Category: Aggregated

In the past week, the flood of undocumented and unregistered Middle Eastern and African migrants into the EU has become an inundation. The high water mark of the human tide is located in Hungary, which is not a logical outcome despite the country’s geographical position at the center of Europe. Understanding why is the key to understanding what is happening not in but  to Europe. After allowing unregistered migrants to board eastbound trains to Vienna and Munich, Hungary suddenly closed Budapest’s grand Keleti Train Station on Tuesday to migrants seeking transport to Germany via Austria and the Czech Republic. Thousands … Continue reading →

The huge military parade held in Beijing this week was billed as a commemoration of China’s role in World War II.  Over 15 million Chinese died in its eight-year resistance to Japanese invasion. China’s supreme leader, Xi Jinping, dressed in a finely tailored Mao suit, stood atop the Forbidden City’s Gate of Heavenly Peace to observe 12,000 troops and a legion of armored vehicles, missile carriers, and warplanes. Interestingly, Xi underlined that China’s political development is based on Marxist-Leninist theory and the thinking of Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping. China rightly observed that the West has long ignored, its important … Continue reading →

Paul Krugman is world-weary. He’s tired of being correct, tired of others being incorrect, and tired of the media for failing to make all of this known. He’s especially tired of Ron Paul. From his latest New York Times blog: Almost 15 years have passed since I warned about media “balance” that involved systematically abdicating the journalistic duty of informing readers about simple matters of fact. As I said way back when, If a presidential candidate were to declare that the earth is flat, you would be sure to see a news analysis under the headline ”Shape of the Planet: Both Sides Have a Point.” … Continue reading →

There are some things you simply never want to say at work. These phrases carry special power: they have an uncanny ability to make you look bad even when the words are true. Worst of all, there’s no taking them back once they slip out. I’m not talking about shocking slips of the tongue, off-color jokes, or politically incorrect faux pas. These aren’t the only ways to make yourself look bad. Often it’s the subtle remarks—the ones that paint us as incompetent and unconfident—that do the most damage. No matter how talented you are or what you’ve accomplished, there are … Continue reading →

“Obama to Call for More Icebreakers in Arctic as U.S. Seeks Foothold,” so says the New York Times.  Let’s see what lies are given for this action: President Obama on Tuesday proposed speeding the acquisition and building of new Coast Guard icebreakers that can operate year round in the nation’s polar regions, part of an effort to close the gap between the United States and other nations, especially Russia, in a global competition to gain a foothold in the rapidly changing Arctic. Keep that “especially Russia” part in mind. Apparently global warming is opening new opportunities: The retreat of Arctic … Continue reading →

In the early days of central banking, one primary objective of the new system was to take ownership of the public’s gold, so that in a crisis the public would be unable to withdraw it. Gold was to be replaced by fiat cash which could be issued by the central bank at will. This removed from the public the power to bring a bank down by withdrawing their property. A primary, if unspoken, objective of modern central banking is to do the same with fiat cash itself. There are of course other reasons for this course of action. Governments insist … Continue reading →

A frequent theme nowadays is “Why do they hate us?” meaning why does so much of the world detest the United States. The reasons given are usually absurd: They hate our freedom or democracy. They hate us for our cultural superiority. They hate us because we are wonderful. No. Actually the reason is simple if unpalatable. They hate us because we meddle, and have meddled. They hate us because we are the most murderous nation on the planet. They hate our insufferable smugness. People remember slights. They may not remember them as they actually happened, but they remember them. The … Continue reading →

Have you ever noticed that many commercial cleaning products come with a fine print that reads something like, “hazardous to humans and domestic animals”? Though what we want is a product that will kill germs and make our windows, dishes, sinks, toilets, and floors sparkle, what we don’t want is to harm ourselves, our loved ones, or the environment. And it’s scary to think we’re spraying and scrubbing the space we call home with toxins that could be doing more harm than good. With chemicals currently being used daily in our society and making up an astonishing 96 percent of … Continue reading →

Even in the age of credit cards and online payments, most of us still handle legal tender every single day without ever stopping to look more closely at how money is designed. You probably hadn’t noticed, for example, that most notes boast tiny words scattered about the larger images. Here are 15 of those hidden microprints. A word of warning if you’re a hands-on type who’s pulling out his or her wallet right about now: you’re going to need a microscope. THE $5 BILL 1. Along the left and right borders are the words “FIVE DOLLARS“. Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain 2. … Continue reading →

Most people are familiar with parsley as a food garnish; yet, it’s often used as a mere decoration and is usually discarded. But did you know that when it comes to herbs that promote superior body cleansing, parsley is one that’s high on the list? Toxins, chemicals, and toxic metals — none of these stand a chance against this nutritional powerhouse. [1] It’s rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and ascorbic acid, and its benefits have been known for centuries. How Parsley Helps Cleanse Your Body Similarly to cilantro, parsley acts as a natural diuretic. [2] Your urine is a … Continue reading →

Glenn Beck, acting in his self-appointed role as a punitive populist prophet, has urged his audience to join “hand-in-hand, arm-in-arm,” and “ring” their local police departments in prayer. The local police are “under siege,” Beck tremulously insists, and divine intervention on their behalf is necessary. Beck hasn’t yet urged Americans to act as human shields on behalf of the heavily armed, body armor-clad functionaries who are supposedly paid to protect them. Some police union officials haven’t shied away from suggesting that the public has a moral duty to protect the police, despite the fact that police have no reciprocal obligation … Continue reading →