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Tom Hayden : The U.S.-Cuba deal is a victory for the Cuban Revolution
The embargo is going to be hollowed out from within, with American tourist and investment dollars permitted to flow. By Tom Hayden | The Rag Blog | December 17, 2014 No one in the mainstream media will acknowledge it, but … finish reading Tom Hayden : The U.S.-Cuba deal is a victory for the Cuban Revolution
3 Years After The Death Of His Father, North Korea's Kim Jong Un Appears Firmly In Control
*3 Years In, North Korea's Kim Jong Un Appears Firmly In Control -- Stars and Stripes* SEOUL, South Korea — Three years ago, he was a question mark, so unknown that the world had to guess at his age. Today, analysts still know little about Kim Jong Un, particularly in a reclusive outcast of a country that roars like a lion and tightly controls its media and people. It’s a volatile combination that leaves world leaders wondering and worrying about what’s really going on in Pyongyang. Would Kim really use the North’s expanding nuclear weapons and missile programs to attack South Ko... more »
Nigeria Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death For Mutiny
*Nigeria Sentences 54 Soldiers To Death For Mutiny -- Deutsche Welle* *A Nigerian court martial has sentenced 54 soldiers to death for mutiny and cowardice as they refused to fight against Boko Haram Islamists. The case has highlighted the army's problems with equipment and morale. * The men sentenced to death on Wednesday were part of the special forces division ordered in August to retake three towns in Borno state, which had been taken over by the Islamist Boko Haram insurgents. Their lawyer, Femi Falana, said the 54 men were sentenced to death by firing squad and five had been ... more »
Eleven Richest Americans Have All Received Government Subsidies
A new report by Good Jobs First shows how the very wealthy in America have benefited from government subsidies as one element in building their fortunes. According to the study, the 11 richest Americans, and 23 of the 25 richest, all have significant ownership in companies that have received at least $1 million in investment incentives. The study compares the most recent Forbes 400 ranking of wealthiest Americans with the Good Jobs First Subsidy Tracker database. Not only do Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Larry Ellison, the Koch Brothers, the Waltons, Michael Bloomberg, and Mark Zucker... more »
The House of Rockefeller Killed Kennedy : How and Why We Know That
Greg Burnham's COPA 2010 Presentation Part 1 from Greg Burnham on Vimeo. My primary goal in this presentation is to stimulate thought about the motives behind the JFK assassination, particularly those related to his Vietnam withdrawal policy. My secondary goal is to stimulate thought about evidence suggesting that select senior military and/or Administration officials may have had foreknowledge of the plot to assassinate the 35th President of the United States. Greg Burnham's COPA 2010 Presentation Part 2 from Greg Burnham on Vimeo. The Catholic Intelligence Agency - The Rockefel... more »
Cheering Iran For Taking Down Vicious Warmonger Sheldon Adelson? Or Could They Have Done Better?
Tuesday afternoon we focused on the agent the Israelis use to control Democrats, Haim Saban and how the Israel-First agenda works in the Democratic Party. It's far worse inside the Republican Party, where the agent working for the Israelis is Sheldon Adelson. We've gone over that for years but something happened last February that has been very much kept from the general public until this week. By now everyone probably knows about North Korea's spectacularly successful cyber-attack on SONY Pictures. It's been all over the news-- often covered as comedic. Why comedic... well this m... more »
Colombia's FARC Rebels Have Declared A Unilateral Ceasefire For An Indefinite Period
*Colombia Farc Rebels Declare Indefinite Unilateral Truce -- BBC* Colombia's Farc rebels have declared a unilateral ceasefire for an indefinite period, starting from Saturday. The leftist rebels said the truce should become a formal armistice and would only end if they were attacked. The announcement was made in Cuba, where the Farc has been holding peace talks with the Colombian government. President Juan Manuel Santos has so far refused to suspend military action, saying the rebels would use a bilateral truce to rearm and regroup. The peace talks in Cuba - which began in 2012 -... more »
U.S. Accuses North Korea For Ordering The Cyberattack On Sony
*U.S. Said To Find North Korea Ordered Cyberattack On Sony -- New York Times* WASHINGTON — American officials have concluded that North Korea was “centrally involved” in the hacking of Sony Pictures computers, even as the studio canceled the release of a far-fetched comedy about the assassination of the North’s leader that is believed to have led to the cyberattack. Senior administration officials, who would not speak on the record about the intelligence findings, said the White House was debating whether to publicly accuse North Korea of what amounts to a cyberterrorism attack. ... more »
Paul Craig Roberts frequently refers to the American people as insouciant. The dictionary meaning of this word is “lighthearted and unconcerned,” which given the current nature of the U.S. government has been “out of sight, out of mind,” particularly given that neocon Washington is getting ready to force a nuclear war with Russia …which would result in the death of the entire human race. However, in this article PCR believes that a world-wide economic collapse is on the horizon and that this crash would be the only way to save us and our descendants. In this event, our insouciance would endanger only our life’s savings. By that I mean that our investment portfolios should be adjusted to not only survive the dollar crash, but profit from it. The first thing to do is to get rid of all of your high-dividend “junk bonds” instantly! The second thing would be to buy PHYSICAL (not paper) commodities, for example gold (which if not for the present naked short selling of paper gold would be equal to 2 or 3 times its current value), silver, palladium, and uranium. You might start with Royal Gold, Inc. (RCLD) Nasdaq GS NMS, which owns no gold mines at all; rather it has staked many gold miners in return for royalties representing a certain percentage of their sales, a system far more lucrative than actually mining). For palladium, “…the only pure-play on the metal – ETF Securities Physical Palladium Shares (PALL) – has clearly outperformed the rest of the precious metal ETFs in the space…” (quote from Zacks, Dec 4 2014). For the much despised, but soon to be needed in huge amounts, uranium, try the currently very cheep Global X Uranium ETF (URA) – NYSEArca. Finally some oil companies plan to profit during the present price crash, e.g., Synergy Resources Corp (SYRG) NYSE MKT “…the company’s lean cost structure should help protect margins in the face of weaker commodity prices…” (quote from Barron’s Five Energy Stocks for 2015, Dec. 17, 2014).
------------------------------ *On the Brink of War and Economic Collapse — Paul Craig Roberts* ------------------------------ December 12, 2014 | Original Here Go here to sign up to receive email notice of this news letter On the Brink of War and Economic Collapse Paul Craig Roberts On occasion a reader will ask if I can give readers some good news. The answer is: not unless I lie to you like “your” government and the mainstream media do. If you want faked “good news,” you need to retreat into The Matrix. In exchange for less stress and wo... more »
Oy vey! Top ten reasons why Israel shouldn't be training American cops
Martin Hill just sent me an email entitled: "Oy Vey, Officer! Happy Hanukkah from LAPD: Menorah lighting ceremony at LAPD Headquarters." *It seems that all that Israeli "training" (using American taxpayer money) is turning American police officers into Zionists. Is this really a good idea? Do we really need Israeli-militarized American cops driving star-of-David-decorated tanks down our streets, setting up ethnic-ID checkpoints and dropping white phosphorus and cluster bombs on our neighborhoods?* *Here are the top ten reasons why Israel shouldn't be brainwashing (I mean, "traini... more »
Canadian citizenship - now cheaper than ever!
"We want Chinese investors in Canada and the door is open," ImpMin Chris Alexander told the South China Morning Post back in March. "We are making these changes for them." CBC : "The Canadian government will give permanent residency to approximately 50 millionaire immigrant investors and their families per year under a pilot program set to begin in the new year. Under the *Immigrant Investor Venture Capital *pilot program announced Tuesday, each investor will be required to make a non-guaranteed investment of $2 million over 15 years and have a net worth of $10 million." By compar... more »
Leaving No Child Left Behind Behind
On December 17, 2014, I read a post entitled, Republican Leader Wants to Reduce Federal Role, on education historian Diane Ravitch’s blog. In it, she refers to leader of the House Education Committee and the Workforce, John Kline (R-Minnesota), whose interview with Abby Simons was published December 15, 2014, in the Star Tribune. Regarding Kline’s thoughts on education reform […]
Science of Santa
The following is a guest post by Tenacity Murdie, age 12. Dear Readers, Every year on Christmas Eve, Santa, a fat and happy man, takes off in a sleigh full of presents to go deliver gifts to the good boys and girls. We spend millions of dollars in preparation for Santa, but is this Continue reading
Rip-off News round-up. Our pick of the last week's media (Thu 18th December)
Nurse shortage forces NHS to recruit 4 out of 5 from overseas. Prof Jane Ball, a principal research fellow at Southampton University, said the Francis inquiry in February 2013 into the Mid Staffs scandal, which found close links between wards having too few staff and patients receiving poor care, “was a catalyst to uncover what had been until then a more hidden problem”, prompting an
Animals and their Appetite for Psychedelic Plants
*Video -*Two interesting clips are borrowed from the BBC's series "Weird Nature" about certain animals' appetite for psychedelic plants. The post Animals and their Appetite for Psychedelic Plants appeared first on Waking Times.
Quote of the Day: On Sydney’s Victims
"It would have been illegal for them to have had a knife, a stick, a pepper spray, a personal taser, mace, anything like that for self-defence. I regard that [as] an absolute travesty. To turn an entire population into a nation of victims is just unforgiveable in my estimation." - Australian Senator David Leyonhjelm, ‘'Disarmed Victims: Senator Calls for Gun Debate after Sydney Siege’ Content is copyright PC.BlogSpot.Com © Please contact author for permission to republish: (organon at ihug.co.nz)
Saving the Planet One Garden at a Time
*Video - *Discover why growing your own edible garden is the key to a sustainable world. The post Saving the Planet One Garden at a Time appeared first on Waking Times.
"ET Mirage"
Helena Christensen, Italian Vogue by Peter Lindbergh 1990
Right-wing ideologues, not just off the bench but also ON it, do their damedest to pervert the legal system
*Dim-bulb Western PA District Court Judge Arthur J. Schwab, who yesterday struck down the president's executive order on immigration, is pictured here in 2012, when for the second time in four years the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals took the extraordinary step of removing him from a case.* *"It's one thing to have your own personal beliefs. It's quite another to use your official powers and your official office to subvert the court and the lawful process."* *-- attorney George Felos* *by Ken* The funny thing is, you might guess that attorney Felos, quoted above, is somehow i... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Large galaxies and faint nebulae highlight this deep image of the M81 Group of galaxies. First and foremost in the wide-angle 12-hour exposure is the grand design spiral galaxy M81, the largest galaxy visible in the image. M81 is gravitationally interacting with M82 just below it, a big galaxy with an unusual halo of filamentary red-glowing gas. *Click image for larger size.* Around the image many other galaxies from the M81 Group of galaxies can be seen, as well as a lucky satellite glint streaking across the image left. Together with other galaxy congregates including our Local Gr... more »
"I Rescued A Human Today”
*"I Rescued A Human Today”* by Rescue Me Dog "Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them. As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about ... more »
"Why Not Now, And Where You Stand?"
"You cannot run away from weakness; you must some time fight it out or perish; and if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?" - Robert Louis Stevenson
Is Europe About to Lose the Fight Against GMO’s?
*Julian Rose* - A determined effort by all of us, who care about real food and real farming, will be needed to stop one of the most insidious attempts yet to end Europe's widespread resistance to genetically modified organisms... The post Is Europe About to Lose the Fight Against GMO’s? appeared first on Waking Times.
America: An Imaginary Place
*The Colbert Report* Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,The Colbert Report on Facebook,Video Archive
"Never Despair"
"Never Despair" by Sam Smith "Empires and cultures are not permanent and while thinking about the possibility that ours is collapsing may seem a dismal exercise it is far less so than enduring the frustrations, failures, damage and human casualties involved in constantly butting up against reality like a boozer who insists he is not drunk attempting to drive home. Peter Ustinov in 'Romanoff and Juliet' says at one point: "I'm an optimist: I know how bad the world is. You're a pessimist: you're always finding out." Or as GK Chesterton put it, "We must learn to love life without ever... more »
Paulo Coelho, "Rebuilding The World"
*"Rebuilding The World"* by Paulo Coelho "A father was trying to read the newspaper, but his little son kept pestering him. Finally, the father grew tired of this and, tearing a page from the newspaper – one that bore a map of the world – he cut it into several pieces and handed them to his son. ‘Right, now you’ve got something to do. I’ve given you a map of the world and I want to see if you can put it back together correctly.’ He resumed his reading, knowing that the task would keep the child occupied for the rest of the day. However, a quarter of an hour later, the boy returned... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Oakhurst, California, USA. Thanks for stopping by.
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 17, 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama announces a shift in policy toward Cuba while delivering an address to the nation from the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, December 17, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Doug Mills/Pool *Obama's Historic Opening To Cuba: A Hint Of Things To Come With Iran? -- Howard LaFranchi, CSM* By restoring diplomatic ties with Cuba, President Obama has acted in accord with one of his most deeply-held principles: America must engage its enemies. Washington — President Obama’s decision to reestablish full diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States for... more »
"The Night Pleases Us..."
“I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does.” - Jorge Luis Borges
"Feeling Lonely: An Incomplete Understanding"
*"Feeling Lonely: An Incomplete Understanding"* by The DailyOM "When we are feeling lonely, we have lost the idea that we are all one and none of us are separate from the whole. We all have days when we feel lonely, but the very idea of loneliness comes from the false notion that we are separate and isolated parts in a world filled with other separate, isolated parts. In truth, we can no more be separate from our world than a fish can be separate from the water in which it swims. When we really begin to look at the boundaries we see as so solid, they prove to be, in fact, quite por... more »
"Reason..."
"I grabbed reason by its ear and said: ‘O reason! Get out. Today I am saved from you. O reason, take your hand off me. Today I attained insanity, and held on to it." - Rumi
Chet Raymo, “The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics”
*“The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics”* by Chet Raymo “Let me share these lines from John Updike's "Ode to Entropy": “Death exists nowhere in nature, not In the minds of birds or the consciousness of flowers, Not even in the numb brain of the wildebeest calf Gone under to the grinning crocodile, nowhere In the mesh of woods or the tons of sea, only In our forebodings, our formulae.” Can that be true? That no other creature than ourselves anticipates non-existence? Surely, other animals experience danger. The wildebeest calf darts to avoid the lunging crocodile. The r... more »
Editorial From Pakistan On Peshawar Attack: This "country is reaping what it has sown"
An excerpt from,* "For Our Children" *The Nation, December 16, 2014: Some say that at a time like this, it is not wise and appropriate to blame the government or state institutions. Such a tragedy calls for unity, and criticism doesn’t help to achieve that purpose. But no consensus can be built, no wrong can be corrected, no problem can be solved by deciding against speaking the truth. And the truth is this: Not just terrorists, but everyone, from the wider population to the civil and military leadership is responsible for the barbarity our children were subjected to. Prime Ministe... more »
Message to Bill English…
I have a message to Bill English from Calvin Coolidge: [image: image] As U.S. President in the boom years of 1923 to ‘28, “Silent Cal” was a fan of balanced budgets. Not so Bill English. As even Russel Norman was heard to say yesterday, “here is the reality of Bill English’s tenure as Finance Minister: he *does* know how to borrow…”: [image: image] You might say… [image: image] (Russel, of course, would prefer a government that prints. But that’s another story.) Anyway, a lot of the so-called learned commentary yesterday about Bill English’s failed surplus was very revealing,... more »
World News Briefs -- December 17, 2014 (Evening Updates)
*U.S., Cuba Restore Ties After 50 Years -- Reuters* (Reuters) - The United States and Cuba agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago, and President Barack Obama called for an end to the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy. After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies in each other's countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce. The two leaders made the announcement in simultaneou... more »
The Seven Essene Mirrors
http://newconnexion.net/articles/index.cfm/2000/11/essene.html The Seven Essene Mirrors by James Gilliland We live in an action/reaction world known as the Plane of Demonstration where consciousness creates reality. We manifest and magnetize people and events into our lives according to our consciousness. The Seven Essene Mirrors is a way of understanding how this process works. We can use what seem to be negative experiences as stepping-stones to healing and empowerment. “When life rolls boulders, build stairs.” *FIRST MIRROR* reflects to us that which we are. It is something we ... more »
More Than 120,000 Fighters Supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Have Been Killed Since The Start Of The Civil War
Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad hold their weapons as they walk in Aleppo's historic citadel October 1, 2014. Credit: Reuters/George Ourfalian *Over 120,000 Pro-Assad Fighters Killed In Syria Conflict: Monitoring Group -- Reuters* (Reuters) - More than 120,000 fighters supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been killed in the country's civil war since it began in 2011, a group monitoring the war said on Wednesday. Syria's conflict began as a peaceful protest movement calling for reforms in 2011 but descended into civil war after a government crackdown. ... more »
Another Islamic State Massacre: Mass Grave With 230 Bodies Found In Eastern Syria
*Syria Conflict: 230 Bodies 'Found In Mass Grave' In Deir al-Zour -- BBC* *The bodies of more than 230 people believed to have been killed by Islamic State (IS) have been found in a mass grave in eastern Syria, activists say.* The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were thought to be members of a tribe that fought the jihadist group in Deir al-Zour province in the summer. The mass grave was discovered after the Sheitat were allowed to return to their homes by IS leaders, it added. Last month, the UN said it had received reports of a massacre there in August. Investiga... more »
How Did A Plumber's Pick-Up Truck From Texas End Up Carrying An Anti-Aircraft Gun For The Islamic State In Syria?
This truck, once owned by Mark-1 Plumbing in Texas City, Texas, is seen here in an Islamist propaganda photo. It's unclear if it has gone all the way to Syria or whether the photo has been digitally altered *Did A Plumber's Pick-Up Truck From Texas End Up Carrying An Anti-Aircraft Gun For Islamic Fighters On The Front Lines Of Syria? -- Daily Mail* * Mark Oberholtzer, of Texas City, Texas, sold his truck to a dealership three years ago * The truck, featuring the name of his company - Mark-1 Plumbing - is seen in a propaganda photo released by Islamist group Ansar al-Deen * The vehic... more »
“6 Insanely Stupid Right-Wing Moments this Week: Michele Bachmann Drops a Bombshell”
*“6 Insanely Stupid Right-Wing Moments this Week: * *Michele Bachmann Drops a Bombshell”* By Janet Allon “*1. Michele Bachmann has a very cuckoo Christmas wish. *Michele Bachmann has just one big wish for Christmas this year: Mr. President, please bomb Iran. That’s what the outgoing Minnesota Rep. told President Obama at the White House holiday party on Monday. Festive, no? Bachmann described her exchange with the President to the ultra-Conservative site the Washington Free Beacon. "I turned to the President and I said, something to the effect of, ‘Mr. President, you need to bo... more »
Cuba after the Blockade
Sun, sand and socialism is how Cuba's usually billed in leftist circles. And wherever you look, among groups formally opposed to Stalinist regimes, Trots and Progress-types alike suspend their critical faculties and indulge their soft spot for this most persistent thorn in America's side. Doing some violence to the historical record, nonetheless Cuba wears its romantic revolutionary image well. Overthrowing a US-friendly dictator, seeing off a CIA-backed invasion and numerous dirty tricks, and stubbornly refusing to go under as Eastern Europe collapsed. Despite the difficulties of t... more »
Does FitBit Owe a Royalty to the Writers of This Song?
*by Gaius Publius* Something fun. Lately I've been inundated with ads for something called "FitBit"— a health toy that sits on your wrist and, apparently, talks to the Health app on your iPhone. Or something. The problem is the song. It's catchy, yes, very earwormy. But if you know your punk (or "parody punk") French popular music, it's also way too familiar. Bear with me; this will be worth it. In 1977 Yvan Lacomblez composed the song "Ça plane pour moi"— slang that means "Everything's going great" or "It works for me." (It could be either, depending on whether *Ça* is used fo... more »
I wish I was the real Santa...
[image: Picture] It seems as if life, love and questions are bursting from me without effort. This is not a singular path, with a foreseeable destination. It feels like an explosion of experience. I will confess to having not kept up with any current predictions or astrological forecasts; aware only that the winter solstice and equinox are fast approaching. It is now, that is what I can count on. And that is complete and enough. I have had my share of loss, and today I am witnessing yet more. I do not know the reasons for it all... I speak and write about the necessity of self lov... more »
Suzzane Lie PhD: Our United Vision -- Comments From Readers
http://suzanneliephd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/our-united-vision-comments-for-readers.html Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Our United Vision -- Comments From Readers *OUR VISION OF NEW EARTH * The wonderful comments to my last post of 12-16-14 deserve to be posted on the front page. These comments are in response to request of: I would love if YOU would write in the comments the reality that you wish to perceive. The more people that collectively choose to perceive a given reality--the greater chance there is that WE can create that reality. In other words, we create the reality we... more »
Football Player Stands Up
Cleveland Browns football receiver Andrew Hawkins says he should not have to apologize for wearing a T-shirt that called for "Justice for Tamir Rice and John Crawford," two Ohio victims of recent police killings. Hawkins' shirt, which he sported while walking onto the field before Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, spurred ire from the head of the Cleveland Police Union, who called the statement "pathetic" and demanded an apology from the Browns organization. The numbers of professional athletes speaking out against police violence continues to grow and spurs positive d... more »
The Economy: "Bye-Bye, Shale-Oil Boom!"
*"Bye-Bye, Shale-Oil Boom!"* by Bill Bonner "The days left to us in 2014 are dwindling to a precious few. It gets darker and darker. The Fed doesn't seem to be able to do anything about it. Yesterday, the Dow fell another 112 points. Gold is stuck at under $1,200 an ounce. Less than a week from today: the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere. Then Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") will have its day... growing day by day until June 21. But today is the first day of the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia; the sun fades. In Rome, it was a time for free speech and role reversals.... more »
Shi'ite Militias And Iraqi Security Forces Have Created Kill Zones Around Baghdad
Personnel from the Iraqi security forces detain suspected militants of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, during a raid operation in Jurf al-Sakhar, in this May 27, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammed/Files *Special Report: Inside Iraq's 'Killing Zones' -- Reuters* (Reuters) - Shi'ite militias and Iraqi security forces, engaged in an all-or-nothing struggle with radical Sunni group Islamic State, are blasting the Sunni farmlands that encircle Baghdad with heavy weapons. Military officers call their target areas in the rural belt "killing zones.""In t... more »
Revealed: The vast reservoir hidden beneath the Earth's crust that holds as much water as ALL of the oceans
*A bit of back handed disclosure? -AK* http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2579584/The-vast-reservoir-hidden-Earths-crust-holds-water-ALL-oceans.html *Revealed: The vast reservoir hidden beneath the Earth's crust that holds as much water as ALL of the oceans* *Believed to be 400-600 kilometres (250-375 miles) beneath our feet 1.5 percent of the rock analysed comprises molecules of water. First time researchers have ever found ringwoodite, a mineral in theEarth's mantle - after discovering it in a $20 diamond Researchers say discover could have a 'profound' effect on ... more »
The Great Smithsonian Cover-Up: 18 Giant Skeletons Discovered in Wisconsin
Remember when all those pictures were circulating on the internet a few years ago- the ones showing giant skeletons? The ones that everyone said "Oh that's fake!!""It's Photoshopped!".... Guess what? They were wrong! Love D The Great Smithsonian Cover-Up: 18 Giant Skeletons Discovered in Wisconsin December 13, 2014 / 136788 views [image: USA Giants - Skeletons]Here’s one for your “Forbidden Archaeology” file. Scientists are remaining stubbornly silent about a lost race of giants found in burial mounds near Lake Delavan, Wisconsin, in May 1912. The dig site at Lake ... more »
Is A Run On Russian Banks In The Cards?
An exterior view shows the headquarters of the Central Bank in Moscow, September 13, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov *Russian Bank Run Could Be ‘In The Cards,’ UralSib Capital Says -- Bloomberg* The Russian economy may come to “a sudden stop” and a bank run “could be in the cards,” according to an analyst at Moscow brokerage UralSib Capital. “A full-blown currency and financial-crisis scenario seems to be unfolding in Russia in what was supposed to a quiet week as we head into the holiday season,” Slava Smolyaninov, deputy head of research, wrote in an e-mailed report today. ... more »
Site C Dam and A Failed LNG Gambit Combined To Win the 2017 Election
*Written by Grant G * Christy Clark last week said to Bloomberg.....and I quote __________ "*British Columbia will prioritize LNG over a proposed hydroelectric dam, the C$8.5 billion Site C project, if labor estimates show it will put LNG projects at a disadvantage in securing workers, Clark said. The power project can probably go ahead when the government decides on it by the end of 2014, she said. * *“LNG is our priority in British Columbia and we don’t need to do Site C in order to fuel up the LNG industry,” Clark said, adding she ran for office on a pledge to establish th... more »
Dec. 17: The Quiet Revolution of the western world.
This is not about the Irving press. And it is not about religion, though it may seem to be. It is about moral behaviour which, very often, has little to do with religion. Morality is about what keeps a society alive and workable. A lack of it demolishes a society into chaos, suffering, and extinction. I confess that, as a child, I spent much of my time in church. I can't say I was all that religious. We had an old bible in the house but, except for a burst of enthusiasm when I was 15 or so, I rarely looked at it. But we, like millions of other Canadian families went to church every ... more »
Will The U.S. Get Dragged Into Pakistan's 'New War' Against The Taliban?
*U.S. May Get Dragged Into Pakistan’s New War -- Eli Lake & Josh Rogin, Bloomberg* The massacre Tuesday at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, is likely to set off a new round of fighting between the country’s army and the Taliban. But the attack may also push President Barack Obama to renew the counter-terrorism partnership with Pakistan that has deteriorated since the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. The latest U.S. intelligence assessment on Tuesday, according to counter-terrorism officials in Washington, is not pretty. It predicts more Taliban attacks in response to the P... more »
Pakistan's Support For Islamic Extremism Is Now Backfiring
A mother mourns her son Mohammed Ali Khan, 15, a student who was killed during an attack by Taliban gunmen on the Army Public School, at her house in Peshawar December 16, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra *Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children -- Chris Allbritton, Daily Beast* For decades, Pakistan’s generals have treated jihadi groups as assets to use against India. That policy didn’t protect their very own children. Today’s horrific attack in Peshawar on a military school, in which scores of children were killed by the Pakistani Taliban, shou... more »
Pakistan And Afghanistan Vow To Work Together After Yesterday's School Massacre
Pakistan's Army Chief General Raheel Sharif (L) and Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani. Press TV *Pakistani Army Chief Asks Afghans to Help Find Taliban Commanders Behind Massacre -- New York Times* PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, traveled to Afghanistan on Wednesday to seek help in locating the Pakistani Taliban commanders who orchestrated the massacre at a Peshawar school on Tuesday in which 148 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed. General Sharif and the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency, Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, flew to K... more »
These 2 Processed Foods are Causing Addiction to Junk Food
*Marco Torres* - Postindustrial humans as any trip to an all-you-can-eat buffet will tell you have become a soft, sedentary, overfed lot... The post These 2 Processed Foods are Causing Addiction to Junk Food appeared first on Waking Times.
Mohawk Nation News 'Visualize the Peace'
VISUALIZE THE PEACE Posted on December 17, 2014 Please post & distribute. Nia:wen. MNN. Dec. 17, 2014. Today is the first day of the solstice. The natural variety of languages will enhance the spreading of the Great Peace throughout the world. Everyone wants to see a world without war for our children. Mohawk Nation News is being translated into many languages. We are grateful for
Happy Channukah / Hannukah / Channukah... How should one spell the name of this Jewish festival?
How should one spell the name of the Jewish festival of Hannukah / Channukah etc.? Here are some helpful hints... Clear now?
Bang or bounce: a new idea on cyclic cosmology
*Guest blog by Paul Frampton* Dear Luboš, thank you for the kind invitation to contribute as a guest on your remarkable blog. My subject is cyclic cosmology and will be based on a recent paper archived at 1411.7887 [gr-qc] although I will provide only a non-technical description without many equations and will begin with the interesting history of cyclic model building. One surprising and interesting output is that no inflation is required to explain the observed flatness and homogeneity of the universe. Let's briefly summarize the history. In 1917 Einstein applied his general ... more »
Pakistan Promises To Respond Forcefully After Yesterday's Deadly Attack By The Taliban On A Peshawar School
*Pakistan Vows to Eliminate Every Terrorist After School Massacre -- Bloomberg* Pakistan’s civilian and military and leaders vowed to eliminate terrorists a day after 132 students were slaughtered, signaling a move to combat a Taliban movement it has periodically fought and talked to. “No difference will be made between good and bad Taliban,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told reporters today after meeting leaders of the country’s main political parties in Peshawar, where the attack occurred that killed 148 people, most of them students. “We all pledged to fight terrorism until the... more »
World News Briefs -- December 17, 2014
*U.S. To Open Embassy In Havana, U.S. Official Says -- Reuters* (Reuters) - The United States plans to open an embassy in Havana, a U.S. official said on Wednesday before President Barack Obama's expected announcement on a policy shift with Cuba. The United States currently has an interests section in Havana. U.S. congressional officials reported Obama's changes are likely to include relaxed travel restrictions and expanded trade. CNN reported Obama plans to announce the resumption of U.S.-Cuba banking and an increase in allowed remittances. *Read more* .... *MIDDLE EAST* Over ... more »
The Singing Dictator
*A guest post by Pamela Mac Neil* "Music is always a commentary on society" Frank Zappa Whenever I hear that Harpers base is made up of primarily seniors I am a bit perplexed. Not that I don't think it's true, because it is. Boomers of which I am one are now seniors, so when I think of older people or seniors, I think of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Randy Bachman , Leonard Cohen, Dylan or Van Morrison to name a few. It is musical artists that come to my mind not just because I love their music, but because almost everything that we thought, idealized, loved, valued, hated or wa... more »
16 Ideas for Raising Your Consciousness
*Luke Glowacki* - Life is more enjoyable and easy when you take the time to nurture your conscious evolution. These 16 ideas will help you on your path... The post 16 Ideas for Raising Your Consciousness appeared first on Waking Times.
Taken by surprise
David Vance at *Biased BBC* posted early this morning about his sense that the "BBC [was] limbering up for a new bout of blackening the reputation of the British military today, ahead of the publication of the Al Sweady Inquiry report. I heard a BBC journalist intone this morning that on some occasions Iraqi combatants were…..gasp…SHOUTED at. Oh the horror". Well, the five-year Al-Sweady Inquiry - a £31 million public inquiry - finally found today that the claims that British troops murdered, mutilated and tortured Iraqi detainees are “wholly and entirely without merit or justifica... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 17, 2014
A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flown by pilots from the 107th Fighter Squadron head toward Afghanistan after departing Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Sept. 26, 2011. A-10 jets are now carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State, a U.S. official confirmed Wednesday. (By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Heaton/ U.S. Air Force) *The A-10 Jet Carries Out Its First Airstrikes Against The Islamic State -- Washington Post* The A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jet has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State since late November on a near-daily basis, a U.S. military official said ... more »
Obama To Establish Diplomatic Relations With Cuba
This is great news-- and unexpected. But just as the Senate adjourned and the senators went home to demagogue in their own states, the White House made a pretty dramatic announcement about the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. I'm sure Debbie Wasserman Schultz's hair is standing on end, but with the release of Alan Gross in a prisoner exchange swap, it looks like Obama is finally doing with every U.S. president since the first Bush wanted to, but was afraid to do. This is legacy-building. We'll have comments from the peanut gallery later, but here's the White House statement: Today... more »
Ukrainian Nazis & Chechen Wahabis Linked in US-NATO War on Russia
*Chechen fundamentalist terrorist Khasan Zakaev* Big story at The Vineyard of the Saker today. While most of the western media sleeps under the watchful eyes of Mr. Big, the US-NATO are expanding their economic war on Russia and slowly introducing more internal destabilization terror tactics. Interesting news this morning: Khasan Zakaev, one of the terrorist which organized and executed the 2002 attack against the Dubrovka theater in Moscow and an aid to Shamil Basaev was arrested in Crimea when he tried to enter from the Ukraine with false documents. I very much doubt that Zakaev... more »
TeacherTown Cuts Teacher Pay by $10,000 and Erases Annual Increases: MERRY CHRISTMAS!
CorpEd at WorkWith every bad instrument in the corporate education toolbox being thrown into the creation of a new schooling Frankenstein for "educating" Memphis and Shelby County children, the introduction of test scores to determine teacher pay was inevitable. - Gone are annual scheduled salary steps, which have been replaced by annual bonuses based on student test scores. - Maximum salaries have been reduced from $73,000 to $63,000. - Teachers will max out after 18 years, with no salary increases after that. - Teachers who teach non-tested subjects must rely ... more »
Obama Must Give Peltier Clemency
Please watch this short video regarding clemency for Leonard Peltier and then call the White House at: Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414
U.S. And Cuba To Begin Talks To Restore Full Diplomatic Relations
*U.S. And Cuba To Start Talks On Normalizing Relations -- New York Times* WASHINGTON — The United States will open talks with Cuba aimed at restoring full diplomatic relations and opening an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half century after the release of an American contractor held in prison for five years, American officials said Wednesday. President Obama plans to make a televised statement from the White House at noon about the breakthrough, which opens the door to a major international initiative that could help shape his legacy heading into his final two ... more »
Bitter whining flaming racist, Michelle Obama, recounts the horror of being asked for help at a Target store... w/ Update
*except it's a lie and she thinks we're so stupid we'll believe it.* Sort of like, "If you like your plan, you can keep your plan." via *Politico*: Barack and Michelle Obama are sharing their own personal experiences with racial prejudice, saying they’ve been mistaken for valet drivers and Target employees — the latter even occurring during their time at the White House. *“The only person who came up to me in the [Target] store was a woman who asked me to help her take something off a shelf. Because she didn’t see me as the first lady, she saw me as someone who could help her,” Mich... more »
THE EMPATHY FILES: Perfect forgiveness, plus human resilience!
*WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2014Part 2—Kristof’s account feels good:* In his latest New York Times column, Nicholas Kristof told a morally-uplifting story. In one way, it’s a perfect story of perfect forgiveness. It’s also a story of human resilience. For part 1 in this series, click here. Kristof’s story, which is familiar, tugged at the heartstrings. Judging from reactions in comments, it made many liberal heartstrings soar. The story, which seems to be largely accurate, basically went like this: Back in 1990, a young woman named Debbie Baigrie was attacked in the streets of Tampa... more »
A U.S. - Russia Naval Drone Race Is Underway
*U.S.-Russia Locked In Cold War Race To Deploy Submarine Drones -- Washington Times* *The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command’s recent announcement that it has successfully completed tests on its GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle prompted an immediate rebuttal from Russia: They, too, are close to unmanned submarine drones.* The U.S. Navy first trumpeted its successful test on Friday. “GhostSwimmer will allow the Navy to have success during more types of missions while keeping divers and sailors safe,” Michael Rufo, director of Boston Engineering’s Advanced Systems Group, said in P... more »
Former Acting President of Ukraine And Now New Security Chief: Ukraine To Undergo A Massive Military Buildup. War Will End When Ukraine Wins Back Rebel Held Territories And Crimea
*Photo:* Oleksandr Turchynov. Wikipedia *Ukraine Sets Task Of Building Europe's Strongest Army, Returning Crimea — Security Chief -- ITAR-TASS* KIEV, December 17. /TASS/. Ukrainian authorities have set an ambitious task of building one of the strongest armies in Europe and bring Crimea back from Russia, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Oleksadr Turchynov said on Wednesday. The country’s Defense Ministry and the Interior Ministry will get a more than 10% share in the total budget spending for 2015 estimated at $31 billion. A total of 5% of gross domestic... more »
24 Voices On The Unity Of Iraq
Iraq is in the middle of a long war with a revitalized insurgency. As the violence continues the ties that bind Iraq together are being strained. For example there is talk of forming a Sumer Republic in southern Iraq. The rhetoric on social media went from Iraqis against the Islamic State to Shiites against the militants and their supporters. Right after the fall of Mosul Kurdistan was talking about having a referendum on independence although that has died down since then. It’s not clear how much of this is simply more people having access to the Internet or whether there has been... more »
SATIRE: Cheney Calls for International Ban on Torture Reports
Credit PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK WILSON/GETTY http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/cheney-calls-international-ban-torture-reports *NOTE: THIS IS SATIRE - NOT AN ACTUAL STATEMENT! -AK* Borowitz Report December 9, 2014 *Cheney Calls for International Ban on Torture Reports * By Andy Borowitz WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Former Vice-President Dick Cheney on Tuesday called upon the nations of the world to “once and for all ban the despicable and heinous practice of publishing torture reports.” “Like many Americans, I was shocked and disgusted by the Senate Intelligence ... more »
White House To Impose More Sanctions On Russia. Will Also Approve The Shipment Of Military Aid To Ukraine
*Obama Will Sign Russia Sanctions Bill Despite Reservations -- BBC* President Obama will sign a bill imposing new Russian sanctions despite reservations, the White House says. The bill - which primarily sanctions Russia's defence industries - passed with overwhelming support in Congress. Spokesman Josh Earnest said the bill sent "a confusing message to our allies" but Mr Obama will sign it because it "preserves flexibility". Russia's rouble has lost half its value this year amid lower oil prices and Western sanctions. The currency went into free-fall in trading on Tuesday. The b... more »
Russian President Putin Is Still Very Popular In Russia
Alexei Druzhinin/Reuters *Putin's Popularity Is Much Stronger Than the Ruble -- Adam Chandler, The Atlantic* There's an old Russian proverb that goes, "The economy is a good servant, but a bad master." Apparently, the saying doesn't apply to Vladimir Putin. The Russian ruble is currently in the midst of an historic landslide; Russia's central bank jacked interest rates up nearly seven points on Tuesday to counter the currency's two-day, 20-percent fall. And yet today also brought news that the Russian president had emerged from a public-opinion poll as the country's "Man of the Ye... more »
Validated! (And I Am Vindicated Again!) Russia Completely Jammed The US Navy In The Black Sea And Could Have Subsequently Blown Them Away!
When I first put out an amazing article way back in April (Again, see article here) that showed clear evidence that the Russian air force buzzed an American Aegis Cruiser, the Donald Cook, in the Black Sea, and then subsequently jammed and blinded the cruiser's Aegis defense systems making it totally helpless.... I came under a wraith of severe criticisms and horrendous comments for my stating the findings were very true and very disturbing for the US and its pipe dream of military "superiority"... Many of the commentators called me a "liar" on top of a few colorful metaphors, while... more »
Release the Full CIA Report to the Public
On the Senate floor last week, outgoing Democratic Sen. Mark Udall called for a purge of top CIA officials implicated in the torture program and cover-up, including current Director John Brennan. But as he enters the final days of his Senate term, Udall is facing calls to take action of his own. The Senate findings released last week amount to only a fraction of the full report — 480 heavily redacted pages out of more than 6,000 pages total. The White House has blocked the report’s full release in deference to the CIA’s wishes. That’s sparked demands that Udall invoke a rarely used... more »
That Would Make No Sense At All
http://www.sodahead.com/ Scott Clark and Peter DeVries ask the question the majority of Canadians are asking: Why do the Conservatives govern the way they do? Why do they treat so many Canadians with such … contempt? Aboriginals, immigrants, children, disabled and minorities — all have been pushed aside. Not-for-profit groups and associations have been deprived of the resources they need to contribute to the economic, social, scientific, environmental and cultural well-being of the country. This government loves power but hates g... more »
Is The Nightmare Scenario Now Playing Out For The Russian Economy?
*Russia Risks Soviet-Style Collapse As Rouble Defence Fails -- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph* *'What is happening is a nightmare that we could not even have imagined a year ago,' says Russia's central bank * Russia has lost control of its economy and may be forced to impose Soviet-style exchange controls after "shock and awe" action by the central bank failed to stem the collapse of the rouble. “The situation is critical,” said the central bank’s vice-chairman, Sergei Shvetsov. “What is happening is a nightmare that we could not even have imagined a year ago." The cur... more »
This Time Joe Sestak Probably Will Beat Pat Toomey
With the announcement Monday from Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane that she will run for reelection rather than seek the state's Senate seat currently held by Pat Toomey, the path to the Democratic nomination is wide open for Admiral Joe Sestak. As far as I can tell his only opponent is a thoroughly mediocre Montgomery County Commissioner, Josh Shapiro. Sestak served for two terms in Congress before beating Republican-turned-quasi-Democrat Arlen Specter in 2010. The entire Democratic Establishment, from Obama on down-- but especially conservatives and corporate shills l... more »
Pupillometry – The Cutting Edge of Mind Control
*Buck Rogers* - Mind control is more sophisticated than ever, and you may not even be aware that your eyes are giving high-tech intruders access to your mind... The post Pupillometry – The Cutting Edge of Mind Control appeared first on Waking Times.
Untitled
*Is Challenging ‘Rape Culture’ Claims an Idea Too Dangerous for University Students?* By Wendy McElroy Colleges across America are in political uproar over new federal policies on how to conduct campus rape hearings. Feminists and the left-leaning demand a halt to the “rape culture” which they claim has caused an “epidemic” of campus assault. Civil libertarians and conservatives see an hysteria that could ruin young lives by stripping away due process from accused students. On November 18, I entered this melee by speaking at a Janus Forum event at Brown University. My counterp... more »
Untitled
*Some woolly Green/Left thinking in CA* *What would it affect if Californian entities "divested" from coal shares? Very little. Not a kilo less of coal would be produced and used. All that would happened is a slight depression of the value of shares in coal companies -- making them cheaper for investors and particularly attractive to investors looking for dividends.And after California aiming to subject gasoline sellers to the extra cost burden of cap & trade laws, Steyer blames oil companies for putting up gas prices! Does he seriously not see the connection between increasi... more »
HQ-184 Haiphong Submarine on the Way to Vietnam
[image: HQ-184 Haiphong]Russian-made submarine Project 636.1 HQ-184 Haiphong for Vietnam has officially hit the road on Monday 11/12. Interfax-AVN news agency said, third Kilo submarines HQ-184 Haiphong in Vietnam were taken on board the transport ROLLDOCK STAR of Dutch and begin the journey of Cam Ranh Bay from Monday 11/12. HQ-184 submarine was taken in Hai Phong port Verfi Admiralty factory when the ship was about to be brought on board to transport ROLLDOCK STAR journey home. Read more
A philosopher's quantum mechanical delusions
It's been weeks since I was infuriated by nonsense about the foundations of quantum mechanics. A nice time, at least from this point of view. It's over now because a "philosopher" named Chip Sebens wrote a blog post at his co-author Sean Carroll's blog about his and their quantum mechanical fantasies and misconceptions: Guest Post: Chip Sebens on the Many-Interacting-Worlds Approach to Quantum Mechanics This babbling is "inspired" by quantum mechanics and especially all the wrong things that are being written about quantum mechanics in the popular books. So some of the sentences ar... more »
Russian Strategic Missile Forces plan 14 launches in 2015 — commander
[image: RS-24 Yars]Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) plan to carry out 14 launches next year, 9 of which will be test launches, RVSN Commander Colonel General Sergei Karakayev told reporters on Tuesday. “A total of 14 launches are planned for 2015 - for the flight tests of advanced weapons samples and controlling technical readiness of missile systems adopted for service,” he said on the eve of the 55th anniversary of RVSN creation. According to Karakayev, the number of test launches next year is to be increased to 9. Another 5 launches will pursue other goals - missile scra... more »
China's L-15 Falcon makes Thailand procurement shortlist
[image: Hongdu L-15 Falcon]China's Hongdu L-15 Falcon has made the shortlist of new advanced jet trainers and light attack aircraft to be acquired by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), according to the London-based military news publication IHS Jane's. The L-15 will be competing with America's Textron AirLand Scorpion, Russia's Yakovlev Yak-130, Italy's Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and Korea Aerospace Industries' TA-50 to become one of the four aircraft purchases approved by the Thai government to replace its ageing fleet of Aero L-39ZA Albatros aircraft. RTAF chief Treetos Sonjaeng report... more »
The A-10 jet carries out its first airstrikes against the Islamic State
[image: A-10 Thunderbolt II]The A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jet has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State since late November on a near-daily basis, a U.S. military official said Tuesday. It marks the first time the use of the pugnacious plane against the militant group has been confirmed, although U.S. military officials disclosed last month that they had deployed the A-10 in support of the mission in Iraq and Syria. The jet is beloved by U.S. ground troops for its ability to strikes enemy fighters from the air, but it remains in a fierce budget battle in Washingt... more »
S. Korea pushes to switch fighter jet contractor to Lockheed
[image: ROCAF F-16 Fighting Falcon]South Korea began the official process Wednesday of changing the contractor for its project to upgrade the country's aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets amid controversy over the contractor's demands for a higher price, Seoul's arms procurement agency said. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it presented its plan to change the contractor from London-based BAE Systems to American defense firm Lockheed Martin at its monthly defense project committee meeting presided over by Defense Minister Han Min-koo. Under the 1.75 trillion w... more »
Unmanned Helicopter MQ-8B Fire Scout Flies off Coast Guard Ship for First Time
The U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy, flew the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter off the national security cutter (NSC), USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750), Dec. 5 off the coast of Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu. The MQ-8B Fire Scout was controlled and operated from a Fire Scout control station located on the Bertholf by Navy pilots and Coast Guard personnel. Unmanned Aerial Systems have the potential to significantly increase the surveillance range and capability of our Coast Guard cutters, and this demonstration will help to in... more »
Joint Israel-US missile test fails
[image: Arrow 3 missile]A senior Israeli Defense Ministry official says an exercise meant to test an advanced missile defense system developed with the U.S. has failed. The official said a missile was launched from the Mediterranean Sea Tuesday to test the first live interception by the Arrow 3. The system locked and was not deployed, he said anonymously according to protocol. Read more
Transpicuous News Dec 16, 2014: Consulting a Higher Authority
** Side note: Sorry my friends for the poor quality of the video- we were having some internet issues today while filming on Zoom. .... and yes, I did shove my dog off the couch- I apologize to dog lovers everywhere who are now mortified that I would do such a terrible thing while recording the 5th take of Transpicuous News because my sweet little dog refused to go inside and kept barking, lol. * Transpicuous News for December 16th, 2014. Welcome to the Silly Season with some seriously silly, and extremely frustrating and highly questionable news. This weeks report will talk a... more »
Navy Awards Contract to Boeing for Upgrade of P-8A’s Weapons and Sensors
[image: P-8A Poseidon]The Boeing Co. has been awarded a $67.8 million contract modification to integrate high-altitude sensor and weapon capabilities into the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Under the Naval Air Systems Command contract, Boeing will integrate the High-Altitude Antisubmarine Weapon Capability (HAAWC) and a Link 16 data link capability for network-enable weapons into the P-8A. Although the P-8A is capable of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) at low altitudes, the Navy is integrating the new capabilities to enable it to conduct acoustic search and tracking and launch... more »
China plans nuclear-powered aircraft carriers: US expert
[image: Model of a nuclear-powered carrier]China is developing a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier similar to the Nimitz-class or Ford-class aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, Associate Professor Andrew S Erickson from the Strategic Research Department at the US Naval War College wrote in his recent article for National Interest magazine. Erickson said three models of aircraft carriers displayed at Jinshuai Model Crafts based in Zhanjiang in Guangdong province show what China's future aircraft carriers will look like. Jinshuai Model Crafts is located close to the hea... more »
Why Is A Chinese Military Helicopter Landing On A US Navy Ship?
It might be a bit unsettling to watch a Chinese military helicopter land on a U.S. Navy ship - the San Diego-based USS Sterett to be exact. But it's all part of a planned counter-piracy exercise taking place in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa. As the Navy describes "U.S.-China Counter-Piracy Exercise 15": "This exercise represents a long-standing united front toward counter-piracy operations shared by these two world powers." Read more
Pterosaur Sighting
*Artist rendering of flying cryptid witnessed by Laura Dean* Again as more reports accumulate, observers are finding their way to come forward. This sighting which happens to be in broad daylight is as good as it can be. Yet that also opens the question of creative license. It is becoming too easy to do just that and we do not yet have a body of researchers to confirm the validity of the witness. It is early days here. My advantage with the giant sloth is that no one understands what they are looking at. Unfortunately, fourteen foot birds or pterosaurs are impossible to confu... more »
Faced With Communism, Hong Kong Should Remind Us of the Value of Democracy
[image: Pro-democracy protesters stand guard in Mong Kok, Kowloon Oct. 4 in Hong Kong. Victims of Communism Memorial Executive Director Marion Smith said Hong Kong should remind us of the nature of communism and the value of democracy. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)] The authoritarian mindset really really believes that they can make better decisions than everyone else. Worse, those closest have unending incentive to cheer this on because once again this is tee source of all present largesse. The difficulty is that it also naturally severs the communications necessary for the rest... more »
Space Agency Attempted to Steal Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life, Claims Sri Lankan Politician
A curious story of course but it does serve to highlight efforts underway to confirm that cellular life is persuasive throughout the interstellar dust. That is a pretty serious effort though all proofs will merely be dismissed until we get out there and collect ample evidence and put that evidence through a series of protocols capable of stimulating revival. I am an optimist but am also the first to observe that it is a difficult to prove opinion. I do not think we have the necessary resolution in our testing protocols to really confirm what is going on. That we... more »
2014: A Year in North Korean Security
[image: KN-08]North Korea continued efforts to develop its missile and nuclear capabilities during 2014. Although the opacity of this Northeast Asian country makes any attempt to meaningfully assess the strategic potential of either North Korean program a difficult task, open source information can provide some insights into the progress it has made. Of particular importance are its advancements in nuclear infrastructure, the quantities of nuclear fuel produced, and the country’s ballistic missile program. Read more
USS Samuel B. Roberts Returns to Mayport after Final Deployment
[image: USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58)]The USS Samuel B. Roberts, one of the Navy's last guided-missile frigates, returned to Mayport Naval Station Monday after a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. The deployment is expected to be the last one for the 28-year-old ship, scheduled to be decommissioned next year. The 32,000-mile voyage "extremely successful," said Cmdr. Erica Hoffmann, the ship's commanding officer. Read more
Germany emerges as leading supplier to Israel’s navy
[image: Meko A-100 corvette]Germany plans to subsidize an Israeli procurement of naval corvettes. The German government said it would contribute to the purchase of four corvettes for the Israel Navy. The government said the subsidy for Israel was approved by the parliament in Berlin. “The contract could be completed by the end of the year,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Read more
German submarine builder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems interested in buying the ASC
[image: Australian Submarine Corporation]The Australian Submarine Corporation could have German owners if shipbuilding giant ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems wins the contract to build Australia’s next generation of navy submarines. The Federal Government is expected to soon announce the tender process for the construction of the Future Submarines. Japan remains the favourite to win the contract but Germany’s ThyssenKrupp remains confident it has a good chance if an open, competitive process is followed. Read more
India to Lease a Second Nuclear Submarine From Russia
[image: INS Chakra]The Indian Navy will soon have another nuclear submarine. The government has decided to lease a second nuclear submarine from Russia, top Defence Ministry officials have told NDTV. Currently, India operates an 8,140-tonne Akula Class submarine - renamed the INS Chakra - that was leased in 2011 from Russia for a period of 10 years, at a cost of about USD 970 million. (INS Chakra: Top 10 Must-Know Facts) The lease conditions allow India to fire conventional weapons only from the platform. The second leased submarine will also be the same class and is expected to co... more »
Veterans Today - Gordon Duff - Historic Speech in Damascus sends Shockwaves around the World
Gordon Duff, Senior Editor of Veterans Today delivered an Historic Keynote Address at the International Conference on Combating Terrorism and Religious Extremism held in Damascus, Syria. In a series of amazingly brave claims, *Duff explained that what is going on in Iraq and Syria with ISIS is not Terrorism, it is simply CRIME. That is, it is the works of an international Crime Cabal which has gotten control of the American Congress. Yes, this is a large Organized Crime problem that must be understood at its simple root cause. Duff identified this Crime Cabal as Israeli and poi... more »
ISIS' Bloody Footprints Lead From NATO Territory
*December 17, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - It was reported recently that Germany's broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) investigated what turned out to be hundreds of trucks a day carrying billions of dollars in supplies, flowing into Syria and directly into the hands of the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS). Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, has played a pivotal role in the destabilization and destruction of neighboring Syria. Since 2011, Turkey has allowed its territory to be used as a transit and staging point for sectarian terrorists flowing from around the world and into Syria ... more »
Taliban Chickens Are Coming Home to Roost in Pakistan
Who would've guessed that arming and financing religious crazies against Afghanistan would someday backfire on Pakistan? Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and other countries in the region that are supporting ISIS terrorists in Syria to destroy that country will also experience these kinds of horrific attacks against their schools, markets, and other public places in the future. Those who support terrorism suffer terrorism in return. Syria has had the resolve and the allies to withstand the tsunami of terrorism that was engineered to fall on its shores back in 2011. Will Saudi ... more »
Good News: Energy Policy And The Innate Flaws Of Conservatism
Yesterday Gaius did a post about the rate of ice collapse in Antarctica. In light of that piece, I'd like to introduce you to an uncharacteristically good news post at Vice's *Motherboard* by Nafeez Ahmed, How Solar Power Could Slay The Fossil Fuel Empire By 2030. Please read it in the context of what Matt Cartwright (D-PA) is doing in Congress to combat the dangers of the fracking industry and what freshman Ted Lieu (D-CA) says his top priority is in Congress: "I am going to wake up every day thinking about how we can mitigate climate change, because if we don't solve the problem... more »
Gold Report ( December 16 , 2014 ) - Gunvor exits physical gold due to concerns of fraudulently documented gold ( Gunvor exiting before the ponzi comes apart ) ...... Will Russia sell its gold due to the financial squeeze play...... India to examine its present gold policy after big spurt in imports for November ......Manipulations by Central Bankers examined ....... Austria planning to repatriate its gold from London.... China gold demand underestimated ( naturally ) ........ Jesse covers today's interesting day !
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-16/commodity-trading-giant-exits-physical-gold-due-lack-physical-documented-origin Commodity Trading Giant Exits Physical Gold Due To "Lack Of Physical With A Documented Origin" [image: Tyler Durden's picture] Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/16/2014 22:35 -0500 - 8.5% - Copper - Deutsche Bank - Germany - headlines - Natural Gas - Precious Metals - Reality inShare Back in March, otherwise very under-the-radar Swiss commodities trading giant Gunvor and the fifth largest oil trader in the world, made headlines... more »
Pity the Politicians...Caught between a Rock and a Hard Place!
*The Rock....the elite cabalist masters and their media pittbulls:* Editor of *The Jerusalem Post* has a meltdown. *and the Hard Place....the people awakening:* Merkel keeps speaking through jeers and catcalls...like the robot she is.
Australian Shooting HOAX: BUSTED!!! The So Called "Arab Terrorist Gun Man" Was Not Even There! (Updated)
Australia, you are right now being so screwed over... The criminals behind the fraud Sydney shooting that just occurred are right now working with both your criminal government and your own Jew spew media in LYING to every one of you! That Sydney "shooting" was so phoney, and has all the earmarks of definitely being a planned operation just to scare the people of Australia into supporting the fraud war against "ISIS"! I had put up previous articles about this fraud that have already shown clear evidence that the shooting is a scam... But now I want to present some fabulous evidenc... more »
Mohawk Nation News 'OLD TIME REMOVAL!'
OLD TIME REMOVAL! OLD TIME REMOVAL! Please post & distribute. Nia:wen. MNN. DEC. 16, 2014. This letter was send to the Governor General of Canada, Hon. David Johnson, on December 16: "... View on mohawknationnews.com Preview by Yahoo
Musical Interlude: Deuter, “Black Velvet Flirt”
Deuter, “Black Velvet Flirt” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qWFCocIfXI&list=RD9qWFCocIfXI This is part of a playlist, let it continue...
Kahlil Gibran, "Beyond My Solitude"
*"Beyond My Solitude"* "Beyond my solitude is another solitude, and to him who dwells therein, my aloneness is a crowded market-place and my silence a confusion of sounds. Too young am I and too restless to seek that above-solitude. The voices of yonder valley still hold my ears, and its shadows bar my way and I cannot go. Beyond these hills is a grove of enchantment and to him who dwells therein, my peace is but a whirlwind and my enchantment an illusion. Too young am I and too riotous to seek that sacred grove. The taste of blood is clinging in my mouth, and the bow and the ... more »
"A Look to the Heavens"
“Big, beautiful spiral galaxy NGC 6744 is nearly 175,000 light-years across, larger than our own Milky Way. It lies some 30 million light-years distant in the southern constellation Pavo. We see the disk of the nearby island universe tilted towards our line of sight. Orientation and composition give a strong sense of depth to this colorful galaxy portrait that covers an area about the angular size of the full moon. *Click image for larger size.* This giant galaxy's yellowish core is dominated by the light from old, cool stars. Beyond the core, spiral arms filled with young blue star ... more »
“Native American Words of Wisdom”
*“Native American Words of Wisdom”* Uploaded by firefly4tori "This video is dedicated to all North American tribes people. It is my interpretation of Native American quotes, proverbs, and prayer. The song, "Crow and Weasel", was composed by Nancy Rumble. The contributing artists to the song are Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumble. Thank you to all the people who have allowed me to use these photos and music in the making of this video. No profit has been made from the production of this video or its existence. All photo and music copyrights are reserved to their rightful owners." -http:... more »
"Our Finest Moments..."
“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” - M. Scott Peck
Chet Raymo, “Grimm Business”
*“Grimm Business”* by Chet Raymo "The American artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was a superb draftsman. He also veered successfully towards impressionism. He could be pompously formal, or endearingly sentimental. But here is the painting that seems to have evoked more comment and analysis than any other, "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, painted in Paris in 1882. It normally resides in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, but it is currently on display at the Prado in Madrid, paired with Velazquez's "Las Meninas" (1651). "Las Meninas", although widely considered a masterpiece, ha... more »
"Relating to the Negative: The Danger of Repression"
*"Relating to the Negative: The Danger of Repression"* by Madisyn Taylor, The DailyOM "When negative thoughts arise it is best to address them rather than pushing them down where they will surface again. For the last several years, there has been a lot of focus on the power of positive thinking. Many people have come to misinterpret this wisdom to mean that it is not okay to have a bad mood or a negative thought or feeling. This can lend a kind of superficiality to their relationship with life and relationships with other people. It can also lead them to feel that if a negative thou... more »
This is What Solidarity Looks Like
Yesterday, we, a coalition of Black folks+Asian Allies+White Allies shutdown the Oakland Police Headquarters. Allies locked themselves to multiple entrances, blocked off all surrounding intersections, and raised a "Black Lives Matter" flag, while Black folk held space to honor the lives that have been stolen from us. We shut it down for over 4hrs 28min. 4 hours is the time that Mike Brown's body was left on the ground after being murdered by Ferguson PD, and 28 mins symbolizes that every 28 hrs a black person is murdered by polices, security officers, or vigilantes. We will conti... more »
Do we really and truly believe that in-the-trenches defenders of freedom can never bend the "rules"?
*by Ken* At Daily Kos, Shaun King yesterday put up a fine little post called "Midtown NYPD commanding officer posts, then immediately deletes, outrageous tweet," which is pretty startling in its own right but also raises interesting questions. Here's what Shaun posted: NYPD commanding officer Edward Winski decided to post something inspirational on Twitter for Motivational Monday, but quickly deleted it. [*Note: This link will take you to a age that says, appropriately enough, "Sorry, that page doesn't exist!* -- Ed.] The quote is from Jack Nicholson, playing Col. Jessup in the m... more »
Rising Radiation in Phoenix Across Time
Majia's Blog - 1 day ago
Using EPA Radnet data, I've identified periods of high radiation levels in southern, US west-coast cities (excluding initial releases in spring 2011): PERIOD 1: October 2011 – January 2012 (this period was documented as a high release period in Japan by Japanese scientists - see here) PERIOD 2: November 2013 – January 2014 PERIOD 3: November 2012 – January 2014 These periods cannot be explained by seasonal variation alone or plant refueling in the US alone because levels were not elevated during the fall/winter of October 2012 – January 2013. The jet stream is lower over the US... more »
The Daily "Near You?"
Paris, Ile-de-France, France. Thanks for stopping by.
"If We're Lucky..."
“Maybe we accept the dream has become a nightmare. We tell ourselves that reality is better. We convince ourselves it’s better that we never dream at all. But, the strongest of us, the most determined of us, holds on to the dream or we find ourselves faced with a fresh dream we never considered. We wake to find ourselves, against all odds, feeling hopeful. And, if we’re lucky, we realize in the face of everything, in the face of life the true dream is being able to dream at all.” - Dr. Meredith Grey, "Grey's Anatomy"
The Poet: May Sarton, "Now I Become Myself"
*"Now I Become Myself"* “Now I become myself. It's taken Time, many years and places, I have been dissolved and shaken, Worn other people's faces, Run madly, as if Time were there, Terribly old, crying a warning, "hurry, you will be dead before -----" (What? Before you reach the morning? or the end of the poem, is clear? Or love safe in the walled city?) Now to stand still, to be here, Feel my own weight and density! Now there is time and Time is young. O, in this single hour I live All of myself and do not move, I, the pursued, who madly ran, Stand still, stand still, and stop the Sun!”... more »
Top 10 Posts for 2014
December is a time of year to review your year almost gone, and make up a few best-of lists So according to readership and the analytics of Mr Google, these right here were the best posts at NOT PC this 2014, in order: 1. “I decided to write this after I noticed that western libertarians have unaccountably developed a soft spot for Russian president Vladimir Putin.” *Putin’s Libertarians* – Mikhail Svetov 2. “As Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott heads to the Northern Territory to live in an aboriginal community for a week, honouring an election promise ... more »
Nine days with Amtrak
I was away for awhile. It was sad -- selling my mom and dad's little single-wide in the little retirement park by the river. The journeying itself was good for me, though. I've been across the country on trains, but these were epic coach-class marathons. This time, I could afford to go sleepers all the way, so I did. Much time for reflection.
THE WU WEI OF TEACHING
Wu Wei (Ooo way) is the ancient Chinese art of planned, or practiced spontaneity, an artistic skill many of us should acquire. An article in the NYT science section on Dec 16, 2014 entitled “*A Mediation on the Art of Not Trying*” described it as “the art of not really trying.” You may know it as, “Relax. Just be yourself. Act Naturally”. It is when we “flow”, or what we do well seems effortless to others. The paradox is odd. When one tries not to try, one automatically fails at it. The smile looks forced, the speech sounds over rehearsed. The conversation feel forced. We tighten u... more »
The Taliban - Pakistan Conflict Is Going To Get Worse
*Pakistan’s War With The Taliban May Be About To Get Worse -- Naina Bajekal, Time* It's not clear if the massacre of at least 132 school children means the Taliban has weakened or remains strong The Taliban’s attack on a Peshawar school that left at least 132 school children and nine members of staff dead on Tuesday was described by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as “the biggest human tragedy Pakistan may have ever seen”. The massacre follows a relative lull in violence in Pakistan since the attack on the country’s biggest airport ... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 16, 2014
*What Do The Pakistan Taliban Want? -- Laura Smith-Spark and Tim Lister, CNN* (CNN) -- The scene was horrifying. Gunmen stalked through the school, shooting children as they cowered under benches and booby-trapping buildings with homemade explosives. When the siege finally ended, Pakistan was left reeling and the world wondering: Who would do such a thing? And what do they hope to achieve? The identity of the group behind the massacre at the army-run school in Peshawar is no mystery. The Pakistan Taliban -- who have long conducted an insurgency against the Pakistani government a... more »
The Oil Coup- US/Saudi dirty dealing- Equity Bubble Burst?
Well I lied! Can't get away from this dam blog. Patient Hubby- :) *Anyway this just hit my inbox and it's a doozy. Ties in nicely with the preceding post- Ellen Brown: The Global Banker Coup- Bail ins and more* *The latest*-* The Oil Coup- Mike Whitney** December 16, 2014 * *US-Saudi Subterfuge Send Stocks and Credit Reeling* *“John Kerry, the US Secretary of State, allegedly struck a deal with King Abdullah in September under which the Saudis would sell crude at below the prevailing market price.* That would help explain why the price has been falling at a time when, given the turm... more »
Citizens, Beasts or Gods?
Keeping up with the current engagement with artificial intelligence (AI) is a full time task. Today in the New York Times, two (here and here) lead articles in the technology section were about AI, and another discussed the future of robotics and AI and the workforce. As I blogged last week, the coming economic future Continue reading
One People Round Table Dec 16-2014- VIDEO
http://the-one-network.org/one-people-round-table-dec-16-2014/ One People Round Table Dec 16-2014 16 December 2014 *The One People Show is back…..* Lisa Harrison, Brian Kelly and Dani Arnold McKenny invite you to join them each week as they discuss, and at times, debate, world events, mainstream headlines and this ongoing global shift. Today’s discussion went into the ongoing research and findings around the former OPPT.
Ellen Brown: The Global Banker Coup- Bail ins and more
As mentioned last week- Could or Would the US bail out it's own oil sector (and the banks)?? At that time I refreshed readers memories on several previous posts regarding the bail in or haircut scenario *There won't be a bailout. It will be haircuts. Remember? The plans have been made. * *This banker scam was first mentioned in 2013 and recently below- Going Global!* *Links back to the two 2013 posts are included in the post from Nov 11/2014* *Banksters: Global Haircuts= Global Plunder. Legalizing the theft of your savings.* *Pt.1: Giving Canadians and everyone, everywhere a Cypriot ... more »
