11:50 pm MST
"Read..."
"Read for yourselves, read for the sake of your inspiration, for the sweet turmoil in your lovely head. But also read against yourselves, read for questioning and impotence, for despair and erudition, read the dry sardonic remarks of cynical philosophers like Cioran or even Carl Schmitt, read newspapers, read those who despise, dismiss or simply ignore poetry and try to understand why they do it. Read your enemies, read those who reinforce your sense of what's evolving in this world, and also read those whose darkness or malice or madness or greatness you can't understand because o... more »
Musical Interlude: Medwyn Goodall, “Invocation Part 2”
Medwyn Goodall, “Invocation Part 2” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHv79cNxkS0
Musical Interlude: Liquid Mind, “Through My Eyes (Nebulae)”
Liquid Mind, “Through My Eyes (Nebulae)” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HTgHuUuDQg
"A Look to the Heavens"
“This wide, sharp telescopic view reveals galaxies scattered beyond the stars and faint dust nebulae of the Milky Way at the northern boundary of the high-flying constellation Pegasus. Prominent at the upper right is NGC 7331. *Click image for larger size.* A mere 50 million light-years away, the large spiral is one of the brighter galaxies not included in Charles Messier's famous 18th century catalog. The disturbed looking group of galaxies at the lower left is well-known as Stephan's Quintet. About 300 million light-years distant, the quintet dramatically illustrates a multiple ga... more »
"All The Dragons..."
"How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us. So you must not be frightened if a sadness rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen; if a restiveness, like light and cloud shadows, passes over your hands and over all you do. You must think that somethi... more »
"The Cult of the Plausible Lie"
*"The Cult of the Plausible Lie"* by Laura Knight-Jadczyk "Never ascribe to malice those things which may be explained by stupidity." That is an important phrase, and a necessary one; it keeps people from being paranoid. However, it has a corollary most people don't know: "One MAY ascribe to malice those things which stupidity cannot explain." - Robert Canup "Richard Dolan has pointed out that those at the top will ALWAYS take whatever measures necessary to stay at the top, and when knowledge is power, that means that they will make sure that they are in control of what people kno... more »
Trump and the move away from the sitcom approach to foreign policy
If the United States is Blossom, then Australia is Six. If the United States is Alex P. Keaton, then Australia is Skippy (not this Skippy). These relationships make understanding the recent dust-up between Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister (no, not president—though republicanism remains a perenially-debated issue) Malcolm Turnbull (no, not Trumble). Last Saturday, Trump […]
Strangle the Bastard Child of Prohibition: Abolish the ATF!
*Whatever** would** we do without helpful people like this goon?* Acting on its unerring instinct for expanding its own power while exacerbating the suffering of its subjects, the federal government, at the request of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and with the approval of President Trump, is planningto deploy a contingent from the entityknown as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (commonly called the ATF) to Chicago. This will do nothing to abate the problem of violent crime in the Second City, but will provide the agency with continued rationale for its misbegotten e... more »
Picture Of The Day
Sgt. Beri, an Army working dog, demonstrates his skills during a multinational military police training conference at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Feb. 1, 2017. Army photo by Spc. Adeline Witherspoon
Rogue IT Staff Compromised The Computer Networks Belonging To U.S. House Intelligence And Foreign Affairs Committee Members
Imran Awan with Bill Clinton / Facebook *Daily Caller:* *EXCLUSIVE: House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs Committee Members Compromised By Rogue IT Staff* Three brothers who managed office information technology for members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and other lawmakers were abruptly relieved of their duties on suspicion that they accessed congressional computers without permission. Brothers Abid, Imran, and Jamal Awan were barred from computer networks at the House of Representatives Thursday, The Daily Caller News Foundation Investigative Group has lea... more »
'Der Spiegel' Magazine Cover Sparks Praise And Furor
*Spiegel Online:* *'Der Spiegel' magazine sparks furor as cover depicts Trump beheading Lady Liberty* The artist has defended the cover, claiming the comparison between Trump and the so-called "Islamic State" is fair. Detractors have pointed out that such an analogy is lazy and downplays the threat of Islamic extremism. Newspaper and magazines around the world have turned to US President Donald Trump for fodder for their front pages. However, capping off a week that saw the US president sign an executive order banning immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries from traveling... more »
Everybody Else Wants To Be #2
Late last month we wrote about a new trend that Holland started-- making fun of Señor Trumpanzee's sick nationalism on local late night TV shows. Now everyone is doing it-- all across Europe. Except Italy. Italy has so many problems that they can't do anything; they're falling apart. They're probably waiting for Trump to put them out of their misery. Hopeless! Sad! I'm starting with Germany because the announcer put this whole trend into some context. Germany Denmark: Sweden: Switzerland: Portugal Belgium: Lithuania just wants to be third but they probably shouldn... more »
President Trump: 'U.S. Isn't So innocent'
*New York Times*: *Trump, Asked Again About Putin, Suggests U.S. Isn’t ‘So Innocent’* President Trump, asked by an interviewer on Saturday why he respected President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia even though he is “a killer,” seemed to equate Mr. Putin’s actions with those of the United States. “You got a lot of killers,” he told the interviewer, Bill O’Reilly of Fox News. “What, you think our country’s so innocent?” Mr. Trump has long expressed his admiration for the Russian leader’s strength. But his willingness to seemingly draw a moral equivalence to actions by Mr. Putin, who h... more »
“The Persuasion Advantage and Climate Science”
*“The Persuasion Advantage and Climate Science”* by Scott Adams “As I have often said in this blog, I don’t have the tools to evaluate the basic science about climate change, and neither do you. The difference is that you might be under the illusion that you do have those tools. However, I do have a good eye for effective communication, and good persuasion, and most of that talent seems to be bunched on one side of the debate. The non-alarmists simply have more persuasive arguments than do those in the scientific consensus. That doesn’t mean the persuasive side is also the correct... more »
President Trump Talks To Ukrainian President Poroshenko On The Escalating Violence in His Country
*VOA*: *Trump, Poroshenko Talk Amid Reports of Fighting in Ukraine* U.S. President Donald Trump spoke Saturday with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, seeking to reassure the Ukrainian leader of continued U.S. support, as Kyiv government forces and pro-Russian rebels again battled near the Russian border. A White House statement described the conversation as “a very good call” that addressed the “long-running conflict.” It also said the two leaders discussed the potential for a face-to-face meeting soon. Poroshenko’s office said the two leaders agreed on “the urgent necessity of ... more »
Anti-Corruption Rule Lobbied Against by Rex Tillerson Repealed by US Congress Shortly After Senate Confirmed Him as Secretary of State; More Perks for Putin and Friends?
“It should be lost on no one that in less than 48 hours the Republican-controlled Senate has confirmed the former … Continue reading →
Lack of Accountability Just Endorsed by US Congress Allows Oil and Mining Companies to Keep Robbing Countries of Money Needed to Reduce Poverty, Improve Education, Health Care, Agriculture and Reduce Migration
“Managed properly, Oxfam argues, revenues generated from the oil industry could dramatically reduce poverty while improving education, health care, and … Continue reading →
After Days Of Mass Protests, Romania's Government Backs-Down On A New Law That Would Shield Politicians From Prosecution For Corruption
*Reuters*: *Mass protests force Romania to scrap decree decriminalizing graft* Romania's prime minister said on Saturday he was scrapping a decree that would have shielded dozens of politicians from prosecution for corruption, bowing to one of the biggest protests since the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. Sorin Grindeanu said the decree - which decriminalized several graft offences in what the government said was a bid to relive pressure on the prison system - would be repealed on Sunday, just five days after is was approved by the cabinet. It would have come into fo... more »
US Set to Expand South China Sea Conflict
*February 5, 2017 *(Joseph Thomas - NEO) - Triumphalism followed the election of US President Donald Trump, particularly among those opposed to US foreign policy under US President Barack Obama. In particular, hope was rekindled that America would withdraw from the many, provocative conflicts it was cultivating, ranging from the Middle East to East Asia. However, triumphalism and hope are now dashed, as the new US administration moves clearly and in earnest to not only continue on with these confrontations, but expand them. For students of history, particularly those following even... more »
China Reacts Harshly To U.S. Commitment To Back Japan In Its island Dispute With China
*Image:* Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty commits the United States to defend Japan or territories it administers against any attack *The Independent*: *China accuses US of putting regional stability at risk over backing of Japan in island dispute* The Senkakus are claimed by Japan but contested by China, which calls them the Diaoyu islands China has accused the US of compromising the stability of the Asia-Pacific region after Donald Trump’s Defence Secretary confirmed Washington would back Japan if a conflict arose with Beijing over a number of disputed islands. James... more »
Neil Gorsuch and the Living-document Lie
[image: neil-gorsuch-and-the-living-document-lie] While leftists are outraged at the idea of banning immigrants who may spit on our Constitution, banning judges who would actually uphold it is a different matter.
Russia is a Threat–A Threat to American World Dominance by William Blum
by William Blum Writer, Dandelion Salad www.killinghope.org February 4, 2017 “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Alice in Wonderland “Since Yalta, we have a long list of times we’ve tried to engage positively with Russia. We have a relatively short list of successes in that regard.” – General […]
U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis Ends His Trip To Asia In Japan. Says Alliance Covers Disputed Islands With China
*Nikkei Asian Review:* *Mattis included Senkaku isles in US-Japan defense treaty: Japan official* *US defense chief, Abe agree to further strengthen alliance.* TOKYO -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to its defense treaty with Japan in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here on Friday. A Japanese official who attended the meeting said Mattis confirmed that the treaty extended to the Senkaku Islands -- which China claims and calls the Diaoyu -- in Okinawa Prefecture. "I want there to be no misunderstanding during the transition i... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
“The Hula Hoop Theory of History”
*“The Hula Hoop Theory of History”* by Morris Berman "Above all, no zeal." – Talleyrand “There is a curious rhythm to human affairs, or perhaps more specifically, to Western history. Some movement or idea comes along, and everyone gets swept up in its wake. This is it, then; this is the Answer we’ve been looking for. All of those previous answers were wrong; now, at long last, we’re on the right track. In the fullness of time, of course, this shiny new idea loses its luster, betrays us, or even results in the death of millions. So apparently, we were deceived. But wait: her... more »
"In The Presence of Difficulty, Compassion"
*"In The Presence of Difficulty, Compassion"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "True compassion recognizes that all the boundaries we perceive between ourselves and others are an illusion. Compassion is the ability to see the deep connectedness between ourselves and others. Moreover, true compassion recognizes that all the boundaries we perceive between ourselves and others are an illusion. When we first begin to practice compassion, this very deep level of understanding may elude us, but we can have faith that if we start where we are, we will eventually feel our way toward it. We mo... more »
"The Madman"
*"The Madman"* by Kahlil Gibran "It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder. And I sat beside him upon the bench, and I said, “Why are you here?” And he looked at me in astonishment, and he said, “It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you. My father would make of me a reproduction of himself; so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the image of her seafaring husband as the perfect example for me to follow. My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete. And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy, ... more »
Cardin Statement on Senate Repeal of Key Anti-Corruption Rule for Oil, Gas, Mining Industry
https://www.c-span.org/video/?423407-1/rex-tillerson-sworn-secretary-state “FEBRUARY 03, 2017 Cardin Statement on Senate Repeal of Key Anti-Corruption Rule for Oil, Gas Industry WASHINGTON – U.S. … Continue reading →
How Will We Know The Moment We Go From Not Fascist To Fascist? Like Canaries In A Coal Mine, Gays Will Be Among The First To Know
Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at UC, Berkeley. He was the token progressive in Bill Clinton's very centrist cabinet, where he served as Secretary of Labor. In 2002, he ran for governor of Massachusetts-- Clinton, angered by his book, *Locked in the Cabinet*, endorsed one of his primary rivals, someone who won less than 1% of the vote-- and came in second in a 5-way race. Reich, the unabashed, cutting-edge progressive in the race, lost out to an uninspiring, unelectable establishment hack, state Treasurer Shannon O'Brien, who took 243,039 votes to his 185,315. She ha... more »
What's in the 'Pulp Fiction' Briefcase?
The question of what's in the 'Pulp Fiction' briefcase is one of filmdom's most enduring mysteries.
Do Car Accidents Increase After the Super Bowl?
The largest surges in the motor vehicle accident rate occur in the home state of the losing Super Bowl team.
Biggest march planned in Washington D.C. for Standing Rock on March 10th
The Standing Rock Sioux will soon march on Washington. On Wednesday, the tribe announced that the Rise With Standing Rock Native Nations March will happen in D.C. on March 10. That’s more than a month before the March for Science and the People’s Climate March. The news comes at a time of rising tensions among the Standing Rock Sioux and other water protecters who are fighting construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. Meanwhile, a group of veterans continues to stand in solidarity with the Sioux, claiming, “That pipeline will not get completed. Not on our watch.”... more »
Climate scientists versus climate data
Originally posted on Climate Etc.: by John Bates A look behind the curtain at NOAA’s climate data center. I read with great irony recently that scientists are “frantically copying U.S. Climate data, fearing it might vanish under Trump” (e.g., Washington Post 13 December 2016). As a climate scientist formerly responsible for NOAA’s climate archive, the…
BOMBSHELL – NOAA whistleblower says Karl et al. “pausebuster” paper was hyped, broke procedures
Originally posted on Watts Up With That?: They played fast and loose with the figures -NOAA whistleblower The Mail on Sunday today reveals astonishing evidence that the organisation that is the world’s leading source of climate data rushed to publish a landmark paper that exaggerated global warming and was timed to influence the historic Paris…
How to Drain the Judicial Swamp
[image: how-to-drain-the-judicial-swamp] It’s no surprise the Democrats plan to fight against the nomination of President Trump’s Supreme Court pick, 10th Circuit Court of Appeals judge Neil Gorsuch. There are no confirmation battles like Supreme Court confirmation battles because, as we always hear, such a decision can “shape the country for a generation.” But this doesn’t sound like the role envisioned by the founders.
Ukraine's Flare Up Not Just About Putin: Poroshenko's Gambit
*Poroshenko's Gambit- Bloomberg* *First 6 paragraphs omitted. * This isn't a major Russian military push. Reports from the area *do not* point to a heavy presence of Russian troops, which have come in at decisive points in the conflict. Russia *only appeared* to threaten that kind of retaliation in a Foreign Ministry statement reminding Ukraine "how such adventures ended for them in the past." The statement went on to accuse Poroshenko of provoking the escalation to keep the crisis "on the international agenda," perhaps referring to his blaming of the fighting for cutting short a h... more »
Chris Hedges: The Power of Political Cartoons
Dandelion Salad with Chris Hedges RT America on Feb 4, 2017 On this week’s episode of On Contact, Chris Hedges discusses the influence of editorial cartoons and the plight of the artists who make them with political cartoonist Dwayne Booth, also known as Mr. Fish. RT Correspondent Anya Parampil explores what we have done to […]
A new book by a well-known doctor is clearing the fog surrounding living with dementia
A new book by a well-known doctor is challenging long-held preconceptions regarding the care of dementia patients. It sets out to challenge care and support surrounding a whole host of areas. These include mental health, spirituality, sexuality and “dying well”. And the author’s own personal story is worthy of a book, too. As it’s one […] The post A new book by a well-known doctor is clearing the fog surrounding living with dementia appeared first on The Canary.
Cooperation with Russia and Damascus Is Turkey’s Only Chance
*I’ve been saying cooperation is a must for a very long time now..* Sputnik In a recent article for the Turkish newspaper Aydinlik, Ismail Hakki Pekin, former chief of the Turkish General Staff Intelligence Department, warned that Turkey is moving step by step to war. In an interview with Sputnik Turkiey, Pekin commented on his assumption, saying that Ankara has found itself in a difficult situation, particularly due to foreign pressure. *"The United States and Egypt are trying to force Turkey to make certain concessions, including establishing a Kurdish autonomous region in norther... more »
Two Orthodox Jews and New York's Worst Scandal in Decades
*Just couldn’t pass this one by- God’s Chosen ? Or giving the Devil his dues?* *Pretty corrupt and immoral in my book! This story has it all. New York’s Mayor being investigated. Crooked Cops. Corrupt Union Officials- Hookers. Gifts. Hookers as Gifts. One guy after being question committed suicide. * * Read entirely at the link below- Excerpt below-* *On the face of it Jona Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg, two Orthodox Jews from New York, made for an unlikely pair of hustlers.* Rechnitz is from a well connected and wealthy family who have ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netany... more »
'To Save the Water, We Must Break the Cycle of Colonial Trauma'
Read article: http://sacredstonecamp.org/blog/2017/2/4/to-save-the-water-we-must-break-the-cycle-of-colonial-trauma Photo: Mass arrest at Last Child Camp, Feb.1, named in honor of the Warrior Society of Crazy Horse.
Quebec Mosque Shooting: MSM Employs Fake News Meme to Present More Fake News
*CBC* and *Global *both happen, coincidentally, to be running obfuscating/ fake news about their own faked/obfuscating news overage regarding the Quebec Mosque incident. I don’t want to spend too much time debunking this crap. So I’ve selected just a couple examples from both stories.. *What's interesting is that the media here in Canada is working hard to control the narrative? * * -I spent much time looking into this incident and covered it in three posts:* - *Quebec Shooting: Questions About the Meetings between Debrois & Bissonnette?* - *Quebec Shooting: "White Privi... more »
Power of the People: Massive Romania Protests Work! Govt Withdraws Corruption Decree
[image: protests]The sheer number of those who showed up to the protests was nothing short of monumental — and, as we have just learned — effective!
Would You Buy Drugs From Trump Or #PresidentBannon?
*Are most Trump voters mentally incapacitated by drug addiction?* A few days ago, PPP asked a cross-section of Americans, whose credibility they trust most, various media outlets or Señor Trumpanzee. Every media outlet was rated as significantly more trustworthy than Señor and the *Washington Post* the most so. 52% of respondents said the *Post* has more credibility than Trumpanzee and 41%-- presumably the low-IQ, prescription-drug abusing neanderthals who voted for him-- said Trumpanzee has more credibility. It's hard to imagine that anyone could be so unaware of the world around th... more »
The week in satire Vol. #30
And what a week it was! A week in which 22% of the Liberal Democrats voted in favour of Brexit: Tim Farron faces major parliamentary rebellion as 22% of Lib Dem MPs fail to back his anti-Brexit stance in vote. Both of them abstained. — Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) February 1, 2017 A week in which […] The post The week in satire Vol. #30 appeared first on The Canary.
Moorside Nuclear Braced For Toshiba PullOut
By Paul Homewood http://en.worldmoneygrid.com/2017/02/04/moorside-nuclear-plant-braced-for-potential-toshiba-pullout/ This story is behind a paywall at the FT, but other sites, such as this one at World Money Grid, have picked it up: One of the new nuclear plants that Britain is relying on for energy security in coming decades has been plunged into doubt as Toshiba […]
Dietary Changes Now Proven to Effectively Treat Major Depression
*Alex Pietrowski* - This is critical news for those taking antidepressants. The post Dietary Changes Now Proven to Effectively Treat Major Depression appeared first on Waking Times.
More Scientific Proof To Refuse Vaccines
*Catherine J. Frompovich* - The case against vaccines continues to build. The post More Scientific Proof To Refuse Vaccines appeared first on Waking Times.
Sunday School: Stephen Hawking on the afterlife
[image: C3r6okhWcAE1vcS] “I regard the brain as a computer with will stop working when tis components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.” ~ Stephen Hawking. Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Permission to republish is granted, with attribution.
Media Silent as a Record 250,000 Romanians March to End Govt Corruption
[image: corruption]A quarter million Romanians take to the streets to protest the socialist government's edict decriminalizing political corruption.
UN Lesson Plans Teach Kids to Get Civilians to "Turn in Guns"
[image: un-lesson-plans-teach-kids-to-get-civilians-to-turn-in-guns] Over the course of six lessons, teachers using the “Disarmament Education Programme” prepared by the UN Association in Canada will indoctrinate students to accept the UN as a global government and an engine of peace with the goal of creating a “world without weapons.”
Travel Ban Lifted in Early Victory for Non-Violent-Resistance to Trump
My colleague Erica Chenoweth has a great article in The Guardian today on the power of non-violent resistance: Many people across the United States are despondent about the new president – and the threat to democracy his rise could represent. But they shouldn’t be. At no time in recorded history have people been more equipped […]
Vostok: warming or cooling by 2 °C per century has been frequent enough and natural
An hour ago, I was intrigued by the apparent asymmetry of warming and cooling episodes in various graphs. In particular, if you look at the temperature graphs of the Vostok ice core, you will immediately see that the warming episodes were often much faster and speedier than the cooling episodes. Most of the time, it was cooling. A minority of the time has experienced warming but it was appropriately more intense. It seems that it's easier to destroy ice sheets than to build them etc. After I have spent some time by quantifying these asymmetries in the Vostok data – and recent GISS t... more »
Mosul Campaign Day 109, Feb 3, 2017
The Hashd have started a new offensive to the west of Mosul. They tookten villages during the day. They were also expandingthe operation to the southwest. The Hashd’s goal has been to cut off the Islamic State’s supply lines to other parts of Iraq and Syria. The problem has been the vast area of western Ninewa it is operating in has made it difficult to secure. Inside Mosul the Islamic State launched another assaultacross the Tigris River from west to east. The Iraqi Forces (ISF) with the assistance of Coalition aircraft turned back the insurgents. These attacks have become almos... more »
Quarterback Speak
A Super Bowl reporter did not ask Redskins QB Doug Williams how long he'd been a black quarterback.
As Media Labels Fukushima a ‘Conspiracy Theory’, Radiation Soars to Record Level
[image: fukushima]Officials have no idea what caused an astronomical spike in Fukushima's Number 2 reactor — perhaps it's time to stop calling people concerned about the plant conspiracy theorists.
WATCH: New Bodycam Shows Hero EMT Stand Up to Bully Cop Before Being Choked
[image: emt]Newly released body camera footage shows a cop on a rampage as an EMT and firefighters attempt to help an injured man.
Pentagon Caught Trying to Use a 10-Year-Old Propaganda Video to Justify Yemen Raid
[image: raid]The Pentagon’s website no longer shows an “important intelligence” video obtained in a fatal Yemeni raid, since officials realized it's a decade old.
“Love Trumps Hate!” — And if You Disagree, WE’LL KILL YOU!
[image: love-trumps-hate-and-if-you-disagree-we-ll-kill-you] “Love Trumps Hate! Love Trumps Hate!” is the Orwellian mantra screamed by hateful, violent anti-Trump "demonstrators," as they physically attack peaceful fellow citizens.
Hugh Sykes on Radio 3
Blog favourite Hugh Sykes - who presenter Sarah Walker described as a "seasoned" BBC reporter - was a daily feature on BBC Radio 3's *Essential Classics *this week. I can't say that I share many of his musical tastes, though he got me exploring his godfather Egon Wellesz's music - which is proving fruitful. And listening to Hugh, it's very hard not to warm to him. As wrong as he may be about many things, he's obviously right about others. And fundamentally kind and decent. And I regret tweeting a very rude blogpost I'd written to him a couple of years or so back. That was both r... more »
Breach of Undertaking, Recognizance, or Probation
A very common charge is for "breach". That's a short form way of talking about a case where someone is under a court order to do something, or to not do something, and they don't obey the order. So, for example, you may be charged with assault and released on the basis that you won't drink alcohol until your trial. You could be charged with "breach" if you go ahead and get drunk anyway. Similarly, you might be convicted of, say, theft and ordered to stay out of Arctic Ventures for six months. If you go in anyway you can be charged with breaching your probation. "Breach" is a seriou... more »
'Last Child Camp' Warriors Released from Jail
. Water protectors arrested at Last Child Camp on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017, named in honor of the Warrior Society of Crazy Horse. . Posted with permission of HolyElk. Below: 76 Water Protectors Arrested Below: Watch video of Chase Iron Eyes of Standing Rock, publisher of Last Real Indians, and former Congressional delegate, after being released from Morton County Jail on Friday.
Trump District Dems
*Carol Shea-Porter and friend* Yesterday we looked at opportunities Democrats have in congressional districts where Hillary did better than Democrats normally do. But not every district is about opportunities. Some are about defense. There were a dozen districts that Democrats now hold where Trump beat Hillary. Most of them-- 75%-- are held by worthless Blue Dogs and New Dems (the Republican wing of the Democratic Party) who tend vote with the GOP on most key roll calls and even more so in committee. Democrats would be better off without them since the only function they serve is gi... more »
“The Best Line Ever From ‘The Magnificent Seven’”
*“The Best Line Ever From ‘The Magnificent Seven’”* by David Smith “Perhaps you've seen a 1960 western– now available in stunning Blu-ray format– titled ‘The Magnificent Seven.’ Starring Yul Brunner, Eli Wallach, Charles Bronson, and Steve McQueen, it chronicles a group of hired gringo gunslingers employed in a Mexican village. They work for little pay in order to rid the town of a band of outlaws who periodically swoop down from the hills, robbing the unfortunates of most of their food and meager finances. In an immortal line that so poignantly speaks to the coming events for many ... more »
De-Regulatory Furor and the Rise of the Swamp Monsters
Trump is expanding the swamp by rolling back the Obama Administration's post-financial crisis reforms, which were already largely eviscerated by financial industry resistance. Yesterday I posted a link to discussion of Trump's efforts to end the Dodd-Frank Act. Here is a summary of the Dodd-Frank Act taken from my book, Crisis Communication, Liberal Democracy, and Ecological Sustainability: The U.S. Senate’s Brief Summary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (2010) promises to “Create a Sound Economic Foundation to Grow Jobs, Protect Consumers, Rein... more »
Kessler (and Drum) fact-check Kellyanne!
*SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017Pinocchios all around:* Especially at the top, the Trump administration is full of people who may perhaps seem "unwell." We'd place Bannon, Flynn and Trump himself at the top of that pile. We'd also look to Kellyanne Conway, who has furiously done it again. As the leading authority skillfully tells us, Conway "is an American political activist currently serving as Counselor to President Donald [J.] Trump." In that role, she has demonstrated at least three major skills: She has demonstrated 1) the ability to avoid responding to any question at all, and 2... more »
Walking Away from Endless War
This piece of art is hanging on the wall of the room I am sleeping in. The house is owned by a woman in the group Women for Peace in Stockholm that organized the day-long conference that I spoke at today. When I saw this picture I knew I wanted to put it on my blog. In the middle of last night, suffering from jet lag, I was in bed gazing at it and thinking about the guilty verdict in our Zumwalt 12 trial in Bath, Maine. I was not at all surprised to hear about the verdict. I was lucky that Justice Billings let me leave the trial before it was over after I told him I was due to... more »
COOLER HEADS PREVAIL, TO A LIMITED EXTENT
This surprises me: Customs and Border Protection told major U.S. airlines Friday night they should go “back to business as usual" after a federal judge issued a temporary nationwide restraining order stopping President Trump's executive order banning citizens of seven countries from entering the United States. CNN reported Friday night that CBP held a 9 p.m. conference call with major airlines, telling them visas are being reinstated following the judge’s action. An airline executive told CNN that CBP is "back to prior to the situation that was in place before last week's executive... more »
Transpicuous News: Whitehouse Whopper & Iran's Irate
Well my friends, the year is just getting crazier and crazier! Between Trump's Whitehouse Press team that can't seem to get their stories straight, and Iran getting pissy, and Israel and Saudi and Yemen and holy shit the list goes on and on and on...... Yea, it's a bit insane out there my friends! .... and hey! Better watch out for that Capitalist Global Warming scheme!!! They might try to sell ya some swampland in Florida!!! d This Episode's Links: https://www.rt.com/news/376240-uae-snowfall-winds-fire/ http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-03/un-official-admits-glob... more »
Untitled
*From Jenna Orkin* Former Norwegian Prime Minister held for questioning at Dulles Airport Joel Kenneth Miner Hackers Took Down D.C.'s CCTV System Ahead Of Trump Inauguration, Demanded Ransom House Votes To Overturn Obama Gun Rule Banning Sales To The Mentally Impaired Gorsuch Started Fascism Forever Club in High School Reddit Bans Three Alt-Right Forums As Users Blast "Leftist Intolerance" Trump Vows to ‘Destroy’ Law Banning Political Endorsements by Churches Americans "Not In The Labor Force" Plunge By A Record 736,000 Canadian Mint Worker Sentenced To 30 Months For Smuggli... more »
Editor's Note
Blogging will return later today.
The U.S. Could Have Imposed Deeper Sanctions On Iran But Choose Not To
*The Hill*: *Trump's Iran sanctions signal resolve to maintain nuclear deal* On Friday the Treasury Department added 13 persons and 12 entities to their Specially Designated Nationals list for supporting “Iranian destabilizing activity.” According to National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, the sanctions communicate the end of “turning a blind eye to Iran’s hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community.” The designations come in response to Tehran’s recent flight-testing of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, as well as the ongoing cultivation by ... more »
Time To Pay Attention — Super-Rich are Now Preppers Storing Food and Guns
[image: preppers]The world's richest one percent are now preparing for the collapse of society, and the economy as they amass food and ammo and become preppers.
Now that Trump’s In Office, Media Suddenly Concerned with US Military Killing Civilians
[image: media]There is a concerted effort by the media to expose the tragic calamity that unfolded in Yemen, but it has nothing to do with accountability.
Sentence reduced for Charter breach
R. v. Holland 2017 NUCJ 03: (iii). Charter breach Analysis [47] Society needs laws. Society also needs to be able to enforce those laws. We could not live in community without laws, and our police. Our free and democratic society also needs independent courts. Our courts settle disputes. Our courts protect our rights and our liberties. The decisions our judges make help to maintain public peace. [48] Our police are our first line of defence against disorder and lawlessness. We expect our police to place their lives and safety on the line every day. We expect our police to deal w... more »
Saturday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading. - George Monbiot examines how politics in the UK and the U.S. are dominated by unaccountable corporate money. And Stephen Maher and B.J. Siekierski report that both the Libs and Cons are fully on board - as Rona Ambrose managed to take (however justified) umbrage at Justin Trudeau's vacation on a private island while she herself was being entertained on a billionaire's yacht. - Alex Hemingway points out the similarities between the corporate infrastructure giveaways being planned by Trudeau and Donald Trump alike. And Paul Krugman d... more »
Did North Korea Cooperate With Iran In Its Latest Missile Test?
*38 North:* *Iran’s Missile Test: Getting the Facts Straight on North Korea’s Cooperation* On January 29, Iran tested a new ballistic missile it dubbed the Khorramshahr, which reportedly flew a distance of about 1,000 kilometers. Little is known about the missile, though some have speculated that it relies on a liquid-fueled engine originally developed by the Isayev Design Bureau for the Soviet R-27 submarine-launched ballistic missile. If so, this could make it a variant of the North Korean Musudan (KN-10), an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that uses the same engine ... more »
"If I Had An Hour..."
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on it, I would use the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I knew the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.” - Albert Einstein
The Economy: “Trump About to Declare Currency War!”
*“Trump About to Declare Currency War!”, Introduction* by Brian Maher “President Trump has trade in the dock, giving it a good hard grilling. The indictment reads thus: Leading exporters China, Japan and Germany are fudging their currencies to goose exports- at Uncle Samuel’s expense. China and Japan are allegedly “playing the devaluation market.” Germany is using a “grossly undervalued” euro to “exploit” the United States. The accused plead innocent on all counts. The prosecution presses on. Yet the prosecution finds itself in a bit of a thicket. Trump’s pledges of deregulation, t... more »
Iran Announces That It Will Conduct More Missile Tests While Launching Military Drills One Day After New U.S. Sanctions
*RFE*:* Iran To Test Missile, Radar Systems, One Day After New U.S. Sanctions* Iran is holding a military exercise to test its missile and radar systems on February 4, a day after the United State imposed sanctions on Tehran over its recent ballistic-missile test. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps website said the maneuvers in the northeastern province of Semnan were aimed at demonstrating their "complete preparedness to deal with the threats" and "humiliating sanctions" from Washington. Iranian state media reported that missile systems, radars, command-and-control cente... more »
Philippine President Duterte Has Ended The Truce With The Country's Communist Rebels
*VOA*: *Philippines' Duterte Ends Cease-fire With Communist Rebels* The Philippines is withdrawing from its cease-fire agreement with the country's communist rebels. President Rodrigo Duterte told the country's troops Friday to get ready to fight. The military says six soldiers have died in fresh fighting with the rebels. General Eduardo Ano, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, welcomed the lifting of the cease-fire, saying, "We will go after the communists … and we will hit them hard." Duterte's announcement came just two days after the communists announced their de... more »
'Fails' (again)
Further to an earlier post, here's a BBC complaints response recently posted at *Biased BBC* which (though deserving marks for a nice try with the inventive climbing analogy) fails to successfully refute the charge. My favourite bit is: "And in this case, Mrs May failed to provide answers to the specific point that was raised. *In effect, she fudged the issue. We’re sorry if you feel this showed the BBC was taking a view on the matter* ...". I don't know about you but I think *that *shows the BBC taking a view on the matter too. Lunchtime Loather February 4, 2017 at 11:17 am BBC... more »
Brave People Venture Out Onto Frozen Lake to Rescue Trapped Moose
A moose got trapped in a frozen river in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden on Feb. These people were able to help the moose make its way back to land using an axe and an ice pick. Winter can be a beautiful time of the year. From sledding and skiing to hot cocoa, there are many ways to celebrate the cooler months. But for our animal friends, winter can be very dangerous and sometimes they need a helping hand. Moose hair is hollow. This type of fur helps to insulate the animal from the cold. A moose's front legs are longer than its back legs. This helps the moose more easily jump over things ly... more »
Weekend reads: Sabotage in the lab; a lab animal database disappears; PACE authors push back
The week at Retraction Watch featured the launch of the greatest journal ever, and a story about the backlash against widely covered research on why men eat more. Here’s what was happening elsewhere: “Falsified data is a crime against scientific truth. This was personal.” Theodora Ross writes about sabotage in her own lab. (New York […] The post Weekend reads: Sabotage in the lab; a lab animal database disappears; PACE authors push back appeared first on Retraction Watch.
The Wet Autumn Of 2000
By Paul Homewood http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/autumn2000.html The wet autumn of 2000 in the UK was remarkable by any measure. Along with the heatwave in 2003, it is often wheeled out as an example of extreme weather brought about by global warming. Inevitably the climate science industry jumped on board claiming that global warming had made […]
Policy Summer Camps
Undergraduates with interests in public policy should consider this opportunity and this one as well.
Coalition-Backed Syrian Forces Have Launch A New Offensive Against The ISIS Stronghold Of Raqqa
*Al Jazeera*: *US-backed Syrian forces launch new offensive on Raqqa* The SDF says it aims to completely encircle the ISIL stronghold with increasing support from the US-led coalition. An alliance of US-backed fighters says it has begun a new phase of its campaign on the ISIL-held city of Raqqa in northern Syria, aiming to complete its encirclement and sever the road to the group's strongholds in Deir az Zor province. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said in a statement on Saturday that the offensive was getting an "increasing support from the international coalition forces th... more »
Russia And U.S. Forces Are Cooperating In Conducting Military Operations Against The Islamic State In Syria
© Photo: Russian Defence Ministry *Federico Pieraccini, Straetgic Culture Foundation:* *This Is How Russia and the United States are Cooperating in Syria* Since Donald Trump became President of the United States, we have been witnessing some interesting developments in Syria. We have only fragmentary and seemingly unconnected information at this time, but, as one puts the pieces of the puzzle together, it appears likely that some kind of deeper level of coordination between the US and Russia exists. While it cannot be said with certainty, Trump and Putin have probably agreed to coo... more »
More Trumpy-The-Clown Swamp Draining? No, That's Americans' Savings He's Draining
*Elizabeth Warren: "Donald Trump talked a big game about Wall Street during his campaign-- but as President, we're finding out whose side he's really on. Today, after literally standing alongside big bank and hedge fund CEOs, he announced two new orders-- one that will make it easier for investment advisors to cheat you out of your retirement savings, and another that will put two former Goldman Sachs executives in charge of gutting the rules that protect you from financial fraud and another economic meltdown. The Wall Street bankers and lobbyists whose greed and recklessness nearly... more »
Canada's Response To Trump's Ban
Donald Trump's understanding of the economy is outdated. He's stuck -- firmly -- in the 1960's. Alan Freeman writes: Still caught in the 1960s, his stenographer waiting to take dictation and type out that all-important letter to Vladimir Putin on her Selectric, Trump has a similarly dated view of the American economy. For the president, the country outside of Manhattan and parts of California is made up of thousands of small towns populated by God-fearing white people, with hubbie heading off every day to the local widget factory carrying his trusty lunch bucket while Harriet stay... more »
The Growing Role Of The Russian Orthodox Church In Russia
Patriarch Kirill is said to enjoy a close relationship with Medvedev (left) and Putin (center) *DW:* *Russia returns cathedral to Orthodox Church* The largest church in Saint Petersburg, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, is to be transferred from Russia's museum holdings into the hands of the Orthodox Church. The decision has caused protests and is not an isolated case. Saint Isaac's Cathedral is a "must" for tourists. It is the largest and most famous church in Saint Petersburg, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The magnificent building, with its highly visible golden dome, attra... more »
"Fukushima Update: Fukushima Equals 13,822.35 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow"
*"Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”* - Shiva *Publishing Note: *Due to Bob Nichol's other commitments the city-specific radiation reporting will now be published every 2 weeks until further notice. The next such report will be on February 11, 2017. I will update the weekly Hiroshima bomb equivalents information. This is to keep you as aware and informed as possible, not alarm you, though you should be alarmed, and is scientific *FACT*, not sensationalistic nonsense. Everything here is active-linked for your own verification, or not; I encourage you to do so. The radi... more »
Questions
I do like a nice Andrew Graham-Dixon series on art and there's a new one on BBC Four at the moment called *Art of France*. The first episode was very interesting (and a treat for the eyes) but its opening section in particular did seem to have a message or two to push: *In the suburb of St Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris, you can see the truly varied faces of this modern nation. But it's a reality many in France refused to accept. There are people who say that this place doesn't even deserve to be considered as part of France. But of course they're wrong. The truth is ... more »
Now Jeremy Warner Loses The Plot!
By Paul Homewood h/t Patsy Lacey http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/02/02/bad-news-petrol-heads-trump-no-trump-green-revolution-coming/ Jeremy Warner has caught Ambrose Evans-Pritchard fever! From the Telegraph: Prepare to be outraged – again. If you think the future of the planet is being put at risk by excessive use of fossil fuels, then there is seemingly more bad news on […]
Santa’s Christmas present for wind farms
By Paul Homewood h/t Hugh Sharman With recent events in mind, it is worth reposting this article from from the Renewable Energy Foundation, published om 30/12/16: Over the Christmas period, high winds accompanying Storms Barbara and Conor combined with low demand for electricity to deliver a £7 million gift to the owners […]
Former Chaplain to the Queen: UK Cities Could Soon Be Islamic
More from that Breitbart article http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/03/former-chaplain-queen-britain-islamic-generations/ '... at an inter-faith conference in 2003, an imam he describes as an "eminently serious scholar" stood up and said: "The UK is going to be an Islamic republic in the time of my grandchildren, and I don't need to do anything about it, it's just going to happen"." If you look at your five northern conurbations," the imam added, "already the majority of people under 16 are Muslim." He said that those people would elect Muslim mayors who in turn would feel de... more »
Some of the President's men
On today's *From Our Own Correspondent*, Jon Sopel was arguing that the Trump administration is much more ideological than many suspected and that "maybe we *[journalists like him]* were right after all we do need to take Donald Trump literally". He then described the "small inner circle of men" provided that "ideological backbone" - and I think think it's fair to say that he *doesn't* paint them in a very positive light: In the old days of Cold War certainty we used to sit and watch the May Day parade in Red Square and see which Politburo members were closest to President Bre... more »
Untitled
*Americans Should Not Have to Subsidize Campus Lawlessness* In 1964, students at the University of California, Berkeley joined together to fight for their right to free speech. Last night, a group of over 1,500 protestors showed up on that same campus to shut down a speaker with whom they disagreed, and about 150 of them started a riot. Clearly, the culture of tolerance on college campuses has changed quite a bit since 1964. Last night, Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos stopped by the UC Berkeley campus on his college tour to talk about the importance of free speech, yet w... more »
Untitled
*Australian Federal government plan for clean coal power* *The very term "clean" coal is a monstrous crock. The claim is that CO2 is "dirty". But we all breathe CO2 out. Do we breathe out dirt? And the idea that you can capture and store it is equally absurd. It's possible in theory but the engineering challenges would make it monstrously expensive* The Turnbull government is planning to help fund the construction of new clean-coal-fired power stations in an extraordinary measure to intervene in the looming energy security and pricing crisis. In a move to address the prem... more »
I'd forgotten that this wrinkle might apply to the Scottish cathedral allowing Muslim prayers to be said in it
Remember the fuss over the Scottish cathedral that allowed Islamic prayers to be said in it? Presumably this was to show how open minded, tolerant and multicultural they were? This Breitbart article http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/03/former-chaplain-queen-britain-islamic-generations/ reminded me that: '... many Muslims would be bewildered by the cathedral's decision to host such a reading, as according to Islam once a place is used for Islamic prayer it then becomes permanently Islamic.' Open minded or empty headed? Tolerant or dhimmified? Multicultural or cultural suic... more »
"Do you think it is responsible to have him on?"
As regular *ITBB *readers will know, *Newswatch *presenter Samira Ahmed has been using Twitter, blogposts and newspaper articles for months now to air her concerns about the BBC's 'normalisation' or 'enabling' of people like Nigel Farage. She thinks he's "pushing the boundaries of acceptable discourse" into unacceptable territory and, as a *former* leader of UKIP, should not be receiving so many invites from the BBC. This week's *Newswatch *discussed that very topic, giving a platform to like-minded viewers. It was a bit odd watching Samira doing her normal 'giving viewers a vo... more »
“The Purpose of Decadence and the Pleasures of Coercion”
*“The Purpose of Decadence and the Pleasures of Coercion” * by James Howard Kunstler “I guess you’ve noticed by now that the center didn’t hold. Instead of a secure platform for political premises like tradition, precedent, rationality, and cultural norms, you see a fiery maw of sheer emotion between the camps of the so-called Left and the so-called Right. I say so-called because the campus Left and the Trump Right have escaped the categorical corrals they formerly occupied. And they may have left their customary official parties stranded and dying too. It may be fatuous to say whe... more »
"US and Allies Close to Attacking Iran"
*"US and Allies Close to Attacking Iran"* by Dave Hodges, The Common Sense Show "Please note the strategic significance of Iran’s location with regard to the Soviet military strategy in the Middle East. Iran is daring the West, particularly the US, to attack. Iran’s religious leaders would like a war because it would bring in Russia and China, and would conceivably lead to World War III. Recently, the Iranians attacked a Saudi naval vessel. I believe the action was meant to be an attack upon our navy. Trouble is coming. The R’s and the D’s want war because their controllers want war... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Believe”
2002, “Believe” - https://www.youtube.com/ "Don't be afraid. There are exquisite things in store for you. This is merely the beginning." - Oscar Wilde
Best of Weekly Wrap: More Mushy, Misdirected Autism Empathy
Originally posted on 10/20/2012. Dan Olmsted wrote his "Weekly Wrap" each Saturday. The topics and tone varied, yet always informed and entertained in Dan's inimitable style. We'll be featuring Dan's work over the coming months. Enjoy this post. By Dan...
Pew Research Poll on Vaccines At Odds With Reality for Many Families
By Anne Dachel I'm sure this Pew Research poll will be talked about EVERYWHERE in the mainstream news. COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE: The focus is on the MMR vaccine. (Could this be because of Dr. Wakefield's work?) The ordinary...
Democracy makes it impossible to vote for Democracy
The other MOST OBVIOUS issue with 'such a contemporary democracy' is that it's a Tacit Production Factory where you-slave-worker can never really know WHY you're doing the specialised job you do. Such a gruesome definition of 'democracy' becomes a heinous case of banker-driven 'national security issue' being more important than the supposed-democracy it's espousing i.e. ethically worse than the ancient Religion+State issue. Democracy+Patent is probably illegal if any of those pussy lawyers would *DO THEIR REAL JOB*. Free Planet is better than this.... surely.
Missing Megaliths...
[image: EastCoast081] *At one of the megalith sites outside Dulan.* From a 1967 work... * On the lower slopes of the mountains behind the hamlet of Chung Yung, known also as Katsawan, behind the town of Ch'ang Pin, a megalithic site was investigated by Sung in 1963. No megaliths remained in their original position at that time; all have been rolled down the hill from their original plateau site to the village below and incorporated in walls and house foundations.* Shouldered stones are the most abundant. An important feature of the site is the presence of large round stones, usually... more »
Catching up Linkfest
*This image sent around Twitter apparently shows a communication from the local Chinese student association protesting the Dalai Lama's appearance on campus at UCSD and saying they are awaiting orders from the Consulate. .* A friend writes on Facebook about his wife's family, showing how intertwined aborigines are with the Hoklo and Hakka population: At the Zhang family temple [pictured in FB post], which was rebuilt on this location in 1908. Another set of my daughter visiting her ancestors. Not only is her grandmother a Zhang from the area, but the area is also a cultural site fo... more »
Musical Interlude: Gov't Mule, "Soulshine"
Gov't Mule, "Soulshine" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijsritrkiAA
Paulo Coelho, “Change and Renewal”
*“Change and Renewal”* by Paulo Coelho “When winter arrives, the trees must sigh in sadness as they see their leaves falling. They say: ‘We will never be like we were before.’ Of course. Or still, what is the meaning of renewing oneself? The next leaves will have their own nature, they pertain to a new summer that approaches and which will never be like the one that passed. Living means changing– and the seasons repeat these lessons to us every year. Changing means going through a period of depression: we still don’t know the new and we have to forget everything we used to know. Bu... more »
Free Download: Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search For Meaning"
*Excerpt: "Man's Search For Meaning"* by Viktor Frankl "An active life serves the purpose of giving man the opportunity to realize values in creative work, while a passive life of enjoyment affords him the opportunity to obtain fulfillment in experiencing beauty, art, or nature. But there is also purpose in that life which is almost barren of both creation and enjoyment and which admits of but one possibility of high moral behavior: namely, in man's attitude to his existence, an existence restricted by external forces. A creative life and a life of enjoyment are banned to him. But ... more »
The Universe
“It's no accident that when you look closely into the eyes of another, the very first thing you see, is yourself. That when you hold their hand, you can feel your own warmth. And that when you give of yourself, you give to yourself. Because, quite simply, both you and they are me. Freaky? Maybe. An accident? No.” “Let's get it started, uh-huh -” The Universe “Thoughts become things... choose the good ones!” - www.tut.com
The Poet: Stephen Levine, "Half Life"
*"Half Life"* "We walk through half our life as if it were a fever dream, barely touching the ground, our eyes half open, our heart half closed. Not half knowing who we are, we watch the ghost of us drift from room to room, through friends and lovers never quite as real as advertised. Not saying half we mean or meaning half we say, we dream ourselves from birth to birth seeking some true self. Until the fever breaks and the heart can not abide a moment longer as the rest of us awakens, summoned from the dream, not half caring for anything but love." ~ Stephen Levine
The Daily "Near You?"
Dublin, New Hampshire, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"I Wake Up And Wonder..."
"I never wake up in the morning and wonder why I am here. I wake up and wonder why I am not making here better." - Jeffrey Fry
"The Art of Skepticism"
*"The Art of Skepticism"* by Daniel Talamantes "Skepticism wagers that it is unfathomably possible to obtain ultimate truth or knowledge. Etymologically derived from the Greek verb skeptomai, meaning “to search,” skepticism is the practice of learning, of making the sincere effort to obtain full truth and knowledge. This line of philosophical inquiry follows in the tradition of Plato. In Plato’s works, he’d often establish a setting where Greek philosophers (particularly curated by Socrates), politicians, and other notable individuals debated over topics as broad as love, governmen... more »
Zumwalt Jury Verdict: Guilty as Charged!
*Zumwalt Destroyer protesters found guilty--sentenced to 30 hours each of community service. Bath, ME* Justice Dan Billings, after hearing the jury's verdict and recommendations for monetary fines from the Sagadahoc County's District Attorney's office, said the sentence justifies leniency because "the defendants believed they were acting appropriately with the greater good in mind" and that their actions were "within the tradition of civil disobedience and non-violent protest". 12 people were accused of "obstructing a public way" by sitting on Washington St. in front of Bath Iro... more »
Summary of Maslow on Self-Transcendence
It is quite true that [we live] by bread alone—when there is no bread. But what happens to [our] desires when there is plenty of bread and when [our bellies are] chronically filled? ~ Abraham Maslow
Jonathan Pugh on Bio-Conservatism and Human Enhancement
In this episode IEET Affiliate Scholar John Danaher talks to Jonathan Pugh about bio-conservatism and human enhancement. Jonny is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Applied Moral Philosophy at The University of Oxford, on the Wellcome Trust funded project “Neurointerventions in Crime Prevention: An Ethical Analysis”. His new paper, written with Guy Kahane and Julian Savulescu, ‘Bio-Conservatism, Partiality, and The Human Nature Objection to Enhancement’ is due out soon in The Monist. Listen
Chicken Tax Makes Trucks Expensive and Unavailable
I did not actually know about this and that really tells you that all parties are deeply embarrassed by it all. Ultimately, constraints on free trade are absurd in the long term. From that we have an obvious suggestion and that all tariffs will decline ten percent per year unless reinstated after debate. It has become obvious to myself that all tariff arrangements need to have a ten year decline curve built in.. That way it can be used to thwart the unruly but never last to distort business.. *Chicken Tax Makes Trucks Expensive and Unavailable* * Marco den Ouden * * Monday... more »
A star heading this way could knock millions of asteroids towards Earth
[image: Oort-Cloud-wiki-commons] This will cause us the most grief though by then we should be swell established with underground refuges. What is useful is that we are able to accurately predict such events at least with the stars we can see. Since we can easily imagine plenty of large objects out there as well this is hardly reassuring but confirmation that close passes are completely plausible. . *A star heading this way could knock millions of asteroids towards Earth * *Incoming... slowly.* *LINDSAY DODGSON, BUSINESS INSIDER * *10 JAN 2017 * *http://www.sciencealert.com/... more »
Green Sahara's Ancient Rainfall Regime Revealed
What is interesting is that the current dry period is anomalous and likely caused by human goat husbandry. That makes my proposal regarding atmospheric water gathering completely attractive as that establishes the original biome and sustains and protects it. In short, terraforming the Sahara is not a fight against what nature wants at all but an accommodation. I would augment all that with the establishment of barrier reefs and mangrove swamps along the entire West African coast at least and likely everywhere else as well. This provides a wall of full humidity that then fee... more »
Advanced Geometry no secret to prehistoric architects in US Southwest
[image: IMAGE] It all begins with common measures and common shapes. the good news is that the foot shows up again. as that goes back to the Bronze Age is is a strong indication of linkage as we have long shown anyway. Thus this structure was designed and built be European architects? How about the rest of north america? And South America. . All good. *ASU scientist finds advanced geometry no secret to prehistoric architects in US Southwest * *Arizona State University* *IMAGE: This is a satellite photo of Pueblo Bonito archaeological site with illustrations demonstrating ... more »
Sea Level Rise At Norfolk, Va
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood ? http://www.voanews.com/a/president-trump-military-split-on-climate-change/3702979.html? ? From Voice of America News: ? NORFOLK, VA — A nondescript metal box at the end of an unremarkable pier in Norfolk, Va. is one key to why the U.S. Navy is concerned about climate change. For nine decades,…
Conflating the climate problem with the solution
Originally posted on Climate Etc.: “one of the real tragedies that totally distorted the debate over climate change was that it got tied into the solution in a way that if you accepted the first you had to accept the second. And I think that was profoundly wrong.” – Newt Gingrich At the annual meeting…
Toxic (or is that TAXic) Greens hate National Sovereignty and Cheap Energy.
The Greens say they like "renewable energy". Except the Greens do not like the renewable energy that comes from Hydro Tidal Energy. The Greens do not support proposals to use the vast tidal ranges off Western Australia’s Kimberley coast for tidal power. The Greens do not support new dams and so they are against renewable energy from dams' creation of Hydro Electric power. *Hydroelectric power* is produced as water passes through a *dam*, and into a river below. The more water that passes through a *dam*, the more energy is produced. Once a *dam* is built, an artificial man-made l... more »
TrumpWatch: Week 2 – Trump ignores the law, the constitution, and reality
In our regular TrumpWatch section, we look back at another week of Donald Trump’s America. Here’s how his second week went. 28 January – The ‘Muslim ban’ Trump enacted the executive order which became known as the ‘Muslim ban’ on Friday 27 January. The following day, travellers were experiencing the full effects. The Trump Administration […] The post TrumpWatch: Week 2 – Trump ignores the law, the constitution, and reality appeared first on The Canary.
This week saw huge crowds saying ‘hell no’ to corrupt government [VIDEO]
Things have been getting tense in Romania. And hundreds of thousands of people have just protested against a bill that would turn back years of anti-corruption efforts. On 1 February, protesters took to the streets in cities across Romania against the government’s plans to decriminalise corruption. And riot police clashed with a number of them after being […] The post This week saw huge crowds saying ‘hell no’ to corrupt government [VIDEO] appeared first on The Canary.
Bleeding Germany dry?
'Migrants and asylum seekers cost Germany's federal government €21.7 billion (£18.2 billion) in 2016, according to a Finance Ministry report published last week. The latest data is thought to reveal only around half of the true cost to German taxpayers. State and municipal governments expect to fork out around €21 billion ( (£18.1 billion) a year, rising to €30 billion (£25.9 billion) by 2020, on migrants' cost of living.' More here http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/03/99-refugees-stay-germany-permanently/ but obviously not on the pro unlimited immigration BBC.
Germany: 'Almost All Asylum Seekers Allowed to Stay Permanently' - No Shit Sherlock
'... the majority of migrants granted asylum end up as permanent residents of Germany, despite Chancellor Angela Merkel'sinsistence last January that most migrants granted asylum would only be able to stay for a limited period of time.' No Shit Sherlock... More here http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/03/99-refugees-stay-germany-permanently/ but obviously not on the pro unlimited immigration BBC.
Tweet For Today
⚡️ “Kung Fu women, West of Kabul ” by @ReutersWorld https://t.co/HAhq8ofLb6 pic.twitter.com/NQpUPqMI7x — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 3, 2017 *WNU Editor*: King Fu women of West Kabul?
World Leaders Are Unsettled By President Trump's 'Bluntness'
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order cutting regulations, accompanied by small business leaders at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington U.S., January 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria *Wall Street Journal*: *Trump’s Bluntness Unsettles World Leaders* *Exchanges with Australia, Mexico show allies and foes that new president ‘doesn’t feel confined by what he inherited’* WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s blunt, win-the-deal approach to diplomacy has U.S. adversaries and some allies struggling to assess its impact for their countries and puzzling over how to... more »
Picture Of The Day
Romanian riot police fire tear gas to disperse people taking part in a protest against controversial decrees to pardon corrupt politicians and decriminalize other offenses in front of the government headquarters in Bucharest on February 1, 2017. At least 200,000 people hit the streets across Romania for anti-government protests, the largest since communism fell in 1989, media reports said. © AFP 2016/ DANIEL MIHALESCU
Al Qaeda Vows To Wage War Against The U.S. After The Yemen Raid
Photo: Qaeda Militants in Yemen (Photo: AFP) *Washington Post:* *Al-Qaeda says Trump has ignited ‘the flame of jihad’ with Yemen raid* IRBIL, Iraq — President Trump is “foolish” and has ignited the “flame of jihad” with a raid in Yemen in which civilians were killed, al-Qaeda said Friday in its first official comments on the new U.S. administration. That the raid came only days after Trump’s vow to eradicate Islamist terrorism in his inauguration speech makes it “clear for us that the threat was not directed to the Islamic militants only, but to all the Muslims, men, women and ... more »
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