Mail.com

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian troops and their allies launched an offensive Tuesday to retake an important hilltop village south of the city of Aleppo from militants, including al-Qaida’s local affiliate, as President Bashar Assad’s government was preparing for parliamentary elections the following day.

The vote will only be held in areas controlled by the government, and is expected to produce a rubber-stamp assembly loyal to Assad. Al-Manar TV, run by Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, which is fighting alongside Syrian government forces, reported the offensive to retake the village of Tel al-Ais. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist-run monitoring group, said clashes were ongoing around Tel al-Ais and the nearby village of Khan Touman.   Continue reading “Syrian government launches offensive south of city of Aleppo”

Mail.com

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy officer in charge of a flight crew that located three castaways on a remote Pacific island said Monday he has never seen or heard of another rescue quite like it. The stranded men, who were reported missing last Tuesday after a wave overtook their skiff, were found on a tiny Micronesian island on Thursday, officials said.

The three had spelled out the word “help” with palm fronds after they swam to the deserted island when their boat capsized. “I’ve never seen anything like that, nor am I aware of anyone in our community seeing anything like that,” U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander John Harkins said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press Monday.   Continue reading “Navy flyer describes spotting island castaways”

“But it appeared to us a piece of superlative incongruity indeed, that the people, whilst in the full and indefeasible possession of their liberties and privileges, should be so very profuse, so very liberal in the disposal of them, as consequently to place themselves in a predicament miserable to an extreme.”

The following essay was signed by Consider Arms, Malichi Maynard, and Samuel Field. It was taken from The Hampshire Gazette of April 9, 1788.

We the subscribers being of the number, who did not assent to the ratification of the federal constitution, under consideration in the late state convention, held at Boston, to which we were called by the suffrages of the corporations to which we respectively belong – beg leave, through the channel of your paper, to lay before the public in general, and our constituents in particular, the reasons of our dissent, and the principles which governed us in our decision of this important question.   Continue reading “Anti-Federalist Paper No. 52 – On The Guarantee Of Congressional Biennial Elections”

ArsTechnica – by Sean Gallagher

On Saturday, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean government had conducted a ground test of a new rocket engine intended to power the first stage of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The test, which took place at Sohae Space Center in North Phyongan Province near the Chinese border, was hailed as a success.   Continue reading “After latest rocket test, North Korea claims it can lob nukes at the US”

Whether or not you believe something bad will happen to the power grid, one thing is certain: living with little or no electricity will lower your bill and make you feel better about yourself. It’s a “skill” that needs to be mastered not just in case of some apocalyptic event but also in case of localized power-outages.

If you have no choice but to do without electric current, knowing one or more of the tips below might actually save your life. I’m referring to heat, which can affect elderly and toddlers alike. In a grid-down situation, knowing how to cool off yourself or a loved one could literally make the difference between life and death. So let’s see these energy saving “hacks” that will not only help you save thousands in the long run but may be of real help in case of a disaster.   Continue reading “A Few Tips to Use Less Energy and Save”

USA Today – by Gregory Korte

WASHINGTON — Public health officials used their strongest language to date in warning about a Zika outbreak in the United States, as the Obama administration lobbied Congress for $1.9 billion to combat the mosquito-borne virus.

“Most of what we’ve learned is not reassuring,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought.”   Continue reading “‘Scarier than we initially thought’: CDC sounds warning on Zika virus”

RT

At least 400 people have been arrested in Washington, DC after the Democracy Spring march and sit-in at the US Capitol building. Protesters focused their demands on creating fairer elections and politics that are unmarred by corporations’ big bucks.   Continue reading “400+ arrested as Democracy Spring calls for fairer elections, no more money in politics”

PNN

Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) destroyed 523 Palestinian homes and civilian structures in the West Bank since the start of 2016, with an increase of 275% from last year, a Palestinian center reported Sunday.

According to the report by the Land Research Center (LRC), the Israeli occupation army demolished 188 civilian structures sheltering 854 Palestinians. Nablus province, in the northern occupied West Bank, hit a record high of 58 in the number of demolished homes. The Tana makeshift village was also subjected to three demolitions during the months of March and February.   Continue reading “Israel destroyed 523 Palestinian structures in 3 months”

Global Research – by Adam Johnson

Vice’s Jason Leopold (4/6/16) has uncovered documents showing the CIA had a role in producing up to 22 entertainment “projects,” including History Channel documentary Air America: The CIA’s Secret Airline, Bravo‘s Top Chef: Covert Cuisine, the USA Network series Covert Affairs and the BBC documentary The Secret War on Terror—along with two fictional feature films about the CIA that both came out in 2012.   Continue reading “The CIA’s Work With Hollywood Filmmakers”

Pure Wow

If we’d told you a decade ago that your dating life would mostly consist of going out with total strangers you met on the Internet, you’d call us crazy. So hear us out as we describe what is, hands down, the weirdest thing we’ve ever heard: A new Brooklyn dating service lets you sniff other people’s dirty laundry to find love on a deeper, more scientific level. Is it the future of matchmaking?    Continue reading “Umm, WTF Is Smell Dating?”

Free Thought Project – by Claire Bernish

The United States is dropping bombs on people at such a furious rate, munitions manufacturers have been unable to keep up with demand.

“We’re expending munitions faster than we can replenish them,” Gen. Mark Welsh said, according to an article in USA Today.   Continue reading “Terror Profits — Arms Makers Rejoice as American Bombs Drop Faster than they Can Make Them”

BATR

You live in a society of malcontents ruled by a system of authoritarians. The conflict between unrealistic expectations and the raw force used to compel compliance is growing more intense. Only the walking dead are happy. Any thinking and intelligent person knows that the political hierarchy has lost its legitimacy. The result of the Curse of Multiculturalism has created a mentality malaise that chewed up our institutions, denigrated our social values and produced a progressive asylum of sick and disturbed free loaders. All the while the entrenched political class sucks the life blood from the average citizen, while lining their own pockets with public funds.   Continue reading “A Country of Nihilist Oligarchs”

Mediaite – by Sam Reisman

Laura Bush suggested that if the general election came down to a contest betweenHillary Clinton and Donald Trump, she would likely vote for her fellow former first lady.

“I understand that Americans are angry and frustrated but we do not need someone in the Oval Office who mirrors and inflames our anger and frustration,” she said.   Continue reading “Laura Bush Suggests She’d Vote for Clinton Over Trump”

NewsMax – by Cathy Burke

Illegal immigrants caught “still soaking wet” from crossing the Rio Grande have to be set free unless Border Patrol agents actually see them emerging from the water, a union official charges.

In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee last week, Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, charged agents were given the verbal orders after President Barack Obama announced plans last November to protect from deportation an estimated 5 million illegal immigrants — effectively creating “an open border with Mexico,” The Washington Times reports.   Continue reading “Union Official: Border Patrol Releases Illegals ‘Still Wet’ From Rio Grande”

Fox News

An illegal immigrant is believed to be back in Honduras after jumping bail on a motor vehicle homicide charge in Nebraska.

William La Jeunesse reported the latest this morning on the case of Edwin Mejia, which has sparked national outrage because federal authorities refused to issue a detainer so police could keep him in custody.   Continue reading “Illegal Immigrant Goes Free After Fatal DUI Crash, May Now Be in Honduras”