Clipmarks | Geshizar's clips

Educating The Sheeple

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 05:44:34 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: The Movie.

"We can all see how other people's Belief System makes them blind and 'stupid' at times, but we find it very hard to notice how our own BS is doing the same to us. This is what anthropologists call 'acculturalization.' Following Gurdjieff, I prefer to call it hypnosis... Every politician knows how to induce hypnosis, and very damned few people on the whole planet know how to de-hypnotize themselves. The world is not governed by facts or logic. It is governed by Belief Systems." Robert Anton Wilson

Tags: documentary. politics. video

Bush Crony's $10 Oil Refinery Seeks U.S. Government Guarantees

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:51:52 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.counterpunch.org

ike Dr. Stockmann in Henrik Ibsen’s play, An Enemy of the People, Ed Cable, a construction consultant living in Union County, South Dakota, is trying to warn the residents of the county about the dangers of permitting an oil refinery to be constructed on the pristine farmlands in southeastern South Dakota.

In a modern day re-enactment of the Ibsen play, Cable leads a group opposing the projected oil refinery in Union County, which is about as far from an oil well as one can get. His effort has been to sound an alarm to people about the major problems that will come with such a project, i.e., the pollution, the problems that will come with a massive influx of construction workers, and the lack of adequate hospitals and law enforcement to service such an influx. He has found it as difficult as Dr. Stockmann to overcome the promise of money flowing into the area because of the refinery’s construction.

Big Oil's Raid on the Great Plains

Tags: oil, bush croneys

Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:47:02 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.climatescience.gov

Final Report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.6

CCSP, 2008: Analyses of the effects of global change on human health and welfare and human systems. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. [Gamble, J.L. (ed.), K.L. Ebi, F.G. Sussman, T.J. Wilbanks, (Authors)]. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA

Tags: global warming, climate change

The Ying and Yang of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Position on Climate Change

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:44:22 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.enn.com

Less than a week after releasing its response to the April 2007 Supreme Court ruling that the EPA should take action to assess the risk of greenhouse gas emissions and regulate those emissions unless there is a good scientific reason for not doing so, the EPA issued a report entitled Analyses of the Effects of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems.

On one hand the EPA asserts using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions would be “irresponsible” and too much of an economic burden and on the other it warns of the “substantial” threats to human health in the coming decades.

The peer-reviewed report was prepared by The Global Change Research Program within the EPA Office of Research and Development. The program integrates the research of 13 federal agencies on global warming and climate change.

Tags: climate, epa, global warming

The Death of Reaganomics

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:18:45 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: axisoflogic.com

The biggest political story of 2008 is getting little coverage. It involves the collapse of assumptions that have dominated our economic debate for three decades.

Since the Reagan years, free-market cliches have passed for sophisticated economic analysis. But in the current crisis, these ideas are falling, one by one, as even conservatives recognize that capitalism is ailing.

You know the talking points: Regulation is the problem and deregulation is the solution. The distribution of income and wealth doesn't matter. Providing incentives for the investors of capital to "grow the pie" is the only policy that counts. Free trade produces well-distributed economic growth, and any dissent from this orthodoxy is "protectionism."

The old script is in rewrite. "We are in a worldwide crisis now because of excessive deregulation," Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said in an interview.

Tags: economics, deregulation, capitalism

Russia to 'neutralise' US missile defence threat

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:08:20 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Russia's military is ready to "neutralise" any threat to its nuclear deterrent from US missile defence sites in Europe, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said Monday, according to Interfax news agency.

"If we see the development of systems that could reduce our deterrent potential, our military will have to take steps to neutralise the threat," Kislyak was quoted as saying at a briefing in Moscow.

He did not specify the steps that would be taken, saying "this will be decided by military specialists."

"We would prefer not to have to do this," he added.

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Moscow in March and offered Russia the opportunity to monitor the sites, which they plan to install in the Czech Republic and Poland, but Czech and Polish officials later cast doubt on that offer.

Tags: us missile defence, russia, military

Digital TV, Costly changeover?

Thu, 01 May 2008 22:26:26 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: Sounds like if you are a basic cable subscriber you may be screwed. But like most things this has more to do with back-scatching, palm greasing and huge amounts of money more then anything else.

Clip Source: www.tulsaworld.com

Cable viewers could bear brunt of digital conversion

WASHINGTON — For months, TV viewers have been told by government, by industry and by the media that if they already subscribe to cable, there’s no need to worry about the coming transition to digital broadcasting.

So cable customer Doris Spurk was surprised to learn that thanks to the transition, she would have to rent a converter box for $5.95 per month, per television set, plus pay for a $60 service call to install it. With five televisions in her home, the conversion would increase her bill by 75 percent.

But the 28 million customers who receive analog service — meaning they probably plug their cable wire straight into the back of their set and do not have a set-top box — may have reason to worry. (Satellite customers, except in rare instances, aren’t affected.)

Tags: digital, tv, change over

Is War With Iran Imminent?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:02:47 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: I guess we will just have to activate the Boy and Girl Scouts. Regular troops are getting a tad bit thin.

Clip Source: www.antiwar.com

The shooting has already started in the Persian Gulf – and chances are we'll be at war with Iran before President Bush's term is up. An American ship under contract with the U.S. Navy – the Western Venture – claims it was in international waters when Iranian speedboats approached and failed to answer radio calls. Shots were fired on the American side. Iran denies the whole thing. Yet you'll recall that in the last incident, involving the capture of British sailors, the story about being in international waters was the same – except, it turns out, they weren't in international waters, but in disputed waters, just as we speculated in this space. There's no reason to expect anything different this time. Clearly, the U.S. and Britain are trying to trigger a new conflict with the most brazen provocations, and they don't really care how it happens – only that it does.

Tags: not my kids, iraq, iran, inept leaders, military, war on terror

Germany plans to take in Christian Iraqi refugees

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:12:20 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: • U.N. estimates 2 million Iraqis have left their country since war began
• U.S. tells U.N. it will try to resettle 7,000 Iraqi refugees in United States this year
• So far, U.S. has taken in 466 Iraqi refugees
• New U.S. plan calls for $18 million for refugee aid, placement in other countries

Because we certainly don't want them here. Create a crisis and let other take care of the messy leftovers.

Clip Source: mathaba.net

German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has spoken out in favor of taking in a large contingent of the hundreds of thousands of Christians who have fled Iraq to refugee camps in Jordan.

BERLIN, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Germany has a plan to take in tens of thousands of Christian Iraqi refugees, German Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said here on Monday.

Beyer told press that Berlin is to seek the support from the European Union (EU) for the plan, which will benefit tens of thousands of Christians who have given up hope that their ancient community in Iraq can survive.

German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has spoken out in favor of taking in a large contingent of the hundreds of thousands of Christians who have fled Iraq to refugee camps in Jordan.

Beyer said a German invitation was "mutually conditional" on a joint EU agreement to take in the refugees, but refused to be drawn on how Berlin would react if EU ministers disagreed at an upcoming meeting.

Tags: refugee, justice, iraq, politics, united states, war on terror

Team-Building or Torture? Court Will Decide.

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:52:19 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

PROVO, Utah -- No one really disputes that Chad Hudgens was waterboarded outside a Provo office park last May 29, right before lunch, by his boss

There is also general agreement that Hudgens volunteered for the "team-building exercise," that he lay on his back with his head downhill, and that co-workers knelt on either side of him, pinning the young sales rep down while their supervisor poured water from a gallon jug over his nose and mouth

And it's widely acknowledged that the supervisor, Joshua Christopherson, then told the assembled sales team, whose numbers had been lagging: "You saw how hard Chad fought for air right there. I want you to go back inside and fight that hard to make sales."

Prosper Inc. maintains that what the supervisor did, while unauthorized, overzealous and misguided, falls far short of torture, and in fact was not nearly as bad as Hudgens makes out in his quest for damages.

Tags: dumb asses

US Gave Polygamists No-Bid Defense Contracts

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:48:55 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.newshoggers.com

By now you've heard about the 416 children, many young girls who it is alleged were abused by their far older "spiritual husbands", who have been removed by the State from the Texas compound of the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

What you may not have heard about is that the US government gave a company owned by FLDS honchos a nearly $1 million loan from the federal government and $1.2 million in military contracts - despite a 2005 lawsuit alleging that cult members worked for the company on cult orders for little or no pay.

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, the Fort Worth Republican who sits on the House Appropriations Committee that deals with issues of defense, military and homeland security, said she is surprised that the federal government is doing business with a group accused of mistreating women and children.

Tags: flds, polygamists, us government

Haitians Riot, Loot Over Food Prices

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:23:46 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: ap.google.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Hungry Haitians stormed the presidential palace Tuesday to demand the resignation of President Rene Preval over soaring food prices and U.N. peacekeepers battled rioters with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Rioters were chased away from the presidential palace but by late afternoon had left trails of destruction across Port-au-Prince. Concrete barricades and burned-out cars blocked streets, while windows were smashed and buildings set on fire from the capital's center up through its densely populated hills.

"We are hungry! He must go!" protesters shouted as they tried to break into the presidential palace by charging its chained gates with a rolling dumpster. Moments later, Brazilian soldiers in blue U.N. helmets arrived on jeeps and assault vehicles, firing rubber bullets and tear gas canisters and forcing protesters away from the gates.

Tags: food. haiti

Ecovillages everywhere

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:14:26 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: This community is about 50 miles south of me outside Fairfield Iowa. Home of Maharishi International University. Fairfield hosts an Eco-Fair every year, and has the most homes with solar energy or other green building features in Iowa. Happy to say that my own house will be off the grid by mid July. Yahoo.

Clip Source: www.off-grid.net

Abundance Ecovillage is a small, friendly community in Iowa, with 14 houses either built or under construction. It relies on a wind turbine and solar panels for electricity and is self-sufficient for water. Its part of a burgeoning trend all over America.

The infrastructure was already in place when Stacey Hurlin and her husband bought their house and moved in. There was just one catch: a $35,000 one-time fee that covered utility maintenance for her 950-square-foot, $115,000 home and various community projects.

Hurlin doesn’t regret the decision. “It’s remarkable how little we’ve had to compromise our lifestyle to live here,” said Hurlin. “I can’t say I’m living a sparse life. … It’s a lovely home.”

Developer Lonnie Gamble said filtered rainwater and a pond provide water for the community, while a constructed wetland uses plants to break down and clean the sewage.

Tags: environment, energy

Bin Laden: Goal is to bankrupt U.S.

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:16:54 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar
clipper's remarks: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED?

Clip Source: edition.cnn.com

(CNN) -- The Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera released a full transcript Monday of the most recent videotape from Osama bin Laden in which the head of al Qaeda said his group's goal is to force America into bankruptcy.

Al-Jazeera aired portions of the videotape Friday but released the full transcript of the entire tape on its Web site Monday.

"We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah," bin Laden said in the transcript.

He said the mujahedeen fighters did the same thing to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s, "using guerrilla warfare and the war of attrition to fight tyrannical superpowers."

"We, alongside the mujahedeen, bled Russia for 10 years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat," bin Laden said.

He also said al Qaeda has found it "easy for us to provoke and bait this administration."

Tags: osama. bush, iraq, inept leaders, military, war on terror

How Israeli Troops Brutalize, Smash and Steal

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:09:55 GMT

clipped by: Geshizar

Clip Source: www.counterpunch.org

SAFA ABU SEIF, 12, was fatally wounded as she stood in an upstairs room of her home in the Gaza City district of Jabaliya 10 days ago

She was one of 27 children identified by United Nations staff among the 107 Palestinians who were killed in five days last week. Another 25 dead, including five women, were identified as unarmed non-combatants. The status of 13 more dead victims could not be determined. At least three of the children were reportedly shot in their homes by Israeli small arms or sniper fire.

A Palestinian gunman killed eight Israeli students on Thursday before he was killed himself. An Israeli soldier was also killed that day. Two Israeli soldiers died in action in the early stages of a three-day incursion into Jabaliya, and an Israeli civilian was killed by Palestinian rocket fire on the first day of the surge in violence.

Tags: isral, freedom, military, politics, religon