Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Paris terror attacks: Witness at bar massacre says gunmen were 'white, clean-shaven, muscular - like soldiers' - Gunmen came and left in black Mercedes Matthew Drake & Dan Warburton The Mirror, UK 2015-11-15 21:01:00 Shooters, brandishing assault rifles and dressed in black uniforms, were seen slowly pulling up in the Merc during a series of coordinated atrocities  Two heavily armed ISIS gunmen pulled up in a black Mercedes-Benz and calmly slaughtered scores of ­innocent diners in a Paris bistro ­before driving away. An eyewitness has told how 20 people were executed in a ­calculated attack on a busy restaurant in the heart of the French capital as they ate at tables on the pavement. A shocking description of the assassins and their barbaric assault came as the first eyewitness ­accounts emerged last night. Mahoud Admo said: "The gunman showed no emotion at all as he began spraying bullets into the ­diners. He just kept reloading his machine gun and firing, without saying a thing. The people outside the bar were dead straight away. There were streams of blood everywhere and broken glass. It was carnage." Shocking details of the bloody attack came as France remained on high alert while special forces ­continued to hunt for members of the terror cell. ISIS claimed ­responsibility for the sickening ­attacks which have killed at least 127 people and left up to 60 more seriously injured. The attack at Le Belle Equipe took place shortly after the first of three explosions rocked the Stade de France, where the host nation was playing against Germany.

Comment: ISIL has claimed responsibility for this heinous act. ISIL has also cultivated a particular image through its propaganda videos. Yet eyewitnesses describe the antithesis of that image. No masks, no headbands with slogans printed on them, no blacks flags (a supposed signature left at the scene of the Charlie Hebdo attack and several other terrorist incidents). Instead, someone who saw them up close is describing white, clean-shaven men who look and act like soldiers. Very strange.

Putin: '40 countries finance ISIS, including some G20 members' RT 2015-11-16 14:29:00 President Vladimir Putin says he's shared Russian intelligence data on Islamic State financing with his G20 colleagues: the terrorists appear to be financed from 40 countries, including some G20 member states. During the summit, "I provided examples based on our data on the financing of different Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) units by private individuals. This money, as we have established, comes from 40 countries and, there are some of the G20 members among them," Putin told the journalists. Putin also spoke of the urgent need to curb the illegal oil trade by IS. "I've shown our colleagues photos taken from space and from aircraft which clearly demonstrate the scale of the illegal trade in oil and petroleum products," he said. "The motorcade of refueling vehicles stretched for dozens of kilometers, so that from a height of 4,000 to 5,000 meters they stretch beyond the horizon," Putin added, comparing the convoy to gas and oil pipeline systems. It's not the right time to try and figure out which country is more and which is less effective in the battle with Islamic State, as now a united international effort is needed against the terrorist group, Putin said. Putin reiterated Russia's readiness to support armed opposition in Syria in its efforts to fight Islamic State. "Some armed opposition groups consider it possible to begin active operations against IS with Russia's support. And we are ready to provide such support from the air. If it happens it could become a good basis for the subsequent work on a political settlement," he said. "We really need support from the US, European nations, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran," the president added.

Comment: ISIS receives funds from private investors in the Gulf countries, who want Assad removed, in particular Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Qatar also sends money to ISIS through Islamic charities. Substantial funds are generated via shady transactions in the south of the UK with banking services provided on the phone. ISIS also gains up to one billion dollars annually from trafficking heroin from Afghanistan to Europe. Until the Russian airstrikes began, it was estimated that the main source of ISIS' income wassmuggling oil and oil products from the occupied oil fields and refining capacities through Turkish, Kurdish and Jordanian intermediaries. The ISIS oil "business" was coordinated from Washington to inflict financial loss on Russia. For more see: Funding terror: The financial sources of ISIS

Russia launches cruise missiles from the Mediterranean as it doubles firepower and airstrikes against ISIS in Syria Sputnik 2015-11-17 16:54:00 Russia launched 34 cruise missiles during strikes against terrorist targets in Syria, Russian General Staff chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov said Tuesday. The members of the US-led coalition were informed about the operation in advance, he added. "During a massive airstrike today, 14 important ISIL targets were destroyed by 34 air-launched cruise missiles. The targets destroyed include command posts that were used to coordinate ISIL activities in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, munition and supply depots in the northwestern part of Syria," Gerasimov said. Russian Air Forces will be strengthened with 37 advanced aircraft, including eight Su-34 bomber jets and four Su-27 fighter jets, Gerasimov noted. "The Russian General Staff has developed a new plan of the air campaign [in Syria] which envisions deployment of 25 strategic bombers, eight Su-34 Fullback attack aircraft, and four Su-27 Flanker fighter jets," Army General Valery Gerasimov said. Syrian army with the assistance of the Russian aviation managed to liberate 80 towns and regain control of the territory more than 500 square kilometers.

Puppet Masters

Capitalizing on terror: Who's making a killing from the Paris Attacks? Daniel McAdams Lew Rockwell 2015-11-17 12:37:00 Terrorism is great for business if you're in the business of growing the government leviathan. The bodies in Paris are not yet buried, while the vultures with dollar signs (and pounds and Euros, etc) in their eyes have already swooped down for a feast. Terrorism, what is it good for? 1) The military-industrial-Congressional complex:  Thanks to Glenn Greenwald for bringing to light the enormous profits that are already rolling in for the merchants of death as Paris still smolders. As Greenwald points out, the markets could hardly wait to start buying from these military suppliers: And France's largest arms manufacturer: 2) The surveillance/spy state: This morning UK prime minister David Cameron announced that, in light of the Paris attacks, an additional 2,000 spies will be hired in Britain's MI5, MI6, and GCHQ. The British are among the most spied-upon people on the planet, and with a 15 percent increase in spy hires they can look forward to having even more of their private lives in view of government snoops, as well as their civil liberties further clipped in the name of freedom. Cameron calls ramping up the surveillance state "invest[ing] more in our national security," but does anyone believe an even larger spy bureaucracy will keep Britain safe?

Comment: And lets not forget the bankers.

Hollande's reaction to Paris attacks: Amend constitution to allow for State powers similar to US Patriot Act, bomb Syrian infrastructure Tyler Durden Zero Hedge 2015-11-17 21:16:00 France, still reeling from the carnage that unfolded in the streets of Paris last Friday, conducted dozens upon dozens of police raids on Tuesday, after more than 160 similar operations carried out on Monday led to the discovery of numerous weapons including a rocket launcher, Kalashnikov, and a bulletproof vest. French authorities are still largely in the dark regarding how many people were ultimately involved in the attack and with suspected "mastermind" Abdelhamid Abaaoud out of reach in Syria, police are focused on locating Salah Abdeslam who allegedly helped with logistics and rented a black Volkswagen Polo used by the gunmen who stormed the Bataclan concert hall. Of course really, the raids are a frantic attempt to track down and neutralize anything and everything before something else bad happens. As Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on France Inter radio, "we don't know if there are accomplices in Belgium and in France... we still don't know the number of people involved in the attacks." Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says more than 100 people have been placed under house arrest and dozens have been arrested in the sweeping crackdown. "Under a state of emergency - which has been in place since the attacks on Friday - security services, police have extra powers and freedom to make arrests, search houses and confiscate weapons without judicial oversight," The Sydney Morning Herald notes.

Comment: The Russians are well aware that Western countries are avoiding striking ISIS directly As Lavrov so aptly put it: "The problem around the U.S.-led coalition is that despite the fact that they declared its goal in fighting exclusively the Islamic State and other terrorists and pledged not to take any action against the Syrian army (...), analysis of the strikes delivered by the United States and its coalition at terrorist positions over the past year drives us to a conclusion that these were selective, I would say sparing, strikes and in the majority of cases spared those Islamic State groups that were capable of pressing the Syrian army," he said. "It looks like a cat that wants to eat a fish but doesn't want to wet its feet. They want the Islamic State to weaken Assad as soon as possible to force him to step down this or that way but they don't want to see Islamic State strong enough to take power."

Lavrov says U.S. avoided ISIS targets fighting Syrian army - goading U.S. into rational foreign policy? Moon of Alabama 2015-11-17 20:34:00 Throughout the last week the Russian airforce updated its target list in Syria. Plans were prepared, units designated, ammunition was loaded. Today President Putin announced that the destruction of a Russian airliner with 224 people on board over the Sinai peninsula had indeed been an Islamic State terror attack. Traces of explosives were found on parts of the debris. The Russian mission in Syria is no longer just to help the Syrian government but is now a matter of Russian national self-defense. The Russian parliament was not shy in assigning guilt: "The recent tragic developments confirm the topicality of Russia's continuous warnings that permanent destabilization in the Middle East by those who claim global dominance, primarily the United States, could lead to the expansion of the zone of bloody chaos and entail numerous human tragedies," the document says. "France and other European states are, as a matter of fact, reaping the consequences of Washington's nearsighted and selfish policy." There will now be no backing out for Russia and no time limit.

Comment: Like rats abandoning a sinking ship, more American officials are changing their rhetoric, aligning it with Russia's position. That includes Kissinger, retired ambassador Thomas Picking and CIA Director John Brennan (West should work with Russia against ISIS), ex-CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell (Working with Assad and Russia is mandatory to destroy ISIS), and Virginia Senator Richard Black (War on Syria was unlawful war of aggression). Then there are the French politicians, offering a surprising dose of sanity.

Netanyahu unfreezes illegal settlement construction in West Bank Sputnik 2015-11-17 20:37:00 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given a final approval to the construction of over 400 new housing units in the West Bank, local media reported on Tuesday. According to the Haaretz newspaper, West Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood will see another 436 housing units built, further expanding the Jewish settlement located on Palestinian territory. A similar move in 2010, when the Jerusalem municipality approved the construction of 1,600 apartments in the settlement, invoked condemnation from the United States and the European Union. The project was approved in 2012 but the construction was later frozen. Netanyahu's latest decision lifted the construction freeze.

Comment: Looks like Netanyahu is slipping this in while the world's attention is focused on ISIL in Syria.

Arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu by Spanish judge outrages Israel RT 2015-11-17 20:09:00 Israel wants to quash an arrest warrant prepared by a Spanish judge for Benjamin Netanyahu over the deadly 2010 IDF attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that killed ten people. The Israeli PM and six other former ministers would be arrested if they set foot on Spanish soil. "We consider it to be a provocation," said an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson. "We are working with the Spanish authorities to get it cancelled. We hope it will be over soon." Judge Jose de la Mata, who drew up the warrants, ordered the police and civil guard to notify them if any of the seven enter Spain. Israeli Defence forces carried out a deadly attack on the Freedom Flotilla aid ship Mavi Marmara, which was attempting to bring supplies to Gaza, in contravention of an Israeli-imposed blockade. Nine activists were killed during the raid that took place in international waters some 150km from Gaza, one more died of wounds later that month. Autopsies revealed the nine Turkish men were shot with 30 bullets and five were killed with close-range bullets to the head.

Comment: Nice to see a judge with some sense, human decency, and courage. It is not a provocation to seek justice for the murder of those activists on the Freedom Flotilla. Rather the outrage in is how Israel responded to those seeking to aid Palestinians.

UK RAF Reaper drone supports French anti-ISIS airstrikes in Raqqa RT 2015-11-17 20:17:00 A Royal Air Force (RAF) drone was used to provide surveillance for a wave of French airstrikes on the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, in the wake of the Paris attacks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) claim. The Reaper drone collected intelligence ahead of French jets which reportedly hit around a dozen targets on Sunday evening. An RAF jet was also responsible for bombing 30 Islamic State militants near Sinjar, in northern Iraq, who were amassing to stage an attack on Kurdish fighters in the area. The MoD said the attack was "highly effective" and that most of the fighters had been killed.

Comment: So could this be the reason for France's poor aiming?

More bombs, more killing: US tests new nuclear gravity bomb RT 2015-11-17 20:02:00 The US launched a third flight test of the newly upgraded B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb, which it says shows the nation's "continued commitment to security." The launch was completed by the US Air Force and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The launch, which took place at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada on October 20, 2015, "provides additional evidence of the nation's continued commitment to our nation's security and that of our allies and partners," NNSA Deputy Administrator Madelyn Creedon said in a statement Monday. She added that "this demonstration of effective end-to-end system performance under representative delivery conditions marks another 2015 achievement in the development of the B61-12 Life Extension Program." Although the B61-12 is a nuclear gravity bomb, the test flight contained "representative non-nuclear components but no highly enriched uranium or plutonium, consistent with test treaty obligations," the statement said.

Comment: If you're wondering where your tax-dollars are going, look no further. More bombs, more guns, and more bullets to kill brown people with.

More countries are recognizing ISIS as a threat rather than Assad Sputnik 2015-11-17 18:56:00 More and more countries seem to be realizing that President Bashar Assad is not the most dangerous threat to the people of the Middle East: ISIL is far more terrifying and the best way to beat the militant jihadist group is to forge an alliance with Russia. "We must rearrange our priorities," Alain Rodier, director of research at the French Research Centre on Intelligence (CF2R) recently said in an interview with the French newspaper 20 Minutes. "Who are the most dangerous enemies for the United States, Russia, France?" he questioned. And then provided a direct answer. "Bashar al-Assad, abject as it is, does not represent an immediate risk [like] Daesh (an Arabic name for the Islamic State). " His view is shared by Yves Boyer, deputy director of the Foundation for Strategic Research: " We must not mistake an enemy. The ISIL is the fundamental threat, a cancer that eats away and starts to spread (Libya, Mali...) and must be treated. "

Comment: ISIS is a U.S.-borne cancer spreading across the world, and analysts like Rodier and Boyer understand the need to cooperate with Russia because they are the only force genuinely fighting this plague. Also see: The Origin of 'ISIS' (VIDEO)

Really?! CIA officials cast blame on Edward Snowden over Paris attack RT 2015-11-17 04:34:00 The violence in Paris has prompted former and current CIA directors, and even a presidential candidate, to blame the inability to thwart attacks on "unauthorized disclosures" by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, despite admitting intelligence failures. "In the past several years, because of a number of unauthorized disclosures and a lot of handwringing over the government's role in the effort to try to uncover these terrorists, there have been some policy and legal and other actions that are taken to make our ability collectively internationally to find these terrorists much more challenging..." CIA Director John Brennan told a reporter who asked how the Paris attack had happened when the world's leading intelligence agencies "didn't even catch a whiff of it as far as we're to understand."

Comment: Jesus, how obvious! You'd think by now that all these ninnies for Empire would just shut up in the face of the fact that they never prevent terrorism for all the "intelligence" they have. But now, in their stupidity, they think they can just kill two birds with one stone: demonize Snowden and what he stands for, and excuse themselves for, yet again, not catching the terrorists because of Snowden and all his jibber jabber about civil liberties. See: Federal Judge calls bulls**t on NSA bulk spying program

US researcher: Paris attacks carried out by professional commandos PressTV 2015-11-17 18:32:00 The deadly Paris attacks were likely carried out by professional commandos, not by a group of ragtag Takfiri fighters, American researcher and historian Dr. Randy Short says. Dr. Short made the remarks in phone interview with Press TV on Tuesday after bombers and gunmen launched coordinated attacks in and around the French capital on Friday night, killing at least 129 people and injuring more than 350 others. Daesh (ISIL) terrorists, who control parts of Syria and Iraq, have claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks, but independent analysts have questioned the credibility of their assertion. "This looks like a commando operation from professionals," Dr. Short said. "Who knows more about the assassination teams and commando squads than the French, British and the Americans and the Israelis?"

Comment: How can ISIS/ISIL/Deash be professionally-trained commandos? As the analyst points out, the main way for such groups to get that kind of training is for foreign intelligence agencies to provide it. So you have US and other Western intelligence agencies training these groups to destabilize countries like Syria, but then those groups attack the very countries that birthed them. Whether accidental or intentional, that is a situation that every Westerner should be angry about. See also: ISIS as Instruments of Proxy War on Western Populations Paris Attacks Reveal Bizarre ISIS Strategy and NATO's Strategy of Tension in Europe The Paris Attacks, the War on Syria, and the West's Collaboration with Terrorism Pepe Escobar on the Paris attacks: Who profits?

Extra £2Bn to go to British special forces following Paris attacks Alistair Bunkall Sky News 2015-11-17 10:31:00 An extra £2bn will be spent on the UK's special forces to fight terrorism, David Cameron has said. The announcement will benefit the SAS and other elite units. The money will not go on recruitment but will fund new weapons and vehicles, including helicopters. It will also help buy protective equipment and communication systems. It is a significant increase in spending on the UK's specialist soldiers and reflects the growing threat of terrorism in the UK.

Comment: More paranoia, more of your tax money being spent on weapons, and more spies on hand to rummage through your internet browsing history and check in on your webcam - looks like it's bad news for everyone! Apart from the arms dealers and GCHQ perverts, of course.

Putin: Confidential fashion of TPP negotiations no way to foster Asia-Pacific growth RT 2015-11-16 17:38:00 Deeper regional integration, carried out openly and based on mutual consensus, is the key to spurring Asia-Pacific economic growth, Vladimir Putin wrote in an article ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the Philippines. Trade can't remain the sole driving force behind economic growth in the Asia-Pacific, as the region now requires "additional agreements covering services, investment, non-tariff barriers, competition policy, and subsidies" that can only be reached through mutual consensus, the Russian president stressed in the article, which has been published in Rossiyskaya Gazetaand other news outlets. According to Putin, "deeper regional economic integration" may provide a solution for current economic difficulties. He singled out the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) - established on January 1, 2015 to bring the economies of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan closer - as a successful example of this kind of "responsible and transparent partnership".

Enough of the hysterical warmongering: End the 'War on Terror' and you end ISIS Paul Gottinger CounterPunch 2015-11-17 15:26:00 The hysteria of vengeance has once again grasped hold of the West. Almost instantly, the West's veneer of civilization has been peeled away, leaving in its place, a renewed commitment to barbarity and retribution against the monsters known as ISIS.  France, like the US after September 11, immediately rolled back its citizen's rights and made promises to escalate the harassment and surveillance of Muslims. President François Hollande, taking a page from some of the darkest days of the Bush administration, pledged bloody revenge in a "pitiless" war against ISIS. Hollande wasted no time making good on his pledge. On Sunday, France announced it was working with the US to intensify airstrikes in Syria. Reutersreported that the Western coalition, led by France, dropped 20 bombs on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa in Northern Syria. Reports on the damage caused by the air strikes were not immediately known, though ISIS claimed the sites hit had all been evacuated in advance.

Comment: This article makes an excellent point: end the hysterical war-mongering and you end ISIS. After all, it's beyond a shadow of a doubt now that NATO has been using, arming, and fundingISIS in Syria, and al Qaeda in Libya, and elsewhere, for some time now. War-mongering and terrorism are two sides of the same coin. And that coin probably ends up in the pockets of the military-industrial complex. But even as citizens are massacred in the streets, in restaurants, and at sporting events, the politicians look them right in the eyes and lie. And the people believe them, because they are in a state of shock, and need a sense of direction. And so the hysterical war-mongering continues its bloody, twisted path: See also: ISIS as Instruments of Proxy War on Western Populations

Hollande seeks constitutional changes for greater security over "terrorism risk" Michel Rose Reuters 2015-11-17 16:43:00 Nov 16 President Francois Hollande said France's constitution needed to be amended to better deal with crisis situations as he addressed both houses of parliament convened at Versailles. Hollande said he wanted French law to allow dual nationals to be stripped of their French citizenship if they were convicted of terrorism and dual nationals to be banned from entering France if they presented a "terrorism risk". He also pledged to increase budgets for security forces and the army. "That will lead to higher spending, which I take responsibility for," Hollande said. "I consider that in these circumstances, the security pact prevails over the stability pact," he said, referring to the eurozone budget limits.

Nomi Prins on the utterly corrupt entirely rigged political-financial system Nomi Prins Jesse's Cafe Americain 2015-11-15 00:00:00 Too big to fail is a seven-year phenomenon created by the most powerful central banks to bolster the largest, most politically connected US and European banks. More than that, it's a global concern predicated on that handful of private banks controlling too much market share and elite central banks infusing them with boatloads of cheap capital and other aid. Synthetic bank and market subsidization disguised as 'monetary policy' has spawned artificial asset and debt bubbles - everywhere. The most rapacious speculative capital and associated risk flows from these power-players to the least protected, or least regulated, locales. There is no such thing as isolated 'Big Bank' problems. Rather, complex products, risky practices, leverage and co-dependent transactions have contagion ramifications, particularly in emerging markets whose histories are already lined with disproportionate shares of debt, interest rate and currency related travails.

Comment: Consider this when you next hear about or experience the collapse of any given country's economy: At some level it was engineered, manipulated and induced to do what it did. Yes, there are individuals, groups and institutions in place that have that kind of power and the resources and intent to do these things in order to serve specific agendas.

Society's Child

Who benefits? Defense industry stocks soar after the Paris terror attacks John Vibes The Anti Media 2015-11-17 21:28:00 A recent report by journalist Glenn Greenwald pointed out stock prices for weapons manufacturers sharply increased just after the terrorist attacks in Paris last week. Greenwald was following the tip of Brooklyn journalist Aaron Cantú, who posted screenshots for the recent stock performances of major weapons contractors on his Twitter page early Monday morning: Defense industry stocks this morning following Friday night's attacks in Paris:pic.twitter.com/8a35RcpPJ6 — Aaron Cantú (@aaronmiguel_) November 16, 2015

Anonymous vows to reveal those responsible for Russia's A321 crash in Egypt Sputnik 2015-11-17 20:43:00 Anonymous hacktivists will independently search for those responsible for the Russian A321 aircraft crash in Egypt, a spokesman for the group said Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Russian Federal Security Service head Alexander Bortnikov said a homemade explosive device with an equivalent of 1 kilogram of TNT on board the Russian A321 passenger plane was the reason for the accident. "We will perform actions to reveal who made the attack,"stressed Alex Poucher a self-described member of the Anonymous group. Anonymous is doing everything possible on the Internet to prevent the recurrence of such terrorist attacks, like a blast on board the Russian plane, Poucher noted. "We are ready to take steps to counter the attack <...> 200 people have been killed, and no matter what their nationalities were, where they were from. Anonymous will not remain indifferent, won't just watch the attacks that take place in different parts of the world from the outside," he told the RT television channel.

Comment: Well Russia is offering $50 million for information on the plane crash.

Kentucky city allows people to pay parking violations with food bank donations Amanda Froelich Natural Blaze 2015-11-17 20:39:00 For one month in Lexington County, Kentucky, individuals who forgot to feed their parking meter or drove too fast and got a ticket can pay off their fines with canned good donations. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that during the month-long "Food for Fines" program (November 16 - December 18), the city's parking authority will accept cans for citations. Those who donate 10 canned food items will receive a $15 credit on citations. Customers with multiple citations are only allowed to bring in 10 cans per citation to receive the credits. All the food will be donated to God's Pantry Food Bank, which will use the items to stock the shelvesof its four Lexington locations.

Comment: Poverty and homelessness have exploded in the U.S. and many food banks are oftenrunning short of supplies. This is an inspiring program that should be shared in other cities and continued for more than a single month. People over profits: New Boston grocery store helping to reduce both food waste and unaffordability

Video captures police beating man viciously with batons after he was on the ground Vivian Ho San Francisco Chronicle 2015-11-13 20:39:00 The Alameda County sheriff launched an investigation Friday after a video showing two deputies tackling and beating a man on the ground in San Francisco's Mission District went public, raising questions whether there was an excessive use of force. The San Francisco Public Defender's office released the video Friday night after witnesses to the arrest contacted them with concerns. Public Defender Jeff Adachi said the two deputies clearly used excessive force in an encounter that was "reminiscent of Rodney King." The video shows the deputies chasing after a man at the corner of Clinton Park and Stevenson Street at about 2:05 a.m. Thursday. One deputy jumps on the man, knocking him down, and goes on to punch him twice while he was still on the ground. He gets off as the second deputy pulls out his baton, and uses it to strike the man on the head. The video jumps 10 seconds to both deputies using their batons on the man as he struggled on his knees and screamed for help. The video jumps once more to show the man on his knees with his hands on his head, and one deputy pushing him to the ground so he and the other deputy could continue hitting him with their batons.

Teen files lawsuit against cop who assaulted her after she stood up to him assaulting her sister Julie Johnson The Press Democrat 2015-11-12 20:22:00 A federal civil rights lawsuit filed Thursday accuses a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy of using excessive force against a recent Petaluma High School graduate when he allegedly grabbed the 115-pound teen by the neck and threw her onto a concrete driveway, grinding her face into the ground with a knee to the back of her head. Deputy Marcus Holton assaulted and arrested Gabbi Lemos, 18, after she complained about how he was treating her sister, actions that violated both her constitutional right against police brutality and her right to free speech, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The lawsuit, which seeks unspecific damages, names Sheriff Steve Freitas, the county and Holton as defendants. Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sgt. Cecile Focha defended Holton's actions during the June 13 incident, which was recorded on the deputy's body camera. Holton continues to work full time as a patrol deputy. "All of our deputies, including Deputy Holton, behaved with restraint and professionalism during a highly volatile situation," Focha said.

Comment: This is another clear case of a cop totally overreacting to someone standing up for their rights. To most cops, the population no longer has any rights. They respond to anyone who thinks they do by assaulting them. This poor girl has been traumatized, and all because an angry cop is allowed to brutally beat someone half his size and the department supports him. The cop and the department deserve to be sued for their brutal tactics.

Fear freak out: Plane grounded as passenger spies woman watching 'suspicious' video Sputnik 2015-11-17 20:25:00 A plane was evacuated at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, and four passengers who appeared to be Muslim were searched, after someone reported seeing one of them watching what they believed to be a video from the self-proclaimed Islamic State terror group. Three men and a woman were removed from the Spirit Airlines plane, which was about to take off to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, when a female passenger was seen watching a video that another passenger deemed "suspicious." "A passenger alerted a flight attendant of a passenger engaged in suspicious activity on board," a source told Reuters. The plane had not yet taken off, and returned to the gate. All passengers were evacuated

Comment: So if you are watching news and are Muslim 'looking' beware of freaked out passengers.

Police civil asset forfeitures exceed all burglaries in 2014 and rising fast Martin Armstrong Armstrong Economics 2015-11-17 20:00:00 Between 1989 and 2010, U.S. attorneys seized an estimated $12.6 billion in asset forfeiture cases. The growth rate during that time averaged +19.4% annually. In 2010 alone, the value of assets seized grew by +52.8% from 2009 and was six times greater than the total for 1989. Then by 2014, that number had ballooned to roughly $4.5 billion for the year, making this 35% of the entire number of assets collected from 1989 to 2010 in a single year. According to the FBI, the total amount of goods stolen by criminals in 2014 burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.9 billion in property losses. This means that the police are now taking more assets than the criminals. The police have been violating the laws to confiscate assets all over the country. A scathing report onCalifornia warns of pervasive abuse by police to rob the people without proving that any crime occurred. Even Eric Holder came out in January suggesting reform because of the widespread abuse of the civil asset forfeiture laws by police.

Comment: This is pretty outrageous! Can anyone say Police State yet?

Stadium evacuated in Germany over potential terrorist attack - Merkel and other top officials were expected to attend RT 2015-11-17 19:54:00 A friendly game between the German and Dutch national teams in Hannover has been cancelled, German media report, citing police sources. The stadium is being evacuated. The match was cancelled due to "security reasons," police earlier told AFP. The evacuation of the stadium is underway. Spectators that had already taken their places in the stands have been asked to leave the stadium via loudspeakers. A "specific threat" has prompted the evacuations according to German BILD, citing police sources. Security services have received information about a potential terrorist attack "that should be taken seriously," according to dpa, a German news agency. Police have reportedly found an ambulance car "full of explosives" outside the Hannover stadium, according to a local newspaper, citing police sources.

Comment: Zero Hedge is reporting rumors that an emergency vehicle was found loaded with explosives.

UK study: Disability 'fit-for-work' assessments linked to rise in suicides, mental health problems, antidepressants RT 2015-11-17 13:55:00 Tests which assess eligibility for disability benefits may have had an effect on the mental health of claimants, according to new research which links the assessments to 590 suicides and thousands of anti-depressant prescriptions. The study, published on Tuesday in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggests the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), also known as fit-for-work tests, may have "serious consequences" on the mental health of those being tested. It adds that the policy, which was intended to move people off disability benefits, had been introduced without any consideration of its effect on individuals. Researchers from the University of Liverpool found 1 million people had been assessed in England between 2010 and 2013. They found these assessments are linked to 590 extra suicides, 297,000 extra cases of mental health problems and 725,000 anti-depressant prescriptions during the same amount of time. "Each additional 10,000 people reassessed in each area was associated with an additional six suicides, 2,700 cases of reported mental health problems and the prescribing of an additional 7,020 antidepressant items," the report notes. "The reassessment process was associated with the greatest increases in these adverse mental health outcomes in the most deprived areas of the country, widening health inequalities." In total the results amount to a 5 percent rise in suicides, 11 percent increase in mental health issues and 0.5 percent more antidepressant prescriptions.

Comment: See also: Despicable: UK budget cuts to 'bare bones' social services force elderly, disabled to go without assistance, food and drink

Explosion reported at chemical factory in northeast China RT 2015-11-17 15:19:00 An explosion has been reported at a chemical factory in Fushun, Liaoning province, in northeast China. The cause of the blast is under investigation, CCTV reported. The explosion caused a fire at the site, the factory's website said, as cited by TASS news agency. Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene and the situation is reportedly under control. No casualties have been reported.

Viva Chavez! Venezuela reduces extreme poverty to 4.9 percent TeleSur 2015-11-17 18:33:00 Other countries in the region see extreme poverty as high as 53 percent. In spite of Venezuela's economic turbulence in 2015, the government has managed to reduce extreme poverty to 4.9 percent thanks to social investment and initiatives, the vice president for social development, Gladys Requena, announced Monday. When former President Hugo Chavez was elected in 1998, 21 percent of Venezuelans lived in extreme poverty. Since then, under Chavez's same PSUV socialist party government, a variety of government "missions," or initiatives, have bolstered living conditions for millions.  The housing mission, for example, between 2011 and 2015 has provided 800,000 low-income families with new homes, while it was reported that the 12-year-old health mission has completed over 700 million free appointments to date. The spending on social projects has continued in spite of an economic war waged by international opponents to the wealth redistribution project of the PSUV's "Bolivarian Revolution," which has driven up inflation and smuggling.

Massive chemical fire rages at industrial park near Pittsburgh Bob Allen CBS Local 2015-11-17 10:34:00 Firefighters are battling a five-alarm industrial fire in Leetsdale. According to Allegheny County Emergency Services, the fire broke out at Weatherford Engineered Chemistry in the 100 block of Leetsdale Industrial Drive. The company is involved in the development of oil and gas production. The fire has since spread to a second building nearby. Firefighters have taken up a defensive position and are watering down six other buildings. Officials say that the two chemicals involved - ammonium persulfate and sodium chlorite - are inhalation contact hazards. As a result, an evacuation order has been issued for all homes on Washington Road in Leetsdale. About 75 homes are involved in the evacuation and residents are being ushered to the Quaker Valley High School gymnasium.

Animal-loving man killed by newly adopted dog Katherine Burgess Freep 2015-11-17 18:23:00 A central Tennessee man was attacked and killed by a Rottweiler dog, just hours after adopting it from the county pound, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Anthony Riggs, 57, had adopted the Rottweiler from Jackson-Madison County Rabies Control, which is a part of the health department, Thursday morning. The dog attacked and killed him later that same day, according to the Sheriff's Office. After leaving the county animal facility Thursday around 10:30 a.m., Riggs took the Rottweiler to show it to his son Thomas Riggs, according to Adrienne Riggs, Anthony's ex-wife. Father and son had made plans for the holidays, hugged and said they loved each other, she said.

Comment: Animal Rescuer in Georgia Killed by Own Dogs

At least 16 killed, 100 injured as Pakistan passenger train derails Press TV 2015-11-17 15:30:00 A train transporting 300 passengers has run off its railroad track, leaving at least 16 people dead and more than 100 others injured in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan. "Four carriages of a Rawalpindi-bound train which left Quetta railway station were derailed near Abegum area of Bolan district, some 75 kilometers (46 miles) from Quetta city," Akbar Hussain Durrani, the Baluchistan home secretary, said on Tuesday. The accident occurred near Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan Province, after the train's brakes failed as it came speeding down the side of a mountain, according to officials. The train driver and his assistant, and two members of the railway police, are among the dead. Train accidents frequently happen in Pakistan. In July, at least 17 people were killed when a special military train fell into a canal after a bridge partially collapsed.

'Waste them in the outhouse': Putin's famous rallying cry against terrorists goes viral after Paris attacks RT 2015-11-17 17:29:00 In the wake of Friday's Paris attacks, French social media users have been posting and reposting a catchphrase by Vladimir Putin, who famously called for terrorists to be "wasted... in the outhouse." Some say they like this approach better than Hollande's "non-action" calls. The phrase has become famous and dates back to 1999, when Putin was Russia's prime minister. At that time the country faced terror on a large scale as it was fighting jihadists in the Caucasus during the second Chechen campaign. He was commenting on the Russian anti-terrorist operation in the city of Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic, and the catchphrase became an illustration of his hardline attitude toward terrorists. "We are going to pursue terrorists everywhere. If they are in the airport, we will pursue them in the airport. And if we capture them in the toilet, then we will waste them in the outhouse. ... The issue has been resolved once and for all," he told Russian media. Since then the phrase has become Putin's catchphrase and has resurfaced on social media occasionally, especially after terrorist attacks. It was widely re-tweeted after the Boston Marathon bombings in April 2013 and the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January 2014, as social media users called for a tougher approach in dealing with terrorism.

Secret History

No new articles.

Science & Technology

Recognizing the basic structure of language is not unique to the human brain Science Daily 2015-11-17 20:21:00 A team led at Newcastle University, UK, has shed light on the evolutionary roots of language in the brain. Publishing in Nature Communications, the team led by Dr Ben Wilson and Professor Chris Petkov explain how using an imaging technique to explore the brain activity in humans and monkeys has identified the evolutionary origins of cognitive functions in the brain that underpin language and allow us to evaluate orderliness in sequences of sounds. This new knowledge will help our understanding of how we learn -- and lose -- language such as in aphasia after a stroke or in dementia.

Comment: Monkeys have a memory for grammar How the origins of human language builds on birdsong and speech forms of other primates

NASA Curiosity rover finds Mars could have held water at different points in time RT 2015-11-17 18:08:00 NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has examined mineral veins in the Red Planet's so-called "Garden City," thanks to a new observation tool. Chemical analysis of the site may indicate water made repeated appearance on Mars, scientists say. The Curiosity team deployed a tool called laser-firing Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) to analyze bright and dark mineral veins, first discovered in March, at Garden City. It allows reading different veins by means of laser targeting while comparing them with mineral alteration seen at other places on the planet's surface. "At Garden City, because there's such good preservation and we get the cross-cutting, we're able to start pulling out some chemical signatures that we saw at different places into distinct fluids," Curiosity scientist Diana Blaney, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told Discovery News. "And by looking at the cross-cutting relationships and the difference in chemistries, I think we have really strong evidence that they're distinct fluid events." "We don't know how far apart in time these different events occurred, or what was driving them," she said. "Veins have a good potential — because it's a fluid and there is crystallization — to include things as inclusions, but the organic preservation has a lot of factors."

Confirmation bias or why being wrong feels so right Science Daily 2015-11-17 17:57:00 People are reluctant to change their minds, even when facts don't match what they believe A new study from the University of Iowa finds that once people reach a conclusion, they aren't likely to change their minds, even when new information shows their initial belief is likely wrong and clinging to that belief costs real money. The study, co-authored by Tom Gruca, professor of marketing in the Tippie College of Business, has implications for understanding financial markets. He says equity analysts who issue written forecasts about stocks may be subject to this confirmation bias and do not let new data significantly revise their initial analyses. Gruca found this confirmation bias in student traders participating in the Iowa Electronic Markets over a 10-year period during which they bought and sold real-money contracts to predict the four-week opening box office receipts for a new movie. The students analyzed markets for a total of 18 movies released between 1998 and 2008. The research shows that even as the key first weekend box office receipts were reported, prices stayed remarkably stable as traders ignored new value-relevant information and continued to rely on their initial estimates.

Comment: Michael R. Eades, M.D.: Beware the confirmation bias Why Society Doesn't Change: The System Justification Bias Understanding the cognitive biases that make us irrational

Leonid meteor shower of fireballs and shooting stars expected to light up sky tonight RT 2015-11-17 17:52:00 A stunning fireworks show will be thrown by Mother Nature overnight on Tuesday, as the Leonid meteor shower sends out a series of spectacular fireballs and shooting stars. The annual lights show contains some of the fastest meteors in existence. "Leonids travel at speeds of 71 km (44 miles) per second, and are considered to be some of the fastest meteors out there," NASA said in a statement. Skywatchers hoping to see the light show with their own eyes are in luck, according to NASA, which says that a "waxing-crescent moon will set before midnight, leaving dark skies to view these bright and colorful meteors." Those who want a front-row seat should head outdoors at around midnight, local time, says NASA.

What's in a name? More than you think... Science Daily 2015-11-17 17:48:00 What's in a name? In the case of the usernames of video gamers, a remarkable amount of information about their real world personalities, according to research by psychologists at the University of York. Analysis of anonymised data from one of the world's most popular computer games by scientists in the Department of Psychology at York also revealed information about their ages. Professor Alex Wade and PhD student Athanasios Kokkinakis, a PhD student on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council-funded Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence(IGGI) project, analysed data from League of Legends, a game played by around 70 million people worldwide..

Corruption of science and data fraud: Stanford researchers uncover patterns in how scientists falsify research Bjorn Carey Stanford University 2015-11-16 14:29:00 When scientists falsify data, they try to cover it up by writing differently in their published works. A pair of Stanford researchers have devised a way of identifying these written clues. Even the best poker players have "tells" that give away when they're bluffing with a weak hand. Scientists who commit fraud have similar, but even more subtle, tells, and a pair of Stanford researchers have cracked the writing patterns of scientists who attempt to pass along falsified data. The work, published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology, could eventually help scientists identify falsified research before it is published.

Comment: Corrupt Science: Cancer Research of 10 Years Useless: Fraudulent Studies, Says Mayo Clinic The Corruption of Science in America Biosafety and the 'Seralini affair': Systemic corruption of science and regulation Report: How Corporations Undermine Science with Fake Bloggers and Bribes

Information is contagious among social connections ScienceDaily 2015-11-16 00:00:00 New research using advanced computer modeling sheds light on how behaviors may become "contagious" in large groups, showing that the memory of one individual can indirectly influence that of another via shared social connections.  The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. "In large social networks, our model demonstrated that information is 'contagious' in much the same way that behavior seems to be contagious," say researchers Christian Luhmann and Suparna Rajaram of Stony Brook University. "These results suggest that information transmission is a critical mechanism underlying the social transmission of behavior." While research has shown that various behaviors, including smoking, seem to spread throughout social networks, the mechanisms driving this behavioral contagion remain mysterious. To shed light on these contagious phenomena, Luhmann and Rajaram decided to incorporate well-established cognitive processes into computer models capable of simulating groups much larger than those typically seen in laboratory research. In doing so, they would be able to see how individuals interact, and how information flows, within groups that ranged from two to 500 people.

Researchers sequence genomes of parasite that is actually a "micro jellyfish" ScienceDaily 2015-11-16 00:00:00 Researchers have revealed how a jellyfish -- those commonplace sea pests with stinging tentacles -- have evolved over time into 'really weird' microscopic organisms, made of only a few cells, that live inside other animals.  It's a shocking discovery that may redefine how scientists interpret what it means to be an animal. This week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of Kansas will reveal how a jellyfish -- those commonplace sea pests with stinging tentacles -- have evolved over time into "really weird" microscopic organisms, made of only a few cells, that live inside other animals. Genome sequencing confirms that myxozoans, a diverse group of microscopic parasites that infect invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, are actually are "highly reduced" cnidarians -- the phylum that includes jellyfish, corals and sea anemones. "This is a remarkable case of extreme degeneration of an animal body plan," said Paulyn Cartwright, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at KU and principal investigator on the research project. "First, we confirmed they're cnidarians. Now we need to investigate how they got to be that way."

Earth Changes

River of hail and sand in the middle of Arabian desert Sputnik 2015-11-17 20:13:00 This is what happens to hail in Saudi Arabia. Apparently, not all deserts are dry and barren. This bizarre weather phenomenon, a stream of hail mixed with sand, occurred in Saudi Arabia.

Waterspout captured over Townsville, Australia Townsville Bulletin 2015-11-17 12:21:00 A waterspout formed off the Townsville coast this morning, with at least one or two separate funnel cloud formations also sighted over land. Townsville weather bureau forecaster Andrew Cearns said a waterspout had definitely formed but photographs taken by locals of tornado-like clouds between the airport and Yabulu were harder to confirm. "Looking at the doppler, there were signs of strong winds moving in two different directions so there was definitely a possibility of rotation (over land)," he said. "The conditions were there. We had a southeast change coming up the coast and low level northerly winds coming in to it." Mr Cearns said the funnel-like clouds sighted over land did not appear to reach the ground. It's been called everything from a tornado to a funnel cloud and a water spout but whatever it is, it has got Townsville talking. Pictures of the weather phenomena have been posted on social media this morning after rain fell across the city overnight. The Townsville Bulletin contacted the Bureau of Meterology for an official identification but they have not been able to confirm what took place at this stage.

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits Kyrgyzstan BNO News 2015-11-17 20:02:00 A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 has struck southern Kyrgyzstan, east of the city of Osh, seismologists say. The earthquake, which struck at 11:29 p.m. local time on Tuesday, was centered about 31 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It struck about 15.6 kilometers (9.7 miles) deep, making it a very shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The European Mediterranean Seismological Center measured the earthquake at a preliminary 5.9, while the USGS measured it at 5.5. The earthquake was widely felt in the region but there was no immediate word about damage or casualties. Local officials were not immediately available to comment and no other details were available.

"Unprecedented" tornado outbreak as more than 20 touch down across western Kansas Stan Finger The Wichita Eagle 2015-11-17 15:32:00 Nearly two dozen tornadoes were reported around Kansas on Monday afternoon and evening, part of a rare November outbreak that spanned three states in Tornado Alley. The outbreak was the latest on record for northwest Kansas and so many tornadoes touched down in southwest Kansas that a weather official called it "unprecedented" for that part of the state in November. A total of 41 tornadoes were reported in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Significant damage occurred near Pampa, Texas, and lesser damage was reported elsewhere.

Comment: One tornado ripped through the Texas panhandle on Monday night and was estimated to have been a mile wide. It reportedly leveled a Halliburton plant, causing chemical and gas leaks.

Family's pit bull kills 11-month-old boy in Oneida County, New York Elizabeth Doran syracuse.com 2015-11-16 18:12:00 An 11-month-old boy was attacked and killed by the family's pet pit bull last night, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol. The incident occurred about 7:15 p.,m. at a home at 2700 State Route 12B in the town of Marshall in Oneida County. The 2-year-old pit bull named Diesel was in the family's living room playing with Lisa M. Cittadino's three daughters ages 7, 10 and 12, police said. Cittadino, 32, toid police she turned her back momentarily and then heard screams from her son and daughters. Cittadino said she saw the dog attacking her son, and began to frantically try to get the dog to release his grip on her child, police said. Once the dog let go, she called 911 and began giving her son first aid, police said.

Comment: From the website Dogs Bite Decatur Al: 2015 - U.S. DOG BITE RELATED FATALITIES - 30 (12 CHILDREN - 18 ADULTS) PIT BULL - 19 FREDERICK MD - WEST MIFFLIN PA WHEELING WV JEFFERSON COUNTY AR PAHRUMP NV DALLAS TX CHICAGO IL LAWTON OK PECOS TX HENDERSON COUNTY NC SHAKER HEIGHTS OH REDBIRD OK (4 dogs-3 pit bulls and 1 rottweiler) SPARTANBURG SC MOCKSVILLE DAVIE COUNTY NC NORTHSHORE RIVERSIDE COUNTY CA BAKER HEIGHTS WV VIDOR TX OKLAHOMA CITY OK ELMONT NY MARSHALL NY PIT BULL MIXES - 2 BROOKSVILLE FL COLLEGE SPRINGS PAGE COUNTY IA 3 DOGS: AMERICAN BULLDOG, RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK, LAB MIX??? - 1 ATTACK MIAMI DADE FL ROTTWEILER - 2 SULPHUR SPRINGS TX MADISON COUNTY TN UNKNOWN BREED DOGS - 5 COAL HILL JOHNSON COUNTY AR (RUMORED TO BE HIS SON'S PIT BULL MIXES) ROSEBUD INDIAN RESERVATION SD WASHINGTON GA (RUMORED TO BE PIT BULLS) CANYON LAKE TX AUTAUGA CO AL - FB PIC SHOWED A LARGE PIT BULL AND 2 OTHER DOGS ONE OF WHICH WAS TIED UP AT THE TIME OF THE MAULING - SHEPHERD MIX?? AND A LAB MIX

Five dead after flash floods in Saudi Arabia Press TV 2015-11-17 17:49:00 Heavy rain and flash floods in Saudi Arabia along its Red Sea coast has killed five people. The Saudi Civil Defense said on Tuesday that three children were among those who were killed by the flash floods. An 11-year-old child reportedly drowned in the western province of Yanbu. Another child, whose age was not disclosed, was swept away and killed by floodwaters in the northwestern province of Ha'il. A third child drowned in an area on the outskirts of Jiddah. "We are all pained today by the loss of our children's lives in accidents and various areas after being swept away by the floodwaters," the Civil Defense authority said in a message posted on Twitter. Also in Jeddah, two other people died when they were electrocuted by a lamp post.

Dead sperm whale found at Cape Conran, Australia Jonathon Kendall blogs.abc.net.au 2015-11-16 12:32:00 Big shark feeding on dead whale at Cape Conran shows biodiversity of East Gippsland marine ecosystem Have you ever thought the waters off Gippsland are relatively shark free? It's true, we have nowhere near as many shark attacks as further north...but the sharks are here. And if you want evidence, there was plenty of it at Cape Conran yesterday. A large sperm whale beached itself at Salmon Rocks and an opportunist shark turned up for a feed.

Mexico's Colima volcano erupts again, spewing smoke and ash almost 2 miles in air Inforum 2015-11-16 16:00:00 Mexico's Colima volcano, also known as the Fire Volcano, erupted on Monday sending a plume of smoke and ash some 9,842 feet into the air. Located in the southwestern Mexican state of Colima, the volcano has been exhibiting continuous activity since July 9 which has prompted evacuations several times. It was previously active in January and February of 2015 and is part of the Pacific's Ring of Fire. Mexico contains over 3,000 volcanos, but only 14 are considered active. Major eruptions in Mexican history have included the 1953 eruption of the Paricutin Volcano in Michoacan, the 1982 eruption of Tacana Volcano in Chiapas and the 1986 eruption of the Colima Volcano. Reuters Media

Comment: According to Volcano Discovery, 39 volcanoes around the world have recently erupted, and 32 of them are associated with the Ring of Fire, where seismic activity appears to be dramatically increasing amid a progression of recent disasters. These reports of activity from Mexico's Colima volcano are from the past month: Mexico's Colima volcano has another double eruption Mexico's Colima volcano explodes five times in one morning Mexico's Colima volcano erupts twice, spewing ash and smoke

Strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Greece RT.com 2015-11-17 07:31:00 A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck southwest of Ioannina in Greece at a depth of some 10 kilometers, according to the US Geological Service. The quake hit early Tuesday, with the initial reading adjusted to 6.8 and the depth changed to 5 kilometers, according to the scientists. According to the University of Athens, the magnitude was 5.9.

Comment: According to this source (in Greek), the earthquake caused the death of two women, 70 and 65 years old respectively. There were also several wounded, among which were two children, and elderly woman and a middle-aged man.

Chemical spill, gas leaks reported after massive tornado levels Texas Halliburton plant RT 2015-11-17 03:23:00 Large tornados ripped through the Texas panhandle on Monday night, including one estimated to be a mile wide that reportedly leveled a Halliburton plant, causing chemical and gas leaks. Downed power lines were also reported. Large #Pampa #Tornado caught by Chaser @ChanceTColdiron for @koconewstonight! #WTSP @NWSAmarillo @NewsChannel10 pic.twitter.com/VTfixW2INw— Jim Van Fleet (@JamesVanFleet) November 17, 2015 According to ABC 7 Amarillo, the Halliburton plant in Pampa, Texas was "completely leveled." As of yet, no injuries have been reported and the building itself was empty when the tornado struck, according to KAMR News. Many cars were outside of the facility, however. https://t.co/NjGD4y21t8 — Diana (@drpenn) November 17, 2015 The chemical spills and gas leaks are currently being contained, Gray County Emergency Coordinator Sandi Martin told the news outlet. There is reportedly concern that radioactive materials might have been released.

Comment: Read: Earth Changes and the Human Cosmic Connection: The Secret History of the World - Book 3

Fire in the Sky

Fireball falls behind TV reporter during liveshot in Oklahoma City koco.com 2015-11-10 14:04:00 A fireball fell behind Ariana Garza during her live report on Monday night.

Comment: Global map of locations where fireballs have been seen so far in 2015:

'Explody' Taurid meteor fireballs filmed in Deadfall Basin, California Nancy Atkinson Universe Today 2015-11-13 13:23:00 "The landscape was just at the verge of trying to silently explode with vibrant colors of red, gold and oranges," said photographer Brad Goldpaint as he described the autumn view during his hike to Deadfall Basin in California to set up his cameras to try and capture a few Taurid meteors. But the landscape wasn't the only thing about to explode. Later that night Brad captured a few "exploding" meteors that produced what are called persistent trains: what remains of a meteor fireball in the upper atmosphere as winds twist and swirl the expanding debris. Brad created a time-lapse video from the event and slowed down the footage to highlight the trains.

Health & Wellness

Is the chicken pox vaccine behind the outbreak of shingles in children and adults? David Gutierrez Natural News 2015-11-17 21:03:00 The rate of shingles has been increasing since the 1990s, and it is now estimated that about one in three adults will develop the disease in their lifetime. A certain number of these people will experience recurring outbreaks. About one in five of them will suffer severe and often debilitating pain known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Officially, the cause of this increase is unknown. Yet studies suggest that at least part of the explanation could be the chickenpox vaccine. Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, which is known as varicella zoster. Shingles cannot occur in someone who has not been previously been infected with the virus, presumably resulting in a chickenpox infection. Why, then, would the vaccine against this virus be causing more severe outbreaks later in life?

Comment: There is one silver lining in this shingles debacle. It can be treated using Vitamin C.

Health and Wellness Show: Medicinal Herbs Sott Editors Sott.net 2015-07-13 10:00:00 Today on the Health and Wellness show we'll be discussing medicinal herbs - various applications for different herbs, benefits, warnings and interactions. The pet health segment will be discussing a biogenic stimulator developed by a Russian scientist. It's going to be an interesting show! Tune in weekly at 10am EST on Fridays. Here's the transcript of the show:

Parasitic worm infections can increase susceptibility to tuberculosis Science Daily 2015-11-16 00:00:00 Scientists have shown how a parasitic worm infection common in the developing world increases susceptibility to tuberculosis. The study demonstrated that treating the parasite reduces lung damage seen in mice that also are infected with tuberculosis, thereby eliminating the vulnerability to tuberculosis (TB) that the parasite is known to cause. The study raises the possibility of using inexpensive and widely available anti-parasitic drugs as a preventive measure in places where the parasite and TB are common -- stopping infection with the parasite and reducing susceptibility to TB and the risk of a latent TB infection progressing to disease. The research, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, appears online Nov. 16 inThe Journal of Clinical Investigation. "Scientists and doctors have known that having both infections -- this parasitic worm and tuberculosis -- results in increased susceptibility to severe lung disease than having TB alone," said Shabaana A. Khader, PhD, associate professor of molecular microbiology. "But if we don't understand why co-infection increases the susceptibility to TB, it is difficult to know how to deal with the situation."

Comment: Studies have found that most people, especially those with chronic diseases and cancer, are host to at least one kind of parasite. Parasites can range from tiny organisms, visible only by microscope to long tapeworms. They can enter the body through food, drink, contact with animals or infected persons, or even just skin contact, and parasite infections can last for years. Parasitic microorganisms: Chances are, you've got them

Outspoken drug critic Dr. Carl Hart: Popular big pharma drug Adderall is pretty much crystal meth John Vibes True Activist 2015-11-13 17:38:00 Dr. Carl Hart, an associate professor of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University who specializes in drug abuse and drug addiction, is also an outspoken critic of the drug war, and made comments in the media recently about how the popular big pharma drug Adderall is pretty much the same thing as crystal meth. When appearing on All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC, Hart spoke about the crack epidemic and how it allowed the media and the politicians to overlook many of the issues with poverty and violence that existed in poor areas of America's cities and instead use crack as a scapegoat. Hart admitted that crack is dangerous, but that it has been used as a scapegoat by the government, and like many drugs, there is a lot of misinformation out there about it.

Comment: Adderall... entirely legal and prescribed to millions: 'Pay Attention: The Great American Adderall Drought Quest to be Supermom Results in Addiction to Adderall For Some "It's too hard to modify a kid's environment - let's just give the kid Amphetamines" BigPharma win: College students report frequent use of prescription pain medications, sedatives and stimulants

World Health Organization: Prolonged exposure to low levels of radiation increases the risk of cancer Washington's Blog 2015-10-28 16:30:00 Over 300,000 Nuclear Workers from France, the UK and US Studied for Radiation-Cancer Link A major new study coordinated by World Health Organization's cancer division - the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - finds that even low-level radiation increases the risk of cancer, if exposure occurs over time. The IARC announced last week: New results from a study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, show that protracted exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation increases the risk of death from solid cancers. The results, published today in The BMJ [the prestigious British Medical Journal], are based on the most powerful study to date and provide direct evidence about cancer risks after protracted exposures to low-dose ionizing radiation. "The present study demonstrates a significant association between increasing radiation dose and risk of all solid cancers," says IARC researcher Dr Ausrele Kesminiene, a study co-author. "No matter whether people are exposed to protracted low doses or to high and acute doses, the observed association between dose and solid cancer risk is similar per unit of radiation dose." ... A collaboration among international partners, evaluated the exposures of more than 300,000 nuclear workers in France, the United Kingdom, and the USA over a period of time between 1943 and 2005.

Comment: Living in a toxic world: Iodine to the rescue

Iodine: An old life-saving medicine - rediscovered! Dr. Edward Group Global Healing Center 2015-09-28 16:24:00 It is not an understatement to say our existence, and the quality of our lives, depends on having adequate iodine levels. In spite of this, mainstream medicine generally ignores the importance of this element. The following fifteen facts will reveal not only how important iodine is, but how much better your life can be with balanced levels of this life-giving element. 1. Iodine is an Essential Element The thyroid creates hormones to regulate metabolism and cellular function. The two most important hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) require iodine for formation. Without iodine, the thyroid under-produces these hormones leading to hypothyroidism and other metabolic disorders. 2. Iodized Salt is Not a Good Source of Iodine Most table salt has been iodized in an effort to eliminate iodine deficiency. Unfortunately, the process of manufacturing this salt can include adding artificial versions of iodine and other chemicals, making it anything but healthy. Plus, to make it white, most table salt is bleached. Dietary iodine can be found in better sources. And, for salt, go with Himalayan Crystal Salt. Comment: Also the little bit of iodine in table salt tends to vapour out once the package has been opened. The dose of iodine is only designed to prevent goitre, but the amount ingested with it is not high enough for general health. 3. Iodine Deficiency Remains a Problem Much of the world continues to suffer from iodine deficiency. While many developing countries lack adequate dietary iodine, many western countries suffer iodine deficiency from diets based on processed foods. These foods introduce toxins which disrupt absorption of dietary iodine. This problem afflicts women more often than men. 4. Iodine Deficiency and Breast Cancer Have Been Linked Although breast cancer has a number of causes and simply taking an iodine supplement shouldn't at all be interpreted as a standalone cancer-preventative, studies have shown a correlation between breast cancer and thyroid disorders. Both the thyroid and breast require iodine to function properly.It has been noted in countries with a documented consumption of iodine rich foods that both problems occur less frequently in women. [1]

Comment: The main benefit of iodine supplementation seems not to lie with upregulating thyroid function, but with detoxification - mainly of bromides. Bromides are used as fire retardants and can be found virtually everywhere - in food, clothes, mattresses, cars and consumer electronics. For more information - and before embarking on iodine supplementation - we recommend the following book: The Iodine Crisis: What you don't know about iodine can wreck your life, by Lynne Farrow

Artificial sweeteners raise risk of heart attacks David Gutierrez Natural News 2015-11-17 13:39:00 Drinking just two sweetened beverages per day — including "diet" drinks — can raise your risk of heart failure by nearly 25 percent, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and published in the journal Heart. Although prior studies have linked consumption of sugary and diet beverages to various worsened health outcomes, including worse heart health, the new study is the first to link these drinks with heart failure.

Comment: See more: Stressed out? This is why you crave sugar

A constant stream of expensive drugs Helen Saul Case Orthomolecular Medicine News Service 2015-11-16 06:59:00 It would be novel indeed to see a news media report entitled "Life- Saving Vitamins." That's a headline about vitamins that would be true for once. Instead, I see folks on TV speaking about those drugs they so desperately "need" while they plead with drug companies to just make them more affordable. "It's tough when it comes to medical stuff costing so much because you can't say no to medication," says one patient who seeks an expensive drug to help lower his high cholesterol [1]. "[It's] a kind of blackmail: if you want drug companies to keep turning out life-saving drugs, you will gratefully pay whatever they charge."- Marcia Angell, MD Take comfort, consumer. NBC is on it. On Wednesday, November 4th, 2015, they presented a news bit ominously entitled "Your Money or Your Life." NBC asked Leonard Schleifer, MD, CEO of Regeneron: "Why do the same medications cost so much more here than in other countries?" After all, NBC pointed out that drugs cost twice as much in the United States then they do in Canada, the United Kingdom, or Australia. And they noted that Regeneron's new drug Praluent is particularly costly. Dr. Schleifer justified the price tag on his company's expensive new drug because of the high cost of the product's development. "Do we want cheap drugs now, and no drugs in the future?" he asks. "Or more expensive drugs now, and a constant stream of drugs?" [2]

Comment: Other than expensive, these drugs are literally dangerous, promoting the very things they should be healing: Vascular surgeon: Why I've ditched statins for good Vascular surgeons write a damning report about lowering cholesterol drugs Statin drugs linked to brain dysfunction Statins and cancer

The benefits of dry skin brushing Bee Wilder Healing Naturally by Bee 2015-11-16 23:15:00 The skin plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and impurities. Dry skin brushing is one of the best techniques to open up the pores of the skin, and to stimulate and detoxify the lymphatic system. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and is responsible for one-fourth of the body's detoxification each day. It also makes it one of the most important elimination organs! For this reason the skin is also known as the "3rd" kidney, with the lungs being known as the 2nd kidney.

Comment: See more: Halotherapy: Taking a mound of salt for what ails you Living in a toxic world: Iodine to the rescue

How Himalayan salt lamps are benefcial for better sleep and mental clarity Time Wheel 2015-11-16 02:28:00 Himalayan salt is widely recognized for its nutritional benefits and of course its rosy-pink complexion. It is an excellent replacement for average cooking and table salt as it contains much less sodium and has been found to even lower blood pressure and aid in digestion. Himalayan salt also consists of trace amounts of calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium where as regular salt is almost entirely sodium-chloride crystals.

Comment: See more on the benefits of Himalayan salt: The benefits of salt for survival

The human cost of agrotoxins. How Monsanto's glyphosate pesticide is killing Argentina Tommaso Perrone Life Gate 2015-11-11 21:46:00 An emerging Argentinian photographer has realised a daring photo feature. Like David against Goliath, his enemies are glyphosate and the Monsanto Company. Glyphosate, one of the world's most used herbicides, has devastating, dramatic effects on the health of people living in very close contact with it. This time, the warning does not come from environmental organisations or WHO's agencies, but from a photo feature. Pablo Ernesto Piovano is an Argentinian photographer that decided, in 2014, to report the conditions of people living and working near GM soy crops, where massive amounts of herbicide are used.

Comment: Monsanto's appalling lack of concern for either people or planet is sickening. In a sane society they would be brought to justice for what amount to crimes against humanity. 30,000 doctors and health experts in Latin America want Monsanto banned! How Monsanto silences scientific debate Monsanto knew all along! Sealed documents reveal the truth behind Roundup's toxicological dangers Monsanto desperation: California's plan to list Glyphosate as cause for cancer 'may be illegal'

Science of the Spirit

Gabor Maté: How to build a culture of good health Gabor Maté Yes Magazine 2015-11-17 20:34:00 Physical well-being depends on more than keeping our bodies fit. Emotions and the people who come into our lives matter just as much.  "I never get angry," says a character in one of Woody Allen's movies. "I grow a tumor instead." Much more scientific truth is captured in that droll remark than many doctors would recognize. Mainstream medical practice largely ignores the role of emotions in the physiological functioning of the human organism. Yet the scientific evidence abundantly shows that people's lifetime emotional experiences profoundly influence health and illness. And, since emotional patterns are a response to the psychological and social environment, disease in an individual always tells us about the multigenerational family of origin and the broader culture in which that person's life unfolds.

Comment: Dr. Gabor Maté: "When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection" When the Body Says No: How Emotions Can Cause or Prevent Deadly Disease A Top Doc Explains Why Kind Love Beats Tough Love When Treating Addiction When the Body Says No: Caring for ourselves while caring for others - Dr. Gabor Maté How traumatic unconscious memories are stored in the brain and how to access them Gabor Maté: Beautiful dream of Israel has become a nightmare The Damage is Done: Gabor Maté and Calgary performer team up to create play exploring trauma

Tech addiction: Photos depict how modern technology is 'stealing souls' Kirsten Cowart The Mind Unleashed 2015-11-16 17:57:00 Addiction to technology "is placing the screen as an object of 'mass subculture', alienating the relation to our own body, and more generally to the physical world." Antonie Geiger is a 20-year-old photographer from France who has perfectly outlined how our electronics are sucking the life out of us. They consume out attention tricking us into thinking it is about affection and all the while distracting us from living our present physical lives. When we are not grounded in the present moment we are disconnecting. Since many of us are on a path of seeking connection we need to remember to keep our electronic tools in balance with our interpersonal connections.

Study finds our beliefs and behaviors influenced by shared social connections RT 2015-11-17 17:59:00 Attitudes are contagious. People tend to copy each other's opinions. This is not a new idea, but only now have scientists begun to use computer models to try and understand the mechanism which facilitates this. And they say it has to do with large groups. Apparently, the larger the group, the more "contagious" an idea is, up to the point where one's memory can become shared with someone who has never had the experience, but with whom the first person shares social connections, Stony Brook University researchers have found. The need for such research was to advance not only our understanding of how memory and perceptions are formed, but how they are shared; and more importantly, what other life processes this model could be applied to, such as habits, fashion and various fads. "In large social networks, our model demonstrated that information is 'contagious' in much the same way that behavior seems to be contagious," Christian Luhmann and Suparna Rajaram found. "These results suggest that information transmission is a critical mechanism underlying the social transmission of behavior."

Taking breaks throughout workday can increase productivity Kate Bartolotta Huffington Post 2015-11-16 12:30:00 How many times do you sit down to get work done and find yourself "working" and yet getting little completed? Do you set aside big chunks of time to get work done, only to end up feeling like you've barely made a dent in it? Do you have that one task that always seems to get pushed off to the next day? Do you end your workday feeling drained rather than satisfied with what you've accomplished? This is a sign that you aren't taking enough breaks -- or aren't taking them effectively. We prize this idea of being busy, and see taking a break or getting distracted as a problem. In reality, rest and relaxation are tools our bodies and minds are trying desperately to get us to use. Most of us are aware that taking breaks from physical activity is necessary to recuperate and prevent injuries. Taking breaks in our mental work is equally helpful, and can be a great boost to our productivity as well.

Comment: Sitting too much? Fidgeting might help counteract the damage Three hours of sitting can damage your blood vessels

Healing sex addiction triggers: Five tools for sobriety Rob Weiss Counselor Magazine 2015-11-17 15:05:00 If you are a recovering alcoholic or drug addict with solid support and a lot of motivated willingness to get well, you can make it through the rest of your life without taking another drink or abusing an addictive drug. Similarly, compulsive gamblers can live a full and happy lives without ever re-entering a casino, betting on the stock market, or playing fantasy football. But for those who struggle with addictions to otherwise highly life-affirming activities like eating and sex, recovery can at times be a daily battle. After all, compulsive eaters in recovery must still eat on a regular basis. And recovering sex addicts, even if they've previously had enough sex to populate China, usually still want (and deserve) to have a healthy sexual and intimate life in recovery. However, as mentioned in a previous posting to this site, triggers toward addictive sex are relatively unavoidable. Recovering sex addicts inevitably run into attractive people, see sexual acts depicted in movies and on TV, spot their friend's Victoria's Secret catalog on the coffee table, etc. To be honest, triggers toward sexual addiction are almost infinite in both number and variety, and there is not much that recovering sex addicts can do about that beyond learning to recognize when they are feeling triggered and, equally importantly, how to respond in healthy rather than addictive ways.

Comment: For more on how how sex, and more importantly the obsessive preoccupation with it can turn into addiction and affect the brain, check out these articles. Sex addiction: The truth about a modern phenomenon Brain activity in sex addiction similar to that of drug addiction

High Strangeness

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Don't Panic! Lighten Up!

Johns Hopkins awards honorary Masters Degree to guide dog who sat through all of owners classes Disability and Me 2015-11-17 13:30:00 Johns Hopkins University issued an Honorary Masters Degree to Kirsch a guide dog who faithfully attended all the classes with his owner Carlos Mora who received a Masters of Science in Counseling. The dog was appropriately dressed for the graduation ceremony. During the Graduation as the pair received their degrees the university read this statement