Tuesday, May 30, 2017

30 May - Blogs I'm Following - 1 of 2

11:24 pm MDT

Picture Of The Day

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 37 minutes ago
*(Click on Image to Enlarge)* FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the test of a new-type anti-aircraft guided weapon system organised by the Academy of National Defence Science in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) May 28, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS *WNU Editor: *The above picture is from this photo gallery .... *North Korea warns of 'bigger gift package' for U.S. after latest test* (Reuters)

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: Russians Are ‘Genetically’ Motivated To Interfere in Election

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 1 hour ago
*Sputnik*: *Clapper: Russians ‘Genetically Driven’ to Interfere in Elections* WASHINGTON — Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on Sunday said that his "dashboard warning light was clearly on" when asked about whether he knew about communications between Russians and White House senior adviser and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. "I have to say that, without specifically affirming or confirming these conversations — since, even though they're in the public realm, they're still classified — just from a theoretical standpoint, I will tell you that my da... more »

Are esports the next major league sport?

Galen Clavio, Associate Professor of Sports Media; Director of the National Sports Journalism Center, Indiana University at Science + Technology – The Conversation - 1 hour ago
Two basketball teams go head-to-head in an esports competition, with spectators cheering them on. Dan Steinberg/Invision for NBA 2K/AP Images In late 2016, a sports championship event was held in Chicago, drawing 43 million viewers during the series finals. That was 12 million more people than watched the 2016 NBA Finals. It wasn’t soccer, or football, or even the World Series of Poker. Instead, it was the “League of Legends” World Finals, an esports competition. Video games have been popular for more than 30 years, but competitive gaming, or esports, has recently emerged as a spec... more »

An End To Gerrymandering?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 1 hour ago
Antonin Scalia once wrote that "Political gerrymanders are not new to the American scene" and noted there were allegations that Patrick Henry attempted, unsuccessfully, to gerrymander James Madison out of the First Congress. With today's technologies, though, Patrick Henry would have absoluetely been successful and Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Norman Coleman, Carole King, Andrew Dice Clay, Chris Rock and I might have gone to a high school named for Calvin Coolidge (who was president when the school opened). In recent times, conservatives on the Supreme Cour... more »

“‘A Tragic, Dumbass Comedy’: Robert De Niro’s Verdict On Life In The US”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 1 hour ago
*“‘A Tragic, Dumbass Comedy’: Robert De Niro’s Verdict On Life In The US”* by RT It may sound like the description of his latest movie, but “tragic, dumbass comedy” is actually how Hollywood actor Robert De Niro described life in the US at the moment. The 'Taxi Driver' star made the remarks during a graduation speech at Brown University in Rhode Island where he was awarded an honorary fine arts degree. Addressing scores of jubilant students, the 73-year-old asked the crowd: “Are you sure you want to do this? Do you have any idea what has happened to our world in the four years you’v... more »

Turkey Tells Germany That Incirlik Air Base Is Closed To German Lawmakers Unless They Improve Their 'Altitude'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 2 hours ago
German Tornado jets are pictured on the ground at the air base in Incirlik, Turkey, January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz/Pool *Reuters:* *Still not possible to open Incirlik base to Germany: Turkey minister* Turkey's foreign minister said on Tuesday it is not possible to allow German lawmakers to visit troops stationed at Turkey's Incirlik air base now, although Ankara might reconsider if it saw "positive steps" from Berlin. Mevlut Cavusoglu also said the issue would be discussed with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who is due to visit Turkey on Monday. Ties between t... more »

Emancipation through Song: What Can We Learn from Rock Music?

Josh Busby at Duck of Minerva - 2 hours ago
This is a guest post from Sean Kay, Robson Professor of Politics and Government, and Director of International Studies, at Ohio Wesleyan University. The interview quotes appear in his new book Rockin’ the Free World! How the Rock & Roll Revolution Changed America and the World (2017). There is power in rock and roll – an art […]

This Was America's Secret Cold War Strategy to Nuke Russia Back to the Stone Age

Michael Peck at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Michael Peck* *Security, Europe* Millions would have died *The SAC plan specified "the 'systematic destruction' of Soviet bloc urban-industrial targets that specifically and explicitly targeted 'population' in all cities, including Beijing, Moscow, Leningrad, East Berlin, and Warsaw," noted National Security Archive researchers. "Purposefully targeting civilian populations as such directly conflicted with the international norms of the day, which prohibited attacks on people per se (as opposed to military installations with civilians nearby)."* *Most of the 800 pages of docume... more »

5 Weapons That Made the Soviet Union a Military Colossus (And Scared America)

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, Europe* The Soviet Union was one of the most powerful collections of states that ever existed. Born in the Russian Civil War, the Soviet Union boasted one of the strongest armies on Earth. *The AK-47 took design cues from a number of guns, particularly the German Sturmgewehr StG-44, the world’s first true assault rifle, and the American M-1 Garand rifle. The advantages of the AK-47 were that it combined a newer, lighter 7.26-millimeter bullet with full automatic operation in a durable, dependable package. The weapon was lightweight, easy to disassemble... more »

The U.S. Navy's Most Powerful Aircraft Carrier Ever Is Close to Joining the Fleet

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * The Gerald Ford is almost ready. The aircraft carrier *Gerald R. Ford* successfully completed U.S. Navy acceptance trials last week, clearing the way for the massive new vessel to be delivered to the service for commissioning later this year. Inspectors from U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) gave *Ford* a thumbs up during a short sea trial, which took place in the Atlantic Ocean during May 24 to May 26. "Congratulations to our Navy and industry team for all the great work that has led us to this exciting milestone," Rear Adm. Brian... more »

Phantom Express: The Super Spaceplane Boeing and DARPA Hope to Make a Reality

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * The idea behind Phantom Express is that as a reusable spaceplane, it could be turned around and launched back into space quickly. Earlier this month, Boeing and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced that they hope to build a new space plane to quickly carry satellites and other payloads into orbit. Called the Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program, the new robotic spacecraft would be an autonomous, reusable spaceplane. The spaceplane would be used to lift a small expendable upper stage aloft to where it could launch a small ... more »

Can Germany Defend Europe On Its Own?

Salvatore Babones at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Salvatore Babones* *Security, Europe* [image: Bundeswehr M109. Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons] Most of NATO’s frontline members in eastern and southern Europe are doing their part. Germany is not. German chancellor Angela Merkel has reaffirmed her position as the unlikely superhero of Europe’s liberal elites. Twelve years in power and facing a difficult election in September, she struck out at the least popular man in Europe: Donald Trump. Fresh from last week’s G-7 summit, Merkel took a dig at Trump that won her liberal friends around the world. At a Sunday election rally ... more »

The New Normal: Sending Troops to Afghanistan and Forgetting They Exist

Daniel R. DePetris at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Daniel R. DePetris* *Security, Asia* The lack of public debate about whether it’s appropriate to send more U.S. and NATO troops to Afghanistan is almost un-American. The handwriting is on the wall: Whether it’s a strategically sound policy or not, it’s likely the Trump administration will authorize the Pentagon to deploy an additional three thousand to five thousand U.S. troops to Afghanistan to ostensibly prevent the Taliban from capturing more territory. While the details are not yet out, administration officials are saying the exact things one would expect before a sizable tr... more »

Ukraine's Government Is Failing to Unite Ukrainians

Nicolai N. Petro, Josh Cohen at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Nicolai N. Petro, Josh Cohen* *Politics, Eurasia* [image: President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons/Senate of Poland] The current course of denigrating those deemed insufficiently Ukrainian will only lead to a fracturing of the country. Last month Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko dramatically expanded his country’s sanctions against Russia by imposing multiyear sanctions on a number of IT companies. Once they are fully implemented these sanctions will impact some twenty-five million Ukrainians, or nearly every Ukrainian internet user. These w... more »

Merkel Believes Europeans Are Voting on Donald Trump

Matt Purple at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Matt Purple* *Politics, Europe* [image: Angela Merkel at the European People’s Party Congress 2017. Flickr/Creative Commons/European People’s Party] Even amidst recent populism, revulsion to Trump is a potent political force at the heart of Europe. The joke is that nothing good ever follows an aggressive German military buildup. But what about when Germany aggressively *doesn’t* build up its military? That’s the quandary facing President Donald Trump and Chancellor Angela Merkel following last week’s NATO summit, where Trump demanded that European nations fatten their military... more »

A War with North Korea Could Kill Millions—and Devastate the Global Economy

Anthony Fensom at The National Interest - 2 hours ago
*Anthony Fensom* *Economics, Asia* [image: South Korean thousand-won bill. Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons/Brandon Oh] Any further escalation of the Korean Peninsula crisis could inflict economic pain across the globe. North Korea has ignored international sanctions to test-fire eight ballistic missiles this year, as the “Hermit Kingdom” builds up its nuclear capabilities. Amid threats of nuclear war against the United States and its allies, the region is already suffering economic damage and even worse could lie ahead should the crisis escalate. The latest ballistic-missile ... more »

Did Rep. Darrell Issa ‘Hide’ on a Rooftop to Avoid Protesters?

Bethania Palma at Snopes.com - 2 hours ago
The Republican from California says he was simply taking pictures, but his political opponent says he was avoiding constituents.

Do ‘Angel Flights’ Release Flare Salutes for Fallen Soldiers?

Dan Evon at Snopes.com - 2 hours ago
A photograph purportedly showing a plane releasing a flare salute to soldiers killed in battle is often shared with misleading information.

The Meaning of Assange’s Persecution

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Nearly five years ago, Ecuador granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange political asylum at its London embassy. The original purpose of the asylum was to avoid extradition to the United States. Two years earlier, Swedish authorities had launched an investigation of Assange for sexual assault. Sweden has now dropped that investigation. Assange called the Swedish decision... Read more »

Palestinian Prisoners on Hunger Strike as Trump Visits Israel

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
As Donald Trump arrives in Israel, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are participating in a hunger strike to protest their mistreatment. On April 17, Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, approximately 1,500 prisoners began refusing food, ingesting only salt water. That amounts to about a quarter of all Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel. Their demands include increased... Read more »

Did Trump Commit High Crimes and Misdemeanors?

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has responded to the crescendo of outrage by appointing former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate “any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump” and “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation” as well as... Read more »

Jeff Sessions’ Department of Injustice

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Motivated by his deep-seated biases and those of President Donald Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is pursuing a draconian agenda on voting rights, immigration, crime, policing, the drug war, federal sentencing and the privatization of prisons. Sessions, now head of the Department of Justice, which is charged with enforcing the Voting Rights Act, once called... Read more »

Gorsuch Is Already Channeling Scalia on Life-or-Death Decisions

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Just days after stealing Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court seat, Neil Gorsuch is channeling Antonin Scalia. On April 20, the newly minted associate justice cast his first ballot. Gorsuch provided the fifth vote that allowed Arkansas to execute a likely innocent man. Casting the Deciding Vote for Death For 24 years, Ledell Lee maintained his innocence,... Read more »

Trump Adds Insult to Injury in Syria

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
With 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles, each armed with over 1,000 pounds of explosives, Donald Trump went from scoundrel-in-chief to national hero, virtually overnight. The corporate media, the neoconservatives and most of Congress hailed Trump as strong and presidential for lobbing bombs into Syria, reportedly killing seven civilians and wounding nine. “The instant elevation of Trump... Read more »

Donald Trump’s War Crimes

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Just two and a half months into his presidency, Donald Trump has already distinguished himself as a war criminal. His administration is killing unusually large numbers of civilians, in violation of US and international law. Killing Civilians in Record Numbers The Trump administration began to kill civilians over inaugural weekend, with two drone strikes in... Read more »

Israel Hits Back Against Boycott

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
On March 19, Israeli tax officials arrested Omar Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian human rights defender and co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Omar and his wife Safa, an Israeli citizen, were detained for 16 hours and have been subjected to daily interrogation sessions. Barghouti’s arrest is indirect evidence of the growing strength... Read more »

Neil Gorsuch and the Deconstruction of the Administrative State

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
When Donald Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus addressed the Conservative Political Action Committee in February, he identified two priorities of the administration: the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, and deregulation. It turns out that elevating Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and achieving deregulation are inextricably linked. During Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing, Democratic... Read more »

Gorsuch Would Use “Originalism” to Affirm Right-Wing Agenda

Marjorie Cohn at Marjorie Cohn - 2 hours ago
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch says he’s an “originalist.” The late Justice Antonin Scalia, whom Gorsuch called “a lion of the law,” also championed originalism. Justice Clarence Thomas now stands alone on the high court as a self-proclaimed originalist. Largely discredited by courts and legal scholars, originalism is ultimately a way to reach a right-wing... Read more »

Russian President Putin Meets Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 3 hours ago
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 30, 2017. REUTERS/Pavel Golovkin/Pool *Reuters:* *Russia's Putin, Saudi prince praise dialogue on oil, Syria* Russia and Saudi Arabia hailed their growing partnership in oil markets and dialogue on Syria on Tuesday, in a departure from past hostilities between the top global producers and major players in the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin heaped praise on Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ... more »

Google’s New Tool Says 80% of Rooftops Are Sunny Enough to be Outfitted with Solar Panels

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 3 hours ago
*Terence Newton* - Solar power is more viable than ever as an alternative to fossil fuels. The post Google’s New Tool Says 80% of Rooftops Are Sunny Enough to be Outfitted with Solar Panels appeared first on Waking Times.

Poll: 2 in 3 Tennessee Voters Favor Immigrant Tuition Break

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — About two out of three registered voters in the state think Tennessee students whose parents brought or kept them in the country illegally should be eligible for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities, according to a poll released by Vanderbilt University on Tuesday. The wide support for extending the tuition […]

Connecticut Teachers, Students Protest DeVos’ Comments

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Teachers, students and parents at a Connecticut high school on Tuesday protested remarks made by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who quoted a former student in calling the school “nothing more than adult day care … a dangerous day care.” Connecticut Democratic U.S. Rep. John Larson and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. […]

Baylor Adds Officers, Counselors Amid Sex Assault Lawsuits

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
WACO, Texas — Baylor University’s outgoing president says additional police officers have been hired and the number of campus counselors doubled as the school works to improve its response to sexual assault complaints. Interim President David Garland also says in the Waco Tribune-Herald column that additional staff members have been added to the Title IX […]

Hungary Seeks Talks with New York State on Soros School

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian government said Tuesday it was seeking to engage with New York state about the status of Budapest-based Central European University, founded by billionaire George Soros. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent letters to Prime Minister Viktor Orban and President Janos Ader advocating for CEU, saying recent changes to Hungary’s higher […]

Kansas Law Requires Schools Give Free Tuition to Foster Kids

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
LAWRENCE, Kan. — A Kansas law waives tuition at state universities and colleges for foster kids, but requires the schools to cover the entire cost without state aid. The Kansas Foster Child Education Assistance Act passed in 2006 waives tuition and fees at state universities, tech schools, community colleges and Washburn University for students who […]

Boston Announces Tuition-free College Pilot Program

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Mayor Marty Walsh have unveiled a tuition-free college program for low-income students in Boston. The Republican governor and the Democratic mayor launched the new college affordability program for high school graduates in the city on Tuesday. The aim is to allow eligible students to complete four-year degrees without paying […]

Too Many Men are Socially Isolated

Elwood Watson at Diverse - 3 hours ago
So many men have difficulty establishing and maintaining valuable, close, relationships with other men.

Diverse Docket: Bias Suit Against Va. Union May Proceed

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
A White former assistant professor can seek damages from Virginia Union University for alleged discrimination in its decision not to renew her contract but not for a reprimand she received, a federal judge ruled.

Texas OKs Bill Increasing Community Colleges Offering 4-year Degrees

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
The Texas Legislature approved a bill on Monday that would allow more community colleges in the state to offer four-year degree programs.

LGBTQ College Presidents: Work Not Over for Those Who are ‘Out’

cmaadmin at Diverse - 3 hours ago
When Dr. Raymond E. Crossman, president of Adler University, first helped to launch LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education back in 2010, it began with only a dozen or so members.

Farmer Fined $2.8 Million for Plowing His Own Land

Steve Byas at rss - 3 hours ago
[image: farmer-fined-2-8-million-for-plowing-his-own-land] Several parts of the Constitution appear violated by the Army Corps of Engineers in their effort to heavily fine a California farmer — for plowing on his own land without a permit.

US starts new arms deliveries to Kurds

Henri Feyerabend at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 3 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (0:02 A.M.) – The US started equipping Kurdish groups within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to increase their combat strength for the eventual battle for Raqqa against ISIS. While Al-Masdar News already obtained and published materials and information showing the US arms delivery efforts on February 2 and the SDF announced the first […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Tri tenka Sirijske Arapske Armije pogodjena u istočnom Alepu

Petar Marković at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 3 hours ago
DAMASK, SIRIJA (22:50) – Pripadnici organizacije Islamska Država (IS, ISIS, ISIL) sočeni sa gubitkom većine visoravni Maskanah u istočnom Alepu opredelili su se za strategiju usporenog povlačenja, koju karakteriše pre svega miniranje terena, te pažlljivo postavljanje zaseda. Cilj strategije je onesposobljavanje oklopne mehanizacije kojom raspolaže SAA, pre vsega upotrebom protiv-tenkovskih sistema iz pažljivo pripremljenih drugih […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Sirijska Arapska Armija oslobodila preko 35 zarobljenika

Petar Marković at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 3 hours ago
BEJRUT, LIBAN (21:40) – Vrhovna komanda Sirijske Arapske Armije (SAA) u utorak je obavestila javnost, da su posle evakuacije pobunjenika iz distrikta Barzeh (u istočnom Damasku), njene jedinice oslobodile više od 35 zarobljenih osoba. Većinu oslobodjenih čine pripadnici SAA, te oteti civili tokom prethodnih pet godina sukoba. Od 29. maja Barzeh je pod punom kontrolom […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Greg Fingas at Accidental Deliberations - 4 hours ago
Sociable cats.

Swimming Elephant

Oberon at GlobaLove Think Tank - 4 hours ago
The Fall Swimming Elephant Scene

X22 Report, “The Entire System Is Ripping Itself Apart And It's Going Unnoticed”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
X22 Report, “The Entire System Is Ripping Itself Apart And It's Going Unnoticed” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak1iKOe6dwc

"We’re Hanging Ten Off The Edge Of The Fiscal Abyss And It May Well Be Too Late To Step Back Before We Fall”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 4 hours ago
*"We’re Hanging Ten Off The Edge Of The Fiscal Abyss And It * *May Well Be Too Late To Step Back Before We Fall”* BY IWB "A trillion here and a trillion there, world’s major economies to come up $400 trillion short on retirement savings. Bloomberg reports: “We’re really at an inflection point,” Michael Drexler, head of financial and infrastructure systems at the World Economic Forum, said in a phone interview. “Pension underfunding is the climate-change moment of social systems in the sense that there is still time to do something about it. But if you don’t, in 20 or 30 years down t... more »

US Successfully Intercepts An ICBM Over The Pacific During A Missile Defense Test -- News Roundup

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 4 hours ago
*CNN: **US successfully 'intercepts and destroys' target in missile test* Washington (CNN)The Pentagon successfully shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile using its own upgraded long-range interceptor missile on Tuesday in what was widely seen as a test of US ability to counter a North Korean missile launch. The Missile Defense Agency launched a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to intercept a US-launched mock ICBM target over the Pacific Ocean, according to a US defense official. The interceptor "destroyed the target in a direct coll... more »

Is the system rigged?

David Brin at CONTRARY BRIN - 4 hours ago
Oh, how spectacularly *right* Donald Trump was, in his most-cogent statement… that *the election would be “rigged.” * We all know it happened in 2000 when George W. Bush's own brother -- Florida Governor Jeb Bush -- "lost" 60,000 democratic voter registrations (later proved totally valid) enabling (with a dozen other cheats) W to win Florida and the White House by 167 votes. But this article - Was the 2004 Election stolen? - shows in excruciatingly painful detail how that one was, as well. And how the Republican Party retained control of Congress for 20 out of 22 years, despite a ... more »

Cory Booker Always Tries To Put His Donors First-- At Least When He Can Get Away With It

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 4 hours ago
He's gone on to bigger and far better things now, but an old friend of mine used to work for corporate shill Cory Booker (D-NJ). Right after Booker was on CNN's *State of the Nation* Sunday indicating he's not onboard with the idea of impeaching Trump, my friend, the ex-staffer, called me and said that Booker has been in bed with the Kushner family for his whole career and that they've given him-- and helped him raise-- a fortune. Ivanka and Jared have even hosted fund-raising events for his campaigns. I tweeted what he told me and was immediately attacked from the peanut gallery ... more »

Do Falling Coconuts Kill More People Than Sharks Each Year?

Alex Kasprak at Snopes.com - 4 hours ago
This factoid has been repeated so often it might as well be true, but "research" on which it is based is a press release for a travel agency with remarkably comprehensive health insurance coverage.

VFP Brings Letters to the Vietnam Wall

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 4 hours ago
On Memorial day in Washington Veterans For Peace (VFP) placed letters written by people from around the country along the Vietnam War Memorial - many people picked them up and read them. Then we went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and VFP members took turns reading the entire April 4, 1967, “Beyond Vietnam” speech by Dr. King at the Riverside Church in New York City where he came out against the Vietnam War. It was this speech where King declared that America was the largest purveyor of violence on the planet. Exactly one year to the day after delivering that speech King... more »

White House loses communications director and on the same day releases a statement that sounds suspiciously like Trump bragging about himself.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 4 hours ago
Trump whispering to White House spokesperson Hope Hicks. So today the White House communications director, Mike Dubke, quit: *The White House communications director has resigned only three months after being hired by President Donald Trump.* This is rather big news as there has been talk for days about a shake up in the White House. Then, suddenly, there was this off statement issued by spokeswoman Hope Hicks. Courtesy of WaPo: *President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to co... more »

Does Texas Ban Non-Christians From Adopting Children?

Arturo Garcia at Snopes.com - 5 hours ago
House Bill 3859 would allow adoption agencies to use "religious beliefs" as a criterion for screening prospective parents.

Miley Cyrus Death Hoax

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 5 hours ago
Reports that singer Miley Cyrus’ lifeless body was found by her entourage in a bathtub after she drowned from a prescription drug overdose are fake news.

Was an 11-Year-Old Girl Forced to Marry Her Rapist in Florida?

Kim LaCapria at Snopes.com - 5 hours ago
Claims about an 11-year-old girl forced to marry a man who raped her appear to be true, but were presented in a misleading fashion on social media.

Iran-Backed Pro-Syrian Regime Forces Massing Close To U.S. Coalition Base In Syria

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
Kataib Imam Ali Forces (Iraqi militia in Syria) announced that they are preparing for Al #Tanf battle. See https://t.co/iyhjOPHsAY pic.twitter.com/ZLo5elflN5 — Balanche (@FabriceBalanche) May 30, 2017 *AFP*:* Pro-regime forces 'mass' in Syria close to coalition base* Iran-backed, pro-Syrian regime forces are again massing close to where US-led warplanes bombed them this month, the Pentagon said Tuesday, raising the likelihood of additional strikes. Coalition planes on May 18 pounded the front of a convoy that had apparently been headed toward the At-Tanf garrison, where coalition... more »

Supreme Court Rules Cops Can Escalate and Provoke Conflicts With Impunity

The Free Thought Project at The Free Thought Project - 5 hours ago
[image: court] Police officers cannot be held liable for use-of-force consequences even when they provoke a violent confrontation, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Trump’s Rollback of Civil Rights

Robert Reich - 5 hours ago
Trump’s budget isn’t just about massive tax cuts for rich and major cuts in assistance... more »

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 30, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 5 hours ago
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump before talks at the G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, May 26, 2017. Guido Bergmann/Courtesy of Bundesregierung/Handout via REUTERS *Danny Vinik, Politico*: *Trump's right about Germany* *His diagnosis is imprecise but Merkel's economic policies really are hurting the U.S.* President Donald Trump had harsh words for Germany at a NATO meeting in Belgium this week, where he reportedly referred to the Germans as “bad, very bad.” Gary Cohn, the president’s top economic adviser, later clarified that Trump was referring ... more »

U.S. Pushing Regime Change in Venezuela

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 5 hours ago
The US (CIA, National Endowment for Democracy) are funding and directing many of those using violence in the streets of Venezuela just like Washington has previously done in Guatemala, Chile, Ukraine, Libya, and now in Syria as well as many other nations. The US media does the demonization work on the easily manipulated minds of the American people. When will our citizens ever learn not to believe the BS?

Eruption on Floor the Last Day of Texas Legislature

Kurt Hyde at rss - 6 hours ago
[image: eruption-on-floor-the-last-day-of-texas-legislature] One Texas state representative is reportedly being provided protection by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) following a scuffle on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives, which reportedly began when State Rep. Matt Rinaldi called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to disruptive demonstrators at the Texas State Capitol Monday. The demonstrators were opposed to SB 4, a sanctuary cities ban, already passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law.

The U.S. Military Is Suffering A Crisis Of Strategy, Not Just One Of Readiness

Dan Goure at The National Interest - 6 hours ago
*Dan Goure* *Security, * The U.S. military needs to devise a new strategy. A recent blog in *The Hill* by Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) summed up the situation facing the U.S. military succinctly: “in recent years, Congress has received repeated warnings from senior military officials across every service, testifying to the readiness crisis facing our military. Taken together, their statements are staggering.” According to the 2017 Index of U.S Military Power published by the Heritage Foundation, the overall threat level to the U.S. and its interests is high while the co... more »

The 5 Most Deadly Stealth Weapons of All Time

Kyle Mizokami at The National Interest - 6 hours ago
*Kyle Mizokami* *Security, * And some of them are already retired. *Famous for being the fastest plane ever built, the SR-71 is less well known for being a stealthy aircraft. The SR-71, which cruised at Mach 3.2, was one of the first aircraft to incorporate multiple stealth features into its design.* *First flown in 1962, the SR-71 incorporated four stealthy features into its design. First, surfaces were designed to avoid reflecting radar waves. Second, the aircraft’s wings, tail and fuselage made use of composites, alternating with titanium, on the idea that composites were r... more »

The Daily "Near You?"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 6 hours ago
Rosemère, Quebec, Canada. Thanks for stopping by!

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: NOT FOR THE RICH, PLEASE

Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog - 6 hours ago
*National Review*'s Kevin D. Williamson doesn't think it's fair that we're giving Tiger Woods a hard time for being caught under the influence of four prescription drugs, including Vicodin, while at the wheel of his Mercedes. (Woods apparently drank no alcohol before the incident.) In Williamson's view, it's hard out here for a rich athlete -- especially one past his prime: Having a life that is focused on the One Big Thing is fine when you are at the apex of your career, when the money just keeps coming in and the magical bubble of fame protects you from all manner of consequence. ... more »

Pentagon Pulls a Fast One on South Korea

Bruce K. Gagnon at Organizing Notes - 6 hours ago
RT reports: The newly-elected president of South Korea ordered a probe into why the country’s defense ministry failed to report to him the import of four more rocket launchers for the US anti-missile system in addition to the two confirmed publicly. *“President Moon said it was very shocking,”* to hear the four additional launchers had been installed without being reported to the new government or to the public, presidential spokesman Yoon Young-chan told a media briefing on Tuesday. The deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was approved by th... more »

First Native American Woman in the US Marines remembered

White Wolf at White Wolf - 6 hours ago
As we remember those who have served our country, we take a look at one Montanan who followed her passion, heritage, and broke boundaries in her service to this country. She is a huge part of our history here in the Treasure State.Minnie Spotted Wolf was a member for the Blackfeet Nation and grew up here in Heart Butte Montana. When we talk about her heritage the Montana Historical Society and many books all cited the people of the Blackfoot Confederacy to be warrior people. It makes sense she would want to serve in a time of war. However enlisting proved to be much tougher than ... more »

Gwich'in Solidarity Tour in Southwest -- Defending Homelands

brendanorrell@gmail.com at CENSORED NEWS - 7 hours ago
. . By Gwich'in Southwest Tour Censored News Members of the Gwich’in Nation traveled from communities in the U.S. and Canada to Arizona to ask for support in the ongoing fight to protect the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. James Nathaniel, board member of the Gwich’in Steering Committee; Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee

Ferry Corsten - Venera

Phil at All That Is Solid ... - 7 hours ago
Or, to give the full title, Ferry Corsten presents Gouryella - Venera (Vee's Theme). This is included on his latest album, *Blueprint* (a sci-fi concept album, no less). Perhaps I'll write about it once things have died down. Anyway, enjoy!

Is This a Real White House Catering Sheet for a Middle East Visit?

Kim LaCapria at Snopes.com - 7 hours ago
A meme purporting to be a copy of President Trump's "Hotel & Catering Requirements" was likely a joke.

Sarah Palin uses the blog that nobody visits to bring attention to sex trafficking. Wait, what?

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 7 hours ago
Sarah Palin, taking a stand against the selling of sex. Courtesy of Palin's ghostwritten ghost town of a blog: *Sex trafficking for profit is the fastest-growing criminal activity in America today. Instead of honoring and protecting women and children, exploitative predators force them into prostitution, pornography, and slavery. A significant percentage of these are very young girls. How can hearts not be grieved by this terrible injustice? Friends, we are not powerless to help victims! Research this timely topic. The more we know, the more effectively we can act. * *Today, pray... more »

World News Briefs -- May 30, 2017 (Evening Edition)

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) sits next to Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi (C) and speaks to President Donald Trump (R) as they attend a G7 expanded session during the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer *Reuters*: *Merkel, minister stress U.S. ties after critical Trump tweet* U.S. President Donald Trump called Germany's trade and spending policies "very bad" on Tuesday, intensifying a row between the longtime allies and immediately earning himself the moniker "destroyer of Western values" from a leading German politician. As the war of words... more »

Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Continues Despite Years of Resistance

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 7 hours ago
*Vic Bishop* - The mainstream media isn't talking about what's being done to the Grand Canyon. The post Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Continues Despite Years of Resistance appeared first on Waking Times.

Diane Ravitch's Very Selective Blame Game

Jim Horn at Schools Matter - 7 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's Very Selective Blame Game Jim Horn Until just a few years ago, no one would have guessed that Diane Ravitch would ever become the unofficial spokesperson for the NEA and AFT’s corporate education empowerment project. Diane was viewed as a conservative historian and policy insider, and as such, she was hostile to union priorities. By 2008, however, Republicans had moved so far Right, with the Democrats in hot pursuit of the same racist voters, that Diane suddenly found herself a liberal by doing nothing other than remaining steadfast to her Republican ideology. In... more »

U.S. Backed Syrian Forces Are Now At The Gates Of The Islamic State Capital Of Raqqa

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 7 hours ago
4- Photos show the destruction because of the artillery shelling by #YPG on #Raqqa city"Almror-Alnoor-Alqwatli"neighborhoods yesterday night pic.twitter.com/aaf8qF1fCS — الرقة تذبح بصمت (@Raqqa_SL) May 29, 2017 *ABC News/AP:* *US-backed Syrian fighters reach gates of IS capital of Raqqa* U.S.-backed fighters on Tuesday reached the northern entrance of the Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group, amid intense clashes and airstrikes on Raqqa's northern and eastern edges, opposition activists said. The latest push by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic F... more »

YPG/PKK to Move on Raqqa- Tribulation for Civilians to Follow

Penny at Penny for your thoughts - 7 hours ago
*Soon enough the US backed PKK/YPG Kurds are going to move on Raqqa.* *What will this mean for the civilian population still present? The ones that actually do survive the bombings & displacement forced upon them by the US and their Kurdish proxies?* *Tribulation: Sorrow or Suffering due to Persecution* The US is already dropping bombs aplenty on Raqqa. It’s being reported today that the US is supplying an abundance of weapons to be employed against “ISIS” in Raqqa *You know the same ISIS that was leaving Raqqa last week to head to Palmyra? * *Clearly the arms are actually ... more »

The Wolf That Plays Jon Snow's Direwolf Dies Weeks Before Season 7

White Wolf at White Wolf - 8 hours ago
Now author George R.R. Martin has revealed that the real-life Arctic wolf that portrayed Ghost, aka Jon Snow's direwolf on the show has passed away. Tweeting the news to fans, Ghost passed away at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico, a matter of months before season seven hits our screens. Ghost was one of the most prevalent direwolves in the GoT universe, being at Jon Snow's side during his time at the Wall, and surviving unlike his sibling's wolves Lady, Grey Wind, Shaggydog and Summer. Only Nymeria and Ghost remain out of the pack that Ned Stark found in season one. C... more »

VIDEO: Syrian Army exterminates ISIS insurgents in blitz offensive through rural Aleppo

Chris Tomson at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (0:00 A.M.) – After assembling overwhelming firepower and thousands of troops reorganized under the direct command of Suheil Al-Hassan, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has swept like an avalanche through southeastern Aleppo and pulverized Islamic State defensive lines, thus pushing jihadist combattants back towards Raqqa. With the large town of Maskanah virtually encircled […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Ejército sirio libera más de 35 soldados y civiles secuestrados en el este de Damasco

Alvaro A. at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
El Ejército Árabe Sirio (EAS) liberó a más de 35 personas que fueron encarceladas por las fuerzas rebeldes en el distrito de Barzeh, al este de Damasco, informó el martes el Alto Comando. El Ejército Árabe Sirio fue capaz de liberar estos rehenes después de que los militantes abandonaran sus posiciones dentro de Barzeh. Muchos […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

In pictures: ISIS missiles strike three Syrian Army tanks in eastern Aleppo

Chris Tomson at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:50 P.M.) – With most of the Maskanah Plains liberated by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) over the past month, ISIS has opted for a pragmatic fighting withdrawal strategy, carefully preparing booby traps and striking SAA armored vehicles with precision anti-tank missiles from preplanned defensive lines and trenches. A new batch of images […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Breaking: Syrian Army frees 35+ people held hostage by rebels in east Damascus

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) freed more than 35 people that were imprisoned by the rebel forces inside the Barzeh District of east Damascus, Tuesday, the High Command reported. The Syrian Arab Army was able to secure the release of these rebel hostages after the latter abandoned their positions inside […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Hundreds of Syrian Army officers complete Russian-sponsored training

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – Hundreds of Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers graduated from the Russian-sponsored officer training program this week, the Syrian-Russian Joint Military Council reported on Tuesday. The new officers were trained in several different fields by the Russian military, most of which focused on demining and dismantling IEDs (improvised explosive device). Video […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Suriye ordusu, ABD destekli militanların geri çekilmesinin ardından Irak sınırına ilerliyor

Eren Dalkesen at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
Suriye ordusu; Ulusal Savunma Kuvvetleri ve Iraklı müttefiklerinin desteğiyle Humus’un güneydoğu kırsalındaki operasyonlarına devam ediyor. 5. Fırtına Kolordusu öncülüğünde, bölgedeki ABD ve Ürdün destekli ÖSO militanlarını hedef alan ordu birlikleri, Ulaniye köyünün güneydoğusunda yer alan Helba bölgesi yakınlarında ilerlemeyi başardı. ÖSO’ya yakın medya kaynaklarına göre; Suriye ordusunun ilerleyişini durduramayan ABD ve Ürdün destekli militanlar, Helba bölgesinden […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Field report: Clashes between Syrian Army and ISIS continue in Homs and Hama

Ivan Castro at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (9:15 P.M.) – Tuesday, May 30, might seem not so fruitful for Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in eastern Homs countryside in terms of territorial gains. However, lack of significant advance at the frontlines is compensated by successful minor military operations government forces conducted against the so-called “Islamic State” (IS, formerly ISIL/ISIS). Thus, an […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

Syrian Army makes their way through ISIL’s front-lines in east Homs: video

Leith Fadel at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued to make their way through the Shumriyah Mountains in the northern countryside of Palmyra to join the fight in areas still under control of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), shows exclusive RT footage from Tuesday. The Syrian Arab Army has recently resumed their offensive activities in the […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

VIDEO: Battle of Marawi: ISIS Trans-regional caliphate – OZ Analysis video map (May 30, 2017)

Andrew Illingworth at AMN – Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز - 8 hours ago
BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:28 P.M.) – The Wahhabi terrorist internationale known as the Islamic State has spread its domain of armed occupation to the Philippine city of Marawi. On the 23rd of May, two Jihadist factions – the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf militia – operating on the Philippine island of Mindanao under the banner of […] Source: AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز

One day after meeting Putin, French President Macron meets with ISIS-Al Qaeda leaders in Paris

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 8 hours ago
If you ever needed any more proof that the new wonder-boy French President is nothing more than a neo-liberal, globalist … The post One day after meeting Putin, French President Macron meets with ISIS-Al Qaeda leaders in Paris appeared first on The Duran.

ISIS Bombs Kill 31 People and Wound Many More in Baghdad

Warren Mass at rss - 8 hours ago
[image: isis-bombs-kills-31-people-and-wounds-many-more-in-baghdad] A powerful bomb explosion set by ISIS outside an ice cream parlor in Baghdad and another rush hour car bomb in another area of Iraq’s capital killed at least 31 people.

Big Win For Automatic Voter Registration In Illinois-- Is Maine Next?

DownWithTyranny at DownWithTyranny! - 8 hours ago
The Illinois legislature was working on Monday-- and in a very bipartisan way. The House has 67 Democrats and 51 Republicans but the vote on Robyn Gabel's Automatic Voter Registration bill was 115-0. The Senate had already passed i-- also unanimously. (It had passed last year as well but was vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner (which is exactly what the grotesque Jersey slob did when the legislature in his stated passed it last year), claiming their could be fraud. His concerns were addressed in the current wording of the bill. The new law will add over a million new voters to the rolls in... more »

Did President Trump Give the Finger to the Italian Prime Minister?

David Emery at Snopes.com - 8 hours ago
A viral video that some claim shows the U.S. president making an obscene gesture at Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni is open to interpretation.

"Dog Diary, Cat Diary"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*"Dog Diary, Cat Diary"* - Author Unknown "*Dog Diary:* 7:00 AM - Outside! My favorite thing! 8:00 AM - Dog food! My favorite thing! 9:30 AM - A car ride! My favorite thing! 9:40 AM - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 AM - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing! 1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 2:00 PM - Looked out the window and barked! My favorite thing! 3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 4:00 PM - Chased a bird out of the tree! My favorite thing! 5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing! 6:00 PM - Watched my peo... more »

"Too Uncomfortable..."

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
"Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told- and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead... more »

“Congress: It’s Time To Flush The Toilet”

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago
*“Congress: It’s Time To Flush The Toilet”* by Michael Snyder ”Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” - Mark Twain "Is it fair to compare Congress to a toilet? If there is one institution that embodies the corruption that permeates Washington D.C., it is the United States Congress. Dominated by extremely selfish career politicians that are primarily interested in raising enough money to win the next election, Congress has become a cesspool of filth, fraud and malfeasance. The American people are absolutely sick of this, and that ... more »

"How It Really Is"

noreply@blogger.com (Coyote Prime) at Running 'Cause I Can't Fly - 8 hours ago

Dozing Off on the Way to Planetary Ruin

Paul R. Pillar at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Paul R. Pillar* *Climate Change, * Resistance to arresting human-caused warming of Earth is politically entrenched in personnel and policies of the Trump administration. This makes the United States a conspicuous delinquent among advanced industrialized countries, as highlighted at the recent G-7 summit meeting, and among the community of nations generally, as highlighted by Trump’s refusal to commit to adherence to the Paris climate change agreement and by the United States surrendering leadership to the likes of China and even India. The reasons for such resistance are multi... more »

Stalingrad: The Bloodiest Battle of World War II (And Maybe of All Time?)

Daniel L. Davis at The National Interest - 8 hours ago
*Daniel L. Davis* *Security, * The tide finally turned against Hitler. *Scenes like those of the Thirteenth Guards Division and Helmut Walz were repeated a thousand times over during the six months of the battle for Stalingrad. I fought in high intensity combat during my twenty-one-year military career, as well as participating in counterinsurgency operations against guerrilla foes. Yet without equivocation I confess that I cannot fathom, cannot even truly imagine, what the living hell of Stalingrad combat must have been like. It is frightening to consider how remorseless and v... more »

The U.S. Has Started Shipping Weapons And Equipment To The Syrian Kurds

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 8 hours ago
© AFP 2017/ DELIL SOULEIMAN *Reuters*: *U.S. starts providing weapons to Syrian Kurds* The United States said on Tuesday it started distributing arms to Syrian Kurdish militia battling to help retake the city of Raqqa from Islamic State, moving ahead with a war plan that has angered NATO ally Turkey. Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway said the Kurdish fighters received small arms and vehicles from the U.S. military. He believed the arms were distributed earlier on Tuesday. Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the distribution of the arms ha... more »

How Not to Balance the Budget on the Backs of the Poor Donald...

Robert Reich - 9 hours ago
*How Not to Balance the Budget on the Backs of the Poor* Donald Trump wants to slash Medicaid, Social Security disability, and food stamps in order to expand the military and give the rich and corporations big tax cuts. There’s a far better way to help balance the federal budget – cap tax expenditures. The federal government is diverting hundreds of billions of tax dollars every year to help the wealthiest Americans become even wealthier through tax expenditures that are the equivalent of government handouts – allowing the wealthy to deduct or exclude from their taxable incomes... more »

This Is Getting Out Of Hand

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
Friend text me this "I hear Tijuana is beautiful this time of year." https://t.co/JsP1paLxjB — Tyler Shields (@tylershields) May 30, 2017 *Washington Times:* *Kathy Griffin vows to ‘make noise’ with Donald Trump ‘beheading’ project* Comedian Kathy Griffin says a new “art” project featuring a beheaded model of President Trump will “make noise” upon its completion. Entertainment website TMZ was granted exclusive access to a photo shoot organized by Ms. Griffin and photographer Tyler Shields. Gruesome video provided Tuesday by the comedian and former Bravo “My Life on the D-List” s... more »

Pentagon Contradicts South Korean President. Says The U.S. Has Been Transparent On THAAD Deployment

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 9 hours ago
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency. U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency/Handout *Yonhap News Agency*: *U.S. 'very transparent' with THAAD deployment in S. Korea: Pentagon spokesman* WASHINGTON, May 30 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday it has been "very transparent" in its deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to South Korea, after President Moon Jae-in expressed frustration ... more »

Watch 'n cry: Elephants run to greet a rescued baby elephant

White Wolf at White Wolf - 9 hours ago
A video showing the whole elephant herd running to greet a rescue baby elephant is going viral, and for obvious reasons. The short clip filmed at Elephant Nature Park shows 1 year and 9-months-old orphan elephant Dok Gaew who receives the warmest welcome ever. They can surely teach us a thing or two about friendliness, empathy, and co-existing in peace. These wonderful creatures are known for their gentle nature and enormous physical strength. They are matriarchal, i.e. females are the ones who run the world in the elephant kingdom. Oh, and they are herbivores, which means they d... more »

Google Earth Discovers Man Trapped on Desert Island for 9 Years?

David Mikkelson at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
Reports that Google Earth images helped locate a man who had been stranded on a desert island for years are fake news.

Did Saudi Arabia Give Ivanka Trump a $100 Million Donation?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
A partisan web site grossly misrepresented the nature of Ivanka Trump's involvement in a World Bank project to help female entrepreneurs.

Urinating Dog Statue Briefly Placed Near ‘Fearless Girl’ Art

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 9 hours ago
A small statue of a urinating dog stood briefly next to Wall Street's 'Fearless Girl' sculpture, as a 'form of counter protest.'

BREAKING: Cop Who Killed 12yo Tamir Rice on Video Finally Fired, But Not for Killing a Child

Matt Agorist at The Free Thought Project - 9 hours ago
The cop who killed Tamir Rice is finally off the streets. However, his firing highlights a troublesome problem in modern day policing. He should've never been a cop.

Harry Targ : The political time of day: Neoliberalism, resistance, and a left yearning to grow

Thorne Dreyer at The Rag Blog - 9 hours ago
Progressives today must mobilize against Trumpism while articulating an alternative political and economic analysis. By Harry Targ | The Rag Blog | May 30, 2017 The rift within the Democratic Party was on full display at the California Democratic Party … finish reading Harry Targ : The political time of day: Neoliberalism, resistance, and a left yearning to grow

Drag Queens Push LGBT Agenda on Children

Alex Newman at rss - 9 hours ago
[image: drag-queens-push-lgbt-agenda-on-children] Taxpayer-funded libraries from New York and Florida to California are paying grown men to dress up as women and promote gender confusion, homosexuality, homosexual “marriage,” and cross-dressing to children as young as 3-years old.

President Trump Should Encourage Growth By Cutting Government

Content Multimedia - 9 hours ago
By Vance Ginn, Chip Roy To reduce the federal tax and regulatory burdens that hinder economic growth this time around, Congress should pursue a "budget neutral" approach of cutting both taxes and government spending

Former Fox News contributor, or "hitman" as they were called, reveals how Roger Ailes REALLY described his cable news network behind the scenes.

Gryphen at The Immoral Minority - 9 hours ago
This comes courtesy of Tobin Smith who worked as an on air contributor to Fox Business for 14 years. (Smith was fired after it was revealed that he engaged in stock fraud.) Here is what Smith wrote about Roger Ailes and his "off the record" opinion of Fox over at Medium: *“Toby . . . I created a TV network for people 55 to dead,” Ailes said. * *“What does our viewer look like? * *“They look like me…white guys in mostly Red State counties who sit on their couch with the remote in their hand all day and night.” * *“What do they want to see” * *“They want to see YOU tear those smug... more »

Aerospace Billionaire & NASA Partner Tells CBS About the ET Presence on Earth

WakingTimes at Waking Times - 9 hours ago
*Terence Newton* - Aliens are already operating under our noses, he says. The post Aerospace Billionaire & NASA Partner Tells CBS About the ET Presence on Earth appeared first on Waking Times.

Saudi Arabia may need Russia more than it needs America

Adam Garrie at The Duran - 9 hours ago
The Saudi Crown Price was all smiles in Moscow. But it is Russia that should be smiling at this turn of events. The post Saudi Arabia may need Russia more than it needs America appeared first on The Duran.

Maxine Waters verbally attacks woman, then screams in hysteria, that the Kremlin is “going to take us down!” (Video)

Alex Christoforou at The Duran - 9 hours ago
All the impeachment hysteria is making Maxine Waters violent and triggered. The post Maxine Waters verbally attacks woman, then screams in hysteria, that the Kremlin is “going to take us down!” (Video) appeared first on The Duran.

FT: '9 11 WAS INSIDE JOB'

Anon at Aangirfan - 10 hours ago
In the Financial Times, 26 May 2017, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says that 9 11 was an 'inside job'. *ft*. Mahathir Mohamad speaks his mind. He criticises Muslim Malays for their laziness, poor time management and inbreeding. He sees ISIS as being a non-Moslem 'political' force. He insists that the 9 11 attacks were a 'false flag' operation. He refers to conversations with a janitor from the Twin Towers. William Rodriguez 'Last Man Out' heard explosions before any plane hit the buildings. Mahathir Mohamad refers to inconsistencies in official accounts. He ... more »

Greens Have No Policy On Biomass

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 10 hours ago
By Paul Homewood https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2016/03/14/new-report-seeks-securities-and-exchange-commission-investigation-of-misleading-climate-claims-by-biomass-industry-giant/ The burning of wood pellets at biomass plants such as Drax is highly contentious. Many environmental experts are horrified at the damage done to wild forests both in the US and Europe. Many experts also believe that biomass plants are not even achieving their stated object of reducing CO2 […]

Richard Tol on UHI

Paul Homewood at NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT - 10 hours ago
By Paul Homewood h/t AC Osborn Richard Tol has a new paper out about urban warming: The effects of global warming on cities could be reduced by painting roofs white, a study suggests. Planting trees, and replacing dark coloured roads and pavements in towns and cities would lower the temperature in […]

Press rejects Rich murder claims!

bob somerby at the daily howler - 10 hours ago
*TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017Several decades too late:* On July 10, 2016, a young man named Seth Rich was murdered in the streets of Washington, D.C. As if that wasn't bad enough, Seth Rich was voter-expansion data director at the Democratic National Committee. For that reason, the crazies got busy, inventing ugly conspiracy theories about his unfortunate death. (For New York Magazine's account of these horrid events, you can just click here.) At the upper end of this pig pile, Sean Hannity has been deeply invested in pimping these stupid, ugly stories about Rich's death. Amazingly, Newt... more »

Live Updates | Bilderberg 2017 June 1st – 4th Chantilly, Virginia

Ceribalius at OYE Alternative News - 10 hours ago
Its that time of year again when a select few of the Worlds ruling elite join together to discuss 'off the record' the geopolitical plans for the coming year. The post Live Updates | Bilderberg 2017 June 1st – 4th Chantilly, Virginia appeared first on OYE Alternative News.

Russia's Energy Minister Admits That Cuba Is 'Broke'

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
Rosneft, Russia's state oil company, says it has signed an agreement with Cuba's state-run Cubametals to supply 250,000 tonnes of oil and diesel fuel. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters) *TASS: **Cuba wants to increase purchases of Russian oil and oil products — Russian energy minister* *"The question is in financial sources," Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said* MOSCOW, May 29. /TASS/. Cuba wants to increase the supply of oil and oil products from Russia, but it is a matter of financing, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters. "Cuba really wants more supplies, bu... more »

Goldman Sachs Under Fire For Buying Venezuelan Bonds

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*Reuters:* *Goldman confirms buying Venezuela bonds after opposition cries foul* Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) has confirmed it bought Venezuelan bonds after being excoriated by the country's opposition for financing the embattled government of President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing sustained protests. The president of the opposition-led Congress accused the bank of financing "dictatorship" after the Wall Street Journal reported Goldman had bought $2.8 billion in bonds issued by state oil company PDVSA at a steep discount. "We bought these bonds, which were issued in 2014, on ... more »

Unrest In Venezuela -- News Updates May 30, 2017

War News Updates Editor at War News Updates - 10 hours ago
*BBC:* *Venezuela opposition Capriles leader 'beaten' at protest* Venezuelan opposition politician Henrique Capriles says he and members of his team were beaten by members of the National Guard as they left an anti-government protest on Monday. "They cornered us, they beat us..." Mr Capriles said. "They robbed us all. They took my team's watches, radios, gas masks." A lawmaker was also injured in Monday's clashes in the capital Caracas between protesters and the security forces. More marches are planned for Tuesday. *Read more *.... *Unrest In Venezuela -- News Updates May 30, 2... more »

Are Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Infested with Worms?

Kim LaCapria at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
A video posted to Facebook likely shows a pantry moth infestation.

Katy Perry’s Plea for Coexistence Inspires ISIS to Surrender?

Dan MacGuill at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
A satirical article seized on comments by the singer, which were taken out of context.

Lebanon Seeks to Ban ‘Wonder Woman,’ Citing Israeli Actress

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
Lebanon's ministry of economy says it has asked the country's security agency to ban the movie because its lead actress, Gal Gadot, is an Israeli.

Police Issue Annoyed Press Release After Pot Arrest

Associated Press at Snopes.com - 11 hours ago
The New Hampshire police department issued a public service announcement after arresting a man with marijuana in his car.

North Korea Claims to Have a New "Ultra-Precision" Missile

Ryan Pickrell at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Ryan Pickrell* *Security, Asia* More trouble from Kim Jong-un. North Korea successfully tested a new short-range Scud variant Monday, achieving another breakthrough for North Korean ballistic missile technology. The missile is a “new-type precision guided ballistic rocket capable of making ultra-precision strikes.” The weapon, the third new missile the North has tested this year, is carried on a “newly-developed caterpillar self-propelled” launch vehicle. The missile appeared for the first time in a military parade last month, according to North Korean state media. Some obser... more »

Why Russia's New Submarines Could Be Super Stealthy (And Smaller)

Dave Majumdar at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Dave Majumdar* *Security, * How will America respond? *The Russians probably have a good chance of* *recapitalizing* *their fleet if they are able design a cheaper and more producible submarine design. “I can't see any reason why not,” said Michael* *Kofman, a research scientist specializing in Russian military affairs at Center for Naval* *Analyses. “Dmitry and I have been arguing for a while that the Yasen-class is too expensive to be realized past those laid down and they are unlikely to complete anymore. It is simply not a submarine that can be produced in suitable numbers... more »

Jared Kushner Is In Over His Head

Dov S. Zakheim at The National Interest - 11 hours ago
*Dov S. Zakheim* *Politics, Americas* [image: Jared Kushner sits in on a meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Baghdad. Flickr/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] Kushner should recognize that he does not belong in Washington, where he is doing little good. I feel for Jared Kushner. As he became active in the transition from the Obama administration to that of Donald Trump, he was in so far over his head that he did not even realize it. He knew nothing about how government works—and why should he have, since he had no government experience whatsoever? He knew nothing about th... more »

Chomsky Exposes Russiagate as Propaganda: ‘It is a Joke’ & ‘The World is Laughing at Us’

Jay Syrmopoulos at The Free Thought Project - 11 hours ago
[image: CHOMSKY]World-renowned academic and leftist intellectual giant, MIT Professor Noam Chomsky, has just exposed Russiagate as the 'joke' propaganda it is meant to be.

New Study Reveals Why Cannabis is Still Illegal, Legal Pot DESTROYS Big Pharma Profits

Justin Gardner at The Free Thought Project - 11 hours ago
[image: cannabis]As more and more people drop prescription drugs for medical cannabis, reports like this explain why Big Pharma is scrambling to keep prohibition in place.

Teen Kills Himself After School Cop Lies to Him About Having to Register as Sex Offender

Jack Burns at The Free Thought Project - 11 hours ago
[image: school]An Illinois teen kills himself rather than facing the prospect of being labeled as a sex offender; all for having consensual sex with another teen.

Trump’s Plan to Revise SNAP Draws Howls of Protests From Liberals

Bob Adelmann at rss - 11 hours ago
[image: trump-s-plan-to-revise-snap-draws-howls-of-protests-from-liberals] The protests were predictable when the Trump administration called for cutting money to the SNAP (food stamp) program, though Trump's move emulated a successful action in Maine and is a step in the right direction.

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