News for today's 2018

Top US Intel Chief: Syria Is An 'Apocalyptic Disaster'

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><script src="http://pshared.5min.com/Scripts/PlayerSeed.js?sid=281&width=560&height=345&playList=518120302" type="text/javascript"></script></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>US Intel Chief Calls Syria Conflict 'Apocalyptic Disaster' -- Voice of America</b></span></div><br />U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper is describing the situation in Syria as an "apocalyptic disaster" and says pictures of torture victims are likely genuine.<br /><br />Clapper told a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday that the war has killed more than 134,000 people and created nearly 10 million refugees.<br /><br />Clapper said he has no reason to doubt that smuggled police photographs of tortured Syrian prisoners are real.  He calls them "terrible" and says it is difficult to imagine they could have been fabricated.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/clapper-syria-an-apocalyptic-disaster/1849482.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">More News On The U.S. Intelligence chief James Clapper Describing The Situation In Syria As An "Apocalyptic Disaster"</span></b></div><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/11/james-clapper-syria_n_4769701.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">James Clapper Calls Syria An 'Apocalyptic Disaster'</a> -- Huffington Post/Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syria-crisis-apocalyptic-disaster-clapper-says-n27466">Syria Crisis: 'Apocalyptic Disaster,' Clapper Says</a> -- NBC<br /><a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177378#.UvvAhoW0ykM">U.S. Intelligence Chief Describes Syria as Apocalyptic Disaster </a>-- Arutz Sheva<br /><a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/11/syria-al-qaeda-u-s-officials-offer-grim-assessment/">Syria, al Qaeda: U.S. officials offer grim assessment</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13921123000369">US Spy Chief: Up to 115,000 Militants Fighting Syrian Government </a>-- FARS News Agency (Iran)

Top US Intel Chief: Syria Is An 'Apocalyptic Disaster'

US Intel Chief Calls Syria Conflict 'Apocalyptic Disaster' -- Voice of America U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper is describing t...

President Obama Admits That Diplomacy Is Failing On Syria

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mfq5e7HYSd4" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Diplomacy Is Failing In Syria, Obama Acknowledges -- Washington Post</b></span></div><br />The Obama administration acknowledged Tuesday that diplomacy, the main pillar of its Syria policy, is failing even as civil war is destroying the country, leaving open the question of what the United States will or can do to stop the slaughter.<br /><br />Negotiations between the Syrian government and parts of the opposition are “far from achieving” a peaceful end to the conflict, President Obama said, and in Geneva, the United Nations envoy leading the talks said they aren’t getting anywhere.<br /><br />“With each passing day, more people inside of Syria are suffering,” Obama said. “The state of Syria itself is crumbling. That is bad for Syria. It is bad for the region. It is bad for global national security, because what we know is, is that there are extremists who have moved into the vacuum in certain portions of Syria in a way that could threaten us over the long term.”<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/diplomacy-is-failing-in-syria-obama-acknowledges/2014/02/11/822065e6-935c-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On President Obama's Comments On Syria</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/defense/obama-syria-civil-war-unlikely-to-end-soon-20140211">Obama: Syria Civil War Unlikely to End Soon</a> -- National Journal<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/11/obama-syria-talks_n_4768093.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">Obama: Syria Talks Far From Goal Of Halting Violence</a> -- AP<br /><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/usa-france-syria-idINW1N0HC00B20140211">Obama says he does not see a military solution in Syria right now</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-11/obama-says-u-s-no-closer-to-military-action-in-syria-stalemate.html">Obama Says U.S. No Closer to Military Action in Syria Crisis</a> -- Bloomberg<br /><a href="http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_02_11/US-retain-right-to-military-strike-against-Syria-Obama-8969/">US retains right to strike militarily against Syria - Obama</a> -- Voice of Russia<br /><a href="http://en.ria.ru/world/20140211/187439268/Russia-Needs-to-Make-Sure-Syria-Fulfills-Commitments--Obama.html">Russia Needs to Make Sure Syria Fulfills Commitments – Obama</a> -- RIA Novosti

President Obama Admits That Diplomacy Is Failing On Syria

Diplomacy Is Failing In Syria, Obama Acknowledges -- Washington Post The Obama administration acknowledged Tuesday that diplomacy, the main ...

Iran's Armed Forces Chief Of Staff: We’re Ready For ‘Decisive War’ With U.S. And Israel

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/veBa2BQEdkY" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Iran Ready For Decisive War With US, Israel: Commander -- Press TV (Iran)</b></span></div><br />ran’s Armed Forces chief of staff has dismissed US officials’ threats of military action against Iran as “political bluff”, saying the Islamic Republic is ready for the “decisive” battle against the US and Israel.<br /><br />“We are ready for the decisive war with the US and the Zionist regime [of Israel],” said Major General Hassan Firouzabadi on Wednesday.<br /><br />Iran has been planning for such a battle for years by carrying out various drills, he said, stressing that Iran’s Armed Forces are prepared to fend off any military aggression.<br /><br /><i>    The top commander warned that in case of aggression against Iran, all the US and Israeli interests will be targeted, “We warn that if our forces come under attack from any territory, we will hit all the positions which belong to that [territory],” Firouzabadi said.</i><br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/02/12/350362/iran-to-target-us-isael-if-attacked/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Iran's Armed Forces Chief Of Staff That They Are Ready For A ‘Decisive War’ With U.S. And Israel</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13921123000477">Commander: Iran Ready for “Decisive Battle” against US, Israel</a> -- FARS News Agency (Iran)<br /><a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-were-ready-for-decisive-battle-with-israel-us/">Iran: We’re ready for ‘decisive battle’ with Israel, US</a> -- Times of Israel<br /><a href="http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Irans-military-chief-says-ready-for-war-with-US-Israel-341196">Iran's military chief says ready for war with US, Israel</a> -- Jerusalem Post<br /><a href="http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2014/2/12/iran-military-chief-we-are-ready-for-battle-with-america-and-zionist-regime#.UvvbPIW0ykM">Iran military chief: We are ready for battle with America and ‘Zionist regime’</a> -- JNS<br /><a href="http://gulfnews.com/news/region/iran/iran-ready-for-decisive-battle-with-us-israel-1.1289960">Iran ready for ‘decisive’ battle with US, Israel</a> -- Gulf News/AFP<br /><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/12/iran-general-we-are-ready-decisive-battle-us/">Iran general: ‘We are ready for the decisive battle’ with U.S.</a> -- Washington Times<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2014/02/12/US-bluffing-on-military-option-Iran-says/UPI-70761392215741/">U.S. bluffing on military option, Iran says</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.albawaba.com/news/iran-israel-us-554150">Iran will strike back against the U.S., Israel if military option used </a>-- Al Bawaba<br /><a href="http://freebeacon.com/iranians-we-are-eager-for-u-s-military-option/">Iranians: ‘We Are Eager for U.S. Military Option’</a> -- Washington Free Beacon

Iran's Armed Forces Chief Of Staff: We’re Ready For ‘Decisive War’ With U.S. And Israel

Iran Ready For Decisive War With US, Israel: Commander -- Press TV (Iran) ran’s Armed Forces chief of staff has dismissed US officials’ thre...

The U.S. - Al Qaeda Suspect Who May Be Put On A CIA 'Kill List' Is In Pakistan

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gLz51M0aisQ" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>U.S. Al Qaeda Suspect Facing Drone Strike Is In Pakistan: Source -- NBC</b></span></div><br />WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is mulling whether to use a drone strike to kill a U.S. citizen in Pakistan, senior U.S. officials said Tuesday.<br /><br />Reports that CIA drones were watching an American member of al Qaeda allegedly planning terrorist attacks were first published by The Associated Press on Monday. But the press agency did not say the country in which the target was located.<br /><br />Speaking to NBC News on Tuesday, the officials would not give any details of the target but said it was in a tribal region of western Pakistan.<br /><br />Two U.S. intelligence officials -- one current, one former -- told NBC News that the U.S. citizen who may be targeted for a drone attack is a member of al Qaeda Central, the core terrorist group headed by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the successor to Osama bin Laden.<br /><br />Some experts had suggested the U.S. citizen was part of one of several al Qaeda affiliates, operating along the Afghanistan - Pakistan border. It is not, said the former official. "He's standard al Qaeda operating in Pakistan," he said.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-al-qaeda-suspect-facing-drone-strike-pakistan-source-n27071">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-mulls-drone-strike-on-america-al-qaeda-suspect-in-pakistan/">U.S. mulls drone strike on American al Qaeda suspect in Pakistan</a> -- CBS/AP<br /><br /><b>Previous Post:</b> <a href="http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.ca/2014/02/white-house-is-now-debating.html">White House Is Now Debating The Assassination Of Another U.S. Terror Suspect </a><br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b>  Peter Bergen's commentary on this is issue<b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/11/opinion/bergen-target-american-with-drones/"> is a must read</a></b>. As to what is my take .... these American citizens are at war with the U.S., and if they are in a warzone it is fair game.

The U.S. - Al Qaeda Suspect Who May Be Put On A CIA 'Kill List' Is In Pakistan

U.S. Al Qaeda Suspect Facing Drone Strike Is In Pakistan: Source -- NBC WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is mulling whether to use a dr...

U.S. Intel Chief Admits (For The First Time) That The CIA Has A Secret Drone Program

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fqJnM7dTzByMOxeIJTCo_p8Z51FfJOXTkAM3xwAzevh-ke8CUJeUE7UvCQgfP65VtEcxnGGceH1AgRTAwd8eJJdad4cDvD_kLP9Xf9GW82_xom2VRSCpRjdNlhjRs6y0Kls8bGgDHVpC/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fqJnM7dTzByMOxeIJTCo_p8Z51FfJOXTkAM3xwAzevh-ke8CUJeUE7UvCQgfP65VtEcxnGGceH1AgRTAwd8eJJdad4cDvD_kLP9Xf9GW82_xom2VRSCpRjdNlhjRs6y0Kls8bGgDHVpC/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">President Barack Obama greets James Clapper, his nominee for director of national intelligence, in the Oval Office, Saturday, June 5, 2010. (White House Photo/Peter Souza) </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CIA’s Drones, Barely Secret, Receive Rare Public Nod -- Wall Street Journal</b></span></div><br />The worst kept secret in Washington national security circles is no more. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper publicly acknowledged for the first time at a Senate hearing Tuesday that the Central Intelligence Agency has a drone program.<br /><br />The CIA’s drone program, which operates in Pakistan and Yemen, has been the subject of news reports for years. But U.S. officials have continued to steer clear of publicly acknowledging the program, glossing over CIA’s role, because it has remained officially covert. That covert status allows the CIA to operate in countries where local governments don’t support the strikes.<br /><br />The U.S. military also operates a drone program, which is not covert.<br /><br />In this exchange with Sen. Bill Nelson (D., Fla.) at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on global threats to the U.S., Mr. Clapper indirectly confirmed the existence of the CIA’s program by saying Sen. Nelson’s statement was accurate.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/02/11/cias-drones-barely-secret-receive-rare-public-nod/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> I am shocked!!! SHOCKED!!!!! That the CIA has a secret drone program.

U.S. Intel Chief Admits (For The First Time) That The CIA Has A Secret Drone Program

President Barack Obama greets James Clapper, his nominee for director of national intelligence, in the Oval Office, Saturday, June 5, 2010. ...

Venezuelan Protests Turn Violent

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aeGwVWv0BwI" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>At Least Three Killed By Gunfire At Venezuela Protests -- Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - At least three people were shot dead on Wednesday during anti-government protests in Caracas, escalating the worst bout of unrest in Venezuela since turmoil after President Nicolas Maduro's election last year.<br /><br />The violence was a crescendo to weeks of sporadic demonstrations in the provinces led by opposition hardliners who denounce Maduro for failing to control inflation, crime and product shortages and vow to push him from office.<br /><br />The government says the opposition is sowing violence to stage a coup similar to the one a decade ago that briefly ousted late socialist leader Hugo Chavez, though there are few signs that the current melees could topple Maduro.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/13/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1B1K220140213">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object data="http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=276839747&edition=BETAUS" height="259" id="rcomVideo_276839747" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460"> <param name='movie' value='http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=276839747&edition=BETAUS'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=276839747&edition=BETAUS' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' allowScriptAccess='always' width='460' height='259' wmode='transparent'></embed> </object></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On The Growing Discontent In Venezuela</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0212/Two-killed-as-Venezuelan-protests-turn-violent">Two killed as Venezuelan protests turn violent</a> -- Christian Science Monitor/AP<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hy7LI6Bch-m_VqbjKNEHgt12XSvA?docId=15251534-1fd8-4c9f-93e6-c0aa5a3aa8cd">Two dead, 23 hurt in Venezuela protests</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/12/3930962/student-protests-turn-violent.html">Student protests in Venezuela turn violent amid growing discontent</a> -- Miami Herald<br /><a href="http://www.dw.de/two-people-killed-in-caracas-during-anti-government-protests/a-17427750">Two people killed in Caracas during anti-government protests</a> -- Deutsche Welle<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-12/venezuelan-protests-turn-violent-as-government-says-two-killed">Venezuelan Protests Turn Violent as Government Says Two Killed</a> -- Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/2-killed-in-venezuelan-antigovernment-protests/1850338.html">2 Killed in Venezuelan Anti-Government Protests</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/12/venezuelan-anti-governmentproteststurnviolent.html">Venezuelan anti-government protests turn violent</a> -- Al Jazeera<br /><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/venezuela/140212/everyone-venezuela-protesting-toilet-paper-maduro-chavez">It looks like everyone in Venezuela is protesting, but not for the same reasons</a> -- Global Post<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> This is going to get worse.

Venezuelan Protests Turn Violent

At Least Three Killed By Gunfire At Venezuela Protests -- Reuters (Reuters) - At least three people were shot dead on Wednesday during anti-...

Phyllis Diller's Brother Breaks Out The Punchlines

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0U_k0-KSsivhrZxM-rVAUU3jt3DXcDKmptasGcXNgxVRb4iYDgnUH9UdGdUKT9eyCY0x1Pb0ibfzFh5mcIIxQ9gFF-C6Yfg1nDT2HsxIMsny1Es4EzlT9j3ElNH7gClezvl_nIJJZczc/s1600/Phyllis+Diller+Brother+Phil+Diller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0U_k0-KSsivhrZxM-rVAUU3jt3DXcDKmptasGcXNgxVRb4iYDgnUH9UdGdUKT9eyCY0x1Pb0ibfzFh5mcIIxQ9gFF-C6Yfg1nDT2HsxIMsny1Es4EzlT9j3ElNH7gClezvl_nIJJZczc/s1600/Phyllis+Diller+Brother+Phil+Diller.jpg" width="400" /></a>Hey there all you crazy guys and dolls. Phil Diller here for <i>IWS Radio</i>.<br /><br />You’re probably asking yourself right now, <i>“Who the hell is this guy?”</i><br /><br />Well, I just told you…I’m Phil Diller.<br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhh!!<br /><br />Seriously though…For the throngs of you who are unfamiliar as to who I am, I am the late Phyllis Diller’s obscure and un-publicly-recognized younger brother.<br /><br />Hell, just check out <i><span style="color: blue;">Phyllis’ Wikipedia page...</span></i>there is no reference to me whatsoever. You know why? Because when Phyllis was born, and they saw what she looked like?  My Dad shouted at my Mom…<br /><i><br /></i><i>“Look Honey, it’s the son we always wanted!!”</i>, and they kept it that way.<br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhh!!<br /><br />Seriously though…I was conceived during the October 14, 1937 FDR Fireside Chat on the Unemployment Census.  Hell…Mom and Dad both had jobs; it was a cold night in Lima, Ohio, and the President’s radio chat wasn't doing much to keep them warm, so they found an alternative source of heat.<br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime Uhhhhhhh!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mi_BTvxGLUQqAQU5_PryOnXUG9oK984IeHsF6OIdaGQwyxzSRL71OpFO4huuwvZEv7XrNK7bHb4Uj9aE_Ow6rpW9axq5wTufTCvg1_FQfd553jiJS55m6FKh7JDVkB_BkKEJek2lRcDz/s1600/phyllis+diller+wacky+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mi_BTvxGLUQqAQU5_PryOnXUG9oK984IeHsF6OIdaGQwyxzSRL71OpFO4huuwvZEv7XrNK7bHb4Uj9aE_Ow6rpW9axq5wTufTCvg1_FQfd553jiJS55m6FKh7JDVkB_BkKEJek2lRcDz/s1600/phyllis+diller+wacky+man.jpg" width="400" /></a>Anyway, during my days growing up in the Diller household, Mom, Dad, and my sister would tell me that I was just a stray that they picked up in their front yard on July 14, 1938 during an out of control Bastille Day Party.<br /><i><br /></i><i>“Why would a German/Irish family such as the Diller’s celebrate France?”</i><br /><br />And he replied…<br /><br /><i>“We thought it would be our last time to make fun of the French before Hitler and that midget dago wiped them off the map.”</i><br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhh!!<br /><br />I never bought that line.<br /><br />Anyway…Mom and Dad died when I was around eleven years old, but my sis Phyllis was working and kept me around.  She would always tell me…<br /><br /><i>“Phil, even though you are not my brother, I feel the need to take care of you, so…you can stay here and be my gardener.”</i><br /><br />It was nice to have a place to stay, but the entire time that I’m out there busting up turf in order for Phyllis to plant her vegetable garden, I’m thinking…<br /><br /><i>“Listen, Bitch!!  My name is Phil DILLER, not Phil TILLER!!”</i><br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhhh!!<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong, as much as she and the entire family denied my familial bond, they did take care of me…well, until she died in 2012.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi2e8tcu-PfCK8Kvcz1dGLCDgLZeuiffQmjaYd0jAdlRmDkEDjBcpFihNKcZqubMl66lATK0P3qhoGiySR84b9DiESjbTXr60AmbiIZ9Ga8INC5RcW75OWGVgCnk_1s7d6TxkCsvDj3b_/s1600/ned+beatty+deliverance+squeal+like+a+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVi2e8tcu-PfCK8Kvcz1dGLCDgLZeuiffQmjaYd0jAdlRmDkEDjBcpFihNKcZqubMl66lATK0P3qhoGiySR84b9DiESjbTXr60AmbiIZ9Ga8INC5RcW75OWGVgCnk_1s7d6TxkCsvDj3b_/s1600/ned+beatty+deliverance+squeal+like+a+pig.jpg" width="400" /></a>After my sister Phyllis died, her kids kicked me out of the gardener’s guest house and ass flung me straight to the curb.  I felt as though I was Ned Beatty getting my salad tossed in a Burt Reynolds’s flick and the movie was titled…<br /><br /><i>Diller-iverance.</i><br /><br />HA!!  Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhh!!<br /><br />So, I’m out on my own now, and I am incredibly grateful to Jay and Matt for bringing me on board the TEAM IWS chuck wagon so I can make a living.<br /><br />I’m going to be there this <i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2014/02/17/a-potpourri-extravaganza-of-news-weather-and-sports" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Sunday from 8-10 PM ET on the IWS Radio Show</span></a></i> with some funny President Day jokes, so don’t miss out, and don’t miss out on this Sunday’s show which you can catch live right <i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2014/02/17/a-potpourri-extravaganza-of-news-weather-and-sports" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE!!</span></a></i><br /><br /><i>Until then…Hy-Muh Lime-Uhhhhhhhh!!</i><br /><br /><i>Phil Diller</i><br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com"><i>mattmaniws@ymail.com</i></a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>@mattman_iws</i></span></a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattmaniws" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook Page</span></i></a></div>

Phyllis Diller's Brother Breaks Out The Punchlines

Hey there all you crazy guys and dolls. Phil Diller here for IWS Radio . You’re probably asking yourself right now, “Who the hell is this gu...

Mich. college offers course in zombies, apocalypse (BLOG)

7:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lk7d8Wzr5fOlJv4KP0CYli4_7ASP-QW_Oe4USxAKgj_TFOEAc8QkZm46Y7qRL-chfAhLDa31o1BQMDzY90UfBwUUmbK7p6AZ2LwqrpJkfeOUno7SQMVe5qGrYghL0RiS7qjEM9zu89A/s1600/m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lk7d8Wzr5fOlJv4KP0CYli4_7ASP-QW_Oe4USxAKgj_TFOEAc8QkZm46Y7qRL-chfAhLDa31o1BQMDzY90UfBwUUmbK7p6AZ2LwqrpJkfeOUno7SQMVe5qGrYghL0RiS7qjEM9zu89A/s1600/m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87856" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Some Central Michigan University students are getting schooled in the undead this semester, thanks to a religion course that's exploring apocalyptic themes in biblical texts, literature and pop culture.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.307693481445313px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87866" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Philosophy and religion faculty member Kelly Murphy says she always wanted to teach a course on apocalyptic literature, and she is a fan of AMC's TV show "The Walking Dead." The result is Murphy's class, which is called "From Revelation to 'The Walking Dead.'"</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87876" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Thinking about the end and imagining life in a different way is something that humans have always done," Murphy said in a university release.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87886" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Murphy's class will discuss biblical texts, review popular novels and watch clips from movies such as "Shaun of the Dead" and "28 Days Later." Students also will discuss hypothetical ethical and theological problems that people could encounter in a post-apocalyptic world.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The prevalence of apocalyptic stories in various media gives us a window into what people are worrying about, what they hope for and how they imagine they would react in the face of a cataclysmic event," Murphy said. "In the same way, we can read the Book of Revelation ... and learn what ancient Jewish and Christian groups were concerned about."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Kevin White, a senior from the Detroit suburb of St. Clair Shores majoring in political science and religion, said it is important to incorporate popular culture into classroom settings because it helps to give students a way to connect with subjects of study.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Studying ancient biblical texts isn't most people's cup of tea," he said. "But, when you add zombies, it instantly becomes everyone's cup of tea."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">___</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87905" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Online:</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_87890" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">http://www.cmich.edu</div>

Mich. college offers course in zombies, apocalypse (BLOG)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Some Central Michigan University students are getting schooled in the undead this semester, thanks to a religio...

NJ festival lets you eat, drink, floss with bacon (BLOG)

6:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPLjUnSDYaSXFZ5SZ8UNdQuSgpMMJ4QzK6YrnXklr4FbI2rKJFO4vlTlykBfXaOZghDewqqJo1-Lv6cm2LiCSA-m2DO5fIc609c0YzzOvbRPLaDVG_HWwy1RGAeHCq71hUJ6U_rL4oWs/s1600/nn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPLjUnSDYaSXFZ5SZ8UNdQuSgpMMJ4QzK6YrnXklr4FbI2rKJFO4vlTlykBfXaOZghDewqqJo1-Lv6cm2LiCSA-m2DO5fIc609c0YzzOvbRPLaDVG_HWwy1RGAeHCq71hUJ6U_rL4oWs/s1600/nn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82875" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Get ready for bacon like you've never eaten, drunk or worn it before.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.307693481445313px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82748" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Bacon milkshakes. Chocolate-covered bacon shaped like roses. Bacon-flavored toothpaste, dental floss and lip balm. Bacon bourbon, margaritas, beer and vodka. Bacon ice cream sundaes. A BLT sandwich with a full pound of bacon.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82894" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">They're all on the menu this week as one Atlantic City casino stretches the bounds of good taste and cardiovascular health with Bacon Week. The festival at the Tropicana Casino and Resort gives new meaning to the term "pigging out."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82904" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The idea of a bacon festival is not as far-fetched as it might sound. Americans eat about 1.5 billion pounds of bacon a year, according to the National Pork Board. And the website bacontoday.com counted nearly 30 bacon festivals around the country from late April through December 2013, many of whose tickets sold out in minutes.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Bacon is like heaven," said Nadina Fornia, of Egg Harbor Township. "If you're going to die, die with bacon on your lips and a BLT in each hand."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">She was drawn to the casino Monday by the promise of bacon in far-out forms, including milkshakes and beer (not in the same glass, thankfully.) She also heard about the bacon-infused vodka.</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp landscape onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="8" data-uuid="ff0c0363-2fb4-3a18-8885-6e1fb48683ad" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/monday-feb-10-2014-photo-shows-bacon-lettuce-photo-005302924.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="This Monday, Feb. 10. 2014 photo shows a bacon-lettuce-and-tomato&nbsp;&hellip;"><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 225px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></div><img alt="This Monday, Feb. 10. 2014 photo shows a bacon-lettuce-and-tomato&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="225" src="http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ZC6sZkPVr7SF6G08oVS6Jw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTIyNTtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/8b7b4b4c0e4a90064b0f6a706700f6e2.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></div></a><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16.5px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">This Monday, Feb. 10. 2014 photo shows a bacon-lettuce-and-tomato sandwich made with an entire pound …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"That is my quest today," she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Fornia tried a bacon bloody Mary mixed with a smoky bacon beer. Despite the overwhelming salty taste and the small strip of bacon floating in the glass, it tasted mostly like sharp tomato juice, she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Nearby were chocolate covered pretzels with crumbled bacon bits; chocolate-drizzled potato chips with bacon, two kinds of pasta dishes with bacon, bacon cupcakes, and bacon wrapped around a fake green stem to form roses, which were then dipped in chocolate.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"The first taste is chocolatey, then it's all bacon," said Melissa Ehrke, of Egg Harbor Township. "I was a little surprised I liked it, 'cause I was afraid to try it. It's that whole sweet and salty thing."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">While bacon-flavored grooming items are sold at festivals around the nation, they were encountering some skepticism at the Tropicana this week.</div><div class="body-related" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative;"><a class="body-related-link body-related-image go-to-slideshow-lightbox rapid-noclick-resp portrait onesize get-lbdata-from-dom" data-rapid_p="9" data-uuid="0e8efcf2-a982-33e5-9ca0-5b980b48e7f9" href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/unexpected-wave-saltiness-hits-melissa-ehrke-egg-harbor-photo-005235304.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 300px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" title="An unexpected wave of saltiness hits Melissa Ehrke&nbsp;&hellip;"><div class="img-wrap" style="position: relative;"><div class="cta-overlay" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.24s linear; font-size: 13px; height: 400px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transition: background-color 0.24s linear; width: 300px;"><span class="clearfix title cta-text medium" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; color: white; font-size: 16px; left: 5px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 5px; transition: opacity 0.24s linear; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 270px; zoom: 1;"></span><span class="cta-text xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.24s linear; bottom: 5px; color: white; font-size: 16px; margin-left: 42px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; transition: opacity 0.24s linear;">View gallery</span><span class="icon-slideshow icon-white-slideshow-xsmall" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.16s linear; background-color: #324fe1; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: cover; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; bottom: 5px; cursor: pointer; height: 23px; left: 5px; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: -1000em; transition: opacity 0.16s linear; width: 32px; z-index: 1;"></span></div><img alt="An unexpected wave of saltiness hits Melissa Ehrke&nbsp;&hellip;" class="body-related-thumb" data-src-2x="" height="400" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4ZjB5UNHH_Ac18.swEPJRQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTQwMDtxPTc1O3c9MzAw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/1263d5280e4a90064b0f6a706700cba4.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: block; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible !important;" width="300" /></div></a><div class="body-related-title photo-caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: grey; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16.5px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px 5px 0px 0px; position: relative; width: 300px;">An unexpected wave of saltiness hits Melissa Ehrke of Egg harbor Township, N.J. as she tries chocola …</div></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"There are people that are just crazy for bacon," said Denise McGrath, of Neptune City. "But bacon toothpaste or floss? I'm not that crazy."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">James Sanders, of New York City, was in heaven trying as many free samples of bacon-flavored items as he could get his hands on.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"I love me some bacon!" he exclaimed between bites of ... something. "I don't even know what this is, but it's got bacon in it. And it's good!"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Sanders said eating bacon is a multilayered experience.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"You keep chewing it and chewing it, and the flavor comes out the more you chew on it," he said. "And then you get to the fat and that floods into your mouth. I just love it."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Carrie Jorgenson and her husband, Mike, were downing the bacon bloody Mary beer concoctions, while channeling celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"I love pork. All things pork," she said. "That's what Emeril used to say, that pork fat rules, and it does."</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82932" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">___</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_82922" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC</div>

NJ festival lets you eat, drink, floss with bacon (BLOG)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Get ready for bacon like you've never eaten, drunk or worn it before. Bacon milkshakes. Chocolate-covered bac...

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse...

5:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>...deceiving and being deceived.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There is confusion and every evil work.</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Is there any question?</b></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Manufactured Ukraine, EU, and Russian Conflict:</span></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YxP9WQPFJPU?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZcU2XS55_vg?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bankers are being found dead...markets are rigged... </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Xw2OIZARijU?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creating chaos, mental illness, and fear...</b></span></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DANzRHxCYS4?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <b> </b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>FULL SHOW:</b></span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3CBceKEpbFw?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse...

...deceiving and being deceived. There is confusion and every evil work. Is there any question? Manufactured Ukraine, EU, and Russian Confli...

The Sarcasm Report v.186

5:10 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://us.ishares.com/product_info/fund/overview/SHV.htm">iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF</a><br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><b>Average Yield to Maturity: 0.15%</b></div><div style="color: red;"><b>Expense Ratio: 0.15%</b></div><br />Perfect!<br /><br />It is just like cash, only it isn't cash. It's a professionally managed bond fund! Genius!<br /><br />Check out the fund's <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=SHV&t=my&l=on&z=l&q=l&c=">chart</a>. What's not to like? $2.4 billion in assets! Very popular!<br /><br /><b>July 20, 2009</b><br /><a href="http://www.pionline.com/article/20090720/ONLINE/907209981/focus-on-short-end-of-yield-curve-pimco-says">Focus on short end of yield curve, PIMCO says</a><br /><br />Focus as you patiently await the end of ZIRP! 5 years so far! But we really, really, really mean it this time!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/T0q1i2mqMgs" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>It's at an end! Cutting out! Kaput! Finished! Drop the curtain! Break camp! Pull up stakes! Finis! Absolutely, positively it! Not pulling your leg! Down the road! We swear we won't ever be back! Ain't gonna happen! Forget about it! Shutting it down! Lost our lease! Can't find it! Don't care! We're done! Closing shop! Putting up the shutters! Bolting the doors! Slamming them closed! Gonna board the place up! Nailing it shut! Big nails! Nothing gets in or out! Sealing it off! We're history! We really! Really! Really! Mean it! We're not jerking your chain on this! No snow job! Not bluffing! No kidding!</i></div><br />This concludes today's sarcasm report. :)

The Sarcasm Report v.186

iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF Average Yield to Maturity: 0.15% Expense Ratio: 0.15% Perfect! It is just like cash, only it isn't cash....

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed By An Insider Attack In Afghanistan

5:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XTyA8zIhK6pFq9lLIOv5qNgDH4Uw-sOv0mUe2Psn9tEfMYffJrVXrx-7uV6NWH39_59eF_6CKZq8OxXQlZO2_iBcbQsLdNamur4WKW6yYU5EVcZuBQjkMrOSCPe3YYushjJ4EnUi7QEy/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XTyA8zIhK6pFq9lLIOv5qNgDH4Uw-sOv0mUe2Psn9tEfMYffJrVXrx-7uV6NWH39_59eF_6CKZq8OxXQlZO2_iBcbQsLdNamur4WKW6yYU5EVcZuBQjkMrOSCPe3YYushjJ4EnUi7QEy/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Individuals In Afghan Army Uniform Kills 2 NATO Soldiers -- Khaama Press</b></span></div><br />At least two NATO soldiers were killed following a suspected insider attack in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday.<br /><br />This was the first insider attack which has taken place in Afghanistan since the beginning of the year 2014.<br /><br />NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) following a statement confirmed the incident and said, “Two International Security Assistance Force service members died when two individuals wearing Afghan National Security Forces’ uniforms shot them in eastern Afghanistan today.”<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.khaama.com/individuals-in-afghan-army-uniform-kill-2-nato-soldiers-2780">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Two U.S. Soldiers Killed By An Insider Attack In Afghanistan</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/afghanistan-attack-idINDEEA1B0G720140212">Afghans in army uniform kill two foreign soldiers in east</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gqqav4svc_cW0lzRtFhWzK-CI_pw?docId=a8958b4f-4aae-40ce-b0f0-3551d108fbc0">Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghan 'insider attack'</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/2-us-troops-killed-in-insider-attack-in-east-afghanistan-1.267244">2 US troops killed in insider attack in east Afghanistan</a> -- Stars and Stripes<br /><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/two-american-soldiers-killed-gunmen-afghanistan-n28536">Two American Soldiers Killed By Gunmen in Afghanistan</a> -- NBC<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/12/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/">2 wearing Afghan security uniforms kill 2 coalition soldiers</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-02/13/c_126123846.htm">2 NATO soldiers killed by persons in Afghan military uniform</a> -- Xinhuanet<br /><a href="http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-nato-insider-attack/25262125.html">Two NATO Soldiers Killed In Apparent Afghan Insider Attack </a>-- Radio Free Europe

Two U.S. Soldiers Killed By An Insider Attack In Afghanistan

Individuals In Afghan Army Uniform Kills 2 NATO Soldiers -- Khaama Press At least two NATO soldiers were killed following a suspected inside...

How to Deal With Flappy Bird's Demise (BLOG)

5:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSs-QYdNTmeWkYngNjyfSNzV5s33tMunpLmjmlEB3PbU-uX9CILS9XDBgALOM1scispiA4JYGtN4UWbp0HPKNOBKyUqQIXyi3Uet9DX7wq2d7eC71yq0Kd2Ds_G6G3VsrJxuSUs5BnHU/s1600/GTY_flappy_bird_tk_140210_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSs-QYdNTmeWkYngNjyfSNzV5s33tMunpLmjmlEB3PbU-uX9CILS9XDBgALOM1scispiA4JYGtN4UWbp0HPKNOBKyUqQIXyi3Uet9DX7wq2d7eC71yq0Kd2Ds_G6G3VsrJxuSUs5BnHU/s1600/GTY_flappy_bird_tk_140210_16x9_992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76000" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">On Feb. 8, Dong Nguyen announced that he would be<a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2014/02/flappy-bird-app-grounded-by-creator/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76025" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="internal">removing his hit game Flappy Bird</a> from both the iOS and Android app stores, saying that the success of the game is<a data-rapid_p="10" href="https://twitter.com/dongatory/statuses/430756876582535168" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76015" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="external">something he never wanted</a>. Some fans of the game took it personally, replying that they would either <a data-rapid_p="11" href="https://twitter.com/EliLanger/timelines/432588181611892736" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76059" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="external">kill Nguyen or kill themselves</a> if he followed through with his decision.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76101" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Frank Lantz, the director of the New York University Game Center, said that Nguyen's meltdown resembles how some actors or musicians behave. "People like that can go a little bonkers after being exposed to this kind of interest and attention," he told ABC News. "Especially when there's a healthy dose of Internet trolls."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Nguyen did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76111" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Unlike other popular smartphone games like <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://abcnews.go.com/topics/entertainment/video-games/angry-birds.htm" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="internal">Angry Birds</a> and<a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/candy-crush-saga-millions-stop-crushing-candy-facebook/story?id=19314358" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="internal">Candy Crush Saga</a>, Flappy Bird's gameplay is as basic as it gets. Players tap their screens to make the bird flap and help navigate through an endless series of green pipes. "It's absurdly hard and there's nothing to unlock," said Lantz. "It's raw and simple and it shouldn't work, but it did."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Charles Pratt, an assistant arts professor who also works at the NYU Game Center, said that Flappy Bird's impact will still be felt in the mobile gaming world, even if developers aren't conscious of it. "A lot of people played a lot of Flappy Bird, much longer than just downloading it as a joke," he said. "You're going to see a newer crop of games that are brutally difficult where you score very low."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">For those unable to download the game but want to see what the big deal is, there are a couple of Flappy Bird alternatives out there, some quite literal while others capturing the game's spirit.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><strong>Ironpants:</strong> This free game from developer Eduardas Klenauskis sticks with the core concept of Flappy Bird but replaces the bird with a superhero. Players can continuously press the screen to raise Ironpants up in the air, while Flappy Bird required repeated presses to stay afloat. However, Klenauskis' game is significantly faster than Flappy Bird, which may frustrate players even more than Nguyen's game.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76115" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><strong>Flappy Jam:</strong> No, you're not going to be controlling an airborne jar of Smuckers. The jam, in this case, is more like a jam session, where indie game designers quickly make games that take the core concepts behind Flappy Bird and give their own personal spin. Several games are hosted <a data-rapid_p="14" href="http://www.flappyjam.com/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="external">on the website</a>, including a version that features the popular Internet meme <a data-rapid_p="15" href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bitcoin-alternative-dogecoin-hacked-21-million-coins-stolen/story?id=21342612" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="internal">Doge</a>.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_76134" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><strong>Super Hexagon:</strong> If you want the difficulty of Flappy Bird but in a vastly different format, Terry Cavanaugh's game might be right up their alley. Players are put in charge of a small triangle and quickly dart left and right to dodge a never-ending series of walls. Super Hexagon is not a free download, but unlike Flappy Bird, the game offers multiple difficulties with more complex mazes.</div>

How to Deal With Flappy Bird's Demise (BLOG)

On Feb. 8, Dong Nguyen announced that he would be removing his hit game Flappy Bird from both the iOS and Android app stores, saying that t...

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 12, 2014

4:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YOil6Yh25_E" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pakistan Kneels To The Taliban -- Myra MacDonald, War On The Rocks </b></span></div><br />Pakistan has been in a state of perpetual crisis for so long that it can be easy to miss the periodic lurches that bring it closer to state collapse. One such step-change is underway now, triggered by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s decision to hold talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).  Even for a country that has history of pulling itself back from the brink, this particular lurch downwards is one of the more alarming in years.<br /><br />At issue is not the talks per se, but the form they are taking, which is legitimising and emboldening the TTP. It is also the context. Sharif’s approach to the talks has raised suspicions that he is interested only in protecting Punjab, Pakistan’s biggest province and his political heartland. That in turn has exacerbated ethnic divisions, undermining further the authority and the integrity of the state. The TTP and their allies – who are demanding the imposition of their form of sharia across Pakistan – are positioning themselves to fill the vacuum.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://warontherocks.com/2014/02/pakistan-kneels-to-the-taliban/">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/syria-39-homs-evacuee-tells-life-under-siege-193324080.html">Syria's Homs: Evacuee tells of life under siege</a> -- Diaa Hadid, AP<br /><br /><a href="http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2014/02/10/the-bitter-results-of-middle-east-failure/">The bitter results of Middle East failure</a> -- Adm. James "Ace" Lyons (Ret.), Center For Security Policy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/02/hamid-karzai-afghanistan-103330.html?ml=m_t2_2h#.UvwAKYW0ykN">What Is Hamid Karzai Thinking?</a> -- Peter Tomsen, Politico<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/12/217913/hostilities-seen-as-unlikely-between.html">Hostilities seen as unlikely between China, Taiwan; agreement, too</a> -- Stuart Leavenworth, McClatchy<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2014/0212/Rival-Koreas-are-talking-again.-What-are-they-saying">Rival Koreas are talking again. What are they saying?</a> -- Donald Kirk, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-japan-china-pr-idUSBREA1B24520140212">Japan on backfoot in global PR war with China after Abe shrine visit </a>-- Linda Sieg and Ben Blanchard, Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/ian-bremmer/2014/02/11/is-the-china-japan-relationship-at-its-worst/">Is the China-Japan relationship ‘at its worst’?</a> -- Ian Bremmer, Reuters<br /><br /><a href="http://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2014/02/12/obama_turns_a_blind_eye_to_the_russian_rogue_state_110285.html">Obama Turns a Blind Eye to the Russian Rogue State</a> -- Rebeccah Heinrichs, Real Clear World<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/178344/distorting-russia#">Distorting Russia: How the American media misrepresent Putin, Sochi and Ukraine.</a> -- Stephen F. Cohen, The Nation<br /><br /><a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/yanukovych-waffles-as-ukraine-protests-continue-a-952586.html">Dithering in Kiev: Russia Begins to Lose Patience with Ukraine</a> -- Christian Neef, Spiegel Online<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/comment/poll-shock-as-swiss-vote-to-slam-the-door-shut-20140210-32cpx.html">Poll shock as Swiss vote to slam the door shut </a>-- Peter Hartcher, Sydney Morning Herald<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0212/How-Greece-s-economic-crisis-filled-the-Athens-sky-with-smog">How Greece's economic crisis filled the Athens sky with smog</a> -- Nikolia Apostolou, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ad524ca8-9031-11e3-a776-00144feab7de.html#axzz2t16M2Tgm">The Threat of Another Euro Crisis</a> -- Gideon Rachman, Financial Times<br /><br /><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2014/02/12/press-freedom-index-dose-of-reality/#more-841531">Press Freedom Index Dose of Reality </a>-- Michael Rubin, Commentary<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/10/orwell-hero-terrorism-syria-british-fighters-damned">Orwell was hailed a hero for fighting in Spain. Today he'd be guilty of terrorism</a> -- George Monbiot, The Guardian

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 12, 2014

Pakistan Kneels To The Taliban -- Myra MacDonald, War On The Rocks Pakistan has been in a state of perpetual crisis for so long that it can ...

This Plant Makes Music! (BLOG)

4:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc2GAIj-oy5yIw8OBSQioQzDt1aUL7eE4f7Gc0qc-iPWp4MqLblbJi_psA0HhFgU88XR3GGZEg7bT09khpH8kKz9SqjSgzsFbILrYZhUlsV73hqpJ8Cd9hoQYnQ-tYQPQN8NIxE3Iwow/s1600/botanicus-sliding-gesture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc2GAIj-oy5yIw8OBSQioQzDt1aUL7eE4f7Gc0qc-iPWp4MqLblbJi_psA0HhFgU88XR3GGZEg7bT09khpH8kKz9SqjSgzsFbILrYZhUlsV73hqpJ8Cd9hoQYnQ-tYQPQN8NIxE3Iwow/s1600/botanicus-sliding-gesture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62776" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The Magic Kingdom is synonymous with Walt Disney World, but that name could easily stand in for Disney Research Pittsburgh, a Disney-owned research facility in -- you guessed it -- Pittsburgh.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62815" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">To see why, look no further than one of the lab’s latest creations: a musical plant.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62825" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Called the “Botanicus Interacticus,” this sonorous plant emits a harp-like melody when its petals are touched. How? By placing an electrode in the plant’s soil, engineers can map a hundred different frequencies around the plant.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62835" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">When someone sweeps those frequencies by touching the plant, a computer connected to the electrode registers the touch and translates it into musical notes that play out from a speaker. This would also work on any conductive object, including a human being.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62845" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Music just seemed like an appropriate output for this technology, explained Jessica Hodgins, Disney Lab Pittsburgh’s director: “It could be be triggering computer graphics, a light show, or any other kind of signal.”</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62855" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Hodgins shrouded the lab’s mission in secrecy. She would only divulge that they conduct R&D for Disney’s amusement parks and its consumer products. Full disclosure: ABC News is owned by the Walt Disney Company.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62888" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Regardless of its eventual use, the musical plan demands to be heard now. Watch the video above to hear its beautiful melodies. What would you play on its petals?</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62888" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><br /></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_62888" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">VIDEO: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/plant-makes-music-003803746.html</div>

This Plant Makes Music! (BLOG)

The Magic Kingdom is synonymous with Walt Disney World, but that name could easily stand in for Disney Research Pittsburgh, a Disney-owned r...

World News Briefs -- February 12, 2014 (Evening Edition)

3:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LkDj5X22Y9M" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fighting Rages In Syria Despite Peace Talks -- Al Jazeera</b></span></div><br />Warplanes pound rebel-held town amid reports of death toll peaking on the ground as Geneva talks continue.<br /><br />Syrian warplanes have pounded a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, as peace talks between the government and opposition continued in Geneva.<br /><br />The talks have been accompanied by a sharp rise in violence on the ground in Syria. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that at least 4,959 people had died in Syria in the three-week period since January 22, when the first round of talks began in Switzerland.<br /><br />The group, which documents the fighting on the ground through a wide network of activists, say the period has seen the highest death toll since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad started in March 2011.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/fighting-rages-syria-despite-peace-talks-201421215161928169.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Syrians die at record rate as leaders talk: <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-syria-crisis-toll-idUSBREA1B19720140212">activist group</a></b>.<br /><br />Diplomacy is failing in Syria, <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/diplomacy-is-failing-in-syria-obama-acknowledges/2014/02/11/822065e6-935c-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html">Obama acknowledges</a></b>.<br /><br />Syrian planes pound rebel town <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/syrian-planes-pound-rebel-town-near-lebanon-border-1.267201">near Lebanon border</a></b>.<br /><br />UN resumes evacuations <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/evacuation-from-syria-homs-set-resume-201421282113173158.html">from Syria's Homs</a></b>.<br /><br />Obama: Russia to blame if <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140211/DEFREG02/302110030/Obama-Russia-Blame-UN-Homs-Resolution-Fails">UN Homs resolution fails.</a></b><br /><br />Syria, al Qaeda: U.S. officials <b><a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/11/syria-al-qaeda-u-s-officials-offer-grim-assessment/">offer grim assessment</a></b>.<br /><br />Bombs kill at least 17 across Iraq: <b><a href="http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Feb-12/247140-bombings-kill-10-in-iraq.ashx#axzz2sxRrfc9B">police and medics</a></b>.<br /><br />Violence in Iraq's Anbar province <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26150727">'displaces 300,000'</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran: We’re ready for ‘decisive battle’ <b><a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-were-ready-for-decisive-battle-with-israel-us/">with Israel, US</a></b>.<br /><br />Lebanon arrests top <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/lebanon-arrests-top-al-qaeda-linked-fighter-201421212285696407.html">al-Qaeda linked fighter</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />NATO expresses concern over <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-italy-india-marines-nato-idUSBREA1B1DU20140212">Italian marines' case in India</a></b>.<br /><br />Pakistan pressed over <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/02/pakistan-pressed-over-missing-drone-activist-201421213182789530.html">missing drone activist.</a></b><br /><br />Kerry to take harder U.S. line on <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-harder-u-line-asia-maritime-disputes-china-162851329.html">Asia maritime disputes to China</a></b>.<br /><br />Philippines recovers $29 million <b><a href="http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/02/12/3472503/philippines-recovers-29-million.html">from Marcos' Swiss accounts</a></b>.<br /><br />US military condemns Afghan decision<b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/12/us-military-condemns-afghan-decision-to-release-dangerous-detainees/?intcmp=latestnews"> to release 'dangerous' detainees</a></b>.<br /><br />Koreas hold rare talks<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/02/koreas-hold-talks-boost-tense-relations-20142124459552869.html"> to ease tensions</a></b>.<br /><br />Gunmen kill nine at Pakistani policeman's home <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-pakistan-attack-idUSBREA1B0D320140212">as peace talks proceed</a></b>.<br /><br />Afghanistan halts suspected reconstruction <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-afghanistan-buddhas-idUSBREA1B13J20140212">of ancient Buddhas.</a></b><br /><br />China trade surplus<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26148707"> jumps to $32bn</a></b>.<br /><br />US promises to reduce burden of <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/us-promises-reduce-military-okinawa-airbase-futenma">military presence in Okinawa</a></b>.<br /><br />Time running out for aging former<b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/time-running-out-for-aging-former-comfort-women-of-south-korea-1.267128"> 'comfort women' of South Korea</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Boko Haram gunmen attack <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/boko-haram-attack-nigeria-kills-39-175700892.html">Nigeria villages, kill 43</a></b>.<br /><br />Retired Algeria general urges <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/retired-algeria-general-urges-bouteflika-step-down-202553329.html">Bouteflika to step down</a></b>.<br /><br />Mass grave found in Central African Republic, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-central-african-idUSBREA1B18S20140212">U.N. warns of 'cleansing'</a></b>. UN chief warns CAR <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/un-chief-warns-car-could-break-up-201421243833672163.html">could break up</a></b>. Central African Republic: <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26150668">'Ethnic cleansing' of Muslims.</a></b><br /><br />Algeria mourns dozens killed <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26148125">in military plane crash</a></b>.<br /><br />Kenya charges 70 with being <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-kenya-violence-idUSBREA1B15F20140212">members of al Shabaab</a></b>.<br /><br />Ethnic power-sharing under threat in Burundi, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-burundi-crisis-idUSBREA1B0US20140212">says party</a></b>.<br /><br />Libyan TV station hit <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-libya-attack-idUSBREA1B11Q20140212">with grenades: journalists</a></b>.<br /><br />South Africa police clash with ANC supporters <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-safrica-march-idUSBREA1B1B020140212">at opposition march</a></b>.<br /><br />Mohamed Morsi calls protests 'useless' and says next Egyptian president <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/mohamed-morsi-protests-useless-president-coup-prison">could face coup</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 />With Olympian pride, Russia asks teachers <b><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2014/0212/With-Olympian-pride-Russia-asks-teachers-to-ease-up-on-homework">to ease up on homework</a></b>.<br /><br />French leader lands in California<b><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-02-12/french-leader-visits-silicon-valley-to-talk-tech"> for tech talks</a></b>.<br /><br />Judge who sentenced protesters <b><a href="http://en.ria.ru/world/20140212/187460252/Judge-Who-Sentenced-Protesters-Shot-Dead-in-Ukraine.html">shot dead in Ukraine</a></b>.<br /><br />Italy PM Letta in battle for survival<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26152220"> with Matteo Renzi</a></b>.<br /><br />Spain moves to curb legal convention allowing trials <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/11/spain-end-judges-trials-foreign-human-rights-abuses">of foreign rights abuses.</a></b><br /><br />British court OKs investigation into assassination <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/11/british-court-cites-evidence-russia-was-involved-l/">of Russian ex-spy Litvinenko</a></b>.<br /><br />Swiss govt will draft law on immigration curbs <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/swiss-immigration-idUSL5N0LH2KO20140212">by year-end</a></b>.<br /><br />EU to approve new GM crop, ignoring <b><a href="http://rt.com/news/eu-approve-gm-crop-608/">majority members’ opposition</a></b>.<br /><br />UK storms: Met Office issues <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26153889">'Red Warning' for wind</a></b>.<br /><br />Edward Snowden asylum demand dropped <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/edward-snowden-nsa-asylum-demand-european-parliament">by European parliament</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />U.S. Congress approves debt limit hike <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-usa-fiscal-senate-idUSBREA1B1RB20140212">after Senate drama.</a></b><br /><br />Venezuelan anti-government protests <b><a href="http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Venezuelan-anti-government-protests-turn-violent-5227738.php">turn violent</a></b>. More arrests in Venezuela protests,<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/11/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1A19420140211"> Maduro slams 'coup-seekers'</a></b>.<br /><br />Ex-rebel leads in El Salvador presidential <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-el-salvador-election-idUSBREA1B24S20140212">run-off: poll.</a></b><br /><br />Panama says freed North Korean ship <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/panama-says-freed-north-korean-ship-sail-later-193250335--sector.html">to sail later Wednesday</a></b>.<br /><br />Panama canal near deal on lock gates delivery, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-sacyr-panama-financing-idUSBREA1B1GM20140212">new money pending: source.</a></b><br /><br />Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/12/jury-reaches-verdict-in-ex-new-orleans-mayor-nagin-bribery-case/">found guilty of corruption</a></b>.<br /><br />Thousands of flights canceled as 'catastrophic' storm <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2014/02/12/millions-in-south-brace-for-potentially-catastrophic-winter-storm/">slams into U.S. South</a></b>.<br /><br />Francois Hollande honoured <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26148561">at US state dinner</a></b>.<br /><br />Budget forces Canadian military to stow equipment shopping list <b><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/budget-forces-canadian-military-to-stow-equipment-shopping-list-until-2016-1.1681338">until 2016.</a></b><br /><br />Colombian president seen poised for <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-colombia-election-poll-idUSBREA1B10W20140212">re-election: poll</a></b>.<br /><br />'Brazil is not a civilized country' says the country's<b><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/andersonantunes/2014/02/10/brazil-is-not-a-civilized-country-says-the-countrys-most-controversial-news-anchor/"> most controversial news anchor</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexican drug lord: <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/06/world/americas/mexican-drug-lord-mansion/">Inside his abandoned mansion.</a></b><br /><br />Castaway turned celebrity Alvarenga returns<b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/11/world/americas/castaway-comes-home/"> to native El Salvador</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />U.S. mulls drone strike on <b><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-mulls-drone-strike-on-america-al-qaeda-suspect-in-pakistan/">American al Qaeda suspect in Pakistan</a></b>.<br /><br />Nov. 3 trial date is 'fair' for Boston Marathon bomb suspect,<b><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2014/0212/Nov.-3-trial-date-is-fair-for-Boston-Marathon-bomb-suspect-judge-says"> judge says</a></b>.<br /><br />Official: Core Al Qaeda may now view Syria <b><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-strategy/198129-official-core-al-qaeda-may-now-view-syria-as-primary">as primary battlefield</a></b>.<br /><br />Court OKs Guantánamo <b><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/198096-court-rejects-guantanamo-hunger-strikers-appeal-but-leaves-opening">force-feeding detainees</a></b>.<br /><br />U.S. sets conditions for lawyers to <b><a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/12/us-sets-conditions-for-lawyers-to-interview-911-ma/">interview 9/11 mastermind</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />Microsoft denies global censorship<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-microsoft-bing-censorship-idUSBREA1B0CP20140212"> of China-related searches</a></b>.<br /><br />Toyota to recall <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26148711">1.9 million Prius hybrids</a></b>.<br /><br />Bitcoin hit by denial of service attacks<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-usa-bitcoin-idUSBREA1A20X20140212"> as regulators prepare clampdown</a></b>.<br /><br />OPEC sees <b><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304888404579378570315535340?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304888404579378570315535340.html">oil demand rising.</a></b>

World News Briefs -- February 12, 2014 (Evening Edition)

Fighting Rages In Syria Despite Peace Talks -- Al Jazeera Warplanes pound rebel-held town amid reports of death toll peaking on the ground a...

Obama’s state dinners cost how much? (BLOG)

3:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuiNddV9SMseSomrmz1VBOnij9_7d-juLZSP7YDw4vfLag6ZN2LmAwm7IuCPeDsrnhCUfSldDqeLguDman8-IxN6SgcgT2jhRQKFemzSlZSe8nI-NJxGwXTlSjj4WvOgGvLVJ7swoZT0/s1600/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuiNddV9SMseSomrmz1VBOnij9_7d-juLZSP7YDw4vfLag6ZN2LmAwm7IuCPeDsrnhCUfSldDqeLguDman8-IxN6SgcgT2jhRQKFemzSlZSe8nI-NJxGwXTlSjj4WvOgGvLVJ7swoZT0/s1600/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_51196" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">President Barack Obama and visiting French President Francois Hollande will be joined by more than 300 notable guests in a tentlike heated pavilion on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday for a dinner whose menu includes caviar, rib-eye steak, chocolate cake and cotton candy.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_51221" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Here’s what Knoller squeezed out of the State Department’s Office of Protocol 13 months after submitting a Freedom of Information request:Who picks up the tab? Taxpayers, sure, but specifically a special fund overseen by the U.S. State Department’s chief of protocol. Now, <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-do-state-dinners-cost-they-aint-cheap/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_51230" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">thanks to Mark Knoller of CBS News</a>, the peerless White House press corps' authority on presidential data<strong>, </strong>we for the first time have a sense of just how much such dinners cost.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The 300-guest November 2009 <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/2009/november/state-dinner-press-preview.pdf" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh</a> — best remembered for Michaele and Tariq Salahi’s ability to crash the party — cost $572,187.36.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">It was the president’s first state dinner and also the most expensive of the five state or official dinners Obama has given about which costs are now known. (The cost of the March 2012 dinner for British Prime Minister David Cameron remains shrouded in mystery, and the Hollande dinner was arranged after CBS made its request for the information.)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The least expensive state dinner was the October 2011 one <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/13/south-korea-state-dinner-what-s-menu" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak</a>, which cost $203,053.34 to entertain more than 220 guests.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The cost of state dinners — like the price tag for presidential vacations — is a frequent target of partisan criticism, usually under the guise of high-minded cost-cutting. But like embassy security, which often feels the slash of the congressional budget ax, the dinners amount to a drop in the bucket of federal spending, and partisans quickly forget their concerns when their party holds the White House.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Obama frequently draws inside-the-Beltway criticism according to which he does not do enough to schmooze with lawmakers. White House aides dismiss the charge, saying no amount of presidential cocktails and banter would win over Republicans.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_51279" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">When it comes to entertaining foreign heads of state or government, Obama’s total is in line with George W. Bush’s. Bush hosted just six state dinners over eight years. Bill Clinton? 23. George H.W. Bush hosted 21. And Ronald Reagan seemed to relish such events, hosting 35.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_51269" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The meals are often the most desirable invitation in Washington — and the guest lists are a blend of powerful D.C. figures and officials from the guest’s home country, celebrities, and campaign donors (and, later in a president’s term, folks who might open their wallets to fund a presidential library), as well as a small sprinkling of people from the media. The tradition dates to December 1874, when then-President Ulysses Grant hosted King David Kalakaua of Hawaii.</div>

Obama’s state dinners cost how much? (BLOG)

President Barack Obama and visiting French President Francois Hollande will be joined by more than 300 notable guests in a tentlike heated p...

NASA says it may have discovered flowing water on Mars (BLOG)

2:00 PM Anonymous 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmciy3scLULikLFB1Tz_-7CAtpzhyphenhyphenHO1qe9pFe8j-rqlEH_oLtZ2amwdliorM8XMRaOahZYn185ir2vo-uU2S9RkYl9G4RVxed5RigG8gQcSw2zdZRGlnqxUte03DIgXd87WT4HC_mdjQ/s1600/mm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmciy3scLULikLFB1Tz_-7CAtpzhyphenhyphenHO1qe9pFe8j-rqlEH_oLtZ2amwdliorM8XMRaOahZYn185ir2vo-uU2S9RkYl9G4RVxed5RigG8gQcSw2zdZRGlnqxUte03DIgXd87WT4HC_mdjQ/s1600/mm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45614" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory say new images from the <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-042" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45628" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">surface of Mars may hold evidence that flowing water exists</a> on the planet.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45646" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The potential discovery is noteworthy, since scientists have held on to the possibility of traces of water existing under the surface of Mars but had almost written off the <a data-rapid_p="12" href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2014/02/10/nasa-finds-clues-that-theres-flowing-water-on-mars/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">possibility of flowing water still existing on the planet’s surface</a>.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45656" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Orbiting spacecraft captured the imagery, which appears to show liquid flowing down a slope on the planet’s surface during a seasonal change in which surface temperatures rise.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45666" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">“We still don't have a smoking gun for existence of water in RSL, although we're not sure how this process would take place without water," said Lujendra Ojha, lead author of the new report and a graduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. RSL refers to recurring slope lineae, the techincal term for the potential water flow.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45676" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">“The flow of water, even briny water, anywhere on Mars today would be a major discovery, impacting our understanding of present climate change on Mars and possibly indicating potential habitats for life near the surface on modern Mars," said JPL’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter project scientist <a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Zurek/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Richard Zurek</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">In theory, that could mean previously frozen water was temporarily melting and moving downward.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45836" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">But even “warm” temperatures on the red planet’s surface are still well below freezing. So, how could water move at all?</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45752" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">NASA says iron-rich minerals on the planet’s surface, such as ferric sulfate, could act as a sort of antifreeze, allowing water to remain liquid despite freezing temperatures.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45767" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The potential finding follows a <a data-rapid_p="14" href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/10/tech/innovation/mars-water-flows/" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45776" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">2011 study from Ojha that first pointed to potential saltwater flows</a> on the planet’s surface. In his new paper, Ojha said the water flows appear to continue for about two months' time.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45787" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The results were published in the latest issue of the journal <a data-rapid_p="15" href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291944-8007/issues" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Geophysical Research Letters</a>.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45797" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45808"><a data-rapid_p="16" href="https://twitter.com/ericpfeiffer" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392198034882_45819" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Follow Eric Pfeiffer on Twitter</a>.</em></div>

NASA says it may have discovered flowing water on Mars (BLOG)

Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory say new images from the surface of Mars may hold evidence that flowing water exists on the ...

ZIRP: Great Depression vs. Great Recession

1:05 PM Tukiyooo 0

The following chart compares the 3-month treasury bill yield in the aftermath of the Great Depression to the  3-month treasury bill yield in the aftermath of the Great Recession.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSNb8ShMxqCcUdzyoFDQkUa9Sld2sJF71vSLLARgBgP773c0aRql-xu9kx2PR_K_znebc_MSKDKOf6LNRB5kJrAl1I6bSmFuFvdOficPGbN0X7enYbKjKadfqJlm1BvGNAt3cNlf2Dx4/s1600/ZIRP+-+Great+Depression+vs.+Great+Recession.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSNb8ShMxqCcUdzyoFDQkUa9Sld2sJF71vSLLARgBgP773c0aRql-xu9kx2PR_K_znebc_MSKDKOf6LNRB5kJrAl1I6bSmFuFvdOficPGbN0X7enYbKjKadfqJlm1BvGNAt3cNlf2Dx4/s320/ZIRP+-+Great+Depression+vs.+Great+Recession.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />For the record, I am not predicting World War III (nor would I expect it to even remotely solve our long-term ZIRP problem as effectively as World War II did).<br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><i>I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.</i> - Albert Einstein</div><br />I think you can see why I might be fond of ultra long-term inflation protected treasuries and I-Bonds. You might also understand why I might be somewhat skeptical of rising interest rate theories.<br /><br />I believe we are trapped in ZIRP much like Japan has been since their housing bubble popped in the early 1990s (which will become all too apparent when the next recession hits, whenever that is).<br /><br />We might temporarily escape from our padded cell at some point, but we'll never get the straight-jacket off, much less get past the search lights, the dogs, the barbed wire fences, and Janet Yellen, our trusted <a href="http://youtu.be/34ag4nkSh7Q">security guard</a>. That's just asking too much, lol. Sigh.<br /><br />Gallows humor.<br /><br /><b>February 11, 2014</b><br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-11/janet-yellen-to-emerging-markets-good-luck.html">Janet Yellen to Emerging Markets: Good Luck</a><br /><br /><div style="color: red;"><i>Monetary policy is hard enough without having to worry about the spillover effects to other countries that should take care of themselves.</i></div><br />Contrary to the opinion of those who think the stock market continues to go up easily from here and that vast riches await those willing to swing for the fences at any price, monetary policy is hard. For what it is worth, that's what I'm reading into what she has to say anyway.<br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/TB3MS">St. Louis Fed: 3-Month Treasury Bill: Secondary Market Rate</a><br /><a href="http://www.nber.org/cycles.html">NBER: US Business Cycle Expansions and Contractions</a>

ZIRP: Great Depression vs. Great Recession

The following chart compares the 3-month treasury bill yield in the aftermath of the Great Depression to the 3-month treasury bill yield in...

CISCO: The Internet of Everything

1:01 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>CSCO </b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPcGRXmYg8EnN-vxFoZosAB1pcIur5iCp6wYXvjATEbb6HBocWTa49UwEghs-x2ou82IMa8UyZed6hrdH-ETrfzfuVkRhE0CWXJav3IrSGzmaW98wizSDmJcs9KFw3p9fKFiuf2eJatI/s1600/CISCOlogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPcGRXmYg8EnN-vxFoZosAB1pcIur5iCp6wYXvjATEbb6HBocWTa49UwEghs-x2ou82IMa8UyZed6hrdH-ETrfzfuVkRhE0CWXJav3IrSGzmaW98wizSDmJcs9KFw3p9fKFiuf2eJatI/s1600/CISCOlogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/will-the-real-cisco-please-stand-up-2014-02-11" style="color: red;">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/will-the-real-cisco-please-stand-up-2014-02-11</a> </b><br /><br /><b>What happened to "the internet of everything" company that has all these commercials about the whole world uniting together with transhumanism technology?</b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-internet-of-everything.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-internet-of-everything.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/expanding-social-media-and-internet-of.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/01/expanding-social-media-and-internet-of.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>Is this a SLEEPING GIANT? </b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /> <br /><div align="center" width="100%"><iframe frameborder="0" height="390" scrolling="no" src="http://widgets.freestockcharts.com/WidgetServer/InteractiveChartWidget.aspx?guid=1195c1fc-77ab-4d74-ba6f-10d85d2efb0b&w=500&h=390" style="border: none;" width="500"></iframe></div></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4U2WsS9WLk8?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5Jxo7AGZmMw?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><b>...developing...</b>

CISCO: The Internet of Everything

CSCO http://www.marketwatch.com/story/will-the-real-cisco-please-stand-up-2014-02-11 What happened to "the internet of everything&quo...

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ZIRP: Great Depression vs. Great Recession

CISCO: The Internet of Everything

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