11:31 pm MDT
Russia Protests The Searches Of Its Diplomatic Properties By FBI Agents
*RT*:* Searches begin at shut Russian diplomatic properties in US (VIDEO) * The FBI has started searches at the Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, Russia's Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova said on Facebook, promising that diplomats would be posting photo and video evidence of what she called a “travesty of justice.” The first such posts, from the shut San Francisco consulate, have appeared on the Russian foreign ministry's official Facebook page. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor*: From what I am reading and hearing .... this U.S. action has taken a lot of people b... more »
BREAKING NEWS: North Korea Has Conducted A Nuclear Test
#BREAKING USGS records 6.3-magnitude "explosion" 24 kilometres (15 miles) east northeast of Sungjibaegam in North Korea — AFP news agency (@AFP) September 3, 2017 Tremor detected in North Korea https://t.co/b9LB30zxPv — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 3, 2017 North Korea may have conducted sixth nuclear test: Yonhap https://t.co/kQecX4Oxkh pic.twitter.com/DHB2hSCDJK — Reuters Top News (@Reuters) September 3, 2017 North Korea Tremor Suggests Nation Has Conducted 6th Nuclear Test https://t.co/WDIoHUjPh2 — The New York Times (@nytimes) September 3, 2017 *WNU Editor:* AFP i... more »
China Gets Ready For The Communist Party Congress That Is To Start On Oct. 18
AFP Photo/GOH CHAI HIN *Reuters:* *Xi's power on parade as China party congress looms* BEIJING (Reuters) - The recent scene at a dusty Inner Mongolia military base provided evidence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's consolidation of political power, even as he faces pushback from some quarters in his ruling Communist Party ahead of a critical gathering next month. Dressed in army fatigues, Xi reviewed a military parade on July 30 marking the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Breaking with precedent at such events, Xi – who is head of the party and th... more »
Antifa Madness
There's something wrong with this Politico story by Josh Meyer that is getting huge play in the rightwing outlets with the claim that the so-called antifa is now regarded as practitioners of "domestic terrorist violence": Federal authorities have been warning state and local officials since early 2016 that leftist extremists known as “antifa” had become increasingly confrontational and dangerous, so much so that the Department of Homeland Security formally classified their activities as “domestic terrorist violence,” according to interviews and confidential law enforcement docum... more »
Time For Paper Ballots-- So The Kremlin Can’t Steal The Next Election The Way They Stole 2016 From Trump. (Oh, You Didn’t Hear?)
Naive people-- *really* naive people-- have believed an American establishment desperate to pretend that the Kremlin didn’t steal the election for Trump. I’ve always thought they were fools and that Putin certainly stole the election for Trump, while Obama sat by with his dick in his hand. And then participated in a massive coverup to make Americans think their voting system was just fine and that all Putin did was hack the criminally-minded Debbie Wassermann Schultz-- she desreved it and worse, right?-- and release some silly e-mails and get some Albanian and Macedonian kids to ... more »
ExxonMobil Beaumont Flooding; Flaring; Offsite Oil Spill
miningawareness at ExxonMobil Beaumont Flooding; Flaring; Offsite Oil Spill – Mining Awareness + - 2 hours ago
Regular Google Streetview ExxonMobil Beaumont flaring on Sept. 1, 2017 https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/harvey/index.html ExxonMobil Beaumont clearly flaring and what looks like flooding – we didn’t get the date and the program was crashing – probably Sept. 2, 2017. ExxonMobil Beaumont with flaring visible still and apparent flooding. ExxonMobil flaring on Sept. 2, 2017 and what appears flooding … Continue reading ExxonMobil Beaumont Flooding; Flaring; Offsite Oil Spill
China Will Keep The Peace On The Korean Peninsula Whether Anyone Likes It Or Not
North Korean soldiers stand guard behind the national flags of China, front, and North Korea on a boat anchored along the banks of the Yalu River, near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, on June 10, 2013. Photo: Reuters/Jacky Chen *Adam Mount, The Atlantic:* *How China Sees North Korea* *“China is prepared to keep the peace on the Korean peninsula—whether the White House likes it or not.”* As President Donald Trump trades threats with North Korea, China is staying idle. Through assertive military exercises and statements, Beijing has wa... more »
Syrian Army unleashes vicious assault in east Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:10 A.M.) – For the third night in a row, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a powerful missile assault in the eastern suburbs of Damascus, targeting the positions of Faylaq Al-Rahman and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham. Using surface-to-surface missiles, the Syrian Arab Army’s 42nd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division launched a vicious […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Number of civilians killed in anti-Daesh strikes increases to 685
According to Operation Inherent Resolve, US-led coalition fighting the Daesh terror group identified 61 new unintentional civilian casualties in strikes conducted against the terrorists. The US-led coalition fighting the Daesh terror group (banned in Russia) identified 61 new unintentional civilian casualties in strikes conducted against the terrorists that has brought the total number of civilians […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army seizes new areas along the Jordanian border
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), seized new points along the Jordanian border, Saturday, inching their way closer to the strategic Tanf Base in southeast Homs. Led by elements of the 5th Legion, the Syrian Arab Army and their allies attacked garrisons 169 and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Houthi missile strike kills scores of Sudanese, Saudi soldiers
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:00 P.M.) – The Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile towards Saudi Arabia’s Jizan Region, Saturday, inflicting heavy losses on the Sudanese and Saudi armed forces. According to Houthi media, their forces launched a Qahir-2 ballistic missile at a Sudanese Army garrison in the Jizan region, scoring a direct hit on their positions. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Chronicling the Syrian-Lebanese Border’s Liberation From Daesh: video
On August 30, Lebanese President Mishel Aoun announced the successful conclusion of Operation Jroud Dawn, during which the Lebanese army “proved its might and professionalism.” During the course of this operation, Lebanese armed forces managed to evict Daesh from Raas Baalbak and al-Qaa, mountainous regions located on the border with Syria. Perhaps no country aside from Syria and Iraq has been greater affected […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Kadyrov says to ask Russian Defense Ministry to save children in Syria, Iraq
Russia’s Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he would lodge a request to the country’s Defense Ministry to provide safe corridors in Syria and Iraq to let women and children leave battle zones. “I intend to address the Russian Ministry of Defense and the authorities of Syria and Iraq with a request to provide safe corridors for women and children, who […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
These Are The Planes That The U.S. Would Use To Launch A MIlitary Strike Against North Korea
US Air Force B-1s, US Marine F-35Bs, and Japanese F-15Js in formation together. Japan Air Self-Defense Force *Dave Mujumdar, National Interest*:* The U.S. Military Just Showed North Korea the Planes That Would Strike It in a War* In response to North Korea’s recent intermediate range ballistic missile test that overflew Japan on August 28, Washington, Tokyo and Seoul have embarked on a show of force to deter Pyongyang. As part of that show of force, the U.S. Marine Corps flew four of its stealthy new Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters alongside a pair of U.S. Air Force Ro... more »
Watch out, China: The F-35 Is Coming to an Air Base near You
*Task and Purpose, Sarah Sicard* *Security, Asia* Next stop, the Pacific. Two Air Force squadrons are about to get the armed forces’ first fully combat operational F-35A multirole fighter outfitted with the latest iteration of a long-awaited software suite after a year of testing and training missions, Aviation Week reports, finally allowing pilots to utilize the joint strike fighter complete arsenal of capabilities and weaponry. In September, the F-35As will travel to both the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the Air Force’s training center at Luke Air ... more »
Here Is How to Punish China for North Korea's Latest Missile Test
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* This could work. North Korea’s reckless missile test over Japan this week once again highlighted the growing danger Pyongyang poses to the United States and its allies in the region. Yet, as the* National Interest*’s Harry Kazianis and I argued back in July, “Pyongyang’s missiles should not distract us from the fact that the greatest long-term challenge to America in Asia comes from China’s determination to dominate that vital part of the globe.” Furthermore, we pointed out, the United States can use the North Korean threat to deploy military cap... more »
Trump Must Manage the Downside Risk to Afghanistan
*Walter Lohman* *Security, Middle East* [image: U.S soldier patrols near town of Walli Was in Paktika province near border with Pakistan] The United States and India should work together to reinstate the quadrilateral security dialogue. In the process of making his case for America’s commitment to Afghanistan, President Donald Trump called for a strategic partnership with India. He is absolutely right about that, but as he allowed in the speech, the need is bigger than a common vision for Afghanistan. It is just as important to integrate India into a strategy capable of addressin... more »
Will Donald Trump Push Pakistan over the Edge?
*Arif Rafiq* *Security, Middle East* [image: Paramilitary troops take part in combat drills during a ceremony in connection with '53rd Frontier Corps Week' in Peshawar, Pakistan] Islamabad feels like a scapegoat. Pakistan and the United States appear to be heading toward a more contentious phase of diplomatic arm wrestling in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement of the new Afghanistan strategy. Two separate visits to Islamabad by mid-level U.S. officials were postponed at the request of the Pakistani government. Alice Wells, the acting assistant secretary of stat... more »
Musical Interlude: Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”
Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIuCwnnDq8k
Post #42,000: "A Look to the Heavens"
"Is this what will become of our Sun? Quite possibly. The bubble of expanding gas pictured below is the planetary nebula PK 164 +31.1, the remnants of the atmosphere of a Sun-like star expelled as its supply of fusion-able core hydrogen became depleted. Visible near the center of the nebula is what remains of the core itself- a blue-hot white dwarf star. This particularly photogenic planetary nebula shows intricate shells of gas likely expelled at different times toward the end the star's demise, and whose structure is not fully understood. *Click image for larger size.* This deep i... more »
"The Desert"
*"The Desert"* by Yasser Hareb "The sandstorm was so severe that his footprint was erased before he could lift his other foot. The sun had disappeared, and the place was engulfed in a maze of eternal dust. The only thing that gave him a little peace in his heart was the halter of his camel, which he held on to tightly, as if it was his lifeline. Despite the sound of the wind howling like a pack of wolves, the breathing of his camel gave him some comfort. He thought of making his camel sit down so he could take cover behind her body, as the Bedouins do during storms, but he remember... more »
Chet Raymo, “Going the Distance”
*“Going the Distance”* by Chet Raymo “Here is a stunning Hubble Space Telescope photo from APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day). Two galaxies, collectively known as Arp 273, encountering each other so closely that gravity is distorting their spirals. Two galaxies engaged in a cosmic dance. *Click image for larger size.* Let me say a bit more about what we are looking at than APOD provided. Two galaxies, one neatly wrapped, one with out-flung arms. The one at the top is about the size of our own Milky Way galaxy, although more lop-sided due to the gravitational pull of its partner. Per... more »
Will This Be How Japan Responds To A North Korean Missile Attack?
Sailors stand on the deck of the Izumo warship as it departs from the harbor of the Japan United Marine shipyard in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. March 25, 2015. REUTERS/Thomas Peter *Kyle Mizokami, National Interest:* *This Is How Japan Might Respond to a North Korean Missile Attack* This week’s overflight of Japan by a North Korean missile was a major escalation of Pyongyang’s missile strategy. Although not unprecedented, the overflight of the northern island of Hokkaido was a clear sign that North Korea did not expect Tokyo to actually do anything in response. If Japan wanted to mo... more »
Señor Trumpanzee Goes To Houston Selling New Hats
*-by Noah* When Señor Trumpanzee dropped in on Texas earlier this week, it was nothing more than a contrived photo-op, cooked up by his handlers back in his Washington KKK headquarters. OK. I just lied. It wasn't "nothing more." I admit it. Unlike the president, I will freely admit when I lie! I should also have said that it was about Trump selling his new line of hats. There they were, the president and the first "lady," wearing, respectively a USA-45 hat (First a white one, and then, after a quick costume change, a red one. Gotta show both of them, eh?), and then, Queen Melanoma... more »
Book Review: Politics Without Stories
David Ricci's *Politics Without Stories* was released in the midst of an election campaign which upended many assumptions about U.S. politics. But it nonetheless offers a plausible explanation for much of the U.S.' political environment as it's continued to evolve - while leaving open what strike me as interesting questions as to whether what he observes is merely a U.S. phenomenon, or whether it applies more broadly. As his basis for comparison, Ricci notes that U.S. conservatives have generally united around a few "alpha stories" of traditional values, free enterprise and small g... more »
Transgenders in the Military
[image: transgenders-in-the-military] President Trump has told the Pentagon to reject “transgender” applicants, stop paying for sex-change surgery, and develop plans for handling — and likely discharging — the “transgenders” already in uniform. As expected, the ACLU and the Human Rights Campaign filed lawsuits to block what Trump has directed.
Black and Brown Students Refuse to Co-Exist
[image: black-and-brown-students-refuse-to-co-exist] African-American and Latino students at the University of Florida are refusing to share a proposed new state of the art facility because doing so would “erase and marginalize their black and brown bodies and their cultures.”
Back to School in the Age of Trump
[image: back-to-school-in-the-age-of-trump] It’s late August, 2017 A.T. (After Trump), and the first new school year since the 2016 presidential election has commenced. Get ready for the most divisive, unhinged, and politicized classrooms in the long, sad history of American government schools.
“Everything that Neo-Pagans said about Christianity was A lie”
An interview by the former satanist and neo-pagan Ivan Liskov to the Russian Orthodox Father George (Maximov) on the Spas TV channel. The post “Everything that Neo-Pagans said about Christianity was A lie” appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey Donald Trump once gain visits Texas. Because apparently they have not suffered enough.
Trump says victims of Harvey are "really happy" & calls the storm "a wonderful thing for even the country to watch" pic.twitter.com/mG6Hs3hhF5 — HawaiiDelilah (@HawaiiDelilah) September 2, 2017 Courtesy of WaPo: *President Trump swooped into this flood-ravaged city Saturday to meet with survivors of Hurricane Harvey in his second visit to Southeast Texas since the storm came ashore eight days ago. * *After focusing exclusively on the government response to Harvey and staying out of the disaster zone during his first trip to the region Tuesday, Trump planned to highlight storm vi... more »
North Korea Claims That It Has Developed A Hydrogen Bomb That Can Be Fitted Onto An ICBM
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides guidance on a nuclear weapons program in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang September 3, 2017. © KCNA / Reuters *Reuters*: *North Korea says it has developed more-advanced hydrogen bomb: KCNA* SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said on Sunday it has developed a more advanced nuclear weapon that has “great destructive power” and leader Kim Jong Un inspected a hydrogen bomb that will be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The report by North Korea’s official KCNA news... more »
BBC Peddle Fake Claims About India Monsoon
By Paul Homewood h/t Malcolm Bell http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0938tj7/victoria-derbyshire-01092017 Just when you thought the BBC could not get any worse. Standing in for Victoria Derbyshire on her current affairs programme yesterday morning, Matthew Price ran a report on the heavy floods this summer in Nepal and Bangladesh. After telling us this had […]
New Artwork - "Sunrise on Howe Sound"
*Sunrise On Howe Sound* *(off "Screaming Mommy Point")* Hi folks. Now, for a complete change of pace from the geopolitical events of the past while, I am posting my latest artwork. It's a rather large (for me) acrylic-on-canvass painting depicting the three sailboats our family has owned over the years since we were in our 20's. The video also takes readers and viewers on a brief tour of my art studio, located in a converted bedroom in our home. As I say in the video, I was disappointed and frustrated by my artistic efforts as a young person, although my father kept pressuring m... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Eagle Creek, Oregon, USA. Thanks for stopping by!
"Find Meaning..."
"Find meaning. Distinguish melancholy from sadness. Go out for a walk. It doesn't have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world. It doesn't have to be a walk during which you'll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter. Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don't find meaning but 'steal' some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and s... more »
Is President Trump's Chief Of Staff John Kelly On The Way Out?
John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, has regimented the flow of paper, people and information inundating an omnivorous and undisciplined President Trump. Credit Al Drago for The New York Times *New York Times*: *Forceful Chief of Staff Grates on Trump, and the Feeling Is Mutual* WASHINGTON — President Trump was in an especially ornery mood after staff members gently suggested he refrain from injecting politics into day-to-day issues of governing after last month’s raucous rally in Arizona, and he responded by lashing out at the most senior aide in his presence. It happen... more »
What Harvey Wrought
[image: what-harvey-wrought] Though the country has appeared united since the storm hit, it is not likely to remain so. Soon, the cameras and correspondents will go home, while the shelters remain full, as tens of thousands of people in those shelters have only destroyed homes to return to.
Obama Most Expensive Ex-President Ever
[image: obama-most-expensive-ex-president-ever] In keeping with his record of prolific spending as America's 44th Chief Executive, Barack Obama has now taken his place as the most expensive former U.S. President.
Patient of the Week: American White Pelican
Pelicans and stray fishing tackle sure don’t mix. This American White Pelican came into our care with nasty fishing line entanglement injuries. The bird was transferred to us from our friends at WildCare in July with a huge abscess on one wing (plus maggots, ewww, now thankfully gone) and some serious damage to a leg […]
Iraqi paramilitary force thanks Hezbollah for fighting with them
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:15 P.M.) – The Iraqi paramilitary, Harakat Al-Nujaba, issued a statement on Saturday that thanked the Lebanese Hezbollah movement for their contribution to fighting terrorism. “The Lebanese Hezbollah advisers and commanders were beside the Popular Mobilization Forces [PMF or Hashd Shaabi] from the starting operation against Daesh…” the movement’s secretary general, Akram Kaabi said, as quoted […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIS claims 7 Russian soldiers killed in eastern Hama
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:45 P.M.) – The so-called Islamic State (ISIL) terror organization alleged on Saturday that their forces had killed seven Russian soldiers during clashes in the eastern countryside of Hama. The terrorist group released photos of the soldiers they claimed were killed in Hama; however, the personnel are unidentified. According to some observers, the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Russian jets propel the Syrian Army in central Syria: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – The Russian Air Force has played an integral role in the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) large-scale advance in the central region of Syria, providing infantrymen on the ground necessary air cover on a daily basis. Russian jets and choppers paved the way for the Syrian Arab Army to advance into […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
ISIL throws everything they have to keep control of last stronghold
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:15 P.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIL) is not ready to give-up their last stronghold in central Syria, as they have spent the last 12 hours trying to fight off the swarming forces of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Using women and children to carry out their suicide attacks, the Islamic State struck […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Israel warns UN forces in Lebanon of alleged Hezbollah agent in Lebanese Army
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have shared intelligence with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) claiming that Hezbollah planted an agent in the Lebanese armed forces and demanded his removal, local media reported Friday. According to the Ynetnews media outlet, Israel claims that Maj. Yahya Husseini, who serves in the Lebanese armed forces, is a Hezbollah […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
The Growing Geopolitical Importance Of Djibouti
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *News.Com:* *Tiny African country becomes playground for world super powers* A TINY, barren African country has become a playground for world powers who are paying big bucks to use the nation as a key military base. Djibouti, which is about the size of Wales, is sandwiched between Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea. It sits on the Horn of Africa, close to the narrowest point of the Red Sea on the route to Suez Canal — a busy, international shipping corridor where those travelling from Europe must pass. The small nation gained independence from France in 197... more »
Reports Of Ethnic Cleansing Taking Place In Rankine State, Myanmar
*The Guardian*: *Thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar amid tales of ethnic cleansing* *Huge influx of refugees expected to arrive in Bangladesh in coming days, with accusations of genocide in Rakhine state* Gunfire and explosions crackle in the hills. Plumes of smoke from burning villages streak the monsoon-grey sky. Refugees fleeing for their lives are pouring into Bangladesh over the Myanmar border as the conflict between Myanmar security forces and Rohingya militias escalates and risks spiralling into a humanitarian disaster. *Read more* .... *More News On Reports Of Ethnic C... more »
Budget Director proudly reveals how easy it is to manipulate Donald Trump.
What can I say, he's a dumbass.Courtesy of Politico: *Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s budget director, walked into the Oval Office in early May on a longshot mission. The slash-government conservative wanted to persuade the president to break one of his most popular campaign promises. * *During his populist run for the White House, Trump had vowed to leave Social Security and Medicare alone. But Trump had also vowed to rein in America’s national debt, which Mulvaney didn’t think was possible without reining in the two biggest chunks of the federal budget. So Mick the Knif... more »
That would be an ecumenical matter
The second post ever published on this blog might seem somewhat recherché to some of you now but the outcry it provoked among conservative Catholics evidently hit a raw nerve with the BBC. Our findings proved that Radio 4's *Sunday *programme, presented by a trustee of the liberal Catholic magazine *The Tablet *(Edward Stourton)*, *overwhelmingly used Catholic voices associated with *The Tablet *to discuss Catholic matters. It was a palpable hit. Things changed on *Sunday *for a few years after that. We heard far less from *Tablet *voices and, in the immediate wake of the outcry,... more »
Did Australian Special Forces In Afghanistan Commit War Crimes?
Members of Australia's special forces. © Mick Tsikas / Reuters *Reuters:* *Australian military probes 'rumors' of possible war crimes in Afghanistan* MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia’s military watchdog has issued a public plea for information regarding rumors of possible war crimes committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported in July on an alleged cover-up of the killing of an Afghan boy as well as hundreds of pages of leaked defense force documents relating to the secretive operations of the country’s special forces. On Friday, ... more »
Massive Evacuation Underway In Frankfurt To Defuse A 2,000 lb Bomb From The Second World War
*ABC News Online*: *Two major German cities evacuate more than 60,000 people to defuse WWII bombs* Residents in two German cities are evacuating their homes as authorities prepare to dispose of World War II-era bombs found during construction work this week. About 21,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes and workplaces in the western city of Koblenz as a precaution before specialists attempt to defuse the 500-kilogram bomb on Saturday afternoon (local time). Among those moved to safety are prison inmates and hospital patients. *Read more *.... *WNU Editor*: My family... more »
Theresa May's Delusions
When someone's struggling and trying really hard, it's the done thing to encourage them. To cheer them on. Please excuse me for setting aside propriety and have a good old laugh at the weak efforts of Theresa May. Living up to her submariner nickname, the Maybot (the Mayboat?) resurfaced from an August away from the public eye to hobnob with the great and the good of Japan. You'll remember them, the nation on the other side of the world who did more contingency planning for Brexit than our very own government. It was her comments at one press conference with her ... more »
"How It Really Is"
If only...
"Fukushima Update: 15,189.7 Hiroshima Bombs Today, More Tomorrow"; A Comment
*A Comment: *I very nearly didn't post this today, though it gets posted every Saturday. The situation in Houston is so horrifying, and the consequences so unimaginably bad, that adding Fukushima to the mix seemed a doom and gloom overdose. Truth be told, I've never liked the always dire economic predictions, however true I knew them to be, after very long and serious study. The real question was should *you *have the right to know the truth, as I best understood it to be, or not? The answer was always the same, you *do* have that right, and *can* handle the truth if given the chanc... more »
"I Believe..."; "A World Of Lies..."
“I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.” - Henry Louis Mencken ○ "I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies. One of the hardest things to accept is that the reality of our world is buried under so many layers of official deception and well-cultivated public ignorance about our history and our political and economic system. Even if you break through somehow, m... more »
The Anomalist, Mysterious Universe and The UFO Dossier
I am not as good at promoting my books as I could be. Oh, I mention them when the opportunity presents itself, and *Roswell in the 21st Century* gets a plug on every radio show but, for the most part, I’m not out there banging the drum at every opportunity. However, sometimes, I find an opportunity to not only promote one of my books, but also turn the spotlight on a colleague. This time it’s Nick Redfern who just posted, to his website, *Mysterious Universe*, a very nice review of *The UFO Dossier*. If you’d like to read what Nick had to say, you can read it here: http://mysteriou... more »
Voters Behave Differently During Wave Elections-- As We're About To See Next Year
*Progressive Democrat Marie Newman is running against Blue Dog Dan Lipinski* One of the hardest tasks in politics is primarying an entrenched incumbent. Some of Blue America's grandest days was helping reformers oust corrupt conservative Democrats Tom Holden (PA), Al Wynn (MD) and Sylvestre Reyes (TX), launching congressional careers for, respectively, Matt Cartwright, Donna Edwards and Beto O'Rourke. This cycle our Primary A Blue Dog ActBlue page already has 4 candidates-- Tim Canova, who is running for Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Florida seat, Hector Morales, who is primarying Gene ... more »
How Emperors Decide
François Flameng (1856-1923), After Waterloo, via Wikimedia Commons.So it's like that story, which I assume is false, about Napoleon's hemorrhoids being responsible for the French loss at Waterloo—Trump decided to fire James Comey as FBI director because of the bad weather in New Jersey on the weekend of May 6. It was keeping him indoors at the Bedminster club, with no breaks from the Fox News broadcast other than occasional furtive switching to CNN, where one of the big stories was presumably Comey's testimony to the Senate of the previous Wednesday in which the director said he w... more »
Is The Marijuana Study To Help Veterans with PTSD Being Sabotaged by the VA?
By Aaron Kesel An Arizona study on medical marijuana and its benefits for veterans to combat PTSD is in danger of collapsing because researchers can’t find... more »
August Jobs Report Shows Economy Humming Along Nicely
[image: august-jobs-report-shows-economy-humming-along-nicely] The growth in jobs was in all the right places, with manufacturing jobs hitting a six-year high and government employment continuing to shrink.
"Alan Irwin deadline day dildo"
https://youtu.be/YgxFD9He3rA 2014 Transfer Deadline Day was a little special for Alan Irwin.
Mohawk Nation News 'Water everywhere and not a drop to drink'
http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2017/09/01/water-everywhere-not-a-drop-to-drink/
New White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, has identified "patient zero" in who triggers Trump the most, Omarosa.
Courtesy of the Daily Beast: *Newly minted White House chief of staff John Kelly has sought to put a dent in the influence of one of President Donald Trump’s most famous advisers: Omarosa Manigault. * *The former Apprentice co-star—who currently serves as the communications director for the Office of Public Liaison—has seen her direct access to the president limited since Kelly took the top White House job in late July, sources tell The Daily Beast. In particular, Kelly has taken steps to prevent her and other senior staffers from getting unvetted news articles on the president’s ... more »
X - Zone Broadcast Network - Greg Bishop
Greg Bishop This week I spoke with Greg Bishop of Radio Misterioso fame. I had thought we’d talk about some of the UFO cases that he found interesting if they weren’t more than ten years old. But he mentioned an interest in trends and patterns and we then ended up talking about some of the trouble with abduction research. You can listen to the show here: https://youtu.be/4Xyxz_ZMJSA When we finished our discussion of abduction research, which was more of an analysis of the research techniques and how out-of-date they had become, we switched topics. We both seemed to believe that MU... more »
This Day In Iraqi History – Sep 2
1980 Iraq-Iran border clash at Qasr-e-Shirin, Iran Precursor to Iran-Iraq War 1991 UN Resolution 712 said that money should be released for buying food and supplies for Iraqi civilians 1996 US began 2 days of cruise missile attacks on Iraq in retaliation for Iraqi forces helping KDP vs PUK and invading Irbil 1996 U.S. extended southern no fly zone farther north 1996 Iraqi army withdrew from most of Kurdistan after helping KDP against PUK 2002 Bush told Blair Iraq had WMD and unclear how quickly it could get nukes 2003 Zarqawi car bomb hit Baghdad police HQ kil... more »
US Admits Killing Civilians in Iraq, Syria; Far Understates Toll
[image: undefined] The end of another month in the US war against ISIS means another official accounting of civilian deaths from the Pentagon, and as usual the official figure is dramatically smaller than the figures documented by NGOs. For the month of July, the Pentagon found only 13 “credible” incidents across both Iraq and Syria, and a total of 61 civilians killed in US airstrikes. This is one of the highest figures admitted for a single month by US officials, despite being an obvious underestimation. Airwars, a UK-based NGO that offers more comprehensive documentation, noted s... more »
US Admits Killing Civilians in Iraq, Syria; Far Understates Toll
[image: undefined] The end of another month in the US war against ISIS means another official accounting of civilian deaths from the Pentagon, and as usual the official figure is dramatically smaller than the figures documented by NGOs. For the month of July, the Pentagon found only 13 “credible” incidents across both Iraq and Syria, and a total of 61 civilians killed in US airstrikes. This is one of the highest figures admitted for a single month by US officials, despite being an obvious underestimation. Airwars, a UK-based NGO that offers more comprehensive documentation, noted s... more »
US Admits Killing Civilians in Iraq, Syria; Far Understates Toll
[image: undefined] The end of another month in the US war against ISIS means another official accounting of civilian deaths from the Pentagon, and as usual the official figure is dramatically smaller than the figures documented by NGOs. For the month of July, the Pentagon found only 13 “credible” incidents across both Iraq and Syria, and a total of 61 civilians killed in US airstrikes. This is one of the highest figures admitted for a single month by US officials, despite being an obvious underestimation. Airwars, a UK-based NGO that offers more comprehensive documentation, noted s... more »
US Admits Killing Civilians in Iraq, Syria; Far Understates Toll
[image: undefined] The end of another month in the US war against ISIS means another official accounting of civilian deaths from the Pentagon, and as usual the official figure is dramatically smaller than the figures documented by NGOs. For the month of July, the Pentagon found only 13 “credible” incidents across both Iraq and Syria, and a total of 61 civilians killed in US airstrikes. This is one of the highest figures admitted for a single month by US officials, despite being an obvious underestimation. Airwars, a UK-based NGO that offers more comprehensive documentation, noted s... more »
Always Planning Never Winning: While US Wins Some Battles, Insurgents Win the Wars
[image: undefined] General John F Campbell, commander of all foreign forces in Afghanistan 2014-2016, said in a speech in Kabul on December 28, 2014 that "The insurgents are losing, they’re desperate." But they weren’t and they aren’t. On August 21 President Trump outlined his plan for continuation of the 16-year US-NATO war in Afghanistan, in which there is supposedly a new strategy. Strangely, his speech included the announcement that "Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win," which tends to beg the question — don’t armies always fight to win? If not, we might wonder wh... more »
Time To Listen to Our Korean Allies
[image: undefined] Old Chinese saying: "when elephants battle, ants get crushed." Think of the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula in which the government in Seoul has been all but ignored. South Korea’s newly elected president, Moon Jae-in, keeps insisting that the US must not launch war against North Korea without South Korea’s agreement. President Donald Trump and the US media appear not to have heard Moon’s pleas, or are simply disregarding them. Amazingly, six decades after the end of the 1950 Korean War, South Korea’s 650,000-man active armed forces and 4.2 million-man re... more »
The Poet: TS Eliot, “The Hollow Men”
*“The Hollow Men”* “We are the hollow men. We are the stuffed men Leaning together, Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass, Or rats' feet over broken glass In our dry cellar. Shape without form, shade without color, Paralyzed force, gesture without motion; Those who have crossed With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom Remember us - if at all - not as lost Violent souls, but only As the hollow men, The stuffed men. II Eyes I dare not meet in dreams In death's dream kingdom... These do not appear: T... more »
Politics: Break away from the usual "axis"!
Many of you know that I've long railed against the hoary-lobotomizing so-called "Left-Right Political Axis." Oh, sure, it's one thing to use it as a very rough marker. But anyone who assigns it actual, intellectual meaning is pretty much discredited from the git-go. Want an example? This "study" of the political divide in America - supposedly thorough and insightful - only proves you can perpetuate a calamity, by asking the *wrong questions*. Focusing on race, identity politics, immigration and vague economic populism, the perpetrators of this mess never getting to any of the real re... more »
Syrian Army officially liberates ISIL’s last stronghold in central Syria: Russian MoD
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:35 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has officially liberated the strategic town of ‘Uqayribat in the eastern countryside of Hama, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced tonight. What started as a large advance from the Jubb Al-Jarrah District quickly turned into the complete envelopment of ‘Uqayribat by the Syrian Arab Army […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Breaking: Syrian Army makes huge advance towards Deir Ezzor, 25km to lift siege
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:30 P.M.) – Minutes ago, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside their allies from Liwaa Fatemiyoun, scored a major advance in the eastern region of Syria after launching a big attack earlier in the day. Led by the Tiger Forces and 5th Legion, the Syrian Arab Army liberated the large hilltop of Tal […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Watch the Syrian Army strike back against the jihadists in west Aleppo
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) struck back against the jihadist rebels in west Aleppo, Friday, following a powerful attack carried out by the Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham terror group. Using heavy artillery and missiles, the Syrian Arab Army targeted several HTS trenches in the Rashidden area of west Aleppo, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
UN expects Deir Ezzor, Raqqa to be liberated by October
Remaining strongholds of Daesh (a terror group banned in Russia) in Syria, including the cities of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, are likely to be liberated from militants by the end of October, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Friday. Staffan de Mistura explained that Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Idlib are the last places in Syria that “are […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
Syrian Army blows past ISIL’s lines to advance towards Deir Ezzor
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their large-scale offensive in the Deir Ezzor Governorate’s western countryside, striking the Islamic State’s (ISIL) positions along the Sukhnah-Deir Ezzor Highway. Led by the Tiger Forces and 5th Legion, the Syrian Arab Army attacked the Islamic State”s positions east of recently liberated Harabishah. This […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
US soldier lost off Yemeni coast during training operation: Pentagon
The whereabouts of US Army Staff Sgt. Emil Rivera-Lopez, who participated in a training mission off the coast of Yemen on August 25, have been declared unknown, according to the Pentagon. U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters support soldiers during the NATO Noble Jump exercise on a training range near Swietoszow Zagan, Poland. Polish leaders say […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز
The U.S. Army Is Not Ready To Confront Russia's Military
U.S. tanks, trucks and other military equipment, which arrived by ship, are unloaded in the harbour of Bremerhaven, Germany January 8, 2017. REUTERS/Fabian Bimme *Politico:* *U.S. Army unprepared to deal with Russia in Europe* A self-assessment by the 173rd Airborne Brigade is called ‘a real eye-opener’ to how some critical capabilities to deter Russia have eroded. The U.S. Army’s rapid reaction force in Europe is under-equipped, undermanned and inadequately organized to confront military aggression from Russia or its high-tech proxies, according to an internal study that some who... more »
Leadership 2017 Links
The latest from the federal NDP's leadership campaign. - Eric Grenier offers his take on the membership numbers released this week - including Jagmeet Singh's impressive signup totals. And Sarah Boesveld summarizes the state of the campaign and what's at stake. - Kevin Taghabon's detailed interview with Guy Caron is worth a read in full, but particularly for Caron's take on when economic activity should be nationalized. - A few more Quebec MPs have offered their endorsements beyond those I've previously linked to - including Robert Aubin and Karine Trudel supporting Caron, and B... more »
Pathetic performance of tidal power station lauded as "world record"
In a "record month" at the MeyGen tidal power project in the Pentland Firth... I'll just quote them: A tidal power station in the Pentland Firth between mainland Scotland and Orkney has broken the world record for electricity generation.... In an update on the progress of the MeyGen project, by Atlantis Resources, the company said it had generated 700 megawatt-hours of electricity in August, a
Moscow Is Furious with Washington That It's Trade Mission Building In Washington Will Be Searched By U.S,. Officials
*RT: **Moscow hands in note of protest to US over plan to search trade mission in Washington* Russia has summoned the deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in Moscow to lodge a note of protest over US plans to search the Russian trade mission in Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Anthony F. Godfrey was summoned to the ministry on Saturday, it said in a statement, adding that Russian diplomats have been denied access to the trade mission building despite it being owned by Russia and protected by diplomatic immunity. *Read more* .... *WNU editor:* Usually when a di... more »
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
... The Whitby Suite, at the Whitby hotel in New York, can cost £10,000 per night. *The Scottish artist Peter Doig sold his painting White Canoe for £1000. The painting was recently re-sold for well over £5,000,000.* Queen Elizabeth owns 19,000 acres of land. John Malone, the American cable TV mogul, owns 2,200,000 acres of land. Ted Turner owns 2,000,000 acres. The Emmerson Family owns 1,950,000 acres. 2016 Land Report 100 *Teaninich Castle* Teaninich Castle, in Easter Ross in Scotland, was once the home of the American Charles Harrison. It was recently for sale at a price ... more »
"American Dream" - Vladimir Putin Version
*Crosby, Stills Nash and Young* *"American Dream"* I am posting this video of Crosby, Stills and Nash singing* "American Dream"* for the Russians to listen to while they watch the *American goon FBI/CIA types rummaging through the contents of the Russian Consulate in San Francisco.* *"American Dream" - Vladimir Putin Version* Crosby, Stills, Nash* and Young* I used to see you on every T.V Your smiling face looked back at me. I used to see you on every T.V Your smiling face looked back at me. Then they caught you with the country [Syria] you freed, Inspite of money paid to their prox... more »
Leonard Peltier had triple by-pass surgery
Good morning friends and family, Sept. 2 2017 I just talked to Leonard, And unkown to us he was just released from the hospital and this is his messa Good morning friends and family, Sept. 2 2017 I just talked to Leonard, And unkown to us he was just released from the hospital and this is his message to all his supporters and friends.
Thailand's Ousted PM Flees Abroad: The Rest of the Story
*September 3, 2017* (Joseph Thomas- NEO) - Shortly before ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was to face a court ruling for her failed populist rice subsidy scheme, she reportedly fled the country, joining her likewise fugitive brother Thaksin Shinawatra in hiding abroad. Thaksin Shinawatra was himself ousted from power in 2006 for similar charges of corruption and abuse of power. *Image: Ousted prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra (right) is seen shaking hands with US Senator John McCain (centre) flanked by US Senator Joe Lieberman (left). The two US politicians are perma... more »
Musical Interlude: Simon & Garfunkel, "The Sound of Silence" (Original Version, 1964)
Simon & Garfunkel, "The Sound of Silence" (Original Version,1964) "This is the original version from the album "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" in 1964. Just Simon's guitar and the vocals. After "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" flopped, they split up. The famous version was released in 1966 when, without either of their knowledge, electric guitars and drums were added. That version of 'The Sound of Silence' became very popular, reaching #1 on the charts in America on New Years Day, 1966. Because of this, Simon and Garfunkel teamed up again and created three more studio albums, one of which won a ... more »
Iran's Chief Of The Armed Forces: Little Chance Of An 'Enemy Attack'
Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri *Tasnim News Agency:** Iran’s Top General: Any Offensive to Cost Aggressors Dearly* TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces cautioned the foes against the heavy costs they would have to pay in case of any military action against Iran, saying they won’t be the one deciding when and how to end such a war, which would not remain confined to Iran’s borders. “If they (enemies of Iran) begin an invasion, they will not be able to end it, and they can’t even keep the war theater limited to the Islamic Republic’s borders or determi... more »
Helping Texas Dig Out From Harvey-- Do They Deserve The Help?
The bright shiny object is a fake president/TV reality personality acting like a rabid baboon in the middle ring. Off on the sides, though, the Republican Party is systematically destroying the regulations and safeguards Congress and other presidents have put in place to protect America and Americas-- usually to protect them from conservative campaign donors. This week, David Sirota, exposed another classic example, focussing on the bought-off Texas Republicans who helped the French chemical plant that exploded near Houston to attack safety rules. Thanks in part to their efforts,... more »
Who to believe (yet again)?
When I woke up this morning and read the newspaper front pages on the Sky website, I wondered which of them (if any) the BBC would run with. When I tuned into *Today *it became clear that they'd chosen to go with the *Guardian*'s lead story about a grammar school performing a U-turn on ejecting its under-performing A-level students. (The *Guardian* and the BBC never seem very enamoured with grammar schools, so I wasn't surprised by that. Plus it* is *a bizarre story). Andrew Norfolk's latest scoop, the main story in today's *Times, *only got brief mentions in the programme's ne... more »
what i'm reading: the attention merchants by tim wu
Everywhere we look, every available space is filled with advertising. The Toronto skyline is a sea corporate logos. The due-date receipt from my library book features an ad on the back. I once tracked all the ads shown during a major league baseball game -- *during play*, not between innings -- and the results were startling, even to me. And, of course, our entire experience on the internet -- especially on our personal mobile devices -- is tracked and used by corporations with only our dimmest awareness and nominal consent. It wasn't always like this. How did we arrive at this cur... more »
Russian interference in our 2016 election may be more widespread than previously reported.
Courtesy of the New York Times: *The calls started flooding in from hundreds of irate North Carolina voters just after 7 a.m. on Election Day last November. * *Dozens were told they were ineligible to vote and were turned away at the polls, even when they displayed current registration cards. Others were sent from one polling place to another, only to be rejected. Scores of voters were incorrectly told they had cast ballots days earlier. In one precinct, voting halted for two hours. * *Susan Greenhalgh, a troubleshooter at a nonpartisan election monitoring group, was alarmed. Mos... more »
U.S. And South Korea Agree To Revise Their Missile Treaty In View Of Recent North Korean Threats
The intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 is seen during its test in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, July 5 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS *CNN:* *US, South Korea set to revise bilateral missile treaty* (CNN)South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump have agreed "in principle" to revise a bilateral treaty that limits the weight and range of the South's ballistic missiles. The move could give South Korea more independence from the United States to react to the threat from North Korea, analysts say. The t... more »
Would Japan Launch A Preemptive Strike Against North Korea?
*FOX News:* *Wary of North Korea, Japan mulls additional military options* North Korea’s recent test firing of a missile over northern Japan has officials in Tokyo rethinking the country’s long tradition of pacifism. Some Japanese leaders say it's time for a new approach to national defense, one that can include limited pre-emptive strike capabilities and the purchase of additional missiles. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the government considered developing a pre-emptive strike policy earlier this year. But facing no immediate threats, the taboo debate quickly faded amid several do... more »
Trump Quietly Nominates Mass Surveillance Advocate To “Protect” Your Privacy Rights
By Carey Wedler Though outrage over mass surveillance swept the United States after Edward Snowden’s revelations in 2013, there is little discussion of these invasive... more »
See North Korea's Newest Propaganda Video
*NYDaily News: **SEE IT: North Korea releases new propaganda video featuring choreographed music number* *So You Think You Kim Dance?* Replacing fiery rhetoric with spicy moves, North Korea has released a surprisingly nuclear weapon-free propaganda video featuring fatigue-clad men performing elaborate choreography with one another on stage to cheery music. The overtly patriotic prance was uploaded Thursday to the North Korean state news agency DPRK Today's website, Gizmodo reports, and it's a marked shift from previous installments from the regime. *Read more* .... *WNU Editor*... more »
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