Monday, January 01, 2018

31 December - Blogs I'm Following 2 of 2

11:34 pm MST

Crisis for Mueller: Lindsey Graham calls for new Special Counsel to investigate Trump Dossier and FBI

Alexander Mercouris at The Duran - 13 hours ago
Strong Republican critic of Donald Trump 'dismayed' by confidential information about the Trump Dossier he has seen More The post Crisis for Mueller: Lindsey Graham calls for new Special Counsel to investigate Trump Dossier and FBI appeared first on The Duran.

Cop Caught on Video in Disturbing Fit of Road Rage Trying to Kill Innocent Man

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: road rage]A former deputy was arrested this week after surveillance footage showed him trap an innocent man in a gas station ben severely beat him in a fit of road rage.

BREAKING: Multiple “Officers Down” in Colorado Shooting, Shooter Still At Large

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 13 hours ago
[image: shooting]Multiple officers are reportedly "down" after a shooting occurred at an apartment complex outside of Denver, suspect is still at large.

Animal rights activists lost a lawsuit to recognize elephants as people

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 13 hours ago
A Connecticut court denied a lawsuit from animal rights activists to grant three zoo elephants the legal rights to “bodily integrity and bodily liberty.”

The Navy's Ultimate Fantasy: Underwater Submarine Bases to Fight Russia

Steve Weintz at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Steve Weintz* *Security, * Did this ever happen? *Did the Navy ever actually pursue the Rock-Site concept at Point Sur or elsewhere? A 1971 study discussed various methods of sea-floor excavation, but by then most man-in-the-sea development was classified. In the absence of information fantasy takes wing — er, fin — but nearly 50 years later C.F. Austin’s dream remains both sober and dazzlingly novel.* Point Sur is 600 feet of tough rock facing Pacific rollers that come 6,000 miles to pound the central California coast. Like the 19th-century lighthouse that marks the Point, th... more »

The Battleship-Submarine: The Ultimate Naval Weapon?

Steve Weintz at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Steve Weintz* *Security, * A dream that never really came true. *Like the X-1, the French giant sub was the largest in the world when launched in October 1929—over 363 feet long, almost 30 feet in diameter, with a range of 7,800 miles at 13 knots. Surcouf could bring to bear her twin eight-inch guns on targets and track them with a 16-foot rangefinder from nearly seven miles away. To supplement her reconnaissance and gunnery range, Surcouf—like M-2—carried a collapsable floatplane in a watertight hanger. Though never used in combat, the small Besson MB.411 seaplane could call ... more »

The War America's Enemies Study That Changed Everything

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Welcome to the 1st Gulf War. *The five-to-six-week air war, designed to clear the way for what ultimately became a 100-hour ground invasion, began with cruise missiles and Air Force and Army helicopters launching a high-risk mission behind enemy lines to knock out Iraqi early warning radar sites. Two Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopters led AH-64 Apache Attack helicopter into Iraqi territory, Johnson explained. The idea of the mission was to completely destroy the early warning radar in order to open up an air corridor for planes to fly through safely ... more »

The Army Has New Plans to Build Big 'Guns' to Crush Russia in a War

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * Railguns? *While initially conceived of and developed for the Navy's emerging Rail Gun Weapon, the Pentagon and Army are now firing the Hyper Velocity Projectile from an Army Howitzer in order to potential harness near-term weapons ability, increase the scope, lethality and range ability to accelerate combat deployment of the lethal, high-speed round. The rail gun uses an electromagnetic current to fire a kinetic energy warhead up to 100 miles at speeds greater than 5,000 miles an hour, a speed at least three times as fast as existing weapons.* The A... more »

For the U.S. Army, the Future Is Robots

Kris Osborn at The National Interest - 13 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * During the last decade and a half of ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army acquired and fast-tracked as many as 7,000 unique robotic systems. *Not only have robots been able to use GPS waypoint technology to travel from one location to another, but the systems have slowly learned how to maneuver independently around other objects or obstacles in real time. Systems like the well-known Packbot progressively leveraged technology to use different software packages for different sensing or detection missions with greater levels of autonomy.* The Arm... more »

What Is The Risk For War On The Korean Peninsula In 2018?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
The DMZ (YouTube) *Christopher Woolf, USA Today/PRI*: *The risks of war with North Korea in 2018* *One of the most serious issues of 2017 has been what to do about North Korea.* In September, Kim Jong Un's regime tested a large nuclear weapon underground, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb. North Korea also demonstrated this year that it has the missile technology to deliver its warheads pretty much anywhere in the world. Kim’s regime in Pyongyang has also deployed inflammatory rhetoric, even threatening to bracket the U.S. territory of Guam with missiles. The Trump administration ... more »

MAYBE THAT ISN'T DEMENTIA

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 13 hours ago
Thank you again, Yastreblyansky and Crank, for some great work while I was away. I'm coming late to the discussion of President Trump's interview with Michael Schmidt of *The New York Times.* The full interview hasn't been published; what we have are "excerpts" that "have been lightly edited for content and clarity, and omit several off-the-record comments and asides." Yastreblyansky says that the *Times* should publish the entire transcript unedited; I agree -- or publish it as close to unedited as permissible (omitting portions the president insisted were off the record). Or ma... more »

The U.S. Army Moves To Upgrade And Standardize Its Robot Army

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*Scout Warrior*:* Army Upgrades Fleet of War Robots* *The Army is transforming its fleet of transportable robots to a common set of standards to expedite modernization, interoperability, autonomy and mission.* The Army is transforming its fleet of transportable robots to a common set of standards to expedite modernization, interoperability, autonomy and mission flexibility. During the last decade and a half of ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army acquired and fast-tracked as many as 7,000 unique robotic systems in an effort to keep pace with the emerging threat of enemy... more »

The Pentagon Is Using Artificial Intelligence In The Fight Against ISIS

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*CNN:* *The Pentagon is using AI to fight ISIS but it's not quite the 'Terminator'* Conversations about the military use of artificial intelligence usually bring to mind the "Terminator" movies, where a super-intelligent AI turns evil and tries to destroy humanity. This month, the US Defense Department announced that it has indeed taken a major step toward regular use of artificial intelligence, but it's a far cry from the Terminator approach. This December, the Pentagon revealed that it has completed its crash program to bring state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technology t... more »

Leading the way

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
Maureen from 'Driving School'? Who says ITBB doesn't lead the way in incisive commentary about the BBC? (Not me.) Where I led on Christmas Day Peter Hitchens of the evil *Mail on Sunday * has followed on New Year's Eve (and with some brilliant jokes): As Nick Robinson would say, LOL!

Trump’s “America First” Security Strategy Imperils the US

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 14 hours ago
Last week, with great fanfare, Donald Trump rolled out his new National Security Strategy (NSS). Its guiding theme is “America First.” An analysis of the 55-page document, however, reveals a program that renders the United States more unpopular and vulnerable to external threats. Trump’s plan takes Barack Obama’s policy of “American exceptionalism” to a new level. In... Read more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 14 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Ten years in, nobody has come up with a use for blockchain Except as a world class energy sap Iranian police in Tehran announce women who break Islamic dress codes no longer face arrest Interesting in conjunction with: US State Department Hints At Iran Overthrow: Are We Witnessing The Early Stages Of Regime Change? and 2 protesters die in Iran's biggest demonstrations since 2009, government blocks social media apps including Instagram Hong Kong Ship Seized After Transferring Oil To North Korea Huma Abedin's Cousin Convicted Of Fraud With "Russian Donald Trump"... more »

Happy New Year

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 14 hours ago
It's been quite a year. And I make no predictions about the one to come. I do know that it will -- at least where we are -- start out cold. Beyond that, my crystal ball is foggy. But each new year brings the possibility of hope and wisdom. May you experience both in 2018. Image: happynewyear2018x.com

OMG

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 14 hours ago
Interesting times. Nick Robinson has just tweeted a plug to his *Mail on Sunday* piece, *From robots stealing jobs, to mob rule online – and even what it means to be a man or woman, 2018 will be a year of instability and uncertainty. And our so-called leaders have never been more impotent. * Can you guess the response he's got from the outrage chamber on Twitter? Well, it can be summed up in just one phrase: "Oh. My. God. The Daily Mail!!!" Here's a flavour: - You are using #BBC account to promote Daily Mail. Inappropriate use of Public funds. Also trust in #BBC erodes ... more »

AI Makes Drones Smart, Easy for Photographers

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
A certified drone pilot and artificial intelligence expert explain how technology innovations are making drones smarter, more capable and easier to fly. Difficult-to-fly, remote control consumer drones from just a few years ago are being superseded by smart, autonomous aerial … Continue reading →

5G Networks Are Not Just About Smartphones

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
Next generation wireless networks are built to connect cars, homes and machines using higher bandwidth and lower latency to power more than just smartphones. It’s no longer science fiction to see smart homes automatically control lights or alert owners whenever … Continue reading →

5G: The Communications Key to Autonomous Driving

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
As more self-driving cars hit the road in the coming years, sophisticated communications systems will rely on a fast, reliable network that’s capable of being a data superhighway. Self-driving or autonomous cars are a hot topic, but the road to autonomous driving is … Continue reading →

Will Dubai Offer First Passenger Drone for Public Transportation?

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
Rapid innovation in drone technologies could relieve commuter traffic in smart cities as passenger drone services become available. For anyone needing a taxi this summer in Dubai, things are looking up. If all goes as planned, the jet-setting city will offer … Continue reading →

Study: Too Much Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Hospice Patients

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
This despite guidelines calling for relaxed glycemic control in hospice When it comes to hospice patients with type 2 diabetes, avoiding hypoglycemia may be more important than strict glycemic control, researchers argued. In a researcher letter appearing in JAMA Internal Medicine, … Continue reading →

The GMO Agenda Takes a Menacing Leap Forward with EPA’s Silent Approval of Monsanto/Dow’s RNAi Corn

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
Without much more than a whisper from the mainstream media, Monsanto’s newest Frankenfood has received full EPA approval and will be arriving on dinner plates by the end of the decade. The implications of this are harrowing, to say the … Continue reading →

The 25 Biggest Scientific Breakthroughs of 2017

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
Here are the studies that rocked the science world this year. Every week in 2017 seemed to bring new, objectively bad news about environmental degradation, government officials being awful, or video gamesbeing ruined by microtransactions. But it wasn’t all bad news: Very exciting … Continue reading →

The Most Mind-Blowing Space Pictures of 2017

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
In many ways, this year was pretty turbulent here on Earth. One could argue it was objectively terrible. But at the very least, we had some great space images to distract us from the terrors of the world and the existential despair … Continue reading →

The 25 Most-Read Inverse Innovation Stories of 2017

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
As we close out 2017, it’s worth looking back on the stories that shaped the past year. For our readers, these 25 most-read stories were the ones that caught your attention more than any others. Some of these are in-depth … Continue reading →

The 25 Most-Read Inverse Culture Stories of 2017

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 15 hours ago
Looking back on 2017 is probably not something most of us are prepared to do just yet. That being said, taking a glance at the year’s most-read Culture stories definitely reads like a greatest hits on what captivated our attention … Continue reading →

No regime change in Iran (analysis of the current protest wave)

Alexander Mercouris at The Duran - 15 hours ago
Reports suggest small leaderless protests unlikely to threaten government More The post No regime change in Iran (analysis of the current protest wave) appeared first on The Duran.

What do you think 2018 will bring us under POTUS Trump? (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 15 hours ago
A Message from US President Trump. More The post What do you think 2018 will bring us under POTUS Trump? (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Top 5 Stories Buried or Deliberately Ignored by Mainstream Media In 2017

Rachel Blevins at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: 2017]From the government's disregard for civil liberties, to new research showing the power of cannabis, here are the stories the mainstream media missed in 2017

Nestlé Caught Stealing Billions of Gallons of Water from California—No One Arrested

Jay Syrmopoulos at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: Nestlé]Nestlé has stolen billions of gallons of water from drought-stricken California without a valid basis of right, according to the California State Water Board.

Donald Trump is now identified as the top nuclear threat in the world.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 15 hours ago
For the first time in 35 years of analysis, I must list the United States as the greatest nuclear threat in the world. https://t.co/lyhfXb2CfP — Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) December 28, 2017 Courtesy of Defense One: *The greatest nuclear danger does not come from a foreign threat or a terrorist group but from our own president. The Washington Post, reporting on how intelligence briefings are shaped so as not to upset President Trump, concludes that “the personal insecurities of the president have impaired the government’s response to a national security threat.” Many fear that t... more »

What Jeremy Vine Learnt*, plus Samira Ahmed's Nigelophobia

* learned
Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 15 hours ago
Someone Samira Ahmed wants to hear less from This morning's *Broadcasting House *featured an opinion piece from Jeremy Vine (brother of comedian Tim Vine) based a book he's going to publish next year called *What I Learnt: What My Listeners Say - and Why We Should Take Notice. * Jeremy's argument was that the views of you and I are more valuable than those of experts. Experts have disgraced themselves over everything from diesel in cars, to fat 'making us fat', to the financial crash of 2008; indeed, they've done serious harm. He'd rather hear first-hand accounts from the man and ... more »

Global Military and Political Trends That Will Shape 2018

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*South Front*: *Military and Political Trends Of 2017 That Will Shape 2018* 2017 presented the world with a number of crises, among which were the continued wars in the Middle Ease and the spread of terrorism, the humanitarian crises in Africa and Asia, the rising military tensions over North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, and the militarization of both the South China Sea and eastern Europe. Throughout the past year regional and global powers have repeatedly been on the verge of open military conflict, any of which may yet still lead to large regional wars. In the Middle E... more »

Social Media Giants In UK Told To Help Fight Extremism Or Face Massive Tax Increases

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 15 hours ago
*Reuters:* *UK may use taxes to get tech giants to do more to fight extremism, minister says* LONDON (Reuters) - Britain may impose new taxes on tech giants like Google and Facebook unless they do more to combat online extremism by taking down material aimed at radicalizing people or helping them to prepare attacks, the country’s security minister said. Ben Wallace accused tech firms of being happy to sell people’s data but not to give it to the government which was being forced to spend vast sums on de-radicalization programs, surveillance and other counter-terrorism measures. ... more »

In 2017, Nearly 100 Times More Americans Were Killed by Police Than Terrorists

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 15 hours ago
[image: police]While 2017 was one of the safest years for police on record, police killings in the United States have become an epidemic with no signs of slowing down.

South Koreans don't want war

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 15 hours ago
*The latest poll conducted by the Korean National Assembly and Korea Research: Koreans’ overwhelming support for engagement with North Korea in the New Year. * - 81% support the North-South Korean summit meeting in 2018 - 71% support South Korea’s sending a special envoy to North Korea - 67.8% support postponing the US-Korea Joint Military Drills to periods after Winter Olympics - 60% regard North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics very important - 50% think that the North-South Korean family reunions should be held during the ... more »

Temperature Extremes-Anomalies In North America-Russia-Arctic

( C = 5/9 F - 32   The freezing point of water is 32 F and 0 C. There are 180 degrees F to the boiling point of water  at 212 and 100 degrees centigrade/celsius. Sidebar to add to the confusion : before government decided to turf the old name of the scale using a 100 degree difference between freezing and boiling,, Celsius readings used by physicists started at the boiling point of water! )
miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 16 hours ago
This is in degrees C (Celsius), meaning that one must multiply by 1.8 to get degrees F (Fahrenheit). So, while … Continue reading →

Syrian army thwarts heavy Al-Qaeda attack in Hama

Brecht Jonkers at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (04:20 PM) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has thwarted a heavy offensive by terrorist organisation Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on a key road linking the city of Salamiyah with Homs. The attack, that took place in the south-east of the Hama Governorate of Syria, was carried out on Sunday by militants from […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Turkish army accused of forced recruitment of Syrians

Brecht Jonkers at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:10 PM) – The Kurdish-language media outlet Hawar news has accused Turkish forces in northern Syria of engaging in forced recruitment of Syrian civilians into their newly-formed security forces that are supposed to support the Turkish-backed rebels there. The media agency reported that Turkish forces allegedly recruit Syrians from the Shahba region, mostly […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Iran: Protesters killed by foreign agents, official claims

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
An Iranian official claimed on Sunday that two people who died during anti-government protests in Dorud were targeted by foreign agents and not Iranian police. In an interview on state television, the Deputy Governor of Lorestan Province blamed demonstration violence on “enemies of the revolution, Takfiri groups and foreign agents…No shots were fired by the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army falls back in southeast Idlib as militants retain control of town

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:15 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-‘Izza were able to retain control of Al-Khuwein in the southeastern countryside of Idlib this afternoon, following a fierce battle with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Earlier in the day, the Syrian Army was able to kick out the jihadist rebels […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

VIDEO: Russian warplanes clear the way for Syrian Army to capture jihadist stronghold of Atshan

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:20 P.M.) – On Saturday, elite forces of the Syrian Arab Army – backed up by Russian air support – captured the jihadist stronghold of Atshan, located on the provincial border of Hama and Idlib. The securing of Atshan from jihadist militants by the combined units of the Syrian Army’s Tiger Forces and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

At least 20 people arrested in Turkey’s Istanbul over suspected links to Daesh

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
At least 20 people including 15 foreign nationals were detained in the Turkish city of Istanbul over suspected links to the Daesh terror group, (outlawed in Russia), local media reported on Sunday. Turkish police carried out raids at four addresses in three districts of Istanbul, the Anadolu news agency reported. According to police, the detained […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

East Ghouta witnesses its bloodiest battle as the Syrian Army, Islamist rebels trade blows in Harasta

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:35 P.M.) – The battle for the vehicle base in the East Ghouta town of Harasta has reached its tipping point, as both the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Islamist rebels trade attacks near the strategic vehicle base. Led by Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, the Islamist rebels launched a massive assault this weekend to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

New ‘North Syrian Army’ to be led by Coalition forces

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:10 P.M.) – Coalition-backed militias operating in northern Syria are to form a new North Syrian Army. The role of the new formation will be to carry out border security duties in areas under the control of the US-led anti-ISIS alliance. On Saturday, the Kurdish Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reported that certain pro-Coalition […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Map update: Syrian Army bursts open door to Khan Sheikhoun following liberation of Khuwayn

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:20 P.M.) – With the liberation of the town of Khuwayn just moments ago, forces of the Syrian Arab Army have de facto opened the way for a direct assault on the jihadist stronghold of Khan Sheikoun, located on the border between Hama and Idlib provinces. Khan Sheikhoun represents a militant fortress just […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Iraqi forces kill scores ISIS terrorists near Iranian border

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:05 P.M.) – The Iraqi Armed Forces confronted a large Islamic State (ISIS) group inside the Al-Miqdadiyah District of Diyala, today, resulting in a series of intense clashes. Led by Hashd Al-Sha’abi;s (Popular Mobilization Units) 4th Special Forces Brigade, the Iraqi Armed Forces eliminated at least 13 Islamic State terrorists in the Al-Miqdadiyah […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Jihadist attempt to obstruct important road in southern Hama fails

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:50 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham attempted to obstruct the Homs-Salamiyah Road, today, during an attack on the small town of Khunayfis in the Hama Governorate. According to a military report, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham attempted to sneak into Khunayfis in a bid to block the important Homs-Salamiyah Road that […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Breaking: Syrian Army captures another town inside southeast Idlib

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued their advance inside the Idlib Governorate’s southeastern countryside, today, targeting Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham’s positions near the Hama axis. Led by the Tiger Forces and 4th Division, the Syrian Army began the day by attacking the small town of Al-Khuwein. This attack would prove successful, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Egypt’s ex-president Morsi reportedly sentenced to 3 years in prison

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
Egypt’s criminal court sentenced former President Mohamed Morsi and his 18 supporters to three years in prison over insulting judges, local media reported Saturday. The legal proceedings started in May 2015. According to prosecutors, Morsi and his supporters repeatedly insulted judges in public. The former president, particularly, accused a judge of a fraud. In addition […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army begins counter-offensive in key East Ghouta suburb

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 16 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:05 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began their counter-offensive against the Islamist rebels last night, following a fierce battle inside the Harasta suburb of east Damascus. Led by their Qalamoun Shield forces of the 3rd Division, the Syrian Army stormed the area around the strategic vehicle base in a bid to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

The face of fascism in the Holy Land

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 16 hours ago

2017 In Review: A Hell Bound Train Of A Year (Part 5)

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
*-by Noah* When it comes to what people want, I’ve always said that American corporations are just like our Congress; they are the last to know. I started thinking that back during the gas shortages of the 1970s. People wanted smaller, more gas-efficient cars, yet Detroit kept building gas-guzzling cars the size of aircraft carriers. By 1980 or so, with lowering sales dawning on them, Detroit started to notice that Americans might, just might, prefer Japanese cars, even if the suits in the corner offices couldn’t quite figure out why. Along the way, GM and the other major car ma... more »

Top 10 Dance Songs 2017

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 16 hours ago
It's been an interesting years in politics. *But what about dance music?* As ever, as per the age-old tradition, here are my picks from the last year. 10. *Tears In Your Eyes* by Nora En Pure 9. *Magnum Opus* by Thomas Ulstrup 8. *One Breath* by Namnambulu 7. *Origins* by Factor B and the Noble Six 6. *Bottle of Loneliness (Filatov & Karas Remix)* by El Mukaka feat. Kayla Jacobs 5. *Northern Soul* by Above & Beyond feat. Richard Bedford 4. *Scio* by Jay Hardway 3. *Eterna* by Dim3nsion 2. *Mistakes* by CYA As you can see, trance and progressive has surged back over the sides to (re)cl... more »

South Korea Seizes A Second Ship That Is Suspected Of Violating Sanctions On North Korea

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*Reuters:* *South Korea seizes second ship suspected of providing oil to North Korea* SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean authorities have seized a Panama-flagged vessel suspected of transferring oil products to North Korea in violation of international sanctions, a customs official said on Sunday. The seizure was the second to be revealed by South Korea within a few days, as the United Nations steps up efforts to squeeze essential oil supplies to the reclusive North following its nuclear or ballistic missile tests. The ship, KOTI, was seized at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin port, the official t... more »

Who owns organic: The structure of the organic industry

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 16 hours ago
Just as we shared an infographic with you on the few companies that seem to own all the conventionally grown food in the world, we’d like to share one with you showing who owns our organics. You will, no doubt, be surprised and unhappy to see some of the names. The first wave of acquisitions

Ghost in the Machine, Part 3 — Pride and the politics of vaccines

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 16 hours ago
By Dr. Mercola There needs to be an open, rational discussion about vaccination, infectious diseases and health. After all, don’t all of us want our children to be healthy and safe from unnecessary harm? If we want to protect the health of all children, we cannot continue to ignore the signs that public health policies

Correspondents Look Ahead

Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 16 hours ago
As I've written before, I've been tuning into (and enjoying) Radio 4's *Correspondents Look Ahead* for decades now, and this year was no different. A few years back, in the early years of this blog, I posted a review of the predictions made on the previous year's edition and found them to be almost entirely wrong, and I had great fun pointing it out (especially at Paul Mason's expense). The post even got a mention on that year's *Correspondents Look Ahead* where I was cast as "a rather unkind blogger". Unfortunately for me, however, it backfired. I really do think that the progr... more »

The Stunning Chiayi 166

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 17 hours ago
[image: DSC_0130] *What loveliness awaits?* Rode the Chiayi 166, with my friends Drew and Iris, and we were stunned by its amazing beauty. Click on Read More for a taste.... *RIDE NOTES*: We took the train down to Chibei station, just before Chiayi Station, and picked up the 166 heading east on the north side of Chiayi city. We followed that up to over 1000 meters. It was a long slog, but the grade is easy, never exceeding 8%. The views are amazing once you leave the two lane. Indeed, it becomes lovelier as you climb. Just past Jiaoliping Station on the Alishan line we turned onto a... more »

The New York Times Has A Different Take On How The Russia Probe Began

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 17 hours ago
Papadopoulos, second from left. Photo: realdonaldtrump/Instagram *New York Times:* *How the Russia Inquiry Began: A Campaign Aide, Drinks and Talk of Political Dirt* WASHINGTON — During a night of heavy drinking at an upscale London bar in May 2016, George Papadopoulos, a young foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, made a startling revelation to Australia’s top diplomat in Britain: Russia had political dirt on Hillary Clinton. About three weeks earlier, Mr. Papadopoulos had been told that Moscow had thousands of emails that would embarrass Mrs. Clinton, apparently stolen i... more »

The U.S. Air Force Has Still Not Approved Plans To Replace The A-10

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 17 hours ago
A-10s take part in an "Elephant Walk" exercise at Osan Air Base in South Korea in 2016. USAF *The Warzone/The Drive*:* A-10 Replacement Requirements Do Actually Exist But They're Mired In Bureaucratic Limbo* *The service doesn't have formally announced plans for an A-10 replacement, but it still hasn't officially rejected the idea either.* The Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, recently offered some unusually strong support for the A-10 Warthog, going so far as to say she is a "fan" of a plane her service has been looking for ways to retire for decades. This might be beca... more »

New Years Celebrations Begin Around The World

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 17 hours ago
Auckland in New Zealand becomes first major city to welcome in 2018 #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/rXqgihHqDi — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 31, 2017 *Update:* And so it begins .... *Revelers around the world ring in 2018, say bye to the old* (AP). *WNU Editor:* Blogging will be on and off for the next two days. I just want to take the opportunity to say Happy New Years to everyone. All of you have been awesome, and while we may disagree once in a while, there is far more that binds us together than separates us. This has been an incredible year, and I suspect that 2018 w... more »

Sunday Song

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 17 hours ago

FBI documents found on pedophile Anthony Weiner’s laptop contained classified information

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 17 hours ago
Huma Abedin and Hillary Clinton leaked classified docs to pervert Weiner. More The post FBI documents found on pedophile Anthony Weiner’s laptop contained classified information appeared first on The Duran.

Trump cuts off $255 million in military aid to Pakistan

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 17 hours ago
US aid cut off because of Pakistan's ineffective action against terrorists and militants. More The post Trump cuts off $255 million in military aid to Pakistan appeared first on The Duran.

While we were all enjoying the holidays, the North Carolina KKK was busy with recruitment.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 17 hours ago
Courtesy of The News and Observer: *Some Triangle residents found a delivery in their driveways on Christmas Eve that clearly didn’t come from FedEx. * *People in the White Oak area of Garner woke up Sunday morning to plastic bags containing propaganda from the East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire, a statewide chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. * *Some of the bags distributed in the Hillandale neighborhood contained flyers that read, “White pride doesn’t mean hate! It’s OK, you can say it! I’m proud to be white! There is no need to feel guilty because of the past!” * *The ... more »

What will the US role be in UN IPCC climate reports?

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 17 hours ago
These reports are supposedly summarizing the existing scientific literature, but in reality the merely choose and use scholarly citations to support the one-sided argument for alarmism.

( You have to wonder if that is not because the 'summaries'  are promoting government legislation and must conform to the official narrative )

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 17 hours ago
*Feminist rubbish about British schools* *Kids shouldn’t be exposed to the moral panic about misogyny* According to a newly published report from the National Education Union (NEU) and UK Feminista, sexism in schools is ‘endemic’. From their first days in uniform, girls apparently run a daily gauntlet of unwanted touching, name-calling and up-skirt photos. In the classroom they face a barrage of misogynistic language and sexist attitudes. Sexual harassment, sexist stereotyping and sexist language are all, apparently, ‘highly prevalent’. To quote the report’s title, when it comes ... more »

Sunday morning music

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 17 hours ago
Since I'm living in Texas now, how about something home-grown for today's music? Here's the late Allen Wayne Damron, who was something of a legend in Texas country and cowboy music. I like his sense of humor, among other things. It comes through in several of the songs he wrote. Let's begin with what may be his best-known piece, a swashbuckling, unashamedly triumphalist ballad of a *bandido* who meets his match at the hands of the 'Gringo Pistolero'. Next, would you believe Beethoven's Ode to Joy can be transcribed for, of all instruments, the banjo? Mr. Damron might surpri... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 17 hours ago
*Judith Curry gets it right* *She might also be describing bigots but she is certainly describing most Greenies* There are five attributes of ideologues: 1. Absence of doubt 2. Intolerance of debate 3. Appeal to authority 4. A desire to convince others of the ideological “truth” 5. A willingness to punish those that don’t concur In the climate communication world, it has become very trendy to wear your political ideology on your sleeve. How many ‘climate science communicators’ can you name that have at least 4 of the above attributes of ideologues with regards to climate change? S... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 18 hours ago
*Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ Fails To Land the Real Scoop On the Fate of Free Vietnam* "Democracy dies in darkness" is the new motto of the Washington Post. It adopted the slogan amid the campaign of the liberal press to topple President Trump. Steven Spielberg’s new movie about the Washington Post is a reminder — however unintended — of something else. Sometimes democracy dies in the full glare of the press. That’s what happened in Vietnam. And the film, "The Post," takes on a special irony today, as a press full of righteous indignation seeks to overturn an American election.... more »

Happy New Year

Lisa Gaufman at Duck of Minerva - 18 hours ago
If anybody is planning to collude with some Russians for New Year’s (but not in order to swing an election), I compiled a brief checklist. Originally, I wanted to take apart an article from a prestigious newspaper that described “a Christmas encounter with a Russian soul”, but then I decided against it. After all, if […]

Then and Now: the Chosui River bridge

Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 18 hours ago
The top photo was uploaded by National Historic Monuments of Taiwan, which is a great Facebook group for old Taiwan images. The top picture shows buses crossing the Zhoushui River (濁水溪) between Yunlin and Changhua counties during the Japanese era. The shot had to be taken upriver because downriver the land is flat and farmed. This spot on the 21 south of Shuili appears to be the location of that bridge, which I think is now the Longshen Bridge on the 21. Image from Google. Would welcome corrections if anyone knows for sure. _______________________ [Taiwan] Don't miss the comments be... more »

It's Cold Out There

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 18 hours ago
*WNU Editor:* I am at my chalet in the Laurentians in Quebec. Just checked the thermostat outside .... -29C right now. The forecast for tonight's New Years celebrations is -33C .... with the windchill around -40C. Hmmm .... yup .... we are going to celebrate indoors.

Here Are The Twitter Hashtags That Are Covering The Iranian Unrest

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 18 hours ago
Collapsing of #Islamic_Republic has begun.#FreeIran pic.twitter.com/ROVQZuHG0U — آندری روبلوف (@AndreiRublev66) December 28, 2017 *WNU Editor:* Should have done this earlier, but here are the Twitter Hashtags that are extensively covering the unrest in Iran. #IranProtests #FreeIran #RegimeChange #Iran

Live Through This

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 19 hours ago
By Cathy Jameson “…if I can live through this…I can do anything…” I heard a song a few months ago while driving around town running some errands. It was still playing on the radio when I got to my destination....

A 75-year Harvard study has revealed the most important factor in human happiness. 

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 19 hours ago
A 75-year Harvard study has revealed the most important factor in human happiness – Ideapod https://ideapod.com/75-year-harvard-study-revealed-one-important-factor-human-happiness/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=scoop Advertisements

Purple Foods for Cancer Prevention and a Healthier Gut and Heart

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 19 hours ago
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/10/09/polyphenols-health-benefits.aspx

Pineapple Juice Found To Be 500% More Effective Than Cough Syrup

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 19 hours ago
Pineapple Juice Found To Be 500% More Effective Than Cough Syrup https://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/pineapple-juice-found-500-effective-cough-syrup/

As it turns out President Obama also demanded a loyalty pledge from US Attorneys.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 19 hours ago
The first time President Obama met with his US Attorneys, he told us, “I appointed you but you don’t serve me. You serve the American people. And I expect you to act with independence & integrity.” None of us ever forgot that. — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) December 29, 2017 Courtesy of the Daily Kos: *Trump demanded government employees (appointed or not) give their sole loyalty and service to him. President Obama demanded loyalty and service be given to the American people. There lies the difference between self-serving—and selflessness. There lies the difference between sel... more »

Bill Still asks "Was FBI's McCabe a Russian Spy?..."

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
https://youtu.be/QIeXGA6rHVM Fascinating, if true. But obviously not going to be mentioned by the viciously anti President Donald Trump BBC.

BWorld 174, MMDA towed my car even with my kids inside

Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 19 hours ago
* This is my article in BusinessWorld last December 21. And an erratum here. I referred here to Tiger Towing co., it should be Fighter Towing Co. I corrected this in my part 2 column, thank you. *“The animals you eat are not those who devour others; you do not eat the carnivorous beasts, you take them as your pattern. You only hunger for the sweet and gentle creatures which harm no one, which follow you, serve you, and are devoured by you as the reward of their service.”* — Jean-Jacques Rousseau (French philosopher, 1700s) These are the thoughts that to my mind, describe many governm... more »

Iodo-Trihalomethanes in Canadian Drinking Water

drinkingwateradvisor at The Drinking Water Advisor - 19 hours ago
Tugulea AM, Aranda-Rodriguez R, Bérubé D, Giddings M, Lemieux F, Hnatiw J, Dabeka L, Breton F. The influence of precursors and treatment process on the formation of Iodo-THMs in Canadian drinking water. Water Res. 2017 Nov 27;130:215-223. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.055. The … Continue reading →

The Most Read 17 of 2017

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 19 hours ago
I'm going to break with the rest of comment land in its fashionable declaration of 2017 as awful. Sure, Donald Trump sits gurning away in the White House, politics is a toxic mess and more beloved celebrities shuffled off this mortal coil. But as we sit at the end of 2017 versus this time last year, there are reasons to be optimistic. Suddenly, the green shoots of a better future are starting to push through the mulch of ages. In New Zealand, a left wing Labour government self-consciously modelled on the British example is in power. In Italy, the young are beginning to turn away fr... more »

Iran hits back at Trump’s “duplicitous and opportunist” support for recent gatherings

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 19 hours ago
Yesterday POTUS Trump blasted the Iranian government and expressed his support to protestors via Twitter. Trump tweeted… The Duran recommends using WP Engine >> Many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with regime’s corruption & its squandering of the nation’s wealth to fund terrorism abroad. Iranian govt should respect their people’s rights, […] More The post Iran hits back at Trump’s “duplicitous and opportunist” support for recent gatherings appeared first on The Duran.

Stefan Molyneux gives his reasons why Iran is ready for regime change (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 19 hours ago
Is this a real uprising or more US-Deep State meddling? More The post Stefan Molyneux gives his reasons why Iran is ready for regime change (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Understanding the QAnon story that no mainstream media wants to touch (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 19 hours ago
QAnon claims Debbie Wasserman Schultz put out a contract to MS-13 gang members to murder Seth Rich More The post Understanding the QAnon story that no mainstream media wants to touch (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

More than 1,000 ceasefire agreements signed in Syria in 2017

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
The Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation reported that leaders of illegal armed formations have signed 140 ceasefire application forms. More than 1,000 ceasefire agreements have been signed with Syrian towns and settlements in 2017, the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation said Saturday. “This year, more than 1,000 ceasefire agreements have been signed with towns and […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Saudi warplanes massacre 34 civilians in western Yemen

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 P.M.) – Saudi warplanes committed another massacre this week after bombing the Hodeideh Governorate of western Yemen on Saturday. According to Yemen’s Saba News Agency, the Saudi warplanes repeatedly bombed the Hodeideh Governorate, Saturday, massacring at least 34 civilians inside this coastal province in western Yemen. Following the massacre in Hodeideh, the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

VIDEO: Syrian Army tanks, shock troops halt Nusra-led east Damascus offensive dead in its tracks

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:55 A.M.) – Amid ongoing heavy clashes between Syrian army-led forces and jihadist militias linked to Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood in east Damascus, Syrian troops – backed up by armor, artillery and air strikes – have reportedly absorbed the brunt of the insurgent offensive against a key military instillation, stopping it dead […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Two protesters killed in southwestern Iran – local media

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
At least two people taking part in pro- and anti-government rallies in Iran were killed, local media reported, citing officials. These are the first fatalities attributed to the recent mass protests. The deaths were reported in the city of Doroud, 325 kilometers southwest of Tehran, in Iran’s western Lorestan Province, the semi-official Mehr News Agency […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Pictures: Infamous child-beheading rebel group sends forces to fight Syrian Army in Hama, Idlib

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – A once US-backed rebel group, infamous for beheading a child on camera in July 2016, is sending reinforcements to assist Al-Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood affiliated jihadist groups in their battles against the Syrian Arab Army throughout the provinces of Hama and Idlib. On Friday, the Harakat Noor al-Din al-Zenki militant […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Clashes erupt in Ahvaz amidst nationwide protests – video

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:45 A.M.) – Protesters clashes with police on the streets of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran on Saturday, on the third day of nationwide anti-government protests against rising food prices, unemployment and alleged corruption. The Revolutionary Guard, which cracked down on protesters after the 2009 presidential election, said in a statement carried by state […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Watch dozens of jihadists leave strategic enclave near occupied Golan Heights

News Desk at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
Dozens of jihadists and their relatives were evacuated from the Beit Jinn area, near the Syrian-Israeli border, on Friday. The process was supervised by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). According to local media, four buses left for Idlib. It was reported that the agreement to evacuate the anti-government militants was initiated in order to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Kurdish forces mop up the east Euphrates shore inflicting horrific losses on ISIS

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 20 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 A.M.) – Syrian Coalition-led forces (of which Kurdish formations comprise a major part) continue to roll up the eastern shore of the Euphrates amid sweeping advances in the province of Deir Ezzor inflicting terrible losses on ISIS in the process. Following the capture of four settlements along east Euphrates bank on Friday, […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Scientists predict ‘mini ice age’ could hit UK by 2030 – Sky News

Hifast at Climate Collections - 21 hours ago
Originally posted on Tallbloke's Talkshop: Erie, Pennsylvania [image credit: UK Met Office] Sky News ran the Zharkova interview straight after one about record snowfall in Erie, Pennsylvania – which a climate scientist claimed was due to increased evaporation caused by global warming. The research Sky is now referring to was first published in 2015.…

A little slice of Alaskan tundra is finally open for drilling

Paul Driessen at CFACT - 21 hours ago
CFACT Senior Policy Analyst Paul Driessen extols the benefits of the opening some 2,000 acres of the huge Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to exploration and drilling for oil and gas. The potential for the region is at least 15 billion gallons of oil a year - more than enough to keep the Trans-Alaska Pipeline up and running for a long time to come.

Midnight Meme, Special Edition: The 12 Days Of Christimemes #5

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 22 hours ago
*-by Noah* The Thanksgiving Day Parade is a big thing in New York every year. Each year tens of thousands of people line Broadway to watch the parade. It's even broadcast live on local TV. One of the biggest points of interest in the parade is the speculation on what the new giant balloons will be. This year did not disappoint.

Musical Interlude: Ludovico Einaudi, "Primavera"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 23 hours ago
Ludovico Einaudi, "Primavera" - https://www.youtube.com/

Soy protein found to deplete testosterone in men. 

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 23 hours ago
Soy protein found to deplete testosterone in men – NaturalNews.com https://www.naturalnews.com/046039_soy_protein_testosterone_depletion_feminization.html Advertisements

FDA approves Revolutionary Cancer Drug. 

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 23 hours ago
FDA approves Revolutionary Cancer Drug – Geek.com https://www.geek.com/science/fda-approves-revolutionary-cancer-drug-1720273/

NASA Study Shows That We Are All Born Creative Geniuses But School Makes Us Dumber

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 23 hours ago
NASA Study Shows That We Are All Born Creative Geniuses But School Makes Us Dumber http://www.thinkinghumanity.com/2017/12/nasa-study-shows-that-we-are-all-born-creative-geniuses-but-school-makes-us-dumber.html?m=1

In remote villages of Italy many people live beyond a hundred – they all exhibit 5 five traits. 

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 23 hours ago
In remote villages of Italy many people live beyond a hundred – they all exhibit 5 five traits – Ideapod https://ideapod.com/remote-villages-italy-many-people-live-beyond-hundred-exhibit-5-five-traits/?utm_content=bufferada7a&utm_medium=share&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=msa

Documentary Unveils America’s Pharma-Driven Opioid Crisis

zedie at Someone Somewhere - 23 hours ago
Documentary Unveils America’s Pharma-Driven Opioid Crisis https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/07/15/amp/opioid-crisis-documentary.aspx?__twitter_impression=true

Syrian Army, Palestinian forces prepare to retake Yarmouk Camp

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 1 day ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their Palestinian allies are preparing to kickoff their large-scale offensive in southern Damascus that is geared to retake the Yarmouk Camp, Tadamon, and Hajar Al-Aswad. Backed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), Fatah Al-Intifada and Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Massive pro-government rallies take place across Iran – video

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 A.M.) – An annual pro-government rally was held in Tehran on Saturday following two days of rare anti-government protests across the country. Saturday’s pro-government rallies were scheduled to be held in more than 1,200 cities and towns across Iran. The events have been held annually to commemorate the “9-Dey Epic” of December […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army sends large force to East Ghouta amid latest attack by Islamist militias

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 1 day ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:40 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has sent a large number of reinforcements to the East Ghouta region of Damascus after the latest attack by the Islamist rebels of Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham and Faylaq Al-Rahman. According to a military report, the Syrian Army’s High Command has redeployed their Qalamoun Shield forces […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Israeli Air Force hits Hamas positions in response to Friday rocket fire

The Israeli Air Force once again hit the positions of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip responding to the Friday rocket fire, the Israeli Defense Forces said. “Today, in response to the rockets launched yesterday at Sha’ar HaNegev & Sdot Negev regional councils in southern Israel, the IAF targeted a Hamas observation post […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Video: Moment Sama TV crew was targeted by jihadist IED in southeast Idlib

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 1 day ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 A.M.) – The Sama TV crew was targeted by an IED left behind by the jihadist rebels inside the town of Abu Dali, Saturday, resulting in the death of one cameraman. Video footage of the IED attack was released by pro-government media on Saturday; this film shows the moment the Sama crew […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

"Ask Me Not..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
“Ask me not what I have, but what I am.” - Heinrich Heine

"The Deeper That Sorrow Carves Into Your Being..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?” - Kahlil Gibran Graphic: "Entreaty," by horyma. Freely download "The Prophet", by Kahlil Gibran, here: - https://ia600302.us.archive.org/

“The Secret Language of the Wounded”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*“The Secret Language of the Wounded”* by Alex Noble "Those who have been deeply wounded recognize each other. They speak a secret language of tears that no one sees. They are known to have extraordinary visions, they rise to impossible heights, and then fall down like stones. Some call them mad, when, for a few brief hours or days, they transcend their pain, connect with demons or divinities, invent new lives for themselves, dream dreams like the old men who spend whole days watching the boats come and go in Greek fishing villages, telling tales of life on the high seas, imagining... more »

Tweets For Today

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
IMAGE: Map of Iran showing locations of protests over the last three days - @maryamnayebyazd pic.twitter.com/BKKbAgyMIM — Conflict News (@Conflicts) December 30, 2017 Mass pro-regime rallies are held across Iranian cities after two days of angry protests directed against the country's religious rulers pic.twitter.com/Mr1JCYmzXR — AFP news agency (@AFP) December 30, 2017 New in 2018: Air Force will officially retire MQ-1 Predator drone https://t.co/3SZRYLc3dq pic.twitter.com/3BQGsOSmRI — Defense News (@defense_news) December 30, 2017 Soldiers had been instructed to hold off on sa... more »

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
An Iranian woman escapes tear gas during the unrest at the University of Tehran as students joined in the country's ongoing protests *WNU Editor:* The above picture is from this link .... *A picture of defiance: Iranian woman protester raises her fist amid a cloud of choking tear gas in Tehran after mullahs launch violent crackdown and order counter rallies by loyalists on third day of demonstrations against hardline regime* (Daily Mail).

U.S. Army General’s Promotion Pulled Because He Called A Congressional Staffer ‘Sweetheart’

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Photo:* Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves. DVIDS *Task & Purpose/Stars and Stripes*: *Army General’s Promotion Pulled After Calling Congressional Staffer ‘Sweetheart’ * Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves’ nomination for a third star has been pulled in the wake of an Army Inspector General’s probe that found he disrespected a female congressional staffer when he called her “sweetheart.” A report of the investigation into the incident was provided Friday to Stars and Stripes and determined the “preponderance of the evidence” indicated Gonsalves referred to the staffer as “sweetheart” during an Octobe... more »

Half of Puerto Rico Remains Without Power 100 Days After Hurricane Maria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
A car drives under downed power lines. Ricardo Arduengo for NBC News *Time*: *Anger Grows as Half of Puerto Rico Remains Without Power Months After Hurricane* (SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The revelation that more than 660,000 power customers across Puerto Rico still lack electricity more than three months after Hurricane Maria has sparked outrage, surprise and resignation among some islanders who accuse officials of mismanaging their response to the Category 4 storm. It’s the first time the government of the U.S. territory has provided that statistic, which was released as authoritie... more »

How Is Trump Inc. Doing?

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Trump Hotels *Daily Beast:* *Trump Inc. Had a Rough Year, but His D.C. Hotel Is Killing It* *Other Trump properties are pulling down the president’s name. But near the White House, it’s as good as gold.* For a host of Trump-branded properties, 2017 brought...hiccups. Workers removed the “TRUMP” sign from the hotel formerly known as TRUMP SOHO last week in the dark of night. The move came six months after the hotel formerly known as Trump International Hotel and Tower Toronto reportedly paid the Trump Organization upwards of $6 million to get out of their contract and rebrand as T... more »

The Pence Of Darkness

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
Many Republicans who had already seen the existential threat Trump was to their party saw May 3’s Indiana primary as the last place to stop him. Cruz hoped to force a contested convention by winning Indiana. The state’s unpopular governor, Mike Pence, who looked hard-pressed to win a second term, announced he was voting for Cruz. Trump beat him 587,710 (53.3%) to 404,332 (36.7%) and Cruz hoisted the white flag and withdrew from the battle for the nomination. Of Indiana’s 92 counties, Trump won 87. Cruz won Adams, Allen, Elkhart, Wells and Whitley counties, clustered in the northea... more »

The Southern Hemisphere hasn’t seen a single cyclone this season

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 1 day ago
The Southern Hemisphere storm season has gotten off to a slow start so far, with the lowest cyclone activity on record.

CNN's Legal Analyst Believes President Trump Is Right About The FBI

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Paul Callan, CNN*: *Trump is right about the FBI* The ferocity of President Donald Trump's recent attacks on the integrity of the FBI has sent shock waves through an agency accustomed to public adulation in recent years. Sadly, much of the presidential criticism of the bureau may be entirely legitimate. The FBI has traditionally enjoyed a highly favorable reputation among a majority of the nation's citizens. Despite controversial programs that sometimes employed illegal forms of surveillance and enforcement methods -- such as those used on black citizens lawfully protesting racia... more »

X22 Report, “The Cabal Initiates The First Event, Let The Games Begin”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
X22 Report, “The Cabal Initiates The First Event, Let The Games Begin” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKLriovk1Yg *Related followup report:* X22 Report, “The Economic Tranisition Is Nearing Completetion Before The Crisis Hits” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gTER4ghgPE

North Korea's Greatest Wish: How the U.S.–South Korea Alliance Could Die

Zachary Keck, Leon Whyte at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Zachary Keck, Leon Whyte* *Security, Asia* It is easy to imagine how the two nationalist presidents could butt heads. With North Korea rapidly expanding its nuclear and missile capabilities, maintaining a robust U.S.–South Korean alliance is vital. Unfortunately, there is a ticking time-bomb that threatens to throw the alliance in a tailspin. This time-bomb is the upcoming renegotiation of the burden sharing agreement known as the Special Measures Agreement (SMA). The current five-year SMA, negotiated in 2014, will expire in 2018, meaning negotiations will need to begin soon. F... more »

America's Javelin Missiles Are Going to Ukraine (but Can They Stop Russia's Army?)

Sebastien Roblin at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* Sure they can kill tanks—but could they make matters even worse? On December 22, 2017 the State Department announced it had issued an export license for lethal military aid to Ukraine—including $47 million for 210 Javelin missiles and thirty-five command launcher units (CLUs) with which to launch them. The decision has been welcomed by Kiev and elicited an angry response from Moscow. Ukraine first requested Javelins in the fall of 2014 to counter Russian tank units that had intervened in a separatist conflict in Eastern Ukraine, sending th... more »

These Are All of the New Weapons the U.S. Army Will Use in 2018

Task and Purpose, Jared Keller at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Task and Purpose, Jared Keller* *Security, North America* Lots of new goodies for the troops. 2017 was a big, big year for military fashion, from the end of the Army’s legendary gray PT uniform to the embarrassing $94 million in forest camo that Uncle Sam ordered up for Afghan soldiers in largely forest-free Afghanistan. But with the Army’s latest four-year uniform transition period now winding down, 2018 will be an even bigger year for soldiers as the branch fields its latest gear and weapons upgrades. So what will be the things they carried in 2018? Here’s a brief guide to al... more »

Hell in the Pacific: How the Japanese Army Desperately Struggled for Survival and Lost

Warfare History Network at The National Interest - 1 day ago
*Warfare History Network* *History, Asia* The Japanese Army fought desperately along New Guinea’s Driniumor River. Under a midnight moon, hundreds of soldiers crept forward into position along the riverbank. Fields of tall reeds helped conceal them from observation but could not muffle the sounds of weary men slipping in the mud. Sergeants whispered orders to stay quiet while officers anxiously listened for any sign the enemy was alert to their presence. As they waited for the signal to attack, the men of Major Moritoshi Kawahigashi’s 1st Battalion, 78th Infantry Regiment felt so... more »