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| Mary's dock, Slidell, Louisiana; smashed by Hurricane Katrina storm surge. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Today
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New in blogger-following
Guy arrested for 'Nigerian prince' email scams is definitely not Nigerian royalty
The "Nigerian prince" email scam is one of the most notorious
cybercimes out there, and the people behind it may have hit a bit of a
snag after one of their alleged co-conspirators was arrested in
Louisiana on Thursday. Police arrested a 67-year-old man in Slidell,
Louisiana after an 18-month investigation in connection with Nigerian
prince email scams. The man is suspected of being a middle-man
Boeing unveils stingray-shaped military drone
The
state-of-the-art MQ-25 drone has been designed to provide the US Navy
with refueling capabilities. Drone technology has become so
sophisticated ov...
The pattern: from Jim Crow to Smog, Tobacco, Ozone, Leaded Gas... and now...
First: I am told I should announce: “Just so you know: there are no 3rd
party ads on my site. No guest posts. No one can buy a slot or a
referral. I try always to attribute quotations, especially lengthy
excerpts. And yes, I write this much. Phew.” Meanwhile... alas... there
is so much that's "political" that mass media doesn't cover well. That's
why you come here , right? == Step back and see th
Australian Banks Reportedly Freeze Accounts of Bitcoin Users
Disclosure:
I hold cryptocurrencies. — At some point, the fiat outflows will cause
liquidity problems. That’s my guess as to why they fear cryptos so much.
At the link below, see the comments by user CPL that start out with:
Means they are just about to rob the Australians of their savings and
are cutting […]
Happy New Year for 2018
New Years Eve 2017 … Wishing everyone here the best of health and
happiness for the coming year. Thanks for your help in making this
possible! Cheers to every independent soul who stands on their own two
feet. And cheers to those who can’t tonight, but would like to. Rating:
9.4/10 (59 votes cast) Rating: 9.4/ 10 (59 votes cast)
Poor, unfortunate soul gets his penis stuck in a London subway gate
He paid the price. A London Tube passenger this week snagged his
inner-thigh and penis in the fare gate while trying to jump over the
barriers to avoid paying. The jumper remained stuck and screaming for
several minutes while authorities struggled to dislodge him. SEE ALSO:
Man attempts to slide down tube escalator, instantly regrets life
choices A video of the incident was posted on Facebook Thu
New in news
SOTT FOCUS: Trump Claims US Defeated ISIS, But Terrorists Still Emerging from US Bases in Syria
Last
Thursday, US president Donald Trump posted what appeared to be a
self-congratulatory tweet on the achievements of the US military in the
war against ISIS: These numbers may or may not be accurate, but the
implicit message is that they are the result of the efforts of the
US-led coalition rather than the combined Russian, Iranian/Hezbollah and
Syrian/Iraqi forces. Trump's Pentagon numbers conf
SOTT FOCUS: Social Justice Targets Personal Trainers: Check Your Thin Privilege and Anti-Fat Bias
PJ
Media posted a report on a new academic article written by two
professors at the Oregon State University, and published in the journal
Fat Studies (yes, apparently there's an academic journal thoughtfully
named Fat Studies. Who knew?). The article, written by Vicki Ebbeck, a
professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU, and
Shannon Austin, a graduate teaching assistant at
Ministers consider using volunteers to guard UK borders
Home Office says it is discussing plan to bolster Border Force with
scheme similar to police use of special constables Volunteers could be
deployed to help plug gaps in the UK’s Border Force, which has undergone
drastic cuts under successive Conservative-led governments. The plan,
similar to the use of special constables in the police, is being
considered in Whitehall. Critics, however, say doing
Mike Pence’s vacation neighbors trolled him with ‘Make America Gay Again’ sign
Mike Pence (Credit: Gett/Joe Raedle) Mike Pence is vacationing in Aspen
this week for the holiday, and neighbors reportedly used it as an
opportunity to silently protest. According to a report in the Aspen
Times , Pence’s neighbors posted a rainbow banner saying “Make America
Gay Again” at the end of his driveway. Sheriff Deputy Michael Buglione
told The Aspen Times that Pence’s vacation neighbor
Chief Justice Roberts Promises To Evaluate Sexual Misconduct Policies
In his annual report on the federal judiciary, Supreme Court Chief
Justice John Roberts said recent events have "illuminated the depth of
the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace." (Image credit: J.
Scott Applewhite/AP)
Can you solve it? Do your nut with the squirrel puzzle
Bury yourselves in this rodent riddle, plus a prize challenge Happy New
Year guzzlers! Today’s first problem concerns squirrels. Have a nibble -
it’s not too hard a nut to crack. Continue reading...
New in science
Source code for Apple's 1983 Lisa computer to be made public next year
Before there was an iPhone, iMac or Macintosh, Apple had the Lisa computer.
Full Wolf Moon: New Year's Supermoon Is the Biggest of the Year
New
Year's Day is a time for resolutions and hangovers, but this year, it
also provides a chance to see the moon in all its glory.
Single metalens focuses all colors of the rainbow in one point
Metalenses—flat
surfaces that use nanostructures to focus light—promise to
revolutionize optics by replacing the bulky, curved lenses currently
used in optical devices with a simple, flat surface. But, these
metalenses have remained limited in the spectrum of light they can focus
well. Now a team of researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School
of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has de
18 Exponential Changes We Can Expect in the Year Ahead
Where will the trajectory of the tech world, from cryptocurrencies to Silicon Valley culture, take us in 2018?
China Shuts Down Its Legal Ivory Trade
Two
years after a joint pledge with the United States to ban the domestic
trade in ivory, all of China’s government-licensed carving factories and
ivory retailers are about to close.
Someone Has Reportedly Stolen $300,000 From Comics Legend Stan Lee
Image: Marvel Studios Earlier this week, Stan Lee, creative partner to
Jack Kirby and towering comics legend, celebrated his 95th birthday. But
all was not well, true believers. According to a report by The Blast ,
the Beverly Hills Police Department is conducting an investigation into
an apparently fradulent check cashed from the Marvel icon’s bank account
to the tune of $300,000. The check, whi
New in youtube
TWISTED
In 1996, an urban legend was born when the Can-View Drive-In was hit by
a tornado during a screening of the movie Twister. The story spread
throughout town and the unbelievable event was covered by national
media. But what's most amazing is ... it might not have happened.
"TWISTED" is this week's Staff Pick Premiere! Read more about it here:
vimeo.com/blog/post/staff-pick-premiere-twisted Cast: J
History of Auld Lang Syne | National Geographic
The soundtrack to the ball drop and midnight kisses, "Auld Lang Syne"
is the quintessential New Years song. Learn how this Scottish poem
became a holiday tradition, what the lyrics mean, and how the instantly
recognizable melody has shifted over the years. ➡ Subscribe:
http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: National
Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, expl
The Mess
Directed by Dorothy Allen-Pickard Writer / Performer: Ellice Stevens As
Ellice gets low, her room gets messy - she never sees it coming, but it
always happens. There seems to be no way to break out of the endless
highs or lows that make up bipolar, or even to pick up her clothes up
off the floor. Cast: Homespun and Dorothy Allen-Pickard
Watch Baby Sea Turtles Run on Treadmills—for Science | National Geographic
Baby sea turtles undergo an arduous journey from the moment they hatch,
crawling from their nest to the ocean. Scientists recently tested their
endurance by employing an uncommon tactic .... tiny turtle treadmills. ➡
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science,
exploration, and adventure. Through their worl
The best selfie camera
We tested five new phones to figure out which one takes the best
selfie. We shot all the photos on automatic and only tinkered with
beauty filters, which definitely matters when it comes to selfie tech.
Subscribe: https://goo.gl/G5RXGs Check out our full video catalog:
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The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twit
What is Life?
Cast: No Bad Days Tags: simulation , simulation theory , Elon Musk ,
Simulation Hypothesis , Max Tegmark , Niel Degrasse Tyson , The Sims ,
Evolution of video games , No Bad Days , Emanuel Danneman , Gidge ,
Gidge Eyes Open , Virtual reality and VR
New in The Corbett Report
A Message From Santa
Ho
ho ho! Merry Corbettmas, everyone! James is taking some much-needed
time off, so in the meantime please leave your suggestions for "Best of
the Year" videos to be featured on the home page. Also, stay tuned for
the winner of the Pentagon headline contest and use coupon code
"HAPPYNEWYEAR" at checkout for 25% off any DVD(s) from The Corbett
Report shop.
Episode 325 – The Information-Industrial Complex
[audio
mp3="https://www.corbettreport.com/mp3/episode325-lq.mp3"][/audio] Half a
century ago, outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower coined the term
"military-industrial complex" to describe the fascistic collusion
between the Pentagon and America's burgeoning armaments industry. But in
our day and age we are witnessing the rise of a new collusion, one
between the Pentagon and the tech industry
Interview 1334 – New World Next Week with James Evan Pilato
[audio
mp3="http://www.corbettreport.com/mp3/2017-12-14%20James%20Evan%20Pilato.mp3"][/audio]
This week on the New World Next Week: the World Bank helps ring in the
technocratic future with climate financing; pigs fly as the Pentagon
gets an audit; and Facebook rolls out machine-learning
suicide-predicting algorithms.
The Information-Industrial Complex
Half a century ago, outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower coined the
term “military-industrial complex” to describe the fascistic collusion
between the Pentagon and America’s burgeoning armaments industry. But in
our day and age we are witnessing the rise of a new collusion, one
between the Pentagon and the tech industry that it helped to seed, that
is committed to waging a covert war against p
New in The EnvironmentaList
Tiny Bubbles Wrapped in Feathers
The delicate work of raising and releasing orphaned baby hummingbirds
For the Love of Parks
It’s time for Congress to step up and help preserve our public lands
When Big Apple Comes to Town
How a small community in the Italian Alps put out a clarion call for a pesticide-free future
Barry Myers, Trump’s Nominee for NOAA Administrator, Raises Red Flags
Critics point to potential conflicts of interest and lack of scientific training
Norway Leads the Way on Electric Cars
Nearly a third of all new cars sold in the country this year will be plug-in models and experts expect that share to skyrocket
Toward A Plastic-Free Future
Simply recycling just doesn’t cut it; we need a major lifestyle shift. Here are some options
New in @ the chalk face
General Human Rights
Human Rights are a term heard often, all over the world. Many people
cannot define this term and also do not know that they have these
rights. So, what are Human Rights? A “Right” is something that we are
allowed to do, or to have, and to be, simply by being human. There are
30 basic Human Rights included in “The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights”. This document is seen as a milestone in the
New in The Rules of Exposition
Grandma stands corrected
Our
8-year-old grandson is here for the holidays. It's time for bed. "Do
you want to say goodnight to everyone, Jake?" Grandma asks. "Everyone is
in the dining room and Grandpa is in the red room." Without a moment's
hesitation, Jake asks: "How can Grandpa be in two places at once?"
"Well," Grandma replies, "Grandpa is in the red room, and everyone else
is in the dining room."
Maybe that's why I have so many readers I can count them on one hand
Writing
for my econ blog, I change It doesn't work like that to It doesn't work
that way. Why? because I like the alliteration in work that way .
That's alliteration, right? Is it worth doing? Yeah. Writing is like
making somebody eat something they don't want to eat. I try to make it
like a live eel, slippery, so it goes down easy. You may have to grit
your teeth, but at least it goes down easy.
New in A Closer Look: Jody Paterson
Three stories to knock that Christmas cheer right out of you
'Tis the season for sharing, which in this case means sharing some of
the stories that caught my attention today. Putting them into a blog
post will not only add (incrementally) to their profile, but will ensure
I have them here for whenever I need them, to remind me why my
favourite bumper sticker of all time was "If you're not outraged, you're
not paying attention." Plus it's my birthday today,
New in ArmsControlWonk
Year-End Assessment
Quote
of the week: “We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but
by the responsibility for our future.” — George Bernard Shaw It has
been a bad year. Any year is a bad year when Mar-a-Lago and the White
House are common ports of call. Donald Trump walks both manicured
grounds, …
Evil
Quotes
of the week: “Evils can be created much quicker than they can be
cured.” — Winston Churchill, 1951 “It is much easier at all times to
prevent an evil than to rectify mistakes.” — George Washington, in a
letter to James McHenry, 1798 My best man at our wedding stayed in touch
while rising …
Fantasyland
Quote
of the week: “The easiest thing of all is to deceive oneself; for we
believe whatever we believe.” — Demosthenes How did half of my beloved
country get swept up by Donald Trump? How did a reality-based Democratic
Party with sensible five point plans lose almost complete touch with so
much of the vast …
Up Close and Personal with the Qiam
U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley gave a dog-and-pony show
with debris from the recent Houthi missile strikes against Saudi Arabia.
Jeffrey and Aaron go over the debris, explaining why the U.S. thinks
the Yemeni Burkan-2H is actually the Iranian Qiam and asking what that
means. Links of Note: DVIDS Hub link to …
No First Use
Quote
of the week: “A ‘no first use’ policy would be the end of flexible
response and thus of the very credibility of the Western strategy of
deterrence.” – Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig, speech at
Georgetown University’s Center for Strategic and International Studies
on April 6, 1982 How can it be that the United …
Crisis Management Gets More Complicated between Pakistan and India
Quotes
of the week: “The ability to win a local war cannot be translated into
the ability to fight it safely and therefore cannot provide a firm
foundation for either deterrence or coercion.” — Robert Jervis, The
Meaning of the Nuclear Revolution (1989) “The problem…is not that one’s
own nuclear weapons might prove insufficiently frightening …
New in Cherchez la Verite
Over
the past decade, the federal government has seized more than $28
billion. But that’s done absolutely nothing to deter crime. he
government steals more from the American people through confiscations
than is lost outright to robberies and muggings. It’s been reported that
in 2015 civil forfeitures exceeded the amount stolen by all robbers.
Justin’s note: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants to steal your
property. Since taking office in February, he’s done all sorts of
idiotic things. He’s threatened to crack down on the legal marijuana
market. He’s attacked gay rights. And he even wants to amp up asset
seizures. This is when the government takes money and property from
people. You don’t even need to be convicted of a crime. I
Paul
Craig Roberts states that "Russiagate is an orchestrated hoax. That has
now become so aparent that even insouciant Americans are catching on,
even those low IQ ones who sit in front of TV news. I often disparage
Congress, but here is a member who is admirable, Republican
Representative Jim Jordan from Ohio." Be sure to play the videos two and
eight paragraphs below. In the second one Republican Representative Jim
Jordan from Ohio tells it like it is!!!
De Facto Travel Restrictions Now Exist For Americans December 21, 2017 |
Categories: Articles & Columns | Dear Friends, I apologize for
dumping this on you at Christmas, a time for peace and joy. But these
are the facts. We can ignore them only at our peril. De Facto Travel
Restrictions Now Exist For Americans Paul Craig Roberts Green Party
presidential Candidate Jill Stein is being investigated
Beware. The U.S. is a police state. U.S. cops kill innocents without reason and get away with it.
We’ve all been there before. You’re driving along and you see a pair of
flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror. Whether or not you’ve
done anything wrong, you get a sinking feeling in your stomach. You’ve
read enough news stories, seen enough headlines, and lived in the
American police state long enough to be anxious about any encounter with
a cop that takes place on the side of the road. F
New in Craig Murray
A Great Day
My body and mind are still in Ankara, fully engaged with the Syrian
peace talks. But my heart is in Catalonia. A great day. The achievement
is colossal – a pro-independence majority achieved despite the
leadership being in jail or in exile, and on an 84% turnout. The lies
being spewed out day by day by the neo-liberal media about a “silent
majority” are well and truly exposed, as is the EU’s cont
Russophobia Goes Comic
I am feeling particularly hostile to Donald Trump after his incendiary
move on Jerusalem. But it remains the case that I have enough direct
knowledge of events to be aware that the entire premise of the
Russophobic “election-hacking” conspiracy theory is simple nonsense. I
am therefore most amused that my friend Randy Credico, who stayed with
Nadira and I in Edinburgh a few months ago, has now be
New in DAMMIT JANET!
2017: A Very Good Year
After
the dismal Harper decade in which pro-choice forces had to fight
rear-guard actions and stay alert for more sneak attacks on our rights,
we racked up some significant WINS in 2017. Locally and nationally,
activists pushed the "Pro-Abortion Agenda." And won. Here, in rough
chronological order are the highlights. (If I've missed anything, please
add it in the comments.) In January, we learned
Lies, Damn Lies, and BAD Science
The
War on Truth and Science continues. Today, another story about women
regretting abortion. A majority of American women who aborted their
unborn babies say that their lives didn’t improve at all or refused to
answer a question about any positive effects of aborting, a new study
reports. Roughly 54 percent of women said that their lives post-aborting
weren’t any better than before they had their
MASSIVE Temper Tantrum over Canada Summer Jobs
OK,
it was to be expected that Fetus Freaks would freak out over having
their funding threatened, but not even long-time observers (ahem) of
their hilarious hyperbole saw this banshee-like SHRIEEK-fest coming.
Here are just a few of the terms used to characterize the very modest
change to Canada Summer Jobs program eligibility (insert mandatory
exclamation marks after each entry!!!!!): "thought/be
New in Dr Cintli
Between Black and White: Red-Brown Color Consciousness
Monday, December 18, 2017 By Roberto Rodriguez , Speakout | Op-Ed The
large banner outside the prestigious National Museum of Art in Mexico
City reads: "Discursos de la piel." Translation: "Discourses on skin."
The accompanying image is that of a mulatta from Mexico's colonial era.
When I first saw the banner, my mind automatically added the word
"color" after the word "skin." I assume that my mi
How the U.S Census Historically Whitewashes Non-White Populations
My earlier column for Truthout posed the question: "Are Mexicans
Indigenous?" The context of this question complicates the answer(s).
De-indigenized Mexicans and Central Americans in the United States
generally share a maiz culture, as do most Amer-Indigenous peoples of
the continent who also share in those 7,000-year-old roots. Yet, how are
these peoples, which include Mexican Americans or Chica
New in Greg Mankiw's Blog
A Quick Quiz
According
to the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, before the recent
change in the tax law, taxpayers earning more than $1 million a year
were scheduled to pay 19.3 percent of all federal taxes in 2019. What
impact does the new tax law have on this percentage? (a) It falls to
17.8 percent. (b) It falls to 18.7 percent. (c) It stays the same. (d)
It rises to 19.8 percent. Find the answer he
Tax Cuts for the Rich?
As
I have stated repeatedly , I have mixed feelings about the tax bill
going through Congress. There is a lot of it that I don't like. But I
nonetheless disagree with much of the commentary of its critics. A
common refrain is that the bill entails big tax cuts for the rich. I am
not so sure. True, the top tax rate is reduced by 2.6 percentage points.
But for those in states with a personal income
Paul Krugman...Sigh
I
usually refrain from commenting on all the silliness found over at Paul
Krugman's blog. But in a post a couple days ago, Paul is especially
dyspeptic and calls me out by name. Let me offer a few comments. 1. Paul
says I have never admitted to making a math error. Well, I would if I
thought I made such an error. I make them all the time. But in this case
I am not convinced. Neither is University
A New, More Affordable Way to Read My Favorite Textbook
From Inside Higher Ed : The new offer, called Cengage Unlimited , will
give students access to more than 20,000 Cengage products across 70
disciplines and 675 course areas for $119.99 a semester.
The Case Against Taxing Higher Ed
Click here to read my column in Sunday's NY Times .
New in Inexplicata-The Journal of Hispanic Ufology
The Allure of Forbidden Treasures
The Allure of Forbidden Treasures By Scott Corrales © 2017 Anyone who
ever read Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island , or was otherwise
entranced by stories of daring pirates and corsairs burying chests of
plunder on desert islands, or even brave explorers recovering the wealth
of the ancient world from forgotten tombs, has felt the allure of
treasure. The word alone elicits mental images of
Haunted Deserts: UFOs in the Emptiness
Haunted Deserts: UFOs in the Emptiness By Scott Corrales (c) 2017 Many
years ago I wrote an article for FATE magazine about lost civilizations
in our planet’s desert areas – regions that may have once been suitable
for large, organized communities, even cities, but had which had
succumbed to erosion and were now simply uninhabitable. Even in the
Sahara Desert we find the ruins of Roman settlement
Argentina: Not a Bird, Not a Plane...Was there a UFO Over Las Heras?
Source: MDZ (Argentina) and Planeta UFO Date: December 10, 2017
Argentina: Not a Bird, Not a Plane...Was there a UFO Over Las Heras? A
small light shone in the skies over Mendoza. It was hard to tell whether
it was a drone. See the video. It happens often and goes unnoticed. At
this rate, technology gives us many tools to find an answer when a
strange object appears in the sky, particularly a UFO
Chile: UFO Recorded in Cajón del Maipo
Source: Publimetro.cl and Planeta UFO Date: 12.5.2017 Article by Jaime L
Liencura Chile: UFO Recorded in Cajón del Maipo It happened on
Saturday, November 25 in Cajón del Maipo. it was past 2 am when a group
of at least ten people was in the dark on a sky watch, looking for this
sort of phenomena. At least four of them were distracted, whether making
coffee or sheltering from the cold inside thei
Mexico: Cab Driver Records UFO Over San Luis
Source: La Neta (www.lanetanoticias.com) and Planeta UFO Date:
12.04.2017 Article by Iván Gómez Mexico: Cab Driver Records UFO Over San
Luis Mankind appears not to be alone, judging by the presence of beings
from other planets who come to our own Earth for still unguessed-at
reasons. Recently, a taxicab driver became part of paranormal activity
as he returned from dropping off a fare at Villa Mer
New in Left I on the News
Looking for me? Check Twitter!
It's
been a while since I've been writing long-form blog entries. But I'm
still doing what I've been doing since 2003. You'll find me on Twitter
at @leftiblog. Follow me there!
New in Middle East Today
Unite Nation’s Rebuke: President Trump Political Blunder
Recently, President Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,
and that the US Embassy will be relocated in it. Such political decision
is in violation of all UN resolution and of International Law.
Jerusalem and the West Bank were illegally occupied during the 1967 war.
The occupation was condemned by the UN. It instructed Israel to retreat
to the 1967 boundaries as stated by the UN Reso
The US Corrupt Political System
On December 6, 2017 President trump declared Jerusalem as the capital
of Israel. Such a political policy is in violation of all United Nations
Resolutions and International Law. Prior to Trump declaration many
world political leaders from Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China
and Pope Francis as well opposed such a policy. They maintained that
such policy should be part of an Israeli-Palesti
New in NolanChart.com
NOTES FROM MEET THE PRESS, Sunday, December 17th, 2017
MEET
THE PRESS is one of the Sunday morning “news,” (news being a
questionable term – more like mainstream media narrative talk shows)
that discuss […]
The Trump Era Glossary
The rise of Donald Trump has brought the United States of America into a new era, an era as yet unnamed. We are no longer […]
How do the Alabama results mean concerning MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?
Most
folks will chalk this win up to the Ruling Elite, they actually out
general-ed the Moore campaign. I say the Moore campaign and not […]
Republicans Flirting with Treason
Various
Republicans have been flirting with treason for a number years now,
even decades. In the late 1980s, the Reagan administration sold arms to
Iran […]
New in Obsidian Wings
Your Boxing Day Open Thread
by Doctor Science Mister Doctor Science had the peroneus tendons on his
left foot reconstructed on Friday. He'd managed to completely rupture
the brevis tendon, and longus was in pretty bad shape. The surgeon was
able to reconstruct them into a single useful tendon that is predicted
to make it possible for Mr Dr to keep fencing. For the next 6 weeks,
though, he can't put any weight on that leg, s
Slavery and the Southern roots of conservative economics
by Doctor Science I've been reading a lot of books about slavery and
antebellum America over the past few years, and I keep noticing how many
current "conservative", Republican economic principles were already
held by Southern enslavers and their politicians. "Low taxes" was always
their watchword. They were doubtful about infrastructure spending (then
called "improvements") and public education.
Talking Past Each Other on #metoo
--by Sebastian I wonder if some of the reason we are talking past each
other on sexual harassment in employment is colored by true experiences
that people we personally know have had with companies that dealt with
things very differently. I used to work in employment law in California
(an employee friendly state). I’ve thankfully gotten out of an area of
law that makes me want to wring people’s n
Wednesday books: fic and non
by Doctor Science I just engulfed & devoured the new book in "James
S. A. Corey" (Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck)'s Expanse series,
Persepolis Rising . This work begins the final three volumes of the
series, and may possibly be self-contained enough to read if you haven't
read the previous volumes; I'm a poor judge. The timeline leaps ahead
30 years, to a point where most of the main characters from
A collection of enjoyable books
by Doctor Science Trying to get back into the swing of Wednesday book
reviewing, here are some books I've read recently that are *enjoyable*,
that made me happy and not like I'm living in a satiric dystopia . I
heard about Harry Connolly's A Key, an Egg, an Unfortunate Remark on
File770, but by the time I got around to reading it I'd forgotten what
people were saying about it and came to it fresh
Sweet Home Alabama -- Election Open Thread
by wj I was intending to put up a thread like this Monday evening, on
the thought that we might have something to say as events unfolded in
Alabama Tuesday. But today brought something worth starting early. The
election in Alabama seems to be very close , with the result hinging on
(primarily) turnout, and (secondarily) how many staunch Republicans will
vote for someone not-Roy-Moore. Both of tho
New in Paying attention
Why I'd kill Site C
I have no idea what the government will do about Site C. (I do know
that anyone who claims it’s an easy choice to kill the project or go
ahead is not to be taken seriously.) But if it was up to me, I’d opt for
cancellation. The people pushing for completion rely heavily on three
flawed arguments. First, that BC Hydro has already spent $2 billion, so
despite the certainty of delays and cost overru
Carole James’s Big Budget Problem
(Belatedly posting my recent Tyee column.) Finance Minister Carole
James put a good spin on this week’s quarterly update on the province’s
finances. But the update highlights big problems the NDP government
faces in crafting its first budget, due in mid-February. Without tax
increases, the government won’t be able to deliver on its election
promises or provide the changes supporters expect. The S
New in Pesticide Action Network
Killing two birds with one seed
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
several scientific assessments that found commonly used neonicotinoid
pesticides (neonics) can kill and harm birds of all sizes. This comes on
the heels of new research from the University of Saskatchewan, with
experimental evidence finding dramatic effects of neonics on birds
inhabiting farmland or open countryside — causing migr
A year like no other
What an incredible — and challenging — year this has been. On the
national stage, we've seen several key issues we work on here at PAN
move into the spotlight like never before. Thanks to ill-advised federal
policy decisions, it is now common knowledge that pesticides harm
children’s health, and that farmland can be devastated by pesticide
drift. The corporate capture of our public agencies has b
A year like no other
What an incredible — and challenging — year this has been. On the
national stage, we've seen several key issues we work on here at PAN
move into the spotlight like never before. Learn more Slideshow
Category: Flex Slider
Support a Farm Bill for the future!
Call on Congress to pass a Food and Farm Bill that includes strong
support for family farmers and ecological farming practices. Add your
signature Slideshow Category: Flex Slider
Yup, chlorpyrifos is bad for brains
Following a clear body of science, California just listed the widely
used pesticide chlorpyrifos as a "developmental toxicant." Learn more
Slideshow Category: Flex Slider
New in Philosophical Comment
A Thought on the "One State Solution" to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Since the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 initiated what has become known
as the "Oslo Process", the recognised vision of how to resolve the
longstanding violent conflict between the state of Israel and
Palestinian representatives, organisations and people have been the
so-called Two State Solution, where the state of Israel is to mostly
withdraw to its original 1947 borders, and a state of Palesti
New in Sardonicky
Hillary Is the Least Most Admired Woman In the USA
Although Hillary Clinton has again won the Gallup prize as the "most
admired woman" in the United States, her slim margin of victory over
Michelle Obama essentially makes her the least popular winner in the
entire history of this horribly annoying poll. In another wipe-out,
Donald Trump narrowly lost to Barack Obama. If nothing else, this result
is sure to engender a torrent of new "it was rigged
Classy American Christmas
Yes, Virginia, there was not always a Santa Claus. In the early 19th
century, Washington Irving, in the guise of a venerable colonialist of
the ruling Knickerbocker dynasty, borrowed the old Dutch legend about
Saint Nicholas and re-purposed it into the prototype of the American
Santa Claus. A scant hundred years later, Coca-Cola re-purposed the
re-purposing, and created the mass market image of S
Bill Clinton's Ruling Class Lament
As
part of the great national wokeness serving to expose and shame the
predators in the highest echelons of media and political power, the New
York Times has graciously allowed former President Bill Clinton to
perform his own reckoning, in his own words. Clinton reckons that the
biggest problem that America faces is not that the powerful and the rich
are exploiting and assaulting the poor and the
The Bright Side of Despair
The Democrats have been so caught up in the witch-hunts of RussiaGate
and selective #Me-Tooism that the blitzkrieg known The Great Tax Reform
Bill of 2017 has them looking more like castrated deer in the headlights
than usual. Far from erupting into a state of rebellion over the
passage of the bill, they're cowering in a state of mass confusion when
they aren't alternately complaining and seeing
The Seven Dirty Words of American End-Times
George Carlin's estate really ought to think about suing the Trump
administration. That's because the reality TV mogul's ironically-named
Health and Human Services subsidiary has outright plagiarized the
routine that made the late comic so famous. Carlin riffed on the Seven
Dirty Words you can't say on TV; Trump's goon squad has made a list of
the Seven Dirty Words you can't say if you work at th
Democrophobia Strikes Deep
One of the more common explanations offered by the liberal pundit class
for the elevation of Donald Trump to the highest office in the land is
that there is an excess of "democracy" in this country. The conventional
elite wisdom is that even though the majority of Americans are stupid,
they were tragically still functional enough to tear themselves away
from Fox News for the little time it took t
New in Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home
Aftermath of #MeToo? I Predict Ugly Backlash
In
the wake of Al Franken's resignation over eight women's allegations of
forced open-mouthed kissing, butt grabbing and boob groping, there has
been much angst. Many of my fellow liberal Democrats are beginning to
understand what many HR folks have had to go through when the top
salesperson, popular CEO or much-loved manager is accused of sexual
harassment. The overwhelming temptation is to deny,
New in The High-fat Hep C Diet
Fibre and the risk of Type 2 Diabetes - the InterAct meta-analysis
Recently the Australian government publicised claims generated by
Nutrition Australia, in an opinion paper funded by Kellogg's, that
Australians increasing their cereal fibre intake could reduce the cost
of CVD and diabetes to the Australian economy: “ This research
demonstrates that if Australian adults use grain fibre to increase their
intake of dietary fibre to target intake levels for chronic
New in The Intercept
Note: This is not associated with First Look's site Entitled "The Intercept"
First
Look purchased the url, "The Intercept" in January, 2014. "The
Intercept", aptly named, originally consisted of the posts below with
many reposts of articles and blogposts collected to share. They consists
of stories that we thought were the most important and verifiable
news/opinions at the time. There are some originally written posts
covering various topics we happened to be knee-deep in
New in thwap's schoolyard
Random Thoughts on Canadian Political Scene
Rabble's Karl Nerenberg has a fair and balanced piece on why Trudeau
needed to apologize for an all-expenses paid vacation at the Aga Khan's
island: The Aga Khan himself does not do business with Canada. The Aga
Khan Development Network (AKDN) does. It functions, in the Canadian
context, as a non- governmental organization (NGO), receiving Government
of Canada funding to provide services in the d
New in Vagabond Scholar
Jon Swift Roundup 2017
(The
Best Posts of the Year, Chosen by the Bloggers Themselves) (A Jon Swift
lolcat for a little fun. After all, Godwin's "law" was never meant to
shut down serious discussion.) Welcome to the 2017 edition! It's been a
bizarre year. This tradition was started by the late Jon Swift/Al
Weisel, who left behind some excellent satire and would have had a
wealth of material this year. He was also
New in Welcome to Pottersville 2 (Blogging Against Fascism!)
(Special
Ops Rules Over All?) Bye Bye Reliable Internet & Monitor WSJ for
Reporting by Comcast & Spectrum? (WAR! What/Who Is It Good For?)
Analysis-Suppressing Mental Munchkin (Flim-Flammery of Tax Cuts) Leda
& the Swan Redux? (How It All Happened) Dubya Is Still Either the
Dummy or the Smarty (The Enemy of One's Enemy Is . . .?)
Donald
Trump's First Year Sets Record for US Special OpsAmbassadors of the
traditional kind? Who needs them? Diplomats? What a waste! The State
Department? Why bother? Its budget is to be slashed and its senior
officials are leaving in droves ever since Donald Trump entered the Oval
Office. Under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, hiring is frozen, which
means those officials are
New in What Is Sustainable
Kitchi-Gami
In the Ojibway language, Kitchi-Gami means Lake Superior. Johann Georg
Kohl (1808-1878) was a German travel writer, geographer, and
ethnologist. In 1855, he spent six months visiting trading posts and
missions in Ojibway country near Kitchi-Gami, mostly at the Apostle
Islands off the north coast of Wisconsin, and at the settlements at the
base of Keweenaw Bay, in northern Michigan. Kohl’s book, K
Kitchi-Gami
In the Ojibway language, Kitchi-Gami means Lake Superior. Johann Georg
Kohl (1808-1878) was a German travel writer, geographer, and
ethnologist. In 1855, he spent six months visiting trading posts and
missions in Ojibway country near Kitchi-Gami, mostly at the Apostle
Islands off the north coast of Wisconsin, and at the settlements at the
base of Keweenaw Bay, in northern Michigan. Kohl’s book, K
Kitchi-Gami
In the Ojibway language, Kitchi-Gami means Lake Superior. Johann Georg
Kohl (1808-1878) was a German travel writer, geographer, and
ethnologist. In 1855, he spent six months visiting trading posts and
missions in Ojibway country near Kitchi-Gami, mostly at the Apostle
Islands off the north coast of Wisconsin, and at the settlements at the
base of Keweenaw Bay, in northern Michigan. Kohl’s book, K
New in wmtc
what i'm reading: what i haven't read and am not reading
Like
most avid readers, my to-read list contains far more titles than I
could ever read in a lifetime, even if I did nothing but read. Although I
add books at a considerably faster rate than I tick them off, I do
still keep The List, and I consult it when I'm looking for my next book.
I do this with movies, too. I also read books not on my list, much more
so now that I work in a library, and my re
new year's un-resolutions
I
don't do New Year's Resolutions, but I do enjoy using the revolution of
our Earth around the Sun as an excuse to take stock in where I am and
think about where I'm going. This is not a Big Promise To Do Something;
it's not even goal-setting. In my ongoing work to free myself from a
strong tendency towards All Or Nothing , to not paint myself into a
corner, to not create Rules which I then use to
what i'm reading: rolling blackouts, graphic novel asking many big questions
I
see by the wmtc tag "graphic novels" that I intended to write about
graphic books I read and enjoyed...and I see by the scant number of
posts with that tag that I have not been doing so! The last wmtc post
tagged for graphic novels is from four years ago , almost to the day. In
any event, I want to tell you about a graphic book I just finished and
really enjoyed: Sarah Glidden's Rolling Blackout
why i write for rights and how you can too... redux #write4rights
Trying to compose my annual Write For Rights post, I thought I would
recycle a good one from 2014... only to learn I had already recycled it
in 2015! And here it is again -- slightly edited, with new cases linked
below. Tomorrow, December 10, is Human Rights Day . The date
commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
by the United Nations on December 10, 1948, the first
i hate christmas 2017: the return of a wmtc tradition and then some
Last year, I took a break from my annual "i hate christmas" post. I
don't remember the circumstances, but it was probably related to getting
ready for our trip to Egypt. We lost Tala a few days later, but for
better or worse, we were ignorant of that until the day before. This
year I revive the fine wmtc tradition and then some. I did a stupid
thing and it caused me to remember just how much I ha
listening to joni: #3: ladies of the canyon
Ladies of the Canyon , 1970 Original Front Cover I put this album on
for the first time in probably three decades, and I thought, ah, here's
Joni. Ladies of the Canyon , Joni's third album, is the first time we
hear the seeds of the future Joni, the first glimpses of elements in her
music which would become old friends. It's the first time we hear her
on piano. The first time
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