11:35pm MST
Report: The Islamic State Has Launched Chemical Attacks On The Iraqi City Of Hit
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 33 minutes ago
*ISIL Launches Chlorine Gas Strikes In Iraq’s Anbar Province -- Press TV*
ISIL Takfiri militants have launched chlorine gas strikes on a sub-district
in the city of Hit in the troubled western province of al-Anbar, an Iraqi
security source says.
The ISIL militants attacked the Baghdadi district with mortar shells loaded
with chlorine gas, the unnamed sources said on Wednesday.
According to the source, the district has come under siege and heavy
shelling by the ISIL terrorists.
The situation has already left people, mostly children in the area, in dire
need of food supplies.
*Rea... more »
Picture Of The Day
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
Santa Claus and service members bow their heads in prayer during the Joint
Forces Command – United Assistance holiday tree lighting event on Barclay
Training Center in Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 18, 2014. U.S. Army photo by
Spc. Rashene Mincy
Private U.S. Contractors Are Returning To Iraq
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
A U.S. soldier performs a radio check during a patrol in Mosul, 390 km (240
miles) north of Baghdad (Reuters/Saad Shalash)
*As U.S. Troops Return To Iraq, More Private Contractors Follow -- Reuters*
(Reuters) - The U.S. government is preparing to boost the number of private
contractors in Iraq as part of President Barack Obama's growing effort to
beat back Islamic State militants threatening the Baghdad government, a
senior U.S. official said.
How many contractors will deploy to Iraq - beyond the roughly 1,800 now
working there for the U.S. State Department - will depend in part, t... more »
Only In Red America-- My Husband's Not Gay
DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 hour ago
Utah, a virtual theocracy inside America, came into focus a bit here at
*DWT*... for no particular reason. This evening, let's round out the
coverage by noting that the Beehive state is one of the most closeted
locales anywhere in the country. But that doesn't mean there aren't gays-- not
by a longshot. It just means the public parks, public toilets and parking
lots are where gay men wind up having sex-- just like it was in the rest of
America in the 1950s and '60s. All those guys hanging around Memory Grove
Park (in the shadow of the Temple), Oxbow Park, Jordan Park, Harmony Park... more »
MH17 - Facts are starting to support Greencrow's theory voiced back in July 2014
greencrow at Greencrow As The Crow Flies - 2 hours ago
From WHATREALLYHAPPENED.COM
This story suggests that the Ukrainian pilot, Captain Voloshin, shot down
MH17 via mis-identification with a real target. So, with the eastern
Ukrainians lacking any real air force, what target was Captain Voloshin
searching for that would look like a Boeing passenger jet? As it happens,
Russian President Vladimir Putin was flying through the same area on that
very day, returning home from a six day visit to Cuba and South America.
Putin's Presidential jet, not as grand as Air Force One, is based on the
Ilyushin 96. The IL-96 is a passenger jet, and is ... more »
U.S. Senate Report: Afghanistan Is At Risk Of Becoming A Narco-State
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
*Senators: Without US Aid, Afghanistan Turns Into Narco-State -- The Hill*
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released a
bipartisan report Tuesday that aims to fight the Afghanistan drug trade.
“The Afghan drug trade funds the Taliban, fuels corruption and creates
major public health challenges,” Feinstein said Tuesday. “Afghanistan could
become a narco-state without an effective, comprehensive and coordinated
counternarcotics strategy, coupled with unprecedented levels of
international cooperation.
“If we don’t act, Afghanistan’s drug trade could under... more »
Santa drinks reindeer piss!
Kevin Barrett at truthjihad.com blog - 2 hours ago
"Unfortunately, as I write this on Christmas Eve, I know whatever you
infidels out there are quaffing is probably a lot nastier than reindeer
piss…"
Full story:
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2014/12/24/reindeerpiss/
Analysis: U.S. Troops Will Remian In Afghanistan Beyond 2016
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
U.S. Marines prepare to board a plane at the end of operations for U.S.
Marines and British combat troops in Helmand, October 26, 2014.
REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
*Prediction: Obama Will Decide To Keep U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Beyond
2016 -- Michael O'Hanlon, Reuters*
In 2015, I predict that President Barack Obama will rethink his plan to
have all operational U.S. combat forces out of Afghanistan by the end of
2016.
That goal was announced in spring 2014. It fit in the context of Obama’s
longstanding goals, laid out in his 2012 reelection campaign, to end both
the Iraq and Afghanista... more »
Sunday Classics (holiday edition) preview: For the first time since 2012, we bring back the legendary DWT gala "Nutcracker ('The Whole Deal')"
KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
*You'd want to think twice before bidding on this record. The ABC Command
label tells you it's one of the inferior later pressings; you want an
original gold-label issue. (Note: Unfortunately, last year's
preview-opening video clip of the Nutcracker Suite segment of Walt Disney's
Fantasia has disappeared -- not entirely surprisingly, I guess. To be
honest, I don't like it much anyway.)*
*by Ken*
As far back as the mind recalls, Sunday Classics has celebrated the holiday
musically at last in part with music from Tchaikovsky's ballets, and last
year I went whole hog and offered a com... more »
Is Saudi Arabia And The U.S. Colluding To Collapse The Price Of Oil?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
*Did The Saudis And The US Collude In Dropping Oil Prices? -- Andrew Topf,
OilPrice.com*
The oil price drop that has dominated the headlines in recent weeks has
been framed almost exclusively in terms of oil market economics, with most
media outlets blaming Saudi Arabia, through its OPEC Trojan horse, for
driving down the price, thus causing serious damage to the world's major
oil exporters – most notably Russia.
While the market explanation is partially true, it is simplistic, and fails
to address key geopolitical pressure points in the Middle East.
Oilprice.com looked beyond th... more »
Venezuela Is On The Brink Of Economic Collapse And Bankruptcy
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*Sliding Oil Prices Leave Socialist Venezuela On Brink Of Financial
Collapse -- Washington Times*
President Nicolas Maduro under international pressure for jailing
opposition figures
The ongoing plunge in global oil prices is pushing Venezuela toward
economic collapse just as President Nicolas Maduro — the hand-picked
successor to the late socialist Hugo Chavez — faces mounting international
criticism for jailing opposition figures after months of street protests.
Where Chavez once drew praise from the world’s leftist elite for using the
high price of crude oil during the 2000s t... more »
Merry Christmas
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)*
*WNU Editor: *A small confession. Christmas is my favorite time of the
year. And even though I am Russian Orthodox (we will be celebrating on
January 7, 2015) .... I always make a point of enjoying both dates (Do you
blame me?). Blogging will be light for the next few days .... but when I
have time and everyone else in my home is off busy doing something else
.... I will be parking my butt in front of my computer to take a look at
what is happening around the world at that moment .... and to post news
stories that deserve our attention.
So .... Merry ... more »
Christmas 2014
Nonoy Oplas at Government and Taxes - 5 hours ago
Dear friends and readers of this blog,
Merry Christmas. The holiday season is a good time to relax, step back from
our normal busy schedules and have reunion with our families and clans,
friends and former schoolmates and officemates, meeting new friends,
On my part, my family took a bus/roll on roll off (RORO) trip to several
islands of the country and the two girls enjoyed two great beaches so far.
Last Sunday, we went to White Beach, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro
province. This used to be a very famous destination for those who want
white sand beach. But I think people now ha... more »
UK & Ireland Winter 2014/15 Update
rss2009 at Global Cooling & New Ice Age UK - 5 hours ago
*UK & Ireland Winter 2014/15 Update*
Real time satellite images from over the past few months have clearly
indicated a growing and colossal area of much colder than average surface
temperatures in the middle of the Gulf Stream/Atlantic (Please see image
below).
This is of quite some significance as the Gulf Stream effectively acts as a
heat machine for our shores, in particular, during our winter months. An
example of this could be a location such as Newfoundland, who is on a
similar latitude to the ourselves, but don't inherit the influence of the
Gulf Stream. They, therefore, exp... more »
Peace on Earth
Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 6 hours ago
*Holiday Salutations to everyone...*
*Believe it or not, this is almost always the most difficult post to make,
every year. For so many years running now*. *Wanting always to express to
everyone here how much I appreciate them stopping by. Reading. Commenting.
Leaving links. Offering insights. *
*I wish everyone of you all the best. Love. Laughter. Family. Good Health. *
*PS: Barring anything earth shattering happening, I am going to take a
couple of days off, so no new posts. It is a much needed break, but, I
left a bunch of posts to read and I will respond to comments :)*
R... more »
Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 24, 2014
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 6 hours ago
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com
*Did ISIS Shoot Down A Fighter Jet? -- Jamie Dettmer & Christopher Dickey,
Daily Beast*
The Islamic State, or ISIS, claims it has shot down a Jordanian fighter jet
and captured its pilot. Will this undermine the kingdom’s bedrock role as
an ally in the war?
Islamic militants scored a significant propaganda coup today, displaying
the captured pilot of a Jordanian warplane they claimed to have shot down
over northern Syria with a shoulder-fired missile. The Jordanian F-16 is
the first plane flying with the U.S.-led coalition to be lost in t... more »
Same As It Ever Was
Barbara Ann Levy at WPB/NYC and Anything Else; A Curated Green Rights Collection - 6 hours ago
Ukraine Situation ( December 18 - 19 , 2014 ) -- Ukraine has claimed it needs 15- 19 billion ( on top of the present 15-17 billion IMF / EU Financial Lifeline ) , US and EU have no intention of funding that additional lifeline and are disgusted with the incompetence and corruption of Kiev and their Oligarchs ...... Russia ( which had been funding Ukraine until Ukraine Revolution ) , possibly being " encouraged " through punitive , ever increasing sanctions / through attacks on oil , currency and economy - to " resume " financial backstop and funding for Western Vassal State Ukraine ?
Catharsis Ours - 7 hours ago
Ukraine .....
*fred walton* @fredwalton216 3m
3 minutes ago
Poroshenko Says Ukraine Can’t Scrimp on Army as S&P Rating Cut http://
bloom.bg/1Jzmvmg via @*business*
EU interestingly expects Russian aid ?
*Bloomberg Business*
[image: View this content on business's website]
Poroshenko Says Ukraine Can’t Scrimp on Army as S&P Rating Cut
By *Bloomberg Business* @business
Ukraine’s president, speaking a day after the nation’s junk credit rating
was cut further, said next year’s budget mustn’t cut corners on military
spending and should account for the possibility of...
View on we... more »
World News Briefs -- December 24, 2014 (Evening Edition)
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
*Several Nations Tighten Christmas Security -- Voice of America*
Security forces are on high alert in several countries this Christmas
because of concern that radical Muslim groups could attack churches or
Christian communities.
In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, security
officials said they had deployed 80,000 police officers and 65,000 military
personnel across the country to deter any acts of violence against
Christian targets.
Indonesian Chief of Police General Sutarman, who uses only one name, said
he hoped Christmas and New Year celebrations would be... more »
Christianity Is Being Wiped Out In The Middle East
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
Residents walk near a damaged church June 8 in Qusair, Syria, on their way
to inspect their houses and collect their belongings. (CNS/Reuters/Rami
Bleibel)
*Christianity Forced From Its Middle East Birthplace -- The Australian/The
Times*
SAMIR’S children still remember their last Christmas in Maaloula, before
Islamist militants overran the ancient Syrian Christian town.
“They remember the snow,” Samir says, rubbing his thumb over the tiny
crucifix tattoo imprinted on his hand, as he waits for handouts at a
refugee centre in Beirut. He knows, however, that it is only a matter of
t... more »
Report: Islamic State Has Converted Christian Churches Into Torture Chambers
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
A woman walks inside a damaged church in Maaloula. The Christian town was
attacked last spring by extremist forces. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
*ISIS Is Turning Christian Churches Into Torture Chambers Where It Forces
Believers To Convert To Islam… And Funding Its Terror Mission By Selling
Stripped Artifacts To Western Collectors -- Daily Mail*
* Christian churches are reportedly being turned into torture chambers
* Artifacts worth millions have been stolen and sold to western collectors
* Experts say the fanatics goal is to 'wipe out' Christianity
Islamic State militants are turning Chri... more »
Crackpot Utopia: The Year in Republican Crazy, Part 6
KenInNY at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
*• And now a word about South Carolina• Pat Robertson and his magic
asteroid• I'll have a pack of Twizzlers and an IUD to go, please*
*Eight-year-old South Carolinian Olivia McConnell (see No. 1, Exhibit B)
thinks she's so-o-o smart just 'cause she's smarter than the whole of her
state's GOP. Okay, she's only eight, so she doesn't realize that this isn't
all that remarkable a feat.*
*Crackpot Utopia:* *A dream world as envisioned by republicans; a
manifestation or expression of the deranged, warped alternate universe
inhabited by republicans, at least in their minds. See also: Ba... more »
U.S. Military: Jordanian F-16 Fighter Jet Was Not Shot Down By The Islamic State
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Jordan Plane Not Shot Down By Islamic State, Says US -- BBC*
*The Jordanian plane that crashed in Syria was not shot down by Islamic
State (IS) militants, the US says.*
The plane was lost in IS territory on Wednesday morning, and the pilot has
been captured.
IS militants said that they shot down the plane with a heat-seeking
missile. However, the US says "evidence clearly indicates" that this is not
true.
Jordan is one of four Arab states in a US-led coalition that has launched
air strikes on IS targets in Syria.
*Read more* ....
*More News On U.S. Military Reports That The Jo... more »
Round up: MH-17, Syria,Turkey, Falling oil prices- what's next? The Fed & that bogus Sony hack!!
Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 9 hours ago
My trusty lasso and I had rounded a bunch of news stories, over the week,
safely corralling them but not getting them into the barn. Consider this
post the metaphoric* barn.*
*MH17 *
* Witness registered truthful by lie detector- May be taken in to
protective custody*
The investigators used a polygraph during the interview, which showed no
evidence of the witness lying, he added.
*“The facts were reported by the witness clearly and with no
inconsistencies. The investigators lean towards considering them truthful.
A polygraph examination confirmed them too,”* the official said. ... more »
Russia Tells France To Deliver The Mistral Warship Or Give Back The Money
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
The two Mistral-class helicopter carriers Sevastopol (L) and Vladivostok
are seen at the STX Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard site in
Saint-Nazaire, western France, on Dec. 23, 2014. Stephane Mahe / Reuters
*Mistral Delivered Or Money Back, Russia Tells France In Warship Deal
Standoff -- ITAR-TASS*
*Everything is stipulated in the deal, including terms of delivery, penalty
sanctions, procedures of how we can ask for a refund, Russia's deputy
defense chief Anatoly Antonov says.*
MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. Russia's deputy defense chief has demanded
that France honours its ob... more »
October Surprise 1973 - Silent Coup
Spike EP at News Spike - 9 hours ago
Coming Soon : October Surprise 1973 - Go Quietly... Or Else...
from Spike EP on Vimeo.
Haig/Nixon: Nixon Doesn't Care About Ellsberg
from Spike EP on Vimeo.
Haig is *lying* through his teeth.
Silent Coup : The Removal of a President from Spike EP on Vimeo.
In a controversial new book on the Nixon resignation,* Silent Coup: The
Removal of a President*, the authors said that White House aide John Dean
was responsible for the cover-up of the 1973 Watergate break-in, that
General Alexander Haig was attempting to unseat President Nixon, and that
General Haig was also “Deep Throat.”
... more »
Unconnected incidents
sue at Is the BBC biased? - 9 hours ago
With the assistance of Camille Grand of the French think tank FRS, Justin
went to enormous lengths this morning (7:20) to distance the recent ‘unconnected
incidents’ in France from the religion of peace.
"Three very different events""very unpleasant for French Muslims"
Tips:
*Don’t* mention: 1) Muslims; 2) Allahu Akbar; 3) Isis flag; 3) ‘Car Jihad’
(i.e.driving cars into people)
*Do* mention: 1) Deranged lone wolf; 2) Marine Le Pen.
JW: What’s happening in France this Christmas? There are 300m soldiers on
the streets along with the usual police of the security forces. It follows ... more »
Things We Shouldn't Have to Do on Christmas
jurassicpork at Welcome Back to Pottersville - 9 hours ago
There are a lot of things I should be doing between now and tomorrow
tonight. There are a million things we should all be doing between now and
tomorrow tonight. We should be wrapping presents, receiving the last of our
cards, stuffing stockings, visiting loved ones and these things will be
done in my household. But here's a list of the things we *shouldn't* have
to do on Xmas Eve.
We shouldn't be reading about another young black man named Martin who
was shot & killed by a white man right after leaving a convenience store as
was Antonio Martin outside Berkeley, MO, five ... more »
Moscow Threatens To End Russia-NATO Ties Over Ukraine
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
*Ukraine Ascension To NATO Would End Russia-NATO Ties – Moscow -- RT*
If Ukraine were accepted as a NATO member, it would end any relations
between the alliance and Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry warned. Kiev
revoked a long-time non-alliance stance and is seeking NATO membership
under the post-coup government.
The threat was voiced by Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on
Wednesday a day after the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada adopted a law, which
allows Ukraine to become part of a military bloc.
*Read more *....
*More News On The Deterioration Of Relations Between Russia ... more »
Crimea Hit By Ukraine's Decision To Limit Electricity Supplies To The Peninsula
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Crimea Hit By Blackout Amid Mounting Ukraine Electricity Crisis --
Financial Times*
Widespread blackouts hit Crimea after Ukraine cut electricity supplies to
the Russian-occupied peninsula of 2m people, highlighting a mounting energy
crisis in the war-torn country.
Power was partially restored by noon on Wednesday following widespread
outages earlier in the day, according to officials in Crimea.
“After the cut-off, the Ukrainian side explained to us that Crimea
supposedly exceeded its supply limits, caused . . . by a plunge in
generation,” Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted Se... more »
Peace Talks Resume Between Ukraine And Separatists In Minsk
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Ukraine and Separatists Resume Peace Talks -- Voice of America*
Representatives of Ukraine and separatist rebels who support Russia resumed
fresh peace talks Wednesday, with the Russian government and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also taking part.
The goal is a settlement of the crisis dividing the government in Kyiv and
the rebels, most of whom are in eastern Ukraine. Negotiators are focusing
first on how to solidify a cease-fire that has reduced fighting since
September, by gaining agreement on the pullback of troops and heavy
weapons, prisoner... more »
Jeb Bush Staking His CorpEd Business Model on "Abject Failure" from Common Core Tests
Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 10 hours ago
My favorite part of this Bush clip from 2013 is this unintended candor,
where Bush admits the purpose of the Common Core tests is to demonstrate
"abject failure":
When the NGA and NCSSO came together to approve Common Core,
"there was a sense of urgency that our nation is at risk unless we raise
expectations significantly higher, assess where you are in a meaningful
way, and then recognize that we have abject failure across the board and
we'd better do something about it."
Holiday Prayer
Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 11 hours ago
'Can do whatever
I want
whenever I want to'
prevailing consciousness
of the USA
mad hatters
that we are
The corporatists
that run this
show
don't feel
like they
have to pay
any consequences
arrogance
of power
'we are the dominant
ones
and we can dictate'
The logic of domination
and empire
is absurd
a bad poker player
with a bad hand
How do we
counter this
dark empire?
What can
one person
actually do?
We each
are an interdependent
living creature
with tremendous beauty
and diversity
must take
greater strides
on the path toward
resistance to global corporate empire
resistance to ar... more »
It Is Official: The Much Feared And Anticipated Bank Worldwide Criminal Bank "Bail Ins" (Outright THEFT) Are Coming!
Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 11 hours ago
Yes, it is Christmas time... And while everyone is busy (including myself)
in preparing for the big holiday feasts, and going into rampant consumerism
mode that will drive themselves into unending debt, there is much going on
around the world...
One major factor that I have been alerting everyone about for the last few
months seems to now be coming to fruition, and its implications will hurt
everyone in their pocket books shortly! That is of course the much
anticipated criminal banks and their fraud called a "bank bail in". And
now according to the following article from Mark Nest... more »
Barbic and ASD Corporate Skinheads Draining Public Funds
Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 12 hours ago
Former charter CEO and current ASD superintendent, Chris Barbic, collects a
salary that is larger than the superintendent of Shelby County Schools,
which has over 100,000 students. Barbic oversees 10,000 students and a
staff of 30 at ASD's downtown Memphis location.
Barbic collects $116,110,000 from taxpayers each year for the charter chain
gangs that are run by Barbic's out-of-state cronies.
With the federal grant now gone that has been paying salaries for the 30
skinheads at their central office downtown, that $3,000,000 they have
collected each year must now come out of public... more »
Quiz: BBC current affairs presenter anagrams
Craig at Is the BBC biased? - 12 hours ago
As it's Christmas Eve, it's time for the return of a much-loved *Is the BBC
biased? *tradition.
Forget holly, mince pies and *A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. *It's
time for the return of the annual *Is the BBC biased?* 'BBC current affairs
presenters' anagram quiz.
Can *you* work out the name of the BBC current affairs presenter from the
following anagrams?
Imams tie Lily (5,7)
Warty kirks (6,4)
Humans, hail I.S.! (6,6)
Ritual hash (6,4)
A rash unto a gem (5,8)
Algebra user sunk (5,10)
Hate any remark (6,7)
The answers can be found in the comments field below. Merry Christ... more »
Wham! - Last Christmas
Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 12 hours ago
I've always had a soft spot for George Michael. *Deal with it*.
What Does It Take To Be "An Embarrassment To The State Of Utah"?
DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 12 hours ago
Utah's Mike Lee (R), Jim Matheson (D)-- it doesn't get any worse
Far right Utah Republican Mike Lee has been playing Tonto to Ted Cruz's
Lone Ranger since the day he managed to get into the Senate. And plenty of
Utah Republicans don't appreciate that-- nor the way he did get into the
Senate, namely by smearing mainstream conservative 18-year Senate veteran
Robert Bennett. The Utah GOP Establishment is actively considering taking
on Lee in 2016 with a more mainstream conservative candidate. Many aren't
happy seeing Utah's senator as a mere appendage of the ambitious,
self-serving Texa... more »
My Gift for you
Sophia Love at AMERICAN KABUKI - 12 hours ago
[image: Picture]
Here is a gift for the holiday season. It is a recording of a post created
in August of 2013 and my most popular recording on Soundcloud. For this
holiday season, it's been re-mastered by my friends at Soundsfiction.
Enjoy!
If you are on my mailing list, you've received this with the first "Love
Note" which was sent on Friday, 12.19.14. If you didn't see it, check your
email Spam or Promotions file as several have ended up there. "Sophia's
Love Notes" will be sent regularly in 2015, so if you'd like to receive
them, join the mailing list here. Details about... more »
India Rocked By Sectarian Killings In Assam State
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 13 hours ago
*Assam Killings Take On Ethnic Hue: Over 70 Killed In Bodo Attacks, 250
Missing *
The violence in Assam took on an ethnic hue on Wednesday, a day after armed
Bodo rebels gunned down more than 70 Adivasis and injured 15 in
orchestrated attacks in different parts of the state.
Police officials said the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit)
— the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland —
carried out the attacks in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts lasting about
three hours on Tuesday evening. The militants killed 37 people in Sonitpur,
and 27 in Kok... more »
Sony to Release "The Interview" as Bizarre Tale Continues to Evolve
Donn Marten at Carrying a Flag - 13 hours ago
The ubiquitous and dyspeptic Senator John McCain is the proverbial gift
that keeps on giving. Despite being censured by the Republican party
leadership in his home state of Arizona for being too liberal the old war
horse continues to be trotted out as the GOP’s go-to guy in the mainstream
media. McCain, the shameless political con artist who succeeded "Mr.
Conservative" himself in the Senate took to the air to wail that the Sony
hacking was an “act of war”. McCain - a man who has never met a foreign
policy situation that he would not send Americans off to die for – talks
tough but... more »
World News Briefs -- December 24, 2014
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*IS Captures Jordanian Pilot After Warplane Crashes In Syria -- BBC*
Islamic State (IS) militants have captured the pilot of a Jordanian
warplane that crashed in northern Syria, Jordan's military has confirmed.
The jihadist group claimed it had shot down the jet with a heat-seeking
missile near the city of Raqqa.
It published photographs showing the pilot, who has been named as Flight
Lieutenant Moaz Youssef al-Kasasbeh.
This is the first US-led coalition aircraft to be lost on IS territory
since air strikes began in September.
Jordan is one of four Arab states which have bombed ... more »
A memory of Eddie Greenspan
James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 14 hours ago
I remember watching Edward Greenspan QC conducting a cross examination.
He was scattered confused and the examination made no sense.
And it was so obvious to everyone except the lawyer that the police officer
was lying.
And then it hit me.
Greenspan wasn't scattered or confused.
He was brilliant.
Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas Brigade From Fighting In Syria To Iraq
Joel Wing at MUSINGS ON IRAQ - 14 hours ago
In April 2013 there were reports of young Iraqis being recruited to fight
in Syria. Many were joining a new militia called Abu Fadhl Al-Abbas
Brigade. They would sign up in Iraq and then travel to Iran for training
before being shipped off to Syria. The reason given for the group’s
involvement in Syria was to protect the Shiite shrine of Sayid Zainab in
the Damascus suburbs, but it was really one of a number of armed groups
organized by Iran to defend the government of Bashar al-Assad. It is now
doing the same in Iraq defending the Baghdad government.
(*Syrian Revolution*)
The A... more »
Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 24, 2014
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 14 hours ago
*NORAD Santa tracker 2014: How To Watch Santa's Trip Around The World --
Aol.com*
Santa begins his Christmas voyage in just a few hours, and with NORAD's
help, you and your family can follow along as he brings toys to girls and
boys around the world!
On *NoradSanta.org* you can see where on the Earth Santa has visited and
where he's headed next. The site also features Christmas games, songs and
videos as well as facts about Santa, NORAD and holiday traditions from
around the world.
NORAD's Santa Tracking technology is also available as an app for your Apple,
Android and Windows ... more »
Passing of Edward Greenspan QC
James C Morton at Morton's Musings - 14 hours ago
The criminal defence bar lost a true leader last night.
Edward Greenspan has passed away. He was a giant.
Only temperatures, not temperature changes, may be dangerous
Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 15 hours ago
Gavin Schmidt wrote a RealClimate.ORG blog post about the difference
between the temperatures and temperature anomalies – or temperature changes
– and which of them is known, predicted, and important.
Absolute temperatures and relative anomalies
Just to be sure, the temperature anomaly is the difference between the
temperature and the "average" temperature recorded for the same place (or
region) and the same date or month or season (if applicable). The average
is computed (from the data at the same place and the same date[s]) over a
period, like 1951-1980 or 1980-1999 or something l... more »
Plants Cure Cancer, Not Chemicals
WakingTimes at Waking Times - 15 hours ago
*Sayer Ji* - Today, the weight of evidence indicates that plants and not
chemicals are the solution for reversing the global cancer epidemic...
The post Plants Cure Cancer, Not Chemicals appeared first on Waking Times.
Transpicuous News: D with Mel Ve Dec 24 2014
D ... Breaking The Silence at Removing The Shackles - 15 hours ago
This morning I interviewed Mel Ve from Freedom Central & the Conscious
Consumer Network about the upheaval that took place for Mel and her husband
yesterday.
Monday night The media crew for the Conscious Consumer Network got together
for an online meeting to go over the technical aspects of broadcasting on
CCN. The next morning Mel Ve was detained by the Dutch police and taken to
the station for "questioning". In our conversation this morning Mel Ve and
I discussed the incident, and the positive aspects of how to deal with the
perceived "authorities".
http://transpicuousnews.blog... more »
The Economic Argument For Peace On Earth
Owen Gray at Northern Reflections - 15 hours ago
http://www.victorystore.com/
"Peace On Earth." We repeat the phrase often at this time of year. It's
standard boilerplate -- a postive suggestion, but not very likely. However,
Paul Krugman wrote this week that there are realistic reasons to support
the suggestion. Those reasons have been around for awhile:
More than a century has passed since Norman Angell, a British journalist
and politician, published “The Great Illusion,” a treatise arguing that the
age of conquest was or at least should be over. He didn’t predict an end to
wa... more »
Reading Piketty and Raulston Saul
thwap at thwap's schoolyard - 15 hours ago
*The Comeback *
So, I've been reading John Raulston Saul's *The Comeback*, about the rising
political importance of the First Nations of Canada. They are making a
comeback in demographics, in culture, in political power. I'd heard good
things about this book and I trusted Raulston Saul to summarize things for
me, having enjoyed his books *Voltaire's Bastards* and *Reflections of a
Siamese Twin*. I've done some research on the First Nations before and I
know that it is a deep and vast topic. Many non-Aboriginal authors come to
the topic with unintended, but very real prejudices, that... more »
"Twas The Night Before Christmas"... In Occupied Palestine
Northerntruthseeker at Northerntruthseeker - 15 hours ago
It is of course Christmas Eve, and I really want to wish everyone a most
Merry Christmas... I personally will probably be spending the next few days
with relatives and my own family celebrating this time of the year...
With everyone being in holiday cheer, I must remind everyone that we must
not forget those less fortunate and do our part to help and aid our fellow
man... With that in mind, I must also remind everyone of those innocent
people who are right now being brutalized and even outright murdered in the
occupied West Bank and of course the mess that is the Gaza Strip by the
m... more »
The future is bland
Steve at Thinking Aboot - 16 hours ago
hey hey hey Vietnam protest cheer
there is nothing close to us
so near
today
We are missig in a big way a protest song
everthing is all right
just listen to Taylor
she is pop right
Protest has gone grass roots
if may be back in the
Guthrie days
when a single guitar
and voice
illuminate the world
in a way that changed
the day
Jordanian Pilot Captured After Islamic State Militants Shoot Down A U.S. Led Coalition Warplane In Syria
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*ISIS Captures Jordanian Fighter Pilot In Syria -- New York Times*
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Militants from the Islamic State extremist group have
captured a Jordanian fighter pilot, Jordan’s state news service reported on
Wednesday after reports that the pilot’s plane was shot down over northern
Syria.
Shooting down a fighter jet from the United States-led coalition against
the Islamic State would be a first for the group. The pilot’s capture is
also a coup that could shake the resolve of the Arab countries in the
coalition, which began bombing Islamic State sites in Iraq and Syria this ... more »
The Battle For Chak Valley Is How The War Against The Taliban Is Going To Shape Up For The Afghan Military
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
An Afghan air force MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopter flies over Kabul,
Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2014. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Perry Aston
*In A Strategic Valley, A Glimpse Of Afghan Troops’ Future After Most U.S.
Forces Leave -- Washington Post*
BABA, Afghanistan — Clutching M-16 rifles, the Afghan soldiers nervously
stood watch on a sand-colored ridge next to a mud house blown apart by
gunfire. A week earlier, their unit had pushed the Taliban from this
village. Now, the insurgents were only a mile away, determined to recapture
the territory.
Every day, the 15 soldiers ha... more »
A Badge Of Courage: "We Have Earned The Hatred Of Entrenched Greed"... But Not For Today's DC Dems
DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 16 hours ago
Early Monday morning we took a look at an inspiring address FDR made to
Congress in January, 1936, after his historic landslide win against the
Republican Party, a landslide that decimated the GOP in both Houses of
Congress as well, leaving them with just 16 Senate seats and 88 House
seats. There was no question in the minds of the voters who was on their
side and who was standing with Wall Street. Those were the glory days of
the Democratic Partry. It's been all downhill since then due, primarily, to
confusion over the degree of support the DC Democrats still offer working
famili... more »
Black Gay James Bond
Steve at Thinking Aboot - 16 hours ago
No fucking way I say
first of all James Bond
must be in some way Scottish
are there black Scotts
even today?
If the world will accept a white actor
playing Nelson Mandela
I will be okay with a black
Bond.
A Gay James Bond is
not so hurtful
However I do not want
to watch it.
Whats next a black
Churchill, a black Patton
please people do not mess
with history to make
a product politically correct
or even a finacnial win.
Your fucking with peoples minds
if you take historical characters and make
them black.
The CIA didn't just torture- THEY EXPERIMENTED on HUMANS-
Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 16 hours ago
FINALLY!
A full week after I refreshed my own and readers memories about the human
experimentation being conducted by the CIA, as the main stream media
focused 24/7 on *torture*, *THE Nation *has decided to mention the human
experimentation-
What annoys me is the timing! This article was published on line little
more than a week before Christmas, when almost no one is paying attention.
The same piece will be in print January 2015, when next to no one will
bother to read the article. *The time to get this out was when the news was
fresh in the audiences mind.*
*Perhaps this is an a... more »
New Year's Eve destruction in France
Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 16 hours ago
Over New Year 2012/13 there were 1,193 vehicles torched across France.
Over New Year 2013/14 there were 1,067 vehicles torched across France.
What do we think for this New Year? Higher or lower? Or have a proportion
of the little tinkers moved on from vehicle burning to driving vehicles
into innocent shoppers?
Global Treaty Regulating The Arms Trade Enters Into Force
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 16 hours ago
*Global Treaty Regulating Arms Industry Comes Into Force -- Irish Times*
New treaty ‘dawn of a new era’ for arms regulation, says lobby group
A global arms trade treaty that aims to regulate the $85 billion (€70
billion) industry and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers
and criminals enters into force today.
However, the US Senate has not yet ratified the arms trade treaty.
Supporters of the treaty welcomed the development, saying it was long
overdue. They say the treaty, which the United States signed in 2013, would
require arms exporters around the world to meet ... more »
Stealthiness and the F-35, Harper style
Boris at The Galloping Beaver - 17 hours ago
Back
here, Dave asked:
Why is the coward bearing the title "prime minister" so hell-bent on
sole-sourcing the F-35? BECAUSE HE'S MADE A DEAL HE HASN'T TOLD YOU
ABOUT. He's hiding something - he always is!
Now Bill Sweetman at Aviation Week asks the same after some delicate
words regarding the results of the new fighter secretariat's review in
the context of the Harper government's handling of
Steve's year in review
Steve at Thinking Aboot - 17 hours ago
Lots of ditto here. So I am only going to go with whats new. But there is
no reason not to thank for another great year: Moeman, Allen, Simon and
James for taking the Bullshit out of Blogging every day or so.
Person of the Year is John Tory
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary thats Canada with one finger left
for the collective. These cities are where the boots meet the ground in
forging our future. Toronto is the most important and it has been
rudderless for four years. John Tory has the CV to do great things. I both
wish him well and pray he can do the improbable if not the im... more »
Untitled
JR at GREENIE WATCH - 17 hours ago
*Ocean acidity is a snark -- but a snark supported by threats*
*The Feely-Sabine ocean acidification claim ignores 80 years of real-world
data that show NO acidification trend*
*The Feely fraud himself*
“Ocean acidification” (OA) is receiving growing attention. While someone
who doesn’t follow climate change science might think OA is a stomach
condition resulting from eating bad seafood, OA is claimed to be a
phenomenon that will destroy ocean life—all due to mankind’s use of fossil
fuels. It is a foundational theory upon which the global warming/climate
change narrative is buil... more »
Untitled
jonjayray at EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL - 17 hours ago
*How to Reform No Child Left Behind*
Lawmakers already are talking about reauthorizing No Child Left Behind —
the George W. Bush-era education initiative. “I’d like to have the
president’s signature on it before summer,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, the
Tennessee Republican who will assume chairmanship of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee when Congress convenes in January.
But lawmakers should be pursuing bold education reforms, not searching out
weak legislative compromises that fail to limit federal overreach.
Congressional conservatives should take this o... more »
No Guns For Christmas
Barbara Ann Levy at WPB/NYC and Anything Else; A Curated Green Rights Collection - 17 hours ago
Chen Wei-ting lets the side down
Michael Turton at The View from Taiwan - 18 hours ago
*A local road in Miaoli.*
Chen Wei-ting, the Sunflower movement leader, made a stunning revelation
this week (Taipei Times):
In an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’
sister newspaper) published yesterday, Chen, who is running for legislator
in the by-election in Miaoli County in February, was asked to discuss his
potential risk of falling victim to “attacks on his personal integrity,” to
which he responded by making the revelation, saying: “There are things that
I have kept to myself for a long time.”
“One day, during the summer vacation before my... more »
James Corbett interviews Ellen Brown: Bank Bail in Rules Explained
Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 18 hours ago
Interview 986 – Ellen Brown Explains the New G20 Bank Bail-in Rules
*Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed*
Today attorney, author and researcher Ellen Brown of EllenBrown.com joins
us to discuss her article on “The Global Bankers’ Coup: Bail-In and the
Shadowy Financial Stability Board.” We talk about the G20 and their
rubber-stamping of the FSB’s proposed bail-in rules, what this shadowy body
is and how it interlocks with the Bank for International Settlements, and
what this means for depositors in the wake of the next banking crisis.
*SHOW NOTES:*
- *New G20 Rules: ... more »
Be prepared
sue at Is the BBC biased? - 18 hours ago
For the last few days I’ve been (mostly) thinking about Danny Cohen.
The BBC’s director of television senses an ominous whiff of antisemitism in
the air. The press has shown quite a bit of interest in Cohen’s interview
with Yonit Levi of Israel’s Channel 2, and a complaint by a prominent
Jewish media figure about rising antisemitism in the UK begs a fair few
questions.
I can’t decide how to approach this topic for “Is the BBC Biased?”
Heavily sarcastic seems somehow wrong; yet tempting.
*“As any fule kno, the Jews control the media, therefore a complaint by a
prominent Jewish ... more »
G3 or Global Gambling Game - I am not a game player - Free Planet's new mantra
Mike Philbin at Mike Philbin's free planet blog - 19 hours ago
I am not a game player.
Say it, say, "I am not a game player," and know what it means to make a
stand for your Free Planet.
Being a 'game player' means putting your head in the sand and hoping that
the evil monster will never trespass into your soft and comfortable dreams.
But it's already there.
Every day.
Haunting and Terrorising you.
You're there, right now. You can feel the sand in your ears. You're unable
to truly breath. You hate where you are but you think it's your only
option. It's what your mommy and your daddy told you was the right and
proper thing to do. It's what y... more »
NOSInt on a break
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 19 hours ago
[image: Happy Holidays]
Wishing you all the joys of the season and happiness throughout the coming
year.
I'll be back monday, january 5th 2015,
Kobus
Crusades vs Jihad in European, Middle East and North African history
Not a sheep at Not a sheep - 19 hours ago
How many times Muslims invaded Europe vs Christians invading the Middle
East
Not quite the way that the BBC and other politically correct fools portray
this part of history, is it.
‘Stealth’ frigate handed over to Taiwan's Navy
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: Tuo Jiang corvette]Taiwan's Navy yesterday took possession of the
island’s first self-developed missile-carrying “stealth” corvette.
The ship has been described by the Taiwanese media as an aircraft carrier
killer and the 500-tonne twin-hull vessel, Tuo Jiang, was built by the
Taiwanese shipbuilding company Lung Teh.
The handover to the navy took place at Suao, a fishing port in the eastern
part of Taiwan, and comes after the mainland has objected to the US sale of
four Perry-class frigates to the island.
Read more
Raytheon awarded $491 million contract for AMRAAM®
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: AIM-120 AMRAAM]Raytheon Company is being awarded a fixed-price
contract $491,478,068 for the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile.
The contract is for the production of the AMRAAM® missile and other AMRAAM
system items, including the captive air training missile, common munitions
bit/reprogramming equipment and non-developmental item airborne
instrumentation unit.
The contract includes foreign military sales to Korea, Oman, Singapore and
Thailand.
Read more
USMC receives first F-35C
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: F-35C Lightning II]The US Marine Corps has received its first
carrier-based Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II, marking the 36th and
final delivery of a Joint Strike Fighter in 2014.
Lockheed Martin says the 22 December delivery of aircraft CF-19 meets the
36 aircraft delivery target for 2014, and marks the 109th overall delivery
of operational F-35s to the USA and partner operators.
The first USMC F-35C out of a planned 80 will be assigned to the US Navy’s
VFA-101 “Grim Reapers” squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, based at Eglin AFB.
After delivery CF-19 will be used for F-35C pil... more »
A Very Merry Christmas To All Whom Visit My Blog This Holiday Season 2014
Stranger in a Strange Land at Stranger in a Strange Land - 20 hours ago
*A Very Merry Christmas To All Whom Visit My Blog *
Iraq / Syria Regional War ( December 24 , 2014 ) -ISIS claims to down jet piloted by Jordanian near Raqqa....... Battlefield and political reports for Iraq and Syria .....
Fred Walton at Catharsis Ours - 20 hours ago
Links....
*Pentagon Uses ISIS as Excuse to Hide Abuse Pics*
*Anonymous Tip to FBI Fuels Panic Over 'ISIS Threat' to Memphis Bridge*
Mass Grave Found Near Baghdad; 228 Killed Across Iraq
No Way Out for Iraqis Who Helped US in War
Search Is on for Diplomatic Solution to Syria War
Syrian Observatory: More Than 1,000 Jihadists Killed in US-Led Syria Strikes
Tweets....
The man is allegedly a Jordanian Air Force pilot, Muadh Yusuf. IS claims to
have shot his plane down with an anti-aircraft missile.
[image: View image on Twitter]
السلطان سنجر ✒ @Alsultansinjer2
Follow
طيار أردني لم ي... more »
The Hits And Misses On Predictions From The National Intelligence Council
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 20 hours ago
*What The Intelligence Community Thought Would Happen In 2015 - In 2000 --
Kedar Pavgi, Defense One*
After a year filled with non-stop national security crises, the question
is: Can anyone predict chaos in the future? The answer is, sort of.
Every four years, the National Intelligence Council - the arm of the
Intelligence Community tasked with developing long-term outlooks - releases
its Global Trends report. It’s an unclassified publication that uses open
source information gathering techniques to plot out the world 15 to 20
years out.
In 2000, the NIC released the Global Trends... more »
Air force preps B3.5bn purchase of new fighter jets
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 20 hours ago
[image: M-346 Master advanced jet trainer aircraft]Italian aerospace
company Alenia Aermacchi again has offered its M-346 Master advanced jet
trainer aircraft to Thailand as the air force looks at aircraft from as
many as six countries to replace its ageing fleet of Czech-made L-39
Albatros jets.
According to a report in HIS Jane's Defence Weekly, the offer was made
following last week's announcement by the air force it would purchase four
new fighter planes as part of its Advanced Jet Trainer/Light Attack
Aircraft programme.
The air force currently operates 36 L-39ZA/ART aircraft... more »
Russia Plans to Deliver New Aircraft to Belarus Air Base: Defense Minister
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
Russia will increase the number of airplanes and helicopters at its base to
be opened in Belarus, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday
during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Ravkov.
“I’m ready to continue our discussion of cooperation on a practical basis
today. This is in regard to the S-300 [anti-aircraft missile system], as
well as the creation and basing of [our] aviation in Belarus by increasing
the number of airplanes and helicopters. This should provide for the
security of our common airspace,” Shoigu said.
The Russian airbase is to be opened ... more »
Parliamentary panel criticises delays, cost overruns in navy projects
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: INS Vikrant]The price of indigenous aircraft carrier has shot up a
whopping six times and will now cost Rs 19,341 crore, a parliamentary panel
has said, criticising the "regular delays" and cost overruns in almost all
acquisition activities of the navy.
The Standing Committee on Defence also said it is "high time" that adequate
budgetary provisions are made to the force so that deficiencies are
mitigated and the country is capable of taking on two-front challenges.
The panel that it is "perturbed" to find a spurt in accidents involving
navy vessels in the recent past. In 201... more »
Fire Scout Drone’s First At-Sea Takeoff
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
In video released today (above), the MQ-8C helicopter takes off from the
destroyer Jason Dunham with its eyes closed — or rather with its cockpit
windows painted over, because there’s nobody inside.
Though derived from the widespread Bell 407, the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C is
a drone.
This month’s tests are the first time the unmanned helicopter has taken off
from a Navy ship at sea, and the first time any unmanned helicopter of any
kind has taken off from a destroyer.
Read more
New destroyer Ji'nan commissioned to East China Sea Fleet
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Ji'nan (Type-052C class) DDG]A simple and grand ceremony marking
the commissioning of the guided missile destroyer Ji'nan to the East China
Sea Fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was held at a
naval port in Zhoushan of east China's Zhejiang province on the morning of
December 22, 2014.
The newly-commissioned guided missile destroyer Ji'nan, together with the
guided missile destroyer Changchun and Zhengzhou, are all new-generation
guided missile destroyers independently developed by China.
The guided missile destroyer Ji'nan (hull number 152), is equipp... more »
Vietnamese ambassador says Russia to remain top arms seller
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang]Vietnam's continued acquisition of Russian
weapons will depend on regional developments and Hanoi's financial
capacity, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son said in a recent
interview with Russian news agency Interfax.
The ambassador made the statement when asked about Hanoi's plans to
continue buying weapons from Russia following several orders for
submarines, frigates and warships.
He said Vietnam buys Russian weapons for defensive purposes.
Read more
How Do You Define Victory In Today's Wars?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 21 hours ago
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ty-Michael Maes, left, directs his fire team during
a live-fire assault exercise with the Saudi marines as part of exercise Red
Reef 15 in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 16, 2014. Maes is a team leader
assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance detachment, Battalion Landing
Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S.
Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Rome M. Lazarus
*How Do You Successfully End Wars? Academics Seek An Answer -- Katie
Nguyen, Reuters*
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - What constitutes a military victory?
In... more »
Maritime spats 'stirring undersea arms race'
Ko Savonije at Naval Open Source INTelligence - 21 hours ago
[image: Soryu-class SSK]Territorial disputes in the East China Sea and
South China Sea are fuelling a build-up in submarine fleets that can spark
more frequent armed clashes in the already volatile waters, according to a
US-based think-tank.
"The currency of naval power in the ESCS (East and South China seas) has
become the submarine," Wikistrat, a consultancy that relies on
"crowdsourced" analysts, said in its latest "simulation report".
With disputes in the region unlikely to be resolved soon via diplomacy,
China, Japan and Vietnam will keep sending submarines to the East and Sout... more »
Merry Christmas!
noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 21 hours ago
*Have a very merry Christmas everyone!*
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A
7 Top Medical Procedures Whose Risks Far Exceed Their Benefit
arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
This is actually very useful and should be revisited every decade. We are
already seriously skeptical of all these procedures just from the lousy PR
that they earn. After all, just how do you get good PR for something that
fails to cure or totally resolve?
Knowing this they should all be put on a last resort list at least. It is
still a surprise that a couple here really do not justify their support.
The worst however is chemotherapy which cannot be justified at all and is
pure exploitation of patient desperation. Anything else and a radically
improved diet is really th... more »
The Christmas Truce of 1914 - Pinhole of Light Among a Nightmare of Madness
Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 22 hours ago
*December 24, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - LD) In the end, we have more in
common with the furthest flung foreign common man than the closest
corporate-fascist that presumes dominion over our lives.
During the early 1900's, Europe was locked in the first World War. Millions
would perish - tens of thousands in a single day. On one brief occasion, a
pinhole of light shined through this utter madness, revealing the truth of
this man-made nightmare. The men in the trenches were being driven toward
each other, not by some irreconcilable difference they had with one
another, but by the greed ... more »
Pentagon: Santa Claus Mission Will Be Successful
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 22 hours ago
*Pentagon Details Military Efforts to Ensure Santa Claus Mission is Success
-- Washington Free Beacon*
Amid concerns of increased threats to the United States during the
holidays, Adm. John Kirby recently assured the public that all domains
(land, air, cyber, space, sea) have been secured by the North American
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and that Santa Claus should make all of
his deliveries on time.
“Is the Pentagon at all concerned that NORAD’s Santa radar may be in danger
of being cyber-attacked or hacked? And are you taking any I.A. (ph)
measures to prevent that?” a re... more »
Triangulation and the Pineal Gland
arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
I wish to propose a conjecture. The pineal gland is a full member of our
visual sensory equipment that is placed deep inside the brain allowing much
of the spectrum to be blocked to enhance sensitivity to the blue end of the
spectrum.
One immediate result is that it provides the brain with a way to establish
a standard for the blue lines for both the pineal gland and the eyes
themselves. This then allows correction to be applied to the rest of the
spectrum as a form of natural triangulation.
Another natural result is the capability to then detect blues properly
which ap... more »
The 50 Latest Coconut Oil Benefits Backed by Science
arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
The last sixty years has seen a huge amount of public manipulation of the
health profiles of all oils. this has been entered into by various
proponents and has inevitably sowed confusion and unending misinformation
if not downright lies. Coconut oil was attacked and has now recovered and
this is part of that story line.
What is needed is a truly independent body able to provide meaningful
guidance to overcome what is now an awful history of food fraud. We really
need an ABC schedule to work against and a renewal of trust.
In the meantime here is the dope on coconut oil.
*The ... more »
Putin Announces Massive Foreign Currency Bailout For Russia's Collapsing Banks
arclein at Terra Forming Terra - 22 hours ago
Russia is once again going to the wall with its currency. A lot of this is
been caused by the sharp drop in oil pricing along with Putin's bout of ill
timed adventurism in the Ukraine. The internal economy it far to fragile
to allow easy recovery from such shocks and ghere we have two back to back.
Take oil out of the economic equation and the top down system is completely
unfunded. That risk may seem remote today but that is going to be the big
story over the next decade as the public finds itself able to shed monopoly
pricing.
Putin himself is still okay, but the internal s... more »
Nazi Mice of the Third Reich
Spike EP at News Spike - 22 hours ago
"Urwand said: *"Collaboration: it's not my word or invention. I got it from
materials from both sides. It's the word that's regularly used to describe
their relationship."* He said the German head of MGM spoke to the German
press of the* "satisfying collaboration on both sides".*
*"It's collaboration in the sense that Hollywood movie executives and Nazi
officials are actually collaborating and the Nazis are having the final
say," *said Urwand.* "They didn't want to lose their business. They didn't
want to have to go home and come back under different conditions. They also
felt Hi... more »
Every theory of quantum gravity is a part of string theory: a partial proof
Luboš Motl at The Reference Frame - 23 hours ago
*A successful test in \(AdS_3\)*
The first hep-th paper today is
String Universality for Permutation Orbifolds
by Alexandre Belin, Christoph A. Keller, and Alexander Maloney who are at
Rutgers University, my graduate Alma Mater (I know A.M. from Harvard). Note
that Christopher was terrified by the disagreement between the other two
authors when it comes to "-re" or "-er" in their first name, so he erased
it from his name altogether. ;-)
*Serin Hall, Rutgers University, NJ*
We sometimes say that string theory is the only consistent theory of
quantum gravity. It's the only game in... more »
Torture Wrong. Drone Strikes OK?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 23 hours ago
*Are Drone Strikes More Defensible Than Torture? -- Victor Davis Hanson,
NRO*
Democrats are hypocritically silent about Obama’s policy of targeted
assassinations.
There are lots of hypocrisies surrounding the recently released executive
summary of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA’s detention
and interrogation program. But they pale in comparison to the current
Democratic silence about President Barack Obama’s policy of targeted drone
assassinations.
Since 2004, drones have killed an estimated 2,400 to 3,888 individuals in
Pakistan alone, according to the Burea... more »
Christy Clark To Pay OFF BC`s Debt With Liquor Taxes And Funeral Fees
Grant G at The Straight Goods - 23 hours ago
*Written By Grant G*
All through the house the only creature stirring was a drunken old louse,
abusing the children and beating his spouse.
On dancer and prancer who strip on the stage, where liquor is quicker to
incite his rage, come after work and spend your hard earned pay, drink is
aplenty, slurp a few more, gulp down some shooters then one for the road,
happy hour never turns sour so let off a load.
On Yap, On Coleman on Anton too, Christy Clark wants tax revenue from all
of you, booze in the barn, golf courses ski hills and flea markets too,
bring your children and babies... more »
Facebook: Colonialism 2.0
Land Destroyer at Land Destroyer - 23 hours ago
Putting the entire planet online... then controlling everything they see or
read.
*December 24, 2014* (Tony Cartalucci - NEO) - The Western media has
attempted to portray Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious plan to get every human
being online as altruistic at first, but later revealed as simply what
could be called "profitable empathy." In reality however, the truth is much
more sinister, with Facebook already revealed to be much more than a mere
corporation run by Zuckerberg and his "ideas"
Facebook is the pinnacle of social engineering, an online operant
conditioning chamber - also kn... more »
Is Facebook Cooperating With The Kremlin To Shut Down Dissent?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny (left) and his brother, Oleg,
on a Facebook page calling for a January 15 demonstration near the Kremlin
in support of the embattled activist.
*Facebook Helps Putin Shut Down Dissidents -- Washington Free Beacon*
Social media company kowtows to Russian dictator, kisses up to Chinese
president
Facebook is facing heightened scrutiny of its conduct in countries with
authoritarian regimes amid reports that an events page for Russia’s most
prominent dissident was blocked by the company at the insistence of the
Russian government.
A page or... more »
Why Writing Off Russia Would Be Unwise
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Putin's jingoism suggests détente is impossible but let's wait a few months
for things to cool. Photo: Kremlin Picture Office
*Russia’s Crisis Is Also A Huge Opportunity -- Steen Jakobsen, Trading
Floor *
* Russia's failure to reform made crisis inevitable
* Ukraine détente imperative for Russian revival
* Writing off Russia would be unwise
Russia’s years of neglecting to invest and reform pointed to an inevitable
crisis. In 2014, that crisis came on two fronts, first in the confrontation
over Ukraine from early this year and the resulting sanctions, and then
followed by the incred... more »
NLBS #28: Detoxing Cleanses Don't Do Anything For You
Leonid Basin at GlobaLove Think Tank - 1 day ago
How This Murder Case Almost Directly Impacted Me .... But In A Way It Did
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*Luka Magnotta Guilty Of 1st-Degree Murder In Jun Lin's Slaying -- CBC*
Jurors in 10-week trial in Montreal found 32-year-old guilty of killing
university student, other charges
Luka Magnotta has received an automatic life sentence for first-degree
murder, with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He was sentenced to
another 19 years for the four other charges he was convicted on.
Quebec Superior Court Justice Guy Cournoyer gave Magnotta the maximum
sentence on the four lesser charges, to be served concurrently with the
first-degree murder sentence.
Magnotta closed his eyes a... more »
Who Was Protected In Michael Grimm's Sweet Plea Bargain Deal?
DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 day ago
The Michael Grimm saga has always been special for me-- not because my
sister lives on Staten Island or because his congressional district
includes a part of the Brooklyn neighborhood I grew up in-- but because, in
2005-06-- when I was looking into the "disappearance" of a $400,000 that
GOP serial criminal Tom Kontogiannis paid Duke Cunningham to get Bush to
pardon him-- a reader informed me that an otherwise unknown crooked FBI
agent who had gone over to the Gambino Crime Family, Michael "Mikey Suits"
Grimm, was involved in the "missing" Bush bribe. The media, of course, covered
... more »
Is President Bush To Blame For The Rise of The Islamic State?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*First Known Western Journalist To Embed With ISIS Blames Bush For Group’s
Existence -- CBS*
WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The first known Western journalist to have embedded
with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terror group blames former
President George W. Bush for its existence.
German journalist Jürgen Todenhöfer, 74, spent ten days with the terror
group in Mosul. Speaking with the German website TZ, Todenhöfer said that
the U.S. air campaign against ISIS will have little effect on the group.
“With every bomb that is dropped and hits a civilian, the number of
terrorists increas... more »
Former President George H.W. Bush Taken To Hospital By Ambulance
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
Former United States President George H. W. Bush is brought into the
auditorium where his son Former United States President George W. Bush
speaks about his new book titled ''41: A Portrait of My Father'' at the
George Bush Presidential Library Center in College Station, Texas November
11, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Bob Daemmrich/Pool
*Former President George HW Bush Hospitalized -- ABC News*
Former President George H.W. Bush was taken by ambulance to the Houston
Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing a shortness of breath
earlier this evening, his spokesman said tonight.... more »
James Cameron
Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
*Cameron - On the Square*
*Cameron - On the Level*
*Cameron - Upright and True*
*Strange Days (1995)*
*The Titanic Deception : "There were rumors that the ships had been
switched and all sorts of things...." from Spike EP on Vimeo.*
*Cameron, James*
*THE JAMES CAMERON CONSPIRACY THEORY*
*(The Conspiracy Theorists Cut)*
Note: this copy of the James Cameron Conspiracy Theory contains never
before seen information that wasn't in the previous online version. This
HTML version is divided into three 6.5 page sections for easier reading.
WARNING: The information contained within the ... more »
U.S. Now Offering A $5 Million Bounty For An Al-Qaeda Terrorist It Had Released From Guantanamo
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
U.S. State Department
*Oops! U.S. Offers $5 Mil Reward for Al Qaeda Terrorist it Released From
Gitmo -- Judicial Watch*
Years after liberating an Al Qaeda operative from the military prison at
Guantanamo, the United States government has put him on a global terrorist
list and offered a $5 million reward for information on his whereabouts.
The unbelievable story comes as President Obama frees more and more
terrorists—including four to Afghanistan over the weekend— long held in the
military compound at the U.S. Naval base in southeastern Cuba. The
president’s goal is to close the pr... more »
Has Oil Become The Weapon Of Choice For The U.S. And Saudi Arabia?
War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 day ago
*How Oil's Become The World's Most Potent Weapon: Forget Nuclear Arms. The
U.S. And Saudis Are Behind An Oil Price Crash That Could Topple Regimes In
Russia And Iran -- Daily Mail*
* Price of oil has fallen dramatically - down by nearly half in six months
* The collapse in price means it is cheaper to fill up your car at the
pumps
* But has sparked fiscal crisis that threatens to shift global power balance
* U.S. and Saudi Arabia are using market slump to wreak havoc on enemies
* While Russia - which depends on a bouyant price - is on the edge of crisis
* Most pressing issue for Brit... more »
Hypertime
Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
"Hypertime is our name for the vast collective of parallel universes out
there, in which you can somewhere find every DC story ever published - but
it's also more than that. The standard model of parallel timelines is the
branches of a river, right? The main timeline is the main stream while
tributaries symbolize the alternate timelines? Well, imagine that sometimes
those tributaries feed back IN to the main stream, sometimes for a while,
sometimes forever. Other times, they cross OVER for only a MOMENT before
going in an altogether NEW direction - and for the most part, no one
n... more »
"A Look to the Heavens, With Chet Raymo"
noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
*Click image for larger size.*
"These two mighty galaxies are pulling each other apart. Known as " The
Mice" because they have such long tails, each spiral galaxy has likely
already passed through the other. They will probably collide again and
again until they coalesce. The long tails are created by the relative
difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each
galaxy."
- http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080224.html
***
"The Heaven's Embroidered Cloths"
by Chet Raymo
"In his "Defense of Poetry," Percy Bysshe Shelley said that one of the
sacred tasks of the artist ... more »
"Ideals..."
noreply@blogger.com (CoyotePrime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 day ago
"Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your
hands,
but like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your
guides,
and following them, you reach your destiny."
- Carl Schurz
Lockerbie - The Flight From Justice by Paul Foot
Spike EP at News Spike - 1 day ago
Lockerbie - The Flight From Justice - Paul Foot - Private Eye Special Report
by stax68
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