an Ahole just like Nelson Mandela Martian Luther King and Pope John Paul and I could goggle map the warts on every historical figure endlessly Great Aholes extrude no matter what the squat and where was the toilet (just an aside, I love to shit in the woods) great shit that while it still smells becomes some kind of intoxicate that lets them control the room and in that room great people essentially make everyone love their farts just like perfume the individual defends to the point the smellovision of humanity finds a smell that moves the stink forward Everyone who knows... more »
Immigrants Bring Traditional South American Community Farm to US
*Video* - Immigrant farmer Nestor Escobar shares his community farm and talks about the importance of organic, local foods. The post Immigrants Bring Traditional South American Community Farm to US appeared first on Waking Times.
23 YEARS LATER: Leading liberals complain!
*MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015Part 1—The Times and a trio of problems:* Does the New York Times “have a problem covering Hillary Clinton?” Is the Times engaged in some sort of “Clinton vendetta?” Despite a long history of groaning error and highly peculiar combat, such questions aren’t easy to answer. After all, let’s be fair: At various times, the New York Times has written ludicrous front-page reports about *various* presidential candidates. That includes some major Republican hopefuls. A few months ago, this strangest of all major American newspapers even moved an expose of the sev... more »
Untitled
*Kangaroo courts on campus: a legal travesty* *Hearing sexual-assault claims in campus courts is a terrible idea* Last week, the Guardian published a report on sexual abuse on UK university campuses. It detailed a number of stories involving young women telling university staff members that they had been sexually assaulted, and the staff’s allegedly poor response. The staff were accused of ‘victim blaming’ and minimising the students’ complaints. The Guardian suggests that a standardised, country-wide set of guidelines be established for universities when dealing with allegations o... more »
Why Congress Could Face a Government Shutdown This Fall
The House and Senate are set to leave Washington, D.C., for a month-long summer break. But they are leaving behind unfinished business. When lawmakers return in September, they will have little time to tackle legislative priorities like the Iran nuclear deal, transportation... The post Why Congress Could Face a Government Shutdown This Fall appeared first on The Stream.
Greek Stock Market Reopens with 22 Percent Plunge
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s main stock index plunged over 22 percent as it reopened Monday after a five-week closure, giving investors their first opportunity since late June to react to the country’s latest economic crisis. Greek bank stocks suffered... The post Greek Stock Market Reopens with 22 Percent Plunge appeared first on The Stream.
Misery Deepens for Those in Socialist Puerto Rico Who Can’t Leave
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Most tables are empty at Walter Martin’s coffee shop in San Juan’s colonial district. His brow is furrowed with concern and glistens with sweat in the sweltering Caribbean morning. He’s turned off the air... The post Misery Deepens for Those in Socialist Puerto Rico Who Can’t Leave appeared first on The Stream.
CEO Who Raised Minimum Salary To $70k Falls On Hard Times
Just three months ago, Dan Price was a progressive hero. To much fanfare, Price, CEO of Seattle-based Gravity Payments, announced he was raising the minimum salary for employees of his company to $70,000, and taking a $930,000 pay cut himself to help... The post CEO Who Raised Minimum Salary To $70k Falls On Hard Times appeared first on The Stream.
Untitled
*Obama has a dream -- that his children one day will have hellishly expensive electricity* *But it will remain a dream. He will be out of office in 18 months so he won't be able to make it happen. The Donald will probably kick it into the long grass* President Barack Obama will unveil on Monday the final version of his plan to tackle greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants as he aims to cement his legacy on climate change, a senior administration official said. The revised Clean Power Plan will seek to slash carbon emissions from the power sector 32 percent from 2005 leve... more »
Vegetable Extract Treats Autism Better Than Drugs
*Sayer Ji* - Scientific research is showing that vegetables can be more effective than pharmaceuticals for treating autism. The post Vegetable Extract Treats Autism Better Than Drugs appeared first on Waking Times.
Nursery Essentials for Newborns
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Diaper Genie® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PlaytexEssentials http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV When our first daughter was born we lived in a place so tiny we didn't even have anywhere to put a crib. I had a rocking chair, but it had to be in the living room because it wouldn't fit anywhere else. We didn't live there for very long after she was born, but while we were there I made a list of things I needed when we had the space for them. This list is all of the things I missed a... more »
Having It His Way
http://www.cp24.com/news/ Yesterday, Stephen Harper said that he was forced to begin his seventy-seven day election campaign because the other parties had started campaigning early. And, he said, parties should pay for campaigns themselves. It's truly remarkable that he can say this kind of stuff with a straight face. Michael Harris writes: Reality check? His own re-election campaign, using public money, began in 2011. The early election call will add millions of dollars to the $375 million that a 37-day campaign would have cost — an... more »
Dan Bacher: Sacramento activists sing 'No Fracking No Way' at protest
800_raging_grannies__1.jpgoriginal image ( 5184x3456) Photo of Raging Grannies singing in front of the Department of Conservation by Dan Bacher. Sacramento activists sing "No Fracking No Way" at protest by Dan Bacher Censored NewsThe Sacramento Chapter of "System Change Not Climate Change" held a protest, featuring the "Raging Grannies" singing their songs calling on the Brown
Anti-Vaccine Scientific Support Arsenal
*Scientific proof the media won't tell you about* *https://avscientificsupportarsenal.wordpress.com/* Vaccines DO Cause Autism-Undeniable Scientific Proof Aluminum: Scientific Support Proving it Causes Brain Damage and Destroys the Immune System Top 6 Vaccine Truth Websites with Scientific Support 17 Hazardous Substances in Vaccines Including Neuro-toxins, Carcinogens, and Mutagens Best Videos about Vaccines These are by far the best videos I’ve found about vaccines. Each one includes science, fact, and evidence. 1. Dr. Suzanne Humphries Lecture on Vaccines and Health 2. Sile... more »
20 Ways to Fall Asleep Fast
*Infographic - *Here are 20 simple things that you can do to help you fall asleep fast, without sleeping pills. The post 20 Ways to Fall Asleep Fast appeared first on Waking Times.
Raging Northern California Wildfires Prompt Evacuations
LOWER LAKE, Calif. (AP) — Fire officials called for thousands of evacuations as numerous homes remained threatened by Northern California wildfires Monday, while more than 9,000 firefighters battled 21 major fires in the state, officials said. Wildfires were also burning... The post Raging Northern California Wildfires Prompt Evacuations appeared first on The Stream.
Mitch ‘The Wild Thing’ Williams, Public Shaming and the Image of God
Writing at the Values and Capitalism blog, Chris Horst examines the fascination in our culture with the public shaming of those who fall short. When we see only that one thing, our sentiments are shaped. The Christian view of the world,... The post Mitch ‘The Wild Thing’ Williams, Public Shaming and the Image of God appeared first on The Stream.
Raising Awareness And Writing For The 'Alternative' Media
In addition to writing and raising awareness about issues I personally believe in, I receive numerous press releases and requests from organisations to highlight certain topics. I am also asked by the broadcast media to give my opinions. This is all unpaid work. It amounts to a half-time job. Please read *this*
Andy Slavitt, Obama’s Top Healthcare Nominee, Was Once Embroiled in Medical Fraud Case
Andy Slavitt, President Obama’s choice to manage Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid, was linked seven years ago to a massive medical data fraud scheme that resulted in what was then the largest settlement ever by an insurance company. If he is... The post Andy Slavitt, Obama’s Top Healthcare Nominee, Was Once Embroiled in Medical Fraud Case appeared first on The Stream.
Apologists for Slaughter
I would ban people like Jay Currie if they ever showed up here. I gave "Marky Mark" very little rope when he commented here. Here they are at Dawg's, ostensibly commenting on the horrible tragedy of a Palestinian toddler Ali Dawabsheh, burned to death when his parent's home was burned down by arsonists who fled to the stolen lands of the Ma'ale Efraim "settlement." Jay Currie shows himself for the evil shit-head that he is by trying to change the subject to Palestinians handing out candy to each other after their side manages to kill some Jewish Israelis. It is vermin like Jay Cur... more »
Annual Coordinator Report – 2015
One might call 2014 the ‘year of Russia’. In a recent Chicago speech by George Friedman, founder and CEO of the private intelligence corporation STRATFOR, he declared that the US wants “regime change” in Moscow. The project is well underway as Russia becomes encircled by US-NATO bases along its border and Pentagon deployments of land-based ‘missile defense’ (MD) systems in Poland, Romania, and Turkey. US Sea-based MD systems are actively cruising in the Mediterranean, Black, and Baltic seas and plans are underway to post them in the Barents and Bering Seas. Similarly, an expandin... more »
Moves on Global Chessboard
Foreign Policy Diary - The US-China Standoff in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region
Economic News , Data & Views ( August 3 , 2015 ) - China Updates ( Shanghai Exchange and Chinese Securities Regulator issue statements announcing further crackdowns against unusual / illegal trading activities , program trading , HFT Activities -Stocks still fall once again Shanghai Exchange Monday ! ) ...... Greece Updates ( Greece's Manufacturing absolutely fell off a cliff during July during capital controls imposition - record collapse , Athens Stock Market re-opens with predictable results - bank stocks down thirty percent as overall market opened down about 22 percent , business confidence hit as well - again this should come as no surprise ) ..... Broader Europe Updates ( Non Greek Bourses generally unaffected by travails of Athens Exchange , EZ Tax Plans take shape , Merkel looks to run in 2017 , Germany skeptical about Bailout Talks timing - too ambitious , migrant issue in focus - GR / FRA / UK , PMI data out for EZ and EU ) .... Commodity Crush - Oil , Copper , Gold in focus !
Evening Wrap.... *Keep Talking Greece* @keeptalkingGR 2h 2 hours ago #Greece My Big Fat Greek Funeral: SYRIZA, 3. bailout and capital controls http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2015/08/03/my- big-fat-greek-funeral-syriza-3-bailout-and-capital-controls/#.Vb_gYd7WU48.twitter … *Kathimerini English *@ekathimerini 6h 6 hours ago Mayors appeal to minister to release structural funds http://dlvr.it/BkcPv4 [image: Embedded image permalink] *Holger Zschaepitz* @Schuldensuehner 7h 7 hours ago S&P revises EU outlook from stable to neg on EU's repeated use of its balance...more »
Milton Friedman on Politics
From this collection of Milton Friedman quotations, here is one I had not heard before: “I do not believe that the solution to our problem is simply to elect the right people. The important thing is to establish a political climate of opinion which will make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing. Unless it is politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing, the right people will not do the right thing either, or if they try, they will shortly be out of office.”
Colombian military air crash kills 11
[image: Colombian CN2235 wreckage]A Colombian air force plane has crashed in the north of the country, killing all 11 of those on board. The twin-engined CN235 transport plane came down in a rural area near the town of Codazzi, in Cesar province, having reported engine difficulties. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos described the victims as heroes. Read more
Navy stages live-ammo drill in S. China Sea
The People's Liberation Army navy conducted its largest ever live-ammunition drill in the South China Sea last week, Chinese media reported. The exercise involved more than 100 naval vessels, dozens of aircraft and a number of electronic warfare units in a sophisticated electronic warfare scenario, PLA Daily reported. The PLA's Second Artillery Corps, which operates China's strategic and cruise missiles, also sent several battalions to Tuesday's drill. Video from China Central Television showed the PLA mobilized some of its most advanced weapons during the drill, including the J-1... more »
Russian Military Helicopter Crashes at Air Show, Latest in Series of Military Crashes
A Russian military helicopter crashed Sunday as it took part in an airshow leaving the pilot dead and another injured according to the Defense Ministry. The Mi-28 helicopter was part of the elite Berkut aerobatics team performing tricks and was flying in formation with other helicopters before it went into a spin and crashed. Flames were seen rising up from the crash almost immediately after it hit the ground. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the deadly incident. Read more
Su-33 Northern Fleet Navy Flankers Enter Into Kola Arctic Service
[image: Su-33 Flanker-D]A fleet of Su-33 navy flankers have entered service in the Kola zone of the Russian Arctic, the Northern Fleet of the Russian navy announced on Monday. "Pilots of the shipborne fighter aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet have begun service guarding the air borders of the Kola Arctic region using the deck-based Su-33 fighter jet – the naval equivalent of the multi-role Su-27 fighter jet," stated a spokesman for the Northern Fleet on Monday. "The aircraft were introduced into service in a ceremony held on August 1." Read more
Japan eyeing 5 trillion yen defense budget
[image: Knogo class DDG]Japan’s Ministry of Defense will likely make a record budget request for fiscal 2016 as it seeks to buy new airborne refueling aircraft and continue building an Aegis destroyer. Soaring procurement costs due to the weaker yen will also be factored into the request. The ministry expects to request a budget of more than 5 trillion yen ($40.3 billion) for fiscal 2016. The request is part of a two-step system. After each ministry submits its request, by the end of August, the government will debate the overall budget. After this process, the government compiles... more »
China aiming for air control over Western Pacific, surveillance as far as Izu chain: report
Izu islands chain In a report on its air strategy, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army plans to broaden its air surveillance and attack capabilities to the Western Pacific, including the vicinity of Japan, to ensure its command of the air, it was learned Sunday. The report seen by Kyodo News emphasizes the need to develop and enhance nine types of “strategic equipment,” such as a new type of strategic bomber and a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense ground-based interceptor system with an eye specifically toward the United States, which is strengthening its so-called pivot to Asia... more »
FAPA Statement on the Curriculum Protests
For Immediate Release Washington D C - July 31st 2015 Contact: FAPA statement on heavy-handed handling of the student protests against history textbook amendments by the Ma administration (Washington, D.C. – July 31st 2015) - Today, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs – a Taiwanese-American grassroots organization with 54 chapters across the United States -- expressed its deep concerns about the heavy-handed handling of the student protests against amendments of history textbooks by the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan. The problem stems f... more »
Government set to announce warships plan
[image: HMAS Arunta (F-151)]The government is set to announce its plan to build new warships in Australia, ending the "valley of death" and shoring up political support in South Australia. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia had built good ships in the past and could do so in the future. He said the problem was that not a single naval shipbuilding order was placed with an Australian yard during six years under Labor and that meant the "valley of death" was upon us. Read more
Sanctions put a crimp in Russia’s naval plans
[image: RFS Yuri Dolgorukiy]Russia’s ambitious plan to revamp its navy, highlighted last week in a visit by President Vladimir Putin to the Kaliningrad exclave on the Baltic Sea, faces new hurdles in the form of economic sanctions imposed for Moscow’s interference in Ukraine. The measures are blocking import of critical parts for warships, at the same time an economic recession has lightened the nation’s coffers. “It’s a case of there are aspirations there. Delivering on it may be difficult,” said Nick Childs, a naval expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Lo... more »
Military Photo of the Day: August 3, 2015
A U.S. Navy sailor greets his wife and daughter during the homecoming of the USS Pennsylvania at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington State on July 28, 2015. Welcome home! The post Military Photo of the Day: August 3, 2015 appeared first on The Stream.
The American Medical Association Wants to Limit Your Health Freedom (Again)
Perhaps it is time that all medical service providers display their success ratios up front to all incoming patients. There are many available protocols and many possible diseases to counter with those protocols. Yet there is exactly one question to ask the patient upon been treated. Was he satisfied? For some diseases, it is impossible to be satisfied and that will be spelled out in the statistics. That is also clear to the patient who is embarking on a protocol that has no happy customers. This information is readily attained also although it means followup interviews. In ... more »
Why We Should Bring Meditation Into Schools
Yes, i do concur with this. Central is understanding what the objective happens to be. It is to open up access through the third eye to the light and sound of the second tier of matter and perhaps to even access the available capabilities. We are still weak at doing this and there is much to learn or perhaps more ccorrwectly much to do if we could find the correct levers. For the nonce we do have meditation which allows us to learn to quell the mind and to observe thoughts appear and and even float away if they are not important. Consider, our rational physical mind is the p... more »
Stopping Malaria in Its Tracks
We may get lucky. If this stands up we already have an arsenal available to block malaria completely and once that happens it will lose its human reservoir with the risk of reinfection made minor and easily correctable. Moderate testing now will find out quickly if our present arsenal works. If that proves up, a year from now we will be looking at a global promotion by the drug companies to end malaria because it is possible. Then it will become a rare disease easily corrected as so many of our ancient killers. Remember the plague? Let us hope that this is it. . * Stopping ... more »
How One Woman Helped Light Rural India With Solar Lamps
One huge advantage that women have regarding enterprise development is simply that they typically are been supported by husbands and family. That means that they can gladly accept a lower rate of cash throughput while they invent their future. It often was the milking cow or the chicken coop. Neither by themselves supported a family at all but they clearly contributed. Now we are seeing that natural cadre of low cost assistance been harnessed to distribute solutions to the lowest level of society. That is the real secret of microfinance which never really needed much true capi... more »
Goodbye honest broker, hello anti-submarine warrior in the South China Sea
[image: P-8A Poseidon]Assistant Secretary of State Danny Russel spoke at the CSIS South China Sea Conference on July 21, 2015. He made news by declaring that the United States is not neutral in some issues pertaining to the South China Sea. The money quote came in reply to a question from Wu Shicun, the PRC representative at the conference: On the first issue of neutrality, I appreciate the opportunity to clear up what seems to be an almost ineradicable perception of the Chinese. We are not neutral when it comes to adherence to international law. We will come down forcefully on the... more »
Experiential Pagan's Book Reviews
Over at Experiential Pagan, syrbal-labrys has started a series of book reviews. She has an interesting and personal take on Go Set a Watchman, the Harper Lee book recently released with some controversy. Regardless of the book's origins and publication history, it's sparked some good discussions. (The review is hard to excerpt without spoiling it, so I won't.) Syrbal-labrys also provides a
Fukushima Ocean Contamination
I'm looking at evidence of Fukushima ocean contamination today. Scientists found plankton contaminated with cesium in all samples drawn from 10 locations in the Pacific, from offshore Hokkaido to Guam between January and February 2012. The highest levels was found 25 degrees north latitude and 150 degrees west longitude (*Researchers find high cesium in some Pacific plankton , The Japan Times, * May 22, 2013 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/22/national/researchers-find-high-cesium-in-some-pacific-plankton/#.Vb5kjflBnYt) Here is a map of the location where the highest rad... more »
Garry Wills: Hey Evangelicals, You’re Dumb. Or Maybe Just Dishonest
Evangelicals, how silly you are to oppose abortion! How ignorant! Or dishonest! According to Garry Wills, that is, not me. I’m a Catholic and I think you’re great. But Garry Wills doesn’t. In a Los Angeles Times article titled “Abortion Isn’t a Religious... The post Garry Wills: Hey Evangelicals, You’re Dumb. Or Maybe Just Dishonest appeared first on The Stream.
History's Longest Wars
*Ranker*: *The Longest Wars in History* Some conflicts are passed down from generation to generation, either because of their size, or because they simmer at a low boil with little violence. Others were ostensibly declared wars that never ended due to various diplomatic irregularities or political quirks. In either case, the wars listed here are the longest wars in history. In fact, the longest war in history, the Punic Wars, lasted over two thousand years - but only had 80 years of combat. Another incredibly long war, the 335 Years War, never had a shot fired and had been forgotte... more »
Has Bombing The Islamic State Has Only Made Them Stronger?
Smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike, as seen from the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 18, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach *Kimberly Dozier, Daily Beast:* *We Didn’t Kill ISIS. We Made Them Stronger.* The terror army took on the world’s superpower—and is still standing. No wonder they’re drawing fresh recruits from around the globe. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche went on holiday more than a century and a quarter ago, and wrote a little pamphlet, Twilight of the ... more »
Rightwing Nuthouse: “6 Despicable Right-Wing Moments This Week: Trump Cozies Up to Palin”
*“6 Despicable Right-Wing Moments This Week: * *Trump Cozies Up to Palin”* by Janet Allon *"1. Fox News finds new ways to blame unarmed black men for their own deaths by cop. *All these videotapes of unarmed black men being executed by cops are really starting to grate on Fox Newsians. On Friday’s stellar discussion on “The Five,” Eric Bolling and Kimberly Guilfoyle had to struggle to find a way to blame the black guy again. They were forced to grudgingly admit that Samuel DuBose should not have been shot and killed by Cincinnati cop Ray Tensing. “It’s tough because look, first of ... more »
Understanding the Emotional Impacts of Ebola: moving beyond crisis and stats to stories
This is a guest post by Dehunge Shiaka, researcher and gender expert in Freetown Sierra Leone What are the emotional and psycho-social impacts of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa? With much of the media attention on the medical, international, and civil-military response to Ebola, this is a question that has largely been unaddressed. Yet […]
Statement from Global Network Kyoto Conference
*Final Declaration from the Kyoto International * * Conference on Space and Peace (August 2, 2015)* The United Nations was established in 1946 after the Second World War to “Save the succeeding generations from the scourge of wars, which twice in our life time has brought untold sorrow to humankind”. The UN visualized establishing a New International Order. But the US and the erstwhile European colonial countries have joined together and instead of a New International Order, they have brought a “New International Disorder”. The entire 20th Century witnessed wars, aggressions, and... more »
Is Israel Now Faced With The Choice Of Conventional War Now, Or Nuclear War Later?
*Norman Podhoretz, Colombia daily Tribune/Wall Street Journal*:* Israel’s Choice: Conventional War Now, or Nuclear War Later* Almost everyone who opposes the deal President Barack Obama has struck with Iran hotly contests his relentless insistence that the only alternative to it is war. No, they claim, there is another alternative, and that is “a better deal.” To which Obama responds that Iran would never agree to the terms his critics imagine could be imposed. These terms would include the toughening rather than the lifting of sanctions; “anytime, anywhere” nuclear-plant inspect... more »
US-Led Airstrikes 'Destroy Key Islamic State Bridges' On The Syria-Iraq Border
*AFP:* *US-led raids 'destroy IS bridges' on Syria-Iraq border* Beirut (AFP) - US-led coalition air strikes destroyed early Friday two key bridges used by the Islamic State group on the Syrian side of the Iraqi border, a monitoring group said. The Pentagon confirmed strikes in the area, and a senior US officer said they will have a "profound impact" on IS abilities to carry out operations in the neighbouring and strategically important Iraqi province of Anbar. The coalition "destroyed two bridges between the Syrian city of Albu Kamal and the Iraqi border," said Rami Abdel Rahman, ... more »
“Of course I minimise my tax...”
Jim Rose posted Kerry Packer’s “infamous appearance” in front of an Australian Senate Committee hearing in 1991 this morning – testimony replete with his now-famous one-liner. As a commenter says, it should be beamed on endless loop in the lobbies of parliament. The very least you can do is watch it now, if you never have. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Space Command Propaganda
This ran again on CBS TV's 60 Minutes program across the US. It's a first-rate piece of military industrial complex propaganda. See Part two below.
Observation and interaction
Here is one of twelve collages on The Permaculture Principles and how they might be applied, especially in the maritime Pacific Northwest. Concepts from David Holmgren's *Essence of Permaculture.* *One.* "Observe and interact." In recent years we have, by whatever causes, had fewer infestations here of insect pests, slugs and snails. Perhaps one reason is that we keep an eye out for ways to encourage predation of these. By maintaining habitat refuges, we're seeing an increase in 1. garter snakes and gopher snakes, 2. tree frogs, and 3. orb weavers, yellow garden spiders, and b... more »
haiku to a cloud
I'm close to your face touching the creamy moisture your sigh is the breeze
Want to be duped? Log in at Facebook!
Scams and fraud proliferate on Facebook By Brenda Norrell Censored News From the plagiarized news articles by reporters who never leave their homes, to the fundraising scams by the self-promoting, Facebook is a teeming hot cesspool of fraud. There are of course wonderful posts there as well, but you have to be part private eye and part professional digger to unearth them. The majority of
TV Watch: An enthusiastic thumbs-up for the just-completed Season 3 of "Last Tango in Halifax"
*The preview for tonight's highly satisfying Season 3 finale of Last Tango in Halifax* *by Ken* This illustrates the problem with having no writers about TV I can turn to for guidance. All through the six-episode Season 3 of *Last Tango in Halifax*, which aired tonight on many PBS stations, I kept thinking, *somebody shoulda told me about this*. I know that probably there are people who tried, but since I don't listen to them about anything else, why would I have listened to them about this? So while I was aware through the previous seasons that a show of this name had popped up ... more »
“In the long run the Asian contribution to New Zealand is more important than discussing the ethnicity of property buyers in the Auckland housing market”
Oliver Hartwich from the NZ Initiative couldn’t have said it any better, quietly suggesting (in my words) that NZers might be talking about Asian house buyers so much because it’s an easy way to exorcise fears that we might pick up diseases from these new immigrants – diseases we might dislike, like hard work, saving, and honesty. In his own words he points out “a few things you may not know about your Asian neighbours”: - Asians are typically more qualified than the New Zealand average. - Of all Asian school leavers in 2014, 73 percent achieved NCEA level 3 or ab... more »
Fukushima Update 8/2/2015: "Your Radiation This Week No 15"
*"Your Radiation This Week No 15"* By Bob Nichols San Francisco – "Good Day, this is “Your Radiation This Week.” These are the recorded Radiation Highs that affected people this past 29 days around the United States and in your neighborhood. Let’s get right to it. *Listed in Counts per Minute, a Count is One Radioactive Decay Registered by the Instrument. High radiation counts are shown from June 24 to July 29, 2015. Radiation counts are noted and and the types of radiation counted are listed. Uncounted radiation types make the actual Rad Count higher and more dangerous. *Normal R... more »
Climbing through the weekend
*Aboriginal inhabitants? What aboriginal inhabitants? Han-centric history is just one aspect of Taiwan's Han-centric thinking.* This week did some wonderful rides out of my Taichung base, stretching my injured legs a bit. Felt good. Thursday went the length of Baguashan and down Fengbai Road into Ershui. Saturday did the awesome ride through the Nantou tea areas on the 149, 212, and 151 to the 162A with its spectacular descent. Sunday went back to an old favorite of mine, Pinglin Road. Come below the break to enjoy... [image: DSC07437] A pineapple wholesale market on the 139, with ... more »
U.S. Secretary of State Kerry: 'No Question' That Iran Deal Will Make Region Ssafer
*AFP:* *Kerry assures allies Iran deal makes Mideast 'safer'* Cairo (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry sought to assure Middle East allies Sunday that the Iran nuclear deal would make them safer, as he began a regional tour. Kerry met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to patch up troubled relations between the two countries with a pledge of support. He later met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi before leaving for Qatar to meet Gulf Arab foreign ministers. Egypt and other regional states such as Saudi Arabia are suspicious of Iran, which they see as bent on destabilising ... more »
Arriving in Hiroshima
The Global Network 23rd annual space organizing conference concluded yesterday after our membership meeting in the morning. I gave my coordinator report, budget report, and we discussed our planned October 3-10 Keep Space for Peace Week. We added two new persons to our Advisory Board – JV Prabaker (India) and Subrata Ghoshroy (MIT in Boston). We decided to hold our next space organizing conference in Hyberabad, India in November of 2016. We then boarded the high-speed train in Kyoto for the two-hour ride to Hiroshima. Through the train window one can see the miles of rice pa... more »
Top 10 moments …
You don’t need to know anything about the world’s most libertarian sport to enjoy the 10 best goals, marks, moments, moves and fumbles from the weekend’s action. Oh, and Adam Goodes … Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Links, Top 10
By popular choice, these were the best links from the last Friday Morning Ramble. I gave myself only half a point this week for picking the most popular because I’d quietly decided the Goodes stories would be total non-starters. Almost true. Turns out these are the ten that had you reaching for the mouse… 1. 50 Twitter Jokes That Will Brighten Your Day 2. Listen to the instrument da Vinci invented but never got to hear 3. 24 totally cringe-worthy classical music jokes 4. 15 Hilarious And Calamitous Appearances By Musicians On Kids TV Shows 5. Multiculturalism: A F... more »
"The Gate To Eternity..."
“Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.” - Khalil Gibran
Musical Interlude: Marvin Gaye, “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”
Marvin Gaye, “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI9SKuCIMpc
Untitled
*Is New Orleans Safe? The state’s master plan could avert a watery demise. But it would cost many billions ~John Barry, New York Times*
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