A man paddles his canoe down the river Garry near Killiekrankie, Scotland. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Pictures of the day
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Chris Hatfield's, "An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth"
Canadian
astronaut Chris Hadfield leaves the stage after singing at the Canada
Day celebrations on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Monday July, 1, 2013.
Hadfield is entering a new kind of frontier ó the literary world. Photograph by: FRED CHARTRAND
, THE CANADIAN PRESS... Read here...
[link]
Peres: Israel Has Secret Weapons - Israel Today
by Ryan Jones:
Israel's air force is globally recognized as one of the best. But it also possesses hidden weapons that have never before been seen, Israeli President Shimon Peres cautioned last week.
"Not all of the IDF's and the air force's capabilities are open to view. Whoever derides us and seeks to harass us should take this into account," Peres said during a visit to the large Palmachim Air Force base.
The remarks were taken as a none-too-subtle warning to regional enemies like Iran and its proxies in Gaza and Lebanon.
IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Benny Gantz followed the president by stating, "We are ready 365 days a year, at any range and facing any challenge. ...The air force is our main system for deterrence, offensive and defensive action, and has fantastic technological abilities."
While there is no doubting Israel's military prowess and technological capacity, many both in Israel and among its supporters abroad would argue that the Jewish state's true "secret weapon" is none other than the Almighty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested as much from the podium of the UN General Assembly last month.
Netanyahu pointed out that despite the odds being stacked against them, the Jews had reestablished their ancient nation-state in direct accordance with the Word of God. And, as the Bible clearly states, "people of Israel have come home never to be uprooted again," concluded the Israeli leader.
A survey conducted by Israel Today last year found that while nearly all Israelis are proud of their army, a firm majority ultimately places its trust in God for deliverance from the nation's enemies. Read here.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Ten Steps You Can Take Right Now Against Internet Surveillance
Still from “We Live in Public,” via We Live In Public, Fair Use [image]
One of the trends we've seen is how, as the word of the NSA's spying has spread, more and more ordinary people want to know how (or if) they can defend themselves from surveillance online. But where to start?
The bad news is: if you're being personally targeted by a powerful intelligence agency like the NSA, it's very, very difficult to defend yourself. The good news, if you can call it that, is that much of what the NSA is doing is mass surveillance on everybody. With a few small steps, you can make that kind of surveillance a lot more difficult and expensive, both against you individually, and more generally against everyone.
Here's ten steps you can take to make your own devices secure. This isn't a complete list, and it won't make you completely safe from spying. But every step you take will make you a little bit safer than average. And it will make your attackers, whether they're the NSA or a local criminal, have to work that much harder...Ten Steps here...
‘Unbelievable’: Here Is the Incredibly Wild Play That Ended Game 3 of the World Series
by
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Third baseman Will
Middlebrooks tripped Allen Craig for a game-ending obstruction call on
Jon Jay’s ninth-inning grounder, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a
bizarre 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night and a 2-1
World Series lead.
Boston had tied the score with two runs
in the eighth, and Yadier Molina singled with one out in the ninth off
loser Brandon Workman. Craig pinch hit and lined Koji Uehara’s first
pitch down the left-field line for a double that put runners on second
and third.
With the infield in, Jay hit a grounder
to diving second baseman Dustin Pedroia. He threw home to catcher
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who tagged out the sliding Molina. Saltalamacchia
threw offline past third, and Middlebrooks, with his stomach on the
field, raised both legs and tripped Craig...Read here...
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[gif]Saturday, October 26, 2013
Meet the Child Who Feels No Pain
By GILLIAN MOHNEY via Good Morning America
Breaking News
Isaac Brown didn't initially
At age 5, Isaac Brown is learning the alphabet and simple addition. He's also figuring out another vital subject: pain.
Isaac was born with a congenital insensitivity to pain, a disorder that
means he almost never feels pain, even if he breaks a bone.
Because he doesn't feel injuries, Isaac's parents, Carrie and Randy
Brown, are teaching him how to identify them to stay healthy.
"The toddler years were an absolute nightmare," said Isaac's mother,
Carrie Brown. "He would just drop to the ground and smack his face on
the table. He thought the fall was fun."
Isaac has dunked his hand in hot coffee without flinching. He once
placed his palm on a working oven burner without shedding a tear...Continue reading...
Northern Lights: Amazing Aurora Photos of 2013
Credit: © Mike Taylor - Taylor Photography 
SPACE.com Staff. 40 pictures of Northern Lights. www.space.com
SPACE.com Staff. 40 pictures of Northern Lights. www.space.comFriday, October 25, 2013
Johnny Crawford - Your Nose Is Gonna Grow
Johnny Crawford with Chuck Connors in
ABC's The Rifleman (c. 1959) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Crawford
ABC's The Rifleman (c. 1959) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Crawford
. Johnny Crawford - update
Justin Trudeau shares 'steadfast' Keystone XL support in D.C. (???)
Justin Trudeau praying in a mosque - See more at: http://1389blog.com/2013/08/19/now-this-is-disgusting-39/#sthash.cxEeB9wv.dpuf
Justin Trudeau praying in a mosque - See more at: http://1389blog.com/2013/08/19/now-this-is-disgusting-39/#sthash.cxEeB9wv.dpuf
Justin Trudeau praying in a mosque - See more at: http://1389blog.com/2013/08/19/now-this-is-disgusting-39/#sthash.cxEeB9wv.dpuf
[photo]
Justin Trudeau praying in a mosque2
By Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau concluded his first visit to the U.S. capital on Friday after a series of meetings with White House officials and others and following a panel discussion a day earlier where he touted the benefits of building the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
Trudeau appeared Thursday on a panel with Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state, and Julia Gillard, Australia’s former prime minister, at a conference hosted by the Centre for American Progress.
The Montreal MP said during the talk that he supports TransCanada’s proposed pipeline that would carry crude oil from Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast because it would be good for Canada and the U.S.
He acknowledged that his position may have surprised some in an audience that would have included strong critics of the project.
“There were some people who raised an eyebrow, absolutely,” Trudeau told reporters on Friday. “I'm seen as a strong, young progressive with an environmental background. The fact that I'd be talking positively about the project I think got people thinking about the fact that perhaps it's not as bad as it's been caricatured.”
Trudeau added that the pipeline is “an important energy infrastructure” for both countries, will be good for the Canadian economy and that it must be done in a sustainable and properly regulated way...Continue reading...
Justin Trudeau says Enbridge pipeline plan isn’t a good idea Read here.
Hero Dog of the Year 2013
AHA honors Elle the therapy dog, a Pit Bull whose owner hopes will break dog breed stereotypes.
By Nikki Moustaki Everyone’s dog is their hero, but the American Humane Association sifts through the uber-canine-heroes in their annual Hero Dog Awards to crown the winner of all canine heroes. There are eight finalists, many of whom are rescue dogs, and one overall winner. For 2013, the hero of all dogs is a Pit Bull named Elle, pronounced Ellie, from Roanoke Rapids, NC."Elle was nominated in 2012 by her friend Meg on Facebook,” says Leah Brewer, Elle’s owner. "The competition provided a wonderful way to share her story and for her to make many new friends in the dog community. The entire voting campaign was helpful for people to learn more about Elle and the importance of her job as a therapy dog.”
It was an honor for Elle to win this award, but the ripple effect of her designation as "hero” will hopefully resonate through the kennels of shelters all over the nation. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of Pit Bulls who enter shelters are euthanized each year.
Pit Bulls especially are a misunderstood breed, subjected to discriminatory laws. Consider this, from DontBullyMyBreed.org:..Continue reading...
AHA Hero Dog of the Year Elle the Pit Bull with Leah Brewer and Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of AHA Photo: Michael Rueter
Friendship Has No Boundaries
"Nothing warms the heart like animals that are supposed to fight each other abandoning their instincts and becoming best friends forever."
Tunnel May Signal Shift In Hamas-Israel Conflict
 |
Israeli soldiers stand guard inside a tunnel exposed by the
Israeli military near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, just outside the southern
Gaza Strip, Oct. 13, 2013. (photo by REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
|
During a tour of the area near the tunnel's discovery, Al-Monitor learned from Palestinian military sources that the passageway lies 20 meters underground, is 2.5 kilometers long, and has a ceiling high enough to accommodate a man of average height. The tunnel is also remarkably wide. Its construction required 800 tons of concrete and cost an estimated $10 million. Some 100 workers toiled on it for more than two years. It was equipped with a communications network and electricity and contained stockpiles of cookies, yoghurt and other foods to allow for stays of several months.
The Palestinian military sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told Al-Monitor that the tunnel was one of the largest military projects in recent years and a long-term endeavor intended for a military operation to be conducted when those who built the tunnel made the decision to launch it. This suggests that the tunnel may have been intended to kidnap Israeli soldiers or for a military attack against the Israeli army, discussed previously in Al-Monitor...Continue reading...
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
World Series 2013: How Cardinals, Red Sox got here.
Sporting News: But for the Red Sox and Cardinals, what went right? How did these two teams put together the kind of magical run that wins a pennant? As Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster said Tuesday, "Once you get to the playoffs, the separation is a lot smaller than it was during the regular season, and each round it just gets smaller and smaller. You're talking about two great teams that have fought hard all the way since spring training and worked hard to get to where we're at. So have the Cardinals. Those gaps get smaller and smaller, and it just comes down to executing more and more."...Read here...
Friday, October 18, 2013
Abominable Snowman is still living in the Himalayas. The Telegraph
Research by an University of Oxford scientist has found a genetic match between an ancient polar bear and samples said to come from the Yeti - suggesting the creature known as the Abominable Snowman is still living in the Himalayas... Continue reading...
Bacteria-eating viruses found that fight C. diff 'superbugs'
A dead, burst open cell is pictured here with phages escaping. These phages can then repeat the process on other cells. Credit: Samples from Dr. Martha Clokie taken by Stefan Hyman, School of Biological Sciences, University of Leicester. by Marie Ellis:
A potential new victory in the war against antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" lies in the discovery of specific viruses that eat bacteria - called bacteriophages. Researchers in the UK have isolated certain phages, which have been shown to target the infectious hospital bug Clostridium difficile.
C. diff, as the superbug is known, is responsible for 250,000 infections in the US each year and results in 14,000 deaths, the researchers say.
Causing excess medical costs of $1 billion each year, finding a solution to this problem is one of both medical and economic importance.
Dr. Martha Clokie, from the University of Leicester's Department of Infection, Immunity and Infection, has been studying how naturally occurring bacteriophages - which means "eaters of bacteria" - could serve as an alternative to antibiotics...Continue reading...
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Muslim charged after "suspicious package" shuts down Prime Minister's office
Wayne Cuddington / Postmedia News: The
Langevin Block, home of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office, was
evacuated Wednesday and the police bomb squad dispatched while police
investigated a suspicious package. By Stewart Bell TORONTO — A Toronto man has been charged with uttering threats after
the building that houses the office of Prime Minister Stephen Harper was
evacuated hours before Wednesday’s Throne Speech.
Mohamoud Hirsi Jimale, 45, allegedly arrived at the Langevin Building
in Ottawa on Wednesday morning and claimed he had a bomb inside his
briefcase, according to the charge sheet.
The charges gave his home address as 2100 Weston Rd., Toronto, the site of the Humberview Housing Co-op. A woman there, who did not want to be identified, said Mr. Jimale lived in a three-bedroom unit with his wife.Read here.
The charges gave his home address as 2100 Weston Rd., Toronto, the site of the Humberview Housing Co-op. A woman there, who did not want to be identified, said Mr. Jimale lived in a three-bedroom unit with his wife.Read here.
Bush Doesn’t Trust Iran on Israel
BY: 
...“I will not believe in Iran’s peaceful intentions until they can
irrevocably prove that it’s true,” Bush told the 1,200 guests at the
gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations, according to several people in attendance. “The United
States’ foreign policy must be clear eyed and understand that until the
form of government changes in Iran, it is unlikely that their intentions
toward Israel will change.”...Continue reading...
...“I will not believe in Iran’s peaceful intentions until they can
irrevocably prove that it’s true,” Bush told the 1,200 guests at the
gala of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations, according to several people in attendance. “The United
States’ foreign policy must be clear eyed and understand that until the
form of government changes in Iran, it is unlikely that their intentions
toward Israel will change.”...Continue reading...
Native Americans return for pow wow
If you want to journey back in time, follow the beat of the drums this weekend as Native Americans trace the rhythms of their ancestry at Long Hunter State Park, where more than 50 tribes from throughout America and Canada will gather.
Held on ceremonial sacred grounds of Long Hunter Park, located at 2010 Hobson Pike between Interstates 24 and 40, this marks the 32nd annual Native American Indian Associations’ Fall Pow Wow.
At last year’s Pow Wow, one Native American musician described the presence of Geronimo as “America’s last free Indian.”
“Geronimo is as free as the wind,” musician Arvel Bird said as the wind rustled nearby gold-tinted tree leaves on park land that formerly served as hunting grounds for Tennessee’s Cherokee Nation.
“I sing about the man the day before he decided to surrender his freedom,” Bird said. “His spirit lives here among us.”...Continue reading...
Couple won't roll over for pet bylaw. Issue has become dog-eat-dog
By Jeremy Warren, The Starphoenix
The two sides can't seem to find the perfect solution to the months-long dispute, and the town's mayor has resigned in part because of the issue, turning the usual hesaid, she-said of small-town politics into dog-eat-dog.
"It's gotten so ridiculously vicious," said Barbara Schultz, who resigned as mayor this week. "Rules are rules. I think all small towns struggle with pet issues at times."
Doug and Karen Canning moved to Waldheim last year. When Doug sought a fence permit from the town office, he was told about a bylaw enacted in 2008 that restricts property owners to registering up to two dogs and two cats.
The Cannings say the town granted them permission to keep the extra pets, but only if the couple promised not to replace them when a dog and a cat die. Doug registered the six pets and went on his way.
But the town informed the Cannings earlier this year that they have until Nov. 15 to get rid of one cat and one dog or face a $100 fine, which increases to $500 for subsequent violations...Continue reading...
A Waldheim couple must get rid of one of their cats and one of their dogs, or face fines for violating a town bylaw. Photograph by: Submitted photo
A Waldheim couple must get rid of one of their cats and one of their dogs, or face fines for violating a town bylaw.The two sides can't seem to find the perfect solution to the months-long dispute, and the town's mayor has resigned in part because of the issue, turning the usual hesaid, she-said of small-town politics into dog-eat-dog.
"It's gotten so ridiculously vicious," said Barbara Schultz, who resigned as mayor this week. "Rules are rules. I think all small towns struggle with pet issues at times."
Doug and Karen Canning moved to Waldheim last year. When Doug sought a fence permit from the town office, he was told about a bylaw enacted in 2008 that restricts property owners to registering up to two dogs and two cats.
The Cannings say the town granted them permission to keep the extra pets, but only if the couple promised not to replace them when a dog and a cat die. Doug registered the six pets and went on his way.
But the town informed the Cannings earlier this year that they have until Nov. 15 to get rid of one cat and one dog or face a $100 fine, which increases to $500 for subsequent violations...Continue reading...
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By Bill Sanderson Saudi Arabia's King Salman (right) and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef walk to greet President Obama in Riy...
