10 pm MST
Musical Interlude: 2002, “Sea of Dreams”
2002, “Sea of Dreams”
“The Meaning of Life”
Sam Harris, “The Meaning of Life”
Occasional, Timely, Repost: "Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent" By Melanie Curtin
*"Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent"* By Melanie Curtin "Everyone knows they need to manage their stress. When things get difficult at work, school, or in your personal life, you can use as many tips, tricks, and techniques as you can get to calm your nerves. So here's a science-backed one: make a playlist of the 10 songs found to be the most relaxing on earth. Sound therapies have long been popular as a way of relaxing and restoring one's health. For centuries, indigenous cultures have used music to enhance well-being and improve health c... more »
Can the United Kingdom Manage Not to Anger Both America and China Over Huawei?
*Stratfor Worldview* *Security, Europe* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2DQE9WMQH7&share=true] A foolish decision. *What Happened* London is attempting to compromise between its trade and security interests with the United States and its ability to compete technologically in the years to come. The British government has decided to grant Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies a limited role in the development of its 5G network. Despite labeling it a "high-risk vendor" and barring the company from operating near high... more »
Explained: The Artificial Intelligence Race is an Arms Race
*Crispin Rovere* *Security, * Whoever wins it will have an advantage in every conflict around the world. Graham Allison alerts us to artificial intelligence being the epicenter of today’s superpower arms race. Drawing heavily on Kai-Fu Lee’s basic thesis, Allison draws the battlelines: the United States vs. China, across the domains of human talent, big data, and government commitment. Allison further points to the absence of controls, or even dialogue, on what AI means for strategic stability. With implied resignation, his article acknowledges the smashing of Pandora’s Box, not... more »
Amazing: Scientists Found The Planet's Oldest Asteroid Strike In Australia
Aaron J. Cavosie, Chris Kirkland, Nick Timms, Thomas Davison, Timmons Erickson at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Aaron J. Cavosie, Chris Kirkland, Nick Timms, Thomas Davison, Timmons Erickson* *Security, Australia* How did it affect the globe? The world’s oldest remaining asteroid crater is at a place called Yarrabubba, southeast of the town of Meekatharra in Western Australia. Our new study puts a precise age on the cataclysmic impact – showing Yarrabubba is the oldest known crater and dating it at the right time to trigger the end of an ancient glacial period and the warming of the entire planet. *What we found at Yarrabubba* Yarrrabubba holds the eroded remnants of a crater 70 kilome... more »
Forget Trump: Meet the 5 Worst Presidents In American History
*Robert W. Merry* *Domestic Politics, United States* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC2H8E91FMMQ&share=true] Can you guess who? *Key Point:* Bad wars sink presidencies. In the spring of 2006, midway through George W. Bush’s second presidential term, Princeton historian Sean Wilentz published a piece in *Rolling Stone* that posed a provocative question: Was Bush the worst president ever? He said the best-case scenario for Bush was "colossal historical disgrace’’ and added: "Many historians are now wondering whether Bush, in fact, ... more »
Are We Really Trying to Decouple From China?
*James Pethokoukis* *Politics, Asia* [image: FILE PHOTO: FILE PICTURE: A worker stands by a dock next to the Huangpu river in Shanghai, Nov. 25, 2014. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo] And is it worth it? Let’s assume the critics of the US-China trade conflict are correct. Let’s assume the research backs up their pessimism. For example: A recent Federal Reserve study found “U.S. manufacturing industries more exposed to tariff increases experience relative reductions in employment,” as the “positive effect from import protection” was more than offset by “larger negative effects from r... more »
The History of Tennis Is the History of the Tennis Racket
*Thomas Allen* *Security, * [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_UP1EG1V0QF9OC&share=true] Rackets are pretty important in tennis. Obviously. The start of the Australian Open, the first tennis grand slam of the year, signals detailed discussions of metrics such as points won, serve speeds and shot placement. While many of these performance metrics can, of course, be attributed to the player, we should also consider the important role played by the racket. Tennis is an old sport with a rich history of technological development in equip... more »
Looks Don't Kill: The Navy's Zumwalt-Class Stealth Destroyers Aren't Ready To Fight
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * They were made to fight weaker countries. *Key Point:* This surface warfare role may best leverage the *Zumwalt’s* stealth capabilities, allowing it to range ahead of the fleet and penetrate “anti-access” zones threatened by long-range anti-ship missiles. In January 2019, the Navy will commission its second hi-tech *Zumwalt-*class stealth destroyer, the *USS Michael Monsoor*. The third and last, *USS Lyndon B. Johnson* was launched this December 2018 and will be commissioned in 2022. Traditionally, warships are tailored to perform specific mission... more »
Of Cockfights and Nicky Campbell
Douglas Murray's latest Spectator piece is a great read. It tells the tale of how Douglas fell foul of a very unfriendly and censorious left-wing, feminist academic on a Radio 3 discussion programme. Because of her feminist views, she herself has now fallen foul of very unfriendly and censorious people - namely transgender militants. And it's even worse for her, as she fears physical violence from them and has two security guards to protect her, ironically both men. Douglas says, whether she likes it or not, he's prepared to literally take a punch for her in order to protect he... more »
Impeachment and our role as citizen observers
The following is my own opinions and do not reflect those of others. I encourage every citizen to at least have a passing knowledge of government and how such things as impeachment works. There is no longer an excuse for not doing so with so much information at our fingertips. Learning is not just a privilege but should be a right of all humans to follow without censorship or deliberate lies. This is a bit of information I found on the topic of impeachment. It is open to the interpretation of readers obviously based on opinion, personal interest, and area … Continue reading →
Springtime For Donald and USA
(Optional soundtrack here) Trump is getting sprung from impeachment charges, and the shadow-seeing groundhog is predicting an early spring. The only question is whether the second death of the Russiagate Narrative will be permanent. Or whether, like the Bill Murray "Groundhog Day" movie, it will keep repeating itself like a zombie with bad acid reflux disease. What definitely does keep finding new life is the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Right before the eleventh anniversary of the Staten Island groundhog's brave attack on Mayor Mike Bloomberg's wagging index finger, the oligarch-heavy D... more »
Keeping costs down can make extraction firms more profitable
To become successful in the growing and, thus, highly competitive extraction space, it's important for companies to keep their production expenses low. Keeping costs down can make extraction firms more profitable is a post from: Marijuana Business Daily: Financial, Legal & Cannabusiness news for cannabis entrepreneurs
Four Great Congressional Candidates-- No Deadlines
Blue America is trying something new today. Usually when we write to our members, we're asking everyone to consider one candidate, most often one we just endorsed. Thing is, we've been vetting a large number of congressional candidates for the last few months and this past week we endorsed 4 of them, Robin Wilt in the Rochester, New York area, Nabilah Islam in the suburbs north of Atlanta, Tomas Ramos in the Bronx and Jim Harper in northwest Indiana. Each of the 4 is the most progressive candidate running in their race. Robin, Tomas and Jim are in safe blue districts. Nabilah is ... more »
Police: 2 Injured, Suspect Killed in London Terror Stabbings
London police officers shot and killed a suspect after at least two people were stabbed in what authorities are investigating as a terror attack.
UK police shoot a man after terrorism-related stabbing attack
Just In - 12 hours ago
British police confirm they have shot a man after a "terror-related" incident in which several people were stabbed on a high street in London's south.
Salvini inches closer to leading Italy (Video)
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 452. More The post Salvini inches closer to leading Italy (Video) appeared first on The Duran.
SUNDAY SCREENING: ‘The Price of Oslo’ (2013)
*SUNDAY SCREENING* | After decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, a prospect for peace emerged, but it fell short.
Episode #313 – ‘President In-Law’ with guests Robert Inlakesh and Basil Valentine
*SUNDAY WIRE* | Strap yourselves in and lower the blast shield – this is your brave new world…
The Mysterious Michael D’Andrea: Was CIA’s Iran Chief Really Shot Down Over Afghanistan?
*Philip Giraldi* | Is the story true, or is Iran issuing an indirect warning to US operatives by sowing media speculation?
Ball State Faculty Want Tenure Review of Professor Who Called Police on Black Student
Several Ball State University faculty last Thursday demanded a post-tenure review of a professor who called the police on a Black student because he didn't switch seats in the classroom.
Terrorists and Technological Innovation
Anwar al-Awlaki appears in a YouTube video before his death in 2011. Photo credit: YouTube via Flickr user Magharebia https://www.flickr.com/photos/magharebia/6207480637; CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ *Often when terrorists use new technology, they bungle it—the new bomb design does not detonate or the new video technology fails to upload. Yet terrorists often quickly master new technologies and use them in unanticipated ways. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Matt Shear of Valens Global, along with Colin Clarke of The Soufan Center, propose a new way of thinki... more »
Grace Defined
* Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HvFXHOY7Yo*
SAS Troops Have Their Names And Personal Details Exposed On A Running App
*Image:* Strava is supposed to record only workouts. Members of the site, which is used in 195 countries, then share their results with other users *Daily Mail*: *SAS troops have their names and personal details exposed... by Strava running app used by 50million people* * Elite troops are entitled to lifelong anonymity due to dangerous secret missions * But their names and personal details were revealed on sports app Strava * Nick Waters revealed security failure to horrified senior officers at Sandhurst Special Air Service soldiers have been identified on a fitness app used by 5... more »
Vi Ber Dig Balansera Gud Och Människa Inom Dig - En offert från M.N. Hopkins
*Photo by Lovell D'souza - **Översatt av Ulf BrÃ¥nell**Vi ber dig balansera Gud och Människa inom dig, och därmed ta nästa steg i människans evolution. För när ljuset och mörkret blandas, kommer Ljuset dominera och ha det största inflytandet. Ett flöde av ljus till mörker kommer att förvandla mörker till ljus.* *© ** M.N. Hopkins*
Front-line footage of Syrian Army troops taking on jihadists in west Aleppo
Fighting took place across the countryside of Aleppo on Saturday as Syrian government forces attempted to seize control of a strategic highway that links the capital of Damascus with the northern part of the country. The latest push has been accelerated in the last two weeks, as the government forces seized control of the key […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Turkish military attempts to block Syrian Army’s path to Saraqib
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – Over 200 Turkish military vehicles have entered northwestern Syria today amid a large-scale advance by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the Idlib and Aleppo governorates. READ ALSO: Syrian Army T-90 tank hit with missile and keeps moving – video According to a military source in nearby Hama, the Turkish […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Israeli forces launch large-scale military exercises across multiple fronts
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are conducting large-scale military maneuvers at multiple fronts, an army spokesperson announced on Sunday. READ ALSO: Israel made decision to strike Isramic Jihad command 10 days ago – Netanyahu The Israeli army spokesperson, Avichai Adraei, said on Sunday morning that military maneuvers were launched at […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Syrian Army captures 2 towns in southern Aleppo, foils jihadist counter-attack
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured another two towsn in the southern countryside of the Aleppo Governorate on Saturday, a military source told Al-Masdar News this afternoon. READ ALSO: Syrian Army approaches Aleppo town where jihadists executed several soldiers in 2013 According to the source, the Syrian Army captured the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Over 70 Turkish-backed Syrian militants killed in Libya: LNA
Over 70 Syrian mercenaries sent by Turkey to Libya have been killed in the fighting on the side of the Government of National Accord near Tripoli, Ewan Libya news portal reported, citing the Libyan National Army and medical sources. READ ALSO: Turkish-backed Libyan forces close main airbase after LNA imposes no-fly-zone “The number of killed […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Large Turkish military convoy enters Idlib as Syrian troops advance towards Saraqib: video
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – A large Turkish military convoy was filmed on Sunday entering the Idlib Governorate from the Kafr Lousen crossing. READ ALSO: Turkish military reinforcements head to Idlib after Syrian Army attack The Turkish military convoy reportedly consisted of more than 50 armored vehicles that were bound for one of their many […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Jihadist offensive in west Aleppo proves costly as Syrian Army troops stifle attack
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels launched a big counter-offensive in western Aleppo on Saturday, as their forces attempted to crack the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses in the strategic Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter. READ ALSO: Syrian Army attempts to advance at several fronts in Aleppo as offensive intensifies Led by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Iran’s IRGC claims US troops’ ‘brain injuries’ were metaphor for death
According to a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, cited by Press TV, the alleged number of “brain injuries” suffered by American soldiers in the wake of an Iranian retaliatory strike on air bases may actually stand for the number of fatalities. READ ALSO: Iranian military seizes weapons smuggled from Iraq “We conclude that […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source
Democrat racism: Bloomberg vs Cory Booker edition
Cory Booker, a Black Senator, asked the DNC to change the debate rules so that he could participate a few months ago. The DNC said no. But now Michael Bloomberg, a white billionaire, asked the DNC to change the rules so that he could participate in the upcoming debate and they said sure. Now did the DNC members vote on this? No. It was Tom Perez's decision. I'm no big fan of either Booker or Bloomberg but I certainly don't think that the color of a Democrat's skin should determine how the DNC treats them. Of course it's possible that the $325,000 that Bloomberg recently gave the ... more »
Iran News Links 30 January – 2 February 2020
2 February 2020 • 15:00 — The New Dark Age There may be some duplication due to cross-posting and may be updated throughout the day, so please check back France: Riot Police Beat Up Striking Firefighters https://popularresistance.org/france-riot-police-beat-up-striking-firefighters/ Who’d Want to Be Federica Mogherini? And Who’d Want Her Job? EU Foreign Policy and Other Stupid Questions, … Continue reading Iran News Links 30 January – 2 February 2020
Labour’s Leadership Candidates Need a Reckoning, Not a Whitewash
One of the most striking things about periods of profound political upheaval is the inconsistency. The Corbyn moment, which has (for the moment at least) transformed both Labour and the political perspectives of the left as a whole, is no different.
The Prosecution of Julian Assange and Its Impact on the Freedom of the Press
On 30 January 2020, at the National Press Club’s First Amendment Lounge in Washington D.C., a panel of experts discussed the Trump Administration’s indictment of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and the impact Assange’s extradition and prosecution could have on the freedom of the press.
The Super Bowl’s Biggest Losers: The Boys and Girls Being Sold for Sex 20 Times a Day
[image: children]Trafficked children are being advertised on the internet, transported on the interstate, and bought and sold in swanky hotels.
Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. - Andrew Jackson highlights how the Libs' signature tax baubles are accomplishing little while costing significantly more than projected. And Karen Stewart joins the ranks of the wealthy looking to pay more of their fair share in taxes - emphasizing in particular the need to adequately mobilize against a climate breakdown. - David Roberts discusses the importance of social tipping points in ending the harm carbon pollution is doing to our planet. Sophia Reuss reviews the new book by Kate Aronoff, Alyssa Battistoni, Daniel Aldana Cohen and Thea ... more »
Record snowfall in Taiwan
A punishing cold front has seen record snowfall on Taiwan’s highest peak of Yushan, and an “orange” cold alert for the counties of Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Taoyuan. This means that temperatures could well drop below 6 C in these areas, from Saturday night to early Sunday morning, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB). In ... Read more Record snowfall in Taiwan The post Record snowfall in Taiwan appeared first on Ice Age Now.
Napoleon versus Wellington: Welcome to the Epic Showdown At Salamanca
*Warfare History Network* *History, Europe* One of Wellington's greatest wins? Marshal Auguste Marmont watched intently as the left wing of his French army maneuvered against the Anglo-Portuguese army during the Battle of Salamanca at mid-afternoon on July 22, 1812. He noted that the 5th Division of General Antoine Louis Popon de Maucune was in danger of being destroyed as it advanced toward the village of Los Arapiles. The 5th Division should have been closely supported by General Jean Guillaume Barthelemy Thomieres’ 7th Division, but that division had marched too far west. If ... more »
President Trump Has Fulfilled Lord Balfour’s Dream
*Mohammed Ayoob* *Security, Americas* [image: Reuters] The Trump-Kushner plan for the Middle East may inadvertently become the harbinger of a single state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. This would be a bizarre way of fulfilling Balfour’s dream. In 1917, Lord Arthur Balfour, Britain’s foreign secretary made the memorable statement that many hold responsible for the century-old conflicts between Palestinians and Zionists. The statement, which came to be known as the Balfour Declaration, was in the form of a letter from Lord Balfour addressed to Walter Rothschi... more »
China and Vietnam Went to War in 1979 (China Is Still Upset over the Results)
*Matthew Pennekamp* *Security, Asia* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2019%3Anewsml_SP1EFA103AO06&share=true] What do Beijing and Hanoi have to teach us? *Key Point:* You have to have an obtainable objective before starting a war. It seems Beijing did not. Here is what happened and the lessons we can learn. Several years back, during then President Barack Obama’s recent barnstorm through East and Southeast Asia, *he announced* in a joint press conference with his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang that the embargo on weapon sales to Vietnam ... more »
These Five Infantry Firearms Helped Revolutionize Modern Warfare
*Kyle Mizokami* *Technology, * No matter how high tech the armed forces of the world have become, warfare since the end of the Second World War has consistently involved some form of infantry combat. *Key point: *Winning territory still requires physically holding it on the ground. Modern warfare has seen breathtaking advances in the last hundred years, as mortal competition between nations spawns successively deadlier weapons. Aircraft, missiles, tanks, submarines and other inventions—many of which did not exist in practical terms in 1914—have quickly earned key positions in t... more »
History Lesson: How Italian Tanks Defeated the German Navy in a Tense Showdown
*Sebastien Roblin* *History, * The stand at Piombino revealed there were plenty of Italians ready to fight back against Fascism in the wake of the armistice. Sadly, the Allies did not have adequate ready forces in September 1943 to fully exploit the strategic opportunities brought about by the armistice, whereas the Germans had prepared in advance for the contingency. On September 8, 1943 it was revealed to the Italian public that three generals had signed an armistice five days earlier terminating hostilities between Italy and the Allied powers. The following day, two German t... more »
F-35s vs. Missiles: Could Israel and Iran Be Headed Towards a War?
*Seth J. Frantzman* *Security, * And could Trump's 'peace plan' making things worse? The Israeli Defense Forces shifted units to the West Bank and the Jordan valley in the week President Donald Trump unveiled the “Deal of the Century” peace plan that envisions a possible future Palestinian State. The U.S. decision comes prior to an Israeli election in March and saw Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz arrive in Washington. After the announcement, Gantz returned to Israel and Netanyahu made a brief stop in Russia where a... more »
Trump's Worst Idea Ever Will Set the Middle East on Fire
*Tony Walker* *Politics, Middle East* [image: A Palestinian demonstrator rolls a burning tire during a protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank January 31, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma] What a disaster. US President Donald Trump’s “vision” for Israelis and Palestinians is not a realistic peace plan to end a decades-old conflict. Rather, it’s more like a real estate deal in which one side is a recipient of a low-ball offer. In the meantime, the other side is continuing to expand its hold on property to wh... more »
Are the U.S. Navy's New Aircraft Carriers Worth the Cost? OId Battleships Might Give Us a Clue.
*James Holmes* *Security, * Battleship history casts doubt on the future of über-expensive behemoths like the U.S. Navy’s Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (CVNs). The question isn’t just whether the aircraft carrier is obsolete, a floating target in the missile age. That reduces the question to technology. The question is whether the carrier is worth its cost in strategic and political terms. Your humble scribe just reviewed an excellent new history of the *Iowa*-class fast battleships, castles of steel built for an era of flux in naval warfare not unlike our own. In... more »
Groundhog day, 2020
Buckeye Chuck and Punxsutawney Phil are both predicting an early spring, but it's sunny in Columbus, and if they were here they would see their shadows. According to the tradition, if Phil sees his shadow and returns to his hole, he has predicted six more weeks of winter-like weather. If Phil does not see his shadow, he has predicted an "early spring." The date of Phil's prognostication is known as Groundhog Day in the United States and Canada, and has been celebrated since 1887. I don't know how long Chuck has been doing it. My library colleague from the 1980s never mentions one of... more »
This Is How Low A Marine Squadron Commander Flying A F/A-18 Jet Will Need To Fly To Cost Him His Job
*Task & Purpose/San Diego Union Tribune:* *Watch the F/A-18 flyover that cost a Marine squadron commander his job * A video obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune shows the Jan. 23 flyover of an F/A-18D at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. That flight cost a squadron commander his job. On Thursday, the Miramar-based 3rd Marine Air Wing announced that Lt. Col Ralph Featherstone, commanding officer of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225, was relieved the day after the flyover, due to concerns of "poor" judgment. On Friday, an air wing official confirmed the removal was ... more »
ICYMI: Sportsball Sunday Edition (2/2)
Human beings are funny creatures. Today we'll celebrate the prognostication of a giant rodent, invest a gazillion dollars in a sportsball contest, and get all excited because our date-labeling system will cough up a palindrome today (spoiler alert: every date-- every last one-- only comes around once). But in the meantime, there are things to read. *An Open Letter to Preschool Homework * From McSweeney's, a look at homework for preschoolers with characteristic wit. *Four Things You Need To Know About Education Policymaking * Rick Hess (AEI) at EdWeek offers four fairly solid ob... more »
“Deal of the Century” greenlights Israeli annexation, apartheid, and subjugation of Palestinians
Jared Kushner’s “Middle East Peace Plan” is a recipe for war More The post “Deal of the Century” greenlights Israeli annexation, apartheid, and subjugation of Palestinians appeared first on The Duran.
The Coming Fall of the House of Windsor and the Clash of ‘Two Christianities’
From the Strategic Culture Foundation The last months have seen the most remarkable fissures breaking in the foundation of the House of Windsor whose austere image of duty and Christian morality have entirely broken down under a firestorm of scandals showcasing the culture of crime and degeneracy prevalent across the upper ranks of the empire. […] More The post The Coming Fall of the House of Windsor and the Clash of ‘Two Christianities’ appeared first on The Duran.
King Donald
The man who claimed he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and get away with it keeps getting away with it. When Republicans voted down the Democratic motion for witnesses and documents, it was clear the fix was in. Lawrence Martin writes: “Sham” cried the Democrats over and over again as Donald Trump was assured acquittal late Friday on impeachment charges. With the formal vote to exonerate him slated for Wednesday, he’s survived another trauma, the most grave he’s faced. Next to sham, “coverup” was the most operative word in the Congressional corridors following the vote to dis... more »
SATIRE – Adam Schiff was My Neighbor . . . And He Stole My Bike!
Satire – By Kent Heckenlively For the past six months my brother has been troubled by something. “I think I know Adam Schiff,” he said, after learning President Trump’s least favorite Congressman grew up in our area. “Do you remember anything about him?” I drew a complete blank. I researched the question of where Adam … Continue reading SATIRE – Adam Schiff was My Neighbor . . . And He Stole My Bike!
Prince Charles Palestine Stance Makes Best Case Yet For Retaining The Monarchy
*Basil Valetine* | While politicians can be cowed into position on important issues, Royals are afforded a degree of independence which can influence policy for good.
WATCH: Innocent Man’s Car Breaks Down So Cops Swarm Him Like Wolves, Assault and Arrest Him
[image: man]A Teas man was arrested and charged with evading arrest for failing to identify to law enforcement officers because he had done nothing wrong.
Twenty years plus
Earlier in January it occurred to me that I should write something on the 20th anniversary of my mother's death, but the 24th came and went and it wasn't until today when I was looking at my bunny coffee cup which was hers, that I recalled it had been twenty years. She died on the 24th of January 2000, her mother on the 25th of 1963 and her father on the 26th of 1968. The bunny cup has a mommy rabbit and eight little brown and white bunnies, and is my favorite cup. I use it almost every morning. Today when photos are a dime a dozen and people just whip out a phone to capture the mo... more »
Locust Swarms Are Decimating East Afirca
Desert locusts' destructive infestations cause significant crop damage and hunger [Njeri Mwangi/Reuters] *Daily Mail:* *Locust plague decimating east Africa, including swarms 40 miles wide, is getting worse and threatens to become a humanitarian crisis, UN warns* * Swarm is considered to be the worst outbreak to hit Kenya for 70 years and Somalia for 25 years * Horde of 360 billion insects is laying waste to farmland across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Dijibouti * Next generation of locusts is expected to swarm in April after hatching in February and exacerbate the crisis ... more »
These Five Submarine Types ‘Could Destroy The World In 30 Minutes’
Russian Project 955 strategic nuclear submarine Vladimir Monomakh arrives at its permanent base in Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka. file photo. © Sputnik . Ildus Gilyazutdinov *Sputnik*: *US Media Reveals Five Submarines That ‘Could Destroy the World in 30 Minutes’* National Interest’s top-five list of the world’s deadliest submarines includes a Russian strategic Borei-class vessel which carries up to 16 intercontinental ballistic missiles with a range of up to 8,000 kilometres. The US magazine National Interest has revealed five nuclear-powered submarines that it believes “could destroy t... more »
Boom! 94 Year Old WWII Veteran Fires 152mm Howitzer (Video)
*RT:* *Boom! 94yo WWII veteran fires 152mm howitzer in stunning VIDEO * A decorated WWII veteran couldn’t resist trying a large-caliber cannon while visiting a Russian military compound in Siberia and didn’t miss a single target. The jaw-dropping moment was caught on film. It’s been 75 years since Mikhail Asanov came back from the war, but his shooting skills are still as sharp as ever. This week, he was invited to share his wartime experience with young soldiers near the Siberian town of Kemerovo, but the visit ended up being a spectacular live-fire exercise. *Read more* .... *... more »
Focus on Sexual Abstinence to Fight Early Pregnancy Disregards High Incidence of Girls Raped
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - On the one hand, a minister with radical ideas, increasingly popular and with little money. On the other, a minister with plenty of resources and a discreet job, caught up in the flood of daily controversies of Jair Bolsonaro's government. The campaign for sexual abstinence that Damares Alves intends to […] The post Focus on Sexual Abstinence to Fight Early Pregnancy Disregards High Incidence of Girls Raped appeared first on The Rio Times.
Ships to Dock in Rio in February 2020 Carrying 100,000 Tourists
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - Twelve transatlantic ships, carrying 100,000 tourists, will sail to Mauá Pier, in Rio de Janeiro, starting this Sunday, February 2nd, up to February 29th. From this total, eight are international ships (the Queen Victoria, the Oceania Marina, the Europa2, the Hamburg, the Island Princess, the Volendam, the Celebrity Eclipse and […] The post Ships to Dock in Rio in February 2020 Carrying 100,000 Tourists appeared first on The Rio Times.
Palestinian Leader Mahmud Abbas Cuts All Ties With Israel And The US
*Daily Mail:* *Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas cuts all ties with Israel and the US over Donald Trump's latest peace plan* * Mahmud Abbas said plans were in 'violation' of the 1993 autonomy accords * Trump's 'two-state solution' involves tunnel linking West Bank to the Gaza Strip * The proposal recognises Israeli sovereignty over settlement blocs in West Bank Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has cut all ties with Israel and the US following Donald Trump's long-awaited Middle East peace 'vision'. Abbas said the plan unveiled on Tuesday was in 'violation of the (autonomy) accords' ... more »
Arab League Rejects President Trump's Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan
*Axios:* *Arab League foreign ministers reject Trump peace plan* The foreign ministers of the member state of the Arab League unanimously adopted a resolution on Saturday rejecting the Trump Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, and said that "it does not satisfy the minimum of the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people." *Why it matters:* The Trump administration was counting on a coalition of Arab countries it has built over the last several years to prevent such a resolution and press the Palestinians to go back to the table. Those efforts did not materialize. *Read more... more »
Iraq Has A New Prime Minister
*Al Jazeera:* *Mohammed Allawi appointed new Iraq PM, protesters reject him* *Ex-minister named as Iraq prime minister-designate, but anti-government demonstrators say he is part of ruling elite.* Baghdad, Iraq – Anti-government protesters in Iraq were quick to dismiss President Barham Salih’s appointment of Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi as prime minister-designate, as rallies took place in the capital and cities in the country's southern provinces. The president’s announcement came after he issued an ultimatum to Iraq's fractious parliament, warning that if they did not appoint a new pr... more »
How World War 2 Happened | Vladimir Putin
Some European leaders colluded with Hitler. Speech delivered by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), held in Moscow on Dec. 20, 2019. Putin spoke about the pre-history of World War 2 and invited the participants to tour a especially organized exhibit of archive materials on the … Continue reading How World War 2 Happened | Vladimir Putin →
Tweets For Today
#UPDATE China imposed a lockdown on Sunday on a major eastern city far away from the epicentre of a #coronavirus epidemic, as its death toll from the disease soared to 304 and the first foreign fatality was reported in the Philippines https://t.co/payr3Y3ZU3 #Wenzhou pic.twitter.com/5G1zmijGCX — AFP news agency (@AFP) February 2, 2020 China will help makers of vital goods resume operations as soon as possible: state TV https://t.co/nyZNvHlsvU pic.twitter.com/34DXFUMpQV — Reuters (@Reuters) February 2, 2020 Inside China's coronavirus hospital: First pictures reveal 1,000-bed Wuha... more »
"Here are the PM's words spoken by a member of our team"
The stand-off between the BBC and Downing Street continues, with the BBC's refusal to broadcast Boris's Brexit Night address to the nation now extending to a refusal to broadcast* any part of it *- hence this absurd moment on today's* The World This Weekend*: *Mark Mardell*: On Brexit night Boris Johnson addressed the nation. For reasons we don't need to go into here the BBC is not using Downing Street's recording of that speech, but here are the PM's words spoken by a member of our team.
With Trump on Brink of Acquittal, Time for Impeachment Post-Mortem and What’s Left Unsaid
[image: with-trump-on-brink-of-acquittal-time-for-impeachment-post-mortem-and-what-s-left-unsaid] It’s all over but the shouting, as is said. While President Trump’s acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial was never really in doubt, it’s now just days away with a decision to not allow witnesses. Moreover, Trump’s vindication may be somewhat bipartisan, with a few Democrats possibly voting in his favor. Yet some things here have been left unsaid, not the least of which is that what seems an end may just be a dark new beginning.
"Seneca on The Shortness of Time"
*"Seneca on The Shortness of Time"* by Farnam Street "Time goes, you say? Ah, no! Alas, time stays, we go." - Henry Austin Dobson "If we see someone throwing money away, we call that person crazy. This bothers us, in part, because money has value. Wasting it seems nuts. And yet we see others - and ourselves - throw away something far more valuable every day: Time. Unlike the predictable reaction we have to someone throwing away money (they’re crazy), we often fail to think of the person who wastes time as crazy. And yet time is a truly finite, expendable resource: The amount we ge... more »
"That's What's Important..."
"I want you to always hold your head up and follow your dreams wherever they take you. Don't you ever listen to the people out to hurt you or make you cry. Listen to your heart and be better than them. No one gets ahead by hurting others. The only real peace anyone will ever have is the one that comes from within. Live your life on your own terms and make it a happy life. Always. That's what's important.” - Sherrilyn Kenyon Know the difference... "Our true friends are those who are with us when the good things happen. They cheer us on and are pleased by our triumphs. False friends o... more »
House of Commons Presentation: OPCW Leaks Reveal International Community Was Misled About Alleged Douma Chemical Incident in 2018
REPORT ON THE HOUSE OF COMMONS PRESENTATION CONCERNING OPCW LEAKS ABOUT DOUMA
The 1 Way China Could Beat America in the Next Cold War
*Michael Rubin* *Technology, Americas* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2015%3Anewsml_GF10000191157&share=true] Technology. *Key point:* To outcompete Beijing and Moscow, Washington cannot afford to fall behind technologically. This means using public-private partnerships to win. Soon after announcing he would seek the Republican presidential nomination, George W. Bush chastised President Bill Clinton for taking too soft an approach toward China. Clinton “made a mistake [in] calling China a strategic partner,” Bush said, saying China was instead... more »
How Much Do Airlines Contribute To Climate Change?
*Shaun Hendy* *Security, * [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2020%3Anewsml_RC27RE9ZSBFW&share=true] A lot. The flight shaming movement has raised our awareness of air travel’s contribution to climate change. With all the discussion, you might be surprised to learn that air travel globally only accounts for about 3% of the warming human activities are causing. Why all the fuss? Before I explain, I should come clean. I am writing this on the train from Christchurch to Kaikoura, where I will give a talk about my recent book #NoFly: walking the talk ... more »
Russia Claims Its New S-500 System Can Shoot Down An F-35
*Mark Episkopos* *Security, Middle East* [image: https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?id=tag%3Areuters.com%2C2018%3Anewsml_RC1286FBA9D0&share=true] The Syrian Civil War will give us an example. *Key point: *Russia never intended to replace every S-400 installment with a new S-500. Russia’s next-generation air and missile defense system is on the verge of entering serial production, according to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov. “On time, they are putting a new system into operation-- the S-500,” Borisov told Russian news outlet *Interfaks* earlier today. Borisov is ... more »
Picture Of The Day
A man waves a British flag on Brexit day in London, Britain January 31, 2020. The United Kingdom leaves the European Union, its most significant change of course since the loss of its empire - and a major blow to 70 years of efforts to forge European unity from the ruins of two world wars. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls *WNU Editor*: The above picture is from this photo-gallery .... *Celebration, resignation as Britain leaves the EU on Brexit Day *(Reuters).
Old Habits Versus New Ideas
Old habits are stronger than new ideas—this is the rule that decides the fate of all philosophical and political movements. The philosophical and political movements which make the case that their ideas are inextricably linked to the old habits are warmly accepted by the people. Those movements which proclaim that their ideas are new or totally original are usually distrusted and shunned. The assertion of “originality” is an unintelligent strategy for a movement.
Sarcasm
Is Lewis angling for Nish's job (should a vacancy arise)?: *Update*: Ah, he's deleted it. My goodness, he was quick this time. I only had seconds to screengrab it before it was gone again! It's becoming quite a habit of his.
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