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Muthanna chemical weapons facility liberated from ISIS control
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 3: Non-WoT
15 23:32 Redneck Jim [3] 
1 22:47 JosephMendiola [4] 
9 20:26 KBK [3] 
6 22:14 Skidmark [3] 
5 22:29 Skidmark [7] 
2 14:04 Besoeker [7] 
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2 02:44 g(r)omgoru [3] 
4 10:31 Skidmark [4] 
4 11:45 chris [2] 
2 14:40 USN, Ret. [4] 
3 14:07 g(r)omgoru [2] 
7 22:31 Skidmark [5] 
4 17:22 Bright Pebbles [3] 
11 20:11 Angie Schultz [2] 
3 14:04 airandee [1] 
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9 22:22 USN, Ret. [2]
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3 00:22 Gomez Lumumba3484 [2]
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2 22:53 Beldar Angavilet5011 [3]
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3 22:19 rjschwarz [3]
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1 14:07 ed in texas [5]
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4 14:11 davemac [3]
12 22:24 Besoeker [5]
Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
7 22:52 JosephMendiola [4]
20 22:38 Zenobia Floger6220 [3]
7 13:00 swksvolFF [1]
5 14:37 bman [2]
3 09:12 CrazyFool [3]
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Beheading in Long Island
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  that is so sad. Poor lady. Sounds like she really was a valued and productive member of society. Shame her son was a crazy drug addict - shocking when children kill their parents and it happens quite a bit. What an awful, disrespectful thing to do.

Glad he's dead.

Sometimes parents of kids with terrible mental problems truly are better putting them in care of professionals.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:31 Comments || Top||

#2  I have to say the name "Patricia Ward" sounds awfully familiar to me - IMO I may had met her a long time ago, but I'm rusty on the specific details or circumstances.

Trying to remember ...
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/30/2014 2:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Sometimes parents of kids with terrible mental problems truly are better putting them in care of professionals.

The insane asylums were closed when Ronald Reagan was president, anon1. Nowadays the choices are living with the troubled offspring until something like this happens, throwing them out and hoping they're together enough to live in a cardboard box under a bridge, or being the one who survived the final incident that put the offspring on the prison psych ward for life.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/30/2014 3:16 Comments || Top||

#4  The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut is a case study in TW's comment at #3.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 3:36 Comments || Top||

#5  TW, IIRC the 'deinstitutionalization' was begun well before Reagan when the judiciary established a progressive program to 'force' America to treat the mentally handicapped by recognizing 'rights' of those 'non compos mentis' to be free to wander the communities. The judiciary was trying to address the problems with the state institutional systems as portrayed in Titicut Follies. The progressives thought with the potential threat in their presence the community would fund programs rather than abandon the unfortunates. Didn't work out that way.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 8:56 Comments || Top||

#6  The interesting component is about how the media and ISIL have made this action a social statement practice. Cutting through tough neck and spine connective tissue to remove a head is hard work.

A splash of gasoline in an elevator is a lot easier and more horrifying for the victim, but apparently not as rewarding to the perp or the media.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 9:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Oh dear TW what a horrible set of options. It's the same in Australia, in the 1980s they shut all the institutions.

To be fair there was a lot of abuse, electric shock "therapy", psycho wardens raping helpless inmates.

It seems we are incapable of institutionalising the weak without predating/abusing

but when we let them out they cannot function

so what to do?

I think that's interesting too, Skidmark... that beheading has seeped into the national consciousness now the insane do it as a statement.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 10:53 Comments || Top||

#8  Here is a good explanation of why and when mental institutions were closed.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 10/30/2014 12:32 Comments || Top||

#9  Thank you for correcting my timing and expanding on it, Procopius2k and Deacon Blues. I'm always glad to know more about something about which I know less.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/30/2014 15:53 Comments || Top||

#10  In an earlier career, I worked in a state mental health department in the early 1970s and the movement away from deinstitutionalization and towards community-based mental health programs was well underway.
Posted by: JohnQC || 10/30/2014 18:26 Comments || Top||

#11  From DB's link:

Dr. M. Brewster Smith...said the commission took the direction it did because of ''the sort of overselling that happens in almost every interchange between science and government.''

Ya don't say. The article is well worth reading for the mea culpas, and the unlearned lessons.

Molly Ivins always blamed Republicans (of course) for not funding the "community" mental health centers that were supposed to treat the de-institutionalized mentally ill. But I never understood why crazy people who didn't think they were crazy would allow themselves to be treated at local facilities, either. And with no power to force them to get treated, we'd pretty much have the situation we have today, anyway.
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 10/30/2014 20:11 Comments || Top||


Bay Area tech company caught paying imported workers $1.21 per hour
The Fair Labor Standards Act has been on the books since 1938. Hard to see other than a criminal act to brush away with lines like "We unintentionally overlooked laws that require even foreign employees to be paid based on local US standards." This is the tech industry funding and pushing the amnesty agenda. This should have been handled with a RICO action rather than a simple labor law violation due to the blatant disregard of the FLSA. Lesson applied once again, be a big donor to avoid the consequences of your acts.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  WTF, work 4 Hours and you get a gallon of gas, work another 4 hours and your get a loaf of bread, maybe.

This is Pelosi's district isn't it ?
Posted by: Gomez Lumumba3484 || 10/30/2014 0:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Old story.
Contract with a consulting firm staffed by low pay H1b asians for a high fee, wash the fee and kick it back. The low pay to staffers is a contract between them and the consulting firm and legally separable (i.e. invisible). FLSA does not apply to code whores.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 9:37 Comments || Top||

#3  do not tell those IT guys but they can travel to Mexico, buy a sombrero and walk into the US and earn 8 times that rate. Plus many many perks, benefits and just a few more weeks to amnesty.
Posted by: airandee || 10/30/2014 14:04 Comments || Top||


-Obits-
Zambian cabinet confirms death of President Michael Sata
[Xinhua] Zambian President Michael Sata has died of undisclosed illness in London after medical check-up, the Zambian government said on Wednesday.

Sata, who flew to London on Oct. 20 for medical check-up, died at around 2300 GMT at London's King Edward VII Hospital after months of speculations on his health, according to Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska.

"However,
ars longa, vita brevis...
it is with a very heavy heart that I address you today to inform the nation that our beloved president and leader, His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, has passed on," Msiska said to the public via state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
and radio.

The first lady Christine Kaseba-Sata, their son Lusaka Mulenga Sata and others were present at the bed side when the president passed on.
Posted by: Fred || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Lead poisoning?

Fractured skull?

Separation of cranium from torso?

Arsenic?
Posted by: Mystic || 10/30/2014 0:28 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
US attends Ebola meeting in Cuba.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 07:06 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  On a separate note, I have to wonder how the Bammer's effort to improve Puerto Rico's failed-or-failing Lefty economy is doing.

Ala OWG Caribbean andor Central American Union + post-Uncles Fidel, Raul Cuba???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/30/2014 22:47 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
NY Post: Ebola Outbreak’s Patient Zero Was A 2-Year-Old From Guinea
Not important at this stage of the proceedings, but good to know. Well done, guys!
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  two-year-olds... germ factories! Slobber and dribble, put stuff in their mouths, touch everything...

Poor little mite probably had a horrible end. Another one just caught a bus all through Mali...
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:28 Comments || Top||

#2  A toddler wouldn't be hunting for bush meat, nor would he be involved in butchering.

Perhaps he was bitten or scratched by an asymptomatic domesticated or semi-domesticated animal kept as a pet. Something like a small cute dog.

Hopefully the 'top men' will be looking into this.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 10/30/2014 5:08 Comments || Top||

#3  perhaps that is why they are euthanasing the dogs of ebola sufferers (eg the spanish nurse)
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 7:36 Comments || Top||

#4  You can get it from a monkey or bat bite as well.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 10/30/2014 14:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Bitten by a pet monkey?

I also thought a 2 year old as patient zero, a bit odd.
Posted by: phil_b || 10/30/2014 16:44 Comments || Top||

#6  See:
Islamic State Releases 25 Kidnapped Kurdish Children
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 22:14 Comments || Top||


Liberia: WHO says rate of new cases appears to be slowing
[Washington Post] World Health Organization officials on Wednesday said they see "glimmers of hope" in Liberia, the epicenter of the Ebola epidemic, with strong evidence that the rate of new cases is declining for the first time since the crisis began.

Bruce Aylward, the WHO's assistant director-general in charge of the operational response, said during a news conference in Geneva that he is both cautiously optimistic and terrified about the news.

"It's like saying your pet tiger is under control," Aylward said. "This is a very, very dangerous disease." He explained that "the danger now is that instead of a steady downward trend we end up with an oscillating trend where the virus goes up and down" because people let down their guard and areas that were becoming clear of the virus become reinfected.

Aylward said the recent decline in new cases "is real" and is confirmed not only by the scores of empty beds in many clinics, but also by a decrease in laboratory confirmed cases and in burials. As recently as a week ago, local officials expressed alarm that the virus was spreading exponentially. But Aylward said it appears that strategies such as tracing and monitoring those who had come into contact with Ebola patients, the adoption of safe burial practices and an aggressive public awareness campaign were working.
Posted by: Fred || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The "slowing" could be because of the missing data for 5 days in october

or because

*The marked increase in the cumulative total number of cases compared with the situation report of 22 October results from a more comprehensive assessment of patient databases. The additional 3792 cases have occurred throughout the epidemic period, not only since 22 October."

so WHO knows???

Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:25 Comments || Top||

#2  plus i forget which Rantburger said it, but some genius once said:

A whole heap of people with natural immunity will start appearing - who didn't get sick or only mildly.

Perhaps it will burn itself out and those left behind are naturally immune
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:37 Comments || Top||

#3  ...till it naturally mutates.

One of the effects of isolation is to reduce the extent of mutation by restricting it's exposure to as small of an environment as possible.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 9:03 Comments || Top||

#4  I anticipate a sudden surge in two weeks.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 10:31 Comments || Top||


WHO situation report with maps, death toll, hand out for $260 million
Astonishing. The WHO with a yearly budget of US$4.27 billion

which failed to jump on ebola when it was only in a Guinean village back in February.

Which consistently lobbied governments against travel restrictions even as the virus spread through 8 countries.

and which can't even give standardised reporting of new infection rates (that finished such as it was on August 27)

Has its hand out for US$230 million to 'combat ebola'

Visit the link for the situation update, it's got some cool maps and graphics.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This is the link JohnQC had in the comments thread. I posted this one before I saw it. It's well worth a look.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:26 Comments || Top||

#2  Believe I called this with psychic powers yesterday
Posted by: chris || 10/30/2014 7:22 Comments || Top||

#3  Chris you are a man who should buy yourself a lotto ticket, I recall you did indeed.

Get ready for the 3 best words in English:
You were right!
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 7:35 Comments || Top||

#4  Thanks anon1
Posted by: chris || 10/30/2014 11:45 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
2 alleged thieves lynched in Barisal
[Dhaka Tribune] Two alleged thieves have been beaten to death in Char Sharikal area under Gournadi upazila in Barisal yesterday.

The dear departed are Mohammad Modasser and Md Rafik of Alimabad village under Muladi upazila of the district.

Sharikal cop shoppe Assistant Sub-Inspector Sarwar Hossain said: "A group of thieves entered into the house of Kamrul Islam, a retired BDR personal, around 2:30am on Wednesday."

"Hearing the hues and cries of the residents, villagers rushed to the spot and chased the gang of thieves," he said.

Later, the nabbed them and beat them up mercilessly. They gave up the ghost when rushed to the hospital.
Posted by: Fred || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Britain
Cargo plane intercepted above North West Kent and escorted by RAF to Stansted Airport
A LATVIAN cargo plane has been intercepted by RAF typhoon fighters over South London, causing a "sonic boom" heard across the South East.

The RAF tweeted: "Typhoons launched to intercept a civil aircraft. It was safely escorted to Stansted. Our aircraft cleared supersonic during the scramble.

"Apologies if we startled you during the successful intercept this afternoon - we only go supersonic over land when absolutely necessary."

The jets had to be scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and were given special permission to go supersonic because the plane could not be contacted and was on its way to London, raising security fears.

It is understood the Russian-built plane did not contain anything that posed a security threat and the two jets have returned to Lincolnshire.

An RAF spokesman said: “I can confirm there was an aircraft in south London which lost contact with air traffic control.

“We launched some Typhoons from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and escorted the aircraft to safety.

“Our aircraft did indeed go supersonic which would explain the boom.”

Essex Police said: "Military jets were deployed on a precautionary basis when a Lithuian registered cargo plane was diverted to Stansted. This was due to a loss of communication with the aircraft.

"The aircraft landed safely at Stansted airport at around 5.20pm. All three people who were on board have been spoken to by police, it was established that everything was in order and reason for the short loss of communication was due to a change in airspace jurisdiction.

"Essex Police is not investigating the incident and the aircraft will be able to continue its journey to Birmingham when it is ready."

A spokesman from Stansted Airport confirmed a plane landed at 5.10pm but could not confirm it was escorted by the RAF although he said he 'understood' that was the case.

Social media users as far spread as Dartford, Wadhurst and Hertfordshire reported hearing the explosion around 4.44pm.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  think this might be one of the russian jets NATO intercepted today: no transponder, no flight plans, no contact with civilian air traffic control. very dangerous. See other post: NATO intercepted 19 Russian jets trespassing over EU airspace today
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 7:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Lucky they didn't shoot first and ask questions later.
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 10/30/2014 14:40 Comments || Top||


UK refuses to help North African migrants adrift in the Med
[Mail] Ministers are withdrawing support for rescue operations that save thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, amid fears traffickers use them as a ‘taxi service’.

In the past year around 150,000 people making the treacherous crossing from North Africa, many in ramshackle boats, have been picked up by the Italian navy.

But Britain, along with other EU countries, is refusing to pay for further rescue missions due to concerns they encourage more migrants to attempt the journey.

The decision by ministers provoked outrage from refugee groups who said it would lead to more people ‘needlessly and shamefully dying on Europe’s doorstep’.
Appears it's a.... them or us scenario.
But British officials insist the huge rescue operation has led to more attempted crossings and put more lives at risk – as traffickers try the journey in less seaworthy crafts. Several thousand people have died attempting to make the crossing in the past 12 months. Of those who survived, many have headed north to Calais and tried to get in to Britain.
Pardon the tired cliché, but what you subsidize, you get more of.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  good. stop helping, send them back and eventually they'll stop coming

people should stop making excuses, mostly they are fleeing poverty not war. The cure for poverty is for those same energetic, enterprising people to put their talents to hard work reforming their leadership so it isn't corrupt "me first, my family/clan/tribe first" attitude. Start putting morals and ethics first, civic society first. Then they can have a functioning country they won't want to leave.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 1:33 Comments || Top||

#2  corrupt "me first, my family/clan/tribe first"
Yeah, the current administration has set a good example.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 10:33 Comments || Top||

#3  No good deed goes unpunished.
Posted by: Anice Nim || 10/30/2014 15:51 Comments || Top||

#4  >But British officials insist the huge rescue operation has led to more attempted crossings and put more lives at risk

Now apply the same logic to the "welfare" state's failure rewards.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/30/2014 17:22 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Grozny Air plans Yerevan-Crimea flights despite Kyiv protests
TThe Grozny Air aviation company, based in Chechnya, is going ahead with plans to launch regular flights from Yerevan to Crimea, despite protests from Kyiv.

Grozny Air official Timur Shimayev said that their inaugural flight to Crimea is scheduled for November 17. But Ivan Kukhta, the Ukrainian ambassador to Armenia, said that any commercial flights between Yerevan and Crimea must first be approved by Kyiv.
Posted by: ryuge || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  That's what's needed, direct air connection to Chechnya.
Posted by: ed in texas || 10/30/2014 13:59 Comments || Top||

#2  Deny 'em landing rights.
Posted by: Barbara || 10/30/2014 14:02 Comments || Top||

#3  In Crimea?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 14:07 Comments || Top||


Europe
NATO intercepted 19 Russian military jets trespassing over EU airspace today
NATO detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October 2014. These sizable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European airspace.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. CET on 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked eight Russian aircraft flying in formation over the North Sea. F-16 aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were scrambled, intercepted and identified the Russian aircraft, which included four Tu-95 Bear H strategic bombers and four Il-78 tanker aircraft. The formation flew from mainland Russia over the Norwegian Sea in international airspace. Six of the Russian aircraft then turned back to the north-east towards Russia, while two Tu-95 Bear H bombers continued south-west, parallel to the Norwegian coast, heading to the south-west. The Russian aircraft continued over the North Sea, and Typhoon fighters from the United Kingdom were scrambled in response. While over the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal, the two Russian aircraft were intercepted and identified by F-16s from the Portuguese Air Force. The Russian aircraft turned back heading north-east, flying to the west of the United Kingdom. NATO aircraft from the United Kingdom and Norway were standing by and NATO assets on the ground and in the air tracked the Russian aircraft throughout. At present, the two Tu-95 bombers appear headed back to Russia, but as of 4 p.m. CET the aircraft were still airborne.

The bomber and tanker aircraft from Russia did not file flight plans or maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control authorities and they were not using on-board transponders. This poses a potential risk to civil aviation as civilian air traffic control cannot detect these aircraft or ensure there is no interference with civilian air traffic.

NATO jets were on standby throughout the duration of both Russian flights and Russian aircraft were continually tracked using Allied assets on the ground and in the air. NATO has conducted over 100 intercepts of Russian aircraft in 2014 to date, which is about three times more than were conducted in 2013.
Putin is getting belligerent. You can't shoot them out of the sky because he has nukes. So he does what he wants.
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 07:23 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  If the Russians would only fly after 5:00 PM and on Sunday, there would be no intercepts! Remember Switzerland?
Posted by: Jeremiah Spinelet9794 || 10/30/2014 7:54 Comments || Top||

#2  ...---...
Posted by: Maggie Photh3251 || 10/30/2014 8:23 Comments || Top||

#3  Remember the Egyptians were trained by the Soviets. They 'practiced' running up to the Suez Canal for a forced crossing numerous times before one day, after complacency set in on the other side, they kept going. Standard doctrine.

Wait for bad winter weather, then send a all weather flight to their airspace. It'll be hard and dangerous for our guys, but it would be an even greater challenge for theirs to have to go up and then try to find someplace to land. All weather is not their forte.

Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 9:16 Comments || Top||

#4  The bi-polar World is back---methinks, it is good for the Jews.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 10:24 Comments || Top||

#5  You are saying what? Come on out with it.
Posted by: Herb Whomonter4543 || 10/30/2014 10:47 Comments || Top||

#6  Prediction: The French will engage and shoot a few down. Putin is looking for an excuse.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 12:39 Comments || Top||

#7  Procopius2k has the right idea. Turnabout is fair play.
Posted by: One Bandersnatch || 10/30/2014 13:22 Comments || Top||

#8  On the other hand, P2k, imagine USA signalling EU "you're on your own". Wouldn't that have a therapeutic effect on what ails the Euros?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 13:31 Comments || Top||

#9  Maybe. However, too many are in psychotic denial. Even if we pulled out completely, there would still be a good portion of the population what would believe "Oh, don't worry, they'll be back" not to be confused with another good size group that would rationalize their subjection would be better than a major conflict.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 16:15 Comments || Top||

#10  ...there would still be a good portion of the population what would believe "Oh, don't worry, they'll be back" not to be confused with another good size group that would rationalize their subjection would be better than a major conflict.

But, in any case, it would stop them from being world size annoyance?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 17:27 Comments || Top||

#11  He is just hoping we in the west act. Putin needs an enemy to rally the Russians around. His big problem is they now have the internet in Russia. Sorry Putin more Russians read Yahoo than Pravda....
Posted by: 49 Pan || 10/30/2014 21:27 Comments || Top||

#12  As long as they stay in international airspace, they are not a problem.

How many bombers do we have? It is more than 100. Just fly them all right over to Russia, on Tuesday, and turn back at the border. Turnabout is fair play here.
Posted by: rammer || 10/30/2014 21:29 Comments || Top||

#13  Until recently, the Russian military was kind of rundown. I see this stuff as training missions and a sign they finally have enough money for fuel and maintenance.
Posted by: SteveS || 10/30/2014 22:13 Comments || Top||

#14  Irregardless of their differences, IMO Darth Vlad knows that the main threat to Russia is from Radical Islam, e.g. Caucasus Emirate + ISIS/ISIL threat to Turkey + Eastern Europe [Eastern Orthdox Church], not the US or NATO-EU.

I'm interpreting Russia's activities as Vlad warning the West Russia will go it alone iff necessary to stop the Islamist threat, + will be MilPol violent iff it has to be.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/30/2014 22:43 Comments || Top||

#15  Goad the US all you want,Obama's in charge, soo nhe WON'T be, then look out
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 10/30/2014 23:32 Comments || Top||


Ukraine vote answers apologists for Putin
[IRISHTIMES] Spurious claims that the US and EU orchestrated Ukrainians' "undemocratic" revolt and plot to overthrow President Viktor Yanukovych in February are now moot. Even if true, the fanciful apologists for Vladimir Putin
...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead...
's Ukrainian adventures have received their answer in the weekend's parliamentary elections to the Verkhovna Rada in a substantial majority for those favouring closer links with the EU, a confirmation of the mandate in May in the election of President Petro Poroshenko.

Both his party and that of the more hawkish Arseniy Yatsenyuk, currently prime minister, and likely to be reappointed, have together taken over 40 per cent of the seats in the 450-seat parliament. With no voting in the "people's republics" of Donetsk and Luhansk, controlled by rebels, or in the annexed Crimea, as many as 27 seats ‐ 12 in Crimea and 15 in eastern Ukraine ‐ will remain unfilled, at least initially.

Significantly, the neo-Nazi far-right, demonised by Moscow for its alleged influence in Kiev, did very poorly ‐ one of the main groups Right Sector received only 1.6 per cent. One pro-Russian party will be represented, the Opposition Bloc, on ten per cent of the vote.

The substantial majority for reform and pro-EU policies should make easier embarking on a programme to restore the state's finances and crack down on corruption, but may provoke strong opposition in the streets to inevitable cuts in state jobs. And, most immediately, the prospect of a cut-off of Russian gas looms if Ukraine does not quickly come up with a debt payment of $1.5 billion.

Posted by: Fred || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Cool shades, Vlad.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 10/30/2014 0:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Any bets that Tranzi intervention in Ukraine will not end in bigger disaster then their interventions in Libya & Syria?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 2:44 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Man kills wife and daughter
[DAWN] A man allegedly rubbed out his wife, 39, and daughter, 18, on a marriage dispute in Qaiser Town, Shahdara, on Wednesday.

Preliminary police inquiries showed Farooq, father of four, got annoyed with his daughter Amina who had contracted court marriage with a man of her neighbourhood about four months ago.

Few days back, Amina visited her parents where her father forced her to get divorce.

On Wednesday, Farooq again exchanged words with his wife and daughter which led to the shooting incident. The suspect got support of his brother Mushtaq and his three sons to kill his wife and daughter.

The firing left Amina and her mother Rehana fatally maimed while the suspect fled. The injured were transported to Mayo Hospital where they died.

Police shifted the bodies to morgue and registered a murder case against Farooq, his brother and nephews Ejaz, Shahbaz and Saddam on the complaint of Amina's brother Asif.
Posted by: Fred || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ahh the days when men were men and women were their property
Posted by: anon1 || 10/30/2014 7:32 Comments || Top||

#2 
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 14:04 Comments || Top||


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Malala To Donate $50,000 Children's Prize To Gaza Schools
[IsraelTimes] Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai
...a Pashtun blogger and advocate for girls' education from Mingora, in Swat. She started blogging at age 11-12. She was 15 when a Talib boarded her school bus and shot her in the head in 2012. She was evacuated to a hospital in Britain and the Pak Taliban vowed to kill her and her father. Among other awards, she received the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, which she deserved more than Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Al Gore, Yasser Arafat, or Rigoberta Menchu...
said Wednesday she is giving her entire winnings from a children's rights award to help rebuild schools in war-ravaged Gazoo.

The UN Paleostinian refugee agency UNRWA, which has launched a massive $1.6 billion appeal for aid for Gazoo, said she would be donating all $50,000 of her World's Children's Prize.

"This money will totally go to the rebuilding of schools for children in Gazoo, so I think it will definitely help those children to continue their education, to get quality education," the 17-year-old Pak told a presser in Sweden at the awards ceremony.

"We already know how children have suffered in Gazoo from conflicts and war, so those children need our support right now, because they are going through many difficult situations."

The money will be donated via UNRWA to help rebuild 65 schools in the Gazoo Strip.
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  this might make some Paleos feel good about her but if she returns to Pakistan there will be hundreds of people trying to assassinate her (as opposed to continuing to live in England where there are probably only a half dozen people trying to assassinate her- all watched by the Police)
Posted by: lord garth || 10/30/2014 0:17 Comments || Top||

#2  The most moderate of Muslims, is still a Muslim.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 2:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Did she donate for the girms raped by the IS and the Boko Haram? No, thy are flthy Kafiirs? For the tens of thousands of (Muslim) vicims in Darfur? Of course not they are just filthy Niggers.


Why, oh why aren't we airing this between Blacks?
Posted by: JFM || 10/30/2014 5:23 Comments || Top||

#4  She could've donated it to Rotherham Schools.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 10/30/2014 8:50 Comments || Top||

#5  ...to help rebuild schools weapons storage warehouses in war-ravaged Gazoo.

FIFY
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 9:07 Comments || Top||

#6  You misspelled Ammo Dump
Posted by: CrazyFool || 10/30/2014 9:25 Comments || Top||

#7  A Marcus Munitions Ammo Dump in Gazoo? Who knew?
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 11:59 Comments || Top||

#8  You misspelled Ammo DumpPosted by CrazyFool


For the sake of brevity, how about we just call it an ASP (Ammunition Supply Point).
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 12:10 Comments || Top||

#9  For a moment there, I thought we were talking about Obama's kid. Eyes widened.
Posted by: KBK || 10/30/2014 20:26 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Israel's Universal Flu Vaccine Heads For Universal Acceptance
Some good news on the medical front:
[IsraelTimes] A universal flu vaccine developed by Israel's BiondVax has been granted patents by both the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
and Japan, the company announced Wednesday. BiondVax's technology had previously received patents in the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Russia and Mexico, and the two new approvals extend its reach dramatically.

With the newest patent approvals, the company said that it can now enter into wide-scale development programs with pharmaceutical companies and governments that will license its technology to develop a one-stop-shop vaccine for influenza.

Ironically, one of the few countries where it has not received a patent is Israel, where the company's vaccine against all forms of flu -- bird, swine, Spanish, Hong Kong, Wisconsin, Brisbane, Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,, and other well-traveled forms of influenza -- was developed. Company officials said that Israeli approval would be forthcoming in the near future.

Studies and clinical trials conducted by the company, hospitals, and universities around the world show that the BiondVax product, Multimeric-001 (M-001), works. BiondVax, established in 2005, licensed the technology from the Weizmann Institute, where it was developed in the mid-90s.

Before BiondVax, researchers developed vaccines for each flu as it popped up. Though it was long known that there were commonalities between strains, mutations made adapting existing vaccines to new strains impractical. As a result, health authorities were not able to properly prepare for flu outbreaks, because it was impossible to know which strain would be "in fashion" in any particular season.

Based on the Weizmann research, BiondVax was able to isolate nine linked sections from three proteins found in nearly all strains of flu discovered over the past 75 years. M-001, according to BiondVax, could be administered as a vaccine "primer" at any time of the year, helping to build basic resistance to the flu. And if an epidemic does appear imminent, the basic formula could be quickly adjusted to deal with the particular strain involved, with vaccinations to battle the season's trending flu prepared and distributed to doctors, hospitals, and clinics long before the disease starts to spread.

BiondVax went public in 2007 and recently completed advanced Phase 2 studies, having tested M-001 on 440 people with excellent results, the company said. It is therefore far ahead of other companies in research and development of a T-cell peptide flu vaccine, and hopes to be the first to obtain FDA approval for its vaccine. The company has already consulted with the FDA on Phase 3 studies.

In its latest research, said BiondVax's Chief Scientist Tamar Ben-Yedidia, researchers have discovered that M-001 can beat all the new "killer" strains of avian and swine flu.

"BiondVax's vaccine was designed to contain small pieces of the flu virus that do not change as they are required for the virus's life cycle," she said. "These small pieces are enough to teach the human immune system to recognize all flu strains, so that the body quickly stops the virus from causing illness. Based on these findings, BiondVax anticipates that the universal vaccine, when the development stage is completed, will be broadly effective against present and future strains in contrast to current vaccines that are strain specific."

Ron Babecoff, CEO of BiondVax, said that the firm was "excited over the dual patent approvals, both in the EU and in Japan, which strengthen the acknowledgement for BiondVax around the world. The patent approval in Europe and Japan can set the ground and support the company, as we work towards signing agreements with governments to use our unique technology."
Posted by: trailing wife || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Funny how all these people who hate Jews like the things that Jews produce.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 2:42 Comments || Top||

#2  ..and amazing who those who hate fail to create* as much useful stuff for anyone else.

* not to be confused with 'borrowing' what others have created to use themselves.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 10/30/2014 9:06 Comments || Top||

#3  I suppose if one were to espouse Mexican tourism for cancer treatments then we would begin seeing Vaccine tours to Europe and Japan before the FDA behemoth wakes up.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 10:29 Comments || Top||

#4  I'm sure Mexico would be willing, Skidmark.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 10/30/2014 13:32 Comments || Top||

#5  isolate nine linked sections from three proteins found in nearly all strains of flu...could be administered as a vaccine "primer" at any time of the year
I just can't help thinking of administering a vectored prion target.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 22:29 Comments || Top||


Windows on airplanes, so old school.
Posted by: Besoeker || 10/30/2014 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I don't think that idea of the feeling of walking on air.

I had a hard enough time during tower week...and the mountain phase was just gut wrenching.

I don't suppose I have to give any details of how I felt standing on the tailgate of a C-130 at night in HALO school?
Posted by: Mystic || 10/30/2014 0:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Just don't look down.
Posted by: gorb || 10/30/2014 2:26 Comments || Top||

#3  Lighter, stronger, smaller, ergo:faster aircraft?
Soon, spun carbon fiber, but it could just as easily be a conex with wing nubs I suppose.
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 9:21 Comments || Top||

#4  Look! I'm flying!! wheeeeeee!!!
Posted by: DarthVader || 10/30/2014 11:52 Comments || Top||

#5  @1 Kind of like the feeling one gets being the human weapons pylon on a "little bird" skid. With an insane pilot and a new moon.
Posted by: RJ45ACP || 10/30/2014 17:26 Comments || Top||

#6  Wonder if it'll show stuff like this (the caption on the last photo is, uh, somewhat optimistic.)?
Posted by: Zenobia Chavirong1713 || 10/30/2014 20:59 Comments || Top||

#7  You ride the bench RJ?
Posted by: Skidmark || 10/30/2014 22:31 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2014-10-30
  Muthanna chemical weapons facility liberated from ISIS control
Wed 2014-10-29
  ISF, tribal militias kill Emir of Heet while defending Anbar against ISIS attack
Tue 2014-10-28
  Three days of clashes leave 250 dead in south Yemen
Mon 2014-10-27
  100s of ISIS casualties in battles with Kurdish forces near Mosul, says Kurdistan Alliance MP
Sun 2014-10-26
  Chlorine gas rocket factory seized in Jurf al-Sakhar, 11 ISIS terrorists arrested
Sat 2014-10-25
  Ottawa X-ray Technologist Sentenced to 12 Years in Terror Plot
Fri 2014-10-24
  Two killed as Fazl escapes suicide attack in Quetta
Thu 2014-10-23
  Violence Erupts In Jerusalem After Deadly Terror Attack
Wed 2014-10-22
  Soldier, security guard shot in Parliament Hill attack
Tue 2014-10-21
  Al Qaeda attacks kill at least 33 people in Yemen
Mon 2014-10-20
  IS Takes Heavy Losses In Battle For Kobani
Sun 2014-10-19
  LNA claims advance in Warshefana district
Sat 2014-10-18
  Cameroon Soldiers Kill 107 Boko Haram Fighters
Fri 2014-10-17
  ISIS Retreats From Kobani
Thu 2014-10-16
  Kurdish fighters gain ground in Kobane


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