http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASCO_Large_Angle_and_Spectrometric_Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO). LASCO consists of three solar coronagraphs with nested fields of view
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASCO_Large_Angle_and_Spectrometric_Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO). LASCO consists of three solar coronagraphs with nested fields of view
An M1.6 Solar Flare took place at 01:59 UTC Friday morning around Sunspot 1295 which is approaching the western limb.
More Flare activity will be possible within the next 24 hours.
Top 10 Solar Flares of Cycle 24: (Sunspot number in brackets)
X6.9 - Aug 9, 2011 (1263)
X2.2 - Feb 15, 2011 (1158)
X2.1 - Sept 6, 2011 (1283)
X1.8 - Sept 7, 2011 (1283)
X1.5 - March 9 , 2011 (1166)
X1.4 - Sept 22, 2011 (1302)
M9.3 - Aug 4, 2011 (1261)
M9.3 - July 30, 2011 (1260)
M8.3 - Feb 6, 2010 (1045)
M6.6 - Feb 13, 2011 (1158)
6 of the 10 flares in the past 2 months.
A long duration X-Class Solar Flare reaching X1.4 took place around the new Sunspot rotating into view on the eastern limb. This event caused a radio blackout reaching the R3 level which effected areas located on the sunlit side of earth. A Type II and Type IV radio sweep frequency event resulted as well as a TenFlare. A bright CME is seen in this movie captured by the STEREO Ahead Spacecraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASCO_Large_Angle_and_Spectrometric_Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO). LASCO consists of three solar coronagraphs with nested fields of view
Solar Update: Solar activity has been high with one X-Class flare and multiple M-Class flares taking place around the new Sunspot rotating into view on the eastern limb. This region is not yet in prime position for earth directed CMEs. There will remain the chance for strong solar flares.
Top 10 Solar Flares of Cycle 24: (Sunspot number in brackets)
X6.9 - Aug 9, 2011 (1263)
X2.2 - Feb 15, 2011 (1158)
X2.1 - Sept 6, 2011 (1283)
X1.8 - Sept 7, 2011 (1283)
X1.5 - March 9 , 2011 (1166)
X1.4 - Sept 22, 2011 (1302)
M9.3 - Aug 4, 2011 (1261)
M9.3 - July 30, 2011 (1260)
M8.3 - Feb 6, 2010 (1045)
M6.6 - Feb 13, 2011 (1158)
6 of the 10 flares in the past 2 months.
Issue Time: 2011 Sep 22 1056 UTC
ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2011 Sep 22 1039 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 1035 km/s
A magnetosphere is formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the intrinsic magnetic field of a planet or similar body. Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere, as are the other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields: Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASCO_Large_Angle_and_Spectrometric_Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO). LASCO consists of three solar coronagraphs with nested fields of view
| World News |
Lawyer: Iran to release 2 jailed Americans today
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Two Americans jailed as spies in Iran will be released on Wednesday, their lawyer said, after the court approved a $1 million bail-for-freedom deal that cleared the way for the release of the men after more than two years in custody.
Israel Floats 'Interim Solution' To Palestinian Statehood Debate
Israel floated the possibility of an “interim solution” to allow the Palestinians to establish a state within existing borders in Gaza and the West Bank and deal with all the tough stuff later, reports CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer.
VIDEO: Obama sends more ground troops to Libya
WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Pentagon has sent another dozen troops to Tripoli to help the State Department lay plans for reopening the U.S. Embassy.
USA building secret drone bases in Africa, Arabian Peninsula
The Obama administration is assembling a constellation of secret drone bases for counterterrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as part of a newly aggressive campaign to attack al-Qaeda affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, U.S. officials said.
Ex-Afghanistan president Burhanuddin Rabbani killed by 'turban bomb'
The former president of Afghanistan - a major figure who was leading peace talks aimed at ending the war - was killed in his home Tuesday by a suicide attacker wearing an exploding turban. Burhanuddin Rabbani died when he hugged his assassin, who triggered the bomb, officials said. The slaying threatened to destroy fragile hopes of ending the Afghan war with a negotiated settlement.
Greek Default Could Tip US Into Recession
Despite being more than 5,000 miles from Washington D.C., a default in Athens could trip up the global banking system just enough to tip the U.S. into a recession, investors and economists said. “Due to financial trading relationships and off-balance sheet exposure to European banks, the U.S. banking system will not go unscathed,” said Michelle Meyer, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist, in a note to clients Friday. “If the crisis in Europe escalates, it could be the shock that pushes the U.S. economy into recession
Israel PM departs for UN, says does not expect 'warm welcome'
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at Likud conference, says has tried to approach Palestinian President Abbas several times for negotiations, to no avail.
Israel Has Dumped 46 Percent of Its U.S. Treasury Bills; Russia 95 Percent
Foreign ownership of U.S. government debt declined in July for the second straight month, according to Treasury Department data released Friday. Overall, foreign holdings of U.S. debt dropped from an all-time high of $4.5115 trillion in May to 4.4956 trillion in June and then to $4.478 trillion in July.
Palestinians: we are already recognized as a state by two-thirds of the globe
Almost two-thirds of the UN's member states – representing more than 75% of the world's population – already formally recognise the Palestinian state in some form, according to analysis by the Guardian.
Israel & Palestine: The Maps Tell The True Story
The following maps show what Israel has actually done. Photos and videos also included.
VIDEO: AIPAC conference - DON'T MENTION THE SPYING!
AIPAC conference 4th Jun 08.
Massive 750 Million Dollar U.S. Embassy In Iraq Will Expand Further As Soldiers Leave
The embassy compound is by far the largest the world has ever seen, at one and a half square miles, big enough for 94 football fields. It cost three quarters of a billion dollars to build (coming in about $150 million over budget).
OPEC's $1 Trillion Insurance Policy
Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia will spend $43 billion on its poorer citizens and religious institutions. Kuwaitis are getting free food for a year. Civil servants in Algeria received a 34 percent pay rise. Desert cities in the United Arab Emirates may soon enjoy uninterrupted electricity. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries members are poised to earn an unprecedented $1 trillion this year, according to the U.S. Energy Department, as the group’s benchmark oil measure exceeded $100 a barrel for the longest period ever.
News Corp. Said to Pay $4.7 Million in Dowler Family Settlement
Sept. 19 (Bloomberg) -- News Corp.’s U.K. unit will pay 3 million pounds ($4.7 million) to settle claims that the News of the World tabloid hacked the mobile phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
U.S-Canada Perimeter Security and the Consolidation of North America
The U.S. and Canada are very close to unveiling a North American perimeter security deal that would promote greater integration between both countries. This includes expanding collaboration in areas of law enforcement and intelligence sharing which could dramatically affect sovereignty and privacy rights. While there is a need for more public scrutiny, incrementalism has been used to advance North American integration.
| U.S. News, Politics & Government |
What withdrawal? Obama wants $100 million prison in Afghanistan
While President Obama insists that the US will save $1 trillion over the next decade by pulling out of the Afghan War, he has devoted little time to discuss his plans to build a new prison in Afghanistan — at a cost of $100 million.
Drug cartels throw parties for US officials
Both Greg Gonzales and Wesley Dutton say they spent around 18 months working as informants for the Federal Bureau of Investigation along the US/Mexico border. It was there that they stumbled upon a slew of unjust activity carried out by of the big names in that part of America. Despite their findings, however, they tell the El Paso Times in Texas today that top-brass in the FBI won’t investigate their allegations.
Whistleblowers reveal tight-knit relationship between U.S. officials and drug cartels
The relationship between the global drug trade and the government of the United States of America is a long, complicated and irrefutable one. Some of the most infamous dealings that have come to light have involved the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and various drug trafficking rings throughout the world. However, it now appears that the CIA involvement in drug trafficking is just one aspect of an incredibly close relationship between so-called authorities in America and the drug cartels they pretend to fight.
VIDEO: Battle over First Amendment waged in San Francisco
Critics say BART has now violated four of five freedoms in the First Amendment: speech, assembly, petition and free press. San Francisco is already changing its policies, but the FFC is reviewing whether BART broke the law in shutting down its cell phone service.
Air Force Resends Grounded Stealth Fighters Into Action … Without Fixing Them
Four months after grounding its entire force of F-22 Raptors, the Air Force has cleared the roughly 170 high-tech stealth fighters to resume flying. Just one little problem: The brass still doesn’t know why a dozen Raptor pilots blacked out and one fatally crashed, prompting the May 3 no-fly order. Officials suspected the oxygen system aboard the $300-million, radar-evading superfighter. Ground crews starting up the jets in sealed, garage-like hangars might also have been a factor. After months of study, the Air Force still can’t say for sure.
Ron Paul Issues Open Letter to President Obama Concerning Cuts to Veterans` Benefits
"We have put our troops in harm’s way, and we must honor our promises. And, our troops have paid a heavy price these past ten years. Over 5,000 have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, 40,000 have seen crushing injuries, and hundreds of thousands more suffer from brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder."
GOP-led states change voting rules ahead of 2012
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- After years of expanding when and how people can vote, state legislatures now under new Republican control are moving to trim early voting days, beef up identification requirements and put new restrictions on how voters are notified about absentee ballots.
The List Of Congressional Representatives Who Took Trips To Israel
Do they represent you or Israel? Voters need to tell these men and women you cannot serve two masters. You must either serve America or serve Israel and the New York and London banks. You cannot serve us and them. You might also ask them when will they get around to forcing the Attorney General to arrest and convict the bankers who stole tens of trillions of dollars from us.
Major Synagogue in New York Occupied by Catholics
For the third time this year the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in upper Manhattan was invaded and occupied by parishioners from the nearby St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This disturbance made it impossible for the observant Jewish congregants to take part in pre New Year Selichot, special prayers for forgiveness.
Occupy Wall Street Photos
Cryptome photos, taken around Noon, 19 September 2011. Thank you Andy!
| Economy |
Nervous Breakdown? 21 Signs That Something Big Is About To Happen In The Financial World
Will global financial markets reach a breaking point during the month of October? Right now there are all kinds of signs that the financial world is about to experience a nervous breakdown. Massive amounts of investor money is being pulled out of the stock market and mammoth bets are being made against the S&P 500 in October.
GOP leaders: Fed should resist new stimulus
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In an unusual move, Republican leaders of the House and Senate are urging Federal Reserve policymakers against taking further steps to lower interest rates. On the eve of the Fed's two-day policy meeting, the leaders sent a letter to Chairman Ben Bernanke warning that the Fed's policies could harm an already weak U.S. economy.
Reid threatens gov't shutdown
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday there is a chance that the government could shutter at the end of this month. Criticizing House Republicans for the disaster relief provisions in their budget bill, Reid told reporters, "We're not going to cave on this." Reid, however, said, "I'm not that sure" there won't be a shutdown. He added, "I am not as certain as McConnell." Related article here.
VIDEO: IMF and Boehner both brace for recession
The latest report from the International Monetary Fund warns America that a double-dip recession could be very much a reality. In their just released six-month World Economic Outlook, the IMF cautions America that the global economy is currently “in a dangerous place” and could pose serious problems for the United States. As crippling conditions sweep across the globe, the IMF warns that another recession for the US shouldn’t be unexpected.
The Obama Tax Plan: Is Barack Obama Plotting To Use Class Warfare As A Tool To Win The 2012 Election?
Most of these tax increases would hit the wealthy, and Obama keeps insisting that it is time for them "to pay their fair share". Of course Obama knows that the Republicans will never go for this. You see, what is going on is that Obama is laying a trap. First, he laid out a 447 billion dollar "jobs plan" that contained all kinds of goodies for the poor and the middle class. Now he has introduced a massive tax plan which specifically targets millionaires in order to pay for it.
Former adviser defends Obama's decision-making
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A former White House economics adviser is backing the administration's denial of an assertion that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner ignored President Barack Obama's order to consider dissolving Citibank.
| Housing Market |
Housing starts drop underscores economic woes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New construction of homes fell more than expected in August, dragging on economic growth and keeping pressure on President Barack Obama to do more to help the sputtering economy. Housing starts dropped 5 percent, the most since April, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 571,000 units, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday.
New High: 37% Say Their Home Is Worth Less Than Remaining Mortgage Payments
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 753 homeowners finds that 37% say their home is not worth as much as what they still owe on their mortgage. Forty-seven percent (47%) say the value of their home exceeds the amount left on their mortgage. But that’s down seven points from last month and is just two points above the all-time low of 45% in June.
| Energy & Environment |
Powerful Typhoon Roke hits Japan
BBC's Roland Buerk: "There are concerns that rain could force radioactive water into the sea". Typhoon Roke is on course to hit Fukushima, where engineers are still struggling to bring a nuclear plant under control after the March tsunami. There are concerns that rain could force radioactive water into the sea. Across Japan more than a million people were urged to evacuate their homes; an advisory was later lifted in one area but 330,000 people remain at risk. The typhoon made landfall on Wednesday afternoon (0500GMT) in Hamamatsu, scouring its way up the main island of Honshu, bringing high winds and torrential rain.
Update: CA Rep Issa to Investigate Obama’s Admin and Solyndra
Republicans claim they have emails showing the White House pressuring Department of Energy bureaucrats to hand out government loans. The White House has responded that nothing improper occurred. Related article here.
NWS: Many in Joplin ignored 1st tornado warnings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Many Joplin residents either ignored or were slow to react to the first warning sirens about a massive and deadly tornado this spring, partially because of years of false alarms, the government said Tuesday.
Order barring Ecuador from collecting $18B vacated
NEW YORK (AP) -- A federal appeals court vacated an order Monday by a New York judge that barred an $18 billion judgment in Ecuador against Chevron Inc. for contaminating the Amazon. The three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously expressed skepticism that a New York judge could wield jurisdiction outside the U.S.
US scientists testing earthquake early warning
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- After years of lagging behind Japan, Mexico and other quake-prone countries, the U.S. government has been quietly testing an earthquake early warning system in California since February.
Typhoon Roke Nears Japan on Track for Leaking Nuclear Plant
Sept. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Typhoon Roke brought evacuation orders and fears of floods to Nagoya city in central Japan today as it approached the main island of Honshu on a course toward the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. More than 1 million people in Nagoya have been advised to evacuate because of Roke and almost 80,000 have been ordered to leave due to flood risk, said Katsuya Kobayashi in the city's disaster prevention center.
| Health |
New Ron Paul Bill Would Restore Some First Amendment Rights for Supplement Producers
It’s the latest in a series of the candidate’s bills supporting health freedom and our access to natural health remedies. The Testimonial Free Speech Act, HR 2908, is a brief bill that would allow the dissemination of testimonials “containing a consumer’s actual perception of the mitigative, preventive, or curative properties of any food or dietary supplement based on the consumer’s experience with that food or dietary supplement.”
Perry and the Texas State Medical Board
The HPV vaccine is not the only issue which ties Governor Perry to special interests and “dirty deals” in medicine. Another scandal involves the Texas State Medical Board. Many people have wondered why the TMB has been able to harass integrative doctors so aggressively and in such an underhanded way. This too involves Perry quite directly.
VIDEO: OBAMASCARE: Dr. Dean predicts companies will drop private health coverage for employees
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman, and doctor, Howard Dean backed a McKinsey & Co. survey today that found that almost a third of private-sector employers will drop their employee health insurance coverage when Obamacare's government-managed insurance exchanges come online.
Vaccine Lobby Launches Gardasil Safety Hoax
In the aftermath of Rep. Michele Bachmann’s comments about the Gardasil shot causing mental retardation, vaccine lobbyists and the pharmaceutical-friendly establishment media have launched a new hoax claiming the vaccine is completely safe, despite the CDC’s own figures confirming over 18,000 cases of adverse reactions.
Five foods for healthy skin
(NaturalNews) Although the cosmetic industry would have us believe otherwise, beautiful skin doesn't come from a jar full of perfumed chemicals. Beyond being born with great genes, the best thing you can do for your skin is to eat a healthy diet. Learn how to enhance your skin from the inside out by eating foods that will make your epidermis glow with health. Try adding these foods to your diet to both feel and look better.
pH Food Chart
Alkalizing the body is probably the best thing that a person can do to ensure good health and well being. There is a direct relationship between a person's pH and the oxygen content of his blood, and a tiny change in pH can have dramatic effects upon a person's oxygen intake. An alkaline body pH will prevent diseases, and will cure existing ones by exponentially boosting a body's oxygen intake. As a general rule, pathogens and cancers cannot survive in an oxygen-rich, alkaline environment.
Increased vitamin D in blood adds years to life and helps prevent colon cancer
(NaturalNews) Just in case you needed more proof that low blood levels of vitamin D represent a significant health concern, researchers publishing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrate that small increases in the sunshine vitamin can add precious years to your life. For nearly a decade scientific evidence has been mounting to show that the vast majorities of adults (and many children) are grossly deficient in circulating blood levels of vitamin D.
Essential First Aid Item: Activated Carbon
Activated carbon in powdered form should be in every medicine cabinet and first aid kit. It is also called activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is used around the world as a universal antidote for hundreds of poisons, including arsenic, mercury, pesticides, strychnine, warfarin, hemlock, E. Coli endotoxin, and petrol (gasoline).
Bioethicist challenges Bachmann on vaccine claim
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A prominent bioethicist has offered $10,000 to charity if Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann can prove her claim that a vaccination caused mental retardation.
Calif. bill aimed at breast cancer worries docs
About 40 percent of women over 40 have breast tissue dense enough to mask or mimic cancers on mammograms, but many of them don't know it. Mammogram providers in California will be required to notify those patients, and suggest that they discuss additional screenings with their doctors based on their individual risk factors, if Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that the Legislature passed this month.
Real-time tracking of diseases improves diagnosis
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Today, hundreds of hospitals, clinics and health departments automatically report certain symptoms and diagnoses to the government. That practice has a wonky name - biosurveillance - but it's how officials track the spread of flu, detect the latest whooping cough outbreak, and watch for weird symptoms that might signal a brand-new
disease or even bioterrorism.
| Science & Technology |
UFO Sightings Ramp-Up As Government Plans Staged Invasion
There has been a recent rash of UFO outbreaks (sightings) across the United States, including heightened activity in and around Phoenix Arizona. The Intel Hub has had reports of black helicopters in several cities chasing UFO’s with strange beams of light, or possibly projecting them in a holographic fashion.
Russia, China, Tajikistan propose UN "code of conduct" for the 'Net
Quick show of hands: which four countries would you most trust to introduce a United Nations-backed “international code of conduct for information security” on the Internet? If your list included China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, then you'll love the new code of conduct (PDF) introduced at the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
Smartphone on wheels for a fascinating ride in the back seat
FORGET ''I spy'' and hand-held video games, a team of developers is working on technology that will entertain little ones in the back seat with holograms controlled by motion sensors. Three-dimensional images are projected into the back seat to entertain passengers, who control the action with gestures rather than hand-held devices.
| Gardening, Farming & Homesteading |
Whose Side Is the USDA Really On?
Last week, USDA secretary Tom Vilsack gave a clear directive to his department’s new Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21): come up with a plan to compensate organic and conventional farmers whose crops become contaminated because of genetically engineered foods. Monsanto might now have to treat organic farmers fairly and pay them for the damage caused by the contamination? Or does the USDA actually have in mind a new protection scheme for Monsanto—a legal shelter that will limit Monsanto’s future monetary damages?
E. Coli Concern Prompts Washington Raw Milk Recall
Pride & Joy Creamery, a dairy farm in Eastern Washington state, has recalled its raw milk because it may be contaminated with E. coli, a bacteria that can cause serious illness, according to a news release issued by the state's Agriculture Department at the dairy's request. Tim Church, spokesman for the state's Health Department, told Food Safety News that since August, there have been four cases of children sickened with E. coli, possibly caused by raw milk. All of the children said they drank raw milk.
Second Go at Animal Disease Traceability Hits Bumps
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is experiencing a hailstorm of opposition to its new animal disease traceability system as the proposal reaches the halfway point in the comment period that ends November 9. If most of more than 160 comments sent to APHIS to date are any indication, the new plan is roughly as unpopular as NAIS was. "What part of 'NO' is beyond your comprehension?" asks Laura Richardson of Deer Lodge, TN. "This latest salvo from USDA is NAIS all over again."
Get Your Hands Dirty: 9 excellent blogs for beginning gardeners
There's something about getting your fingers into the soil, planting seeds, and watching as things magically start to grow. Whether you've got several acres to play with or plan on borrowing space from a gardening co-op like Hyperlocavore, you can find tons of gardening apps to help you get started.
| Miscellaneous |
A 'Mike Tawse Original' Thought For The Day - Make The Best Of Every Opportunity
From our good friend Mike Tawse in the UK.
Law Firm Investigating Animal Feed Flavoring Plant
Pet Food Flavoring, seen on labels as 'natural flavor', is another one of those little secrets of pet food manufacturing. An investigation by a law firm could provide us with a little more information as to what 'natural flavor' really is.
A magnetosphere is formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the intrinsic magnetic field of a planet or similar body. Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere, as are the other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields: Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LASCO_Large_Angle_and_Spectrometric_Coronagraph
The Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) is one of a number of instruments aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite (SOHO). LASCO consists of three solar coronagraphs with nested fields of view
Solar Update: Solar Activity increased somewhat with multiple C-Class flares taking place within the past 24 hours. The largest of these flares was a near M-Class flare (C9.5) which took place off the western limb.Sunspot 1289 has rotated onto the western limb and out of direct earth view. Sunspot 1295 remains the largest of the visible earth facing groups and may produce an M-Class flare.
| World News |
Lloyd's insurer sues Saudi Arabia for 'funding 9/11 attacks'
A Lloyd's insurance syndicate has begun a landmark legal case against Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of indirectly funding al-Qa'ida and demanding the repayment of £136m it paid out to victims of the 9/11 attacks. The Brighton-based Lloyd's 3500 syndicate, which paid $215m compensation to companies and individuals involved, alleges that the oil-rich Middle Eastern superpower bears primary responsibility for the atrocity because al-Qa'ida was supported by banks and charities acting as "agents and alter egos" for the Saudi state.
In UN week, Saudi says to ease Palestinian crisis
(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will pay $200 million to the Palestinian Authority, the official Palestinian news agency said on Monday, funds that will ease a financial crisis faced by the authority as it prepares to apply for full U.N. membership this week.
AP Exclusive: Police investigate Iran nuke expert
VIENNA (AP) — A colleague of a nuclear scientist shot dead recently in Tehran is being investigated by Iranian security services who suspect him of leaking information leading to the killing, says an intelligence summary shared with The Associated Press. The report by an International Atomic Energy Agency member nation identifies the colleague as Mojtaba Dadashnejad. It says he worked with the victim, Darioush Rezaeinejad, on suspected Iranian attempts to make a component used in nuclear weapons.
Libyan fighters take airport near pro-Gadhafi city
TRIPOLI, Libya — Facing little resistance, revolutionary fighters captured the airport and other parts of a southern desert city that is one of the last remaining strongholds of Moammar Gadhafi's forces Monday, even as military offensives stalled to the north. The capture of Sabha would be a welcome victory for Libya's new rulers, who have struggled to rout forces loyal to Gadhafi a month after sweeping into Tripoli and forcing the ousted leader into hiding. He has not been found.
Yemen protesters storm elite military base; 50 die
SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Thousands of protesters backed by military defectors seized a base of the elite Republican Guards on Monday, weakening the control of Yemen's embattled president over this poor, fractured Arab nation. His forces fired on unarmed demonstrators elsewhere in the capital, killing scores, wounding hundreds and sparking international condemnation. The protesters, joined by soldiers from the renegade 1st Armored Division, stormed the base without firing a single shot, according to witnesses and security officials. Some carried sticks and rocks.
S&P cuts Italy ratings one notch, outlook negative
Sept 20 (Reuters) - Standard and Poor's downgraded its unsolicited ratings on Italy by one notch to A/A-1 and kept its outlook on negative, a major surprise that threatens to add to concerns of contagion in the debt-stressed euro zone.
Palestinian push for statehood jeopardizes US aid
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas have repeatedly been warned: Pursue statehood recognition at the United Nations and risk losing millions in U.S. aid. For months, congressional Republicans and Democrats have threatened to cut off some $500 million in economic and security assistance to the Palestinians if they defy the United States and Israel by seeking statehood.
Greece seeks to avoid ‘humiliation’ with more cuts
Greece will try to avoid international "blackmail and humiliation" by speeding up reforms and civil-service staff cuts, the finance minister said Monday, hours before holding an emergency teleconference with creditors. Greece's international bailout creditors stepped up the pressure at the start of a crucial week in the nearly two-year debt crisis, urging the government to do more to heal its finances. Global markets were skeptical, however, and stocks fell sharply on fears Athens will default on its mountain of debt.
UBS starts probe into $2.3 billion rogue trade loss
ZURICH (Reuters) - UBS has kicked off an internal investigation into the catastrophic failure of its risk systems after rogue equity trades cost the Swiss bank $2.3 billion, raising the pressure on top management.
| U.S. News, Politics & Government |
Three Quarters of "Homeland Security" Grant Money Goes to Jewish Causes
"There’s good reason for the Jewish community to be proud. A Forward analysis of the 995 grants distributed through the national program from 2007 to 2010 found that 734, or 73.7%, went to Jewish organizations. DHS announced its grants for 2011 in late August, and here, too, Jewish groups were the big winners, with 81% of those awards."
Google / Fox News Debate, Thursday 9/22
On September 22, the Republican primary candidates will meet in Orlando, Florida for the Fox News/Google Debate - and they’ll be answering YOUR questions. Submit your question now for the chance to have it asked live during the debate!
American Military is too top-heavy
Some serious restructuring in the United States military has led to the US hiring more and more highly paid senior officers to oversee fewer and fewer low-ranking personnel. POGO told a Senate panel on Thursday that admirals and generals, who start off with a base salary of over $227,000 annually, are doing work that could easily be carried out by junior officers.
New 24-hour hotline unveiled in Illinois -- to help illegal immigrants facing deportation
Modeled after those for the homeless or victims of domestic violence, the "first-in-nation" crisis hotline will serve callers 24 hours a day. It launches Monday afternoon at Jane Addams Hull House. Volunteers will take calls and direct people facing deportation to lawyers and social service agencies by asking them a checklist of questions to help determine the right course of action.
Ron Paul Cheated Out of Texas Straw Poll Win?
Ron Paul is riding high again after his California Straw Poll victory yesterday, but some Paul supporters are questioning why the Texas Straw Poll was cancelled for “lack of interest,” and whether it was actually killed because the Congressman would have inflicted an embarrassing defeat on Governor Rick Perry in his own state.
Blackout: CNN, Fox, and MSNBC Ignore Thousands Of US Day Of Rage Protesters
Even though estimates have varied from hundreds to as many as 50,000 protesters flooded into Manhattan and others cities to take part in events around the country to, “nonviolently disrupt the disloyal, incompetent, and corrupt special interests which have usurped our nation’s civil and military power, spawning a host of threats to our liberty, lives and national security,” the three cable news networks have devoted no airtime to the story.
Wall Street Protests Continue, With at Least 6 Arrested
In a continuation of the demonstrations that began on Saturday, nearly 200 protesters marched along Wall Street and other parts of the financial district Monday morning, brandishing American flags and signs denouncing the economic system. At least six of them were arrested.
| Economy |
Geithner: US has 'huge stake' in Euro crisis
Geithner, just back from a trip to Poland in which he reportedly expressed concern of a "catastrophic risk" to markets from the Greek debt crisis, said at the White House that Europe had the will to combat its challenges.
Obama's urgent jobs plan: Right now, 'right now' means sometime next month maybe
Well, here we are on the next Monday after that next Monday and we've just learned from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin, that actually it seems that body won't really be seriously getting into the legislation for a while yet. The Senate has some other more important business to handle. And then there's this month's congressional vacation, which in Washington is called "a recess," like elementary school.
Obama Proposes New Czar
Instead, in the American Jobs Act, Obama is proposing a new group of czars as a part of his "jobs" act-- the American Infrastructure Financing Authority (AIFA) czars. President Obama’s newest czars will be given the authority to manage over a trillion dollars of federal funding for roads, bridges, buildings, waterways, dams and other infrastructure.
President Obama deficit plans back ending Saturday mail
President Obama supports allowing the U.S. Postal Service to stop delivering mail on Saturdays and to start selling items other than stamps and shipping supplies at post offices nationwide, according to his deficit reduction proposals released Monday.
To save money, federal government buying in bulk
Starting this week, several federal agencies and departments will pool their purchases of office printers, copiers and scanners in hopes of collectively saving $600 million in the next four years, administration officials said late Friday. The move, known as “strategic sourcing” in government contracting circles, is also forcing agencies to take a serious inventory of their supplies.
The Real Reasons That NWO Buffett Supports Higher Taxes and Obama
The reason Buffet likes more taxes is that he is a billionaire. Does Buffet make income off his investments; sure he does. Yet the great bulk of Buffett's, Bill Gate's and the International Bankers great wealth is NOT in income -its in assets. Do you ever hear Obama or Buffett or even the Communists championing an asset tax (not that they should)? When you are a billionaire you are worried about protecting assets-not income.
Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne announces support for Rep. Ron Paul's 2012 presidential candidacy
(NaturalNews) In a recent interview on FOX Business, Overstock.com (which was recently rebranded as O.co) founder and CEO Patrick Byrne had a lot to say about the flailing economy, and the fake "recovery" that so many in the business community and in the public naively bought into. And when asked about who he supports in the 2012 presidential election, Byrne vocalized his support for Rep. Ron Paul.
| Housing Market |
America's homeless crisis washes up in Obama's birthplace
Hawaii currently has the third-highest ratio of homelessness of any state in the nation, behind Oregon and Nevada. A recent study by the research firm SMS found that 96,648 Hawaiians are now members of the "hidden homeless" community, a demographic which contains people squatting, living in temporary accommodation, or staying with friends or family members. Another 262,000 people – a staggering one in five residents of the seven islands – are classed as being "at risk" of homelessness.
US mortgage finance head: shift risk from Treasury
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The chief regulator of mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac says restructuring the country's housing finance system may require more mortgage insurance and charging lenders more, steps that could increase borrowing costs.
Paralyzed Oregon man, living on $22,000 a month and able to pay, fights foreclosure
Robert Galanida was a skinny teenager when a drunken driver rammed the pickup he was riding in, hurtling him to the blacktop and paralyzing him from his shoulders down. With the help of multimillion-dollar legal and insurance settlements, he and his mother now live comfortably on annuity payments of $22,000 a month. So they are at a loss as to why his mortgage servicer, Bank of America, has repeatedly tried to evict him from his Tualatin home.
| Energy & Environment |
Breaking News: 60,000 people stood up against nuclear (photos)
An anti-nuc demonstration was held in Tokyo, from Meiji koen. 50,000 people were assumed to attend but at least 60,000 people are in the demonstration for now. From an unconfirmed report, over 100,000 people are in the demonstration at this moment. This time, a lot of lawyers attended at the demonstration, also, they have learnt to take videos of police, so police could not touch the demonstration. Video report here.
4 earthquakes rock Guatemala, 1 confirmed dead
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Four earthquakes struck the southeastern part of Guatemala in less than two hours Monday afternoon, causing at least one death as some walls collapsed, authorities said. At least three people were reported missing. President Alvaro Colom urged calm after the temblors were felt across much of the Central American country, the largest a 5.8 magnitude. All were centered in an area about 30 miles (51 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Guatemala City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
Life After An EMP Attack: No Power, No Food, No Transportation, No Banking And No Internet
Most Americans do not know this, but a single EMP attack could potentially wipe out most of the electronics in the United States and instantly send this nation back to the 1800s. Just imagine a world where nobody has power, most cars will not start, the Internet has been fried, the financial system is offline indefinitely, nobody can make any phone calls and virtually all commerce across the entire country is brought to a complete stop.
New Database Shows Spate of Congressional Attacks on the Environment
Dubbing it the “most anti-environment House in history,” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a new searchable database last week listing a staggering 125 pieces of legislation that will reduce environmental protection. The bills, introduced and passed by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives, are aimed at limiting the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal institutions tasked with upholding environmental laws set in place to protect human and environmental health.
White House Blocks EPA Chemical Health Review
Bowing to pressure from the chemical industry, the administration of President Barack Obama recently blocked a new and desperately needed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review of chemical health hazards which was developed under the agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), according to Daniel Rosenberg of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Thousands march against nuclear power in Tokyo
TOKYO (AP) — Chanting "Sayonara nuclear power" and waving banners, tens of thousands of people marched in central Tokyo on Monday to call on Japan's government to abandon atomic energy in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident.
| Health |
Contents, Benefits and Uses of the Bay Leaf
The bay leaf is an astringent, diuretic and antiseptic, and has a number of health benefits. The antioxidants in the leaf impart it with anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, these phytonutrients protect against cardiac problems. The antioxidant vitamin C gives the bay leaf anti-viral properties; it also boosts immunity, heals wounds and neutralizes the harmful effects of free radicals. Vitamin A is required for healthy skin and membranes, good vision.
Resveratrol and vitamin D synergistically team to boost metabolism and prevent obesity
(NaturalNews) Resveratrol has been on the nutritional radar of researchers because of its proven ability to mimic some of the life-extending characteristics provided by calorie restriction as seen in animals and humans alike. Scientists publishing in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research draw a solid link between resveratrol, vitamin D and other phytonutrients as agents that may lend a helping hand in the life-threatening battle against overweight and obesity.
Researchers find side effect-free natural way to slash stroke risk by half
(NaturalNews) It is common sense that eating a healthy diet should help prevent disease. But Big Pharma must surely have superior elixirs, pills, potions and shots when it comes to serious prevention of the big killer diseases like stroke, right?
Warning of more cases of flu vaccine disorder
A SUPPORT group for parents who believe their children developed a chronic sleeping disorder after receiving the swine flu vaccine Pandemrix has said there are “a lot more” undiagnosed cases.
Nanoparticles Cause Brain Injury In Fish
Scientists at the University of Plymouth have shown, for the first time in an animal, that nanoparticles have a detrimental effect on the brain and other parts of the central nervous system.
Study shows increased mammograms result in more mastectomies
The study drew on data from Norway's national breast cancer screening program for 35,000 women aged 40 to 79 diagnosed with early or invasive breast cancers. Oslo researchers discovered a 31% increased risk of mastectomy among women invited to receive mammograms compared with a non-invited younger age group.
The idea that one can get proper nutrition from diet alone is largely a myth
Decades of over-farming has left the world's top soils severely depleted of essential minerals. For the most part, the only minerals replaced have been those needed for optimal growth and not vital minerals such as magnesium which are needed for optimal health.
VIDEO: Gardasil – If A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, Then A Video Report, Or Two, Or Three, Or SEVEN
MUST be worth an indictment, Right? Somebody going to jail? Or at least being arrested and tried for crimes against Humanity? Or at least the deaths of these People? Somebody needs to be held accountable…Rick Perry might know who those somebodies are.
Prescription Drug Deaths Now Outnumber Traffic Fatalities in U.S.
In 2009, drugs exceeded the amount of traffic-related deaths, killing at least 37,485 people nationwide. According to information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the very pharmaceuticals that are prescribed to treat life-endangering conditions are now ending lives. The death toll is partially due to an increase in mental illness medication known as psychotropics, which have been criticized by health experts as being oftentimes unnecessarily prescribed.
| Science & Technology |
Man faces $675k in fines again for downloading music
A 2009 copyright case aimed at Tenenbaum found him responsible for a $675,000 verdict to be awarded to five record labels after he admitted to illegally sharing music online. The Obama administration has supported the fines of nearly $700,000 and have also taken the side of the appeals court in that Judge Gertner should not have questioned the constitutionality, reports Wired.
| Gardening, Farming & Homesteading |
USDA Seizes 1,000 Personal Lemon Trees, Threatens Fed Raid
Donovan never imagined that buying a simple lemon tree three years ago would come back to haunt her. The lemon tree was under a quarantine at the time of purchase but three years later, the USDA demanded seizure with tedious instructions for removal although there were no signs of disease. The original article made it sound as though Donovan was glad to comply but actually she protested the USDA’s intrusion. She was threatened with a search warrant and visit from the feds, if she did not comply! The USDA made 1,000 similar seizures.
Northeast Having A Pumpkin Shortage
If you live in the Northeast you'll want to buy your pumpkins early this year because they're going to run out fast, as we guessed last week. A rainy summer and flooding from Irene have ruined many pumpkin crops. Now that the official harvest has come in, it looks like instead of hunting for The Great Pumpkin, most people will just be hunting for "a" pumpkin.
As ranchers in drought areas sell cows, others buy
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — The drought in the Southwest may help 29-year-old Chad Bicker get to his goal of being a full-time farmer and rancher by the time he's 40. As farmers in Texas and other bone-dry areas sell cattle because they can't grow hay or afford to buy feed, Bicker has been buying animals for his farm in Illinois. Cattle experts in areas not affected by drought say they're seeing a lot of farmers like Bicker take advantage of rising beef prices and cattle sales in dry areas to expand their businesses. Beef prices have risen because of strong export demand from Asia and a relatively low supply in the U.S.
| Miscellaneous |
Finnegan the Squirrel
For about as long as she can remember, Debby Cantlon says, friends and strangers have brought her animals in need. So it wasn't much of a surprise when someo
