11:46 pm MDT
This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 2
1914 Ottomans signed alliance with Germany that would bring Mesopotamia into WW1 1924 Yasin al-Hashemi became 2ndPM of Iraq Was ordered to organize elections for an assembly to draft a constitution 1968 Iraq announced it would seek better ties with Soviet Union and China 1986 Saddam offered peace agreement to Iran Was rejected by Tehran 1988 Iraq bombed Oshnaviyah, Iran with mustard gas wounding 2,680 people (Musings On Iraq interview with author Anthony Tucker-Jones on Iran-Iraq War) (Musings On Iraq review *The Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988*) (Musings On Iraq r... more »
My coming trip to Russia
I'm starting to work on my Russian Visa application process. My plan is to visit Moscow and Crimea in the middle of October on a humanitarian Visa. The idea is to meet Russian people in preparation for a study tour that I will be coordinating in the spring of 2019 (late April to early May). We want to take some of our GN members and friends to try to cut through the manufactured fog that engulfs the American public mind when it comes to Russia. How in god's name can Russia ever be responsible for all the things the western media has accused it of doing? Impossible. Russia and ... more »
Is South Korea Pro-China and Anti-Japan? It’s Complicated.
*Sungtae Jacky Park* *Security, Asia* [image: South Korean President Moon Jae-In and Chinese President Xi Jinping review the Chinese honour guard during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China December 14, 2017. REUTERS/Nicolas Asfouri/Pool] Seoul's complicated history prevents it from being inherently anti-Tokyo or pro-Beijing. In 2014, Japan reinterpreted its constitution to give the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) the right to participate in collective self-defense. In response, a South Korean progressive lawmaker said that “Japan, as a country th... more »
How Russia's World War II Military Strategy of Deception Is Alive and Well Today
*George Getsos* *Security, Europe* [image: Russian servicemen in historical uniforms stand during military parade training in Red Square in Moscow November 5, 2009. The parade will take place on November 7 to mark the anniversary of a historical parade in 1941 when Soviet soldiers marched through] In 1944, Moscow unleashed a second D-Day that ended Nazi Germany. Today, that strategy of maskirovka is being used again. Operation Bagration, which was conducted in 1944 between June 22 and August 19, was perhaps the single most successful Soviet operation of World War II. The goal of... more »
Why China Would Have Some Major Problems If It Invaded Taiwan
*J. Michael Cole* *Security, Asia* [image: Marine corps demonstrate martial arts during a military drill at navy base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan July 13, 2017. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu] It would not exactly be easy. *Beyond kinetic strategies, several asymmetrical options are also available to Taiwan to maximize the pain of a PLA invasion, with the ultimate goal of deterring such action. On the political side, Taipei should redouble its efforts in political warfare. The first aim of this strategy should be to counter similar operations by China, which have succeeded in undermining morale i... more »
Are We Ready If China Suddenly Collapsed?
*Peter Mattis* *Security, * [image: A paramilitary police officer is seen silhouetted in front of flags as he stands guard during the third plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, China March 10, 2018.] China could be on the brink of collapse. Here's how Washington can leverage that to its advantage. *If Washington is concerned that the CCP is approaching its twilight, then asserting a moral stake in China’s development requires nothing less than a substantial effort to understand China’s political landscape beyond day-to-day... more »
Forget North Korea: Pakistan Might Be the Real Nuclear Threat
*Daniel R. DePetris* *Security, Asia* [image: Shaheen missiles get cleaned before the start of the Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad] Could Pakistan be more of a nuclear security threat to Israel than Iran? *Despite all of the attempts from the nuclear non-proliferation community, Pakistan will continue to develop and strengthen its nuclear deterrent as long as the high brass in the Pakistani military continues to have an India-centric mindset in its defense policy. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since Islamabad’s independence in 1947, and in each case, the P... more »
Don’t Abandon Iraq (Again)
*Sean McGuffin* *Security, Middle East* [image: A supporter of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes part in a rally, which the participants said was against sectarianism and injustice, in Kut, 150 km (93 miles) southeast of Baghdad, March 16, 2013. REUTERS/Wissm al-Okili (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST TPX] Washington must encourage and engage with Iraq's democratic process as it forms a new government. To do otherwise risks instability. Since U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, American policy towards Iraq has focused narrowly on militarily defeating the Islami... more »
August 2:The New Brunswick Disaster
Okay. Change of plans. It looks as though Saturday is the day I'll be frolicking in the waves. So I'm likely to have no blog that day. ______________________________________________________________ http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/el-nino-2018-noaa-prediction-1.4768316 http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/wildfires-california-1.4769425 http://medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2018/875-world-on-fire-climate-breakdown.html https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/01/heatwave-climate-denial-summer-2018-sceptics https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/01/state-of-th... more »
Dozens of grassroots groups want changes to ‘secret' trade pact
02-Aug-2018 While some states in East and Southeast Asia favor the 16-nation RCEP trade deal, many civil society groups say it lacks transparency and public participation.
Metastasis: Broken Cellular Function Mechanism Observed In Mice
Metastasis is the formation of secondary tumors and a leading contributor to deaths related to cancer. The exact mechanism for how cellular function becomes broken in cells far removed from a cancer’s primary tumor have been unclear. But it's been pondered for almost a hundred years. It was postulated that metastatic cells spontaneously caused secondary tumors by fusing their cellular material with regular cells and re-establishing their errant gene expression, but spontaneous is not a concept scientists like, so the search for the real causes has been ongoing. read more
Waldo Photos Claims it is “fun to use facial recognition” at Summer Camps
By MassPrivateI There is nothing and I mean nothing that can justify using facial recognition to spy on kids at summer camps. But don’t take... more »
NATO’s “News Hero” – #PropagandaWatch
By corbettreport In this week’s edition of #PropagandaWatch James looks at “The News Hero,” the latest fake news Russian bot propaganda scare to emerge from... more »
Here’s Why 3D Printing Guns Are A Win For World Peace and a Potential Death Blow To Tyranny
By Matt Agorist As the debate continues about whether or not 3D-printed firearm plans should be banned, even the ostensible pro-2nd Amendment folks are worried... more »
Founder Of Four Thieves DIY Medicine Links To Leaked Chematica Database
By Aaron Kesel The founder of the Four Thieves Vinegar Collective, a network of tech-fueled anarchists and hackers taking on Big Pharma by introducing DIY... more »
According To The “Buffett Indicator”, The Stock Market Is More Primed For A Crash Than Ever Before
By Michael Snyder Warren Buffett’s favorite indicator is telling us that stocks are more overvalued right now than they have ever been before in American... more »
Trump in Charge: Everything as it Should Be...
*promoting calm and peace.* Unless you're a lying commie/marxist/libtard - in which case you're giving new meaning to completely insane, off the rails, bat-shit crazy, unhinged, demented, and crack-brained. Jim Acosta is the latest to whine that Trump is causing people to hate and harass the media. It was okay when Maxine Waters demanded her followers to make life miserable for Trump supporters. Doubling down, Acosta accused Hannity of spreading propaganda. Yawn. While Acosta's back was turned a woman suffering *yuuuuugly* from Trump Derangement Syndrome rammed a car with a Trum... more »
Soldiers patrol the streets of Harare as election violence leaves three dead
Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF claims a large majority in disputed elections
Disturbing Report Finds Americans Spend Most of Their Waking Hours Staring at Phones and TVs
[image: americans] A disturbing new report from Nielsen found that Americans over the age of 18, spend nearly every minute of their waking lives staring into a screen. The post Disturbing Report Finds Americans Spend Most of Their Waking Hours Staring at Phones and TVs appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
WATCH: Cop Convicted After Savagely Beating a 17yo Boy Chained to Hospital Bed
[image: hospital] An enraged cop has been found guilty after horrifying surveillance footage showed him brutally beating a teen patient who was chained to a hospital bed. The post WATCH: Cop Convicted After Savagely Beating a 17yo Boy Chained to Hospital Bed appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
54 Years Ago Today, Gov’t and Media Created & Spread ‘Fake News’ to Start the Vietnam War
[image: tonkin] Government and media lies were responsible for one of the deadliest wars in US history and it all started 54 years ago today in the Gulf of Tonkin. The post 54 Years Ago Today, Gov’t and Media Created & Spread ‘Fake News’ to Start the Vietnam War appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Netanyahu Threatens Iran with ‘All Israel’s Arms’ If Tehran Blocks Key Waterway Off Yemen
Netanyahu Threatens Iran with ‘All Israel’s Arms’ If Tehran Blocks Key Waterway Off Yemen by https://www.rt.com/ Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Israeli arch-regional foe Iran, vowing that any attempt by Tehran to block the key waterway off Yemen’s coast would be met by force from the “international coalition” and Israel in particular. – The harsh […]
A journal waited 13 months to reject a submission. Days later, it published a plagiarized version by different authors
When a researcher submitted a manuscript to a journal about multimedia tools, she was frustrated to wait 13 months for the journal to make a decision — only to have it reject the paper outright. So imagine how she felt when, days after the paper was rejected, she saw the journal had published a plagiarized … Continue reading A journal waited 13 months to reject a submission. Days later, it published a plagiarized version by different authors
Bad behaviour everywhere
1. An apology The Halifax Examiner acknowledges that the Armour Group Limited neither hired, nor fired, the janitors previously employed to clean Founder’s Square. Further, The Halifax Examiner retracts, and apologizes for the allegation that Armour Group engaged in racial discrimination in determining to no longer engage with GDI Integrated Facility Services. The original article […]
GOSSIPS OR JOURNOS: Good solid fun!
*THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2018Interlude—Speculations, enjoyment, distractions:* Did the events described below really occur? Lawrence seems to thunk they didn't. The events are described right at the start of a New York Times news report: SCHMIDT AND HABERMAN (8/2/18): *President Trump pushed his lawyers in recent days to try once again to reach an agreement with the special counsel’s office about his sitting for an interview,* flouting their advice that he should not answer investigators’ questions, three people briefed on the matter said on Wednesday. *Mr. Trump has told advisers h... more »
Edward Witten, dinner table group think, and \(P=NP\)
Scott Aaronson has posted at least two new comments here in which he demands to be considered a "possible co-author" of a paper by Ewin Tang that has found a recommendation algorithm that Aaronson insisted to be impossible. I think that given Aaronson's frantic efforts to discourage this kind of research, it would be insane if he were a co-author of Tang's paper. Aaronson is testing the waters – could he get away with stealing one-half of the credit, after all? I sincerely hope that Tang already has enough freedom not to allow such a shocking development. But Aaronson discussed our... more »
Learning how to live in the dissonance
Dr. Cornel West Lecture 'Politics in the Humanities' at Brown University (2018). Cornel Ronald West (born June 2, 1953) is an American philosopher, political activist, social critic, author, and public intellectual. The son of a Baptist minister, West focuses on the role of race, gender, and class in American society and the means by which people act and react to their "radical conditionedness." A radical democrat and democratic socialist, West draws intellectual contributions from multiple traditions, including Christianity, the black church, Marxism, neopragmatism, and transcen... more »
Man Who Swiped Shark Says He’s ‘Activist, Not a Criminal’
A shark police say was snatched from a petting tank at the San Antonio Aquarium and wheeled out in a baby stroller is back home alive.
Demi Lovato Death Hoax
The pop singer is still being treated after an overdose but is alive and expected to leave the hospital soon.
Man Has Arms, Legs Amputated After Dog Lick Leads to Severe Infection
The infection caused Greg Manteufel's blood pressure to drop and circulation in his limbs to decrease rapidly.
New Delhi Robbers Escape with Valuable Commodity: Hair
Hair is big business in India, estimated to bring in more than $300 million a year, with wigs and hair extensions exported around the world.
Tourists Frustrated as Eiffel Tower Closes in Peak Season
The visitors descending on the Eiffel Tower at the peak of the August tourist season are voicing frustration that the beloved Paris monument is closed.
Spotify Takes Down Alex Jones Podcasts Citing ‘Hate Content’
The music streaming service Spotify says it has removed some episodes of “The Alex Jones Show” podcast for violating its hate content policy.
The Natural Cancer Event of the Year is Happening in Michigan and You’re Invited (Featuring Ty Bollinger, Del Bigtree and More)
The world of cancer treatment is fraught with pitfalls ranging from highly toxic “treatments” like chemotherapy and radiation to completely unhealthy dietary choices for patients that end up feeding the disease, rather than healing it. But whether the mainstream medical industry cares to admit it or not, people are healing and reversing their cancer through natural and holistic methods, and the truth about these success stories is finally coming out thanks to the power of social and alternative media. Oftentimes, someone who is touched by cancer (and disgusted with the way it’s tr... more »
China to U.S.: Don't Let Taiwanese President Stop in Your Country
[image: china-to-us-dont-let-taiwanese-president-stop-in-your-country] A Chinese government spokesman urged the U.S. government not to allow President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to make stops in the United States.
Portland Mayor Under Fire After Anti-ICE Mob Threatens Workers
[image: portland-mayor-under-fire-after-anti-ice-mob-threatens-workers] Portland and its mayor are under heavy legal fire and suffering a wave of bad publicity because police, critics allege, have failed to protect federal immigration employees from angry anti-Trump leftists known as Occupy ICE.
There Will Be No Chinese Century
*The legendary, pre-historic "great flood of China," which was said to have lasted several generations. The flooded area to the east is roughly what is now called the North China Plain, one of two Chinese breadbaskets. **Chinese civilization starts from this region. The smaller flooded area on this map is in the Sichuan Basin, China's other major growing region. (The circled area is thought to be the territory of China's first dynasty, the Xia, said to have rule there starting about 2200 BC.) Image credit: SY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, link.* *by Gaius Publius* It's common among a ... more »
Netanyahu: We own the U.S.
In a leaked tape, Benjamin Netanyahu boasts about making Trump pull out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. How come this story is not all over the mainstream media?
Brazil’s Industrial Production Grows by 13.1 Percent in June
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Overcoming the negative effects caused by the eleven-day truckers strike in May, Brazil’s industrial production registered a growth of 13.1 percent in June according to data from the Monthly Industrial Survey released Thursday (August 2nd) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). […]
Looking Back On Shadowproof’s Third Year
On Shadowproof's 3rd birthday, we assess our accomplishments over the past year and discuss some of our aspirations for the coming year. The post Looking Back On Shadowproof’s Third Year appeared first on Shadowproof.
Underwater Deathmatch: What If America and Russia's Two Best Submarines Went to War?
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * [image: English: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation] "In terms of weapons the two sides are fairly evenly matched, although Severodvinsk has the antisubmarine version of the Klub missile, allowing the Russian ship to quickly engage enemy submarines with a missile-delivered lightweight torpedo, much like the retired American SUBROC system." *The Virginia class is quieter and has a better sonar rig than its Russian opponent. In the world of submarine warfare, that’s an unbeatable combination. It can move and detect in ways that would give a... more »
An Air Force Pilot Explains Why the B-2 Bomber Is So Deadly
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * [image: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III] The B-2 can also carry a 30,000-pound conventional bomb known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, Maj. Kent Mickelson, director of operations for 394th combat training squadron, told Scout Warrior in an interview. *One of the key upgrades is called the Defensive Management System, a technology which helps inform the B-2 crew about the location of enemy air defenses. Therefore, if there are emerging air defenses equipped with the technology sufficient to detect the B-2, the aircraft will have o... more »
Why America's Aircraft Carriers May Never Wage War Against Russia or China
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * [image: ARABIAN SEA (Jan. 27, 2011) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) prepare to receive supplies from the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7).] "Today’s supercarriers will likely serve on for decades. However, the new threats arrayed against them, combined with the limited range of the current generation of carrier-based aircraft, suggest they may prove too vulnerable to operate within striking distance of near-peer opponents." *If a carrier tasks forces defense’s function properl... more »
How to Avoid a South China Sea Showdown
*Samuel Leiter* *Security, Asia* [image: A Chinese Naval officer stands guard beside a submarine at the Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base in Hong Kong April 30, 2004. China will expand the membership of the military's top decision-making body to] America must scale down the size of its military involvement in East Asia to avoid ratcheting up tension with China. *This essay was a runner up in the 2018 John Quincy Adams Society/TNI Student Foreign Policy Essay Contest.* It is imperative that the United States reduce its military involvement in East Asia as China rises to relieve its ove... more »
NATO 'Encirclement' May Be Creating a New Crisis with Russia
*Sean T. Crowley* *Security, Eurasia* [image: U.S. Air Force A-10 aircraft takes part in the urban fighting drill during the NATO Saber Strike exercise in the Soviet-time former military town near Skrunda, Latvia June 13, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins] NATO expansion has fueled some of Russia's worst fears . . . and impulses. What happens now? *This essay was a runner up in the 2018 John Quincy Adams Society/TNI Student Foreign Policy Essay Contest.* Following the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States moved to fill the security vacuum left i... more »
The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Seem Almost Invincible. But They Can Be Shot Down.
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * [image: U. S. Air Force Photo by TSgt Ben Bloker] It is a well-known fact within Pentagon and industry circles that low-frequency radars operating in the VHF and UHF bands can detect and track low-observable aircraft. It has generally been held that such radars can’t guide a missile onto a target—i.e. generate a “weapons quality” track. But that is not exactly correct—there are ways to get around the problem according to some experts. *With a missile warhead large enough, the range resolution does not have to be precise. For example, the now antiquate... more »
Trudeau Government Prorogue in August in order to "remodel Criminal Code" and....
... reshape the government to better push through specific agendas unchallenged. When PM Harper prorogued the government there was a whole lot of complaining, including from this blogger! Being an all around government critic, Trudeau's potential dictatorial move isn't getting my approval! *I don't care about his hair or his socks!**Federal government taking serious look at handgun ban in wake of Toronto shooting *"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will decide in mid-August whether to pursue a ban on handguns* as part of a new legislative agenda he would outline in a fall Throne Spe... more »
Revolving Door: How Security Clearances Perpetuate Top-Level Corruption in the United States
[image: undefined] President Donald Trump is threatening to take away the security clearances of a number of former senior intelligence and security officers who have been extremely critical of him. Most Americans were unaware that any ex-officials continued to hold clearances after they retired and the controversy has inevitably raised the question why that should be so. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. A security clearance is granted to a person but it is also linked to “need to know” in terms of what kind of information should or could be accessed, which means that when... more »
Untitled
From Jenna Orkin War Is A Racket: After 17 Years And Billions Wasted, US Seeks Peace With TalibanHow a Chinese region that accounts for just 1.5% of the population became one of the most intrusive police states in the world Florida Launches Gun Confiscation Program, 467 Forced To Surrender Guns Manhattan DA Will No Longer Prosecute Smoking Or Posession Of Marijuana Uranium Leaked Through Floor of South Carolina Nuclear Plant Meet China's "Secret" Space Control Listening Base In Argentina Now Alarming US Officials Googlers are confused and angry that Google might be creating a censored ... more »
STEWARTRY SHOW 2018
*Stewartry Show 2018.* *The Stewartry Agriculural Show* takes place each year in Castle Douglas, in Dumfries and Galloway, in Scotland. (Many thanks to all the people who sent us the photos) *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *Stewartry Show 2018.* *STEWARTRY SHOW 2017*. ~~
A tactical thought about the US Army's next-generation helicopters
As many readers know, I'm a veteran of military service. I've traveled in military helicopters, including high-speed insertions into "hot" landing zones. I therefore have a "grunt's eye view" of the use of helicopters when things get hairy. Consider the size of many helicopter landing zones. Some of them are open spaces, which offer room for aircraft to maneuver, such as this one: Others, however, can be cramped, and dangerous to the helicopters because of encroaching tree branches, rocks, and other obstacles - and, in urban LZ's, buildings, electrical wires and other man-ma... more »
Last Week at the Military Commissions: Undue Influence and Other Issues in the 9/11 Case
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commissions Building, Guantanamo Bay, 2004 (Source: U.S. Department of Defense/Chief Petty Officer Dave Fliesen, U.S. Navy) Last week, the military commission in *United States v. Khalid Shaikh Mohammad et al.* reconvened for pretrial proceedings, meeting in open session on July 23 and 25, and in closed sessions on July 24 and 26. The commission covered a wide range of topics, including motions relating to unlawful influence by CIA director Gina Haspel, FBI influence in CIA interrogations, denial of a public trial, errors regarding classification dete... more »
February 1898 – Massive Fires And Blizzards : August 2018 – Massive Stupidity
During February, 1898 there were massive snowstorms raging Wisconsin and Michigan, while three million acres were burning in South Carolina. 21 Feb 1898, 1 – Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News at Newspapers.com Wildland Fire: History Timeline | U.S. National … Continue reading →
Breakfast Time
I haven’t seen the owl there recently, but my favorite spot in the wetlands is full of chokecherries and wild apples now.
What If Everything We’ve Been Told About Recent History Is a Lie?
"Behind the War on Terror is a strategic plan crafted decades in advance to redraw the map of the Middle East. 9/11 was a false-flag operation blamed on Muslims ..."
Iran’s ‘Oil-for-Gold’ Trade Could Be Viable Solution to Sanctions
*21WIRE + Antiwar.com* | An 'old world' approach to bartering your way towards growth and prosperity.
Family Begs for Answers After Veteran Dies in Police Custody—Claim His Organs are Missing
[image: organs] A heartbroken family is demanding to know why their loved one mysteriously died in police custody, and why several of his organs have been seized. The post Family Begs for Answers After Veteran Dies in Police Custody—Claim His Organs are Missing appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
New column day
Here, examining David Macdonald's latest report on wealth concentration in Canada - and the availability of more ambitious solutions than what's been on offer in most recent political debates. For further reading... - The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis studies (PDF) how unearned income and wealth are similarly becoming more concentrated in the U.S. - Christo Aivalis has pointed out how a more progressive tax system which focuses on wealth in particular can be one of the NDP's key promises to Canadian voters. - Finally, among the voices who have proposed more widespread wealth ta... more »
John McDonnell signed Early Day Motion welcoming launch of extreme anti-Zionist group
Don't believe the line that if Jeremy Corbyn is pushed out of the Labour Party leadership then John Mcdonnell is more moderate on Israel and antisemitism. 'Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell signed a Westminster early day motion to "welcome the launch" of an extreme anti-Zionist group whose founding charter called for destruction of the state of Israel – and alleged collaboration between Zionism and Nazi Germany. The JC can reveal that Mr McDonnell signed EDM 2332 in October 2008 to "welcome the launch of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and its founding Charter"... more »
“Religion of peace….not really.
“Imam Mundhir Abdallah, of the Masjid Al-Faruq mosque in Copenhagen, told his followers “the final solution to the problem of the Levant – after the establishment of the Caliphate and the elimination of the Jewish entity – will be through … Continue reading →
Thursday Morning Links
This and that for your Thursday reading. - Annie Lowrey points out the massive amounts of money being directed toward stock buybacks in the U.S., with the predictable effect of further enriching the people who already have the most. And Andrew Jackson's review of Mariana Mazzucato's The Value of Everything discusses the need for policy aimed toward development rather than extraction: It is nonsense to argue that the wealth and income of hedge fund billionaires reflects their individual productive contribution, as opposed to their ability to extract profits from socially created val... more »
The (Dying) Elephant in the Room
[image: President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visit with Queen Elizabeth II | July 13, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)] The City of London is scrambling to keep its control of the $1.5 quadrillion global derivatives bubble intact, under conditions that increasingly indicate its early demise. At issue is the British Empire's stranglehold over the trans-Atlantic financial system and economies, under conditions of a surging alternative in the form of the Belt and Road Initiative. One immediate flashpoint is the UK's "Brexit," and the City of London's... more »
Shocking: New mass grave unearthed in Daraa province
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:45 P.M.) – Another mass grave was discovered by the Syrian Army in the Daraa province after rebels were entirely defeated last month. The newly-unearthed mass grave – located near the town of Da’el – contains the remnants of some 51 Syrian Army troops. The fallen soldiers were killed while defending the Air […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkish military erects walls around own observation posts in north Hama
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:20 P.M.) – The Turkish Army began building concrete walls around its observation point near the rebel-held town of Morek in northern Hama. According to sources, erecting high walls aims at protecting the Turkish troops from any potential attacks conducted by the Syrian Army in the future. This comes amid conflicting reports of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army finds Israeli-made weapons in former ISIS bastions near Golan Heights
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:00 P.M.) – Having ousted the Islamic State from its last foothold IN the far western countryside of Daraa, the government forces initiated a full-scale mop-up operation to fully secure the area. The operation uncovered massive weapon caches and supplies; specifically in the towns of Koya and Qusayer which were the last ISIS […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
VIDEO: Huge explosion rocks jihadi-held Idlib, scores killed
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:45 P.M.) – A massive blast ripped through the jihadi-controlled city of Idlib, killing an injuring scores and further exacerbating the already-tense situation. A car bomb exploded near the military court (formerly the Syrian Central Bank building) of the al-Qaeda-linked Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in a time the terror group braces itself for the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army artillery shelling in west Aleppo kills senior rebel commander
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:25 P.M.) – A high-ranking military commander for rebel groups in west Aleppo was killed along with scores of fighters when the Syrian Army pounded insurgent-held areas in west Aleppo. The Syrian Liberation Front rebel group mourned the death of Younes al-Shibli, the military commander of west Aleppo region when heavy artillery shelling […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Israeli, Jordanian militaries target ISIS near borders with Syria
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:15 P.M.) – Several militants from the defeated Islamic State were reportedly killed by an Israeli fire near the Syrian borders while attempting to sneak into the Occupied Golan Heights. “The Israeli army carried out an attack overnight Wednesday against armed ‘terrorists’ in Syria’s Golan Heights who were found with explosives”, the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Bob Woodward Penning New Book About Trump’s ‘Harrowing’ Presidency
Watergate reporter and journalist Bob Woodward is reported to be putting the final touches on a new book about the inner workings of the DJT administration titled "*Fear: Trump in the White House.*" The new tome is said to be based on hundreds of hours of interviews and insider info, and will detail "the harrowing life inside Donald Trump’s White House, and how the president makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies." According to a release announcing the upcoming book by publisher Simon & Schuster, Woodward's newest work will "bring to light the explosive debates tha... more »
Will the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade? And if it does, what happens to abortion rights?
B. Jessie Hill, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Judge Ben C. Green Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
A law professor writes "the future of Roe v. Wade looks tenuous." That gives more power to the states -- including four that have passed "trigger laws" to outlaw abortion if Roe is overturned.
Lawyers defending immigrant children in detention are relying on a court case from the 80s
Kevin Johnson, Dean and Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o Studies, University of California, Davis at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
A 15-year-old fleeing violence in El Salvador came to the US in 1985. Her case set in motion a Supreme Court decision that would affect how authorities treat children in their custody for decades.
Rising suicides in Mexico expose the mental health toll of living with extreme, chronic violence
Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, Postdoctoral Scholar at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, University of California San Diego at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 15 hours ago
Ciudad Juárez, on the US-Mexico border, has suffered high levels of deadly violence for over a decade. New suicide data reveals the severe mental health impacts of living with chronic violence.
Holocaust survivor: Jeremy Corbyn had police remove protestors at event comparing Israel to Nazis
I simply can't keep up with the wealth of Jeremy Corbyn has usedyl antisemitic words or deeds allegations. Here's the latest: 'In response to the JC's report of the event in January 2010, Rubin Katz wrote a letter, published the following week, in which he claimed: "Jeremy Corbyn walked down the aisle with a policeman pointing to those he wanted removed."' Nothing says I'm not antisemitic than pointing out Jews to be thrown out of a Holocaust meeting in parliament on Holocaust Memorial Day. More here in the JC https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/holocaust-survivor-jeremy-corbyn-... more »
ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS
Obama ordered Dijon on his hamburger. Bush fumbled in the grocery aisle. And Trump says you need an ID to buy groceries. [corrected typo] https://t.co/7O7ZI64XcV — NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) August 2, 2018 It's the *Times* bothsidesing again: Just when it seemed like Tuesday’s “Make America Great Again” rally in Florida would end with the typical punch list — Democrats, journalists, immigrants — President Trump added new spice to his usual extemporaneous potpourri by asserting that supermarket shoppers need to show valid identification in the checkout aisle. “You know,” Mr. Tr... more »
China Developed a Neutron Bomb That it Never Deployed. Why?
*Jonathan Ray* *Security, Asia* "From 1977 to 1988 China developed a neutron bomb, more formally known as an enhanced radiation weapon. Neutron bombs are specialized tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) with reduced blast effects and enhanced radiation. Similar to the BMD and ASAT puzzles, this weapon appears incompatible with China’s stated nuclear doctrine. China’s no first use doctrine emphasizes strategic forces and responding only to a nuclear attack, whereas a neutron bomb is tactical and ideal for first use against conventional forces." *My new National Defense University monogr... more »
5 Ways America and China Could Stumble Into War
*Harry J. Kazianis* *Security, Asia* "Nothing consumes my intellectual bandwidth more than the possibility of a U.S.-China war. While the idea of such a clash seems remote, the number of pressure points that could spark such a conflict are too many to outright rule out such a possibility. All the more reason why both sides need to work towards a way to reduce tensions that could lead to kinetic conflict." *Why China continues to press its claims in the area of the South China Sea makes sense once one realizes the stakes involved. Trillions of dollars worth of goods pass through ... more »
Submarines: About to Become Obsolete?
*Harry J. Kazianis* *Security, * The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one. For America and what seems like a very threatening challenge to its undersea dominance, we seem to have made that leap and are already working on possible solutions. You can’t really ask for any more than that. *One could imagine a scenario where UUVs move into A2/AD environments for surveillance missions, land attack or even hunting manned attack subs, allowing much more expensive and manned traditional submarines the ability to stay out of range. While there are obvious questions—fea... more »
In 1982, One Diesel Submarine Took on the Royal Navy (And Survived)
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * Real submarine warfare has been, thankfully, extremely rare since World War II. The Falkland experience suggests that cheap diesel submarines could be very difficult to counter even when facing well-trained and well-equipped adversaries. *The San Luis was no super-submarine, nor did it have a super-crew. Yet, benefiting from a competent commander using ordinary tactics, it still managed to run circles around a dozen antisubmarine frigates from one of the most capable navies in the world, and might easily have sunk several warships had its torpedoe... more »
China wants free-trade talks with Norway to be accelerated
02-Aug-2018 Free-trade talks between China and Norway should be sped up, the Chinese government's top diplomat told his Norwegian counterpart, as the two countries step up efforts to put a row over the Nobel Peace Prize behind them.
Singapore eyes year-end to conclude world's biggest free-trade deal
02-Aug-2018 Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Southeast Asian countries were "redoubling their efforts to conclude the RCEP … by the end of the year".
Swiss foreign investor claims it suffered US$264 million in damages caused by South Korean government
02-Aug-2018 This is the fourth ISDS dispute this year in which the South Korean government is embroiled.
Concerns over Việt Nam-EU FTA signing
02-Aug-2018 Việt Nam still needs to ratify - or commit to ratify - three conventions among eight core conventions of the International Labour Organisation required for the approval of the EVFTA by the EU
US GDP growth the past 25 years
Here are the numbers. The most dynamic were 8 years of the Bill (5 yrs of 4% or higher growth), the most pathetic were 8 years of "hope and change" (zero year of 3% or higher growth). Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Bush Jr. 1 started with 9/11 attacks in 2001, then ended with the start of US finance turmoil in 2008. Still it has 2 years of above 3% growth. Obama inherited only the 2009 continuation of US financial turmoil. 2010-2011 were already recovery years and Obama blew it, normally recovery yrs are 3%+ even 4%+ growth. 8 yrs of "hope and change" were actually 8 y... more »
Pushing China's Buttons - The United States and the American Institute in Taiwan
Here is a recent story that didn't get a great deal of traction in the Western media, largely because it took place on the same day that the Donald Trump - Kim Jong-un summit took place in Singapore: While it may sound otherwise, while the innocuously named American Institute in Taiwan (or AIT) sounds like an educational institution or a think-tank, it actually functions as the de facto American embassy in Taiwan, located in the capital city of Taipei despite its classification as a government-linked, non-profit organization. In fact, it is important enough to the United States t... more »
Northwest Passage Conditions Similar To 1845
The 1845 Franklin expedition through the Northwest Passage ended with everybody dead, after getting trapped by ice at several locations. NOVA | Arctic Passage | Tracing the Routes (printable) | PBS The ice at 3, 4, 5 on Franklin’s Route … Continue reading →
"I Fear The Day..."
That day has arrived...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Warns Iran That Force Will Be Used If They Block The Red Sea
From left: Israel Navy Commander Eli Sharvit, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot attend a naval commanders' graduation ceremony, August 1, 2018 (IDF spokesperson) *Times of Israel:* *Netanyahu warns that Israel will stop any Iranian attempt to close Red Sea* *After Yemeni rebel attack on Saudi tankers, PM tells graduates of naval commanders' course a 'determined international coalition' would act against Tehran.* Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran on Wednesday that Israel, t... more »
Untitled
*Elite colleges come to Harvard’s defense in affirmative action case* Many of the nation’s most selective universities came to Harvard’s defense on Monday against a lawsuit that attacks its use of race in admissions, underscoring the potential that the case could upend diversity efforts across higher education. While Harvard’s admissions policies may be at the center of the affirmative action lawsuit brought by Students for Fair Admissions, colleges and universities made it clear in court filings that Harvard’s race-conscious practices are far from unusual and urged the court to ... more »
Ontario News Now
There's a new news channel on the block. It's called Ontario News Now. It is owned and operated by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party -- and funded by Ontario taxpayers. Amara McLaughlin writes: The Progressive Conservative government's production of a TV-news-style video under the banner of "Ontario News Now" is a "pure example of fake news" that aims to undercut the pillars of democracy and muzzle media, political policy experts say. "Having a separate news channel kind of corrodes the function of the democratic media, because it assumes that the media isn't able to fulf... more »
Here’s Why 3D Printing Guns Are A Win For World Peace and a Potential Death Blow To Tyranny
[image: guns] As the debate over 3D-printed guns wages on, most people are ignoring the implications they have against fighting oppression and tyranny across the globe. The post Here’s Why 3D Printing Guns Are A Win For World Peace and a Potential Death Blow To Tyranny appeared first on The Free Thought Project.
Untitled
*Hot summer on the way in Australia: map shows just how bad Australia's drought really is* *These predictions are just speculation based on models that frequently get it wrong. It's just one of the routine scares that the BoM put out regularly to promote their global warming beliefs.And note again the North/South split in rainfall, a regular oscillation. Most of NSW and half of Victoria (the South) is in drought but rain is fine in nearly all Queensland (the North). We have had quite a few rainy nights in Brisbane (Qld.) during July, even though our winters tend to be dry. The r... more »
BWorld 236, Two years of Duterte energy policies
* This is my column in BusinessWorld on July 26, 2018. For the past two years, the Duterte administration has produced a mix of bad and good policies from the perspective of market-oriented reforms envisioned in the EPIRA law of 2001. Four recent stories in BusinessWorld would serve as jump-off points of this assessment: 1. Finance dep’t studying carbon-emissions tax (July 20). 2. Flawed DoE assumption results in baseload bloat (July 16) By Roberto Verzola. 3. More flaws in the DoE plan raise baseload bloat to 103% (July 23) By Roberto Verzola. 4. Our looming electricity shortage (... more »
Free college tools and courses 2018-2019
There are many free courses on the internet, and I’ve taken 2 from Coursera, one of which I completed (Medical Statistics) and one I didn’t (Gut microbiota). Today I came across a listing of free courses at Ivy League colleges https://qz.com/1263050/here-are-300-free-ivy-league-university-courses-you-can-take-online-right-now/ at Awareness Watch http://awarenesswatch.virtualprivatelibrary.net/V16N8.pdf and looked through the Harvard listing for the Book in medieval liturgies. “When we think of liturgy today, we imagine short, formal, congregational events happening periodically... more »
South African Government Readies To Change The Constitution So White Farmlands Can Be Seized Without Compensation
*Newsweek:* *South African President Pushes to Seize Farms Without Compensation, Sparking Opposition Anger* South Africa’s opposition has reacted angrily to a push from the country’s ruling party to change the constitution to allow the expropriation of land from farmers without compensation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa for announcing that his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party would try to push through the amendment to Article 25. About one-tenth of land in white ownership has been transferred to black ownership since the end of... more »
Aristotle on The Motivation of Greek Science
The motivation of Greek science is summed up in a passage by Aristotle in his first book of *Metaphysics*. Here’s the passage (as quoted by Benjamin Farrington in *Greek Science*; page 130-131): That it is not a productive science is clear, even from the consideration of the earliest philosophies. For men were first led to study philosophy, as indeed they are today, by wonder. At first they felt wonder about the more superficial problems; afterwards they advanced gradually by perplexing themselves over greater difficulties; e.g., the behaviour of the moon, the phenomena of the sun,... more »
Unrest In Zimbabwe Over Election Results
*DW:* *Zimbabwe: Deadly clashes erupt over election 'results manipulation'* Deaths were reported in Zimbabwe after soldiers opened fire at protesters in the capital. President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged "peace" as his rivals blamed the government of tampering with election results. At least three people were killed in Harare on Wednesday as anti-government protesters clashed with security forces over the results of Monday's election. Reporters at the scene saw armored vehicles and helicopters deployed in Zimbabwe's capital, as protesters fled from soldiers firing live rounds. By ev... more »
Are You Enjoying The Trump V Koch War? You Should
Trump always seems to make sure that there are people in his circle who are bigger morons than he is. It probably makes him feel smart. So is he ready to get rid of the nightly TV shows' clownish oaf? Also the morning shows'. It probably takes the psychic pressure off him that it's Giuliani getting lambasted on CNN and MSNBC in primetime everyday. Don McGahan, on the other hand, is an actual lawyer, not a p.r. flack. Gabriel Sherman in *Vanity Fair* yesterday: McGahn's hatred for Rudy is hotter than 1,000 burning suns. He wants Trump to fire him. Trump, we're hearing, isn't happy w... more »
Exploring Five Great Places in Central Brazil’s Chapada dos Veadeiros
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Chapada dos Veadeiros is a national park located in the state of Goias, in central Brazil, famous for its stunning waterfalls, crystals and unique flora and fauna. Created in 1961 by President Kubitscheck, it has since been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Sight in 2001. […]
“Nobel Prize of Math” Medal Stolen Minutes After Ceremony in Rio
By Nelson Belen, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a startling turn of events, the Fields Medal, the medal often described as the “Nobel Prize of Mathematics,” was reported stolen a mere thirty minutes after being awarded to Caucher Birkar at the International Congress of Mathematicians held at the Riocentro convention center in […]
The Power of Awareness for Mindfulness and Manifestation
The Power of Awareness is one of the most powerful tools in the toolkit of developing mindfulness and mindful manifestation.
Stepping Bravely Into a World You Don’t Know
Opening through the normality of what we accept as ‘real’, presents enormous risk and challenge.
John Oliver Mocks Zuckerberg’s Vow To ‘Get Facebook Back To What It Was Built For’
Facebook is trying to convince us that it has learned from its mistakes and wants to 'return' to being simply an application that serves to unite 'friends'.
Boys and their (highly explosive) toys
Ever wanted to blow up a toilet? Well, that idea - as well as blowing up several other things - occurred to two British filmmakers who run the "Slow Mo Guys" channel on YouTube: and thanks to a link at Daddy Warpig's place, here it is in glorious Technicolor. Watch the volume on your speakers - the speech is often quiet, but the bangs are a lot louder! That's the most thoroughly destroyed toilet I've ever seen. Even the after-effects of a Texas chili contest wouldn't be that devastating! Peter
Climate change threatens puffin colony–BBC Fake News
By Paul Homewood Well, the BBC said it, so it must be right!! https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/44815636 Meanwhile, off the Welsh coast puffins are continuing to thrive, according to the latest count on Skomer Island: https://skomerisland.blogspot.com/2018/07/ I wonder why the BBC forgot to mention the industrial harvesting of sand eel by Denmark in […]
The Day the F-117 Crashed: In 1992, America's Top Secret Stealth Fighter Fell from the Sky
*Joseph Trevithick* *Security, * [image: Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk 79-7082 in experimental grey motif. Later, this motif was used by the Air Force on the F-22 Raptor] Sitting in her trailer home fewer than 20 miles from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Carolyn Massy didn’t think much of it when she heard a military jet fly overhead. But on the hot summer night of Aug. 4, 1992, she heard one loud bang — and then another. *In 2008, the flying branch officially retired the jets and put them in storage at Tonopah. Five years later, aviation enthusiasts spotted at least two of ... more »
Russia's MiG-31 Fighter: Moscow's Old Mach 3 Monster
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* In the last decade of the Cold War, the MiG-31, codenamed Foxhound by NATO, enjoyed a certain mystique in the West. The same grainy photos aerial photos of the high speed fighter would show up in aviation publications, along with ominous speculation over its capabilities. But unlike its peers—the MiG-29 and Su-27—the Foxhound never fully emerged from obscurity after the Cold War. *The MiG-31 is emblematic of an older design paradigm envisioning super-fast interceptors traversing vast distances to knock out encroaching bombers and missiles be... more »
Musical Interlude: Two Steps From Hell, “Evergreen Extended”
Two Steps From Hell, “Evergreen Extended” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGYsq7cbVZA
Lemur extinction: Vast majority of species under threat.
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Urban heat island effect may shield cities from extreme cold
Jiachuan Yang and Elie Bou-Zeid. Should Cities Embrace Their Heat Islands as Shields from Extreme Cold? JAMC, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-17-0265.1 The higher temperature in cities relative to their rural surroundings, known as the urban heat island (UHI), is one of the most well documented and … Continue reading →
Prevnar May be Increasing Resistant STREP Strain
Note: Is the resistant strep appearing as a result of the pneumococcal vaccine the strain that causes PANDAS, a previously unheard of infection that presents as severe OCD and often violent "mental illness"? The article says "effect," not side effect....
Joan Shenton of Sacrificial Virgins HPV Vaccine Film Application for Australia Visa Held Up for Controversial Views
"Must meet the character requirements...." Australian government. "Any risk they may pose..." Journalist denied VISA to Australia for "controversial views." A movie about HPV vaccine. You can watch a video on Facebook here The day before the Sacrificial Virgins tour...
Rio Nightlife Guide for Thursday, August 2, 2018
We have the top three picks for this Thursday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. PARTY: The Love Boat Party @ New Mariuzinn (Copacabana) – The Love Boat Party at Copacabana’s New Mariuzinn is one of the craziest parties in Rio and will surely prepare […]
Carr Fire – And All Fires
An important point about wild fires and how to think about them, using the Carr Fire as example. Continue reading →
US ‘threatening language’ won’t benefit anyone – Erdogan
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:25 A.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Ankara on Wednesday that the threatening language of the United Stated will not benefit anyone, after Washington imposed sanctions on two leading Turkish government officials this week. Erdogan stated that Turkey has worked cooperatively with the US in regards to the NATO interventions […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Defense Minister visits southwest Syria after army victory (video)
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:10 A.M.) – The Syrian Minister of Defense General ‘Ali ‘Abdullah Ayoub made his first official visit to the recently liberated areas in southwest Syria this week, SANA reported on Wednesday. According to the SANA report, General Ayoub visited the armed forces in the Daraa Governorate to inspect his forces and commemorate the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
‘I am ready to go a thousand times to prison for Palestine’ – Ahed Tamimi
Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi talked about her time in detention after being released from Israeli prison, during an interview in Nabi Salih on Wednesday. “Indeed a prison is a very difficult thing. But thank God I found myself there because of my beliefs. And I am ready to go a thousand times to prison for […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Largest rebel coalition formed in northern Syria
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 A.M.) – The largest rebel coalition has been formed in northern Syria this week, following the Syrian opposition’s defeat in the southern region of the country. According to a joint statement released by the new coalition, Jabhat Tahrir Souriya (Ahrar Al-Sham and Nouriddeen Al-Zinki movements) is merging with Liwaa Suqour Al-Sham, Jaysh […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
"The Magicians Sheep"
*"The Magicians Sheep"* "There is an Eastern tale that speaks about a very rich magician who had a great many sheep. But at the same time this magician was very mean. He did not want to hire shepherds, nor did he want to erect a fence about the pasture where the sheep were grazing. The sheep consequently often wandered into the forest, fell into ravines and so on, and above all, they ran away, for they knew that the magician wanted their flesh and their skins, and this they did not like. At last the magician found a remedy. He hypnotized his sheep and suggested to them, first of a... more »
The Greek Disaster: State Inertia and the Market Economy
In Greece we witnessed this repulsive, internally-generated tragedy in all its horrifying glory. Unfortunately we may soon see more far-reaching consequences... The post The Greek Disaster: State Inertia and the Market Economy appeared first on The Duran.
BRICTS world order. Turkey moves towards BRICS, as US sanctions Turkish officials (Video)
The Duran – News in Review – Episode 69. The post BRICTS world order. Turkey moves towards BRICS, as US sanctions Turkish officials (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
Trump Threatens Turkey With Sanctions. What If He’s Serious?
The point is, US patience with Turkey seems to be wearing thin. Turkey is no longer a ‘swing’ state in the US’ Middle East strategies, given the poor state of Turkish-Israeli relations, Erdogan’s ‘pivot to Russia’ and the overall trust deficit in Turkish-American relationship. The post Trump Threatens Turkey With Sanctions. What If He’s Serious? appeared first on OrientalReview.org.
"At A Time Like This..."
“At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. Oh! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes ag... more »
"The Number Of Americans Living In Their Vehicles "Explodes" As The Middle Class Collapses"
*"The Number Of Americans Living In Their Vehicles * *"Explodes" As The Middle Class Collapses"* by Michael Snyder "If the U.S. economy is really doing so well, then why is homelessness rising so rapidly? As the gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase, the middle class is steadily eroding. In fact, I recently gave my readers 15 signs that the middle class in America is being systematically destroyed. More Americans are falling out of the middle class and into poverty with each passing day, and this is one of the big reasons why the number of homeless is surging. For ... more »
Russia Wants to Sell Some of Its Most Deadly Cruise Missiles to Vietnam, China and India
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * Moscow is hoping to export its Kalibr cruise missile-armed Project 22800 Karakurt corvettes to Vietnam, China, India and others according to Russian officials. However, if the Kremlin does choose to export the vessel and its Kalibr cruise missile armament, it might find itself in contravention of the Missile Technology Control Regime, which is a voluntary understanding among 35 states—including Russia—to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. Moscow is hoping to export its Kalibr cruise missile-armed Project 22800 Karakurt corvet... more »
X22 Report Spotlight, “Exposing The Truth Comes With Pain, Confusion & Proof, Divided Becomes One”
X22 Report Spotlight, “Exposing The Truth Comes With Pain, Confusion & Proof, Divided Becomes One” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32pem2DanH8
New Solar Capacity Dries Up
Originally posted on NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT: By Paul Homewood ? ? ?https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables ? Subsidies to new installations of solar power via the Renewable Obligation scheme were withdrawn with effect from April 2016, although schemes already in progress were given leeway. The latest BEIS figures for new capacity additions show just how…
The Hoover Dam pumped hydro proposal
From Euan Mearns’ Energy Matters Posted on August 1, 2018 by Roger Andrews The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) plans to add a pumped hydro system to the existing Hoover dam hydro plant to help store California’s excess solar and wind generation and to increase the dam’s capacity factor, which is currently […]
July Arctic Ice Surprise
Originally posted on Science Matters: Early in July, a divergence of 2018 surplus ice resembled a hockey stick temporarily. Though the blade later drooped downward, ice extent remained above average throughout July. The graph above shows 2018 300k km2 above the 11 year average for July (2007 to 2017 inclusive). Only 2015 and 2008 had…
Qanon Goes Mainstream
I laid off for three days or so on all the Q traffic and not because it was quiet. More that much of what was been covered was not immediate. All that has changed today. The Mainstream media has finally allowed stories to be run. all appear to paint Q as a conspiracy theory as they also did with Pizza gate and then uniformly ignored the thousands of arrests that have since taken place. Q is powerful because he is clearly in the loop. Now read this drop just below us here and in my top image. This explains the operating approach used by Mil Intel. Understand Q as an operat... more »
Unborn Babies – Sensitive Beings That Feel and See
This item redresses the false narrative sold for decades arising out of simple ignorance and also from wishful thinking that life at some point can be ignored and that abuse is also no great matter. Throw in a strong political movement inspired by feminists and half the population was also effectively shouted down. Thus we have a situation were votes for an alternative are always in the minority and easily discouraged. We are only now waking up to the real fact that what we now have is deeply unsatisfactory. The solution will not be simple either. Yet fundamentally it demand... more »
Meet the Preacher Behind Moral Mondays
Far too many problems have two bad responses along with a confused middle or a better alternative lacking a champion. Voting issues are right up there simply because we have a long and continuing history of gerrymandering, voter suppression and convenient documentation problems used by both sides to affect outcomes. One might think that after two hundred years that all this could be well thought out and best practice in place. This is a case where civil disobedience is actually appropriate to initiate a continuing conversation is search of maximum fairness and a movement to ... more »
Ringmakers of Saturn 9 - Iapetus Mystery Unraveled
There is a history of extreme events here and zero evidence of volcanic drivers to explain away any of it. Again we piece together evidence of super scaled machines causing all the activities. More precisely unexplained occasional evidence is itself evidence of a suitably scaled Deus ex Machina. Otherwise you are trying to have it both ways while working against entropy. That is the big point for both this moon-let and the last one. Entropy is being countered and that applies to the whole ring complex. The only thing that does that is intelligence. Otherwise do note the equa... more »
Tips & Notices – August 2018
The Tips page for August 2018 Continue reading →
Midnight Meme Of The Day!
*by Noah* Winning!!!! So much winning your head will spin. Believe me! Deal making is sooo easy. I wrote *The Art Of The Deal!* I'm really, really good at this. Believe me! Preparation? I'm always prepared! I know this stuff! Believe me! Kim will be eating out of my hand! Pre-conditions to the meeting? Not needed! I'll meet Kim Jong-un anywhere, anytime. No conditions. Next up? Trump hotels in North Korea. Winning!!!!
Seymour Hersh on novichok, Russian links to Donald Trump and 9/11
Veteran journalist Seymour Hersh talks about JFK, Vietnam, Syria, the Skripals poisoning and the current face-off with Russia
In Times of Material Darkness, Love Rules Supreme
A sign of preponderance of material darkness is cannibalism. At first we consume one another metaphorically and then literally, which explains all the zombie movies
Iranian interior minister says Trump is not trustworthy enough for talks: Fars news
Given that Trump has already pulled out of the previously agreed nuclear deal is it any wonder that Iran doesn't consider Trump "trustworthy"?
Iran readying massive military exercise in Persian Gulf, officials say
U.S. officials are concerned following recent Iranian threats that the drill may be aimed at demonstrating Iran's ability to close the Straits of Hormuz
VIPS to Trump: Intel on Iran Could be CATASTROPHIC
Veteran intelligence professionals warn President Trump that military action over Iran could be CATASTROPHIC. Here is a copy of their warning
South Africa to change constitution to legalize taking away white farmers’ land
the situation in Zimbabwe appears to be about to replay in South Africa. With constitutional amendments opening the way for land grabs without compensation
The Nazis Were Never Destroyed
"Martin Bormann: Nazi in Exile" is without peer in detail, accuracy, and courage in probing the most important and successfully concealed story of the 20h century.
Physics will Destroy Satanism
Kevin Boyle on why he thinks the forces of darkness, and those among us who serve such powers, will ultimately be overcome
Reagan Appointed Judge In Manafort Case Doesn’t Like The Term Oligarch, Calling These Robber Barons “Merely Rich”
Let’s call Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs what they are: Robber Barons. However, it is alarming that this Reagan appointed Judge … Continue reading →
Judge On Manafort Case ( T.S. Ellis) And Trump Sister Both Appointed US District Court Judges By Reagan
Like Judge T.S. Ellis, III, who is the judge on the Manafort case, Trump’s sister was nominated U.S. District Court … Continue reading →
Does cross-Strait tourism induce peace? Evidence from survey data on Chinese tourists and non-tourists"
*On the 193 in Hualien, one of my favorite roads.* From "Does cross-Strait tourism induce peace? Evidence from survey data on Chinese tourists and non-tourists" Hsin-Hsin Pan, Wen-Chin Wu, and Yu-Tzung Chang, International Relations of the Asia-Pacific Volume 0, (2018) 1–33. The authors surveyed Chinese who had never been to Taiwan (China sample), and Chinese who had come as group tourists and independent tourists (Taiwan sample). Figure 3 presents part of our preliminary findings. *There is quite a substantial difference between the China sample and the Taiwan sample where the pac... more »
Actor Patrick Dempsey Warns of Online Scam Soliciting Money
Actor Patrick Dempsey says someone is impersonating him online and asking his fans to give money to either him or his Maine-based nonprofit.
Grieving Orca Carrying Dead Calf Highlights Plight of Endangered Whales
Researchers have observed a 20-year-old whale pushing her dead young along and propping it up while swimming for miles in the waters of Washington state and British Columbia.
Do Dramatic Videos Show the Earth’s Crust “Moving” for the “First Time”?
Two unrelated videos, one of a large landslide and the other of a frozen debris flow, have been shared across social media with misleading descriptions.
Watch A Russian Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Obliterate A Mock Enemy Vessel
*WNU editor: *For more information go here .... *Watch Russian Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Destroy Mock Enemy Vessel* (Zero Hedge).
The U.S. - China Trade War Intensifies
Read more of USTR Lighthizer's Statement on Section 301 Action: https://t.co/kYIrbRgDKe pic.twitter.com/dFfQTvC3RK — USTR (@USTradeRep) 1 August 2018 *DW:* *US to apply more pressure on China with new tariff hike* US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said the scope of tariffs on China is set to increase. The measure would come amid an ongoing trade dispute and after Trump threatened to apply levies on all Chinese goods. Senior officials in US President Donald Trump's administration said on Wednesday that proposed tariff rates on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods would ... more »
U.S. Welcomes The Remains Of Presumed War Dead From North Korea
Vice President Mike Pence and Admiral Phil Davidson, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander, honor the remains of U.S. soldiers from the Korean War at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., August 1, 2018. REUTERS/Hugh Gentry *Reuters: **U.S. welcomes home remains of presumed war dead from North Korea* WASHINGTON/OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (Reuters) - In a solemn ceremony, the United States welcomed home on Wednesday human remains it said presumably included Americans killed in the 1950-1953 Korean War, and thanked North Korea for making good on a June summit pledge to ha... more »
China Has A Plan To Use Artificial Intelligence In Diplomacy
China's President Xi Jinping (C) talks with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and China's State Councillor Yang Jiechi before a meeting with Bangladesh's President Abdul Hamid (not in picture), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 8, 2014. REUTERS/Parker Song/Pool *Stephen Chen, SCMP:* *Artificial intelligence, immune to fear or favour, is helping to make China’s foreign policy* *The programme draws on a huge amount of data, with information ranging from cocktail-party gossip to images taken by spy satellites, to contribute to strategies in Chinese diplomacy.* A... more »
Syrian flag raises over Nawa after city freed from militant control
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:20 A.M.) – Residents of Nawa in western Daraa took to the streets on Tuesday, to voice their support for government forces, after the city was freed from militant control last month. Local residents gathered in the city’s centre, where they hoisted the Syrian national flag. Some held up portraits of Syrian President Bashar […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Rigoberta Menchú, women Nobel Laureates, urge Jerry Brown to transition off fossil fuels
. Photo of Rigoberta Menchú Tum of Guatemala courtesy of the Nobel Women's Initiative Rigoberta Menchú and other women Nobel Laureates urge Jerry Brown to transition off fossil fuels By Dan Bacher Censored News A group of Women Nobel Laureates including Rigoberta Menchú Tum of Guatemala today sent a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown urging him to "begin managed and just
Musical Interlude: Chuck Wild, Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)”
Chuck Wild, Liquid Mind, “When Time Slows (Born Star)” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogldA2Gxl3g
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Point your telescope toward the high flying constellation Pegasus and you can find this expanse of Milky Way stars and distant galaxies. Centered on NGC 7814, the pretty field of view would almost be covered by a full moon. NGC 7814 is sometimes called the Little Sombrero for its resemblance to the brighter more famous M104, the Sombrero Galaxy. *Click image for larger size.* Both Sombrero and Little Sombrero are spiral galaxies seen edge-on, and both have extensive central bulges cut by a thinner disk with dust lanes in silhouette. In fact, NGC 7814 is some 40 million light-years... more »
Chet Raymo, “Strange”
*“Strange”* by Chet Raymo “In a review in the “New York Times” Book Review, Daniel Handler writes: “And strange? Well, let's get this straight: All great books are strange. Every lasting work of literature since the very weird "Beowulf" has been strange, not only because it grapples with the strangeness around us, but also because the effect of originality is startling, making even the oldest books feel like brand new stories.” Strange: Out-of-the-ordinary, unusual, curious. "The strangeness around us," says Handler. There is a paradox here. What could be less strange than the wo... more »
“Loving Each Other”
* “Loving Each Other”* by Leo Buscaglia “Emotional detachment, maintaining our distance from others, is being prescribed as a solution for avoiding pain. Neglect and abuse of children and the aged is a growing problem. Social and religious institutions, which in the past helped to set standards of behavior and brought people together in companionship, are actively downgraded. Individualism, independence, and personal freedom are valued above love, commitment, and cooperation. Examining the complex nature involved in loving each other (the dynamic and ever-changing nature of two or ... more »
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