One-Sided Debate on Gun Control

 I usually like Power and Politics and Evan Solomon is generally a good host, but what was up here? Why did he only have pro-gun supporters in this discussion? Why no one from the other side to raise the public safety concerns? This was a very one sided discussion. You can read more on this topic here.

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Update: We live in a very troubled world

I did this post yesterdsy. Mound of Sound left a great comment. I am posting it here for others to read.

"Don't count on it getting better anytime soon, LD. We're at the 'early onset' stage of climate wars.

Drought in Syria and resulting food shortages are said to have been a major factor in that horrible civil war. Sudan was a water war.

Israel will never give autonomy to the Palestinians for fear of losing control of the aquifer that sits beneath the West Bank.

Iraq is threatened by Turkey and Syria damming the Tigris and Euphrates. Likewise Egypt is endangered by upstream nations beginning to demand a greater share and control of the Nile waters.

Tensions are rising among China, India and Pakistan over access to river flows out of the Himalayas. China pretty obviously conquered Tibet to dominate those great rivers - among them the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra.

States in the American southeast are constantly suing each other and the Army Corps of Engineers over shared access to inadequate freshwater resources. In the southwest, everyone is squabbling over who gets how much of the Colorado and Mexico, meanwhile, is left holding the dirty end of the stick.

In South America watch for squabbles over the Amazon.

In Southeast Asia, nations from China to Vietnam and Laos are gearing up for a fight over the Mekong.

The only countries that don't seem particularly water stressed any more are the extreme northernmost and the extreme southernmost. Every place in between is in some state of water insecurity.

This water insecurity forms the foundation for serious conflict when severe weather events - major and sustained droughts - compound already difficult conditions.

When you're out of water, you're out of luck. Water insecurity means inadequate water for agriculture leading to food insecurity; inadequate supplies for drinking and cooking and inadequate water for hygiene and sanitation (epidemics).

This is all happening, LD, right now and it is threatening the stability of our civilization. Yet as nations and communities of nations we're doing next to bugger all about it. How do you imagine that strategy is going to pay off?

By the way, before I go did I mention that China, India, Pakistan and Israel are well stocked with nuclear warheads and that a few of the other countries involved aren't that far away from developing their own?

As Roy and Dale used to say, "Happy Trails."

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We live in a very troubled world

It is heartbreaking. We humans never learn from history.

Here are some examples:

AFRICA:
Hot Spots: Central African Republic (civil war), Democrati Republic of, Egypt (popular uprising against Government), Mali, Nigeria, Somalia Sudan ,Sout Sudan (civil war)

ASIA:

Hot Spots: Afghanistan ,Burma-Myanmar (war against rebel groups), Pakistan, Philippines

EUROPE:

Hot Spots: ,Dagestan , Ukraine (in Crimea russian people are forming Popular Brigades against new Government created on February 23 2014. Until now have not reported clashes.)

MIDDLE EAST:

Hot Spots: Iraq ,Israel , Syria (civil war), Yemen

AMERICAS:

(5 Countries and 25 between drug cartels, militias-guerrillas, separatist groups and anarchic groups involved)

Hot Spots: Colombia (war against rebel groups), Mexico (war against narcotraffic groups)

Number of Countries involved in wars 60
Number of Militias-guerrillas and separatist groups involved 523

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Artist Saint Hoax turns Obama and Putin into drag queens

It is quite funny. :)

Read more here.

Baricka O'Bisha

Vladdy Pushin'

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Massive sun flare

It is amazing. 

The sun fired off a major solar flare late Feb. 24, making it the most powerful sun eruption of the year so far and one of the strongest in recent years.



Earth isn't in danger from the latest eruption of space weather activity, according to officials with Spaceweather.com, which tracks space weather and stargazing events. Sunspot AR1990 (previously named AR1967) is located on the southeastern limb of the sun, pointed away from Earth. This is the third time this sunspot has rotated onto the Earth-facing side of the sun. CBC

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Traffic reporter: A novel presentation

Bob Herzog of WKRC Cincinnati presents traffic report in his own novel way.

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Piers Morgan done with CNN

It was expected. The guy is terribly boring. It looks his contract will not be renewed.

Read more here.

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Putin in deep thoughts

He is thinking how to deal with Obama.;) He is upset that his buddy Ukraine's president Viktor Yanukovich has been toppled by the Ukrainian Parliament. Putin thinks that that is what Obama wanted.

Is cold war on again?

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Smog in Beijing

It is  getting really bad in Beijing. People on the streets wear masks as well as commuters in the trains wear masks.

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Alberta's oil-sands are polluting groundwater

Harper government will like us to believe that Alberta's oil-sands are safe. However, a recent study has shown that that is not the case.



  New federal research confirms that Alberta’s oilsands are polluting ground water and seeping into the Athabasca River. The industry has maintained that toxic chemicals are contained safely in tailing ponds, but new research shows this isn’t the case.

Read more here.

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Kim Kardashian Insures her Butts For $21 Million

It is a Crazy world.

And there is more:

Dolly Parton supposedly covered her breasts for $600,000.

Mariah Carey reportedly thought her legs were worth a cool $1billion.

David Beckham insured his body for £100million.

Now what damage will entitle them to make a claim? What about age?

Read the story here.

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Jimmy Fallon Lampoons Rob Ford's re-election bid

It is very funny.

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"How A Former General Lost His 'Political Virginity'"

This was a front page headline on The Huff Post yesterday.

Retired general Andrew Leslie might have expected the 

verbal jostling that comes with the rough and tumble of 

politics — after all, both of his grandfathers served as 

Liberal defence ministers. (CP) | CP

.
Lost his 'political virginity'

Leslie may have been prepared for the scrutiny that began last weekend with Conservative MPs questioning his 2012 moving expenses, which totalled $72,225.86 — the bulk of which was likely realtor fees. Leslie moved a couple of blocks under a program that sees the government cover the costs of a final move for members of the Canadian Forces when they leave the military.

Leslie's moving expenses were the subject of two statements by Defence Minister Rob Nicholson, who now occupies a position once held by both Claxton and Andrew McNaughton, his paternal grandfather.

Optics of General Leslie's moving expenses don't look good.

Read more here.

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General Andrew Leslie's Moving Expenses

How can someone spend over $70,000 to move just a few minutes away? Did Andrew Leslie use a Lamborghini to tow the moving trailer? In an economy when many are struggling to make ends meet, when young people are struggling to find jobs, this guy can charge over $70,000 for moving expenses? Really?

I think it is important to support our veterans, but this program should have caps on how much can be claimed. Really, for a move of such a short distance, it is hard to imagine how it could cost anywhere near $70,000.

What is especially baffling in all this, why are Liberals defending General Leslie? Makes no sense. This is a clear abuse of a government program. Even if he was supposed to be a star Liberal candidate, this shows he's a deeply tainted star. Liberals shouldn't be defending him, especially as Justin Trudeau wants to present a new Liberal Party with a new kind of politics.

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Turkey's Parliament knows how to put legislation through

They must have consulted Rob Ford. ;)

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Harsh weather strikes accross the Globe

Severe weather is making news from record snowfall in Japan to devastating floods in the U.K.


Following video says it all:

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Vladimir Putin very happy for Sochi Olympic 2014

Putin is jumping up and down with joy. ;)

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Man Responsible for Olympic Ring Mishap Found Dead in Sochi

It was a pure rumour.

Mishap:


Rumour:

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Sochi Olympics preparation

Time-lapse animation. 2005-2014.

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Putin racing at Sochi Olympics

He is way ahead of his competitors. :))

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Putin celebrating Sochi Olympics

Vladimir Putin's happy dance for Sochi Olympics. This little guy is the new Czar of Russia.

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Massive Snowstorm Blankets New York, Boston and Charlotte

This picture says it quite well.

We are expecting similar conditions in Maritimes starting this evening. Plus there is a forecast of freezing rain. This storm is moving from south to north-east.

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Update: Brief history of earth

In a video format. Now if you miss a frame you can pause and read it.

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Brief history of the world

Does this make sense? What folks think about it.

Note: There are numerous frames. I have slowed down the animation so that there is enough time to read. 

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Dangerous and erratic weather in U.S

Signs of more dangerous storms to come as the effects of climate change become more intense. What will the deniers say now? Global climate change - from human activities - is no longer a prediction... it's a reality, and it's getting worse. It is costing governments money as they have to clean up after multiple disasters. Also, creates havoc for people's lives.

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Van Jones of CNN debunks myths behind the Keystone Pipeline

He points out the lies about the Keystone Pipeline.Good one and worth watching.

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Syrian situation.

The civil war in Syria is an ongoing tragedy which the world needs to pay attention to. The killing and brutality continues, there are more Syrian refugees in Jordan than the entire population of Jordan.



An aid convoy has come under attack in the besieged Syrian city of Homs, threatening a UN-led operation to bring food and medicine to 2,500 people and evacuate civilians trapped by fighting between rebels and government forces.

Saturday's violence threatens to unravel a humanitarian deal for Homs which was the first concrete result of talks launched two weeks ago in the Swiss city of Geneva to try to end Syria's civil war.

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West Virginia: Water safety

This can happen anywhere. Very scary with all the fossil fuels being transported by rail, trucks and pipes.

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Cowboy Stephen Harper and Comrade Joseph Stalin

Do they have something in common? Any similarities?

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Is This Democracy?

 Does Harper believe in democracy? This does not sound like Canada, this sounds like an authoritarian state, where those who dare disagree with the fearless leader are demonized, investigated for undesirable political activities. Environmental NGOs are being targeted by the Canadian Revenue Agency for audits, under direction of Harper's CONS. In Harper's Canada, you are targeted for not holding the correct political beliefs. This is not democracy or freedom. Harper has already attacked science and muzzled scientists and cut funding to environmental agencies and programs.

Harper is eager to develop tarsands further and faster, and does not want any warnings about contamination, pollution, or global warming, getting in his way. It is about the will of the oil industry, not facts and reality.

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Sam Zell 'The 1 Percent Work Harder'

When the going gets tough, the rich dudes stick together. Or at least rich dude Sam Zell did in an interview with Bloomberg TV Wednesday.

The billionaire chairman of Equity Group Investments backed up fellow rich guy Tom Perkins, who set off a firestorm when he recently compared the "progressive war on the 1 percent" to Nazi anti-Semitism in a letter to the Wall Street Journal.

Read more here.

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Mystery ads about Rob Ford

It is interesting.;)




Another good one.



Update: I found an interesting Gif:

There are quite a few more gifs here.

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Justin Trudeau's Senate Move... a great political move or amateurish

Harper has been mired in embarrassing scandals concerning his Senators, from Wallin to Duffy to Brazeau. Justin Trudeau has responded with a move that some have called "bold" and "game-changing" by kicking all Liberal Senators out of caucus. I don't think it's "bold" or "game-changing" and it does not show Trudeau to be a Senate reformer.

The supposedly "independent" caucus in the Senate - whom Trudeau did not seem to consult on this move - still call themselves Liberal, have Liberal members as employees, and will still be active members of the Liberal Party. Looks all smoke and mirrors to me.

What can be done about the Senate though? Abolishing it could be a good move - it was done in New Zealand - and is being proposed by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair. The provinces abolished their upper-chambers a long time ago.

However, the constitutional hurdles to abolition would be steep. An elected Senate - unless in a disorganized and piecemeal fashion as Harper has proposed - would also require similar constitutional hurdles, and we could potentially face political gridlock from multiple houses, see the United States.

There is growing sentiment that the Senate cannot continue as is - and I don't think Justin Trudeau's proposals amount to much in practice, just political posturing. Abolition seems the best solution, but the road there would be a difficult one.

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Frucking fracking commercial and danger to environment

The following commercial - and similar commercials - are shown every day, singing the songs of fracking and how it is supposedly safe. The reality is quite different. Fracking causes serious health and environmental problems, including drinking water pollution and disposal of fracking waste-water (the latter is a common theme in the news in Nova Scotia where they are struggling with disposal of wastewater).



The Nova Scotia, and more so the New Brunswick, governments are enthusiastic about fracking. Some fracking has been done in Nova Scotia and it is very problematic for reasons stated above. Yet oil and shale gas obtained by fracking is being drummed up as the future of energy in America and Canada. It is another Tar Sands, an ecological catastrophe. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick there is strong public opposition, especially among First Nations in New Brunswick, because it is being proposed near their communities and on their land.

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Listening to a politician

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Michigan police cuts the weave of a woman

What the Michigan police was trying to prove or achieve? It has become controversial and made an interesting headline:

"Video showing cop forcibly cutting woman's hair weave makes waves."

 It looks inappropriate.

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In the video, Charda Gregory, 23, of Detroit is tied in a restraining chair by four officers in Warren, Mich., before a female officer rips and cuts at her long braids. Gregory appears to protest and react physically, but the officer doesn’t stop until the entire weave is removed from her head.

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The Keystone Tarsands Pipeline Will Have Minimal Environmental Impact... Really?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A recently released State Department report claims the environmental impact of the Keystone pipeline would be "minimal." So... I guess we have no choice, but to build the tarsands pipeline. No need to address the environmental impact of tarsands extraction, we can ignore that Harper is moving ahead - and faster - on this while muzzling scientists who raise concerns about climate change. Harper's Tarsands Minister Joe Oliver was jumping up and down with this report, eager to use it to justify building the tarsands pipeline. Another concern, what if the pipeline leaks? This is something that has already happened. True the pipeline may be safer than transporting by train, but this neglects the bigger question, the need to seek alternative - greener - fuels, and the increasingly maddening pace of tarsands oil extraction. Also, there are reports of undue bias towards the oil industry in the State Department report.

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Conrad Black lost bragging rights for Order of Canada

Conrad Black stripped of Order of Canada.

"On Friday, Governor General David Johnston announced the termination of the former media mogul’s appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada effective immediately.

The motion was recommended by an 11-member Advisory Council following Black’s 2007 convictions in the U.S. for fraud and obstruction of justice." The Huffington Post.

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Drought is getting worse in California

Now that California’s Water Board is turning off the tap to certain distributors, and reservoirs are running dry, the cost of water is slated to rise and the impact on the state’s harvest could be devastating to many farmers.

The videos below show the dire situation California is in. This is not a good season for farmers, harder to grow crops or feed livestock. This will affect not only California, but the rest of us, ie. higher food prices.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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