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The Apple of My Eye

Long-time readers of my blog and friends of Team Actor212 know I’m in the tank for Apple products. By my count, I’ve either purchased for myself or as gifts about two dozen Apple products over the years. Without getting into a Windows v. Mac debate here, I find Apple’s technology and ease of use, combined [...]

EU decision to lift Syrian oil sanctions boosts jihadist groups

(The Guardian) – The EU decision to lift Syrian oil sanctions to aid the opposition has accelerated a scramble for control over wells and pipelines in rebel-held areas and helped consolidate the grip of jihadist groups over the country’s key resources.

Jabhat al-Nusra, affiliated with al-Qaida and other extreme Islamist groups, control the majority of [...]

Only Ten Percent of Citizens Support Military Involvement in Syria

The citizens of this country are in no mood to see U.S. military involvement in Syria. Of course, it has already begun. Consultation, secret assistance, and money given for “communications” (which allows other money for weapons) all contribute to the military effort. For months, Hillary Clinton demanded that Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad leave the country. [...]

May Day protests and Greek strikes – Eurozone crisis live

Guardian – • Strikes and marches in Greece • Big turnout in Madrid • Water gun fired at Danish PM • Clashes in Istanbul

It’s May Day. Traditionally a time when European workers would pause to celebrate labour rights and the reforms which were won from employers and governments in earlier days, But with more [...]

Iran says use of chemical arms by anyone in Syria is “red line”

(Reuters) – Iran said on Tuesday it regarded the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war as a “red line”, echoing major adversary the United States but saying Syrian rebels were the main culprit and not the Damascus government.

U.S. role at a crossroads in Mexico’s intelligence war on the cartels

Washington Post, By Dana Priest, April 27

Mexico City — For the past seven years, Mexico and the United States have put aside their tension-filled history on security matters to forge an unparalleled alliance against Mexico’s drug cartels, one based on sharing sensitive intelligence, U.S. training and joint operational planning.

But now, much of that [...]

Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever

The Illuminati were amateurs. The second huge financial scandal of the year reveals the real international conspiracy: There’s no price the big banks can’t fix.

Rolling Stone, By Matt Taibbi, April 25

Conspiracy theorists of the world, believers in the hidden hands of the Rothschilds and the Masons and the Illuminati, we skeptics owe you [...]

Israel says Syria used chemical weapons

(WaPo) – Two senior Israeli military officials asserted Tuesday that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have deployed chemical weapons that killed dozens of rebel fighters and civilians, saying their evidence — including photographs of victims foaming at the mouth — made them “very close to 100 percent sure.”

Color me skeptical of Israeli’s [...]

Pleas for US to name first ambassador to Arctic

(AFP) – Top US diplomat John Kerry said Thursday he would mull ways to deepen US engagement in the Arctic amid pleas from lawmakers to name America’s first ambassador to the resource-rich region.

North Korea lays out tough pre-conditions for talks

(AFP) – North Korea offered talks Thursday with South Korea and the United States, but laid out pre-conditions that Seoul and Washington dismissed and analysts said would do little to reduce soaring tensions.

United States, China reach critical deal on climate change

Postmedia News, William Marsden, April 14

WASHINGTON – The world’s two biggest polluters have signed what could be a groundbreaking agreement and “call to action” on the fight against escalating climate change.

The United States and China announced Sunday they would accelerate action to reduce greenhouse gases by advancing cooperation on technology, research, conservation, and [...]

UN okays first-ever intervention force for DR Congo

(Xinhua) — The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously approved an unprecedented offensive ” intervention brigade” with a mandate to operate in the strife-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

However, while the enabling resolution authorizes the first- ever offensive unit, of 2,500 troops, to go after rebels by itself or with government troops in [...]

In Hot Water: Global Warming Has Accelerated In Past 15 Years, New Study Of Oceans Confirms

Climate Progress, By Dana Nuccitelli, March 25

A new study of ocean warming has just been published in Geophysical Research Letters by Balmaseda, Trenberth, and Källén (2013). There are several important conclusions which can be drawn from this paper.

Completely contrary to the popular contrarian myth, global warming has accelerated, with more overall global warming [...]

Activists welcome hard-fought UN agreement on women’s rights

(The Guardian) – Negotiations end with agreement on ending violence against women at the Commission on the Status of Women, but civil society groups express concerns

UN officials and activists expressed relief and delight over news that an agreement had been reached at this year’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Greeted with cheers, [...]

When fiction becomes reality

In her book: “The Year of the Flood”, Margaret Atwood, the renowned Canadian author, “speculates that her futuristic tales – she calls them speculative fiction – showcase scenarios that spring from current realities: the creep of corporations into many aspects of society, environmental decay, high tech reproduction, the widening cleavage between haves and have-nots”.

I [...]