Pent-Up Layoff Surprise Demand

The following chart shows nonfarm payrolls divided by initial claims. I'm using quarterly averages to smooth things out a bit (1967:Q1 to 2013:Q4). In my opinion, the higher the ratio, the higher the potential for layoff surprises.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxfwclyvyEwRrkGQ2_T0v86F-JjvmMic9SxmK_nRUVn0R85E7FTCb_0CFRxC58CaX4-WTcyovvBE9Q24Nx9ppNq4tyEf7a3QQJOyhr65TM5QWe5vpUCW2T50jPge4Rm7wSHl5oEWJ00o/s1600/Pent-Up+Layoff+Surprise+Demand.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxfwclyvyEwRrkGQ2_T0v86F-JjvmMic9SxmK_nRUVn0R85E7FTCb_0CFRxC58CaX4-WTcyovvBE9Q24Nx9ppNq4tyEf7a3QQJOyhr65TM5QWe5vpUCW2T50jPge4Rm7wSHl5oEWJ00o/s320/Pent-Up+Layoff+Surprise+Demand.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />The 3rd order polynomial trend channel in red uses the red data points.<br /><br />The 3rd order polynomial trend in blue uses all the data points.<br /><br />I would be among the last to argue that a 3rd order polynomial can accurately predict the future. It can't, especially over the long-term. That said, damn. It's an ugly chart. We all better hope there is absolutely no truth buried within it. Unfortunately, as a permabear since 2004, I do believe there is some truth buried within it (or I would not have made the chart). How much truth remains to be seen.<br /><br />In any event, I would once again point out that <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/02/this-is-not-1982.html">this is not 1982</a>. We are not at the very bottom of the long-term channel with favorable long-term tailwinds. Instead, we are at the top of the channel with <a href="http://www.despair.com/change-winds.html">winds of a potentially different nature</a>. Sigh.<br /><br />Is it really any wonder that we're still trapped in ZIRP?<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/EAgEyDAEBfg" width="420"></iframe><br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>See Also:</b><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2007/09/trend-line-disclaimer-time.html">Trend Line Disclaimer</a><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=s6j">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Pent-Up Layoff Surprise Demand

The following chart shows nonfarm payrolls divided by initial claims. I'm using quarterly averages to smooth things out a bit (1967:Q1 t...

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World News Briefs -- February 14, 2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQCy9BVUt70q9IqRr7420V5lXpDGHkDMpd8rrYSIw-N-YOmrEI5tti0gewXtuLxBdYk3HuZlllCl2sCWvV78MIFUum3KqgFUW_jVIYRWACdeCYmZEorl8q9vzo6-fi44ZXb7zFI1M2Op7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQCy9BVUt70q9IqRr7420V5lXpDGHkDMpd8rrYSIw-N-YOmrEI5tti0gewXtuLxBdYk3HuZlllCl2sCWvV78MIFUum3KqgFUW_jVIYRWACdeCYmZEorl8q9vzo6-fi44ZXb7zFI1M2Op7/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The faltering talks come amid a backdrop of increased violence in Syria [Reuters]</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Russia Accuses US Of Sabotaging Syria Talks -- Al Jazeera</b></span></div><br />Meeting "going in circles," Russian foreign minister says, as UN warns of Syrian military build-up in rebel-held town.<br /><br />Russia's foreign minister has accused the United States of using peace talks to seek "regime change" in Syria.<br /><br />Speaking in Moscow on Friday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the issue of a transitional government, a key focus for opposition negotiators, must not dominate the talks in Switzerland.<br /><br />"We have an impression that those backing the opposition in this process... had in mind only one thing, regime change," Lavrov said, noting the talks were "going in circles."<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/russia-accuses-us-sabotaging-syria-talks-201421411236816625.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Russia: Syria peace talks <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/russia-syria-peace-talks-going-in-circles-1.267580">'going in circles'</a></b>.<br /><br />As battle rages around historic castle, <b><a href="http://www.terradaily.com/reports/As_battle_rages_around_historic_castle_Syrias_heritage_faces_ruin_999.html">Syria's heritage faces ruin</a></b>.<br /><br />UN puts evacuations from<b><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/un-puts-evacuations-from-syrian-battleground-city-of-homs-on-hold/article16892817/"> Syrian battleground city of Homs on hold</a></b>.<br /><br />Iraqi troops regain ground from militants <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-troops-regain-ground-militants-northern-town-131755195.html">in northern town</a></b>.<br /><br />West aims to minimize nuclear bomb risk<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-iran-nuclear-deal-idUSBREA1D0KE20140214"> in Iran talks</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran demands ‘proof’ of<b><a href="http://www.defencetalk.com/iran-demands-proof-of-nuclear-weapons-allegations-50697/"> nuclear weapons allegations</a></b>.<br /><br />Gunmen launch deadly attack<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26177795"> on Yemeni prison</a></b>.<br /><br />Yemen: The Shia rebels close in <b><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/yemen/articles/20140213.aspx">on the capital</a></b>.<br /><br />Arrests in Bahrain on <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/arrests-bahrain-uprising-milestone-eve-20142141185461822.html">uprising milestone eve</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Karzai criticises lack of US respect for Afghan sovereignty <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/13/karzai-criticises-respect-afghan-sovereignty">as relations worsen</a></b>.<br /><br />US sees more delay likely in finalizing <b><a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/sees+more+delay+likely+finalizing+security+agreement+with/9507104/story.html">security agreement with Afghanistan</a></b>.<br /><br />Kerry meets China's Xi amid <b><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Kerry-meets-Chinas-Xi-amid-heightened-Asia-tensions/articleshow/30383848.cms">heightened Asia tensions</a></b>. Kerry says China willing to push North Korea more <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-china-usa-idUSBREA1D0BJ20140214">on nuclear plans</a></b>.<br /><br />China says "will never allow war or chaos"<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-china-usa-korea-idUSBREA1D0DC20140214"> on Korean peninsula</a></b>.<br /><br />11 'terrorists' dead in shootout <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/11-terrorists-dead-in-shootout-with-chinese-police-report/1851254.html">with Chinese police: Report</a></b>. Several terrorists killed<b><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/14/c_133116298.htm"> in Xinjiang attack</a></b>.<br /><br />Two Koreas to hold more <b><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/more-high-level-inter-korean-talks-set-friday/">high-level talks this week</a></b>. Koreas agree to hold family reunions<b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rival-koreas-meet-border-22510154"> as planned</a></b>.<br /><br />Navy chief: US would 'help' Philippines <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140213/DEFREG03/302130031/Navy-Chief-US-Would-Help-Philippines-South-China-Sea">in South China Sea.</a></b><br /><br />Thai police retake<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/02/thai-police-retake-protest-camps-bangkok-20142145210548224.html"> protest camps in Bangkok</a></b>.<br /><br />China's consumer inflation <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26184151">holds steady at 2.5%</a></b>.<br /><br />Indonesia volcano erupts; 3 killed, <b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/indonesias-mount-kelud-java-island-erupts-22502220">100K evacuated</a></b>. Mass evacuation in Indonesia as <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26183880">Java volcano erupts</a></b>.<br /><br />Nanjing seeks UNESCO listing <b><a href="http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Nanjing_seeks_UNESCO_listing_for_massacre_documents_999.html">for massacre documents</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />1,000 Muslims reported <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/one-thousand-muslims-reported-trapped-in-car-town/1851047.html">trapped in CAR town</a></b>.<br /><br />Scores of men and women <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/scores-massacred-eastern-dr-congo-201421462858159187.html">executed in DR Congo</a></b>.<br /><br />Libyan general wants<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/libyan-general-wants-parliament-suspended-2014214111452905729.html"> parliament suspended</a></b>. Libya's Zeidan says government, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-libya-crisis-zeidan-idUSBREA1D0ML20140214">security under control</a></b>. Libya denies rumors <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/libya-denies-rumours-impending-coup-132121499.html">of impending coup</a></b>.<br /><br />We must not forget South Sudan as 3.7 million at risk of hunger,<b><a href="http://www.trust.org/item/20140214093824-vw38j/?source=hppartner"> warns charity</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia, Egypt reach initial <b><a href="http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140214/187524953/Russia-Egypt-Reach-Initial-3-Bln-Arms-Deal--Report.html">$3 bln arms deal – report</a></b>.<br /><br />Nigeria orders audit for <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-orders-audit-billions-petrodollars-130006897.html">billions of petrodollars</a></b>.<br /><br />Insight: Graft allegations test<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-somalia-corruption-insight-idUSBREA1D08P20140214"> West's ties to Somali president.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br /><b><a href="http://winter-games.reuters.com/">Sochi 2014: Live</a></b><br /><br />Russia accuses EU of seeking Ukraine <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-ukraine-russia-eu-idUSBREA1D0PT20140214">"sphere of influence"</a></b>.<br /><br />UK military on alert for <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/uk-military-alert-ira-mail-bomb-threat-132727282.html">new IRA mail-bomb threat</a></b>.<br /><br />Italian Prime Minister<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181569"> Enrico Letta resigns</a></b>. Italy's premier resigns <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/14/italy-premier-resigns-after-sacking-by-own-party/">after sacking by own party</a></b>.<br /><br />Renzi grabs power in Italy<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-italy-renzi-idUSBREA1D0RE20140214"> without election</a></b>.<br /><br />Eurozone GDP growth<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26185159"> gathers speed</a></b>.<br /><br />Spain closes enclave to <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/spain-closes-enclave-avert-syrian-migrant-rush-115932651.html">avert Syrian migrant rush</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia bans adoptions by <b><a href="http://rt.com/politics/russian-adoption-same-sex-couples-854/">foreign same-sex couple</a></b>.<br /><br />Athens court jails<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/athens-court-jails-4-turkish-suspected-terrorists-131111786.html"> 4 Turkish suspected terrorists</a></b>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />More snow predicted <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/more-snow-predicted-for-eastern-us-/1851293.html">for eastern US.</a></b> Deadly storm brings fresh round of snow to Northeast as <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2014/02/14/winter-storm-wreaks-havok-along-east-coast/">outages linger in South.</a></b><br /><br />Canceled! Airlines scrap <b><a href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24723401/canceled-airlines-scrap-record-number-of-flights#axzz2tJ3kKAgM">record number of U.S. flights</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela braces for more violence – but it could work<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/14/venezuela-violent-clashes-chavistas-opposition"> in Maduro's favour</a></b>. Officials in Venezuela order arrest of <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/officials-in-venezuela-order-arrest-of-opposition-leader-leopoldo-lopez/2014/02/13/a3c95398-94e1-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html">opposition leader Leopoldo López</a></b>.<br /><br />Argentina struggling - again - <b><a href="http://www.dw.de/argentina-struggling-again-with-inflation/a-17429229">with inflation</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexico's president to ask Supreme Court <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-mexico-tv-idUSBREA1D02P20140214">to rule in TV battle</a></b>.<br /><br />Gun rights: Federal judges rule against Calif. restrictions<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gun-rights-federal-judges-rule-against-calif-restrictions-011846019.html"> on concealed carry.</a></b><br /><br />Factory production in U.S. falls <b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-14/factory-production-in-u-s-fell-in-january-by-most-since-2009.html">by most since 2009</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Al-Qaeda is alive and well <b><a href="http://warontherocks.com/2014/02/al-qaeda-is-alive-and-well-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan/">in Afghanistan and Pakistan.</a></b><br /><br />Al Qaeda splinter group <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-syria-crisis-executions-idUSBREA1D0R020140214">executes 13 in Syria: report</a></b>.<br /><br />The new jihadists make al-Qaeda look like <b><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10636336/The-new-jihadists-make-al-Qaeda-look-like-tired-old-has-beens.html">tired old has-beens</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Facebook allows users <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26177050">to customise gender</a></b>.<br /><br />Crude oil slips to near<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/crude-oil-slips-near-100-demand-doubts-134611365.html"> $100 on demand doubts</a></b>.<br /><br />Lenovo profits and sales <b><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/lenovo-profits-and-sales-reach-beyond-expectations-114021400609_1.html">reach beyond expectations</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 14, 2014

The faltering talks come amid a backdrop of increased violence in Syria [Reuters] Russia Accuses US Of Sabotaging Syria Talks -- Al Jazeera ...

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Why Leonardo DiCaprio, Who Wows in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ Deserves to (Finally) Win An Oscar (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN7QJAqYWPFOIK01o0G1OCg1W0gu_SQacNS3ZLXkQFvypRUPIP3fX57PtDIq50keKWLKIf9hzX6sFRVid2TFtPTqBB1qXBDLN0ew1nEd9DC_bUiRcYX1grhCd1NjIQcjAkUxm1GmFisk/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcN7QJAqYWPFOIK01o0G1OCg1W0gu_SQacNS3ZLXkQFvypRUPIP3fX57PtDIq50keKWLKIf9hzX6sFRVid2TFtPTqBB1qXBDLN0ew1nEd9DC_bUiRcYX1grhCd1NjIQcjAkUxm1GmFisk/s1600/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="dek char-limit multiline" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: TitlingGothicFBCondRegular, 'Arial Narrow', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px !important; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0px 24px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Leonardo DiCaprio, one of our finest actors, is about to turn 40—and he still hasn’t won an Oscar yet. It’s time the Academy get their heads out of their wrinkled asses and do the right thing.</div><section class="article-body-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Gisele Bündchen was not impressed. It was the night of Feb. 27, 2005, and the Brazilian über-model was playing the role of ultimate arm candy, strutting down the red carpet of the Kodak Theatre in a strapless white Dior gown. She was escorting her boyfriend of five years, Leonardo DiCaprio, who had just been nominated for his second Academy Award—and first since 1994—for his electrifying turn as industrialist-cum-filmmaker-cum-schizo Howard Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Aviator</i>. Many believed that the 31-year-old would take home the Best Actor prize, not only for his stellar turn, but as fair recompense for perceived nomination snubs (see: <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Titanic</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Catch Me If You Can</i>). Alas, it was the star of another biopic—Jamie Foxx for <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Ray</i>—that took home the little gold statuette, leaving Leo with an empty Oscar mantel once more.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: 0px;" />“I figured I should go and support my man so I went there just for that reason,”<a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/bundchen-furious-with-foxxs-win-over-dicaprio" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">said</a> Gisele following the ceremony. “I don’t think he was expecting to win. I think I was more upset because I thought he deserved it more than [Foxx]. I was like, ‘He did a better job than [Foxx]!”</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, Gisele is always wont to speak her mind—her fabulous <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/super-bowl-2012-gisele-bundchen-comforts-husband-tom-brady-slams-patriots-receivers-article-1.1017852" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">post-Super Bowl rant</a> (“My husband cannot fucking throw the ball AND catch the ball!”) is the stuff of legend—but on both occasions, well, she was right.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">This DiCaprio slight set off a string of Academy Awards injustices aimed at the former teen idol, who at this point has been screwed over by the Academy more than a surgically-enhanced extra on the set of <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Entourage</i>. Since that fateful night, the actor’s been nominated for two more Oscars—<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Blood Diamond</i> in 2007, and this year’s <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wolf of Wall Street</i>. Want to know what movies DiCaprio was<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">not</i> nominated for in that span? <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Departed</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Revolutionary Road</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Inception</i>, and, last but not least, his deliciously evil turn as a Francophile slave owner in Quentin Tarantino’s <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Django Unchained</i>, which earned him the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe nomination, but no Oscar love. So, in 2014, after dazzling us onscreen for the better part of two decades, Leonardo DiCaprio, one of this generation’s finest actors, still hasn’t won an Oscar. This is a crime.</div><blockquote class="blockquote" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: white; display: table; float: left; font-family: TitlingGothicFBStandCond; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 350px; line-height: inherit; margin: 9px 31px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: 235px;"><div class="centerer" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 350px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: middle; width: 235px;"><div class="safe-area" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: 340px; max-width: 200px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 26px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 1.6px; line-height: 29.899999618530273px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s one of the most sinister, madcap turns in recent memory, and deserves its place alongside De Niro's portrayal of Rupert Pupkin in<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The King of Comedy</i></div></div></div></blockquote><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Now, judging which performance is “best” is a pretty subjective thing, and this year, the Best Actor category, in particular, was the strongest it’s been in years. Joaquin Phoenix, who delivered what is in this writer’s opinion <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/14/why-joaquin-phoenix-who-wows-in-her-is-the-greatest-actor-alive.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">the best performance of the year</a> as a lonely romantic who falls for his sentient operating system in <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Her</i>, wasn’t even nominated. Neither was Tom Hanks for his convulsing during the last five minutes of<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Captain Phillips</i>—the best acting he’s ever done, period. Nor was Robert Redford for his towering, largely dialogue-less turn as a stoic, shipwrecked badass in <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">All is Lost</i>. (Maybe the aging Academy membership doesn’t like boats…who knows.) The older fellas’ spots were scooped up by DiCaprio and Christian Bale (for <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">American Hustle</i>). It was, by and large, a positive development since the Academy Awards have become notorious over the years for doling out “career Oscars”—make-up awards to aging, celebrated stars for passing them over when they were in their prime. Paul Newman at 60 for <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Color of Money</i>, Henry Fonda at 76 for <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">On Golden Pond</i>, Jon Gielgud at 76 for<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Arthur</i> (completing the EGOT), and Don Ameche at 77 for <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Cocoon</i> being the most glaring examples. So it was nice to see the young guns get some love.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The prohibitive favorite this year is Matthew McConaughey, who’s taken home<a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/14/matthew-mcconaughey-discusses-his-golden-globe-victory-true-detective-and-more.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Golden Globe and SAG Awards</a> for his uncompromising portrayal of Ron Woodroof, a real-life Texas a-hole who, after being diagnosed with AIDS, transformed into an anti-viral peddler/activist in <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Dallas Buyers Club</i>. It’s a <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">great</i>performance—visceral, unsympathetic—and McConaughey <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">really</i> committed himself to the role by dropping 41 pounds. Plus, we are in <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/30/matthew-mcconaughey-in-dallas-buyers-club-from-bongos-to-oscar-contender.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">the McConaissance</a>, with the former himbo in the midst of one of the finest acting streaks ever (see:<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Magic Mike</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Bernie</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Killer Joe</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Mud</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Dallas Buyers Club</i>, <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">True Detective</i>).</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">#NoDisrespectToMatthewMcConaughey, but it’s DiCaprio that deserves the trophy. With each passing year, DiCaprio’s Oscarlessness gets more and more absurd. Is he too much of a looker for Oscar voters? It’s no secret that cinema’s studs, from Brando (<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">On the Waterfront</i>) to Clooney (<i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Syriana</i>), usually have to ugly themselves up to take home Oscars. Is he so consistently good it’s now second nature, and we don’t appreciate the complexities and nuances of each new performance?</div><div class="inlinevideo" itemprop="video" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="media-block has-video has-caption" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px auto 0px; max-width: 610px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="media" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="screenshot" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Video screenshot" class="img" src="http://brightcove.vo.llnwd.net/e1/pd/16991917/16991917_2897765845001_vs-52a0e49ce4b018729295ef46-782203288001.jpg?pubId=16991917" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: auto; max-width: 100%; min-height: 407px; min-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; top: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; vertical-align: middle; width: 610px;" /><span class="play-btn icon-play" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); cursor: pointer; font-family: dailybeast-icon-font; font-size: 100px; height: 100px; left: 305px; line-height: 1; margin: -50px 0px 0px -50px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; speak: none; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; top: 273px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100px;"></span></div></div></div><figcaption class="video" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; font-family: TitlingGothicFBCondLight, 'Arial Narrow', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 610px; outline: 0px; padding: 20px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1.3; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: inherit;">Go inside Leo’s star performance in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ to learn fun facts about the film.</div></figcaption></div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Take the scene between DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, and an apparition of his dead wife, played by Marion Cotillard, in Christopher Nolan’s <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Inception</i>. For the film’s first two hours, she’s haunted his dreams—guiding his subconscious through painful reenactments of their shared past, including the night she took her own life. “I’m the only thing you believe in anymore,” she says, taunting him. DiCaprio takes her head in his hands and, tears welling in his eyes, says, “I wish. I wish more than anything. But I can’t imagine you with all your complexity, all your perfection, all your imperfection. Look at you. You are just a shade of my real wife. You’re the best I can do, but I’m sorry, you are just not good enough.” It’s such a brilliant bit of acting.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">But his performance in <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Wolf of Wall Street</i> is that and so much more. <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/20/the-real-wolf-of-wall-street-jordan-belfort-s-vulgar-memoirs.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">As Jordan Belfort</a>, a charismatic monster of a stockbroker, DiCaprio is a feral beast; the <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">id </i>incarnate. When he’s not defrauding investors and dabbling in various pump-and-dump schemes, Belfort is like Wile E. Coyote on a speedball—an outrageous caricature of modern excess. And DiCaprio throws his entire being into the role. He breakdances like a b-boy; has furious sex on top of a pile of cash; gives several <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Braveheart</i>-style, vein-busting speeches to his band of merry broker-goons; and does enough coke to make Tony Montana blush. He even gets a wax candle pulled out of his ass by a dominatrix. He does it all. It’s one of the most sinister, madcap turns in recent memory, and deserves its place alongside De Niro's portrayal of Rupert Pupkin in <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The King of Comedy</em> in the pantheon of cherished, dark-comic performances.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6;"><br />So Academy, now that DiCaprio is on the brink of the big 4-0—he crosses the threshold on Nov. 11 of this year—it’s time to do the right thing and honor one of the finest actors of our generation with an Oscar while he’s still in his prime instead of some paunchy supporting role a decade later. You owe him as much. And Gisele.</span>The scene everyone will be celebrating for years to come—and with good reason—is the Quaalude sequence. Belfort must rush home to stop his clumsy boy Friday, Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), from placing incriminating phone calls—while zonked out on ludes, of course—from Belfort’s wiretapped mega-mansion, lest his Prestige Worldwide “boats and hoes” fever dream come to an end. There’s just one small thing in his way: the world’s strongest ludes. Belfort, not knowing they were time-release ludes, pops loads of them, and when they kick in, he enters “cerebral palsy” mode. Catatonic, he crawls on his hands and knees like an infantilized clown back to his white Lamborghini. All the motor skills are gone, so it feels like his personal <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Odyssey</i> as he struggles over every inch. Once he finally makes it into his Lambo and zigzags home, he engages in the most pathetic wrestling match of all time with first his telephone wire, which has him ensnared, and then Hill’s Azoff, as Belfort enacts his bizarre brand of lude-induced justice. It’s an <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">insane </i>sequence, and DiCaprio is the only actor I can think of that could pull it off in such compelling fashion.</div><div class="row" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><section class="article-social columns grid-2 columns css-debug" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 10px 17.421875px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: 73.171875px;"><aside class="article-info css-debug" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 70px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="author-image-link" href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/marlow-stern.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 70px; margin: 0px auto 5px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; width: 70px;"><img alt="Marlow Stern" class="author-image" src="http://cdn.thedailybeast.com/etc/authors/m/marlow-stern/image.crop.200.200.jpg/1392140243864.cached.jpg" style="background-color: #969696; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: middle;" /></a><div class="info css-debug" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="byline" property="dc:creator" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b4b4b4; display: block; font-size: 10px; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="more-by-author" href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/marlow-stern.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #a3a3a3; cursor: pointer; line-height: 12px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;">Marlow Stern</a><a class="follow-author" data-web-analytics="{"eventName":"twitter-follow-click","eventProperties":{"articleTitle":"Give Leo the Oscar!","articleUrl":"/contributors/marlow-stern.html","wrapName":"entertainment","authors":"Marlow Stern"}}" href="https://twitter.com/intent/follow?original_referer=/contributors/marlow-stern.html&region=follow_link&screen_name=marlownyc&tw_p=followbutton&variant=2.0" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; line-height: 12px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;"></a></span><div><br /></div></div></aside></section></div></section>

Why Leonardo DiCaprio, Who Wows in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ Deserves to (Finally) Win An Oscar (BLOG)

Leonardo DiCaprio, one of our finest actors, is about to turn 40—and he still hasn’t won an Oscar yet. It’s time the Academy get their heads...

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Obama signed recent FARM BILL supporting HEMP GROWERS

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Marijuana Industry is just getting started</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>*****VOTE HEMP*****</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/president-obama-signs-federal-legislation-removing-barriers-for-us-industrial-hemp-cultivation-cannavest-corp-and-us-hemp-oil-poised-to-lead-resurgence-of-domestic-industrial-hemp-industry-2014-02-10-9195148?reflink=MW_news_stmp" style="color: red;">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/president-obama-signs-federal-legislation-removing-barriers-for-us-industrial-hemp-cultivation-cannavest-corp-and-us-hemp-oil-poised-to-lead-resurgence-of-domestic-industrial-hemp-industry-2014-02-10-9195148?reflink=MW_news_stmp</a> </b><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.votehemp.com/PR/2014-02-07-vh_farm_bill_signed.html" style="color: red;">http://www.votehemp.com/PR/2014-02-07-vh_farm_bill_signed.html</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00uEhhyphenhyphennktJDLmxn1eULZx0YqFZ7lpzfgzKCRVzGcUMxoY411gTzE5xMALYFLcnPej947zofXmiCxoe60iDnzseG37s1QPO92GlMreDAXkCofggMx4OT1bJqBteDPcghB9_kZD0qidyA/s1600/marijuana-pictures-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00uEhhyphenhyphennktJDLmxn1eULZx0YqFZ7lpzfgzKCRVzGcUMxoY411gTzE5xMALYFLcnPej947zofXmiCxoe60iDnzseG37s1QPO92GlMreDAXkCofggMx4OT1bJqBteDPcghB9_kZD0qidyA/s1600/marijuana-pictures-4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0aDmfy9duI4mDEB6sIj8vf2Do53IKuvDBCI2gwDt7IXghD3IXT0ESyxLW3j8WoI8-PzitKewleFaBIbOfS9IARchM7RcGxRrYK1okUa5Hdm9_Ls2yeGF7iKF9kaYKKDE5yntD8nTvEY/s1600/MarijuanaJOINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0aDmfy9duI4mDEB6sIj8vf2Do53IKuvDBCI2gwDt7IXghD3IXT0ESyxLW3j8WoI8-PzitKewleFaBIbOfS9IARchM7RcGxRrYK1okUa5Hdm9_Ls2yeGF7iKF9kaYKKDE5yntD8nTvEY/s1600/MarijuanaJOINT.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0WVQUt-hBrkoTGGz9DFH8kNSIycRhYLkgH45IVsIHDS7JqctcFT7MRSr3ceRVblr1k2W8VmnzI3wjy-BYej0Yu6MXpGGBRVC4rSRLxnEnjC5aluCSDzkFUwKlh57_zISuXv_ip2Xr3Q/s1600/CannabisPIC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0WVQUt-hBrkoTGGz9DFH8kNSIycRhYLkgH45IVsIHDS7JqctcFT7MRSr3ceRVblr1k2W8VmnzI3wjy-BYej0Yu6MXpGGBRVC4rSRLxnEnjC5aluCSDzkFUwKlh57_zISuXv_ip2Xr3Q/s1600/CannabisPIC.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX6dK5-kFGe2pJtIFLM91Uzz9hlVQIzjXGrhLSStIOnyyMjCn2_0g11My12OL_HEoSQ4gtU_wjXjTVtGcZoDqtjv1c0Lb381trWrxVeohRJeJ3ZDJLjKmaEeyziRQIQ6OwRg4JNmWUYA/s1600/marijuana_legal_gavel_620x350.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX6dK5-kFGe2pJtIFLM91Uzz9hlVQIzjXGrhLSStIOnyyMjCn2_0g11My12OL_HEoSQ4gtU_wjXjTVtGcZoDqtjv1c0Lb381trWrxVeohRJeJ3ZDJLjKmaEeyziRQIQ6OwRg4JNmWUYA/s1600/marijuana_legal_gavel_620x350.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Fastest Growing Sector In The U.S. ECONOMY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Estimates exceed $ BILLIONS of DOLLARS sales</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Incredible HEALTH BENEFITS and TREATMENT </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The U.S. GOVERNMENT knows the tax revenue</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Marijuana stocks growing a large sector:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.votehemp.com/PR/2014-02-07-vh_farm_bill_signed.html" style="color: red;">http://www.votehemp.com/PR/2014-02-07-vh_farm_bill_signed.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>RELATED STORIES:</b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/president-obama-says-marijuana-is-no.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/president-obama-says-marijuana-is-no.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>Colorado Marijuana Mayhem: </b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/marijuana-mayhem-in-colorado.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/marijuana-mayhem-in-colorado.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>Marijuana is good for you: </b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/marijuana-is-good-for-you.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/marijuana-is-good-for-you.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>New York State to relax laws: </b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-york-state-considers-relaxing.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/new-york-state-considers-relaxing.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>Colorado's growing cannabis industry: </b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-marijuana-industry-in-america-grows.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-marijuana-industry-in-america-grows.html</a> </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>The Marijuana STOCK MARKET:</b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/medical-marijuana-stocks-begin-rising.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/medical-marijuana-stocks-begin-rising.html</a></b><br /><b><br /></b><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/02/marijuana-stocks-turning-green-daily.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/02/marijuana-stocks-turning-green-daily.html</a></b><br /><br /><b>...developing... </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

Obama signed recent FARM BILL supporting HEMP GROWERS

The Marijuana Industry is just getting started *****VOTE HEMP***** http://www.marketwatch.com/story/president-obama-signs-federal-legislatio...

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 14, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ev0-MHkanwY" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Irish Bombs Return To Britain: Explosive Devices Sent To Four Army Recruitment Offices Linked To Ulster Terrorism, Says No10 -- Daily Mail</b></span></div><br />* One of the suspect packages had a Republic of Ireland postmark on it<br />* They were discovered at Army careers offices in Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury and Queensmere shopping centre in Slough today<br />* One package was found in Aldershot, Hampshire, yesterday<br />* Two packets were found on Tuesday at the armed forces careers office in Reading and the Army and RAF careers office in Chatham, Kent<br />* Devices are 'basic but viable' and considered as a 'low-level threat'<br /><br />Suspected explosive devices sent to Army recruitment offices in southern England bear 'hallmarks of Northern Ireland-related terrorism', Number 10 has said.<br /><br />And one of the packages has been discovered to have had a Republic of Ireland postmark on it, it has been claimed.<br /><br />Four suspicious packages were discovered in offices in Oxford, Brighton, Canterbury and the Queensmere shopping centre in Slough today, counter-terrorism police officers said.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2558678/Bomb-threat-Suspected-explosive-devices-army-recruitment-offices-southern-England.html">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Military And Intelligence News Briefs</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/russian-expert-advises-getting-rid-icbms-encourage-multilateral-arms-control/">Russian Expert Urges Multilateral Ban on Ground-Based Strategic Missiles</a> -- Global Security Newswire<br /><br /><a href="http://www.janes.com/article/33907/singapore-airshow-2014-lockheed-martin-expects-wave-of-f-35-procurement-programmes-in-asia-pacific">Singapore Airshow 2014: Lockheed Martin expects wave of F-35 procurement programmes in Asia Pacific </a>-- Janes 360<br /><br /><a href="http://freebeacon.com/laser-wars/">Israel unveils laser defense system to shoot down short-range rockets</a> -- Washington Free Beacon<br /><br /><a href="http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/02/12/sea_change_of_china_power_110289.html">Sea Change of China Power</a> -- Rory Medcalf & C. Raja Mohan, Real Clear World/The Australian<br /><br /><a href="https://medium.com/war-is-boring/b56d58d9a1e9">China’s Aircraft Carrier Could Be a Ticking Steam Bomb</a> -- David Axe, War Is Boring<br /><br /><a href="http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_13/Russian-Navy-sees-aircraft-carrier-development-on-the-horizon-2066/">Russian Navy sees aircraft carrier development on the horizon </a>-- Voice of Russia<br /><br /><a href="http://en.ria.ru/military_news/20140213/187496039/India-Proposes-Joint-Maintenance-of-Aircraft-Carrier-With-Russia.html">India Proposes Joint Maintenance of Aircraft Carrier With Russia</a> -- RIA Novosti<br /><br /><a href="http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2014/02/mods-aircraft-carrier-costs-continue-to-mount-up/">MoD’s U.K. aircraft carrier costs continue to mount up</a> -- Public Finance<br /><br /><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-sunk-by-royal-navy-again-after-paying-100m-for-uk-warships-9124418.html">France sunk by Royal Navy again after paying €100m for UK warships</a> -- The Independent<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/02/13/report-hagel-to-outline-2015-budget-on-feb-24/">Report: Hagel to Outline 2015 Budget on Feb. 24</a> -- DoD Buzz<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/nation/2014/02/12/critical-materials-shortage-national-security-risks/5400267/">Western militaries risk losing access to key materials</a> -- USA Today<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_space_wars_Military_Space_Plane_aims_for_2017_lift_off_999.html">US space wars: Military Space Plane aims for 2017 lift off </a>-- Space Daily/Voice of Russia<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140213/DEFREG03/302130024/BAE-Takes-Aim-F-15-F-18-Upgrade-Work">BAE Takes Aim at F-15 and F/A-18 Upgrade Work</a> -- Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/singapore-boeing-confident-of-placing-unsold-c-17s-395826/">Boeing confident of placing unsold C-17s</a> -- Flight Global<br /><br /><a href="http://theaviationist.com/2014/02/13/darpa-unveils-ares/">Here is Pentagon’s Future Tilt-Rotor Drone </a>-- Aviationist<br /><br /><a href="http://breakingdefense.com/2014/02/can-fire-scout-drone-help-save-lcs/">Can Fire Scout Drone Help Save LCS?</a> -- Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense <br /><br /><a href="http://breakingdefense.com/2014/02/socoms-iron-man-suit-talos-sees-astounding-progress-adm-mcraven/?utm_source=Breaking+Defense&utm_campaign=38c9ec364b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4368933672-38c9ec364b-407769825">SOCOM’s Iron Man Suit Sees ‘Astounding’ Progress: Adm. McRaven</a> -- Breaking Defense<br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198346-report-intelligence-community-cant-keep-track-of-its">Report: Intelligence community can’t keep track of its contractors</a> -- The Hill<br /><br /><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dangerous-world-factories-made-us-military-logo-clothes/story?id=22470746">Dangerous Third-World Factories Made US Military-Logo Clothes, Report Says</a> -- ABC News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/for-new-air-force-secretary-a-baptism-by-fire.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0">For New Air Force Secretary, a Baptism by Fire</a> -- New York Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140212/NEWS05/302120033/Congressman-calls-hearing-moving-Marine-Corps-Times-exchanges">Congressman calls for hearing on moving Marine Corps Times at exchanges</a> -- Marine Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defenseone.com/management/2014/02/heres-why-cutting-20-percent-hagels-staff-bad-idea/78707/">Here’s Why Cutting 20 Percent of Hagel’s Staff Is a Bad Idea</a> -- Robert Ogden, Defense One<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/02/09/should-america-build-more-mini-aircraft-carriers/">Should America Build More Mini-Aircraft Carriers?</a> -- Rich Smith, Daily Finance/The Motley Fool <br /><br /><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20140213.aspx">Morale: The Long Cruise And The Fate Of The U.S. Navy</a> -- Strategy Page<br /><br /><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140203/DEFREG02/302030031/1001/DEFSECT">Commentary: US Needs a Cyber Plan</a> -- Tim Sample, Defense News<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/opinion/nuclear-weapons-desmond-tutu/">Desmond Tutu: Imagine world without nuclear weapons</a> -- Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate, Special to CNN

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 14, 2014

Irish Bombs Return To Britain: Explosive Devices Sent To Four Army Recruitment Offices Linked To Ulster Terrorism, Says No10 -- Daily Mail *...

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Pakistani Jihadis Abduct Iranian Soldiers (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAE3hqG11U_zfpPsbx5BHUQ3q7RIpgwVwEL9k5LJH-SzzJsPmi5fqhON6Nc2T9dMr_LwGhAc0NWBut1M2feFuFYnOrjjbI4jwFaec68HUosuCAZmk-gwPS7xF4fHI7cttMV6HhgA76mc/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAE3hqG11U_zfpPsbx5BHUQ3q7RIpgwVwEL9k5LJH-SzzJsPmi5fqhON6Nc2T9dMr_LwGhAc0NWBut1M2feFuFYnOrjjbI4jwFaec68HUosuCAZmk-gwPS7xF4fHI7cttMV6HhgA76mc/s1600/33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="dek char-limit multiline" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: TitlingGothicFBCondRegular, 'Arial Narrow', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px !important; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0px 24px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">A Twitter campaign to #freeiraniansoldiers has gone viral after five frontier guards were snatched by a Sunni insurgent group in Pakistan, who cited Syria as motivation for the attack.</div><section class="article-body-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Iran is dispatching a delegation to Islamabad to pressure Pakistan to free five Iranian frontier guards who were abducted by jihadists along the border and then bundled into Pakistan a week ago—the most recent episode in a fledgling Sunni insurgency that Tehran accuses its arch regional rival Saudi Arabia of stoking. The hashtag <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23freeiraniansoldiers" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">#Freeiraniansoldiers</a> became a worldwide Twitter trend this week thanks to tens of thousands of outraged tweets in support of the abductees, despite Twitter being blocked in Iran.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The jihadist group Jaish ul-Adl claimed responsibility on a Twitter account for the abductions and later posted photographs, allegedly showing the captive guards, on Facebook. Iran has protested the kidnappings, accusing Pakistani authorities of failing to police their shared border and enforce a bilateral security pact forged nearly a year ago before Saudi ally Nawaz Sharif was elected as Pakistan’s Prime Minister</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The border abductions are the latest in a wave of jihadist attacks and bombings in Iran’s restive Sistan-Baluchistan province, home to a large Sunni minority of ethnic Baluch, that is increasingly frustrating and alarming Shia leaders in Tehran.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">And the Iranian government is bracing for more problems with jihadist groups such as Jaish-ul-Adl (Army of Justice), which only emerged a year ago and which claims Iran needs to pay a price for its military and materiel support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The Iranian foreign ministry in Tehran has summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires, demanding that Islamabad “act firmly against the leaders and members of the terrorist group who have fled into Pakistan.”</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In the past few years Iran has faced mounting unrest in the poverty-stricken Sistan-Baluchistan province—driven by discrimination, say local Sunnis and ethnic Baluch. But in the past 12 months there has been an upsurge in Sunni jihadist activity, helped by a rise in the number of madrasas promoting Saudi-style Wahhabism, according to analysts.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">New Jihadi groups that have emerged such as Jaish ul-Adl, which is thought to number several hundred fighters, and Harakat Ansar, which says their objective is to secure autonomy for the province. But in their propaganda, both groups also refer heavily to the Syrian conflict and Iran’s role in shoring up Assad. Harakat Ansar has made an appeal on Saudi websites for funding.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">“Although the grievances of these groups are local, they are however increasingly linked via media networks to a conceptual framework of ‘global jihad’ and a wider sectarian fight of Sunni versus Shia Islam,” wrote Monish Gulati, an Indian defense analyst, <a href="http://www.eurasiareview.com/13112013-balochistan-new-regional-tinderbox-analysis/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">in a study</a> written for the Eurasia Group, a New York-based think tank.</div><blockquote class="blockquote" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: white; display: table; float: left; font-family: TitlingGothicFBStandCond; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 350px; line-height: inherit; margin: 9px 31px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; quotes: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline; width: 235px;"><div class="centerer" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: table-cell; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 350px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: middle; width: 235px;"><div class="safe-area" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-height: 340px; max-width: 200px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; letter-spacing: 1.6px; line-height: 27.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">In their propaganda, both groups also refer heavily to the Syrian conflict and Iran’s role in shoring up Assad. Harakat Ansar has made an appeal on Saudi websites for funding.</div></div></div></blockquote><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Last September, Jaish ul-Adl claimed responsibility for an hour-long border attack that left 14 Iranian border guards dead and half-a-dozen wounded. “This victorious operation is a response to the ferocious massacre carried out by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in the Islamic land of Syria,” said Jaish ul-Adl’s statement on the attack, referring to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. “[It] is also a response to oppression and crimes this regime commits against the innocent Sunni community in Iran including the execution of innocent Baluch youths.”</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the Quds Force, are engaged in Syria, providing military advisers and fighters to the Assad government as well as helping to organize Shia volunteers from other Middle East countries.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Jaish ul-Adl also claimed responsibility for a roadside bomb in Saravan in Iran’s southeast in late February of last year. Several Revolutionary Guards were reported by the Iranian media to have been killed in the bombing.  In November Jaish ul-Adl assassinated a local prosecutor after Iranian authorities executed eight Sunni insurgents and eight drug traffickers. Civil-rights groups protested the executions.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">The frequency of attacks is clearly angering Iran’s leaders. The country’s Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs, Ali Abdollahi, publicly vented his frustrations over the border-guard abductions, complaining of Pakistani inaction. “Pakistani officials shoulder a responsibility in this regard which they should honor,” he told local media.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In October, Iran complained to the UN Security Council about jihadists infiltrating Iran from Pakistan. The attacks risk disrupting Iran’s efforts to improve relations with its eastern neighbor.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">When Asif Ali Zardari was Pakistan’s Prime Minister there was greater cooperation with Iran when it came to counter-terrorism and border issues. Iranian officials say Pakistani intelligence assisted in Iran’s capture in 2010 of a Baluchi nationalist leader. The two countries signed a security pact last February and a multi-billion-dollar oil pipeline deal was advanced. It is meant to come on stream at the end of this year.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">But relations have become fraught since Sharif’s election. </div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6;"><br />Iranian hardliners see a Saudi hand in both the deteriorating relations with Pakistan and the upsurge in jihadist activity in southeast Iran. The Iranian hard-line news site Mashregh, which has close ties to the Iranian military, blames foreign “Wahhabis” for the rising violence in Sistan-Baluchistan, pointing the finger at Saudi Arabia and Qatar.</span>The oil pipeline deal appears to be in jeopardy following Western disapproval and fears in Islamabad that it might fall foul of the international economic sanctions regime on Iran. Pakistani-Saudi relations have warmed since the election of Sharif, who fled to the Gulf kingdom after he was toppled in a coup in 1999. Last week, Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif, <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/669403/saudi-pak-defence-ties-discussed/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #6c899d; cursor: pointer; display: inline; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">met</a>with defense officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss bilateral cooperation.</div><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1875em; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">According to defense analyst Gulati, Iran, no slouch in the art for tit-for-tat, has been fomenting “trouble in the Saudi backyard—Yemen,” by providing support to a Shia insurgent group operating in northern Yemen.</div></section>

Pakistani Jihadis Abduct Iranian Soldiers (BLOG)

A Twitter campaign to #freeiraniansoldiers has gone viral after five frontier guards were snatched by a Sunni insurgent group in Pakistan, w...

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Silverfuturist is all SILVER SMILES...

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>He's all in...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>"And of course if I celebrate too hard I am going to curse the rally? Or maybe not?"</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>--Joe</b></i></div><b><br /></b><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Remember Joe is a Mike Maloney insider.  The SILVER COMMUNITY is rushing into the metals now:</b></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CuOsiaqVHrA?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Silverfuturist is all SILVER SMILES...

He's all in... "And of course if I celebrate too hard I am going to curse the rally? Or maybe not?" --Joe Remember Joe is a Mi...

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Pizza MRE's Are Coming!!

They call it the Holy Grail of MRE's.<br /><br />A slice of pizza that can be stored for up to 3 years and still be edible.<br /><br />Hey, I've eaten petrified pizza before, this can't be any worse.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>NATICK, Mass. (AP) — They call it the holy grail of ready-to-eat meals for soldiers — a pizza that can stay on the shelf for up to three years and still remain good to eat.<br /><br />Soldiers have been asking for pizza since lightweight individual field rations — known as meals ready to eat, or MREs — replaced canned food in 1981 for soldiers in combat zones or areas where field kitchens cannot be set up.<br /><br />Researchers at a U.S. military lab in Massachusetts are closing in on a recipe that doesn't require any refrigeration or freezing.<br /><br />"You can basically take the pizza, leave it on the counter, packaged, for three years and it'd still be edible," said Michelle Richardson, a food scientist at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center.<br /></blockquote><blockquote>Pizza is one of the most requested items when soldiers are asked every year what they'd like to see in their rations, said Richardson, who has spent nearly two years developing the recipe in a large kitchen full of commercial equipment.</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/14/pizza-mres_n_4786562.html">Read the rest of the article </a>to see how they finally figured it out and what real people who have tried it are saying.

Pizza MRE's Are Coming!!

They call it the Holy Grail of MRE's. A slice of pizza that can be stored for up to 3 years and still be edible. Hey, I've eaten pet...

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A New Arms Race Is Exploding Into Asia

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXmBvnOdwW433UnarQyXRWi1_ZZ5FStlsfotRZJjGjn4uNic_TMvUw3VBdAy24KMQcj1sf3uLX1LmzdoR9CW7wytWP1de6sBGyshog9EUepT9BNbfy997PPG5Gs8rSiuxzcg66lDMStrG/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXmBvnOdwW433UnarQyXRWi1_ZZ5FStlsfotRZJjGjn4uNic_TMvUw3VBdAy24KMQcj1sf3uLX1LmzdoR9CW7wytWP1de6sBGyshog9EUepT9BNbfy997PPG5Gs8rSiuxzcg66lDMStrG/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A New Arms Race Is Exploding Into Asia, With An Expensive And Extensive Shopping List Of New Weapons. Who’s Buying What — And Where Does Australia Stand? -- News.com.au</span></b></div><br />AIRCRAFT carriers. Submarines. Fighter jets. An international arms race is underway among the rapidly developing nations to our north. In this Asian deep-pocket contest, is Australia even a contender?<br /><br />In the aftermath of the Cold War, the region has become a confused place where foes have become friends and supposed friends bicker over minor — and major — territorial differences.<br /><br />The problem is, the scatterings of conflicted islets which were once “no-go” zones, both diplomatically and developmentally, are now being seen as potentially valuable assets.<br /><br />And everyone wants their piece.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/a-new-arms-race-is-exploding-into-asia-with-an-expensive-and-extensive-shopping-list-of-new-weapons-whos-buying-what-and-where-does-australia-stand/story-e6frfrnr-1226825644654">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: Australia does not have the means or resources to even contemplate competing against countries like China. Time for them to solidify their alliances with some of their neighbors and with the U.S..

A New Arms Race Is Exploding Into Asia

A New Arms Race Is Exploding Into Asia, With An Expensive And Extensive Shopping List Of New Weapons. Who’s Buying What — And Where Does Aus...

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8 Interracial Relationships That Changed History (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFfgnak3N6XNmIc3I_-cwYulGOgirqtBVO0ZFi_HQ-qFbU97VveegNTFmqueVenb2efmwyltyzZ1p_ee65l-Ir90QPbJPOawxOt3U2KFy0EP7JcHrXYUL2lJzmRIx1rm38qCVYBekiyI/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFfgnak3N6XNmIc3I_-cwYulGOgirqtBVO0ZFi_HQ-qFbU97VveegNTFmqueVenb2efmwyltyzZ1p_ee65l-Ir90QPbJPOawxOt3U2KFy0EP7JcHrXYUL2lJzmRIx1rm38qCVYBekiyI/s1600/22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; float: left; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 598.203125px;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease-in; color: #d24d33; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-in;" target="_blank">PBS Black Culture Connection</a>, <a href="http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease-in; color: #d24d33; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-in;" target="_blank">PBS Learning Media</a>, and Listverse.com have teamed up on a special feature about interracial relationships and marriages that have changed history around the world. Join us as we delve into the racial climate of different nations and their views of interracial relationships over the centuries through the lens of groundbreaking rulings, cases, and people who have shifted our social attitudes to what they are today.</div><h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; float: left; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 27px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 598.203125px;">Read the list below or view <a href="http://listverse.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PBS_Infographic_H_g3+_D4.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease-in; color: #d24d33; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-in;" target="_blank">our infographic</a> on relationships that have changed history!</div></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 219); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; color: #343434; float: left; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.1; margin: 30px 0px 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 598.203125px;"><span style="background-color: #d24d33; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; color: white; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: TitilliumMedium, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 52px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: 70px; line-height: 70px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 70px;"><br /><img alt="CourtEqualJustice" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-64202" height="392" src="http://i0.wp.com/listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CourtEqualJustice.jpg?resize=632%2C414" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.25s ease-in; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.25s ease-in; vertical-align: baseline;" width="598" />8</span>Mildred & Richard Loving</h2><div class="imgcred" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; float: left; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 598.203125px;">In spite of the increased acceptance of interracial marriage across the United States, it turns out that Bill de Blasio, elected Mayor of New York in 2013, is the first white official to be elected into a major office with a black spouse by his side. McCray is expected to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mccray-active-helping-husband-mayor-de-blasio-article-1.1599331" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease-in; color: #d24d33; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-in;" target="_blank">play a major role</a> in de Blasio’s administration.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #6d6d6d; float: left; font-family: TitilliumRegular, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 598.203125px;">While polls show that interracial marriages across the United States are increasingly accepted, some disapproval is still overt: A 2013 Cheerios ad featuring a biracial family sparked <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/01/business/media/cheerios-ad-with-interracial-family-brings-out-internet-hate.html" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.25s ease-in; color: #d24d33; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s ease-in;" target="_blank">so many racist remarks</a> on YouTube that comments had to be disabled. Many celebrate the de Blasio marriage as another significant milestone and hope it will help combat the racism that still exists in a country constantly striving to uphold its cornerstone value of equality.</div>

8 Interracial Relationships That Changed History (BLOG)

PBS Black Culture Connection ,  PBS Learning Media , and Listverse.com have teamed up on a special feature about interracial relationships a...

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Five Future Weapon Systems That Will Change Warfare

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5z5cos3IQHFzJzvrePZOTkYqoi2_kH449DTIz1NzslBxnCHTs12qKD3INtzKjKuRQoCE3RzkQdYy6Mwmp3hurJfrbtIbE8vUrvTQo1itu77CIIcSEMWhJN97_4fxwMUU-UgalIhD9Wd_/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5z5cos3IQHFzJzvrePZOTkYqoi2_kH449DTIz1NzslBxnCHTs12qKD3INtzKjKuRQoCE3RzkQdYy6Mwmp3hurJfrbtIbE8vUrvTQo1itu77CIIcSEMWhJN97_4fxwMUU-UgalIhD9Wd_/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Five Futuristic Weapons That Could Change Warfare -- J. Michael Cole, National Interest</b></span></div><br />Predicting which five weapons will have the greatest impact on the future of combat is a problematic endeavor, as the nature of warfare itself is fluid and constantly changing. A system that could be a game-changer in a major confrontation between two conventional forces—say, China and the United States—could be of little utility in an asymmetrical scenario pitting forces in an urban theater (e.g., Israeli forces confronting Palestinian guerrillas in Gaza or Lebanese Hezbollah in the suburbs of Beirut).<br /><br />The world’s best fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft might be a game-changer in some contexts, but its tremendous speed and inability to linger makes it unsuitable to detect and target small units of freedom fighters operating in a city, not to mention that using such platforms to kill a few irregular soldiers carrying AK-47s is hardly cost effective. Special forces equipped with hyperstealth armor and light assault rifles firing “intelligent” small-caliber ammunition would be much more effective, and presumably much cheaper.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/five-futuristic-weapons-could-change-warfare-9866">Read more</a></b> .....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> All five weapon systems that are listed in this post will definitely change how warfare is going to be fought.

Five Future Weapon Systems That Will Change Warfare

Five Futuristic Weapons That Could Change Warfare -- J. Michael Cole, National Interest Predicting which five weapons will have the greatest...

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fess up friday - the design daredevil

Happy Friday my Valentine's! Today's Fess Up Friday features the lovely Jessie from <a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/" target="_blank">The Design Daredevil</a>. Girlfriend has style in spades (check out her latest reveal <a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/2014/01/reveal-preppy-chinoiserie/" target="_blank">here</a>), she's been on TWO shows on HGTV, and lucky for me she's local. Oh, and <a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/2014/02/hello-i-live-here-whats-new/" target="_blank">her apartment</a> is pretty much my dream pad. And a warning to all of you St. Louis retailers - Jessie and I are hitting the streets together soon. Prepare.<br /><br />So Jessie, Fess Up!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdK92v5QCozO36K-AdH7skGl6rZx4ICiiYZPeC-oZ5-4KXrxx27pXNDFCetOgIhVVZlEPBzcxUZcZgpQrIVCmsiBIdkCA3ZwSbWeEwPuheKWTft09nEYPm-wyv_SudywI5RCx58QDGMkY/s1600/FessUpFridaylogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdK92v5QCozO36K-AdH7skGl6rZx4ICiiYZPeC-oZ5-4KXrxx27pXNDFCetOgIhVVZlEPBzcxUZcZgpQrIVCmsiBIdkCA3ZwSbWeEwPuheKWTft09nEYPm-wyv_SudywI5RCx58QDGMkY/s1600/FessUpFridaylogo.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hello hello hello LBD readers! I am excited to be Elizabeth's guest, as she is my fellow St. Louis blog sister. I'm not even half the blogger she is, so I'm sure most of you have not met me yet. I am a 32 year old interior designer working under the firm <a href="http://www.curedesigngroup.com/" target="_blank">CURE Design Group</a>. Here are a few looks at projects I've either completed, or am in the middle of working on...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Preppy-Chintz-4.jpg"><img alt="Preppy Chintz 4" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11989" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Preppy-Chintz-4-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Preppy-Chintz-5.jpg"><img alt="Preppy Chintz 5" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11990" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Preppy-Chintz-5-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Heather.jpg"><img alt="Heather" class="aligncenter wp-image-12113" height="682" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Heather.jpg" width="682" /></a><img alt="Maggie 2" class="aligncenter wp-image-11690" height="913" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Maggie-2.jpg" width="682" /><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Maggie-3.jpg"><img alt="Maggie 3" class="aligncenter wp-image-11691" height="913" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Maggie-3.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Design-Daredevil-Jon-Adler-Inspired-4.jpg"><img alt="Design Daredevil Jon Adler Inspired 4" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9984" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Design-Daredevil-Jon-Adler-Inspired-4-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fun and cheerful, full of color and pattern. Cute, right? Well...it's all a lie. A big, fat COLORFUL lie.</div><div style="text-align: left;">That's right folks; I, Jessie D. Miller, <strong>do not like color</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>GAH!</strong> I'm sure that I just lost 99% of you. Come back. Please? I have my reasons, I swear.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You see, working as a full time interior designer, with anywhere from 4-10 different projects going on at one time, I am visually assaulted with color and pattern on a daily basis. I am constantly selecting paint colors, accent colors, and coming up with a "pop of color"; so in my <em>personal</em> space I crave NO color.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But don't get it twisted, I didn't mean that my home is <em>neutral</em>. Oh no, I want <strong>high contrast</strong> by way of black, white, and gold/brass.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is a peek at my still-not finished apartment by way of crappy, un-styled iPhone pics. Don't judge me. At least not until its done.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-4.jpg"><img alt="Jessie Miller Apartment 4" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-12080" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-4-759x1024.jpg" width="759" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-3.jpg"><img alt="Jessie Miller Apartment 3" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12079" height="598" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-3.jpg" width="800" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-1.jpg"><img alt="Jessie Miller Apartment 1" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-12082" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-1-683x1024.jpg" width="683" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-2.jpg"><img alt="Jessie Miller Apartment 2" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12078" height="549" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Jessie-Miller-Apartment-2.jpg" width="800" /></a> Yup, not a "Pop of Color" in sight. Just the way I like it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm not completely heartless. I did add some green to my balcony, the only "done' part of my home. <a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Patio-Reveal-2-e1378689414189.jpg"><br /><img alt="Patio Reveal 2" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11423" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Patio-Reveal-2-e1378689414189-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a>I mean, I'm not a <em>tota</em>l hater.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plus, I love to go all out <strong>decorating for the holidays</strong>. My home is adaptable to all kinds of different themes.<a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_2604_Fotor.jpg"><img alt="IMG_2604_Fotor" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11613" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_2604_Fotor-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Thanksgiving-9.jpg"><img alt="Thanksgiving 9" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11716" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Thanksgiving-9-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Thanksgiving-1.jpg"><img alt="Thanksgiving 1" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11708" height="425" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Thanksgiving-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gold-Christmas-Tree-5.jpg"><img alt="Gold Christmas Tree 5" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11862" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gold-Christmas-Tree-5-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a><a href="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gold-Christmas-Tree-16.jpg"><img alt="Gold Christmas Tree 16" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-11872" height="1024" src="http://thedesigndaredevil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Gold-Christmas-Tree-16-682x1024.jpg" width="682" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, still not a <em>lot</em> of color, but you get the idea. So, do you think I'm all Patrick Bateman, or are you willing to give me a chance? I may live in a stark home, but I lead a colorful life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you so much for having me Elizabeth! And when the heck are we going to get <br /><del>drunk</del>drinks and go thrifting? Hopefully we can report back on that soon, but in the mean time follow my design adventures on IG <a href="http://instagram.com/designdaredevil" target="_blank">@designdaredevil</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Jessie, we are going to have some colorful drinks in honor of this post! So what do y'all think? Do you live with a lot of color? Or just enjoy it from 9-5?</div>

fess up friday - the design daredevil

Happy Friday my Valentine's! Today's Fess Up Friday features the lovely Jessie from The Design Daredevil . Girlfriend has style in s...

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Another OBAMACARE DELAY

<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why the delay? </span></b></div><br /><b>We the people must be in compliance but it's OK when they don't make the deadline.  There are many people that are already paying more for healthcare as a result of this mass debacle and their lives are completely and financially ruined as a result.  Behind the scenes what is not being reported enough is how this is leading to depression and suicide.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Eventually the well to do are going to lose their 401K's, IRA's, and various other investment portfolios they thought were safe.  Those people in the high places of government, along with the vast Hollywood and sports entertainment industry here in America are the ones to watch.  When (not if) they lose their money they will really lose it:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ecst2cbozu4?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Another OBAMACARE DELAY

Why the delay? We the people must be in compliance but it's OK when they don't make the deadline.  There are many people that are al...

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