Thursday, August 02, 2018

2 August - am - Blogs I'm Following 2 of 3

1:00 am MDT

BREAKING: The gods are laughing at us now!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 12 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2018New York Times explores cats versus dogs:* Amanda Hess graduated from George Washington U in 2007. That suggests that she isn't a child. We can't necessarily say the same for her editors at the New York Times. Yesterday, we saw this on the Times' page A3, then quickly repressed the experience: *The Conversation * FOUR OF THE MOST READ, SHARED AND DISCUSSED POSTS FROM ACROSS NYTIMES.COM [...] *4. Dogs Took Over the Internet. Our Souls Are at Stake.* Monday's most watched video was the first episode of the second season of "Internetting With Amanda Hess," ... more »

Ohio Artist And Environmental Engineer Team Up To Turn Pollutants From Rivers Into Oil Paints

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 12 hours ago
Want to know how to turn pollution into paint?

To Fight Bee Die-Off, Virginia Now Offering all Citizens their Own Beehives

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 12 hours ago
“The Beehive Distribution Program” promises to give away beehives and the necessary related equipment to any eligible applicants over the age of 18.

CFS Sues Trump Administration Over GMO Labeling Delay

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 12 hours ago
That law required that its regulations be finished by two years after its enactment, or July 29, 2018.

Have retraction notices improved over time?

Ivan Oransky at Retraction Watch - 12 hours ago
Evelyne Decullier & Hervé Maisonneuve have been studying retractions for a long time. They’ve looked at how long retractions take to show up in PubMed, and five years ago they published a paper on the quality of retraction notices — and how well they were disseminated — in 2008. Now, they’ve repeated that analysis for … Continue reading Have retraction notices improved over time?

Handle With Care

cefrith@hotmail.com at Charles Frith - 12 hours ago
I wonder if any propaganda journalist has studied the QAnon psychological operation as long as some of the autists on 8 Chan? Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced

University of Maryland Opens New Disability Center

Sarah Wood at Diverse - 12 hours ago
The University of Maryland (UMD) and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan have announced the creation of the Center for Transition and Career Innovation for Youth With Disabilities, which will help youth and students with physical and intellectual disabilities transition from an educational to a workforce setting. The new center will be located in Maryland’s College of […]

APLU Praises Nominee for Federal Science and Tech Post

Monica Levitan at Diverse - 12 hours ago
The head of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) published a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement of Kelvin Droegemeier as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Droegemeier is a well-known and respected scientist with experience combining science and policy information. He has worked in political […]

16 Schools Defend Harvard’s Race-Conscious Admissions Policy

Sarah Wood at Diverse - 12 hours ago
A group of highly selective universities has defended Harvard University’s race-conscious admissions process by filing an amicus brief in the United States District Court on Monday, the Boston Globe reported. This response comes after Harvard was sued by the Students for Fair Admission organization for allegedly being discriminatory in a way that unfairly limits the number […]

Newspapers Are Dying

John F. McManus at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: newspapers-are-dying] There is no more ominous indication that the America newspaper industry is dying than the recent announcement by the New York Daily News that it had just laid off half its staff. Such a move by the newspaper that boasted in the 1940s that it had the largest daily circulation in the entire nation is remarkable.

U.S. Household Debt at $13.2 Trillion — Cause for Worry?

Bob Adelmann at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: us-household-debt-at-13-2-trillion-cause-for-worry] The latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York triggered all manner of financial anxiety: U.S. household debt is at an all-time high, and savings are near an all-time low. How bad is it really?

South African Author Exposes Implosion of South Africa

TNA Video at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: alex-newman-harry-booyens-red-pill-expo-south-african-author-exposes-implosion-south-africa]VIDEO - On June 21-23, 2018, the 2018 Red Pill Expo was held in Spokane, Washington by Freedom Force International. Correspondent Alex Newman attended the event and spoke with Dr. Harry Booyens about the injustices happening in South Africa.

Voter Rolls Continue to Show Registered Non-citizens

Raven Clabough at rss - 12 hours ago
[image: voter-rolls-continue-to-show-registered-non-citizens] The *Washington Times* has reported that non-Americans continue to be found on voter rolls in alarming numbers, despite continued claims by liberals that voter fraud is a non-existent problem.

NYT Graciously Admits the 1st Amendment Applies to Conservatives

Diogenes Sarcastica™ at Diogenes' Middle Finger - 12 hours ago
*"The fact that conservatives benefit from the First Amendment is not something to bemoan. It is part of the constitutional bargain."- NYT* According to a new *op-ed*, folks on the left are “increasingly” making the claim that Republicans have “weaponized” the First Amendment. It seems the scary words are just too much for some to bear. Spoken or written ideas are simply too potent. Fortunately, your political betters at The New York Times are bigger than that. They’ve just run an editorial written by David Cole. He’s the national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Uni... more »

Syria and the Syrian Kurds

LL at Virtual Mirage - 12 hours ago
The Syrian government and the Kurds have begun preliminary reconciliation talks. During a debriefing on the talks in Damascus, Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) members agreed to continue a “political process” and to address technical issues to build confidence. The Syrian government presented a list of 12 terms. Reportedly they included a proposal for a limited federation or an autonomous administration in northern Syria. In the meeting, the YPG and Syrian government representatives agreed that it is not possible to carry on with the current administrative system of the country an... more »

Conservatives Banned From Social Media? Here’s What They Can Do About It

Activist Post at Activist Post - 13 hours ago
By Brandon Smith The past two years have seen a rather aggressive change in corporate policies toward the very customers they used to covet. Not... more »

Is Starbucks Replacing Plastic Straws with Paper Straws Wrapped in Plastic?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
A meme criticizing Starbucks' use of paper straws wrapped in plastic packaging employed an image of an unrelated product.

Python That Went Missing During California Fire is Found

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Sandra Dodge-Streich, owner of Redding Reptiles, says the snake was placed in a plastic bin and brought to a home after flames moved closer last week.

Faced With Losses, MoviePass Discount Tix Service Hikes Fee

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
The new $15-a-month rate for up to one movie each day still won't make MoviePass profitable.

Out of Line: New Zealand Girl Gets Sexist Road Signs Changed

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
Seven-year-old Zoe Carew knew it wasn't right when she saw people working on power lines near the road and a warning sign that read "LINEMEN."

Did Outback Steakhouse Announce They Are Banning Supporters of President Donald Trump?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
A notorious producer of junk news posted a fabricated meme about the popular restaurant chain.

House Speaker Paul Ryan Uncovers Jewish Roots on PBS Show

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
House Speaker Paul Ryan was surprised and proud to find out he has Jewish roots.

Is a Stone Mountain Implosion Event Being Planned by the City of Atlanta?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 13 hours ago
A Facebook event inviting viewers to watch the implosion of Stone Mountain was created by a parody account.

West Fumes as US Meddling in Cambodian Elections is Foiled

Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 13 hours ago
*August 1, 2018* (Joseph Thomas - NEO) - It would be unthinkable for an American opposition party run openly out of Moscow to compete in American elections. It would be even more unthinkable for the Russian government to declare US elections illegitimate for disallowing a Moscow-backed party from running in American elections. Yet this is precisely what the US and the European Union have attempted to do in the wake of Cambodia's recent elections regarding an opposition party created by Washington and whose leadership calls Washington a second home. *US-EU Seek to Undermine Cambodi... more »

Review State and Society in Iraq, Citizenship under Occupation, Dictatorship and Democratisation

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 13 hours ago
*Edited by Isakhan, Benjamin, Mako, Shamiran and Dawood, Fadi, State and Society in Iraq, Citizenship under Occupation, Dictatorship and Democratisation, London, New York: I.B. Tauris, 2017* *State and Society in Iraq* is an academic anthology that attempts to take a new perspective on Iraq. Most histories focus upon elites, political parties, structures and institutions. This book takes a bottom up view to find historical currents that help explain the current situation in the country. The chapters cover a variety of topics from Assyrian refugees who settled in Iraq after World Wa... more »

Hotels in Rio Keep Closing Due to Economic Crisis and Security Concerns

Lise Alves at The Rio Times - 13 hours ago
By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Once booming and full of high expectations, Rio de Janeiro’s hotel industry is now facing a crisis, as occupation rates plummet and thirteen hotels have closed since the end of the 2016 Olympics. The city’s economic crisis, the lack of marketing campaigns, as well […]

This Day In Iraqi History - Aug 1

Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 13 hours ago
1921 Gertrude Bell wrote US diplomat that England carried King Faisal on its shoulders into power 1979 22 coup plotters sentenced to death 33 others given prison time 1982 Dawa bombed Planning Ministry in Baghdad 1990 Iraq walked out on talks with Kuwait held in Saudi Arabia Kuwait offered to cancel Iraq’s oil debts worth $14-$15 bil and lease Werba Island Kuwait and Saudis offered to pay $10 bil to Iraq for ending dispute Iraq said no and demanded $27 bil 1990 Revolutionary Command Council and Regional Command met to hear about meeting with Kuwait No progress... more »

Russia Has Its Own Deadly 'Delta Force'

Dave Majumdar at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, Europe* KSSO has seen some remarkable successes—the most visible of those was Moscow’s seizure of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. *KSSO—along with the rest of Russia’s special operations forces—will only grow more capable as they gain experience and integrate additional capabilities. Undoubtedly, the Russian special operators could be some of the most formidable adversaries that might one-day challenge American forces.* Incorporating lessons from Western special operations forces (SOF), the Kremlin had established its own equivalent of the ... more »

America's Mighty A-10 Warthog vs. Iran's 'Swarm' Boats: Who Wins?

Robert Beckhusen at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Robert Beckhusen* *Security, Middle East* [image: A member of the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron refuels a 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft during forward area refueling point training at Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Feb. 11, 2016.] Defeating swarms with A-10 Warthogs isn’t exactly revolutionary but that isn’t so much a problem. The plane isn’t a high-tech laser, but it doesn’t need to be. *The Air Force had been trying to kill its A-10 attack planes for years — the branch prefers stealthy fighters and bombers — but pressure from Congress and continue... more »

There Will Be No Second Iran Deal

Gil Barndollar at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Gil Barndollar* *Security, Middle East* [image: FILE PHOTO: The national flag of Iran is seen on top of the Austrian Chancellery during the visit of President Hassan Rouhani in Vienna, Austria July 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo] Ending the first Iran Deal and reimposing sanctions has put Tehran in an impossible position. Having withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), literally rattled a few sabers, and approved record-breaking weapons sales to the Gulf monarchies, President Donald Trump is now pronouncing himself happy to meet with Iran’s leade... more »

Air Force Pilot on Why F-35 Is So Deadly: "I can look through the airplane and see the ground below me."

Kris Osborn at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * “If we don’t need stealth, I can load this up with weapons and be a bomb truck...” *The aircraft’s sensor technologies allow the platform to perform a much greater ISR function than previous aircraft can, giving it a “drone-like” ability to gather and disseminate surveillance information. As part of this, the F-35 can also use a specially engineered data-link to communicate in real-time with other F-35s and other aircraft and fighter jets.* The Air Force’s new F-35A multi-role, stealth Joint Strike Fighter brings an unprecedented ability to destroy ta... more »

How America Has Become a Theater of War

Tom Zolot at Test Feed Using Fields - 13 hours ago
*Tom Zolot* *Security, Americas* [image: A young boy greets police officers in riot gear during a march in Baltimore, Maryland May 1, 2015 following the decision to charge six Baltimore police officers -- including one with murder -- in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who was arrested and] America’s marginalized communities pay the heaviest cost for the escalation in police militarization. *This essay won first prize in the 2018 John Quincy Adams Society/TNI Student Foreign Policy Essay Contest.* It appears prudent for the United States to reduce military involvement on ... more »

Hundreds of dead sea turtles, manatee, whales, dolphins, and marine life dead on SW FL beaches – The Truth About Red Tide/Blue Green Algae Nightmare

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 13 hours ago
(Note from Erin: I Erin Elizabeth will be broadcasting live from the Florida coast, where I live, with guests this evening on the opposite coast showing the damage, and carnage. August 1, 2018.) Yesterday 500 people packed a Cape Coral Yacht Club ballroom to demonstrate their anger, fears, and tension during a two-hour presentation with the U.S. […] The post Hundreds of dead sea turtles, manatee, whales, dolphins, and marine life dead on SW FL beaches – The Truth About Red Tide/Blue Green Algae Nightmare appeared first on Health Nut News.

Health alert issued for salads, wraps from Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens due to parasite concern

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 13 hours ago
Federal health officials are warning consumers not to purchase over two dozen salad and wrap products from Kroger, Trader Joe’s, and Walgreens due to concerns about possible parasite contamination. The products were produced between July 15 to 18 with either the “Best by,” “Enjoy by,” “Best if sold by” or “Sell by” dates ranging from July […] The post Health alert issued for salads, wraps from Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens due to parasite concern appeared first on Health Nut News.

Is the HPV Vaccine preventing your pregnancy?

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 13 hours ago
The data say yes: yet the FDA might approve the vaccine for adults. Action Alert! A new study shows that women aged 25-29 who received the HPV vaccine have a lower probability of becoming pregnant. This is just the latest in a stream of evidence that points to the dangers of the HPV vaccine, particularly to those already […] The post Is the HPV Vaccine preventing your pregnancy? appeared first on Health Nut News.

Loneliness: The Truth Behind Your Fear of Being Alone

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 14 hours ago
“When I get lonely these days, I think: So BE lonely, Liz. Learn your way around loneliness. Make a map of it. Sit with it, for once in your life. Welcome to the human experience. But never again use another … Continue reading →

CRISPR: Crispy Fries Your DNA

zedie at SOMEONE SOMEWHERE - 14 hours ago
Story at-a-glance CRISPR gene-editing technology may have significant unintended consequences to your DNA, including large deletions and complex rearrangements The DNA deletions could end up activating genes that should stay “off,” such as cancer-causing genes, as well as silencing those … Continue reading →

VIDEO: New batch of rebel fighters finish military training in north Hama

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (5:55 P.M.) – The 16th batch of newly-joined militants have concluded an 8-week military training in northern Hama as tensions escalate along the front-lines. The fresh graduates were trained to use light weapons and underwent a combat-simulated situations. According to a military commander of the US-backed Jaish al-Izza group, the new fighters will […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army fights off ISIS assault in northern Swaida

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:20 P.M.) – Huge reinforcements poured into the northern countryside of Swaida where a Syrian Army airbase came under a surprise attack by the Islamic State militants. Last night, ISIS attempted to sneak into Khalkhalah airbase exactly one week after massacring more than 200 civilians in a deadly onslaught on west Swaida countryside. […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

VIDEO: Nusra arrests three alleged spies for Syrian government in Idlib

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (4:00 P.M.) – Al-Qaeda-linked jihadi group said they have uncovered a spy network for the Syrian government in northern Idlib countryside amid reports of a potential onslaught against the jihadi-held province. The three captured men, originally from northern Idlib, were responsible for providing the Syrian Intelligence with information, coordinates and images about jihadists’ […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Russian diplomat rules out full-scale offensive on Syria’s Idlib

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:40 P.M.) – A Russian diplomat said that a large-scale military operation by the Syrian Army to storm the jihadi-held province of Idlib is ‘out of question’. “I’d rather refrain from speaking about the city’s storming or a pending operation. There are too many rumors and they are ungrounded. Any large-scale operation in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

+18 VEDIO: Syrian Army officially takes over last ISIS bastions near Golan Heights

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (3:25 P.M.) – The Syrian government has finally managed to control the entire Daraa province as the Islamic State was ousted from its last stronghold in the western countryside. The ground gains were achieved by support of heavy artillery and tank shelling, as well as precise airstrikes. Video footage posted online shows hideouts […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Have you gained or lost weight? Congrats, TSA is now tracking you for suspicious activity.

James Bovard at - 14 hours ago
[image: undefined] If you fall asleep or use the bathroom during your next flight, those incriminating facts could be added to your federal dossier. Likewise, if you use your laptop or look at noisy children seated nearby with a “cold, penetrating stare,” that may be included on your permanent record. If you fidget, sweat or have “strong body odor” — BOOM! the feds are onto you. Welcome to the latest profiling idiocy from the Transportation Security Administration. TSA’s Quiet Skies surveillance program is spurring federal air marshals to target dozens of Americans each day on the f... more »

Kavanaugh’s EPA Opinions Already Endorsed by Supremes

Ron Clutz at Science Matters - 14 hours ago
Adam J. White wrote in Real Clear Politics July 31, 2018 Brett Kavanaugh’s Past Opinions Endorsed by Supreme Court Excerpts below in italics with my bolds. If all goes according to plan, Brett Kavanaugh will soon join the Supreme Court. But his ideas arrived at the Court well before him. For 12 years, Judge Kavanaugh has […]

Part 2 Of Today’s New York Times Mind-Blowing Fraud

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 14 hours ago
In today’s New York Time article they discuss the 1974 CIA global cooling report, and say that the CIA warned about CO2 induced warming. In 1974, the C.I.A. issued a classified report on the carbon-dioxide problem. It concluded that climate … Continue reading →

New York Times Getting Bolder With Their Climate Lies

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 14 hours ago
Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper. George Orwell In today’s New York Times today, they say global warming was settled science thirty years ago, the world was ready to act, … Continue reading →

Number of People Living in Cars “Exploding” As Middle Class Slowly Wiped Out

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: homeless] Despite the blowhards in Washington D.C. telling everyone that the economy is doing great, homelessness is skyrocketing as people move into their cars. The post Number of People Living in Cars “Exploding” As Middle Class Slowly Wiped Out appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

WATCH: Cops Respond to Hostage Situation By Opening Fire, Killing Innocent Hostage

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 14 hours ago
[image: hostage] Disturbing body camera footage shows police officer unleash a fury of bullets at an armed criminal and his hostage, killing both the criminal and the innocent woman. The post WATCH: Cops Respond to Hostage Situation By Opening Fire, Killing Innocent Hostage appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

Electing Constitutionalists

Charles Scaliger at rss - 14 hours ago
[image: electing-constitutionalists] With President Trump’s efforts to “drain the Swamp” in Washington being stymied by both Republican and Democratic liberals, election support for constitutionalists is necessary.

Twitter Hires Liberal Trump Critics to Combat "Intolerance" on Social-media Platform

Raven Clabough at rss - 14 hours ago
[image: twitter-hires-liberal-trump-critics-to-combat-intolerance-on-social-media-platform] Twitter claims to be interested in promoting healthy conversations and stopping "hate speech" on its platform, and has hired liberal academics to assist in its efforts. Not only does this project pose a threat against free speech, but Trump supporters in particular would be the likely targets of the campaign, as the team hired by Twitter leans left and opposes President Trump.

Facebook Says It Will Prevent History From Repeating Itself

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 15 hours ago
Early Tuesday morning, the *NY Times* reported that "Facebook is preparing to announce that it has identified a coordinated political influence campaign, with dozens of inauthentic accounts and pages that are believed to be engaging in political activity ahead November’s midterm elections. In a series of briefings on Capitol Hill this week, the company told lawmakers that it detected the influence campaign as part of its investigations into election interference. It has been unable to tie the accounts to Russia, whose Internet Research Agency was at the center of an indictment earl... more »

Hormesis: A Failed Paradigm

Majia's Blog at Majia's Blog - 15 hours ago
There is a paradigm of radiation protection that emphasizes the body's resilient repair mechanisms, even when confronted with double-strand DNA breaks. That paradigm is called hormesis. There are many scientific challenges to hormesis. Here is a discussion of the latest challenge, which is derived from scientists' efforts to understand why CRISPR gene editing technology is producing genetic mutations that undermine the technology's utility. CRISP technology promised precise gene editing capabilities but the results have disappointed as editing has been found to cause significant d... more »

Trump Threatens Iran to Distract From Russia Criticism and Appease Israel

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 15 hours ago
Donald Trump’s all-caps tweet threatening Iran with “CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE” sounds much like his warning last fall that North Korea would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” Will Trump deliver on his threats against Iran, but not against North Korea?... Read more »

Prosecuting the Islamic State Fighters Left Behind

jconsigli at Lawfare - 15 hours ago
SDF fighters in central Raqqa, Sept. 2017 (Source: Wikimedia/Mahmoud Bali, VOA) The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured an American-Saudi dual citizen last September suspected to be a member of the Islamic State. Because of his citizenship, he was quickly transferred to Defense Department custody and is being held in Iraq. After nine months of detention and litigation over this U.S. citizen (whose name has not been made public), the government filed a motion June 6 to release “John Doe” back into Syria. The legal battle continues, however, with the ACLU, which has filed... more »

Trump Calls on Sessions to End Mueller’s Russia Probe

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 15 hours ago
President Donald Trump called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to put an end to special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

Hardwick Will Resume NBC Roles After Assault Claim Review

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 15 hours ago
NBC said that Hardwick will serve as a guest host on "America's Got Talent" and will return as host for season three of "The Wall" game show.

Thieves Steal Swedish Royal Jewels, Escape by Speedboat

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 15 hours ago
Police say thieves have stolen priceless treasures from the Swedish royal regalia before speeding off by motorboat.

Official Says Agency Warned Family Separation Bad for Kids

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 15 hours ago
Lawmakers and journalists who have visited some detention facilities around the country and migrants themselves have reported poor conditions.

Attorney General Launches ‘Religious Liberty Task Force’

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 15 hours ago
American culture has become “less hospitable to people of faith,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in vowing that the Justice Department would protect people’s religious freedom and convictions.

The Silence On BPA Is Deafening – Let The CLARITY Data Speak!

Steve Hentges at Science 2.0 - Physical Sciences - 15 hours ago
For years it would not have been possible to use the word “silence” in the same sentence with BPA (bisphenol A). The safety of BPA has been a long-running, robust controversy, in particular regarding concerns that BPA might cause health effects at exposure levels in the very low range that we as consumers might experience every day. read more

India's model bilateral investment treaty: Are we too risk averse?

bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 India's Model BIT is "pro-state with limited rights to foreign investors" according to the US thinktank Brookings

Indian farm product tariffs curbing Australian exports, says Minister

bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 Australia exported A$1.3 billion ($964 million) of agricultural goods to China in 2015/16, according to the latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

US and Japan to duel over auto tariffs and FTA at first trade talks

bilaterals.org - 15 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 Toyota supplier Denso expects $700m hit if levies are implemented.

VIDEO: Syrian Army Spy Behind Enemy Lines in Idlib

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 15 hours ago
*21WIRE + AMN* | An up-close look at the advanced planning that must take place for a pivotal military operation.

Send in the Communists to Help

LL at Virtual Mirage - 15 hours ago
Nicaragua has been following Venezuela down the Socialist utopian path for a long time, but as they run out of other people's money to spend, it's getting worse for them. I recommend that the US send Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an expert on communism *and everything else*, to help them through their tough times. Maybe then, Nicaragua would see that the US only wants to help them out of the bog that they find themselves in. President Ortega is now blaming President Trump for Nicaraguan internal instability. In an interview, he said he would not allow elections until 2021 as that would... more »

BREAKING: The gods must think we're crazy!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 15 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2018As always, worst is more:* If it's information you seek, here's some information. Joe Concha reports for The Hill: CONCHA (7/31/18): *Fox News continued its command of the basic cable landscape in July* by topping its competition in total viewers, with Sean Hannity leading the way in prime time. *Hannity and Tucker Carlson took the top-two spots overall in the cable news ratings race,* delivering an average of 3.37 million viewers and 2.70 million viewers respectively in winning their respective timeslots of 9 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow co... more »

The Marines Turned Refueling Tankers Into Missile-Toting Gunships

Sebastien Roblin at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, * This is how...and why it matters. *The Hawk thus is an investment not in conventional warfighting capability, but in providing both ISR and close air support capabilities for counter-insurgency missions—a need which unlikely to go away soon as Washington doubles down on military commitments in the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan.* Dropping bombs out of cargo planes has been a common measure of desperation for under-equipped air forces and opportunistic mercenaries throughout the history of aviation. However, in 2009 the U.S. Marine Corps foun... more »

Venezuela’s Hyperinflation—Weimar or Zimbabwe on the Caribbean?

Scott B. MacDonald at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Scott B. MacDonald* *Economics, Americas* [image: A kilogram (2.2 lbs) of raw carrots as photographed in a studio with an illustrative price tag of $19.05 (US dollars), equivalent to the Bs. 120 (bolivars) that it costs on average to purchase in Caracas at the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per d] These two historical cases warn of what could come next. Venezuela has the dubious distinction of having the world’s highest level of inflation. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Venezuela’s estimated inflation rate in 2017 was 1,087.5 percent. The runners-up... more »

Pakistan and Iran Keep Fueling Taliban Terror Tactics

Sabera Azizi at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Sabera Azizi* *Security, Middle East* [image: A member of Afghan security forces holds a rifle at the site of an attack near the Afghan parliament in Kabul, Afghanistan June 22, 2015. A Taliban suicide bomber and six gunmen attacked the Afghan parliament on Monday, wounding at least nineteen people a] Riyadh and Tehran are destabilizing actors in Afghanistan and play a large role in supporting the country's ongoing conflict The Saudi-Iranian rivalry is a source of tension in the Middle East. In Yemen, Saudi-backed government forces and Iranian-backed rebel forces are hostile to... more »

AirLand Battle: The Army's Cold War Plan to Crush Russia (That Ended Up Crushing Iraq)

Robert Farley at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Robert Farley* *, * [image: A British Challenger main battle tank, the squadron leader of D Sqn, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, moves into a base camp along with other Allied armor during Operation Desert Storm.] "Of course, the U.S. Army never needed to face the Red Army in battle. The collapse of the Soviet Union made the conventional balance in Central Europe irrelevant, for decades at least. But AirLand Battle guided the Army’s thinking about the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, an operation that did not require the defeat of a Soviet offensive, but did involve audacious maneuver w... more »

In 1975, a Russian Navy Frigate Mutinied. And It Made Tom Clancy's Career

Sebastien Roblin at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Sebastien Roblin* *Security, Europe* [image: A port view of the Soviet Project 956] "Years after Sablin’s failed plan, U.S. historian Gregory Young pieced together accounts of the mutiny in a thesis later read by an insurance salesman named Tom Clancy. Inspired by the story and that of a previous Soviet defector, Jonas Plaskus, Clancy went on to write Hunt for the Red October." *Moscow covered up the incident by staging naval exercises the next day. The bomber pilots were reprimanded for the friendly fire incidents and logistical confusion. The Storozhevoy’s crew were detained f... more »

China's New Aircraft Carrier Shows All the Signs of a Killer. Here Is What We Know.

Zachary Keck at Test Feed Using Fields - 15 hours ago
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* [image: Carrier-Based Multirole Fighter J-15.] China’s next aircraft carrier is likely to boast a lot more combat power. *According to the aforementioned SCMP article, Chinese engineers believe they solved this problem by developing an integrated propulsion system (IPS), which would generate enough power to use EMALS. “The obstacle … was whether a conventionally powered carrier would be able to support EMALS,” a source whom SCMP said was close the PLA’s equipment department told the paper. “Now that problem has been solved.”* China’s next aircraft... more »

New Moorside Nuclear Plans May Be Shelved

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 15 hours ago
From the Mail: Plans for £10billion nuclear plant to provide 7% of Britain’s electricity may be shelved after talks with foreign buyers collapse Japanese owner Toshiba and South Korean potential buyer Kepco failed to agree The plans were thrown into doubt last year because of financial issues at Toshiba Justin Bowden, of the GMB union, […]

The very definition of an unstable relationship!

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 16 hours ago
The New York Times brings us instructions on - of all things! - "How to Have Sex in a Canoe". Take some basic precautions. First, make room. Stow your paddles, handle ends down, behind the stern seat. Take out the removable center thwart, if there is one; you don’t want to get stuck under it in the event of a flip. (One old boat in the museum’s collection, called a “girling canoe,” features a detachable thwart and a record player.) To maintain balance, relax your body. “Let your hips roll with the canoe,” Raffan says. Be mindful of the fact that sound carries particularly well acro... more »

Halifax’s moral panic over the legalization of cannabis

Tim Bousquet at Halifax Examiner - 16 hours ago
News 1. Convention centre Oh, running out of time for this… I’ll write it up today for tomorrow’s Morning File. 2. Smoking ban On Monday, Dartmouth councillor Sam Austin published a blog post saying he was reconsidering his support for the smoking bylaw, weirdly wanting to keep the provisions of the bylaw as they pertain […]

GOSSIP OR JOURNO: Homo sapiens, working in groups!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 16 hours ago
*WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2018Part 3—Nothing too dumb to be said:* Let's be fair to gossips. Sometimes, gossips direct their wrath at worthy targets. Occasionally, the things they say about their targets are reasonably accurate. That doesn't mean they aren't gossips! And in the case of the mainstream press, their judgment has been very bad, in the past thirty years, as they've chosen their devils and angels. (Hat tip, Bobby Vee.) They gossiped about the Clintons and Gore for the better part of thirty years. This set the stage for the ascension of their current target, Donald J. Trump... more »

China Prepares for an International Order After U.S. Leadership

theath at Lawfare - 16 hours ago
One Belt, One Road: The Global Implications, 2017 (Source: Flickr/World Economic Forum) At China’s Central Foreign Relations Work Conference—an infrequently-held high level strategy session for the nation’s foreign policy—convened on June 23, 2018, Chinese leaders outlined an array of foreign policy directives designed to reinforce Chinese President Xi Jinping’s authority over all foreign policy. As State Councilor Yang Jiechi stated, “The most important outcome of this conference is that it established the guiding position of Jinping thought on diplomacy.” The event further stre... more »

Fmr Governor’s Grandson Given No Jail In Violent Rape Case Despite ‘Sufficient Evidence’

John Vibes at The Free Thought Project - 16 hours ago
[image: despite] The grandson of a former governor has avoided jail time despite there being "sufficient evidence" that he raped a young woman he went to school with. The post Fmr Governor’s Grandson Given No Jail In Violent Rape Case Despite ‘Sufficient Evidence’ appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

Mass Protests Erupt Over Decision Not to Charge Cop Who Shot Fleeing Man on Video

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 16 hours ago
[image: minneapolis] Despite body camera video showing a Minneapolis police officer shoot a fleeing man, officials say he was justified in the kill. The post Mass Protests Erupt Over Decision Not to Charge Cop Who Shot Fleeing Man on Video appeared first on The Free Thought Project.

Dual Power Situation in Today's World — Which Path Will the U.S. Take?

adam at LaRouchePAC Feed - 16 hours ago
[image: President Donald J. Trump and Queen Elizabeth II | July 13, 2018 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)] The 2018 BRICS Summit can be usefully compared to the Bandung Conference of Asian and African nations in Indonesia in 1955, the first time the formerly colonized nations met without the colonial masters present. The difference, today, is that the BRICS now represents not only the majority of the world's population, but also nearly half of the world economy, and by far most of the growth in the world economy. The developments at the BRICS Forum last week, and the man... more »

Your Guide to Omega 3 vs. Omega 6 Fats

thedrswolfson at The Drs. Wolfson - 16 hours ago
You’ve likely heard that you need to eat fish. But do you know why? The answer lies hidden in the special type of fat found in the fatty layers of specific types of fish. This type of fat is one that we can only obtain from our diets. The fat is called omega 3 fatty […] The post Your Guide to Omega 3 vs. Omega 6 Fats appeared first on The Drs. Wolfson.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME A BOB WOODWARD BOOK REALLY DAMAGED A PRESIDENT?

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 16 hours ago
Here's a headline at Talking Points Memo: *White House Dreads ‘Killer’ Woodward Book After ‘Everyone’ Talked To Him* The story tells us: Though the Trump administration, unlike administrations past, withheld formal access to legendary reporter Bob Woodward for his insider exposé, White House officials are bracing for a “killer” account filled with unauthorized stories from “everyone,” according to a Tuesday Politico account. “He hooked somebody, and that put the fear of God in everyone else,” a former official told Politico. So should we expect serious damage to the Trump administ... more »

FBI Admits to Using Left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center

Steve Byas at rss - 17 hours ago
[image: fbi-admits-to-using-leftwing-southern-poverty-law-center] That the FBI would continue to use the "hate" designations of the radical leftist Southern Poverty Law Center is troubling.

American Jews vs. Israeli Jews - How Divided Are They?

A Political Junkie at Viable Opposition - 17 hours ago
The Trump's Administrations recent overtures to Israel through the movement of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem continues Washington's decades-long tradition of appeasing America's Jewish voters. That said, a recent survey of American and Jewish opinions by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) gives us an interesting insight into how the opinions of American Jews vary from Jews who live in Israel. Let's take a look at some of the highlights from the survey and how respondents felt about key issues which will help us get a better understanding of Washington's relationship with... more »

Rewriting The Past At The Ministry Of Truth

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 17 hours ago
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” ― George Orwell, 1984 Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast in 1969 with 200 MPH winds. 10 Sep 2004, 5 – Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com … Continue reading →

Imminent Climate Alarmism Disaster

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 17 hours ago
On August 1, temperatures in the Beaufort Sea have dropped well below freezing. VentuSky Arctic sea ice volume is fourth highest for the date since 2003, and declining very slowly. Spreadsheet Data Temperatures near the North Pole have been below normal … Continue reading →

The Least Extreme Summer On Record In The US

tonyheller at The Deplorable Climate Science Blog - 17 hours ago
The prospect of domination of the nation’s scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded. Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we … Continue reading →

Wednesday Morning Links

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 17 hours ago
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. - Peter Gowan discusses UK Labour's push for greater social control over economic development. And Rainer Kattel, Mariana Mazzucato, Josh Ryan-Collins and Simon Sharpe set out a useful framework to evaluate policies which are intended to shape markets rather than merely attempting to fix them. - Anis Heydari reports on the choice far too many Albertans face between food and housing when neither is affordable. And Glen Pearson comments on how poverty can trap people in a cycle of deprivation and pessimism: What do kids in low-income ... more »

Global warming not most pressing concern

CFACT Ed at CFACT - 17 hours ago
Most don’t care, don’t think it affects them much, and don’t believe the hype.

Al Di Meola to Perform at ‘Teatro Bradesco Rio’ Tonight

Jack Arnhold at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Arguably one of the world’s finest guitarists, Al Di Meola is arriving in Rio tonight, August 1st, at Barra da Tijuca’s ‘Teatro Bradesco Rio’ to play one night as part of his ‘Opus’ Acoustic Tour, which is supporting the release of his new album, also […]

Opinion: Brazil’s “Sistema” Fights Back

Michael Royster at The Rio Times - 17 hours ago
Opinion, by Michael Royster RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Curmudgeon’s prior submission pointed out the similarity between today’s Russia and Brazil: both have developed a “Sistema” where “business and the state have merged in a union of total and seamless corruption.” The Lava Jato (Car Wash) investigations have attempted, with a surprising degree of […]

The fake news surrounding the Maria Butina story (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 17 hours ago
Prosecutors want to classify evidence in case against accused Maria Butina. The post The fake news surrounding the Maria Butina story (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

Is Trump profiting from his office in violation of the Constitution? Judge allows emoluments case to move ahead

Mark Kende, Professor of Law, Drake University at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 17 hours ago
The court carefully considered what the word 'emoluments' meant at the time the Constitution was drafted.

Citizenship through the eyes of those who have lost the right to vote

Kimberly R. Kras, Assistant Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies , University of Massachusetts Lowell at Politics + Society – The Conversation - 17 hours ago
More than 6 million US citizens can't vote because they've been convicted of a felony. But states are beginning to change their laws. Will it make a difference?

Bob Ward’s Misinformation Campaign

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 18 hours ago
Bob Ward has been up to his tricks again, with this letter in the Mail in response to Booker’s article on the heatwave last week: Ward’s modus operandi never changes. He comes up with a few cherry picked numbers, that have little to do with the subject, and quotes some bit of […]

One in nine adverse events reported after DTaP vaccination is serious—But CDC says, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”

Erin Elizabeth at Health Nut News - 18 hours ago
By The World Mercury Project Team Until the 1990s, the vaccine administered to children for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis protection was the DTP vaccine, one of the first combination vaccines ever licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, as a “whole-cell” vaccine (meaning that it contained the entire Bordetella pertussisorganism rather than purified […] The post One in nine adverse events reported after DTaP vaccination is serious—But CDC says, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” appeared first on Health Nut News.

91 Years Old Today: How Tough Is China's Military?

Adam Ni at Test Feed Using Fields - 18 hours ago
*Adam Ni* *Security, Asia* [image: People's Liberation Army soldiers perform at an airbase in Hong Kong, China June 30, 2018, a day before the 21st anniversary of the city's return to Chinese sovereignty from British rule. REUTERS/Bobby Yip] We have some answers. The People’s Liberation Army turned 91 today amid the Chinese media’s self-congratulatory cacophony. To be sure, China has a lot to be proud of—the PLA has become one of the most powerful militaries in the world. But lost in the hyperbole and hubris of the occasion is a sense of perspective. The PLA continues to be pla... more »

The Navy Is Moving Fast to Build a New Frigate. Here Is What We Know.

Kris Osborn at Test Feed Using Fields - 18 hours ago
*Kris Osborn* *Security, * The Navy expects that new weapons and sensors will better enable the ship to destroy swarming small boat attacks, support carrier strike groups, conduct dis-aggregated operations, attack enemies with an over-the-horizon missile and engage in advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare, service statements specify. *Designs for the ship no longer merely envision a more "survivable" variant of an LCS. Previous FFG(X) requirements analyses conducted by a Navy Frigate Requirements Evaluation Team examined the feasibility of making the ship even more lethal ... more »

Imagine this....

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 18 hours ago
Imagine this Canada and Mexico declare that because Washington is crazy and unpredictable they feel insecure and need protection thus Ottawa and Mexico City have invited Russia and China to set up joint military bases in both their countries at various points along the US northern and southern borders to defend them against an increasingly hostile Washington How might that go down in the District of Columbia? How would CNN, FOX, MSNBC spin that story? How about the New York Times and the Washington Post? Do you think the Pentagon would go on nuclear alert? Would the US rush to the... more »

Out Of The Past

Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 18 hours ago
The Ontario Legislature descended into the maelstrom yesterday. The Ford government accused the opposition of mocking the dialect of one of its East Asian members. It then promptly refused to answer questions until it got an apology. The opposition claimed its house leader had not mocked anyone. "That's disgusting," quoth Doug Ford. Opposition leader Andrea Horwath fired back, "So are you." Welcome to the Ford Years. Michael Harris writes that there will be no turning back from Fordian abuse: Clearly, Ontario’s Tiny Trump is determined to give Canada another one-man band on the ... more »

Untitled

jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 18 hours ago
*U.Va. Alumni Back Disputed Hiring of Trump White House Aide* Eleven prominent members of the University of Virginia’s alumni network released a letter Monday afternoon expressing support for President Donald Trump’s former legislative director, Marc Short, whose hiring as a scholar at a presidential center affiliated with the university is under partisan fire. Short’s defenders include former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (Class of ’91), conservative political commentator Kate Obenshain (’91), National Review Editor Rich Lowry (’90), and Thomas A. Saunders III, cha... more »

Untitled

JR at GREENIE WATCH - 18 hours ago
*Green/Left lies and stupidity about the fires in CA* *CA unusually hot? I reproduce below some conversation between two skeptics:Tony Heller, climate historian: "Hotter than 134 degrees during July, 1913?"Tony Heller again: "1988 was hotter than this year, and 2006 was just as hot. Redding got up to 118 degrees in 1988, five degrees warmer than this year's top temperature. I drove through Sacramento on the hottest day in 2006, and remember it was right around 115 degrees.Joe Bastardi, meteorologist: Spot on right. 2006 was hotter and 2005,2003 just as hotTony He... more »

Untitled

Jenna Orkin at From the Wilderness' Peak Oil Blog - 18 hours ago
From Jenna Orkin Koch-Backed Think Tank Finds that Medicare for All Would Cut Spending Cal Fire Estimates 300 Fires in California Mysterious Source of Illegal Ozone-Killing Emissions Revealed Poison Garden video. World's Largest King Penguin Colony Declines by 90% Venezuela's president admits economy has failed "I Go Days Without Eating": Some Amazon Workers Left Homeless After Workplace Injuries Bank of America Freezes Kansas Family's Bank Account After Demanding Citizenship Michigan Declares State Of Emergency After Cancer-Linked Toxin Found In Drinking Water Opioid-Related Death... more »

Updating your kitchen?

Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man - 18 hours ago
It wasn't always so easy. Things have changed for the better, it seems! When I was five years old, my parents bought a house that had been built at the turn of the 20th century. It was in dire need of rehabbing, including the kitchen - which still contained a huge hollow at the base of a chimney, that was intended to accommodate a wood-fired or coal-fired stove and oven. (With the chimney sealed off and sliding doors installed, it became a very useful cupboard.) Thing is, when we moved in, it wasn't too dissimilar to the old-style kitchen shown above - although it didn't st... more »

Countering China’s Actions in the South China Sea

lkuok at Lawfare - 18 hours ago
Subi Reef, South China Sea, May 2015 (Source: Wikimedia/U.S. Navy) For many who follow developments in the South China Sea, the July 2016 tribunal ruling in the Philippines’ case against China has become the equivalent of the birth of Jesus in the Gregorian calendar: Developments are considered B.A. and A.A.—Before Award and After Award. In the first year after the award, compliance was fair: Beijing largely kept its actions, if not its words, within the letter of the ruling. In late July 2017, however, things went south. The Chinese government insists that the situation in the So... more »

Jihadist group releases video of kidnapped Italian, Japanese journalists in Syria

A jihadist group has released videos of a Japanese journalist and an Italian man held captive in Syria in which they appeal for their release, U.S.-based monitors have said. The two men — Japanese freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda and Italian national Alessandro Sandrini — appear in two separate videos that are nonetheless similar in their […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Assad to Syrian Army: ‘Victory will be achieved soon’

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad delivered a speech in Damascus, today, to commemorate the anniversary of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) founding in 1945. Speaking to a crowd of soldiers, Assad began his speech by congratulating the Syrian Arab Army on their victories across Syria. “Men of dignity and sovereignty, I […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Saudi-backed forces advance in Houthi heartland

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:45 P.M.) – The Saudi-backed Yemeni National Army scored a new advance in northern Yemen, today, after a fierce battle with the Houthi forces in the Sa’ada Governorate. According to Sky News Arabia, the Yemeni National Army, backed by the Saudi-led Coalition, managed to capture the village of Mughram in the Baaqem District […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Up close footage of Syrian Army’s final battle in southwest Syria

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:25 P.M.) – Anna News released their last video of the Syrian Arab Army’s southwest Syria offensive, yesterday, showcasing the final battle against the Islamic State (ISIS) forces in the Yarmouk Basin region. The Anna News video below chronicles the Tiger Forces’ last intense battle against the ISIS-affiliated Jaysh Khaled bin Walid terrorists […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian Army discovers caches of Israeli-made bombs in Daraa province – reports

The Syrian army and its allies are completing the defeat of terrorists holed up in Daraa and other provinces of the war-torn country. Syrian government forces combing towns and villages in the country’s southern province of Rif Dimashq have discovered Israeli-made bombs along with loads of munitions and military hardware inside weapons caches belonging to foreign-sponsored jihadist terrorists, Syrian’s official news […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian military continues to strike northern Latakia after heated battle last night

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their strikes in the northern countryside of the Latakia Governorate, today, hitting a number of jihadist targets in the Jabal Al-Akrad and Jabal Turkmen regions. Using their surface-to-surface missiles and artillery shells, the Syrian Arab Army’s Special Forces and Republican Guard pounded the jihadist […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Jihadist rebels resume attack on southwest Aleppo

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham resumed their assault on the southwestern districts of Aleppo city, a military communique read this morning. According to the communique, the jihadist rebels heavily shelled the Al-Hamdaniyah District and nearby 1070 Housing Project this morning after taking a brief hiatus overnight. In response […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Druze soldiers quitting Israeli military over controversial nation-state law

The Israeli military continues to deal with fallout from soldiers belonging to minority groups after the country passed a “nation-state” law declaring that Jews, and only Jews, have the right to self-determination in the country. The law significantly restricts the rights of Palestinians living in Israel, Masud Ghnaim, an Israeli-Arab member of Knesset, told Sputnik […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Breaking: Syrian Army enters jihadist stronghold in Al-Quneitra after militants depart for Idlib

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 18 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:50 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has officially taken control of the former jihadist stronghold of Jubata Al-Khashab in rural Al-Quneitra, a military communique said this morning. According to the communique, the Syrian Arab Army entered Jubata Al-Khashab, Taranjah, and Ufaniyah after the last jihadist rebels departed from the Al-Quneitra Governorate […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian diplomat says gov’t has legitimate right to retake Idlib

Syria’s government has a legitimate right to get back all the territories seized by Turkey, including Idlib, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari said on Tuesday. “There can be no compromises on that matter. The period of functioning of de-escalation zones has its timeframes. They cannot be extended without the Syrian government’s […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Koch v Trump-- And A Take-Over Of The Corrupt, Money-Hungry Big Tent Democratic Party

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 19 hours ago
How many hundreds of millions of dollars has the Koch network pumped into the Republican Party-- and continue pumping into the Republican Party ($400 million this cycle alone)? Their far-right "libertarian" ideas have become dominant inside GOP congressional circles, even if not among Republican voters. Now that Trump has taken over and is remaking the Party, the Kochs are understandably discomforted. And now... Godzilla v Rodan. According to a report from Phillip Elliott for *Time* there was a discussion in Colorado Springs that was "spurred by several big shifts: The more libera... more »

X22 Report, “The Entire System Is Imploding And There Is Only One Fix”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 19 hours ago
X22 Report, “The Entire System Is Imploding And There Is Only One Fix” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VENSMed9PlU

UnPacked Short: The False Promise Of The Vertical City

Charlotte Pickles at Blog Posts – Page Array – UnHerd - 19 hours ago
Towering skyscrapers are emblematic of our dynamic, global cities – they’re also an architectural disaster. In this UnPacked Short, Peter Franklin and Charlotte Pickles discuss the fundamental flaws in the idea of the vertical city. Read the UnPacked behind the Short here. The post UnPacked Short: The False Promise Of The Vertical City appeared first on UnHerd.

Hitchens on White Helmets: ‘Heroes or Fanatics?’

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 19 hours ago
*Peter Hitchens* | Are the ‘White Helmets’ really the good guys.

CNN Struggling to Maintain Its Failing Russia Narrative

21wire at 21st Century Wire - 19 hours ago
*21WIRE* | Occasionally CNN gets a dose of bad medicine it most surely needs.

Eritrea, Nigeria, G-Bissau yet to commit to Africa free trade deal

bilaterals.org - 19 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 According to the African Union Commission chairperson, Nigeria, Eritrea and Guinea Bissau have made no commitment to the AU's Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) signed in Kigali in March 2018.

L'Afrique à l'épreuve du libre-échange et de l'intégration commerciale

bilaterals.org - 19 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 Partagé entre protectionnistes et partisans du libre-échange, le continent se trouve à un tournant en matière de doctrine économique. Mais que gagnerait véritablement l'Afrique à davantage s'intégrer commercialement ?

Non aux attaques des investisseurs étrangers contre l'intérêt général : refus de l'arbitrage entre investisseurs et Etat « ICS »

bilaterals.org - 19 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 Dans le cadre des négociations de l'ALECA, l'Union Européenne a proposé à la Tunisie de mettre en place un mécanisme d'arbitrage entre investisseurs et Etat, sous l'appellation « système judiciaire pour l'investissement » (Investment Court System ou ICS en anglais). Nous interpellons la société civile et les pouvoirs publics pour qu'il soit catégoriquement refusé.

Mexico's historic election: A labor perspective

bilaterals.org - 19 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 The recent election in Mexico is a referendum on the global reaction to the neoliberal assaults accompanying trade deals like NAFTA and TPP. Listen to this webinar with Manuel Perez-Rocha and Héctor de la Cueva

For The Few, Not The Many

Gilad Atzmon at The Truthseeker - 19 hours ago
I would like to believe that this is just the latest phase in Jewish humour, but last Friday the UK Jewish establishment took a dangerous step. Gilad Atzmon explains

Singer, Songwriter, Central Banker

Greg Mankiw at Greg Mankiw's Blog - 19 hours ago
A friend emails me: I’ve just been listening to Rich Clarida’s CD, Time No Changes. It’s on Spotify. Might be an amusing item for your blog! The press has been talking about the fact that Goldman’s David Solomon is also DJ D-Sol, but it’s equally unusual to have a singer-songwriter as nominated Vice Chair of the Fed. I recall seeing Rich perform years ago when he was a grad student at Harvard. (I was a grad student at MIT at the time.) He is indeed very talented. FYI, you can hear a preview of the CD on itunes.

This Is the Chinese Military's Secret Weapon against America

Zachary Keck at Test Feed Using Fields - 20 hours ago
*Zachary Keck* *Security, Asia* Any guesses? *The impact this has on each country’s respective military budget is staggering. When personnel costs are removed from the U.S. side, military spending decreases from $597 billion to $298 billion. By comparison, China’s military spending drops from $145.8 billion to $97.2 billion. In other words, when personnel costs are taken out of the equation, China’s military spending goes from about a quarter of America’s to nearly a third.* As Alexander de Tocqueville observed nearly two centuries ago, Americans are by nature an optimistic peo... more »

Cedella Marley: Seek Opportunities to Grow

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 20 hours ago
Seek opportunities to learn and grow to develop passion and energy that will inspire others.

Hack Your Unconscious To Boost Your Memory and Learning

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 20 hours ago
Here are the top tips to improve how you recall facts.

We Subsidize the Wrong Kind of Agriculture

Karma Yoga Daily at Karma Yoga Daily - 20 hours ago
We should be supporting the small farmers who sell at farmers markets, not the corporate giants that hurt our health and environment.

Depriving Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Petitioners the Opportunity of Seeking Legal Counsel

Age of Autism at AGE OF AUTISM - 20 hours ago
By Wayne Rohde How does the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) and the Federal Court of Claims deprive petitioners, who are seeking compensation for their injuries, the opportunity to seek and retain legal counsel? Very cleverly. But it takes...

Rio Nightlife Guide for Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Jack Arnhold at The Rio Times - 21 hours ago
We have the top three picks for this Wednesday, and below there is a list of bars and lounges that are always a good option. PARTY: Latin Party @ Pub Kriok (Lapa) – The original party that brought reggaeton to Rio is always ready to bring the disorder. The night is free and has an […]

The Elysée And « Gladio B »

Thierry MEYSSAN at OrientalReview.org - 21 hours ago
During the Cold War, the pro-US states experienced a bloody precedent of illegal, secret repression. While it is clear that this system has been progressively dismantled in Europe, it has never been interrupted in the « Greater Middle East » although it has been transformed. The Benalla affair allows us to admit the possibility that this story is not yet over. The post The Elysée And « Gladio B » appeared first on OrientalReview.org.

Wildfires are not increasing as climates change

drinkingwateradvisor at The Drinking Water Advisor - 21 hours ago
“Global area burned appears to have overall declined over past decades, and there is increasing evidence that there is less fire in the global landscape today than centuries ago.” click here for WUWT discussion Stefan H. Doerr, Cristina Santín. Global trends … Continue reading →

Five Most Popular Posts in July

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 21 hours ago
Another month passes into the pages of history, and so here are five more posts to commemorate it. 1. Besmirching Labour's Name 2. No Labour Exit from Brexit 3. Donald Trump Protests: What's the Point? 4. Labour's Incompetent Handling of Anti-Semitism 5. Hard Road to a Soft Brexit The month's been a total shitfest as far as Labour is concerned. Judging by the response to my critical piece on the leadership's handling of anti-semitism, it's mind-boggingly frustrating to find how some comrades just cannot compute how it can simultaneously be an issue *and* be used for factional advan... more »

Welcome to August

LL at Virtual Mirage - 22 hours ago
*MAGA* President Trump's approval rating remains basically unchanged since May 1. Rasmussen Reports has him at 48% approval. All of the histrionics from the corrupt, lying, elite media haven't budged the needle. The economy is booming and people are working. That means more money and more dignity for working Americans. Unemployment is lower than at any time in many people's lifetimes. In some categories, it's lower than any time since we began to track employment numbers. I'm not tired of winning. T*rump Team, crossing the swamp* by Jon McNaughton, who identifies the rest as: U.S... more »

Controversy Of The Russian Czar Today

Brother Nathanael Kapner at The Truthseeker - 22 hours ago
Were the Romanov's slaughtered in a ritualistic killing? Brother Nathanael examines the ongoing controversy

Yes, North Korea Could Sink a Navy Aircraft Carrier. Here's How.

James Holmes at Test Feed Using Fields - 22 hours ago
*James Holmes* *Security, Asia* Luttwak’s “paradoxical logic” of strategy exempts no one—including U.S. naval aviation. So let’s frame maritime strategy toward North Korea with confidence, while abjuring overconfidence like the plague. *In short, how U.S. commanders arrange forces on the nautical chart and sequence operations will help determine whether a carrier suffers assault from North Korean warbirds, surface or subsurface craft, or antiship missiles.* Could North Korea’s armed forces sink an American aircraft carrier? Yes—depending on what type of carrier they confront, ho... more »

This Russian Aircraft Carrier Was Built to Kill Navy Submarines and Carriers

Kyle Mizokami at Test Feed Using Fields - 22 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *History, Europe* The Kiev-class carriers were an ambitious attempt to give Russia a powerful ship capable of taking on American aircraft carriers while at the same time hunting down submarines that posed a threat to the Soviet homeland. Because responsibilities were split between two vastly different, their ability to do either was severely curtailed. *Of all four mighty ships only one, Baku, remains. The most advanced ship in the best condition of all four, Baku was retained, renamed Admiral Gorshkov, and then sold to the Indian government to be converted into a... more »

New Solar Capacity Dries Up

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 22 hours ago
By Paul Homewood https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables Subsidies to new installations of solar power via the Renewable Obligation scheme were withdrawn with effect from April 2016, although schemes already in progress were given leeway. The latest BEIS figures for new capacity additions show just how drastic the fall in new installations has been since. In […]

"How $9 Trillion Disappears"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 22 hours ago
*"How $9 Trillion Disappears"* by Bill Bonner YOUGHAL, IRELAND – "As a republic matures, it slides down-market… The rails are silently greased by the cronies and grifters who control policy measures for their own benefit, while the rabble rallies to campaign slogans and admires TV idols. The media – dependent on the mass of consumers for ad sales – sinks, too, stooping as low as possible to scoop up as many eyeballs, clicks, and cat videos as it can. This drags down public discussion to a level scarcely better than the simian hoots and howls of wraslin’ fans. There is no time or p... more »

Do Trump Jr. Emails Indicate An Ongoing Conspiracy Between The Kremlin And The Trumps?

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 23 hours ago
Investigative journalist and Trump biographer David Cay Johnston has suggested that everyone take another look at the Rob Goldstone email … Continue reading →

Collusion May Not Be A Crime But Criminal Conspiracy Is A Criminal Offense

miningawareness at Mining Awareness + - 23 hours ago
From VOA: “Trump: ‘Collusion Is Not a Crime’ July 31, 2018 10:09 AM, by Ken Bredemeier U.S. President Donald Trump … Continue reading →

Jo Cox, Her Assassination, the White Helmets, “Humanitarianism,” and Regime Change

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 23 hours ago
Vanessa Beeley examines Jo Cox's legacy in attempts to bring regime change to Syria

Caravan Of Evil

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 23 hours ago
As significant as which White Helmets members were evacuated from Syria are the members of the group who were left behind.

Russia Says It Will Know of U.S. Military Plans Before They Happen

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 23 hours ago
Lavrov: Russia has advance 'insider' knowledge of Western military plans

General Soleimani: IRGC Quds Force Spearheading Any Confrontation with US

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 23 hours ago
One of the most powerful men in Iran, Gen. Soleimani warns America: "We are so close to you in places that you might not even think of"

A “Limited Hangout”

wmw_admin at The Truthseeker - 23 hours ago
The media is crying "betrayal" over reports of the Manchester suicide bomber's rescue by the Royal Navy. But the real betrayal may have been carried out by MI5

How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World: Preface with epoch Times

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 23 hours ago
This is a remarkable call to arms against the Anti - Christ. Here we see revealed the glue that holds together the Communist movement and cohorts. It is access to the evil threads in humanity and is informed by low intellectualism. Objectively that describes Communism and explains clearly my own early rejection of their lies. My own tactical response to the Communist Meme is to establish a protocol that ends global poverty. However, that alone will merely eliminate a point of leverage. Thus i am renewed in my understanding that the system that ends poverty must also es... more »

If you want to eat clean and green, is the future halal?

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 23 hours ago
It is right to be conscious of how you end the life of an animal. Born and raised a grower, all that is stated here conforms to my own understanding. Hunting is never something i will ever associate with pleasure but necessary to procure food and to control pests. That does include taking down grizzlies who quickly expand range. After that it is establishing humane methods for the slaughter house and that is certainly subject to debate and consensus building and not human convenience as the first priority. Traditional usage usually revolves around a sudden beheading and imm... more »

Eating Wheat Feeds Disease-Causing Gut Bacteria, Study Suggests

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 23 hours ago
If there is a take home here it is that wheat products need to be minimized. Getting bread out of your diet is an excellent start. You will still get it in other ways but not having the main source on the shelf is an excellent start. Hamburger with a side of salad and pickle is an excellent meal. Your body will love you. That is how simple most of this is. The main thing is to break up the continuity so that there are times in which wheat is not in your system. Digestion alone will be superior. Far too many foods have been turned into staples when we live in a world of s... more »

Ringmakers of Saturn 8 Dione Gives Up a Big Secret

arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 23 hours ago
Good luck with this. The author has access to far better photos but must make do with what us published and we pretty much are stuck with him. What we do see are anomalous fuzzy images and a pretty clear understanding that we have a possible manufactured environment. It is also becoming clear that managing electromagnetic fields at these scales can be part of the overall manufacturing process. One could easily enough deduct that this must be so, but it is better to see it in play. Quite simply, EM fields are easily expandable and nothing breaks easily. In fact it all becomes... more »

Syrian gov’t ship sanctioned by US makes mysterious stop in Turkey

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 23 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 A.M.) – A Syrian government flagship made a mysterious stop at a Turkish port in the Sea of Marmara, yesterday, Yoruk Isik of the Bosphorous Observer reported. According to Isik, the Syrian General Authority for Maritime Transport, SYRIAMAR, made a short stop at the Turkish Port of Hereke in the Gulf of Izmit […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Syrian gov’t demands US ‘immediately withdraw troops’ from Syria

The Syrian government has demanded that the United States and its allies immediately withdraw their troops from all Syrian territories, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bashar al-Jaafari said on Tuesday. “Al-Tanf is a triangle at the border with Iraq and Jordan where US troops are currently staying illegally,” said al-Jaafari, who led the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

ISIS attempts to infiltrate Syrian Army defenses near southern Syria airport

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 23 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:00 A.M.) – The Islamic State (ISIS) launched a surprise attack in the northern countryside of the Al-Sweida Governorate last night, which targeted the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions near the Khalkhalah Airport. According to the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF), the Islamic State terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Syrian Army’s positions to […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

Houthi missile barrage kills scores of Saudi-backed fighters (video)

Leith Aboufadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 23 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:45 A.M.) – The Houthi forces unleashed a flurry of missiles towards the Saudi-backed Hadi loyalists on Monday, targeting their positions inside the Marib Governorate of northern Yemen. According to the official media wing of the Houthi forces, their rocket battalion unleashed a wave of anti-tank guided missiles towards the Saudi-backed fighters in […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - The Arab Source

A Warm Welcome To The 8th Annual Inspirational August in 2018

Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 23 hours ago
*The tradition continues. This will be a month of inspirational writings, poetry, art and music that will hopefully transport you (if you so wish) from your human to your humane.* *All are welcome here. We gather together from many different Lands, beliefs, institutions and "isms". For just a short while let us step aside from our ego preferences that hinder us and keep us from our innate creativity. Let us step into that which is best within ourselves and have no fear.* *I hope that you all enjoy you visits this month of August, 2018 as you journey with a "Stranger In A Str... more »

Jeremy Corbyn apologises for hosting 2010 Holocaust event per BBC News

Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 23 hours ago
The headline story on the BBC this morning is this https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-45027582 that: 'Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has apologised for appearing on platforms with people whose views he "completely rejects". Mr Corbyn's statement was in response to the Times reporting that he hosted an event in 2010 at which a Holocaust survivor compared Israel to Nazism. Hajo Meyer's House of Commons talk was entitled 'The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes'.' I'm pretty sure that I have read over the last few months that Jeremy Corbyn has always stood up against antisemiti... more »

Civil coalition raises concerns over Indonesia-EU CEPA talks

bilaterals.org - 23 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 Indonesian civil society coalition has voiced concerns over the ongoing talks in the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), which entered its fifth round.

The criminalization of migrant children, the violation of rights as a migratory control strategy

bilaterals.org - 23 hours ago
01-Aug-2018 In the context of US policies of "zero tolerance" for irregular migration, the separation of thousands of families and the confinement in detention centers of hundreds of forced migrant children by the current US government and its president implies de facto transgression of different legal orders (national and international). On the one hand, when children are imprisoned and isolated, the following human rights of migrant children are violated: 1) to be with their families and parents; 2) (...)