The Courtyard of the Old Residency in Munich. Adolf Hitler, 1914 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
English: A map showing aquifer thickness of the Ogallala Aquifer with the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline route laid over. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Livestream 'Reject and Protect' Cowboy Indian Alliance 'NO!' Keystone pipeline
. Streamed live on Apr 22, 2014 Cowboy Indian Alliance members open the Reject and Protect encampment against Keystone XL with horseback ride, tipi raising and ceremony.
“Pssst... The Military-Industrial Complex Is Alive and Well”
*“Pssst... The Military-Industrial Complex Is Alive and Well”* by Bill Bonner Gualfin, Argentina. “We made an observation last week: The US empire and its credit bubble will probably come to an end at the same time. Each depends on the other. If the US were not so big and powerful, it could not impose its money as the world's reserve currency. Without its position as the issuer of the world's reserve currency (dollars instead of gold), the US wouldn't be able to flood the world with its cash. Without the rest of the world's need for dollars, the credit bubble couldn't continue growi... more »
John Kane, Mohawk 'It's not just the pipe -- it's what's in it'
Photo Mike Hudema'Reject and Protect' Washington April 22, 2014 It's not Just the Pipe … It's What's in It By John Karhiio Kane, Mohawk Censored News As this column hits the press, thousands are gathering in Washington, D.C. to take a stand against the Keystone XL Pipeline. During a week that a decision was expected out of the Obama Administration on this issue, the Reject and
Ron Jacobs : BOOKS | On leave from imperial war
David Anselme’s ‘On Leave,’ is a novel about war; about the soldiers who fight them and the civilians who send them. By Ron Jacobs | The Rag Blog | March 22, 2014 [On Leave: A Novel by David Anselme; translated … finish reading Ron Jacobs : *BOOKS* | On leave from imperial war
California: Hearing on labeling of GMOs April 22, 2014
https://www.facebook.com/events/683477785046569/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming From Quanah Parker Brightman Censored News SACRAMENTO -- Hearing on SB 1381 to Label GMOs IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 22YOUR VOICE AND PRESENCE MATTER! Join us at the hearing on SB 1381 to Label GMOs, IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 22, AT 1:30 pm in CAPITOL ROOM
Misapprehensions of evidence
*R. v. Fournel*, 2014 ONCA 305: [38] The first two grounds of appeal relate to purported misapprehensions of evidence made the trial judge. The standard for setting aside a trial judgment on this basis is a demanding one. It is not sufficient to show that a trial judge has drawn different factual conclusions from evidence than those advanced by a party at trial. As this court recently stated in R. v. Cloutier, 2011 ONCA 484, at para. 60: A misapprehension of the evidence may relate to a failure to consider evidence relevant to a material issue, a mistake as to the substance of the ... more »
The Realist Report - Richard Tedor: Hitler's Revolution
On this edition of *The Realist Report*, we'll be joined once again by Richard Tedor, author of *Hitler's Revolution*. Mr. Tedor and I will be discussing National Socialism, German foreign and domestic policy under Adolf Hitler, and related matters. You can download the mp3 for this program *here*, or visit the *AFP Radio Network* on BlogTalkRadio to subscribe via iTunes and view past programs.
Tuesday Linkage
Editor’s note: this post previously appeared on my personal blog. I’ve been doing links posts on Tuesdays over there for a while now, so I guess I might as well start cross-listing them. 1. Excellent post by Reed Wood on targeting civilians in war. In it, he discusses two recent papers (one by himself and my colleague Jake Continue reading
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*Islamist plot in Britain: six schools face Ofsted special measures* At least six Birmingham schools at the centre of an alleged Islamic takeover plot are set to be placed in “special measures” by Ofsted in a move that could see their entire leadership removed. The six schools are implicated in the so-called “Trojan Horse” plot by extremists to “Islamise” secular state education in Birmingham which has allegedly seen the illegal segregation of pupils and discrimination against non-Muslim pupils. The Telegraph understands the six will be rated “inadequate” by the schools inspectorat... more »
When Wealth Controls The Agenda… Opportunity For Economic And Social Advancement Dries Up
This weekend's "must read" was Trip Gabriel's *NY Times* piece, 50 Years Into The War On Poverty, Hardship Hits Back. He writes that "much of McDowell County looks like a rural Detroit, with broken windows on shuttered businesses and homes crumbling from neglect." Ironically, "beginning in the 19th century, the rugged region produced more coal than any other county in West Virginia, but it got almost none of the wealth back as local investment." Today "nearly 47 percent of personal income in the county is from Social Security, disability insurance, food stamps and other federal p... more »
Marilyn Katz : Two decades after Oslo, a look at life in Israel and Palestine
While in the Middle East last October, I saw firsthand why ending occupation is so necessary — and why it will be so difficult. By Marilyn Katz | The Rag Blog | April 22, 2014 Part one of two. With … finish reading Marilyn Katz : Two decades after Oslo, a look at life in Israel and Palestine
THE SMOKING POP-GUN
*UKRAINE: "Obama Endorses a Forgery" * By Diana Johnstone, 20 April 2014 On Friday, April 18, President Obama voiced his righteous indignation over anti-Semitic fliers pasted on synagogue walls in the pro-Russian eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. The fliers, calling on all Jews to register or face expulsion, had appeared the day before and were instantly denounced by Donetsk leaders as a gross provocation and a forgery. The next day, however, Obama “expressed his disgust quite bluntly”. At least, that is what his hawkish national security advisor, Susan Rice, told the public. ... more »
ALL THINGS MUST PASS
- MB is off work today and I took the car to Brunswick to do some needed errands. Along the way I listened to right-wing talk radio (there is no middle-of-the-road or left-wing talk radio here) and Glenn Beck was mocking Earth Day. I felt sad that he is so disconnected from our spinning orb we call home. Some get it and some don't..... how could it be? - While listening I heard a political radio advertisement speaking to women. The ad was saying that raising the minimum wage in Maine would badly hurt women - thus avoid at all costs! This ad was paid f... more »
It's Tuesday...
*what's going on.* *The best on Earth Day: * J.D Longstreet: Earth Day - High Holy Day of Paganism Proof Positive: Earth Day: Because Nothing Says 'Save the Planet' Like a Murderous Communist Dictator! iOwnTheWorld: An iOTW “Earth Day” Perennial Reaganite Republican: How I Celebrated 'Earth Day'... Weasel Zipper: The Secret Bloody History Of “Earth Day” * All other worthy reading:* McNorman: ZeroCare And Vending Machines Nice Deb: Obama Preparing To Grant Clemency To Convicted Drug Offenders – May Halt Deportations of Illegal Immigrants Moonbattery: Someone Who Knows ... more »
How Much Will Shelby County Slash to Pay for the Increasing Burden of Charter Schools?
During this school year now winding down, Shelby County Schools will give up $67 million to corporate charter schools in Memphis. Next year that amount will increase almost 16 percent to over $78 million, so that almost one dollar of every ten spent will be for charter schools. That's $145 million in two years. The 39 charter schools will get more, then, than all monies in the budget for student services, more than twice the amount that will spent on retirees' benefits, and more than all the combined costs for facilities, utilities, and custodial services. By the end of the comin... more »
At the Washington Post, they do it again!
*TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014* *Can’t get the simplest facts right:* How broken is our intellectual culture? This morning, the Washington Post has done it again! In a bungled news report, Ovetta Wiggins discusses a very large DC-area school system. In the process, she and her unnamed editor make a ham-handed factual error concerning a basic statistic: WIGGINS (4/22/14): *The Prince George’s County school system has experienced a slight bump in enrollment for the first time in a decade,*with nearly 2,000 more students attending the county’s schools this year than last. County leaders ha... more »
Causing a disturbance
*R. v. Kukemueller*, 2014 ONCA 295: [15] The *Criminal Code*, s. 175(1)(*a*) provides that everyone commits an offence who “not being in a dwelling-house, causes a disturbance in or near a public place, (i) by fighting, screaming, shouting, swearing, singing or using insulting or obscene language…” [16] The leading case interpreting s. 175(1)(a) is *R. v. Lohnes*, [1992] 1 S.C.R. 167. McLachlin J., writing for a unanimous court, stated at p. 171 that there are two elements to this offence, first, the commission of one of the enumerated acts; and second, that the commissio... more »
Everything You Need to Know About Tax Freedom Day®
Today, April 21, is 2014 Tax Freedom Day®, according to the Tax Foundation. The Tax Foundation is not exactly known for unbiased research, and its promotion of Tax Freedom Day® is no exception. The Foundation claims that Tax Freedom Day® is "a vivid, calendar-based illustration of the cost of government." In other words, instead of saying that its analysts expect total taxes in the United States (including social insurance) to reach 30.2% of net national income (NNI) in 2014, they say that Tax Freedom Day® arrives three days later than last year. Precise, huh? Of course, the word "f... more »
JUST WHERE IS UKRAINE?
Kiev has rolled out the red carpet for US vice-president Joe Biden, the latest high-ranking American official to greet Ukraine's new leadership. Washington's standing squarely behind the interim government in Kiev, although the American people don't seem so well informed about who their leaders are backing. RT's Gayane Chichakyan reports.
Abuses Of Iraq’s Voting Cards Likely In April Election
Every Iraqi election since 2005 has been tainted by accusations of cheating. Claims of missing voting boxes, stuffed ballots, etc. are constantly made after voting is completed, leading to endless demands for recounts. 2014’s April elections will be no different. This time one of the likely charges will be about abuses of the new electronic voting cards that the country’s Independent High Election Commission (IHEC) are using. For weeks now there have been stories that political parties are buying up the cards to abuse come April 30. Rather than stopping cheating it appears Iraq's... more »
21% of Americans believe the Big Bang
Lots of media (e.g. CNET) bring us the gospel about a survey organized by the Associated Press and GfK among 1,000+ Americans. They were asked about their beliefs in various claims made by the scientists. Only 4% doubted that smoking causes cancer; over 80% actively claimed it does. Only 8% doubted that cells contain a consequential genetic code; almost 70% actively argued that they did. The reality of the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago was the least believed proposition, getting about 20%. That's vastly lower than the number of Americans who believed in various religious insight... more »
WAYS TO DIVIDE: Through zealotry!
*TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014* *Part 2—Baiting the Romans:* When Salon interviewed Reza Aslan, we thought we saw some good news and we thought we saw some bad. Aslan is the author of Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, which was published last year. Lauren Green, who normally isn’t crazy, conducted a ridiculous interview with him for a Fox News webcast, repeatedly asking why a Muslim would want to write about Jesus. Needless to say, the ridiculous session went viral. In an interview this week for Salon, Michael Schulson asked Aslan about the mess. We would say some good n... more »
April 22: Lots of comments...
...and I will answer them. But I'm running (behind) on a frantic schedule. I had no idea this is what retirement would be like. _____________________________________________________________ I guess Ukraine is no longer a serious matter. Today makes it almost a week since we have seen the word Ukraine. Or Syria. Nor have we heard anything of US drones that killed 50 or more people who might have been terrorists. Or might not. No, the big news is that funerals were held for victims of a mass stabbing in Calgary. That's nice. So much better than just leaving them there on the floor. ... more »
The U.S. government has put full time military on our streets, we have not recognized it for what it is.
The U.S. government has been working on completely militarizing our Police over the last few years. It started with Bush and now Obama has taken it to a whole new level. (Yeah the change we can believe in) I have written about the DHS vehicles previously and was one of the first places on the internet to show the DHS armored vehicles. Here is my initial report and pictures I took of a DHS
Easter Oratorio
By Capt. Fogg A morning like this. And not too long ago I'd have taken coffee on the patio with my orchids and dwarf trees and watch the sunlight spread across the pool. Not since I was sick. It's different now, having been all but dead and buried and I struggle to remember how it was to feel the rising day. I have one less now. I measure out my mornings in coffee spoons. In Brazil one has *café da manhã*. Morning and coffee are inseparable and even when you're having tea and a salted duck egg and a yo chow and you're farther from home than you've ever been, it's coffee of the ... more »
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*Oil and gas industry looking to kill lawsuits from Jefferson, Plaquemines over wetlands ~Tyler Bridges, The Lens* *Our Views: Don’t gut storm reforms ~New Orleans Advocate*
REVIEW: Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems, James Baldwin
REVIEW: Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems, James Baldwin. via REVIEW: Jimmy’s Blues and Other Poems, James Baldwin.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Argentina: Wedding Drone Mistaken for UFO
*Source: Planeta UFODate: 04.19.2014* *Argentina: Wedding Drone Mistaken for UFO* *http://www.tiempodesanjuan.com/notas/2014/4/19/drone-cielo-sanjuanino-confundido-ovni-54768.asp* By Viviana Pastor Drone mistaken for UFO – recorded, uploaded to social media and even published in some newspapers, but what witnesses took for a flying saucer flying over 25 de Mayo Square was in fact a modern device transmitting images from a wedding. All it took was a momentary glance at the darkened skies over 25 de Mayo Square and capturing a luminous object moving unusually on a cellphone. It was... more »
Barbara Lee's First Endorsement
Barbara Lee made history-- captured on the video above-- when she displayed the guts to stand up and say "NO" to Bush/Cheney's rush to war against Afghanistan in the wake of the 9-11 attack that embarrassed them and exposed their incompetence. She was the *only* Member of Congress to do so. The war in Afghanistan has the distinction of being the longest-lasting war in American history. Usually forgotten by the media, it's still in progress. Last week Rep. Lee penned an OpEd for *USA Today*, Bring All Our Troops Home: After nearly 13 years of war in Afghanistan, it is past time f... more »
How's He Doing?
This week marks the first anniversary of Justin Trudeau's ascension. Lawrence Martin writes that the Harperites are filling the air with polls. They have tried to make hay in the aftermath of Jim Flaherty's death, pushing the meme that he -- and they -- have been superb economic managers. However, Mr. Trudeau’s accomplishment has been to bring back the Liberal support base. That base is traditionally larger than the Conservative one. This has been evident in polls that have shown the Grits around 35 per cent and the Tories at around 30. That picture has held not only for the pa... more »
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*Report: Saints pick up option on Cam Jordan ~WDSU* *A Broken Window Never Closes ~The Angry Who Dat* *Valero Energy Corp.'s Meraux refinery had problem with its benzene unit, and residents report strong odors ~Mark Schleifstein* *Telltale Rainbow Sheens Show Thousands Of Spills Across The Gulf ~Bob Marshall, WWNO* *Lawmakers eye several marijuana sentencing reforms this week ~WWLTV * *Musicians get serious during entertainment conference ~The Advocate* *Cyclist injured in deadly crash making strides ~WVUE* *Goat's Milk Chèvre, The Big Squeezy Juicery & Earth Day! ~Good Eggs*
Paper on Parade: Tourism as a territorial strategy: the case of China and Taiwan
*A roadside vendor in Miaoli looks to capture some tourist dollars.* Time for another installment of this blog's regularly irregular Paper on Parade. Ian Rowen, the anthropologist who was inside the Legislative Yuan during the Sunflower Movement occupation of that body, has written a very interesting article for the Annals of Tourism Research entitled *Tourism as a territorial strategy: the case of China and Taiwan* (Annals of Tourism Research. Volume 46, May 2014, Pages 62–74)(he's put it online). Rowen opens the paper in fine anthropological style, beginning with Chinese blogger ... more »
Spain: Space Junk or UFO? Anomaly in the Skies Over Ibiza
*Source: Diario de Coahuila (Mexico)Date: 04.21.2014* *Spain: Space Junk or UFO? Anomaly in the Skies Over Ibiza* A flaming object falling to earth, seen in the skies over Ibiza, has mystified local residents with an assortment of hypotheses ranging from meteorites to space junk. According to Diario de Ibiza, whose website (*www.diariodeibiza.es*) presents a video of the phenomenon seen last Wednesday, also includes a missile launch among the possible alternatives. The amateur recording shows a white, luminous body crossing the skies before vanishing behind a mountain without a... more »
Argentina: Resident of 8 de Abril Videotapes an Alleged UFO
*Source: Diario Panorama (Argentina)Date: 04.22.2014* *Argentina: Resident of 8 de Abril Records an Alleged UFO* The youth claims having recorded it on Monday afternoon from a home in 8 de Abril. Luis Gómez, a resident of the 8 de Abril neighborhood, was home in the afternoon when he suddenly "lifed his eyes skyward and saw a black circle suspended in the air, resembling the outline of a craft, moving slowly for two minutes before disappearing." Without hesitation, he went indoors to fetch his camcorder and managed to video sequences of the alleged UFO. "It's clearly a flying s... more »
Ukraine updates April 22 , 2014 - ITAR-TASS/. Protesters in Luhansk have announced the establishment of a joint headquarters of South-Western Ukraine which will coordinate efforts of protesters in all other regions, the local media reported Monday. The joint coordination center will be based in Donetsk, the source said .......KIEV, April 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Valery Bolotov, the newly elected people’s governor of the Luhansk region, has pledged to take courts and police under control, Ukrainian media quoted Bolotov as saying on Monday ...... WASHINGTON, April 22. /ITAR-TASS/. The USA will provide aid to Ukraine worth $50 million for carrying out political and economic reforms. This assistance is aimed at strengthening partnership between the US and Ukraine, says the White House’s statement published on Tuesday ..... Firefighters v arsonists: US confirms $5bn spent on 'Ukraine democracy' ( Inane logic of Victoria Nuland - People holding illegal arms and occupying government buildings are perfectly OK, as long as they are permitted to do so, believes Washington’s top diplomat in Europe. But doing exactly the same thing without permission is bad. ) ......
Firefighters v arsonists: US confirms $5bn spent on 'Ukraine democracy' Get short URL Published time: April 22, 2014 10:38 [image: Victoria Nuland (AFP Photo / Saul Loeb)] Victoria Nuland (AFP Photo / Saul Loeb) Share on tumblr Trends Ukraine turmoil Tags Conflict, Politics, Russia, Security, USA,Ukraine, Violence People holding illegal arms and occupying government buildings are perfectly OK, as long as they are permitted to do so, believes Washington’s top diplomat in Europe. But doing exactly the same thing without permission is bad. This piece of infallible logic came from the US A... more »
Catch Up Links Fest
*Wrecks rest on the east coast.* Apologies for the lack of posts. Just too damned busy. Have a huge list of stuff I want to post on.... but first to catch up. Well, the great wave of anti-sunflower movement propaganda begins. The government claimed today that all FTA talks with other countries have been shelved over the student occupation of the LY (China Post)... All free trade negotiations with Taiwan planned for this year have been shelved by “other countries” because of unrest over the services pact with China, Economics Minister Chang Chia-juch (張家祝) said Monday, though he re... more »
Herb Gray, former MP and deputy prime minister, dies at 82
Long-serving Ontario MP died in an Ottawa hospital Monday, Liberal Party says *It is sad - I remembering meeting Herb Gray in Halifax a lifetime ago. He was a quietly competent man and almost always underestimated - but he was startlingly effective and a genuine statesman.* *Story*
Welcome to Chumpland: Biden Pledges US Aid to Kiev Coup Regime
There is an old acronym that brings to mine the dismal state of affairs in America and that is BOHICA (Bend Over Here It Comes Again) and it is coming without a lubricant as smilin' Joe Biden visited Kiev to shower the unelected coup regime with US taxpayer dollars. Oh Joe, say it isn't so. Not that the majority of Americans bother reading anything that informs them of the true nature of the world, preferring to be spoonfed little sound bites of McNews from paid liars and government shills on television but if they were able to somehow bypass the propaganda I can't imagine that th... more »
Heartbleed computer virus updates April 19 , 2014 ......Canadian arrested for Heartbleed hacking Man arrested in first case linked to internet code bug which allows hackers to bypass encryption of private details.......Healthcare.gov vulnerable to Heartbleed virus..........Heartbleed Bug: What Can You Do ? Credit card breached -- LaCie , Aaron's , Michaels ..... Crimeware being used by sophisticated cyber criminals to file fake tax returns , HR Departments targeted !
Catharsis Ours - 8 hours ago
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/04/canadian-arrested-heartbleed-hacking-201441714953794271.html Canadian arrested for Heartbleed hacking Man arrested in first case linked to internet code bug which allows hackers to bypass encryption of private details. Last updated: 17 Apr 2014 01:59 [image: Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker] [image: Email Article] [image: Print Article] [image: Share article] [image: Send Feedback] The Canadian government shut federal websites to guard against hackers. [Al Jazeera] A 19-year-old Canadian has become the first person arrested for th... more »
Agri Econ 11: Protecting Land Properties by the Poor in India
Another good article from my friend Barun Mitra (2nd from right in photo) of Liberty Institute in India, co-authored with his wife Madhumita Mitra, posted before the on-going India general elections started early this month. I particularly like their point on "Abolish land ceiling laws, particularly in agriculture to facilitate consolidation such fragmented land into viable farm units." That is similar to the campaign to end the no-time table agrarian reform (AR) program and forced redistribution of agri land here in the Philippines. AR was started in 1972 by the Marcos government,... more »
Tips for Beginning Photographers with Miki from Becoming What I Always Was
*I am so happy to have Miki from Becoming What I Always Was here to share her beginning photography tips with us today. I love Miki's blog, especially the vase makeover found here. Make sure to check her out and leave some comment love for her on this post! * Hi all, my name is Miki and I have claimed a small piece of the internet with my bog, Becoming What I Always Was. In August I will celebrate 3 years of marriage with my guitar-playing, DIY-ing, golfer husband, Jared. We don’t have any human children, but we do have two bulldogs that keep us pretty busy. My husband and bulldogs ... more »
Updates On Syria [4.22.14]: US And KSA Arm Jihadist Terrorists With Advanced Anti-Tank Weapons, Crazy Neocons Continue On The Warpath Against Moscow, DC Desperateados Rehash The Same Failed Chemical Weapons Storyline
*Photo: Lords of war President Obama and ** Saudi King Abdullah laughing it up as they begin supplying international Jihadist terrorists in Syria with new advanced anti-tank weapons and air defense systems. The blood of Syrians is on their hands. Assad's hands are merely splattered, he can still shake hands with his people at Easter ceremonies, but Barack Abdullah Obama's hands are drenched to the bone. * * Source of photo. * *1. US And KSA Arm Jihadist Terrorists With Advanced Anti-Tank Weapons.* *An excerpt from, "US reportedly starts supplying Syrian rebels with anti-tank weapo... more »
Optionally Piloted Black Hawk Demonstrator Helicopter Takes Successful First Flight
[image: Optionally Piloted Black Hawk Demonstrator Helicopter]In cooperation with the U.S. Army, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has successfully demonstrated optionally piloted flight of a Black Hawk helicopter, a significant step toward providing autonomous cargo delivery functionality to the U.S. Army. Sikorsky Aircraft is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. The Optionally Piloted Black Hawk (OPBH) Demonstrator, known as Sikorsky’s Manned/Unmanned Resupply Aerial Lifter (MURAL) Program, conducted the successful first flight demonstration on March 11 at Sikorsky’s Development Fligh... more »
US appeals court orders release of legal memo on drone killings
[image: MQ-9 Reaper]A three-judge appeals court panel in New York City ordered the Obama administration to release the redacted text of the legal analysis prepared by the Justice Department purporting to demonstrate the president’s authority to order drone-missile assassination of US citizens. The unanimous ruling, issued Monday by judges Jon O. Newman, Jose A. Cabranes and Rosemary S. Pooler, partially reversed a January 2013 decision by federal district court judge Colleen McMahon. That decision had allowed the Justice Department to withhold the legal memorandum and dismissed the... more »
A New Robotic System Turns Regular Navy Helicopters Into Unmanned Drones
The Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System, or AACUS for short, is a set of sensors and software developed by Near Earth Autonomy for remotely piloting military helicopters. The system essentially turns a pre-existing conventional helicopter into an unmanned drone capable of being piloted and maneuvered via tablet. The value here is in safely dispatching supplies to troops in need and in evacuating wounded soldiers without risking the life of a pilot. AACUS is dependent on a scanning laser rangefinder to detect obstacles and gauge distances. Its Lidar (remote sensing technology) un... more »
U.S. Plans to Sell Mexico 18 Black Hawks to Tackle Drug Trade
[image: UH-60M Black Hawk]The U.S. approved plans to sell Mexico as many as 18 Black Hawk helicopters in a $680 million deal aimed at bolstering efforts to combat drug trafficking. The State Department approved the potential sale of 18 UH-60M Black Hawks made by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in an announcement that comes ahead of a planned visit to Mexico this week by U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. In its efforts to tackle the drug trade, Mexico has acquired maritime patrol planes, smaller helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and surveillance equipment. Its military budget has tr... more »
Air Force likely to get entire Sukhoi-30MKI fleet by 2019
[image: Su-30MKI Flanker]Walking along the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) production line at its Nashik plant is a good way to realise how gargantuan the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter is. Yet, its sheer size, the sleekness of its lines and the menacing "bird-of-prey" droop of its nose are not why this fighter is the backbone of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Su-30MKI is pure performance - it is astonishingly agile, a favourite in aerobatics displays; and its 8-tonne armament payload makes it a formidable multi-role aircraft. Read more
Chinese Aircraft Carrier Gets Slick Propaganda Video
A state-run aviation company in China has produced a “Top Gun” style music video for the Chinese military’s’ first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. The video, commissioned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, includes the Tibetan singer Rongzhongerjia in a white suit, singing karaoke on top of the carrier as planes rocket off, presumably to do battle against China’s enemies. AVIC presides over 200 different companies, 23 of which are public, and it has total assets of over $46 billion. Read more
Two string pheno papers
I hope you have survived the Easter if you had to undergo one. There are at least two interesting hep-th papers on string phenomenology today. Alon Faraggi wrote a 35-page review String Phenomenology: Past, Present and Future Perspectives which focuses on the old-fashioned heterotic string model building, especially the free fermionic ones. Those were the first research direction that convinced me more than 20 years ago that it had everything it needed to have to become a TOE. Faraggi doesn't discuss inflation at all and it's questionable whether good inflation scenarios have been ... more »
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*Global warming as an evangelical faith* *This could almost be a spoof but I don't think it is* I have always had the feeling that my life was lacking in a way. That I was not doing enough of something. Yet, I could not figure out what that something was. It was a void that needed to be filled. I remember when climate change was only a word to me. I remember when recycling was only a chore to do. I remember all this so well because it was only fours months ago that I started to care about what climate change actually meant. My sociology professor, whom I now consider to be a frien... more »
Malaysian navy needs modern assets
[image: KD Kasturi ann KD Lekir]The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Lahad Datu intrusion and yet another kidnapping in Sabah by Filipino militants have boosted calls to acquire new assets for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). RMN chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said sophisticated technological assets were needed not just to protect the country's maritime territories, but also to boost search-and-rescue operations. "To fulfil our geostrategic needs in the face of multilateral threats, we need to fortify ourselves with new-generation assets to enhance our c... more »
Sweden to beef up air force to counter Russia
[image: JAS-39 Gripen E/F]The government coalition announced its plans on Tuesday to pump more funds into the military if the four parties win the September elections. The thrust would include more fighter jets and submarines. In an op-ed published in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) the four party leaders wrote about the crisis in Ukraine and how Russia had now ramped up boths its military and propaganda machines. The Swedish government had, the coalition representatives wrote, a few years back taken comfort in Russian attempts to embed itself deeper in the global community, but ... more »
Why Taiwan Wants Submarines
[image: Hai Lung class SSK]So let’s have one, or maybe two, hearty huzzah!s for last week’s announcement that the United States will help Taiwan construct a fleet of diesel submarines. The Taiwan Navy can integrate these denizens of the shallows into a people’s-war-at-sea strategy that’s sure to give any invading force fits. Inventively deployed alongside shore-based anti-ship missiles and fleet-of-foot surface craft like the navy’s new Hsun Hai and Kuang Hua VI missile boats, subs can add that (mostly) missing undersea dimension to Taipei’s offshore defense. Up, down, and out! a... more »
Setting the Stage for War With Pakistan
[image: 67574]*April 22, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - Attempts to paint Pakistan as a dangerous enemy of the West and a prime candidate for military intervention has been made once again by those in the Western media. ABC News, in an article titled, “‘Double dealing’: How Pakistan hid Osama Bin Laden from the U.S. and fueled the war in Afghanistan,” claims that: *What if the United States has been waging the wrong war against the wrong enemy for the last 13 years in Afghanistan? * *Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Carlotta Gall, who spent more than a decade cove... more »
Chelsea
I wish that this was a joke, but it isn't. People really ARE that stupid... If you believe this, you're too stupid to live.
Bob Feldman : People’s History of Egypt, Part 22, 2000-2005
Despite the repressive policies of the Mubarak regime, Egyptians continued to fight for the democratization of their society. By Bob Feldman | The Rag Blog | April 21, 2014 [With all the dramatic activity in Egypt, Bob Feldman's Rag Blog … finish reading Bob Feldman : People’s History of Egypt, Part 22, 2000-2005
Vergara v. California Part One: Thoughts on Hannah Arendt, a New Totalitarianism and Completing The Circle of Domination
Originally posted on Raginghorseblog: The Vergara Nine surrounded by handlers. It is a peculiar, dark and unhinged world in which we dwell and it seems to grow more so all the time. Consider the extraordinary case of Vergara v. California, now winding down and awaiting a judgment. Here we have nine students, bankrolled by Silicon…
Cara Mudah Mempercepat Koneksi Internet di Smartphone Android
Cara Mudah Mempercepat Koneksi Internet di Smartphone Android - Jika didalam kesempatan yang sebelumnya kami telah mempromosikan informasi mengenai tips dan Trik Cara menyelematkan handphone yang terkena air . Dalam kans itu pilihanterbaru.info juga masih akan menawarkan informasi seputar Tips ataupun Trik yang kali ini akan membahas tentang jurus Cara Mempercepat Koneksi Android Bagi anda
TimeWarner Cable-- Not Just Bad For Consumers… Bad For America
Last week Robert Reich penned a column about the Comcast acquisition of TimeWarner for his blog that I've been meaning to pass along, Antitrust in the New Guilded Age. I was a senior executive at TimeWarner when the horrific AOL merger happened. It's what led to me deciding to retire. Earlier this year, when the new merger was first announced, I suggested it would be an even worse disaster for consumers than the ill-fated AOL merger was. What Reich dealt with last week was how bad this merger is likely to be not just for consumers, but for the country and the fabric of our society... more »
Guest Post - The People's Movement
[image: The People's Movement]*Grace Wedge Abierto*Can a stylish, casual shoe line change the world? Mark Wystrach is committed to making just that happen. This former Hollywood soap opera hunk (NBC-TV’s “Passions”) and current model/ actor co-founded The People’s Movement, a line of hip, casual shoes made with natural materials (including natural dyes, organic cottons and chemical free elements) and even upcycled plastic bags from beaches in Bali and California as part of their packaging and shoe elements. But what makes this shoe different from any other shoe on the market is th... more »
METRO | Resilience and cooperative urban farming in Austin
What we’re doing is a nice, green, eco-conscious bit of ‘walking the walk.’ By Terry Dyke | The Rag Blog | April 21, 2014 AUSTIN — We grow food in our neighborhood. It’s not a huge amount, and there aren’t … finish reading *METRO* | Resilience and cooperative urban farming in Austin
Moving Prep
Since my last post, we have a done a TON to prep for the move. We had a huge moving sale, where we sold the bulk of our furniture and a lot of other things. We have donated a lot of winter clothes, given some stuff away, and I helped my Dad furnish some of his house with decorations since he had not much of anything in his house after my Grama died and the bulk of it was cleaned out. It was crazy how many people showed to the moving sale. It was 8-4 Friday and Saturday and on Friday, people were showing up to the house at 715 AM before I was even dressed. We had a nice Easter w... more »
Sex Work Alliance guide to effective consultations with Ottawa
The Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform has just put out an excellent guide for sex workers and allies looking to be more effective in driving legislative change. It's well-written, thorough and well-organized, and while it's focus is decriminalization, the information in the guide would be useful for prompting a change in thinking around any number of issues under federal jurisdiction. It's really a how-to for the engaged citizen. This is a big year for sex work law reform in Canada, what with the three key laws around adult, consensual sex work having been struck down ... more »
JFK: NATO Did It
Who was the most senior member of the Military Industrial Intelligence complex to be fired by John Kennedy in the wake of the Bay of Pigs? Give me your first answer, don't think about it. *Not even close.* Allen Dulles retired, was awarded a medal for his service by John Kennedy and remained a close friend of the family until at least 1964, probably right up until his death. RFK requested he go down to Louisiana as the President's envoy during the Freedom Rider murders case because he was the only person with stature that they trusted. It was *Lemnitzer.* He was fired, de... more »
But Not You..."
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
Five Louisiana “Educators” Want Common Core
On April 21, 2014, the Baton Rouge Advocate ran an article by Will Sentell entitled, Educators Renew Support for Common Core and Its Tests. The first line of the article is comical: Five educators said Monday morning that they will urge state House and Senate members to support the Common Core academic standards and the controversial tests that go with […]
Riding the Tawu/Longxi Industry Road
*The evening we stayed in Tawu we ran into this amazing man, TX Wong, from Hong Kong. Tex was walking around Taiwan, a 30 day tour, 30-40 kms a day. He was two weeks in and expected to take another two weeks. This was his second trip. I am hoping to interview him in early May about his experiences.* Busy as heck this week, and then took three days off to go cycling. So that explains the lack of posts... A lovely weekend on the east coast as my friend Michael Cannon and I headed out to explore the Tawu-Longxi industry road. Two days of fun in the sun, with plenty of beer, great sce... more »
“12 Reasons Why New Zealand's Economic Bubble Will End In Disaster”
Forbes magazine columnist Jesse Colombo invites international investors enamoured with NZ’s “rockstar economy” to think again – offering *12 Reasons Why New Zealand's Economic Bubble Will End In Disaster*, pointing out among other things the conjunction of historically ultra-low (unsustainably low) interest rates and a mortgage bubble grown by 165% in a little over a decade, with the fact that nearly half of all NZers mortgages have floating interest rates, with mortgages themselves accounting for nearly 60% of banks’ loan portfolios. So sit tight waiting for the pop when interest... more »
Musical Interlude: 2002, "Starwalkers"
2002, "Starwalkers" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SovcBYRFIxw
"A Look to the Heavens"
“It's the bubble versus the cloud. NGC 7635, the Bubble Nebula, is being pushed out by the stellar wind of massive central star BD+602522. Next door, though, lives a giant molecular cloud, visible to the right. At this place in space, an irresistible force meets an immovable object in an interesting way. *Click image for larger size.* The cloud is able to contain the expansion of the bubble gas, but gets blasted by the hot radiation from the bubble's central star. The radiation heats up dense regions of the molecular cloud causing it to glow. The Bubble Nebula, pictured above in sci... more »
"Ten Rules For Being Human"
* "Ten Rules For Being Human"* by Cherie Carter-Scott *Rule One:* You will receive a body. You may love it or hate it, but it will be yours for the duration of your life on Earth. *Rule Two:* You will be presented with lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called 'life.' Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or hate them, but you have designed them as part of your curriculum. *Rule Three:* There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of experimentation, a series of trials, errors, and occasiona... more »
Chet Raymo, “This View of Life, With Its Several Powers”
* “This View of Life, With Its Several Powers”* by Chet Raymo “Somewhere in his "lost" notebooks Loren Eiseley writes of the pleasure of exploding a puffball in a woodland clearing, or shaking seeds out of their pods. As I recall, he takes a gleeful satisfaction in messing with evolution, in hurrying the process along. I remember identifying with that sentiment when I read it. I like exploding puffballs too. Dropping insects into spider webs. Picking up turtles that are half-way across a road and placing them in a ditch on the other side. Most of all I like breaking off the stalks ... more »
ElectRight & Prime Contact Group - from a former candidate
An election candidate who paid $22,000 to a voter contact/robocall firm in 2010 for a "Mayoral Victory Package" has a warning to similar aspirants for 2014 : *Ontario Candidate Watchdog*. It's an interesting read. According to John James' account, following the election he lost to his municipal rival, he and his rival shared notes about their respective voter contact firms - James used Prime Contact Group and his rival used ElectRight - and found they'd both been sold the exact same polling information and, James contends, both were serviced by the same rep. "What surprised me at ... more »
"Subversive And Revolutionary, Destructive And Terrible..."
"Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth – more than ruin – more even than death... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man." - Bertrand Russell
Planning to have a big blow-out with the significant other? First wolf down a big, gooey sundae
*This is Ohio State University psychologist Brad Bushman showing the sort of voodoo doll used by test subjects to stick pins in to reflect anger levels at their spouses. Apparently no option was offered to stick pins in Ohio State University psychologist Brad Bushman. Tell the truth now -- you'd like to, wouldn't you?* *by Ken* Non-confrontational people who normally shy away from knock-down, drag-out battles with their spouses or significant others may want to rethink that habit as a result of a new study showing that the best time for couples to mix it up is when they're on suga... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
León, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Thanks for stopping by.
“The American Dream Turns Into a Global Nightmare”
*“The American Dream Turns Into a Global Nightmare”* By Paul B. Farrell “The American Dream? Now a global nightmare? A ticking time bomb, a lethal virus spreading worldwide, could destroy the entire world, backfire, take down America and capitalism? Yes. But, first, a little history: Five years ago Bill Gates and his Billionaires Club asked that question. But gave up. Here’s why. Gates’ billionaires essentially asked: What do you think is the single, biggest ticking time bomb that will eventually take down global economies? The absolutely biggest one with a trigger mechanism that c... more »
MOYERS ON OIL-I-GARCHY
The median pay for the top 100 highest-paid CEOs at America’s publicly traded companies was a handsome $13.9 million in 2013. That’s a 9 percent increase from the previous year, according to a new Equilar pay study for *The New York Times*. These types of jumps in executive compensation may have more of an effect on our widening income inequality than previously thought. A new book that’s the talk of academia and the media, *Capital in the Twenty-First Century* by Thomas Piketty, a 42-year-old who teaches at the Paris School of Economics, shows that two-thirds of America’s increas... more »
Gold news and views - April 21 , 2014 -- China Goes Dark: PBOC To Keep Goldbugs Clueless About Its Gold Buying Spree ( Has Koos Jansen been too uncomfortably correct for the PBOC ) ...... Various GATA articles on QE / chinese gold demand / manipulations of different types ..... Gold Daily and Silver Weekly Charts - Lies, Damn Lies, and an Option Expiration
GATA Items...... If QE works so well, von Greyerz asks, why don't they do a lot more? Submitted by cpowell on Mon, 2014-04-21 17:53. Section: Daily Dispatches 1:47p ET Monday, April 21, 2014 Dear Friend of GATA and Gold: In an interview today with King World News, Swiss gold fund manager Egon von Greyerz offers what may be the best mocking yet of "quantitative easing.""It amuses me," von Greyerz says, "that the Bank of England has just published a paper stating that QE has raised growth in the United Kingdom by 3 percent or 50 billion pounds. Isn't this wonderful? Supposedly money ... more »
Economic Inequality–the Austrian Economics Perspective
“The Austrian perspective is on in which we distinguish between inequality that’s generated by consumers and consumer demand, and inequality that’s generated by what we might call government income plundering…” - Joseph Salerno Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
There is generally something
Fog in the morning presages a high -- sunshine, warmth. This is a time to hold off on setting out starts; they're fine in the potting shed/greenhouse anyway. I give them a shot of water, tell them their turn will come, and go to spread compost. Our compost contains a high proportion of chicken manure, so we accumulate it in one of the three compost bins until about this time every year, then pull apart the bin (recycled pallets), haul the compost to the garden, and hide it under grass clippings or straw. Then we reassemble the bin and fill it with fresh hot bedding from the barn,... more »
Asia fault lines April 21 , 2014 -- Exodus Of Japan Inc. Slams China ........ Local anger at Japan island surveillance unit Residents scuffle with officials as Tokyo begins construction of coastal monitoring unit near islands claimed by China......... Other tensions between China and Japan in the news -- Tensions between China and Japan escalated once again, this time over a grudge dating back to WWII. The Financial Times reports Japanese Ship Seized in WWII Claims Dispute ...... With China and South korea nursing decade old grudges , not surprising to see - Japan Trade Deficit Largest in History; Imports Soar, Exports Barely Up In Spite of Collapsed Yen !
Monday, April 21, 2014 12:37 PM Chinese Court Seizes Japanese Ship to Settle WWII Dispute Tensions between China and Japan escalated once again, this time over a grudge dating back to WWII. The Financial Times reports Japanese Ship Seized in WWII Claims Dispute. A Chinese court has seized a Japanese cargo ship over legal claims related to the second world war as escalating tensions between the two countries spill into the realm of commerce. Japan was quick to denounce the confiscation of the vessel, warning it could have a “chilling effect on all Japanese companies doing busin... more »
The Sad State of the Economics Profession
*Guest post by Frank Hollenbeck* It is not an exaggeration to say the current reputation of economists is probably just below that of a used car salesman. [*A reputation that is highly deserved*. – Ed.] The recent failures of economic policies to boost growth or employment have tarnished this image even more. This, however, is in sharp contrast to the past when economists were seen as the intellectual roadblock to popular misconceptions, bad ideas, or more importantly, government policies sold to the public on false assumptions. Popular slogans such as “protecting local jobs” pl... more »
Former Teacher Describes KIPP's Special Ed Program as "a lawsuit waiting to happen"
The following excerpt is from another interview with a former KIPP teacher who was hired to solve the special education problem at one KIPP school. This teacher served for two years at KIPP, and it was the day she ran into another car as she went to sleep on the way home after another 12 hour day that she finally decided to leave KIPP. She offers many details about life at KIPP, including the cult-like quality of life there. Here is one brief excerpt: *You had to have all the KIPP values posted. You had to constantly remind the children of the KIPP values. It was Orwellian type... more »
"Kiev’s military faced off with protesters in east Ukraine on Wednesday to sort out their differences…and found none. Soldiers appeared reluctant to go into battle against anti-government activists."
------------------------------ Original Here Anti-govt protesters seize Ukrainian APCs, army units 'switch sides' (VIDEO) Published time: April 16, 2014 09:25 Edited time: April 16, 2014 16:01 Download video(3.67 MB) Kiev’s military faced off with protesters in east Ukraine on Wednesday to sort out their differences…and found none. Soldiers appeared reluctant to go into battle against anti-government activists. Follow LIVE updates on military operation unfolding in eastern Ukraine When Ukrainian Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) entered downtown Kramatorsk as part of Kiev’s mil... more »
“The Bundy Paradigm: Will You Be a Rebel, Revolutionary or a Slave?”
*“The Bundy Paradigm: * *Will You Be a Rebel, Revolutionary or a Slave?”* By John W. Whitehead “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” - John F. Kennedy “Those tempted to write off the standoff at the Bundy Ranch as little more than a show of force by militia-minded citizens would do well to reconsider their easy dismissal of this brewing rebellion. This goes far beyond concerns about grazing rights or the tension between the state and the federal government. Few conflicts are ever black and white, and the Bundy situation, with its ... more »
(Billionaire Bloomie Lays His Divine Bets) Happy Tax Day! Why the Top 1% Pay a Much Lower Tax Rate Than You (How the Global Banking Game Is Rigged: FDIC Suing) Piketty's Rich Reveal
Thomas Frank (one of the most far-sighted - and my favorite - journalists of today) lights the fire that should put the put-upon (lazy, profligate, worthless - according to their betters) classes aflame. And Thomas Piketty conducts the flame to a bright light. (Did I mention I love Thomases?) Here's the reason why it's currently so blameless to accuse the hungry of being lazy and improvident.
UKIP's Turn to the Workers
I don't love UKIP. I don't love to hate UKIP. I simply loathe them, despise them. UKIP is the *Daily Mail* in party form, a chamber pot spilling over with effluvia and poison. From climate change denialism to sexism, from 'are-you-thinking-what-we're-thinking' wink-wink racism to stupid-minded selfishness, it is the new home for everything that is vile, everything that is anti-human about our politics. Small wonder they inspire so much disgust. At the moment volunteers are handing out food parcels to the needy on a scale not seen since the 1930s, UKIP appear hell bent on re-staging ... more »
"Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy: Benevolent Self-Deception”
*"Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy:* *Benevolent Self-Deception**”* Chapter One of Three, An Old Fashioned Rant By Cognitive Dissonance “Too often we divide the world into black and white hats on good and bad people, or left and right ideology that’s right or wrong. Absolute certainties make the process of determining what to believe, to deny or just to ignore so much easier when we don’t actually need to navigate through the cognitive fog to reach critical thinking. Sadly this duality of extremes is used as a weapon against us at every twist and turn for t... more »
“Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy: We Eat What We Sow"
*“Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy”* *Chapter Two of Three – “We Eat What We Sow”* An Old Fashioned Rant By Cognitive Dissonance “I’ve written before about unspoken and unacknowledged collective understandings, where the herd cognitively gathers in agreement as if compelled by a special attractor, but without clear and acknowledged leadership. The dynamics of crowd psychology are not well known to the average Jane and Joe, yet it does have an effect even when the crowd is widely disbursed. Some might call this the collective unconscious, others simply the c... more »
“Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy: We Are What We Eat”
*“Enlightened Self Interest and Financial Industry Hypocrisy”* *Chapter Three of Three: “We Are What We Eat”* An Old Fashioned Rant By Cognitive Dissonance “Something that has been understood for thousands of years, and only recently conveniently forgotten (the word ‘recent’ being a relative term) in order to promote, and believe, the myth of a protective and benevolent government, is that there has never been any inalienable ‘rights’ regardless of what the ‘Constitution’ says, other than those that are given to us by our masters (the politically correct term is ‘elite’) for social/... more »
Alan Waldman : Clever Brit series ‘Life on Mars’ combines sci-fi, 1973 police procedural, and comedy
A Manchester cop in 2006 goes into a coma after an auto accident and finds himself in 1973, where crime solving is very different. By Alan Waldman | The Rag Blog | April 21, 2014 [In his weekly column, Alan … finish reading Alan Waldman : Clever Brit series ‘Life on Mars’ combines sci-fi, 1973 police procedural, and comedy
After Steve Israel's Coming Washout, Who Will Take Over The DCCC?
If the Democrats were to win back the House in November-- and a herd of golden unicorns parading down Pennsylvania Avenue in honor of Earth Day tomorrow is more likely-- Steve Israel would be a hero and be asked to remain on as chairman for another cycle. There's no chance, not even a small one, that that will happen. Israel is the least competent DCCC chairman in history and Pelosi's unwillingness to fire him after his catastrophic performance in the 2012 cycle, is dooming America to another two years of a dysfunctional GOP-led House. Inside the Beltway, people are already openl... more »
Wild Bill: Harry Reid is throwing verbal bombshells and possibly setting the stage for violence against patriotic Americans...
*telling it like it is - and we thank him!*
Karl Denninger, “Why Are You Charging On Cards Again?”
*“Why Are You Charging On Cards Again?”* by Karl Denninger “Really? Credit card companies know there’s no free lunch, but they’re letting more customers get a taste as an enticement by gouging their existing card members. The average credit card interest rate for people with fair credit has hit a shocking 21 percent, up more than 2 percent from only a year ago, according to industry group CardHub. Credit card companies, which attract new customers with zero percent teaser rates and more rewards, have raised rates while their costs remain historically low, industry observers say. ... more »
Zero tolerance insanity
By Capt. Fogg This one isn't going to be easy to pigeonhole, or to blame the NRA for. It isn't going to do too much good to the the often irrational arguments about Stand Your Ground which have become so intense the law doesn't have to be cited or be at all applicable to be blamed for both acquittals or convictions. Despite what the public thinks about Florida's SYG law, not only does it not allow you to shoot someone because he's "suspicious" or someone you've been pursuing and no matter how much fun it is to say it, it may not protect you *even if you shoot no one*. You see Flo... more »
A Sideways Look at Time
In the realm of wild nature, there are countless cycles of change. Geese arrive at winter’s end, build nests, raise goslings, and depart in autumn. Apple trees leaf, blossom, fruit, and drop their leaves. The sunlight has daily cycles and annual cycles. The moon and women flow through their monthly rituals. This is circular time, round and round and round. This is wild time. Once upon a time, the whole world was wilderness, and every creature was free. The planet danced in wild time, and all was well. Wild people caught salmon when the fish came home. They killed reindeer ... more »
Biden Goes to Kiev as America Goes to Hell
Vice President Joe Biden made a highly publicized trip to Kiev on Monday in a show of support to the unelected, coup installed government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk or “Yats” as he has become affectionately referred to by the US regime changers. The Easter “truce” was shattered when what was likely US backed neo-Nazi militias (or mercenaries ) engaged in a gunfight near Slavyansk resulting in at least three deaths. The corrupt US state-corporate media had the backs of the occupying junta in Kiev though and blamed it on Russia and that horrible, horrible man Vladimir Putin... more »
Cowboy Indian Alliance in DC: Reject and Protect fighting Keystone tarsands pipeline
Photo by Farhad Cowboy and Indian Alliance tipis up and ready for action on the National Mall in DC! Lakota Joye Braun halting megaload. Lakotas van in accident enroute: Joye Braun and others from Cheyenne River in South Dakota found out their bus wouldn't make it to the Reject and Protect action in DC. They headed out in their van and hit a deer. They made it back home safely
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*Mississippi River will carry enough sand needed to build new Louisiana wetlands for at least 600 years, new study says ~Mark Schleifstein* *MAGINNIS: Green Army Absent from Capitol Battle ~LaPolitics* *Global Green Models How To Reduce Pumping In New Orleans ~Eve Abrams* *Bill to lessen crime of marijuana possession backed by liberals, libertarians ~Tyler Bridges, The Lens*
Progressives should learn to question authority!
*MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014* *Even that of the professors:* On Saturday, it was off to the National Aquarium with our traveling companion, who was seven years old. Her father was coaching one of the teams at the Morgan State Legacy track meet. She caught a ride from Durham on the team bus for two days of quality time. Throughout the weekend, we skillfully lectured her on the need to question authority. Let’s try to put that into some context: We always listen to tips from her father about our own high jumping. He was fifth in the worlds in 1991, eighth at Barcelona the following year. ... more »
A Panel Discussion You Don’t Want to Miss
http://www.thefire.org/video-the-state-of-free-speech-in-america-with-lukianoff-fish-rauch-posner-rosen/ Or watch it now: http://youtu.be/DYs-1cGo28o Filed under: MICHAEL PAUL GOLDENBERG: Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like an S.O.B.
April 22: "Earth Day" 2014...
*the wonderful event wherein soy latte drinking yuppies can gather together to worship Gaia and insult and demean those of us who are really earth friendly.* Mark your calendars. Tomorrow is the big day when the above mentioned people will hug trees that someone else planted, berate us for using Styrofoam, and claim life on this planet is about to end due to man-made global warming. Carefully scrubbed from the Wikipedia Earth Day page, is one of the masterminds behind Earth Day who was an active participant in the first Earth Day celebration in Philadelphia (1970), Ira Einhorn.... more »
Killers & their inspiration in Syria. Elections called. US debates 'game changer' weapons
*Syria- can't forget Syria. * *And now there are two updates!!!!* Hoping you did not miss the fact that *Syria has removed or destroyed 80% of it's chems* and all expectations are that Syria will have 100 percent removal in short order. A bit of a round up- The NATO media wants us to believe Syria is locked into a civil war... The situation in Syria has never been that simple. To define what has been going on in Syria as a civil war is newspeak. Double talk. In Syria there has been a destabilization. Backed, aided, supported, abetted, nurtured, created by NATO. *And just recentl... more »
Jennifer Garrison-- A Portrait In DCCC/Blue Dog Failure… A Stepford Candidate
More dysfunction at the DCCC Usually when Steve Israel recruit Jennifer Garrison makes the news it's about her anti-LGBT mania, her anti-Choice advocacy or her work on behalf of frackers in Ohio. But a few days ago she made a different kind of news-- her utter failure to raise the minimal amounts to stay on the DCCC Red to Blue Emerging Races list, not that the smitten Israel would ever really throw her off. Despite all the help she's getting from Blue Dogs, corrupt lobbyists, Steny Hoyer and Steve Israel, the wealthy oil and gas industry attorney had no choice but to write her campa... more »
April 21: Spreading ignorance - deliberately
(In advance, I have an apology. I have printed all comments that were sent to me but, for some reason, several from yesterday disappeared. I discovered that when I tried to write replies. I can now remember only two of the points. 1. Six jets are not many. But they're enough to put us in a war. One would do it. The Canadian jets have been sent in case a war breaks out. Ergo, they will necessarily be in the fighting from the start. And we will be at war without declaring it. Very hard to back out after the fact. 2. Canada does legally require parliamentary consent to go to war. It can... more »
Let there be Gold
Let there Be Gold GOLD LOCATIONS IN WASHINGTON; Washington has not been a major gold producer, but they have produced over 2,000,000 ounces of the yellow stuff. Considerable unexploited virgin placer deposits are known and mining claims can still be worked at a profit in Washington. For a complete description of every lode and placer mine, claim, or prospect in Washington request Bulletin 37, Inventory of Washington, by Marshall T. Hunting. It can be purchased from State Department of Natural Resources, Geology and Earth Resource Division in Olympia, Washington. ------------------... more »
Putin playing long game over Russian kin in Ukraine
*Interesting title and an interesting analysis * Russia's decision last week to sign a peace accord on Ukraine does not mean that the Kremlin is backing down, rather that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to be patient in pursuit of his ultimate objective. That aim, his own reflections and those of people close to his way of thinking seem to indicate, is one day to re-unite Russian speaking peoples, including those living within the borders of Ukraine, within one common home. I am really not so sure that this is the Russian objective. It seems some western analysts believe or ... more »
Will Harry Be Held Back in Kindergarten?
Back in December I reported on Harry, a little boy I have come to know who goes to kindergarten in the leafy suburbs of Germantown, TN. I talked with Harry's dad yesterday and got an update on how school is going, with only 4 weeks left in the year. Harry's dexterity has improved since December, so that now he is not being downgraded for not clicking in the answers on the computerized bubble sheets fast enough. With Tennessee planning for computerized Common Core testing, Harry has cleared this most important hurdle. And Harry's grade cards are acceptable in all areas, from condu... more »
Proof: Chemtrail Deniers are the Liars. UN speaker talks about Chemtrails and what it is doing to our air and crops.
All those Chemtrail Deniers are proven to be Liars now! A UN speaker discusses Chemtrails to the assembly, how it is sprayed from planes for weather modification. Besides what it is doing to our air and crops. The Chemtrails are causing crop failures besides animal deaths and the slow agonizing deaths of people from the poison. The aluminum is causing more Alzheimers and Parkinson disease
Mike's Story Part 3: Dad
*By* *Jenna Orkin* "My dad had a great life," Mike said one day. "War hero in two wars. Fought in one; was a [I didn't catch the term] in the other. Made money. Died taking a shit, which he loved. So do I," he added, with a defiant smile. "But what did he do to make the world better? Paid his taxes; took care of [his second wife.] He just kept the system going." On another occasion: "My dad was so in control, even after he had a cerebral hemorrhage while taking a shit, he managed to get himself to his favorite chair." A major reason Mike worked so fiendishly to finis... more »
Reading Piketty
Like everyone else, it seems, I'm reading Thomas Piketty's (many good links there, including the technical appendix) *Capital in the Twenty-First Century*. I can't remember when I last looked forward to reading a 650-page non-fiction book with such anticipation. I'll report back soon if work doesn't intrude too much. In the meantime, take a look at Paul Krugman's review of the book here, and the roundup of reactions at Bill Moyers' blog.
Coconut Pecan Cake with Rachel from Maybe Matilda
*Today I am thrilled to introduce Rachel from Maybe Matilda. Her blog is full of beautiful and tasty creations. Some of my favorites include her Monsters Inc. Amigurumi and Hot Fudge Sauce. Check out her blog for more amazing! * Hi! My name’s Rachel, and I blog at Maybe Matilda about crochet and simple DIY projects, family-friendly recipes, and down-to-earth style. I have an awesome spring recipe to share today . . . a moist and flavorful coconut pecan cake with cream cheese frosting. Since it starts off with a cake mix, it’s simple and quick to pull together, but the added coconut a... more »
WAYS TO DIVIDE: And get conquered!
*MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014* *Part 1—Getting divided by age:* Gack! Last Friday, we took the bait on these click-bait headlines at the new Salon: *Boomers are humiliating themselves: Why their pandering to millennials is so sad* From Instagram video walls in hotel rooms to the RNC's lame ad campaign, we're just laughing (and screaming) at you Those stupid, insincere boomers! According to those click-bait headlines, they have been at it again! Sadly, we clicked. When we did, we found a largely intelligent piece about (1) the economic challenges facing many younger people as the plutocr... more »
Canadian Moronic Prime Minister Stephen Harper On Russia: America's Useful Idiot?
I used to believe that Canada was truly a free nation, and one that other nations around the planet would love to emulate for its peaceful idealism and its constant usage of its limited armed forces for "peace keeping" missions for the United Nations around the world.... But now thanks to the idiot troll Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, those days are long gone,and Canada is now pictured properly as another Jewish controlled stooge nation much like the United States.... With the recent bellicose and belligerent rhetoric coming from the Canadian Prime Minister recently in regards to t... more »
The Smell of Neocon Times in the Morning
The Ukraine reporting by the *New York Times* gets more shameless and shoddy by the day, a reflection of the increasing desperation of the neoliberal powers that be in their power grab for Ukraine. Tennessee union-busting Senator Bob Corker summed it up succinctly and inelegantly on the televised Sunday blatherfest: "*We're *going to lose Eastern Ukraine!" He might as well have admitted that the re-ascendant American neocons already think they own the place, just because they orchestrated a coup and installed a puppet into power. And now to today's lead Neocon Times article, ominous... more »
Iraq’s Northern Kirkuk Oil Pipeline Down And Out For Foreseeable Future
Iraq’s Kirkuk oil pipeline stretches across the northern section of the country into Turkey. Unfortunately some of the provinces it travels through like Ninewa and Salahaddin are infested with insurgents and oil smugglers who have constantly attacked it over the last several years. Usually these bombings only knock the pipeline out of service for a day or two at the most. At the beginning of March 2014 that dynamic changed. Militants not only took the pipeline out of commission, but also stayed in the vicinity, and drove off repair crews. After several failed attempts it now appea... more »
US-NATO PUSHING WAR WITH RUSSIA... AND SOME HISTORY
NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove continues to play up the idea of an imminent Russian invasion of eastern Europe, saying the alliance is preparing “countermoves” in the region that likely will include US ground troops along the Russian border. Gen. Breedlove said the plan right now is for a buildup of land, air, and naval assets in the region to “build assurance for our easternmost allies." It never fails to astound me how hypocritical these cats are - I remember every damn US military attack and occupation of a sovereign nation during my lifetime....makes my bl... more »
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*Federovitch: New Orleans Saints most intriguing NFC South team* *New Orleans ranks high for bicyclist deaths, report says ~Naomi Martin* *Levees.Org Third Annual Levee Disaster Bike Tour* *Long-term health effects unclear in wake of 2010 Gulf oil disaster* *New Orleans Police Monitor Tackles Police-Community Relations ~Mallory Falk, WWNO* *Flood work to close Prytania Street* *N.O ladies arm-wrestle their way to glory ~Dan Lawton*
Legalizing Marijuana Offers Lesson for Changing Course in Education Reform
Legalizing Marijuana Offers Lesson for Changing Course in Education Reform. via Legalizing Marijuana Offers Lesson for Changing Course in Education Reform.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical
Dear Sir (Coda)
Just as a coda to Sue's post... Jim Al-Khalili, Dan Snow, Adam Rutherford, Natalie Haynes, Dr Alice Roberts, Richard Herring, Tony Hawks et al are surely engaging in a spot of either confirmation bias or sleight-of-hand when they write... Repeated surveys, polls and studies show that most of us as individuals are not Christian in our beliefs or our religious identities ...because such surveys also show something else - and something that runs completely counter to their line of argument. *YouGov*'s most recent survey on the topic *Is Britain a Christian country?* backs up their c... more »
Rangar Lothbrok Progressive
An old liberal becomes a new hero in the 21st Century.
How Would You Like Two More Like Elizabeth Warren?
Do conservative voting records by vulnerable Democrats like Mary Landrieu(LA), Mark Pryor (AR), and John Walsh (MT) make it hard for you to get worked up about Democrats whining that they could lose the Senate? Are Steve Israel's reactionary Blue Dog and New Dem recruits, like Jennifer Garrison (OH), John Lewis (MT), Gwen Graham (FL), Pete Aguilar (CA), Jerry Cannon (MI), Ann Callis (IL), James Lee Witt (AR), Bill Hughes (NJ) and Suzanne Patrick (VA), demotivating you from even caring how badly the Democrats will lose the House again in November? Do you miss 2012 when at least we h... more »
Freedom Flame Awards 3: The Magazine
I just discovered that our profile photos, recipients of the FNF's "Freedom Flame" awards last year, are in scribd, *I am Free Report 2013*. I saw the hard copy of the magazine earlier. Yes, that's Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera on the cover. They joined the Freedom Run 2013, the same day where the Freedom Flame awards were given in the evening. The mascot is called "Fredo", championing freedom. The 14 awardees, arranged alphabetically, 1st row: Abad is Congresswoman from Batanes, Aquino is Senator, Belmonte is House Speaker, Climaco is Mayor of Zamboanga City. 2nd row: Evangel... more »
Looking After Tom And Daisy's Interests
Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page have concluded in a recent study that democracy has been successfully subverted in the United States. That country, they write, is now an oligarchy. The American Supreme Court has had a hand in establishing that oligarchy. In the Dred Scott decision of 1857, the court concluded that those whose skin was black were not people. In the Citizens United decision of 2010, the court decided that corporations *were* people. The consequence, Michael Harris writes, has been that those with more money have more free speech: As U.S. neo-conservative consultant... more »
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*Professor suspended for Game Of Thrones shirt that threatened community college kingdom* Confirming yet again that the halls of academia are no place for interpreting things, a New Jersey professor was suspended over a Game Of Thrones T-shirt whose tagline—the Daenerys Targaryen quote, “I Will Take What Is Mine With Fire & Blood”—was interpreted by his colleague as a threat. The incident came about after Francis Schmidt, who teaches art and animation at Bergen Community College, posted a photo of his daughter doing a yoga pose in the shirt to his Google+ account, where it was see... more »
Potential Pandemic Alert April 21 , 2014 --- Report: Ebola Suspected In Europe: “Broken Through All Containment Efforts” ...... The outbreak of Ebola Virus in seven west African countries has broken through all containment efforts and is spreading like wildfire. According to Christian Relief groups working in Guinea and Liberia, the number of confirmed infections jumped 15% in just the last 24 hours. In addition, 40 illegal alien migrant workers from the outbreak area, who came ashore in Pisa, Italy, are showing signs of Ebola infection and are being isolated in Pisa Italy because of fever and “conjunctivitis” (bloody around the eyes). According to the World Health Organization, this strain of Ebola is entirely new and although it is close to the Zaire strain, it is different, thus accounting for false-negative test results . . . . . for weeks!
28 Days Later scenario , just no zombies...... Report: Ebola Suspected In Europe: “Broken Through All Containment Efforts” - [image: The Alex Jones Channel][image: Alex Jones Show podcast][image: Prison Planet TV][image: Infowars.com Twitter][image: Alex Jones' Facebook][image: Infowars store] *Mac Slavo* SHTFPlan.com April 21, 2014 Though officials at the World Health Organization are feverishly working to stop the spread of the Ebola virus in what is now seven African nations, their efforts may be for naught. In Guinea, a hot spot for the deadly contagion, government he... more »
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*Posting suspended* After repeating almost daily for 8 years some version of the simple truth that correlation is not causation, I have had enough. I expect to be posting no more here. The extensive sidebar here should however continue to provide a convenient antidote to the pervasive silliness that is most medical research.
The First Petition Didn't Accomplish Anything. Get Ready for Petition Number Two!
And if THAT doesn't convince them that we're serious, ... we'll organize a demonstration! And after that demonstration, we'll go home. And write some articles and ...
Dear Sir
Letter to the Telegraph: “SIR – We respect the Prime Minister’s right to his religious beliefs and the fact that they necessarily affect his own life as a politician. However, we object to his characterisation of Britain as a “*Christian country*” and the negative consequences for politics and society that this engenders.Apart from in the narrow constitutional sense that we continue to have an established Church, Britain is not a “Christian country”. Repeated surveys, polls and studies show that most of us as individuals are not Christian in our beliefs or our religious identities... more »
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