Wednesday, July 01, 2015

1 July - Blogs I'm Following II

10:34pm MDST

Tensions Between China And Its Neighbors Continues To Grow Over The South China Sea

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 24 minutes ago
Map of Spratly Islands detailing occupation by neighboring countries, includes map of coral reefs. Reuters *Reuters*: *Images show Chinese airstrip on man-made Spratly island nearly finished * *China has almost finished building a 3,000-metre-long (10,000-foot) airstrip on one of its artificial islands in the disputed Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, new satellite photographs of the area show.* *A U.S. military commander had told Reuters in May that the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef could be operational by year-end, although the June 28 images suggest that could now be... more »

Russians Do Not Trust Americans And Americans Do Not Trust Russians

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
*Washington Times: **Russians’ hatred for Americans is now turning lethal* *MOSCOW — Anti-Americanism is on the rise in Russia, and the consequences are sometimes lethal.Late last week, a 45-year-old Russian beat an acquaintance to death with his fists after a drinking session in Yaroslavl, a city some 160 miles from Moscow. The motive? The victim revealed he often traveled abroad, and his vodka-frazzled assailant told police that he thought he was neutralizing “an American spy.”This may be an extreme case, but attitudes toward the United States have never been worse in post-So... more »

US Distracted by Rainbows & Flags as Global Banking Meltdown Begins

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 1 hour ago
*Hanzei E.* - The debt locomotive speeds towards us while we stand on the tracks, debating rainbows and flags. The post US Distracted by Rainbows & Flags as Global Banking Meltdown Begins appeared first on Waking Times.

Happy Canada Day To My Readers

Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 2 hours ago
I have been very busy today, celebrating Canada Day with family and friends... I just got in from a great party with lots of food and drink, and I figured I would send off this message to all of my Canadian readers.... Yes, it is Canada Day... One hundred and forty-eight years ago, the British Imperial government in London England passed into law the creation of the "Dominion of Canada" with full self governance for the first 4 provinces of Canada, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia... The "nation" of Canada was officially born.... Now 148 years later, the Canadian nat... more »

Gander, Pan-Am 103 and all the Guns & Heroin

Spike EP at News Spike - 2 hours ago
"Gander Air Crash Inquiry May Shock" *by John Picton (from the "The Toronto Star", 1/28/90)* Shocking testimony will likely be heard at a planned inquiry into the Gander air crash to open in Washington next month. It will concern a set of mysterious coffin-size boxes said to have been put secretly on the plane. And it will be the result of detective work done by two private investigators who have looked into the crash -although their findings will describe two different scenarios. The plane, an Arrow Air DC-8, was carrying 248 U.S. service personnel and a crew of eight ... more »

Join the Bath Parade on July 4

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
PeaceWorks invites you to join with us in Bath on July 4 for what is told is the "largest parade in Maine". This year we will be using many props made by Natasha Mayers from Whitefield. We'll also have other props and banners proclaiming our theme of conversion of the war machine, climate change, and the need for real sustainable living on our Mother Earth. We'll meet at 9:30 am on the corner of Congress Ave & Lincoln St in Bath by the cemetery. We will be entry # 54 in the parade

World War III Is Becoming More Possible With Each Passing Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* *Max Fisher, VOX*: *How World War III became possible* *A nuclear conflict with Russia is likelier than you thinkIt was in August 2014 that the real danger began, and that we heard the first warnings of war. That month, unmarked Russian troops covertly invaded eastern Ukraine, where the separatist conflict had grown out of its control. The Russian air force began harassing the neighboring Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which are members of NATO. The US pledged that it would uphold its commitment to defend those countries as if the... more »

Dare we dream of a day when we won't have The Donald to kick around anymore? (Soon, please!!!)

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 2 hours ago
*Macy's joins the ranks of companies cutting the cord* *by Ken* There are mysteries that, even as the begin to fade from view, actually become more rather than less mysterious. As you may have noticed, a number of companies that have had business ties with Donald Trump have taken steps to extricate themselves from the unholy grasp since his bizarre, grotesque, repellent performance announcing his 2016 presidential candidacy. Bizarre *or* grotesque *or* repellent Corporate America can live with. Possibly even any two out of the three. But put all three together, and Media Central... more »

U.S. Imperial Overreach

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 2 hours ago
Over the past year at CrossTalk has asked guests many times whether we face the specter of a new Cold War. Today it is all too obvious there is a new Cold War. What we need to ask now are the terms and conditions of this conflict and the possible outcomes. CrossTalking with David Swanson, Vladimir Golstein, and Chris Hedges.

Neoliberals Without Mercy

Karen Garcia at Sardonicky - 2 hours ago
If you're a Puerto Rican resident suffering through that territory's current manufactured, Greece-like debt crisis, *New York Times* columnist Paul Krugman has some friendly advice for you: Move. In a blog-post that reads like it came straight from the devil's workshop of the conservative Heritage Foundation, Krugman says: * And outmigration need not be such a terrible thing. There is much discussion of what’s wrong with Puerto Rico, but maybe we should, at least some of the time, just think of Puerto Rico as an ordinary region of the U.S.; at any given time, we expect some regio... more »

The Worst Stain on Canada’s Human Rights Record

WTStaff at Waking Times - 3 hours ago
*Video - *Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin describes Canada's attempted to commit cultural genocide against aboriginal peoples in the land, in what she calls the worst stain on Canada’s human rights record. The post The Worst Stain on Canada’s Human Rights Record appeared first on Waking Times.

vivian maier

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 3 hours ago

"A Look to the Heavens"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
“NGC 3314 is actually two large spiral galaxies which just happen to almost exactly line up. The foreground spiral is viewed nearly face-on, its pinwheel shape defined by young bright star clusters. But against the glow of the background galaxy, dark swirling lanes of interstellar dust appear to dominate the face-on spiral's structure. The dust lanes are surprisingly pervasive, and this remarkable pair of overlapping galaxies is one of a small number of systems in which absorption of light from beyond a galaxy's own stars can be used to directly explore its distribution of dust. *Cli... more »

Paulo Coelho, “Searching For Meaning”

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
*“Searching For Meaning”* by Paulo Coelho “At such a moment it is not the physical pain which hurts the most (and this applies to adults as much as to punished children); it is the mental agony caused by the injustice, the unreasonableness of it all.” - Viktor Frankl “Terrible as it was, Viktor Frankl’s experience in Auschwitz reinforced what was already one of his key ideas. Life is not primarily a quest for pleasure, as Freud believed, or a quest for power, as Alfred Adler taught, but a quest for meaning. The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. Fr... more »

River's Edge

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 3 hours ago
River's Edge

MENA Report ( July 1- 2 , 2015 ) -- ISIS ( ISIS inroads in Gaza , Egypt and Afghanistan , a compliment to its already hefty presence in Iraq , Syria , Yemen and Libya - is anyone focusing upon the trend ? ) ...... Iraq - Syria Regional War Updates ( Partition as a resolution quietly being talked up as neither conflict seems capable of any other realistic resolution ) ..... Yemen Regional Proxy War - Another Endless War ( This war hits the 100 day - no end in sight ) ..... Iran Nuclear Talks ( Meanders on , off-stage for now as the world is otherwise occupied , June 30 , 2015 deadline now a July 7 , 2015 deadline - as if that really matters ? )

Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 3 hours ago
Links...... *ISIS Attacks Egyptian Army in Sinai, 200 Dead* *Iran Nuclear Talks Extended Until July 7* *1,200 Escape Yemen Prison in al-Qaeda Attack* *US Moves Its Syrian Air Campaign to the West* *ISIS Vows to Oust Hamas, Impose Sharia Law* *Afghanistan Fighters 'Linked to ISIS in Syria'* Kurds and Shi'ites Unite to Fight; 98 Killed Across Iraq Israel Says Syria's Assad May Be Left With Rump State In Turf War With Afghan Taliban, ISIS Gaining Ground Suicide Truck Bomb Kills Two, Wounds 40 in Afghanistan Afghanistan Battling Militants From 10 Countries: Ashraf Gh... more »

Pentagon Releases 2015 National Military Strategy For The U.S.

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
*The Guardian*: * Russia and China pose largest security threats, says US military report* ** ‘Low but growing’ chance of war with major power, report says* ** Iran and North Korea also pose ‘serious security concerns’* *America’s new military strategy singles out states like China and Russia as aggressive and threatening to US security interests, while warning of growing technological challenges and worsening global stability.* *A somber report released Wednesday by General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warns of a “low but growing” probability of the ... more »

NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security

Spike EP at News Spike - 3 hours ago
*"I can deal with Stalin. He is honest--but smart as hell."* Oliver Stones Untold. History Of The United States S01E02 - Truman, Byrnes and The Bomb from Spike EP on Vimeo. Truman Diary Entry, July 17 1945*"Just spent a couple of hours with Stalin. Joe Denis called on Maiski and made the date last night for noon today. Promptly a few minutes before twelve I looked up from the desk and there stood Stalin in the doorway. I got to my feet and advanced to meet him. He put out his hand and smiled. I did the same, we shook, I greeted Molotov and the interpreter and we sat down. After the... more »

Taroko Road in Japanese era

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 3 hours ago
National Historic Monuments of Taiwan on Facebook sent around this lovely old pic of the road above Taroko in the Japanese era. Unfortunately the spot on the modern road is covered by vegetation. But enjoy this anyway. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!

3rd “Alternative” Prominent Doctor From Florida Found Dead in 2 weeks. Authorities say MD was murdered. - See more at: http://www.healthnutnews.com/3rd-alternative-prominent-doctor-from-florida-found-dead-in-2-weeks-authorities-say-md-was-murdered/#sthash.9rorh9p3.dpuf

urupiper at Yesterday 's Lies - 3 hours ago
Health Nut News July 1, 2015 by Erin Elizabeth This has been a tragic few weeks and our hearts go out to family and friends of the doctors. First we had controversial Autism researcher Dr. Jeff Bradstreet MD who was found in a river with a gunshot wound to his chest on June 19th. His friends and family started a memorial page on June 20th in his honor on Facebook. I waited 3 days after that to report the story out of respect. A few still write that I shouldn’t cover these stories, but I am a journalist, and as I’ve repeatedly said, it brought me no joy to report the news. I wai... more »

Chet Raymo, "Because I Dread The Loss of Heaven And The Fires Of Hell"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
*"Because I Dread The Loss of Heaven And The Fires Of Hell"* by Chet Raymo “The fun thing about the Irish Times is that opinion pieces spill over onto the letters page and sometimes the discussions go on for weeks. We are still getting reaction to the World Atheist convention that was held in Dublin shortly in June, 2011. Richard Dawkins was the most prominent participant. In an opinion piece this past week, the eminent theologian James Mackey took Dawkins, et. al. implicitly to task for proffering evolution as a basis for morality. "The favored ones propagate and survive, while th... more »

"Willingness to Feel: Opening to Understanding"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
*"Willingness to Feel: Opening to Understanding"* by The DailyOM "When we are resisting something based on a limited understanding, we must then open ourselves to willingness. There are times when we may find ourselves struggling or even fighting with our thoughts and emotions. We may feel that something must be done in a certain way or not at all, or there may be some other situation that feels absolutely black and white. But life is not this way—it’s the way we are looking at our experiences that is causing the turmoil within us. When we become aware that the struggle we are havi... more »

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
Coppenbrügge, Niedersachsen, Germany. Thanks for stopping by.

"A Maze Or Labyrinth..."

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 3 hours ago
"The difficulty in dealing with a maze or labyrinth lies not so much in navigating the convolutions to find the exit but in *not entering* the damn thing in the first place. Or, at least not yet again. As a creature of free will, do not be tempted into futility." - Vera Nazarian

The Poet: Arthur O’Shaughnessy, "Music and Moonlight"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
*"Music and Moonlight"* "We are the music makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone seabreakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams: Yet we are the movers and shakers Of the world forever, it seems… We, in the ages lying In the buried past of the earth, Built Ninevah with our sighing, And Babel itself in our mirth; And o’erthrew them with prophesying To the old of the new world’s worth; For each age is a dream that is dying, Or one that is coming to birth." - Arthur O’Shaughnessy, "Music and Moonlight" (1874)

"This Is Your Body on Sleep Deprivation"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
*"This Is Your Body on Sleep Deprivation"* by Firas Kittaneh "We're all familiar with the foggy, groggy, irritable feeling that follows a night of poor or inadequate sleep. But the effects of too little shuteye can reach far beyond just feeling out of it or tired. More and more, research is showing that lack of sleep can wreak havoc on nearly every part of your body. And often, it doesn't take long nearly as long as you think. Here, the surprising ways how sleep deprivation affects every part of you over the course of one night- and in the long term. *Your Brain Goes Haywire: *When... more »

Russia's Satellite Nuclear Warning System Used To Detect Missile Launches Is Down Until November

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) takes part in a video link with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu onboard the Vice-Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine warfare ship in Novorossiysk, Russia. Mikhail Klimentyev / Reuters/RIA Novosti/Kremlin Moscow Times:* Russia's Satellite Nuclear Warning System Down Until November* Russia has delayed the launch of a new military satellite system by four months, news agency TASS reported Wednesday, leaving Moscow nearly blind in the event of a nuclear missile attack till at least November. Russia's decaying constellation of Soviet-designed early warnin... more »

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 1, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
*Phillip Inman, The Guardian:* *How long can Greece survive without support from its creditors?* *The debt-stricken country is in deep trouble already but things could still get worse for the economy, the currency, public sector and banks* *After the Greeks dramatically walked out of talks in Brussels last Friday and announced a referendum, a question has been posed: how long can Athens survive without support from its creditors before it collapses?* *Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- June 1, 2015* Europe Wants to Punish Greece With Exit -- Clive Crook, Bloomberg The End ... more »

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago

"One Quadrillion Pennies"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
"One Quadrillion Pennies" by Quadrillion.com ․ "One quadrillion, sixty-seven billion, eighty-eight million, three hundred and eighty-four thousand pennies. One cube measuring 2,730 x 2,730 x 2,730 feet. What a stack of 1 Quadrillion (U.S.), 1,000,067,088,384,000 pennies might look like: 1,000,067,088,384,000 One quadrillion, sixty-seven billion, eighty-eight million, three hundred and eighty-four thousand pennies. Here we have the buildings we used for scale back at a trillion, but they're now a bit dwarfed by our new cube of pennies. This is a quadrillion, or a thousand times one tr... more »

Polygamous Montana Trio Applies for Wedding License

Al Perrotta at The Stream - 4 hours ago
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man said Wednesday that he was inspired by last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage to apply for a marriage license so that he can legally wed his second wife. Nathan Collier... The post Polygamous Montana Trio Applies for Wedding License appeared first on The Stream.

Acting VA Inspector General Richard Griffin Stepping Down

Rachel Alexander at The Stream - 4 hours ago
Richard Griffin, acting inspector general for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said on Tuesday that he plans to step down from his position by the end of the week. Griffin has served as acting IG for 18 months since January... The post Acting VA Inspector General Richard Griffin Stepping Down appeared first on The Stream.

ANALYSIS: The European Union Is Just Another Greek Myth

John Zmirak at The Stream - 4 hours ago
Utopias always fail. It’s a mercy when they collapse quickly, since it minimizes their damage. Had the U.S. not flooded Bolshevik Russia with food aid arranged by the well-meaning Herbert Hoover, that regime might have collapsed in the early 1920s,... The post ANALYSIS: The European Union Is Just Another Greek Myth appeared first on The Stream.

The Economy: "The Horrific $1.5 QUADRILLION Derivatives Bubble"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
*"The Horrific $1.5 QUADRILLION Derivatives Bubble"* That's $1,500,000,000,000,000,000 by Michael Snyder "Today there is a horrific derivatives bubble that threatens to destroy not only the U.S. economy but the entire world financial system as well, but unfortunately the vast majority of people do not understand it. When you say the word "derivatives" to most Americans, they have no idea what you are talking about. In fact, even most members of the U.S. Congress don't really seem to understand them. But you don't have to get into all the technicalities to understand the bigger pictu... more »

From GRIDS to HIV : AIDS Before Gallo

Spike EP at News Spike - 4 hours ago
The Cause and Solution to the AIDS Crisis Figured Out by 1981 from Spike EP on Vimeo. *"...this particular agent was used by 100% of our paitients..."* *From BBC Horizon : The Killer in the Village (1983)* Gallo from Spike EP on Vimeo. *"First came God, then came Gallo"* *-- Dr. F. Wong-Staal, AIDS researcher* "More than anyone, Robert Gallo is the embodiment of AIDS research in the United States. He was the man who proved that the virus now known as HIV, for human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS; he was the man who developed the test that safeguards the world's blood supp... more »

Organizing Collaborative Research Projects: Where Do I Begin?

amurdie at Duck of Minerva - 5 hours ago
The following is a guest post by Andrew Yeo at Catholic University of America. Collaborating with friends, colleagues, and other scholars is a great motivator for research. But if you’re at a small research university with limited institutional resources, the hurdles to do collaborative research beyond co-authoring is higher. Small departments, limited budgets, the absence of relevant […]

Mark Textor’s “centre-right beliefs”: paternalistic populist pabulum [updated]

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 5 hours ago
David Farrar has just posted a statement of philosophical by spin merchant Mark Textor that’s supposed to be a call to arms for something called “the centre-right.” As a Key Government adviser it’s worth taking note. As a philosophical position statement it seems to amount to can’t we all just get along: *Even outside of partisan party politics, enhanced by media megaphones, a shouting match is going on between a very few. Like many fights, most decent people are silently walking away to avoid it. * *Most want the false and divisive constructs of politics to go away: Christia... more »

World News Briefs -- July 1, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*Daily Mail:* *Greek prime minister refuses to call off bailout referendum and accuses Europe of attempting to 'blackmail' the country into accepting terms in TV address * ** Greek PM reaffirmed his support for a 'no' vote in the referendum, insisting in would not put Greece at any risk* ** Tsipras told citizens their bank deposits were safe but also demanded Europe stop acting 'in an undemocratic way'* ** News comes amid chaotic scenes outside Greek banks today as hundreds pushed and shoved to gain entry* ** Greek government ordered 1,000 banks to reopen to allow those without ATM... more »

Jeb Bush and the Pædophiles

Spike EP at News Spike - 5 hours ago
*"I'm shocked, shocked to find out that boy-buggery has been going on in my State of Florida!"* *October 3, 2006* -- Informed sources in Tallahassee, Florida have told WMR that Governor Jeb Bush was fully aware of ex-Rep. Mark Foley's conduct with underage male pages but sat on the information to protect Foley and another top GOP Florida official, Attorney General Charlie Crist, who is currently running for governor to replace Bush. Today, Jeb Bush said he had not previously known about Foley's behavior with the pages before being informed by House Speaker Dennis Hastert in a lette... more »

Scorpion Men

Spike EP at News Spike - 5 hours ago
Internet Book of Shadows: Ishtar, Inanna, & Ancient Astrology (Valkyrie)Ishtar, Inanna, & Ancient Astrology By Valkyrie Many might be interested in some information that I came across awhile back that might shed some light on this for you. Some may have seen part of this already. Someone in a shamanic echo was asking about how scorpions and spiders were related to each other in dreams, and what meaning the scorpion had, especially in regards to an earth goddess. I ran across a reference in one of those 'feminist revisionists'" books and the statement was made that the Scorpi... more »

The Supreme Court Declared War on the Church

Harry Jackson at The Stream - 6 hours ago
I am disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to change the definition of the institution of marriage for the entire United States. A major aspect of my disappointment is that the court did not let the people decide at the state level.... The post The Supreme Court Declared War on the Church appeared first on The Stream.

LDS Church Letter Affirms Support for Traditional Marriage

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 6 hours ago
Starting this Sunday, LDS Church leaders will read a letter regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States and Canada. The letter, from the church’s... The post LDS Church Letter Affirms Support for Traditional Marriage appeared first on The Stream.

Is this what we need for blog comments?

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 6 hours ago
Well, clearly not this blog since the comments rarely get above the tepid. But some swamps sure could use them. [image: Embedded image permalink] [Hat tip https://twitter.com/doctorow] Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)

“Melbourne is a man-made city.”

Peter Cresswell at Not PC - 6 hours ago
It’s probably no secret to both my readers that Melbourne is my favourite Australian city. And it’s not just the footy,although it helps. Here’s one reason: there’s an old English proverb, first used used by Alexander Pope, I think: *“God made the country; and man made the town.”* You don’t have to be religious to get the point.1 What the gods gave Sydney was a beautiful harbour; with some obviously blinding exceptions, it’s the man-made parts that let it down. Apart from the harbour and points around it, too much of the wider townscape is like a large Henderson,with an even la... more »

As the Supreme thug-justices issue desperate cries for mental-health help, could they take advantage of provisions of the ACA?

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 6 hours ago
*Plus: "Scalia Is a Douche" is a brunch hit in Philly* *Watch poor Cartoon Justice Nino having his "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" at 4:19 of the Daily Show clip below.* *by Ken* It's a sweet conceit on the part of the *Daily Show* animation team to imagine that the Supreme Court's own Big Rat Bastard Justice merely had a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day," when what he has really had -- as Jon Stewart suggests in the piece proper, is that he has had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad career. In my coverage last week of this term's marquis Supreme Court... more »

Parents Say Day Care Closing Over Same-Sex Marriage, Other Issues

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 6 hours ago
A daycare attached to a church in Las Cruces is closing its doors, and parents are upset over the reasons why. First Baptist Church’s Senior Pastor Dr. David Burrows told KFOX14 that church officials are refusing to accept government funds, because they don’t want... The post Parents Say Day Care Closing Over Same-Sex Marriage, Other Issues appeared first on The Stream.

Roundup’s Lesser-Known Cousin Is Coming to a Farm Near You

WTStaff at Waking Times - 6 hours ago
*Jason Best - *It’s the next wave in a revolution of GMO crops - and it’s happening right under our noses - a new herbicide similar to Roundup but lacking the comfort of a consumer-facing, trademarked name. The post Roundup’s Lesser-Known Cousin Is Coming to a Farm Near You appeared first on Waking Times.

Charleston

Spike EP at News Spike - 7 hours ago
America's 'Young America' movement: slaveholders and the B'nai B'rith by Anton Chaitkin *Chorus:* *Ten years from now, in 1860, Lord Palmerston's quest for world empire will enter its most critical phase: the American Civil War, provoked by Young America and other pro-British networks. A French army will be in Mexico, propping up Maximilian. Britain will ready the fleet and send troops to Canada. The only support for Lincoln's beleaguered Union will come from the Russian Empire of Czar Alexander II, with two Russian fleets being sent to American ports in 1863 with orders from the c... more »

County Clerk Resigns Instead of Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses

Todd Starnes at The Stream - 7 hours ago
Linda Barnette has issued marriage licenses in Grenada County, Mississippi for 24 years. On Tuesday, she resigned. “I choose to obey God rather than man,” Mrs. Barnette wrote in her one paragraph resignation letter to the Grenada County Board of... The post County Clerk Resigns Instead of Issuing Gay Marriage Licenses appeared first on The Stream.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY ~ BUT REMEMBER THE COURAGE OF THE SIGNERS

Allen L Roland, Ph.D at Allen L Roland's Weblog - 7 hours ago
*Have you ever wondered or wanted to know what happened to the 56 men** who signed the Declaration of Independence. Their stories firmly establish the true sacrifice and personal courage it took to write and sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 ~ which quite often gets lost in our annual celebration amidst the beer, hot dogs, and fireworks shows: Allen L Roland, Ph.D* *Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.* *Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.* *Two lost th...more »

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 1, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
Wikipedia *Defense News*: *Pentagon Releases New National Military Strategy* *WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has released a new National Military Strategy, the first update to that document since 2011 — one that warns the threat of major war with another nation is "growing."* *The strategy is being updated to reflect the new global security situation, one in which the US is facing near-peer adversaries like Russia and China while simultaneously having to handle diffuse militant groups like the Islamic State.* *"Since the last National Military Strategy was published in 2011, global ... more »

Roundtable Discusion June 29th, Archive Video

D ... Breaking The Silence at Removing The Shackles - 7 hours ago
Further to yesterday's data dump about the ISO amendments, here is the archive video of the One People Roundtable Discussion from this Monday night. love d XXX

For Iran The End Of Sanctions Is Worth Hundreds Of Billions Of Dollars

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
*Eric Pianin, The Fiscal Times:* *The end of sanctions is worth hundreds of billions to Iran* *Iran’s supreme leader is pressing for an almost immediate lifting of economic sanctions against his country if a final agreement is reached to halt temporarily Tehran’s development of a nuclear weapon – and he’s got reasons.* *A combination of tough economic sanctions by the U.S., Europe and the U.N. dating to the U.S.-Iran hostage crisis of 1979 to 1981 have seriously stunted Iran’s economy and frozen literally hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of assets and oil revenues. More rec... more »

Did Iran's President Admit That His Country Has A Nuclear Weapons Program?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
Now what he really meant to say was... (Reuters/Adrees Latif) *Quartz: **Did Iran’s president just admit that it has been pursuing nuclear weapons?* *Something fascinating just came over the transom from Tehran: In an interview to the state-owned news service IRNA, president Hassan Rouhani threatened that “if the other side breaches the deal, we will go back to the old path, stronger than what they can imagine.”We can set aside the belligerent tone here: Bluster and bullying have long been the Tehran regime’s stock-in-trade. But it’s worth spending a few minutes parsing Rouhani’... more »

Mohawk Nation News 'Canadians March to Fascism'

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 7 hours ago
CANADIANS MARCH TO FASCISM Posted on July 1, 2015 Please post & distribute. Nia:wen. MNN. July 1, 2015. Military planes and weaponry, monuments to war and RCMP recruiting youth at the  “musical ride” to join them in the killing spree. Their theme is to celebrate the genocidal theft of Canada from the ongwe’hon:weh. In 1929 Mousselini said, “Fascism is a merger of state and corporate

The Economy: "Forget Greece… China Is the Real Threat"

noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*"Forget Greece… China Is the Real Threat"* by Bill Bonner "There’s a time for calm, rational behavior… and a time to panic. Yesterday, investors in U.S. stocks decided not to panic. Monday’s sell-off halted. But it did not reverse. And it left the street with its worst half-year performance since 2010. Gain for 2015 so far? Zilch. But have we seen the top? We will have to wait to find out. *When the ATMs Went Dark…: *Fox News reports that Greeks are eyeing Bitcoin to protect their savings. At midnight last night, the Greek government defaulted on a €1.5-billion loan repayment to t... more »

Crack, the Contras and the CIA

Spike EP at News Spike - 8 hours ago
*From Columbia Journalism Review (January/February 1997)*[image: [Anatomy of a Story: Crack, the Contras,and the CIA: The Storm over Dark Alliance]][image: [Gary Webb, author of] *by Peter KornbluhPhotos: San Jose Mercury News* ------------------------------ *After Gary Webb spent more than a year of intense investigative reporting and weeks of drafting, his editors at the San Jose Mercury News decided to run his three-part series late last August, when the nation's focus was divided between politics and vacation. The series, DARK ALLIANCE: THE STORY BEHIND THE CRACK EXPLO... more »

Iran Nuclear Talks News Updates -- July 1, 2015

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
*New York Times:* *Reckoning of Iran’s Nuclear Activity and Sites Remain Major Hurdles in Deal* *VIENNA — When the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, lands in Tehran on Thursday for a hastily scheduled meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and Iran’s top national security officials, it will be part of a behind-the-scenes effort to resolve two of the biggest obstacles to a nuclear deal: Whether to force Iran to reveal any evidence about suspected design work on nuclear weapons, and how to assure that inspectors can get inside the country’s most secret nu... more »

Stewart Lee on Conservatives and Labour

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 8 hours ago
No chance for a proper blog tonight (tomorrow, I promise). Meanwhile, enjoy this very brief observation from Stewart Lee on politics in Britain.

5 Signs You’re Not on the Right Path (And What to Do About It)

WTStaff at Waking Times - 8 hours ago
*Video - *With pressure to live up to expectations of family, friends and society, it's easier than ever to stray from the path that is right for us. Here are 5 signs that you're NOT on the right path, and what to do about it. The post 5 Signs You’re Not on the Right Path (And What to Do About It) appeared first on Waking Times.

University of Wisconsin Creates List of ‘Racist Microaggressions’

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 8 hours ago
Just when you think college life and their fascination with “microaggressions” couldn’t get any more embarrassing … well, here comes the University of Wisconsin. Yes, Wisconsin. Home to Scott Walker, the Green Bay Packers and chronic, cheese-induced constipation. Hold up …... The post University of Wisconsin Creates List of ‘Racist Microaggressions’ appeared first on The Stream.

Canada`s National Energy Board Members are Complete Idiots, or Corrupt, Take Your Pick

Grant G at The Straight Goods - 8 hours ago
*Written by Grant G* Christy Clark and the BC Liberals are so desperate to find a company willing to build an LNG export facility, pandering to any energy company with a shovel, ...BC Liberals have cut the original taxation scheme for LNG exporters by 80%...Eliminated provincial greenhouse gas reduction targets and are even offering free electricity in the form of Site C dam...A cost of $15 billion dollars to the British Columbia taxpayer for that offering.. Now the corrupt BC Liberals want to lock in taxes and regulations for decades to come, tying future government`s hands.. B... more »

Von Hippel's "Really Good Idea" to Resolve the Nuclear Impasse Was Actually Iran's Idea First

Nima Shirazi at Wide Asleep in America - 8 hours ago
Yesterday in The National Interest, Frank von Hippel, co-director of the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, floats the possibility of opening Iran's domestic uranium enrichment program to international investment. Doing so, Von Hippel contends, would automatically "add a multinational layer of supervision

Lamar W. Hankins : METRO | Some questions for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Thorne Dreyer at The Rag Blog - 8 hours ago
Where do you draw the line on accommodating the religious beliefs of public officials? By Lamar W. Hankins | The Rag Blog | June 30, 2015 SAN MARCOS — In his official opinion as the Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton … finish reading Lamar W. Hankins : *METRO* | Some questions for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

July 1: Starting all over...

Graeme Decarie at The Moncton Times@Transcript - Good and Bad - 9 hours ago
Page A1 has a story "New Canadians ready to celebrate first Canada Day." Typically, the story isn't about new Canadians. It's about how wonderful Moncton has been to them. In short, this is old-fashioned, small-town boosterism. The reality is that new Canadians are close to invisible in Moncton. In fact, in this story, they aren't even mentioned after the first, few paragraphs. They're invisible in other ways, too. They really don't exist on the Faith page on Saturday. To make that page, you pretty much have to be white, Protestant - and fundamentalist Protestant at that. (You know... more »

"What If Berlin And Frankfurt Do Not Budge" - How Varoufakis Saw The "Worst Case Scenario"

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 9 hours ago
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-01/what-if-berlin-and-frankfurt-do-not-budge-how-varoufakis-saw-worst-case-scenario *"What If Berlin And Frankfurt Do Not Budge" - How Varoufakis Saw The "Worst Case Scenario"* Submitted by Tyler Durden on 07/01/2015 12:55 -0400 Central Banks Creditors default Eurozone Fund Flows Greece Reality Over a year ago, and long before he became the mascot for fraught negotiations between Greece and its creditors, Yanis Varoufakis penned a lengthy essay on what might happen should the Greek government decide to stand firm in the face of pressure fro... more »

Jupiter, Venus to Converge in Star of Bethlehem Moment

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 9 hours ago
Starting on Tuesday, Jupiter and Venus will be so close in the night sky that you could cover them both with the tip of an outstretched finger. The two planets will be just a third of a degree apart as... The post Jupiter, Venus to Converge in Star of Bethlehem Moment appeared first on The Stream.

Abu Nidal

Spike EP at News Spike - 9 hours ago
North claimed to talk show hosts Hannity & Colmes that the Kerry report was "*wrong*," that Sen. Kerry "*makes this stuff up and then he can't justify it,*" and that "*The fact is nobody in the government of the United States, going all the way back to the earliest days of this under Jimmy Carter, ever had anything to do with running drugs to support the Nicaraguan resistance. Nobody in the government of the United States. I will stand on that to my grave."* *The Kerry subcommittee* did not report that U.S. government officials ran drugs, but rather, that Mr. North, then on the Na...more »

Pentagon Downplays Reports That The F-35 Cannot Win In A Dogfight

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
Look out, Maverick. Oh, sorry, you can't turn your head. Ars Technica *ABC News*: *Military: Don’t Worry If F-35, Most Expensive Fighter Jet Ever, Can’t Dogfight Well* *The makers of one of the most expensive weapons programs in history went on the defensive today, saying a recent report on the F-35 fighter jet’s failures in old-school dogfighting against a decades-old, much cheaper legacy fighter “does not tell the whole story.”* *The report in question, posted on the national security news website War Is Boring, was based on an internal five-page brief in which an F-35 test pil... more »

Apparently The F-35 Cannot Win In A Dogfight (Update)

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
US Air Force *Ars Technica*: *Report: In test dogfight, F-35 gets waxed by F-16* *F-35 pilot found his aircraft "substantially inferior" in close battle.* *A test pilot report obtained by defense journalist David Axe of War is Boring detailed the performance of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in a mock air battle against a two-seat F-16D in January. The F-16D—based on a design developed 40 years ago and from a production run in the mid-1990s—bested the F-35 in close-range combat maneuvers.* *In the report, which Axe had obtained but did not publish in full, the F-35 pilot reported ... more »

These 10 Things Can Make Your Life Pharmaceutical Free

Waking Times at Waking Times - 9 hours ago
*Anna Hunt* - There are many things you can do to steer clear of the pharmacy. The post These 10 Things Can Make Your Life Pharmaceutical Free appeared first on Waking Times.

Dissension Within The Islamic State Leadership?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
Isis has executeed a top commander for plotting a coup against Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi(Reuters) *NOW*: *ISIS executes top Mosul official for "coup attempt"* *Abu Usman al-Hassan—one of the group’s commanders and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s representative in the city—was accused of conspiring against ISIS.* *BEIRUT – Reports have emerged that ISIS has executed one of its top administrative officials in Iraq’s second city of Mosul for planning a coup against the extremist group.* *The Iraq Press news outlet first reported the incident on Monday, saying that ISIS had executed Abu Usman al... more »

Ranking Religions on Reaction to SCOTUS Marriage Ruling, Homosexuality

Al Perrotta at The Stream - 9 hours ago
Religious groups have shown a wide range of reactions to U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that gay and lesbian couples have a right to marry. There are some who have applauded the decision. Others have vehemently disagreed with the ruling as... The post Ranking Religions on Reaction to SCOTUS Marriage Ruling, Homosexuality appeared first on The Stream.

Episcopalians Set to Vote on Allowing Same-Sex Church Weddings

Al Perrotta at The Stream - 9 hours ago
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Episcopalians were set to vote Wednesday on allowing religious weddings for gay couples, just days after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In 2003, the denomination made history by electing its first openly... The post Episcopalians Set to Vote on Allowing Same-Sex Church Weddings appeared first on The Stream.

White House Nominating Neller as Marine Commandant

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday the White House is nominating Lt. Gen. Robert Neller, a commander who served in Iraq’s western province during one of the most violent periods of the war, to be commandant of... The post White House Nominating Neller as Marine Commandant appeared first on The Stream.

Supplemental: The children are beautifully trained!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 10 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015The Clinton “scandals” through the eyes of Duke 2009:* The children are beautifully programmed, what with their spotless minds. The latest such player is David Graham, Duke 2009. At the Atlantic, he apparently was assigned to compile “The Clinton Scandal Primer,” which he chillingly says he’ll “update as new information arrives.” To call this “more prejudicial than probative” is like saying it’s dark and cold inside young Graham’s head. At the Atlantic, this one candidate will be honored with a tabulation of her scandals or pseudo-scandals, including thos... more »

Hillary Clinton Emails From 2009 Released By The U.S. State Department

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Daily Mail*: *Email bombshells from Hillary's secret account show she didn't know when cabinet meetings were held, was dumbfounded by a fax machine and emailed aides to fetch her iced tea* ** State Department published a massive tranche of Hillary Clinton's emails Tuesday night from her days as secretary of state* ** Judge ordered the release in response to a Freedom Of Information Act lawsuit* ** Tuesday's revelation covers barely 3,000 of the 55,000 pages that must go online by the end of the year; 9:00 p.m. release suggested State Department tried to bury it* ** Funny moments ... more »

U.S., Cuba Announce Embassy Openings

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Washington Post:* *U.S., Cuba plan to reopen embassies* *President Obama on Wednesday announced that Cuba and the United States will establish diplomatic ties for the first time in more than 50 years, a breakthrough step in the process of normalizing relations between the two estranged countries.* *“This is a historic step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban government and people and begin a new chapter with our neighbors in the Americas,” Obama said during remarks in the White House Rose Garden.* *“Nobody expects Cuba to be transformed overnight but I b... more »

It's not the IMF, exactly, but the shadow of austerity is hovering over Puerto Rico and Illinois

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 10 hours ago
*Miami Herald caption*: "*People walk through the streets after Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla gave a speech regarding the government's $72 billion debt on June 29, 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Governor said in his speech that the people will have to sacrifice and share in the responsibilities for pulling the island out of debt.*" *by Ken* In some sense the good citizens of Illinois and Puerto Rico have common cause with those of Greece as fellow prisoners of the New Global Economic Order, which features open-season-style predation for the masters of that ord... more »

Inbetweeners 2 waterslide scene blamed for 'abhorrent craze' of 'logging' per Daily Mail Online

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 10 hours ago
Words fail me... 'Holidaymakers are falling ill because youngsters deliberately poo in the pool - a craze fuelled by the Inbetweeners 2 film.' Logging' is inspired by the scene in the 2014 film when Neil (Blake Harrison) poos down a waterslide at a water park.Travel companies have threatened to fine those caught pooing in the pool, as dozens of tourists have been taken ill as a result.' More here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3142119/Holidaymakers-falling-ill-youngsters-deliberately-pooing-hotel-pools-Inbetweeners-2-waterslide-scene-blamed-abhorrent-craze-... more »

HAPPY CANADA DAY! July 1, 2015

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 10 hours ago
*Canada under the Harper Conservative Regime* *Happy Canada Day! to all my fellow Canadians. Here are some memorable quotes from famous Canadians for your enjoyment. Have a great day with your friends, family and pets. We're going to be walking our dogs to a local park and enjoying the festivities...celebrating all we've earned through our hard tax-paying work over the years. May this coming Fall bring in a new era for Canada...one where we can again hold our heads high and regain respect in the International Community.*

Happy Canada day

LeDaro at LeDaro - 10 hours ago
I wish you Happy Canada Day. I hope better days are ahead for Canada. In the meantime it should not interfere with our celebrating the Canada Day.We are one of the best country in the world. *Update:* *How Canada is perceived around the world.* Please click here.

Guest Column by Paul Craig Roberts

greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 10 hours ago
*Greek Warrior* *Paul Craig Roberts is always having "guest columnists" on his Blog. Sometimes he just cuts and pastes from other blogs...including having Vladimir Putin as a recent "guest" on his blog...copied from the Kremlin website. Anyhoooooo...I'm going take a page out of Robert's Blog Book and cut and paste PCR's most recent column about the Greek Crisis...because I believe, as is usual for Roberts, he's Right on the Money:* ************************************ Greece Again Can Save The West Paul Craig Roberts Like Marathon, Thermopylae, Plateau and Mycale roughly 2,500 y... more »

ALERT

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 11 hours ago
Over the past few days I've posted my concerns about potential problems at Fukushima Daiichi. Today an event occurred that reminded me strongly of the July 2013 "fire" that seemed to occur behind units 1-4, toward the Pacific Ocean. Both events have been documented at the Enenews discussion forums: Today's event is documented at Enenews.com, starting here: http://enenews.com/forum-about-japan-burning-radioactive-debris/comment-page-9#comment-683507 This is the forum we've been using to discuss the webcams for the last several months, after the Webcam Discussion forum starting malfu... more »

Oneness is Not Sameness

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 11 hours ago
Anyone who knows me knows that I love football. One reason I love football is because football is pregnant with illustrations, and — as you know — preachers love illustrations. Another reason I love football is because it is a... The post Oneness is Not Sameness appeared first on The Stream.

U.S. Now Has More Spanish Speakers Than Spain

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 11 hours ago
The United States is now the world’s second-largest Spanish-speaking country after Mexico, according to a new study published by the prestigious Instituto Cervantes. The report says there are 41 million native Spanish speakers in the U.S. plus a further 11.6... The post U.S. Now Has More Spanish Speakers Than Spain appeared first on The Stream.

Israel's Shin Bet Chief: Hamas Readying For Next War With Israel

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
Yoram Cohen, chief of the Shin Bet general security services, attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense committee meeting in the Israeli parliament. November 18, 2014. (photo credit: Miriam Alster/FLASH90) *Times of Israel*: *Shin Bet chief: Hamas gearing up for next round with Israel* *Terror group has little interest in war but could wage significant campaign, Yoram Cohen tells Knesset committee* *Since last summer’s Operation Protective Edge, Hamas has made great efforts to rebuild its military capacities in preparation for the next round of violence with Israel, according to the ... more »

Munich

Spike EP at News Spike - 11 hours ago
Munich '72 from Spike EP on Vimeo. "According to Bonn’s official documentation of the event, the Palestinian Black September terror group carried out its deadly mission with “ *precision*.” But the German authorities knew the *Black September was a badly prepared group that barely managed to find hotel rooms in Munich*, Der Spiegel stated. As far back as August 14, 1972, three weeks before the massacre, the German Embassy in Beirut reported to Bonn that an informant had talked about Palestinian plans for “*an incident*” during the Olympics, according to the report. Four days later... more »

Islamic State Threatens To Overthrow Hamas In The Gaza Strip

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 11 hours ago
ISIL fighters condemned Hamas for its dealings with Hezbollah, Iran and "secularist" groups [YouTube] *Al Jazeera:* *ISIL warns Hamas in video message* *Fighters condemn Palestinian group for crackdown on ISIL supporters, and failure to implement its brand of Islamic law.* *The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has threatened the Palestinian armed group Hamas, vowing to end the faction's rule in the territory.* *In a 16-minute long video shared by social media accounts sympathetic to ISIL on Wednesday, fighters based in Syria's Aleppo province condemned Hamas for ... more »

Report: These Front Groups Spend Millions to Shape Perception of Food

Waking Times at Waking Times - 11 hours ago
*Infographic - *Big Food and Big Agra are using front groups to sway public opinion. Here's a chart listing these front groups, their investors, and just how much they're spending on promoting corporate interests. The post Report: These Front Groups Spend Millions to Shape Perception of Food appeared first on Waking Times.

Jim Caviezel to be Honored by Jimmy Stewart Museum

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 11 hours ago
INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — Jim Caviezel is being honored by a Pennsylvania museum dedicated to actor Jimmy Stewart. Caviezel stars in the TV series Person of Interest and became widely known for his role in the movie The Passion of... The post Jim Caviezel to be Honored by Jimmy Stewart Museum appeared first on The Stream.

F-35 stories

Boris at The Galloping Beaver - 12 hours ago
There's a story circulating about a report by a F-35 driver on a close-range mock dogfight between a F-16 and F-35. The F-35 apparently failed completely in this most fighterly of fights. If true, then any air force wishing to maintain an air-to-air capability should not replace its entire fleet with this aircraft. In the air-to-air role, it is actually an air defence weakness that an enemy

After Censoring Muhammad Cartoons, New York Times Publishes Offensive Image of Pope Benedict XVI

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 12 hours ago
As you might recall, a few months ago The New York Times announced that they would not publish any of Charlie Hebdo‘s cartoons of Muhammad, even after Islamist terrorists massacred the French satire paper’s staff. “Under Times standards, we do... The post After Censoring Muhammad Cartoons, *New York Times* Publishes Offensive Image of Pope Benedict XVI appeared first on The Stream.

U.S., Cuba to Reopen Embassies in Havana, Washington

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 12 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the U.S. and Cuba will reopen their embassies in Havana and Washington, heralding a “new chapter” in relations after a half-century of hostility. “We don’t have to be imprisoned by the... The post U.S., Cuba to Reopen Embassies in Havana, Washington appeared first on The Stream.

Islamic State Launches Multiple Attacks In Egypt's North Sinai. 70 Soldiers Reported Kill

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*Reuters*: *Islamic State attack in Egypt's North Sinai kills 70* *Islamic State insurgents attacked several military checkpoints in Egypt's North Sinai on Wednesday in a co-ordinated assault in which at least 70 combatants and civilians were killed -- one of the biggest militant attacks in Egypt's modern history.* *The action marked a significant escalation in violence in the Sinai Peninsula, located between Israel, the Gaza Strip and the Suez Canal.* *It also raised questions about the government's ability to contain an insurgency that has already killed hundreds of police and s... more »

Egypt's Sinai rocked by wave of deadly attacks - BBC News who have to put the word 'terrorists' between quotation marks because of some sick belief in not criticising genocidal Islamists

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 12 hours ago
'Islamic State militants have launched a wave of attacks on the security forces in Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula. The military said 10 soldiers had been killed or wounded along with 39 "terrorists" in near-simultaneous raids on checkpoints near Sheikh Zuweid.' More here http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33340458 and all over the increasingly pro Islamist BBC.

Churches Get Creepy Facial Recognition Software to Track Members

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 12 hours ago
*Valerie Tarico* - Why do churches need a means to engage in unfettered surveillance of their members? The post Churches Get Creepy Facial Recognition Software to Track Members appeared first on Waking Times.

Live Updates On The Greek Debt Crisis

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 12 hours ago
*Live Updates On The Greek Debt Crisis* Live reporting on the Greek crisis -- BBC Live: Greek Debt Crisis 2015 -- Reuters LIVE: Tsipras calls for ‘no’ vote in bailout referendum -- France 24 The Latest: Banner against austerity in Athens taken down -- AP Latest on the Greek Debt Crisis: Tsipras Budges on Deal -- New York Times Greece debt crisis: Alexis Tsipras insists Sunday referendum still on – live -- The Guardian Greek Crisis Live: Tsipras to go ahead with referendum as creditors pressure him to capitulate on bailout -- The Telegraph Greece debt crisis live: Angela Merkel refuses ... more »

Binay Dynasty, 29+ Years in Makati

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 12 hours ago
For the first time in 29 years and 4 months (March 1986 to July 2015), Makati City has experienced a non-Binay as City Mayor. The premier city known as the country's financial center has Jejomar "Jojo" Binay (the country's Vice President, 2010 to present) as Mayor for many years, and in between the max 3-terms limit for Jojo, his wife, Elenita Binay, served as Mayor. Then Jojo goes back again as Mayor. Then when his second set of 3-term limits ended, his son, Jun-jun Binay became Mayor. The family is accused of plunder and large-scale robbery at the Ombudsman. Mayor Junjun was susp... more »

Charlie Chaplin's Comedic Prophecy...

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 12 hours ago
This is a prescient speech from the movie the Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin... and its prophetic of this moment we are approaching NOW... could anything be more dictatorial (and a faceless dictator committee known as the EU Troika) that Greece now faces? From Wikipedia: According to Jürgen Trimborn's biography of Nazi propaganda film-maker *Leni Riefenstahl*, both Chaplin and French film-maker René Clair viewed Riefenstahl's *Triumph of the Will *together at a showing at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Film maker Luis Buñuel reports that Clair was horrified by the power... more »

How Greece Went Bust

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Reuters*: *Special Report: How Greece went bust* *It was a small room with a plain wooden table a few feet wide. The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sat on one side, along with a translator and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor. On the other sat President Francois Hollande of France; around were a handful of officials.* *In this modest Brussels setting last Friday morning, key players in the great Greek debt drama tried to avert a meltdown that could threaten the future of the euro and even the European Union (EU). Merkel and Hollande made a final offer of billions of euro... more »

As Obama Shrugs, Wall Street Frets over Greece

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 13 hours ago
President Barack Obama put on his market strategist hat on Tuesday and calmly declared that financial markets have “properly factored in” the risks of Greece’s increasingly dire financial woes and possible exit from the euro zone. But Wall Street fears... The post As Obama Shrugs, Wall Street Frets over Greece appeared first on The Stream.

Macy’s Ends Sales of Trump Clothing Line

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 13 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s is the latest company to end its relationship with Donald Trump as the fallout from the real estate mogul’s remarks about Mexican immigrants continues. Companies have been cutting ties with Trump left and right after... The post Macy’s Ends Sales of Trump Clothing Line appeared first on The Stream.

Donald Trump’s Poll Numbers Keep Rising

Tom Sileo at The Stream - 13 hours ago
Whatever New Hampshire saw in Donald Trump, it looks like Iowa is seeing it too. After taking second place in the latest New Hampshire polls, Trump is also claiming the silver in Iowa — where he traveled hot off his... The post Donald Trump’s Poll Numbers Keep Rising appeared first on The Stream.

Bank Of England Issues Warning That Greece Now "Threatens To Trigger A Market Selloff That Could Ripple Through The Global Economy"

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Wall Street Journal*: *Bank of England Warns Greece Threatens Financial Stability* *Greece’s debt crisis could trigger a financial market selloff that could ripple through the global economy, the U.K.’s central bank warns* *LONDON—The Bank of England said Wednesday the outlook for financial stability in the U.K. has deteriorated in recent days as the crisis in Greece intensifies, underscoring how the Mediterranean nation’s debt troubles are reverberating outside the eurozone.* *Presenting the BOE’s twice-yearly Financial Stability Report, the central bank’s governor Mark Carne... more »

Mandatory Vaccination: California is Ordering Genetic Alteration

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 13 hours ago
*Jon Rappoport* - The entire human race has been is the subject of a vast, multi-century genetic experiment. The post Mandatory Vaccination: California is Ordering Genetic Alteration appeared first on Waking Times.

Problems at Daiichi Continued

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 13 hours ago
Yesterday I posted my suspicion that TEPCO is encountering problems with the melted fuel based on a number of observations, including the flashing (warning?) light, police car at the Futaba intersection with lights on, and the boat in Daiichi's harbor. Today I watched a major 30 minute steam "event" (in my opinion). I call this a steam event rather than a natural "fog" event because of the way the steam moved so quickly and the manner whereby it rose from the ground at the Daiichii site. Here are a few screen captures. You can see more at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h4pmq... more »

Marriage and Family Stability in Red and Blue America

Nancy Flory at The Stream - 13 hours ago
Today, the conventional wisdom is that “red families” are weaker than “blue families,” a view that was cemented by the publication of Naomi Cahn and June Carbone’s groundbreaking 2010 book on family life and political culture, Red Families v. Blue... The post Marriage and Family Stability in Red and Blue America appeared first on The Stream.

Greek Banks Partially Opened Today. Besieged By Thousands Of Pensioners Clamoring For Cash

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Zero Hedge*: *"Heartbreaking" Scene Unfolds At Greek Banks As Pensioners Clamor For Cash* 1,000 Greek bank branches chanced a stampede in order to open their doors to the country's retirees on Wednesday. The scene was somewhat chaotic as pensioners formed long lines and the country’s elderly attempted to squeeze through the doors in order to access pension payments. As Bloomberg reports, payouts were rationed and disbursals were limited according to last name. Here’s more: *It’s a day of fresh indignities for the people of Greece.About a third of the nation’s depleted ba...more »

Independent Kurdistan Taking Shape

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 13 hours ago
*Daily Times- Pakistan* "A greater Kurdistan nation state taken from the four countries where Kurds are minorities is improbable, although greater autonomy is growing within Turkey and Syria if not Iran, and an independent Iraqi Kurdistan is becoming more likely by the day. Kurds who are scoring significant victories over Islamic State (IS) are by far the most effective force fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria. However, *they appear intent on keeping all the ground they have taken from the notorious terrorist group for their own national project,* endangering the larger cause of kee... more »

Kiev's Propaganda Supervised by Americans

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 13 hours ago
Good story about many of Kiev's military forces joining the self-defense forces in Donbass in eastern Ukraine. One former Intelligence officer in Ukrainians Army shares how the US supervises Kiev's propaganda machine - making up stories as they try to suggest a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Marriage is so passé...

Adrienne at Adrienne's Corner - 13 hours ago
*so why do homosexuals, who like to be on the cutting edge of all that is cool, want to engage in such an outmoded and old-fashioned institution?* They don't. And neither, it appears, do straight people. Let's face it, when you have gaggles of little girls (some as young as 14), thinking it would be fun to have a baby, and when you have the government (that's us) funding the acquisition of that baby, why get married? For those who do choose the conventional route and get married before having babies, 50% will end in divorce. You may double that figure if the couple lived together... more »

Is Greece About To 'Cave In' To The Demands Of The EU And Its Creditors?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*New York Times*: *Tsipras Signals Greece May Accept Bailout Terms* *ATHENS — The Greek government has indicated to its creditors that it is willing to accept many of the terms of a bailout package that it had earlier rejected, if they are part of a broader deal to address the country’s funding needs for the next two years, officials said on Wednesday.* *The development raised the prospect of progress in resolving a financial crisis that has sent shudders through global markets and deeply strained European unity.* *In a letter sent on Tuesday to the creditors — the European Centr... more »

LOW-COUNTRY CADENCES: Dr. King spoke that language too!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 13 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015Part 3—An electrifying event:* In our view, the pushback came remarkably fast when the families in Charleston spoke about love and forgiveness. The pushback came from the up-country gurus who have been leaving us barefoot and clueless over the past several decades. The condescension was fast and familiar concerning the low-country rubes. Our “cable left” didn’t seem pleased with the things the families had said. In some ways, we thought Professor Butler’s statement to Chris Hayes was most notable of all: “The problem is, love and forgiveness are not produc... more »

Number Of Displaced In Iraq Passes 3 Million Mark

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
The on going fighting in Iraq has now displaced over three million people. Not only have they lost their homes, but their plight is also made more difficult by a number of other issues. That includes the government not letting people return to certain areas and facing prejudice, while the official agencies in charge of providing them aid have continuously been charged with corruption. That leads many of these people to fend for themselves, and some will likely never be able to go back to their homes. In June 2015 it was announced that the number of displaced in Iraq had surpassed... more »

Today Is Canada Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*WNU Editor:* For those who may not know .... I live in Canada and today is Canada Day .... our national holiday. I did the mistake last night of attending a fantastic party that involved eating, drinking, and talking till the early hours of the morning. So to say that I am suffering from a hangover this morning is an understatement .... so yes .... my head is really hurting right now .... and blogging will be light for the next few hours. Military And Intelligence News Briefs And World News Briefs will be posted at 17:00 EST and 18:00 EST later today. Sighhh .... I now need a cup ... more »

UPDATE ON THE MICHIGAN FAMILY BUYING INDIANA, FLORIDA, AND OKLAHOMA EDUCATION

Doug Martin at Schools Matter - 14 hours ago
*By Doug Martin, the author of **Hoosier School Heist **(find it **on Facebook**)* *cross-posted at the Hoosier School Heist Blog* Without a doubt, Betsy DeVos and her family members are some of the biggest players behind school privatization in Indiana (and *several other states, so see the end of this piece*). Betsy DeVos is the wife of Richard (Dick) DeVos, Jr., the Christian Right leader of Amway and Right-to-Work supporter who ran for governor of Michigan in 2006 and almost won. As I explain in my book *Hoosier School Heist*, Richard, in a video a few years back, detailed ... more »

A gentle reminder to Greece, the Ex-Im Bank, et al.: If your deadline was June 30, you're now past your deadline

KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 14 hours ago
*But alas, it's not enough for the merchants of austerity.* *by Ken* June 30, marking as it does the end of the first half of the calendar year, is a popular demarcation point for all sorts of things -- the end of many organizations' fiscal year and the end point for all sorts of other agreements. And since we've grown accustomed lately to kicking off the *DWT* day with news of the mess in Greece, let's start by remembering that yesterday was the deadline for its big, big, big IMF loan payment, and since there was no relevant agreement, and no whisper of another bailout, we can sa... more »

From riches to ruins: Ancient Greeks 'stored millions in cash' in Parthenon attic

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 14 hours ago
http://rt.com/news/270955-silver-coins-parthenon-attic/ *From riches to ruins: Ancient Greeks 'stored millions in cash' in Parthenon attic* Published time: July 01, 2015 13:30 Get short URL Parthenon, Athens (Image from wikipedia.org)Parthenon, Athens (Image from wikipedia.org) While Greece has become the first developed nation to default on its international obligations, archaeologists believe they have discovered the place where ancient Greeks may have once kept millions in silver and gold. A team of researchers managed to recreate the attic inside one of the world's greatest cu... more »

Don’t pull your punches

sue at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
These days people like to believe they’re speaking out courageously. They’re telling truths that others dare not tell, saying the unsayable and boldly articulating what no man has articulated before. Anyway that’s what Bishop Tom Butler seemed to be trying to do on Today’s Thought for the Day. He had an anecdote for us about preventing extremism, which contained a knowing message, which I took to be: All religions have nasty, violent and vengeful bits, and before true openness and interfaith understanding can be achieved these unpalatable passages need to be brought out into the op... more »

Marijuana Legalization Starts Today in Oregon

LaToya Rosario at The Stream - 14 hours ago
Oregon residents successfully passed a measure to legalize marijuana in November 2014, but the measure is set to officially come into effect today. A total of 847,865 Oregonians approved Measure 91, totaling over 56 percent of voters. Supported by New... The post Marijuana Legalization Starts Today in Oregon appeared first on The Stream.

Crowley's Irregulars

Spike EP at News Spike - 14 hours ago
Crowley's Irregulars - A Historie of Magick and the Deep State from Spike EP on Vimeo. *A brief history of the Culture Wars - Starring:* Alan Moore, *Sir Paul McCartney, * *Sir Bob Geldof, * Steven Van Zandt, Mark David Chapman, Holden Caulfield, Rich Hall, Neil Sanders, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jian Gomeshi, *Sir Jimmy Savile OBE, * *Sir Elton John, * *Bono Vox KBE, * Courtney Love, *Sir Mick Jagger, * Keith Richards, Ian Hislop, Louis Theroux, *Geoffrey Chaucer, * Heath Ledger, Paula Yates, Hyde Park, Bro. Dick Gregory, Alister Crowley, Sgt. Pepper, *Billy Shears, *... more »

Masterclass in making a hit pop song from a Canuk posted on Canada Day

Steve at Thinking Aboot - 15 hours ago
Happy Birthday Canada! I love you but hate the current management. H/T Twisted Sifter

David Sweat Claims He Masterminded Prison Break, Official Says

Anika Smith at The Stream - 15 hours ago
(CNN) David Sweat and Richard Matt didn’t just pull off a grandiose prison escape — they actually did it twice. And through it all, David Sweat was the mastermind — or at least that’s what he’s telling investigators, a local... The post David Sweat Claims He Masterminded Prison Break, Official Says appeared first on The Stream.

Here’s Why an Officer was Legally Allowed to Shoot David Sweat in the Back

LaToya Rosario at The Stream - 15 hours ago
New York State Police Sgt. Jay Cook shot escaped prisoner David Sweat twice, reportedly in the back, while he ran away Sunday and was called a hero. This raises the question: Was it legally OK for the officer to shoot the unarmed man... The post Here’s Why an Officer was Legally Allowed to Shoot David Sweat in the Back appeared first on The Stream.

Emails Show Obama Administration Aware of Hillary Clinton’s Private Email Address

LaToya Rosario at The Stream - 15 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior Obama administration officials, including the White House chief of staff, knew as early as 2009 that Hillary Rodham Clinton was using a private email address for her government correspondence, according to some 3,000 pages of correspondence... The post Emails Show Obama Administration Aware of Hillary Clinton’s Private Email Address appeared first on The Stream.

Supreme Court to Hear California Teacher’s Suit, Could Change Game for Unions

Anika Smith at The Stream - 15 hours ago
That skirted the broader issue of whether all mandatory fees were constitutional, but opened the door for the next case, Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Assn., to challenge the forced fees on free-speech grounds. “Except perhaps in the rarest of circumstances,... The post Supreme Court to Hear California Teacher’s Suit, Could Change Game for Unions appeared first on The Stream.

Greek Bailout Proposal Falls Short of Creditor Demands- No new deal

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 15 hours ago
Interesting. Because the news below directly contradicts much of the positive reporting I had read earlier this morning- About a possible deal and rising stockmarkets *Market Watch * Greece sent a new proposal for budget cuts and policy overhauls as part of a request for a new bailout, but *it falls short of the demands of the country’s creditors,* European officials said Wednesday. In the new letter sent to the country’s lenders late Tuesday night, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras proposes changes on several key parts of measures at the center of a five-month standoff between ... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 15 hours ago
*Delaware Passes Testing Opt-Out Bill* Delaware may be the next state to opt out of Smarter Balanced Assessments. Last week, Delaware became the latest in growing number of states to push for the ability of parents to opt their children out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment tests. These tests were implemented as part of the increasingly unpopular Common Core education standards, but parents and teachers alike have been dissatisfied with the amount of time and focus going into test preparation as opposed to more traditional teaching, involving individualized interaction between te...more »

Canada Day 2015

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 15 hours ago
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.ca Yesterday, Greece defaulted on its creditors. We are in yet another financial crisis. Jim Stanford writes: No one can predict how the European drama will unfold next. Or how other after-effects of the 2008-2009 crisis (such as the coming rise in U.S. interest rates) will shake still-fragile economies around the world. What is certain, however, is that globalized, financialized, polarized capitalism is incapable of finding the stable and efficient equilibrium fantasized by conventional neoclassical econom... more »

Greece Moves to Accept Bailout Conditions, But No Deal Before Sunday’s Vote

Anika Smith at The Stream - 15 hours ago
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s government has made new concessions in talks with its creditors, though some European officials said they were still not good enough and that a deal was nevertheless impossible before a Greek referendum on Sunday. Prime... The post Greece Moves to Accept Bailout Conditions, But No Deal Before Sunday’s Vote appeared first on The Stream.

Why Racists Burn Black Churches

Anika Smith at The Stream - 15 hours ago
Since at least 1822, when the first recorded burning of a black church occurred in South Carolina, church arson has been the default response of racists frustrated with progress — or even the faint specter of progress — on civil rights.... The post Why Racists Burn Black Churches appeared first on The Stream.

Iranian Media Claims Atomic Agency Chief Coming to Tehran

LaToya Rosario at The Stream - 15 hours ago
VIENNA (AP) — The head of the UN agency tasked to monitor a nuclear deal with Iran will visit Tehran Thursday to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and discuss an impasse over interviewing experts he suspects may have worked... The post Iranian Media Claims Atomic Agency Chief Coming to Tehran appeared first on The Stream.

ANALYSIS: Preparing for a Space War with China or Russia

LaToya Rosario at The Stream - 15 hours ago
A space war sounds like a great plot for a summer blockbuster. Unfortunately, a conflict in space isn’t just a Hollywood movie script anymore, but a threat in the real world. Both Russia and China have developed, or are developing,... The post ANALYSIS: Preparing for a Space War with China or Russia appeared first on The Stream.

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 16 hours ago
*Once more: Climate was highly variable in prehistory too* *Findings from Finland yesterday, South America today. Another finding of big climate swings. Also found below: Insolation (the sun) was primary driver of tropical S. American climate in the past 120,000 years. Just the first half of the unusually long abstract below. The second half deals with models* Nature and causes of Quaternary climate variation of tropical South America Paul A. Baker et al. Abstract This selective review of the Quaternary paleoclimate of the South American summer monsoon (SASM) domain presents ... more »

Marquee #USA Sign

Debra Hawkins at Housewife Eclectic - 17 hours ago
I haven't done a ton of Fourth of July crafting this year. We have been working really hard to reduce what is in our house because we aren't sure what is one the horizon for us home wise, so I have been just reusing old decorations and not making new ones, until I found this Hashtag Marquee sign at Jo-Ann Stores yesterday. I fell immediately in love and since I was able to come up with ideas to use it at every holiday, I decided to spring for it. I pulled together this sign in an afternoon and I only wish I had come up with it sooner. I am not sure I am going to be able to convince ... more »

Tsipras' surrender letter: the timing of a loser

LuboÅ¡ Motl at The Reference Frame - 17 hours ago
*To sell while you are crumbling is too late* Twelve hours ago, at midnight Prague Summer Time, Greece became the first country that defaulted to the IMF among the countries that were widely considered developed at the moment of the default. I have been 90% sure that this event was unavoidable at least since June 5th or so. People who claimed that the European politicians "wouldn't allow" something like that have been shown spectacularly wrong. Some EU politicians may religiously worship the memes about the integrated Europe. But these politicians have neither the absolute power nor... more »

Problem/Reaction/Solution Off-world proxy rule by Qing Dynasty Royals

Obi-Wan Kabuki at AMERICAN KABUKI - 18 hours ago
Dr Henry Todd. Nationality: Ostensibly UK, Cover occupation: Everest Tour Guide, real occupation architecting and coordinating the international banking systems and maintains its continuity of control through various politically contrived iterations (phoenix-ing) of the banking system into a new entities, while maintaining the same earth-based proxy controllers, the Chinese Qing Dynasty Royals, who in turn work for a larger FINANCE system complex off world. Dr Todd is very old, nobody is quite sure how old, yet he still climbs Everest... *[7/1/15, 9:52:39 AM] HeatherAnnTucciJarra... more »

Five Most Read Posts in June

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 19 hours ago
The most popular posts last month were: 1. Short Notes on Jeremy Corbyn 2. Don't Blame the Council 3. What is Jeremy Corbyn Playing At? 4. The Gnashing of Blairite Teeth 5. How the Conservatives Can Win Again Another very busy time on the blog. After last month's peak we've had to settle for being the third best month ever. Diddums. Still, very good for what has always been a too quiet time of year as far as my little corner of the internet is concerned. Enough backslapping. The announcement of Jeremy Corbyn's candidature pulled the punters in as I started musing about its potenti... more »

Another David Cameron lie?

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
First the promised EU referendum that never happened and now... In 2009 David Cameron promised: "No ifs, no buts, there'll be no third runway at Heathrow". So David Cameron will you keep that promise or were you lieing?

No Shit Sherlock

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
' England is preparing to bask in sunshine as it experiences what could be the hottest day of the year so far. The Met Office said temperatures could reach 32 or 33C (90 or 91F), with an "isolated chance" somewhere might be as hot as 34 to 35C (93 to 95F). The TUC has said staff should be allowed to dress down and work flexible hours during the hot spell. Public Health England advises wearing light and loose clothing and drinking lots of cool drinks.' From the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33324881 'Public Health England advises wearing light and loose clothing and dri...more »

Douglas Murray lays bare the BBC's willingness to protect Islam from any criticism

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
'The night after the Charlie Hebdo atrocities I was pre-recording a Radio 4 programme. My fellow discussant was a very nice Muslim man who works to 'de-radicalise' extremists. We agreed on nearly everything. But at some point he said that one reason Muslims shouldn't react to such cartoons is that Mohammed never objected to critics. There may be some positive things to be said about Mohammed, but I thought this was pushing things too far and mentioned just one occasion when Mohammed didn't welcome a critic. Asma bint Marwan was a female poetess who mocked the 'Prophet' and who, as ... more »

Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod™ Takes to the Skies

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: Legion pod]Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod recently completed its first flight test, successfully tracking multiple airborne targets while flying on an F-16 in Fort Worth, Texas. Legion Pod was integrated onto the F-16 without making any hardware or software changes to the aircraft. Additional flight tests on the F-16 and F-15C will continue throughout the year. “Legion Pod is a production-ready, multi-sensor system,” said Paul Lemmo, vice president of fire control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “With our most advanced hardware and software, a hot production lin... more »

Russia's Satellite Nuclear Warning System Down Until November

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: United Space System or EKS]Russia has delayed the launch of a new military satellite system by four months, news agency TASS reported Wednesday, leaving Moscow nearly blind in the event of a nuclear missile attack till at least November. Russia's decaying constellation of Soviet-designed early warning satellites was left nearly blind last year, when one of the three remaining units malfunctioned. The remaining two satellites were taken offline in January, leaving Russian decision-makers reliant on land-based radar systems to detect incoming missiles. Radar systems, however... more »

Absolute Annihilator: Watch Russian Pantsir-S1 Smash Targets

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
The Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system can detect and destroy any plane, helicopter, guided bomb or ballistic missile. It can even strike the Tomahawks Block-IV cruise missiles. It simply annihilates everything in the sky - no wonder why experts consider it the best in the world. The Pantsir-S1 (NATO reporting name SA-22 Greyhound), is a short-to-medium range gun-missile system combining a wheeled vehicle mounting a fire-control radar and electro-optical sensor, two 30mm cannons and up to 12 57E6 radio-command guided short-range missiles. The system is designed to detect and hit... more »

Initial Training Begins for Israel’s David’s Sling Missile Defense System

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: David's Sling weapon system]The Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) Air Defense Command has launched the first training course for soldiers who will be operating the new David’s Sling missile-interception system. Training will be led by the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Homa Directorate, which oversees the missile defense program, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the lead contractor for the project. The training course will be six months long. David’s Sling is designed to intercept medium-to-long-range missil... more »

S. Korea selects Airbus for $1.33 bn military contract

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: A330 MRTT]European aerospace giant Airbus won a $1.33 billion deal on June 30 to supply air refuelling tankers to South Korea, beating US rival Boeing, Seoul's military procurement agency said. Under the 1.488 trillion won deal, Airbus Defence and Space will supply four A330 MRTT aircraft by 2019 to South Korea's air force. The A330 MRTT, a military derivative of the A330-200 airliner, was selected over Boeing's KC-46A, the state agency said. Read more

E-2D program successful critical design review moves Hawkeye closer to aerial refueling

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: E-2D Advanced Hawkeye]Aerial refueling of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is closer to reality after the Navy successfully conducted a critical design review of its AR capability Wednesday and Thursday. The review paves the way for installing AR capabilities aboard the E-2D AHE for flight testing. The AR capability is expected to reach initial operational capability in FY2020. During the review, Naval Air Systems Command and Northrop Grumman leaders presented various aspects of the AR system’s technical development to a technical review board for evaluation. Read more

Russia To Boost Military Presence On Western Border With Over 20 Attack Helicopters By End Of 2015

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Mi-28NE Havoc]Russia is strengthening its forces on the country’s western border, and the Kremlin will further reinforce its army in the region with more than 20 attack helicopters by the end of 2015, Russia’s Western Military District announced Tuesday. The move comes amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West as NATO forces step up military presence in areas close to Russia's borders in Eastern Europe. “New army aircraft are equipped with cutting-edge electronics that allow them to perform training and combat tasks 24 hours a day in any weather conditions,” Russia... more »

Air Force to evaluate all B-type Hercules

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: C-13B Hercules]The Indonesian Air Force has said it will evaluate all of its B-type Hercules airplanes following a Hercules C-130 crash in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday. Air Force chief of staff Air Chief Marshal Agus Supriatna said the incident in Medan was a catalyst to evaluate the flight systems used by the Indonesian Military. While admitting that the Hercules C-130 may have had some technical problems, he said the cause of the crash was still unknown. Read more

PLA's Type 055 destroyer to be bigger than US Arleigh Burke-class

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Type 055 DDG concept]China's Type 055 guided-missile destroyer currently under construction will be bigger and probably more powerful than the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the United States, according to Strategy Page, a US-based website covering global defense issues, on June 28. With a displacement of 12,000 tonnes, the size of the Type 055 is much closer to a cruiser than a destroyer and the largest surface combat vessel China has ever built, excluding the Liaoning aircraft carrier which was refitted from a hulk purchased from Ukraine. Beijing claims the Type 055 eq... more »

Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” starts mooring trials of Admiral Essen, second ship of Project 11356

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Project 11356 class FFG]On June 30, 2015, Baltic Shipbuilding Plant “Yantar” (United Shipbuilding Corporation, Kaliningrad) commenced mooring trials of Admiral Essen, second ship of Project 11356 being built for RF Navy, the shipyard says. Upon completion of the mooring trials the ship will leave for the acceptance/delivery base in Baltijsk to undergo the sea trials. The delivery is scheduled for the end of the year. The Admiral Essen was laid down on July 8, 2011 and launched on November 7, 2014. Under two contracts signed with the Russian Ministry of Defense, Yantar Shipy... more »

Indian Navy building 48 warships indigenously

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: INS Vikrant]Hailing the country's indigenous shipbuilding capabilities, Vice Admiral P. Murugesan, vice chief of the navy, on Tuesday said that 48 warships are currently under construction in Indian shipyards. These 48 ships being manufactured for the Indian Navy include aircraft carriers, frigates, destroyers, submarines, corvettes and fast attack crafts. "The greatest news is that all these 48 ships are being built in Indian shipyards," Murugesan said at the simultaneous launch of three Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC) at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers ... more »

Tony Abbott defends purchase of F-35

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: RAAF F-35 Lightning II]Prime Minister Tony Abbott has defended Australia's decision to fork out $12.4 billion to buy the troubled F-35 joint strike fighter, with the first aircraft being introduced to limited roles by the United States Marine Corps next week. Mr Abbott, who on Wednesday announced a $275 million upgrade to Williamtown RAAF Base near Newcastle to accommodate the new fighters, insisted Australia was "absolutely buying the right plane". The first 10 F-35 armed joint strike fighters are to be handed over to the US Marines Corps on July 10. Read more

Stennis, SPAWAR Prepare for First Carrier Deployment with Next Generation CANES Network

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: John C. Stennis (CVN 74)]Navy communications at sea will take a big leap forward in capability and capacity later this year. The service’s next-generation IT infrastructure, which promises faster connections and greater cyber security protections, will be tested and deployed for the first time on an aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). Stennis is preparing for both a deployment in the fall and its five-year Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) examination in late July, and it will be the first aircraft carrier to do either with the Consolidated Afloat Networks ... more »

Where Is the UK Government's Nuclear Weapons Policy Heading?

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Successor class SSBN]Whichever way you look at it, it seems that the fiscal hawks and disarmament doves have been blown out of the sky and have sunk into a deep blue ocean where the Trident Successor programme stares them head-on. Since returning to power with an outright majority, the UK's new Conservative government is now full steam ahead to replace the Vanguard-class submarines with a new fleet of four Successor submarines, each armed with Trident II D-5 fleet ballistic missiles. Each submarine will have 12 launch tubes of which 8 will be operational and capable of rea... more »

Saab Signs Contracts for A26 Submarines and Mid-life Upgrade for Gotland-class Submarines

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Type A26 class SSK]Defence and security company Saab has signed contracts with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the construction of two new Type A26 submarines and a mid-life upgrade for two Gotland-class submarines. The orders, signed with FMV today, cover the period 2015-2024 and the total order value is SEK8.6 billion. Saab will construct, verify and deliver two new Type A26 submarines for the Swedish Navy to a total order value of SEK7.6 billion. Deliveries will start in 2022 and be finalized in 2024. Read more

Amid Chinese Military Aggression, Russia Delivers Submarine To Vietnam For Defense Over South China Sea Dispute

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Hanoi (Kilo) class SSK]A Russian-made submarine arrived in Vietnam's Cam Ranh Port Tuesday, the fourth of six Kil0-class submarines that Russia is delivering as part of a $2.6 billion deal the two countries signed in 2009, Thanh Nien News reported. The submarines are part of a Vietnamese effort to deter China's military amid an ongoing dispute over the South China Sea, a maritime expanse considered rich in resources that is highly valuable for commercial shipping. In addition to the six Kilo-class submarines from Russia, Vietnam has bought accompanying Russian-made missile... more »

Sink these submarines

Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Type 041 (Yuan) class SSK]The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) believes it is on the brink of achieving an objective set more than 20 years ago. Admirals say that only the formality of a cabinet decision stands between them and three submarines. The cabinet should object to this decision. The navy's actions on subs remain opaque, unexplained and quite possibly wrong. The current situation is supposedly this. A navy-appointed, 17-member committee studied submarines on sale around the world. The navy has never discussed funding, but the government said the committee's operations cost 200... more »

Subconscious Prediction and Reaction to Future Stimuli

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
I suspect that we all have short term precognition and that this allows us to prepare. This is obviously a very useful survival trait and provided it is possible it would be selected for. Since we are comfortable that such is possible it is plausible that it exists. Yet most of the time it will be dormant simply because it can be. It is like the sleeping cat. Yet it is also likely hard wired to our automatic response nervous system as well. After all, a suddenly charging Grizzly needs instant and correct response. This can include scaling the closest tree long before t... more »

Magna Carta: Beginning of the End of Tyranny

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
There is something important here for history buffs. the power of the Magna Carta arose because even Kings found it expedient to reissue it to remind those powerful enough to usurp the king's power that a rule actually existed to live under. It was from this repetition that the whole concept of a binding rule of law arose and embedded itself in even the popular mind. Parliament was not too far behind that idea. Sometimes it is not the law itself but the historic context that is important. After all men can gather and establish rules of conduct and men can gather to modify... more »

Russian Military Presence in Vietnam

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
[image: Russian Navy] The Bear is back because it is a perfectly good place to keep a chunk of its fleet that also puts it all on an active footing. The USA and Britain has had the luxury of global depots for centuries even while others are now waking up to their usefulness. China has the problem that while it has a Navy it is actually restricted to Home Ports very like the position of the German fleet in the first half of the twentieth century. At the same time it allows Russia through its ally to exercise a real presence in the South China Sea much to China's chagrin. Russ... more »

Cat Ownership Linked to Schizophrenia

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
The mere fact that half of all folks that develop schizophrenia or more generally by extension its syndrome did have cats as childhood pets is sufficent to make the following conjecture: *Conjecture:* A cat based vector is the cause of *ALL* Schizophrenia Syndrome disease. I am been very strong about this because a fifty percent incidence strongly suggests a high infection rate is normal and that means casual contact is good enough as well. Once identified we really do not need to go looking anywhere else. Fortunately we do have such a vector that fits the bill. I had s... more »

Yukon Fossil Find Redraws Camel's Family Tree

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
Sometimes you get the unexpected. The camel became cold country adapted and did migrate into North America a long time ago. Let us remember that the musk ox and all deer did the same and the camel was as well prepared. The massive extinction that took place 12,900 BP likely took them out as well. It is unlikely any re adapted to southern lands. After all the Mastodon did not leave us southern adapted Elephants in North America or lions for that matter. Thus the pattern is the same. That leaves us with more questions regarding the South American menagerie and... more »

New Algorithm Paves the Way for Light-Based Computers

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
[image: Optical interconnects made of silicon act as a prism to direct infrared light transferring data between computer chips] This suggests that we are finally there and will produce optically connected optical circuits. This will then eliminate the heat problem as well as advancing Moore's Law expectations. Like a number of technical developments, this ability has been predicted for decades. Solving it has always been another matter. I think we are now there and it also suggests that real computer enhanced design engineering is upon us. For our n... more »

Pope Creates Tribunal for Bishop Negligence in Child Sexual Abuse Cases

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
This is a positive development that will establish protocols and also discipline failure*.* Unwilling or not, the Catholic Church has found itself in the lead in tackling the particular problem of adults using authority to satisfy aberrant sexual and behavioral needs. That it was sadly vulnerable is obvious to all even though the actual numbers were no different throughout society itself. The majority of all cases occur inside the family and that remains mostly untackled. The church can do sensible things to prevent and manage a problem like this and other organizations ca... more