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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Chinchaycocha Lake at Junin in Peru. From the Daily Mail of the UK. |
Showing posts with label Nuggetsman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nuggetsman. Show all posts
Friday, June 27, 2014
News Nuggets 1464
Thursday, June 26, 2014
News Nuggets 1463
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| DAYLEE PICTURE: Aerial photo of the river delta over Hvitarvatn near Langjokull glacier in Iceland. From National Geographic. |
Monday, April 14, 2014
Tune in and Watch it! The Emperor's New Clothes Network
The Media Is Still Dancing Around The Word 'Torture' from the Huffington Post
"Much has been made in the past decade or so about the news business' sudden conversion to euphemism when it came to describing techniques that had been previously universally recognized as torture. ... Reuters wrote about "brutal interrogation methods that critics say amount to torture."" "Critics say"!? What do American legal statutes say?! What does the UN High Court say?! What does the flipping DICTIONARY say!? Let's look: "(noun) 1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. 2. a method of inflicting such pain. 3. Often, tortures. the pain or suffering caused or undergone. 4. extreme anguish of body or mind; agony. 5. a cause of severe pain or anguish." The media's response to this issue (right along side the blanket boycott the MSM has maintained on showing photos of bloody mangled US soldiers during the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict) emphasizes to me the media's growing inability to tell truth to power. I will have more to say later this week but suffice to say that this isn't the age of Fox News distortion or polarized politicized media. All the tv networks and cable news channels have joined one of two networks -- the first is ENC or the Emperor's New Clothes Network where everyone pretends that butt naked falsehoods are the God's honest truth. What's the other option? It is the INN Network or the Inoffensive News Network where ratings and not offending anyone gets primacy over unpleasant realities or the prospect of ticking off some reporter's big source in Congress, the White House, or some big corporate sponsor. Take your pick. Ah, but wait! Some lone, uncorroborated source from who knows where says these two networks are going to merge! Quick! Work up a new "breaking story" theme and graphics! That story is running in an hour!
"Much has been made in the past decade or so about the news business' sudden conversion to euphemism when it came to describing techniques that had been previously universally recognized as torture. ... Reuters wrote about "brutal interrogation methods that critics say amount to torture."" "Critics say"!? What do American legal statutes say?! What does the UN High Court say?! What does the flipping DICTIONARY say!? Let's look: "(noun) 1. the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. 2. a method of inflicting such pain. 3. Often, tortures. the pain or suffering caused or undergone. 4. extreme anguish of body or mind; agony. 5. a cause of severe pain or anguish." The media's response to this issue (right along side the blanket boycott the MSM has maintained on showing photos of bloody mangled US soldiers during the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict) emphasizes to me the media's growing inability to tell truth to power. I will have more to say later this week but suffice to say that this isn't the age of Fox News distortion or polarized politicized media. All the tv networks and cable news channels have joined one of two networks -- the first is ENC or the Emperor's New Clothes Network where everyone pretends that butt naked falsehoods are the God's honest truth. What's the other option? It is the INN Network or the Inoffensive News Network where ratings and not offending anyone gets primacy over unpleasant realities or the prospect of ticking off some reporter's big source in Congress, the White House, or some big corporate sponsor. Take your pick. Ah, but wait! Some lone, uncorroborated source from who knows where says these two networks are going to merge! Quick! Work up a new "breaking story" theme and graphics! That story is running in an hour!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Dems Will Need Big Turnout in 2014 ... Like For Real!
Democratic Turnout Seen as Key to Party's Retaining Senate Control from the Los Angeles Times
"The Democratic Party is tackling a historical weakness: the failure of Democratic voters to show up for midterm elections. ... The Democratic National Committee has begun to make the sophisticated data analysis tools developed to target voters in the 2012 presidential campaign available to all the party's candidates. And from President Obama on down, influential Democrats have hammered away at the need for candidates to start now to work on reducing the number of so-called drop-off voters."
They are exactly correct! And the Dems MUST have a breakthrough here if this coming election isn't going to spell really bad news for them (and Obama especially).
"The Democratic Party is tackling a historical weakness: the failure of Democratic voters to show up for midterm elections. ... The Democratic National Committee has begun to make the sophisticated data analysis tools developed to target voters in the 2012 presidential campaign available to all the party's candidates. And from President Obama on down, influential Democrats have hammered away at the need for candidates to start now to work on reducing the number of so-called drop-off voters."
They are exactly correct! And the Dems MUST have a breakthrough here if this coming election isn't going to spell really bad news for them (and Obama especially).
Friday, March 28, 2014
How Many Carriers Does the US Really Need!?
America's Navy Needs 12 Carriers & Three Hubs (Mackenzie Eaglen and Bryan McGrath) from Real Clear Defense
Twelve ... instead of Obama's proposed nine. Ok. Why?!
"Congress must now decide if America’s single-digit carrier fleet is enough to meet the global demands of a superpower. The short answer is no. ... Part of its value is that it is an asset in constant demand. Last year, Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Moore said it best, noting “We’re an 11-carrier Navy in a 15-carrier world.” ... This would provide the president and the next with credible options in each of the three areas of broad U.S. strategic interest. 12 carriers would provide those who wish to disturb the peace with a powerful, persistent and present reason to reconsider."
Regular readers know that we've been tracking this critical (and expensive) measure of defense policy and budgeting for a long time. Now, as we noted the other day, there is more pushback then ever on not just the cost of carriers ... but their military vulnerability against new high-tech weapons. As I noted the other day, for most of the purposes the US has right now, carriers are still a critical way for the US to project power around the globe? Do we need twelve!? I am skeptical -- and this author doesn't make a strong case.
Twelve ... instead of Obama's proposed nine. Ok. Why?!
"Congress must now decide if America’s single-digit carrier fleet is enough to meet the global demands of a superpower. The short answer is no. ... Part of its value is that it is an asset in constant demand. Last year, Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Moore said it best, noting “We’re an 11-carrier Navy in a 15-carrier world.” ... This would provide the president and the next with credible options in each of the three areas of broad U.S. strategic interest. 12 carriers would provide those who wish to disturb the peace with a powerful, persistent and present reason to reconsider."
Regular readers know that we've been tracking this critical (and expensive) measure of defense policy and budgeting for a long time. Now, as we noted the other day, there is more pushback then ever on not just the cost of carriers ... but their military vulnerability against new high-tech weapons. As I noted the other day, for most of the purposes the US has right now, carriers are still a critical way for the US to project power around the globe? Do we need twelve!? I am skeptical -- and this author doesn't make a strong case.
Taking Away REAL Benefits vs. hypothetical benefits
Poll: Americans Show Strong Support for Obamacare Provisions, including Medicaid Expansion (David Ramsey) from the Arkansas Times
For those conservatives out there cheering about the latest court decision threatening the individual mandate element of Obamacare, be CAREFUL what you cheer for! There is election year dynamite here -- and if the court rules against the individual mandate, what's going to happen to the 6 million (and counting) people who are enrolled in the program?! Are they going to go quietly into the night? Doubt it!
"A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll out today continues to show that most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act enjoy strong popularity, even as a plurality of Americans say they have an unfavorable view of the federal health care law overall."
For those conservatives out there cheering about the latest court decision threatening the individual mandate element of Obamacare, be CAREFUL what you cheer for! There is election year dynamite here -- and if the court rules against the individual mandate, what's going to happen to the 6 million (and counting) people who are enrolled in the program?! Are they going to go quietly into the night? Doubt it!
"A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll out today continues to show that most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act enjoy strong popularity, even as a plurality of Americans say they have an unfavorable view of the federal health care law overall."
Fewer Drugs in Food!!
25 Drug Companies to Phase out Animal Antibiotics from ABC
"Citing a potential threat to public health, the agency in December asked 26 companies to voluntarily stop labeling drugs important for treating human infection as acceptable for animal growth promotion. The FDA did not name the one company that has not agreed to withdraw or revise its drugs. The companies will either withdraw the drugs from animal use completely or revise them so they would only be able to be used with a veterinarian's prescription."
Wow -- some genuinely interesting original reporting from one of the networks. How novel. Oops, sorry. The story is actually from the Associated Press.
"Citing a potential threat to public health, the agency in December asked 26 companies to voluntarily stop labeling drugs important for treating human infection as acceptable for animal growth promotion. The FDA did not name the one company that has not agreed to withdraw or revise its drugs. The companies will either withdraw the drugs from animal use completely or revise them so they would only be able to be used with a veterinarian's prescription."
Wow -- some genuinely interesting original reporting from one of the networks. How novel. Oops, sorry. The story is actually from the Associated Press.
DEMOGRAPHIC NUGGET!!
Why African-Americans are Moving Back to the South from the Christian Science Monitor
"After decades of moving north, thousands of blacks are returning to their Southern roots for economic and cultural reasons."
As with so many meaningful demographic shifts like this, there will be important political consequences to this one, especially for those deep red states of the old confederacy.
Why African-Americans are Moving Back to the South from the Christian Science Monitor
"After decades of moving north, thousands of blacks are returning to their Southern roots for economic and cultural reasons."
As with so many meaningful demographic shifts like this, there will be important political consequences to this one, especially for those deep red states of the old confederacy.
2014 Election Cycle Could Mask Deep GOP Problems
How 2014 Could Give the GOP False Hope to Republicans (Charlie Cook) from the National Journal
"They worry that success in 2014 will mask the real, structural problems that Republicans need to fix before 2016. Namely, that the party doesn't stand for much more than standing against President Obama. As important, the GOP heads into 2016 with a brand that has been deeply tarnished and not easily repaired."
This is the most likely way this election year will play out -- at least as I see it now.
"They worry that success in 2014 will mask the real, structural problems that Republicans need to fix before 2016. Namely, that the party doesn't stand for much more than standing against President Obama. As important, the GOP heads into 2016 with a brand that has been deeply tarnished and not easily repaired."
This is the most likely way this election year will play out -- at least as I see it now.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Sochi: Deserted and Already Falling Apart
Winter Olympics Seem a Lifetime Ago as Photographs Reveal £31bn Sochi Ghost Town from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"Just a few weeks ago it was the centre of the sporting world, home to some 6,000 athletes, buzzing with excitement, the shining showpiece of Vladimir Putin's £31billion Winter Olympics extravaganza. But today the Russian resort of Sochi resembles little more than a ghost town with deserted buildings, empty streets and a few stray dogs basking in the sunshine the only signs of life."
I guess Sochi was a Potempkin "Olympic Village." How appropriate. Given the tens of billions Putin spent on the Olympics, one has to wonder if he got anything like the payoff in legitimacy and prestige he had hoped for? I doubt it.
"Just a few weeks ago it was the centre of the sporting world, home to some 6,000 athletes, buzzing with excitement, the shining showpiece of Vladimir Putin's £31billion Winter Olympics extravaganza. But today the Russian resort of Sochi resembles little more than a ghost town with deserted buildings, empty streets and a few stray dogs basking in the sunshine the only signs of life."
I guess Sochi was a Potempkin "Olympic Village." How appropriate. Given the tens of billions Putin spent on the Olympics, one has to wonder if he got anything like the payoff in legitimacy and prestige he had hoped for? I doubt it.
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